Stimulus Track Update on page 8 page 24 The Blue and Gold http://www.maldenblueandgold.com/ Malden High School Our 95th Year Volume 95 Edition 5 January 2010 The Devastation Malden is Pretty of Haiti in Pink Kalya Bramante Reporter ne in eight women is diagnosed Owith breast cancer in the United States. In 2009, 40,170 women were expected to die from Breast Cancer and more than one in four cancer cases are in fact breast cancer. Here at Malden High School, Pink Out Basketball games help to raise money. MHS also has a breast cancer awareness club and does fundraisers like the Pink Out Games Go To Pages 10 and to help the people in need. The club itself helps to plan out the games 11 For Complete and club members help out with the Haiti tables you find in the gym, such as Coverage the raffle table. Upon entering the gym, fans & Page 5 For Updates are greeted by a group of people Bottom photo is Bernard Clemps laying Louis Valdery on a cot in an out- On Americans waiting to give a pink ticket to door tent at the Clinique Lambert in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Monday, Janu- Arrested For hold students pay three dollars ary 25, 2010. Photo by Charles Trainor Jr. To the left, Rescue team mem- Trafficking and adults pay five dollars. Then bers from Greece (red) and France (dark blue) carrying Wismond Exantus peoplhurry to the bleachers to grab from a building on Saturday, January 23, 2010. Photo by Pedro Portal. To a seat with your friends and fam- the right, A store burns in downtown Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Friday, Janu- ily. After fans look back to where ary 22, 2010. Photo by Al Diaz. Photo Collage by Lynn Tran people first came in to see if the rest In This Issue: of your group is approaching and to the right and there are breast cancer Progressive shirts on sale that also help to raise Malden Gymnastics Scholars money for the club. At the other end page 12 + 13 of the gym there are raffle baskets, Dismounts to Victory Pisa Pizza and refreshments. The game starts intensely and next to Nobel Laurete the concession stand there are the Page 14 pink and white basketballs that the players on the team use, how coin- Poetry Out Loud cidental considering the main color to represent breast cancer is pink. Page 17 Some teams also get pink laces for their shoes. Valentine’s Day The games are an excellent way page 18 to raise money and awareness about Breast Cancer at both MHS and in Oscar the Malden Community. We origi- nally set a goal of raising $1500 by Predicitions the end of the year, now our goal has page 19 risen to $2000," stated president of the Breast Cancer Awareness Club Nick Jonas’ Solo Continued on page 22 Sophmore Mary Stathos on the beam against Lowell Catholic and Medford. Project Photo by Joel Stevenson. Page 20 Joshua Kummins Swimming Opinion p.3 Reporter Page 21 World p. 8 he Malden High gymnastics ing into the Greater Boston League Local p. 11 team is hitting the tail end of Meet. Wrestling Entertainment p. 19 T Page 22 a strong 2010 season, which saw The team’s four victories came Sports p. 21 them compile a 4-3 record, head- against two teams, Cambridge and Indoor Track Continued on page 22 Page 24 The Blue and Gold 2 Editorials January 2010 http://www.maldenblueandgold.com/ Palin being palin Malden High School Taking the valiant initiative to bridge the considerably more mnemonic ability, how- gap between high school biology exams and ever, it is only logical to revert to sophomoric The Blue and Gold nationally aired political broadcasts, Palin chicken scratch. 77 Salem St. was caught reading handwritten notes from Of course this embarrassment is but Malden, MA 02148 her palm during the Tea Party convention. another manifestation of a chronic issue with Whether or not she wrote the notes herself Palin—her inability to prepare adequately for remains unclear. major speaking events. Needless to say that in No stranger to controversy or humor, some regards the audience, paying upwards of EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Palin has found herself in yet another awk- $300 to hear her speak, got their money’s worth David Riemer ward jam, sparing herself no irony after call- of deep political insight (abbreviated colloqui- Ayoub Kourikchi ing Obama a “charismatic guy with a tele- ally, albeit messily, on her hand). Thanks to prompter.” Foregoing all conventional forms Palin’s unique affinity for media attention, it is MANAGING AND DESIGN EDITOR of visual aid in her attempt to emphasize her well known that she has repeatedly struggled Lynn Tran remark, Palin made the questionable decision to cite relevant and credible sources of infor- of writing down vague and elementary politi- mation for her arguments and opinions, often COPY EDITING DIRECTOR cal goals on her hand as she spoke at the Tea opting to quote an intangible holy mission and An Holmqvist Party convention on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010. On an equally intangible deity as evidence. Where her laundry list of agendas: “Energy,” “Tax,” religion falls short of her desperate need for ONLINE EDITOR and most unmemorable of all “lift American justification, she draws stinging quips from Alexandra Mathieu spirits.” “Budget cuts” must have been nixed her reservoir of not-quite-legitimate phrases after a hasty review, however, since the words like “hopey-changey thing.” Supreme Court HEAD LOCAL NEWS WRITER appeared with a rudimentary strikethrough. case precedents? Who needs them when one Nidale Zouhir Living up to her sterling honest reputation, possesses such acute powers of circumlocu- it would seem as though Palin never learned tion? On second thought, maybe the use of HEAD WORLD NEWS WRITER a valuable lesson: if you are going to cheat, some tired political jargon could begin to João Nascimento at least take steps to hide it. This would in- build a base of actual credibility for Palin, but clude limiting expressive hand gestures while maverick-hood on her level simply does not HEAD ENTERTAINMENT/ OPINION speaking and writing legibly enough to see call for any hint of orthodoxy—or sense. Brittany Foley the epidermis-assisted cheat sheet without What can be said of Palin, in spite of all needing it bring it to your face. her blaringly unprofessional blunders accu- HEAD SPORTS WRITER Perhaps the situation would be less hu- mulated since she was thrust into the limelight Alfonse Femino morous were it less avoidable. During discus- as John McCain’s pick for Vice President, is sions such as this one, notes, outlines, and that she undoubtedly breathes new life into HEAD OF BUSINESS index cards are all commonplace additions to an ever more depressing and bleak political Haley DeFilippis one’s extemporaneous speaking prowess. No scene. Indeed Palin’s shenanigans demonstrate one would have chuckled half as heartily had that in the world of politics, not every debate COPY EDITORS she been squinting to read a note card rather or discussion holds the fate of the country in Dan Holmqvist than her hand, and perhaps the public would the balance, but rather that a comical faux pas Omar Khoshafa have been more endeared to her efforts had such as this does not necessarily spell doom Xavier Leo the information so crudely stored been more for the world. Brittany McFeeley complex and intricate than “Tax.” At the very As if it were not clear enough already, least, a fashion statement could have been typical ethics do not endorse Palin’s meth- REPORTERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS made by tying colored ribbons to her fingers ods—text messages are much more effective, Amanda Adams to aid in jogging her memory. As this takes provided you keep the phone on silent. Lauren Benoit Kayla Bramante Christopher Brown Freddie DiPhillipo Natalie Fallano David Riemer Alexander Gennigiorgis Editorial Policy Co-Editor-in-Chief Megan Kelly The Blue and Gold is an open forum for Joshua Kummins student expression. It is produced by students Johanna Lai for the school and the community. The views Sharon Lee presented in this paper are not necessarily those Cristina Peters of the advisor or the school administration. The Corrections: Catherine Poirier views presented in the editorials are those of the Brendan Provitola editors-in-chief or guests. The goal of The Blue The heading on page 5 should have been Opin- Reginah Sanyu and Gold is to inform and entertain students as ion, not World. Joel Stevenson well as the community regarding issues that we Copy Editor Omar Khoshafa is a sophomore, not feel are important. Alicia Young a junior on page 8. We strongly encourage readers to respond Paige Yurek to material printed in the form of signed letters to Arlene Ceppetelli’s name was misspelled in a cap- the editors. No libelous, malicious, defamatory, tion on page 12. ADVISOR obscene, or unsigned material will be printed. The Badminton Club is not yet recognized as a Ryan Gallagher The Blue and Gold reserves the right to edit the let- team on page 12. ters. Names may be withheld upon request. Not The band actually played “Oh Holy Night,” not Established in 1915 all letters will be printed. “Sleigh Ride” in the article on page 13. Although The Blue and Gold appreciates the Bridget Furlong’s name was not spelled correctly Check out our online edition: support of advertisers, we may refuse any ad- in the caption on page 16. vertisement that violates the above policy or that Photo credits to Brittney McFeeley should have promotes products questionable to student use.