If Michelangelo had to Pass Standardized Tests the Sistine Chapel may have looked very Different
Category: Opinion
Everybody Cut Footloose Again
By Amber Brenner-
If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it.
That’s exactly what director Craig Brewer did to his remake of the 1984 movie Footloose. There are few differences between the 1984 original and the 2011 remake.
First off, it’s obviously more modern. The music, dancing and clothing were all inevitably updated. The music that the kids in the movie listen to was mainly hip-hop, with the exception of a few scenes with genres like pop and country. The dancing, of course, was more provocative. The styles of dancing included lots of hip-hop, some krumping and even some country line dancing. Some of the dances were taken from the original movie.
Under the same umbrella, the language was modified a little, adding an occasional swear word, which was generally taboo back in the ’80’s. The movie was also updated socially. Although racial segregation ended in the mid-1960’s, all of the actors and actresses used in the original Footloose were Caucasian. The remake seemed to cover all races and ethnicities.
As for the actual screenplay, there are very few differences between the original and the new remake, but the ones that exist are blatantly obvious.
To start, the new movie opens with the accident that killed the town’s preacher’s son that the original only referred to. In the original movie, the main character moves to the small town of Bomont with his mother after a divorce. In the new movie, they do away with his mother completely. He moved in with his aunt and uncle after his mother passed away.
There aren’t many other differences and the ones that are there don’t change the story much at all.
All in all, Footloose (2011) is a refreshed and modern spin of the original made in 1984. It’s worth a trip to the theater.
As a warning, you may feel the spontaneous urge to dance, but don’t worry. That’s completely normal.
The United States Going for Broke?
By Corey Fry –
In 1791, Alexander Hamilton combined the states’ individual debts into one collective federal debt. This was done as a post-revolutionary war tactic to economically unify the nation.
Now in 2011, this federal debt is threatening to tear the country apart. As of October 22, 2011, the United States’ gross debt was $14.94 trillion. The public debt has increased by over $500 billion each year since 2003, and that number is rising every year.
Unless we treat this problem soon, we’re going to be on the same road to economic collapse as Greece and Italy. The only major action taken this year by the federal government to reduce the deficit was Obama’s Budget Control Act of 2011. The most significant action of the Budget Control Act was the creation of a “Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction” (aka. Super Committee). The job of the Super Committee is to manage all matters relating to the federal deficit.
The Committee, however, has made only minor changes in how the debt is handled. Their actions so far include: Raising the debt ceiling by $400 billion, and reducing excess spending by government officials. Over the next ten years, the Committee plans over $917 billion of budget cuts. But these precautions only scratch the surface of the problem.
Without major reform in how we as a country handle this, the debt will only continue to increase as it is now. We cannot simply let it grow until we need to raise the debt ceiling again. The situation is beyond the control of such temporary solutions.
We are roughly $15 trillion in debt and a couple of budget cuts aren’t going to make it go away. The United States spends much more than its gross income and this is what’s causing the deficit growth.
Our first step as a country is to stop the unnecessary spending. We can’t afford to keep spending billions more than what the government earns, it’s completely irresponsible. The nation has to cut back somewhere, or increase their income. This could mean the removal of government services, such as Social Security and unemployment benefits.
If the nation won’t accept budget slashes, than they’ll simply have to provide the government with more spending money. Tax increases are inevitable. We just can’t expect to continue getting all the government services for the same price, it isn’t working.
Something has to give. The public will decide which they prefer, before the Super Committee does it for us.
Battlefield 3 Review
By Jacob Harvey –
The attempt at a realistic full-scale war video game has been attempted in the past but with its October 25 (27 in UK) release, Battlefield 3 seems to have outdone itself.
Battlefield 3 is a first person single-player shooter and action video game made by Electronic Arts with system link and online multiplayer capabilities allowing up to 24 players to play at once via Xbox live or the PSNetwork on the console’s (PS3 and Xbox 360) and 64 players on the PC.
With full vehicle warfare with playable tanks, humvees, jets, boats, ATV’s, and helicopters, Battlefield is the first video game released this year of it’s kind.
Battlefield is run on a new engine called Frostbite 2 which allowed the developers to program in better physics in the explosions and it allowed the developers to increase the amount of detail in the game.
Of course Battlefield’s multiplayer features full scale combined arm’s battles. It is possible to go from a boat to a jet to a tank.
Depending on the vehicle under the players control there are three sets of controls which are classified under infantry controls. There are ground vehicle controls, which consists of tanks and boats and other vehicles that don’t leave the ground. Then there are the aerial controls.
With all the great graphics and advances in the games physics there is a sense of loneliness on the larger maps where enemy players are in short supply and hard to find. With only 24 players on the console playing in a full map meant for 64 players on the PC the scale of the map is off putting at first but on the smaller map game modes like squad deathmatch and team deathmatch the sense of scale is similar to Call of Duty 4.
Console systems simply couldn’t handle a full 64 player battle though so the producers were forced to lower the amount of players allowed on a map to cut down on lag and bandwidth issues. Which has already been a problem on the Xbox because the server’s were down yesterday because of a bandwidth issue. If EA doesn’t fix its servers it could be a serious issue that could make or break a game.
Another new addition is it’s co-op mode. This is mode features multiple scenarios that force you and one other team mate to work together to complete the map’s mission objective. Don’t be fooled though just because it says co-op there is no split-screen multiplayer in order to play with your friends you must play over the internet or system link (LAN connection) the two devices.
Battlefield 3 was released with nine maps, 55 weapons, 27 weapon attachments that are awarded separately for each gun. There are 22 playable vehicles, 28 vehicle specializations, and 14 soldier specializations according to the GameInformer Battlefield 3 preview.
Also there are five playable online game modes which are.
Conquest: The objective of this game mode is to capture and hold control points placed throughout the map and to decrease the opposing teams ticket (respawn) count to zero before your teams reaches zero.
Rush: There are two sides to this conflict, an attacker and a defender. Attackers are charged with destroying multiple sets of 2 M-Com stations at a time before their ticket count reaches zero. Defenders are supposed to make sure that the M-Com stations aren’t destroyed and to make the attackers ticket count reach zero.
Team Deathmatch: A new game mode to Battlefield the object of this game is for 2 teams to battle and kill the opposing team 100 combined times. The first team to reach a combined kill count of 100 wins.
Squad Deathmatch: Another new game mode to Battlefield. Features four squads of four players each fighting each other to get the highest combined squad kill count.
Squad Rush: In squad rush there are two teams with four players each one attacking one defending with similar qualities to rush just not as many people and thus more complicated and tactical than its larger game mode counterpart.
In all, Battlefield 3 is one of the most anticipated game’s of 2011 and with awards like Game of the Year from E3 it is a good way to spend your money and makes a great holiday gift for all FPS fans.
How Old Is Too Old For Trick or Treating?
By Jacob Harvey –
With promises of free candy and a night with your friends, it’s no wonder kids enjoy Halloween.
But how old is too old for Trick-or-Treating? In some areas around the country, it is illegal for people over a certain age to Trick-or-Treat.
Although, in the surrounding Penn Manor area, there is no age limit or law restricting people from taking advantage of people’s good will, according to the Penn Manor Resource Officer Jason Hottenstein.
Many believe there should be rules mandating the popular holiday.
“Without a doubt there should be an age limit, and it should be 14 because it’s a holiday for the younger kids, and people dressing up who are in high school are just ruining it for the younger kids,” said Eric Howe an administrator at Penn Manor.
It’s not just the parents who feel this way, Penn Manor senior Cody Diehl also has similar opinions regarding Halloween.
“I think it’s fine for older people to trick-or-treat if they are with a younger sibling, but when older kids do it by themselves it’s just not right for them to take the candy that should be for the younger kids,” said Diehl.
Some argue that an age limit could be detrimental, because people in high school deserve to enjoy the holiday just as much as younger kids.
“I think high school kids should be allowed to participate in Halloween because it’s just a good time to have with your friends and not every kid over 14 is going to be trying to cause mischief,” said Penn Manor Senior Alex Sorce.
Mandating Trick-Or-Treating ages can be complicated. What about a family with a 17 year old son and two younger siblings? Would it be illegal for the 17 year old to enjoy the holiday with his family? That doesn’t seem fair, and Penn Manor assistant principle Krista Cox agrees.
“I think that there are families that really engage the holiday and have fun with it, and an age limit could ruin it for more spaced out families,” said Krista Cox, an Administrator at Penn Manor High School.
There is a national law that restricts anyone over the age of 16 from wearing a mask at any time. If you are caught being 16 or older and wearing a mask, the person will be asked to remove the mask and not wear it in public places again.
However, there’s is no restriction on the age for Trick-Or-Treating and the worst that can happen is the owner of the house will tell the overage Trick-Or-Treaters that they are too old and will not give them candy.
If that happens they will probably just turn around and go to the next house.
So far around Lancaster County there is no age restriction and people who are older and trying to Trick-Or-Treat are free to do so as long as they aren’t wearing a mask or causing any problems with the law.
Through the Eyes of the “O”
By David Burch –
Penn Manor is a school of tradition and pride. Painting up for football games embodies every aspect of tradition, pride and school spirit.
A select few Penn Manor seniors lather their bare chest and stomach with blue and yellow paint to spell out Penn Manor’s mascot, COMETS! for every game.
Being a COMET boy is one of the highest honors that has been bestowed upon me in my life. As well as having a legit dislike for every opposing team, a COMET boy is required to be loud, proud and rowdy.
Every Friday night in the fall I, along with my fellow COMET boys, rock some face paint and a letter on our chest. My letter being a big ol’ “O”.
Although the paint is shockingly cold when it first touches bare skin, it gets even the mellowest of fans hyped for the game.
Before every game the whole student section gathers on the parking deck, or parking lot if it’s an away game, so we can tailgate and get the juices flowing to roll into the game as a blue and gold mob.
After we storm into the stadium like we’re taking over a castle, we get situated in the stands behind our boys. Just like before any sporting event begins, the national anthem is played, because this is America.
We, as COMET boys, sing along because we’re patriotic and proud. We change the ending up a bit to “and the home, of the COMETS,” just to let the other team know that we’re here and ready to go to work. Very classy. It instantly gets everyone riled up for either Daulton Parmer or Brandon Stone to run it back for a touchdown or Brian “Apple-Sloss” Sloss to boot it in the end-zone for a touch back.
There always seems to be a battle for space in the front row no matter where we play. Everybody is anchored to the railing so they don’t get booted to the back and have to peek in between heads to watch the game. Front row is prime real estate and it’s elbow to elbow the entire game.
After every touchdown, the COMET boys grab either Zach Sinz or someone with a relatively small stature and lift them up as many times as there are points on the scoreboard. Usually this tradition gets purposely forgotten towards the end of the game when the score is in the 30+ range.
My goal for every game is to lose my voice or at least make it raspy. If I lose my voice, I did my job.
The COMET boys can be described as the heart and soul of the student section. I feel as if that’s an accurate metaphor and emphasizes the COMET boys importance to not only the student section but the game itself.
Come out to Penn Manor football games if you feel like getting rowdy and support your Comets.
Be warned that if you walk by the student section wearing apparel supporting another school, be prepared to get “Ha-ed” by yours truly, the COMET boys.
It Must Be Love
By Amber Brenner-
Every day in school, we see couples roaming the halls, holding hands, clinging to each other, laughing and making all of us single teens want to barf. But we are most certainly NOT jealous. We don’t want that. So for all of you who insist that we are jealous and lonely, leave us alone. We just want to barf.
We all know the couple about whom I’m referring. They walk slowly through the halls as though they are meandering through a field of wildflowers. They dramatically swing their arms back and forth and back and forth, clinging to one another’s hands. They decide to stop in the middle of the hall. They say goodbye to each other for the block as though one is going away to war. They caress each others’ faces, and they hug, and they kiss. And the whole time, you just want them to move out of your way so you can get to class before you vomit.
I’m sorry, but I would just prefer to not see the tongues of two people flapping around inside and around the outside each other’s mouths. I’d rather see your slimy and repulsive ABC food.
Now I’m not saying that I think teen love is gross. I just think teens lovin’ up on each other in the halls is revolting. The idea in the majority of the pubertal minds we have to encounter, unwillingly, throughout the day seems to be that shoving one’s tongue down another’s throat, leaving slobber and marks all over their bodies, and groping each other in the halls means you are definitely in love.
“Love” must be so yummy.
But somehow, these couples make me a tad green at times. No, I don’t mean they always make me sick and want to vomit. I mean I am green with envy. Yes, I may be a bit jealous, but I don’t want to be a part of a grody teen couple in the halls.
I just want someone who wants to be that with me. I want the choice to not be like that. I want to choose to not be disgusting.
But sadly, instead I’m stuck with the feelings of envy and nausea. They still make me want to vomit, even if I do wish I could be in their shoes.
Top Ten Topics for Teen Focus
By Edward Gahring –
The following are ten of the most important issues of which 16 to 18-year-olds need to be mindful.
1. Health – This is the most important even though you are young and strong right now. It is true if you don’t have your health, you don’t have anything. Your health affects everything you do and everything you are planning for yourself. If you can’t function and move well enough because of a health issue that could have been prevented, your life will be very limited and you need to think about what you can do now to keep yourself healthy.
2. Career Path – Where is your career going to head? It is important to have some idea of where you are going so you have an idea of where to start.
3. School – Yes, you may say you hate school but, think about it. Without a high school diploma, there are next to no job opportunities for you and you will not be able to go on for more schooling.
4. Work – It is hard to get a job right now if you are a teen. Without a history of work experience it will be even more difficult in the future. Everyone should be working at something right now. To earn your own money and pay for your expenses gives you self-respect and confidence.
5. Friends – Who your friends are is more important than how many you have. If you don’t have friends who are looking out for you, you can fall into a group of people who may take advantage of you or lead you in an unhealthy direction without even realizing it.
6. Driving – Knowing how to drive and drive safely is important to our age group because it allows you to get a job, continue a job, meet with friends and club members and allows you to have a social life. Anyone who has been in an accident or had their license taken away knows how much their life is limited by not driving.
7. Sports/Social events – On a sports team or when you are involved in a group activity, such as a club or organization, it allows you to meet new people and get a better understanding of how the world will be when you are on your own. Without something you like to do with other people, you can end up withdrawing from society much easier than if you were involved in a group activity.
8. The next President of the United States – Knowing and having an active role in electing the next President (at least voting if you are able) is important because when you leave high school, he or she will have a great effect on your life.
9. Life Skills – Doing your own laundry, paying your bills, saving money, managing a bank account are important skills to learn to be self-sufficient and successful.
10. World News – it is important to keep up with the news because reading about what goes on around you everyday can help you make up your own opinion on issues and not force you to depend on others for what to think.
Shangrila Restaurant is a new Favorite among Locals
By Kira Hess –
There’s a Chinese restaurant in York that has a 4 star rating – and for good reason.
Shangrila, which is about 35-40 minutes away from Penn Manor, “warrants the drive out there,” said Andrew Bachman of Washington Boro. “The service is great. The servers, while timid, were very fast at getting drinks and refills and very friendly.”
Right when you walk in there’s a warm welcoming from the host who greets you at the door and seats you right away.
“The service is great,” said Dale Laughman who lives in East Berlin. Zach Perecinsky of Delta agreed and added “the food is even better.”
Shangrila is clean and very well kept. It’s not like most Chinese restaurants, the color pops. There are a lot of reds, oranges and yellows; however, it is not overdone. It looks elegant and makes you very comfortable. It’s certainly better than sitting at little rickety tables you find at other Chinese restaurants that are primarily carryout.
“The restaurant itself is extremely clean and the decor is surprisingly posh for a restaurant. The atmosphere is great,” said Bachman.
The decorations add a nice touch to the restaurant. There are flowers and lamps everywhere. They also have pictures on the walls which add to the color and the surrounding area. The place is very cozy.
The food at Shangrila is amazing according to several local people who have tried it.
“The food is awesome,” said Laughman.
The chicken fried rice, the Dragon and Phoenix, and the orange chicken are phenomenal. All the flavors flow through your mouth. The group favorites were definitely the orange chicken and the chicken fried rice.
While this Chinese restaurant is similar to others in many ways, there are many things about it that make it stand out in a crowd.
“Comparing it to other Chinese places is like comparing a McDonald’s burger to Five Guys. They’re relatively the same but astronomically different,” said Bachman
Overall the place is amazing, it’s a hidden little gem tucked away in a strip mall, very unassuming but once you go you’ll find yourself coming back again and again…
“I recommend it to all of my friends who enjoy Chinese food and often take them out there myself. I’ve yet to hear one person say they didn’t find the food to be the best Chinese food they’ve ever had,” said Bachman.
Latest ‘Pirates’ Installment Proves Sequels can Hold Their Own
By Morgan Fletcher –
The latest installment in Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean series is sure to send youngsters who anxiously awaited its arrival away happy, as well as older fans, too.
In the same fashion as its predecessors, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, showcases the more mature side of Disney imagination as its rating is PG-13.
Pirates does not disappoint, however, as it is full of action, comedy, and even glimpses of horror.
The only thing missing from the latest addition is most of the leading cast from the previous films.
The beloved Captain Jack Sparrow, played by Johnny Depp, is still the same old sly, up-to-no good pirate as before. Absent from the movie are Orlando Bloom’s Will Turner and Keira Knightley’s Elizabeth Swann, key components to the first three films.
Director Rob Marshall does a nice job of filling their spaces by throwing into the mix an old, and possibly current, love interest of Sparrow’s, Angelica Malon, played by Penelope Cruz.
Cruz’s almost identical sister but three years her junior, Monica Cruz, played as a body double because Penelope was pregnant during filming.
Other new faces include Malon’s long-lost father, Blackbeared, played by Ian McShane. Captive missionary Philip Swift (Sam Claflin) is also introduced, as is the mermaid he falls in love with, Syrena, played by Spanish-French actress Astrid Berges-Frisbey, who makes her English-language debut.
Returnees include Sparrow’s father Captain Teague (Keith Richards), his former sailing confidant Joshamee Gibbs (Kevin McNally) and his old nemesis Captain Hector Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush).
All in all, the plot structure of the film is well done.
Sparrow has a run-in with Angelica, who reveals herself as his impersonator after the two have a sword match in the back of a bar. Angelica leads him to the ruthless Blackbeard and his crew full of grotesque sailors.
The talk around the world is that a Fountain of Youth exists, thus there is fierce competition to reach it first and reap from its magic.
Because Blackbeard knows of Sparrow’s keen sailing and pirating expertise, he forces him to lead the way in an expedition to find the fountain.
A few escape attempts and a mermaid attack later, Blackbeard’s crew, under Sparrow’s direction, reach the fountain. There, they encounter Barbossa, who is under orders of the British monarchy, and the Spanish who wish to destroy the fountain.
A full-on fight occurs between the opposing forces but somehow in the middle of it all, Sparrow is able to take possession of the two chalices needed for the magic of the fountain to work.
It is learned that in order for a user to take advantage of the fountain’s powers, a mermaid’s tear must be in the gulp that the user swallows as well as the water of the fountain itself. A tear from the stubborn mermaid Syrena, who was abducted during the attack, was earlier obtained.
Both Blackbeard and Angelica are wounded in battle. Only one of them will be able to survive by the fountain’s powers.
Sparrow, with possession of both chalices, has knowledge of which one contains Syrena’s tear and which does not.
Angelica is willing to sacrifice herself for her father, so she drinks the chalice believed to not contain the tear.
Sparrow always has a trick up his sleeve, however, as he knowingly gives Angelica the chalice with the tear.
Thus, she lives and her father perishes.
The movie ends with a cliffhanger as she reveals that she is pregnant with Sparrow’s child, so there’s no telling what craziness the next installment will entail.
Maybe a future Captain Jack is in the works, complete with his father’s witty, trouble-making spirit.
The beginning of the film was slow and could have picked up a bit so that it’s two hour, 17 mintue run time was reduced. The fun-filled action scenes and whimsical lines made up for it, however, and it definitely delivered.