Titan Talk Issue 4 Volume 9 Ridgeland High School January 2011 The Year in Review

In this issue... BEST OF Editorials: Rookie staff members Katie, 2010 Audrey, and Jamie share their opinions. Pg 2. LeMaudia urges you to buckle down this semester. Pg 3

Fun stuff: Random Facts and Advice. Pg 3 Best Movie of 2010 Humor: Isaac illustrates the New Year’s edition of 15+1. Pg 4 “Inception” -Mr. Berry, grade 22 Favorite Sports Team of 2010 “Inception” -Mr. Johnson, grade 18 Meet our Mascot: Jessica sits down with “Inception” -Kori Heying, grade 11 “The Harlem Globe Trotters” -Millie Adams, grade 11 Hal “Titus” Pritchard. Pg 4 “Inception” -Quinith Kipchumba, grade 12 “The Chudley Cannons” -Sierra Mannie, grade 12 “Inception” -Avery Layne Lyon, grade 11 “The Ridgeland High School Titans” -Piero What’s your Sign? Caroline clears up “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Bracamonte, grade 11 your horoscope change, and there’s a new Part 1” -Lauren Johnson, grade 12 “The New Orleans Saints” -Nine People edition of horoscopes. Pg 5 “Black Swan” -Sierra Mannie, grade 12 “Jonas Brothers 3D Concert” -Jordon Favorite Celebrity of 2010 Reviews: Isaac informs you about his Simmons, grade 10 favorite band. Pg 5 “Lady Gaga” -Lauren Johnson, grade 12 Sports: Boys basketball and girls soccer. “Stephen Hawkings” -Piero Bracamonte, grade 11 See this front page in full color with Titan “Robert Downy, Jr.” -Avery Layne Lyon, grade 11 Pg 6 Talk online. Just go to the RHS website www.rhstitans.com, click About Us, and click “Pants on the Ground Guy” -Millie Adams, grade 11 RHS Events: Jessica reports on the Art TITAN TALK. “Jesus” -Casey Barnes, grade 11 Club’s trip, and Jamie and Audrey bring “Justin Bieber” -Coach Frazier us a new “Rules of Life”. Pg 7 “Scarlett Johanson” -Mr. Berry, grade 22 Opinion Page 2 Homebuilder Hero Only in America by Audrey Hall by Jamie Logan Ever heard of Operation Finally Home? Probably not, but now America: where more people vote for American Idol than they that you have, it’s run by a homebuilder and works to give veterans do for the President. This line caught my attention the other day as I and their families homes. That’s how awesome it is. This guy was searching for an editorial topic. At first, I found the idea funny. decided that he’s done nothing important with his life, so he created Do Americans really care more about television than the man who’s this organization and is changing lives one by one. It’s what God governing our entire nation? Would we rather decide who is the wants him to do, he says. better singer than decide where our tax money is going to go? But the In fact, Operation Finally Home’s creator, Dan Wallrath, has more I thought about it, the more I realized how true it is. started to gain support and recognition for his worthy cause. He was Maybe the majority of students attending RHS aren’t old named as one of CNN’s Top Ten Heroes for his campaign to build enough to vote yet, but this concept applies to other things too. The and donate free homes to injured veterans of the Iraq and America of the twenty-first century is filled with people who think Afghanistan wars. The top hit ABC show, Extreme Home they’re entitled to get something for nothing. We want time off from Makeover, paired up with him in order to provide a home in 100 school, pay raises, the latest phones and accessories. We want it all. hours for a veteran who survived the shooting at Fort Hood. And for free. We would rather sit on our butts and do absolutely Dan Wallrath was an ordinary man with an ordinary job living an nothing than try to do something productive. ordinary life that nobody would’ve heard about, until he realized Everyone at our school has been told many times that we are that he could be doing so much more than work at a construction the future of our country, and we need to make that future a site his entire life. He could change lives, bring jobs to people’s successful one. How do we go about doing that? First, actually hearts, and show veterans just how appreciated and loved they are. paying attention in school makes a difference. You would be amazed He had all the motivation. He’s an inspiration: a Homebuilder Hero. what you could learn by at least looking at your notes instead of sleeping during class. America may be a “Great Power” or a leading nation, but other countries are racing past us in a lot of different Strange but True: Random Facts fields. This may not affect us much while we’re in high school, but when a kid fresh out of college applies for a job, there may not be by Jessica King many left in their field of choice. No one wants to end up spending 1. The Chicago River used to flow into Lake Michigan, but the U.S. the rest of their lives flipping burgers at the local McDonald’s. Army Corps of Engineers switched it to flow backwards, AWAY America is a nation of freedom; be it freedom of speech, from the lake, for sanitation purposes. freedom of religion, or freedom of just about anything else. We’re 2. Louis Riel was hanged on November 16, 1885, for being a traitor free to succeed… but we’re also free to fail. We’re free to waste our to Canada. Today, he is considered a founding father of the Cana- whole lives staring at television, computer, and iPod screens if we dian Province of Manitoba. want to. But there has to be something better than that; something 3. Late popcorn king Orville Redenbacher wasn’t just a TV spokes- like having real friends, not just ones we talk to on the computer. We man. He spent his life developing hybrid varieties of corn that were born into the age of technology. We should focus on that and would produce the best popping kernels. other things we want to be remembered for. We can’t let it become 4. The Green Bay Packers got their name in 1919 after the Indian the age of apathy and entitlement. We’re better than that. Packing Company gave the team $500 to buy equipment. million years. That means that with the next flip, all compasses will 5. The first NHL team to use artificial ice wasn’t a warm-weather be pointing South rather then North. franchise; it was the Toronto Arenas (now the Maple Leafs) in 1917. 8. The 50 tallest mountains on Earth are all located in Asia. 6. Delaware has the fewest counties of any state in the U.S. with 9. At certain points during a baseball pitcher’s delivery, the three (Newcastle, Kent, Sussex). pitcher’s arm is rotating at approximately 7,000 degrees per sec- 7. The Earth’s North and South Poles flip polarity on a semi-fre- ond—the equivalent of rotating your arm all the way around 70,000 quent basis having done so more then 20 times in the past five times an hour. Opinion Page 3 Advice by Stella How to Kill a Juniors: I’ve heard a few of you saying, “The world isn’t going to end in 2012. We’re going to take over.” This is true. You will be the Deadby LeMaudia Lion Strahan leaders and role models for the underclassmen next year. Take pride in being the class of 2012. I hope everyone enjoyed the holiday break. The best part of my holiday break was not being afraid of the dead lion. I’m sure Sophomores: you all know what I mean: that big lion that was killed by our The class of 2013 is the most gullible. The people you are enthusiasm for success. Hopefully you sense the sarcasm because calling your “friends” most likely aren’t. When you get up to put our enthusiasm does not exist. May is quickly approaching, so we your tray away in the cafeteria, the same “friends” say how your need to get ourselves in gear. shoes don’t match your outfit. Learn who your real friends are. Before you start calling me crazy, the “dead lion” is a Popularity isn’t everything. metaphor for the first semester of the school year that students don’t want to carry. This is the five months when few people work hard to Freshmen: maintain acceptable grades. A handfull of people made sure every What is going to happen when your “faithful boyfriend” assignment was completed, corrected, and submitted. They also goes off to college in August? stayed up all hours of the night finishing extra credit opportunities that our lovely teachers so graciously offered. Some even made Teachers and Administrators: efforts to download 18 lines of Middle English. These students You all work so hard to give us the education we need to know how to kill a lion. The rest of you, on the other hand, couldn’t move forward in life. I appreciate everything you do for us. You even wound it. wake up at the crack of dawn to get to school at 7:30 every Granted, it’s a little late to improve your first semester morning. I know most students do not tell you enough but on behalf grades. Maybe you could work on the second semester instead? of the Ridgeland High School student body, thank you. Since you haven’t killed your lion yet, you certainly should try again. The second semester is usually more difficult, so you would have to work extremely hard. For example, instead of waiting until UPCOMING EVENTS Tuesday’s Titan Time to do an English writing lesson that would be due in half an hour, you could consider doing it the weekend before it is due. Progress Reports - Thursday, Feb. 3 With only four months left in the school year, everyone is anticipating that last day of school. Why? What do you have planned for the future? Whether you’re a freshman or a senior, your plans for the future are vital at this point. When it comes time for Super Bowl XLV - Sunday, Feb. 6 the final exams, everyone has the opportunity to be exempt, considering attendance, final averages, and discipline. You can’t just say, “I hope I am exempt from my Algebra II exam.” You have Beauty and Beau - Thursday, Feb. to work for it. Just do your work, come to school, and stay out of trouble. 10 and Friday, Feb. 11 Some of our RHS students have slaughtered the lion while others are too afraid to look it in the eye. Make out a study schedule to prepare for tests and quizzes. Take time out to start on and finish Valentine’s Day - Thursday, Feb. 14 the homework. The teachers are here to help you. Take advantage of their assistance. Doing this may help you kill a lion. Miscellaneous Page 4 15 + 1 Remember Impossible by Isaac De La Cruz New Year’s the Titus by Jessica King Resolutions As I sat down with Hal Pritchard for his inter- view, I also sat down with a second generation Titus, 1. Quit making short jokes in a fraternity member, Mr. RHS nominee, and my Mr. Berry’s class. fellow senior, co-worker, and lunch-mate. And I was 2. Read your research paper only talking to Hal. It is all these things and more that book. make our Titus such an interesting person, with an 3. Laugh at all of Coach Marett’s equally interesting story behind the mascot head. jokes. When I asked Hal about his family ties to the 4. Wear a Slanket everyday and job of being Titus, he explained about the oldest accesorize with Pajama Jeans. Pritchard brother, Tommy, who was Titus when Hal 5. Go the speed limit in the was in middle school. After Tommy went on to parking lot. Mississippi State University to be a mascot there, Hal 6. Take Justin Bieber hostage... was inspired to try a turn as Titus. Hal also has plans again. and desires to go on to MSU next year and follow in 7. Make your lunch entirely of the footsteps of his brother saying, “It’s always been a cookies from the cafeteria. dream of mine since my brother did it. It’s like high 8. Beat your mom’s high score school times three. I’m really excited.” But Hal has on Just Dance 2. other motives besides his brother; when asked what 9. Wear something other than his favorite thing about being Titus was, he replied, Uggs. “Probably that everyone either immediately loves you 10. Don’t go broke paying for or is immediately terrified of you. You know, little kids and immature girls are scared, but everyone gas. else gives you a high five. Makin’ the love go ‘round, you know?” 11. Wait patiently for graduation. As for his fraternity member aspect, that’s not all fun and games either. Everyone has prob- (3 months, 3 weeks, 1 day, and 19 ably heard about Kappa Frazier Hal Ross by now, but who knew the members were getting in- hours and counting!) volved? For now, the club is still in the planning stage of doing something for Invisible Children. 12. Don’t get a single write-up Seeing as Hal is a senior this year, and moving on to bigger and better mascot-ing, next year for a dress code violation. there will be an opening for the position of Titus. I can’t think of anyone who could be better than 13. Read more comic books than Hal himself, but he seems to think Jack Cutrer would make a good replacement Titus. Mr. Pickering. All of his activities and friendliness are probably some of the reasons behind Mr. Pritchard’s 14. Do your homework before recent nomination for Mr. RHS among other things. Titan Time. When asked about his feelings on the nomination, he produced this nearly inspirational quote, 15. Keep your New Year’s “I’m really honored by it. I could not ask for better friends or a better school where I am more loved. Resolution. But I have to say, my boy Nick is still my top choice.” This quote embodies Hal as a person - always +1 Think of 15 New Year’s caring, always joking, and always putting others before himself. Resolutions. (Trust us, it’s harder than you’d think.) Entertainment Page 5 Four times four equals album is a twelve, the third compilation full 51 4x4=12 from Deadmau5, is packed with minute non- stop by Isaac De La Cruz powerhouse tracks that will make you want to put your music continuous Want to hear a Mau5 playing device on repeat. The mix of all (pronounced mouse) that could unique thing about this album is 11 tracks take your music listening to a that it doesn’t fall into a specific specially whole ‘nother level? Ever genre. It bridges Club, Dance, put together wanted to experience your on one Trance, Pop, and even Dubstep. Deadmau5 performing at the 2010 MTV speaker or headphones blasting track. And This album will have you doing Video Music Awards. killer synths, heavy bass lines, one or more of the following: if you are a and even catchy lyrics? If nodding your head to the beat, DJ, like you’re interested in any of these tapping your foot to the beat, or myself, this album has easy-to- friend or audience fist pumping things then you should listen to dancing uncontrollably. loop sections and commonly throughout the night. I give this Deadmau5’s new eleven-tack Also included in this used bpms, and will have your album a full 10 out of 10. album 4x4=12. DonDon’’’ tt PPanic!anic! YYourour SignSign isis tthehe SameSame HORO- by Caroline Lanford SCOPES The internet practically Earth’s relationship to the stars, Aries: An apple a day keeps anyone away if you throw it hard exploded the other day when it which is why it changed. And, enough. was released that our horoscope since the Earth has moved, a new Taurus: Watch out for flying apples. signs were suddenly changed. constellation has been added to Gemini: To improve your future, do not get your significant other Apparently, a Minneapolis it. Western astrology, however, is the “Pookie Bear” ringtone for Valentine’s Day. astrologer suggested that the based on the Earth’s relationship Cancer: You are feeling especially lethargic and unfocused this Earth’s movement had shifted to the Sun, not the constellations. month. Good luck on your research paper! the stars’ alignment. Astrology So when the star allignments Leo: The stars are aligning in your favor. You’ll probably find some devotees were in hysterics when changed, they didn’t affect the way to mess it up though. it was released that their signs the astrology we’ve all followed Virgo: Today is the perfect day to finish things. But so is tomorrow. would be changed and that there for years. And the next day. And the next day... might even be a new sign called Furthermore, the new sign, Libra: Life is like a box of chocolates, if you read the bottom of the Ophiuchus. Ophiuchus, only applies for box, you’ll know what you’re going to get. However, I am here to let those who follow the Eastern Scorpio: You will be feeling extra artistic, but your girlfriend will you know that your signs have system. All of us who follow not be thrilled with her homemade Valentine’s Day gift. not actually changed. Western Western astrology will still have Sagittarius: They’re having your favorite food in the cafeteria astrology, which our mystical our same signs. today! Unfortunately, they will run out as soon as you get there. horoscope columnist practices If you just read astrology for Capricorn: You will feel really dedicated to working on college and is in most newspapers, is fun, you could switch over and applications. Way to be late. As usual. still the same. see what Vedic astrology predicts Aquarius: Kalsfcd tlj qryob exhzgm yeao dbow thbaxoug. The only zodiac that has for you. But for those of you (Translator sold separately.) changed is Eastern Vedic who have grown to love your Pisces: Be prepared for something to happen to you some time astrology. It’s based on the sign, don’t worry, nothing has when you are with someone. So don’t say I didn’t warn you. changed. Sports Page 6 Lady Titan Soccer Upcoming by Katie Hammond Basketball The Girls’ Soccer Team Dates has won seven State Champion- ships in the school’s eight year existence and this year has been Feb. 1: Home vs. just as impressive. January in Warren Central itself has been an overall great Feb. 3: Away at McLain month for the team. On January Feb. 15: First Round Playoffs 11 the Lady Titans destroyed Feb. 17-19: Possible North State Neshoba Central when they won Feb. 25-March 5: 8-0. But on Jan. 13 St. Andrews Possible State played well when they barely Tournament brushed passed RHS and won with a score of 0-1. Jan. 15 was The RHS Girls Soccer team has won the State Championship seven of For more dates view the school a different story, however, when the eight years the school has been established. Can they do it again? calendar at www.rhstitans.com North East Jones just matched our Titans. RHS won that game she replied by saying, “We with a 5-1 score. And the girls have done very well so far. We BoysBoys BasketballBasketball beat Callaway even worse on only have one loss, and we by Katie Hammond Jan. 18 when they had a final have beaten some pretty tough score of 7-0. teams. If we keep playing well, Our boys’ When we asked Rachel we definitely have a good basketball team Harris, a junior on the team, chance of winning our eighth has been blow- what she thought of this season state championship.” And I ing everybody away with their more than 20 Beauty and Beau 2011 consecutive wins. January has been another amazing month. Winter Wonderland January 7 Donovan Ross and Jamal Thursday, February 10 and Hester got 13 points for a 35-49 when we beat Brandon 51-48. Friday, February 11 win over Canton. If the Titans are good at only 6:30 p.m. at the RHS Auditorium Several days later Neshoba one thing, that would be winning. Tickets are $10 and may be purchased in Central wished they hadn’t even We can definitely count on our Student Services. shown up when the Titans sent boys’ basketball team to do them home with a loss of 75-26. exactly that. Great job, boys. We Thursday: Freshman and Sophomore girls, all male contestants, And what about our win over can’t wait to see what the rest of and Who’s Who presented Yazoo City 46-38 - not too bad. the season has in store for the Friday: Junior and Senior girls and Most Beautiful But it was close on January 17 fans of RHS. FYI Page 7

Biloxi - a bylong Jessica King bus ride

As I walked up a set of school bus steps at 6:30 on a Friday pound ceramic heads, sitting on top of 900 pound tables. The next morning, and I wondered why in the world I wanted to get up this thing we saw was one of my personal highlights of the day, a early. Then I reminded myself of all the great artwork I would get to collection of 27 original, signed Andy Warhol pieces. After we see and all the fun I would have with my friends in the RHS art club gazed in awe at that gallery for a few minutes, we were already in around four hours. Yes, I know it only takes three hours to get to moving on to the next, and most important gallery, the gallery with Biloxi, but on this trip, we museum namesake, George Ohr’s works stopped many times and missed in them. I hold a strong belief that this is an exit that cost us 20 minutes. some of the most well-crafted and Once reality hit everyone breathtaking pottery out there, and it is in the face that it was going to be truly art. literally 35 degrees on this bus After we left that museum, we drove almost all the way there, the across a bridge to Ocean Springs, for complaining set in. After we lunch at a local barbeque restaurant that stopped for breakfast, however, had been on television, The Shed. Then everyone seemed a little better, we moved on to our next stop, the and it seemed less like the ice Walter Anderson Museum. There, we age on the bus. After that first viewed the entire rooms that Anderson photo stop, we rolled on to Hattiesburg, had painted in the fifties and sixties, and by which is about halfway between got to take part in a fun printing activity. Jessica here and Biloxi , to stop for gas. The Art Club in Ocean Springs King Once we pulled out of the parking lot This is where we hit our first in Ocean Springs, it was put to a vote problem: one very important exit miss. Twenty minutes later we that we should skip stopping for dinner and just head home, as we were back on course and eventually made it to Biloxi. were kind of behind schedule, and no one was very hungry after Once we pulled in to the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum, we got out lunch. Most of the bus went to sleep on the way back home, for as and met our guide and proceeded through the museum. The first the sun set, the temperature dropped once again. Three long, cold pieces she told us about were made by a local artist who was rela- hours later we were home once again, and I left the bus with a tively new. The second artist’s work consisted of two giant, 1,100 desire to return to Biloxi and Ocean Springs, so I could see all the amazing art I had seen yet again.

5) Don’t drop Mr. Dunwoody’s drumstick in the hallway. 6) Don’t open the door to the darkroom unless you want half of the photography class to kill you. Rules of Life 7) Don’t interrupt Mrs. Seabrook. It doesn’t make her very happy. by Audrey Hall and Jamie Logan 8) Mrs. Joe does not appreciate animal noises. 1) Never ask Mr. Berry what time it is. 9) Don’t insult the Saints in front of Mr. Wilbanks. 2) Never ask Mrs. Mangino if you can go to the restroom right after 10) Do your very best not to be immature in Mrs. Locke’s class. lunch. 11) In Mrs. Barnes’ Spanish class, don’t move to sit next to a 3) In band, always find another place to breathe, or Mr. Mac will friend. throw things at you. 12) Mrs. Dennis doesn’t like food in the library at all. 4) Don’t talk about how you don’t like French near Mrs. Hegwood. 13) Don’t insult Frazier’s Bieber. Or steal him.