2014-15 Volume 4: Febrruary / Valentine's Day
- 1. The Sword & Shield → MBHS Theatre’s production of “Steel Magnolias,” page 2 → February Holidays, page 8 → Church League basketball, page 13 → Find the best cookies in Birmingham, pages 16 & 17 → Moodle vs. Google Classroom, page 20 INSIDE Vol. XLIX No. 4 Mountain Brook High School February 12, 2015 News: 2-4 Features: 5-11 Sports: 12-14 Reviews: 15-18 Opinions: 19-20 Mountain Brook boys basketball team goes for coveted three-peat title Now Available Online By CAROLINE LOWE Staff Writer During the past year, Mountain Brook High School began to do something new to recognize students. Spartan Stand-Out of the month is designed to spotlight students who just do the right thing. “Mrs. Amanda Hood and the teachers want- ed to recognize the students for character traits,” eleventh grade counselor Ms. Elizabeth Tiley said. “Often students are recognized athletically and academically. We wanted to recognize posi- tive character traits.” This idea started with “a joint effort between the administrators, myself, and the faculty and staff at Mountain Brook,” Ms. Tiley added. “Teachers nominate students who they believe demonstrate that character trait of the month,” she continued. “After we have all the students that have been nominated, then we choose one male and one female from each grade.” Last semester’s character traits were Citi- zenship for September, Respect for October, Thankfulness for November and Generosity for December. This year began with Perseverance for January. The character traits for the remain- der of the year are Compassion in February, Trustworthiness in March, Fairness in April and Responsibility in May. Each character trait is paired with each month according to traditional associations. For ex- ample, “Since Thanksgiving is in November, we paired the charac- ter trait Thankfulness with it. For December, a month of giving, we chose ... Generosity. Typically, February is associated with com- passion. Some months are paired up with character traits that way, and other months just get as- signed a trait,” said Ms. Tiley Senior Charlie Steinmetz, recognized for generosity, said, “What a great honor it is to be chosen by the faculty for this award. It is very gratifying to be recognized for my generosity.” Photo by Madeline Mitchell Students that were chosen for January’s Spartan Stand-Out of the month. Back row, from left to right: Alex Debruge, Charlie Steinmetz, Gabi Goldfarb, and Will Turner. Front row, from left to right: Julia Smith, Creagh Goings, Camden Ferreira, Grayson Gamso, and Rose Levine. Spartan Stand-outs bring MBHS character Please see “Stand-out” Continued on page 3 for more students with the Stand-out awards. By ALEC LEWIS Sports Editor For the fourth consecutive sea- son, Mountain Brook’s boys bas- ketball program has won their area. After a shocking game-winner by Vestavia over Spain Park in the first round of the area tournament, the Spartans faced the Rebels and beat them, 62-25 to win area six. George Hatchett, the coach of the Vestavia Rebels, knew that Mountain Brook would be tough. Prior to the game, he said, “The guys celebrated after that game and enjoyed the win, but they came ready to practice yesterday and we’re looking forward to this game.” Unfortunately, for the Rebels, so was Mountain Brook as they came out with great defensive intensity. At the end of the 1st half, thanks to senior Terrell Guy’s 13 points, the Spartans led, 37-8. In the second half, Mountain Brook furthered their defensive prowess and won with sophomore guard Clay Collins scoring 11 points and the team shooting a col- lective 54-percent from the field. Earlier this year, Mountain Brook faced off in the NXT Level Hoops Fest in Nashville, Tennessee. A 3rd place finish in that national tournament resulted in Spartans coach Bucky McMillan saying, “I wanted to make sure that when we leave here, people nationally knew what Mountain Brook basketball was about. And in facing some of the top teams in the country, I think we did that.” Back-to-back state champions, college talent, an ignited fanbase- -that’s what Mountain Brook basketball has become. And in finishing off this season with a win at Spartan Arena, the 23rd straight win in the Spartans’ home venue, Mountain Brook is headed back to Jacksonville State for the 6th straight season. Standing in Mountain Brook’s way come Thursday, a game that’ll be played at press time, are the Huntsville Panthers. Coming into the game at 8-21, the Panthers lost to area foe Gadsden City in over- time in their championship, but knocked off premier program Gris- som on the road to Jack- sonville. “Jack- sonville State has always been a crazy environ- ment, and I fully expect rowdy fans,” said Collins. “Coach McMillan always talks about doing your job, so that’s what I focus on. When everyone does their job, we play really good team ball.” Mountain Brook’s student sec- tion has contributed to the team’s energy. Senior Paul Roth said, “Playoffs are what we dream of. The team knows they will have an army backing them. We will make sure our presence is felt, and we’re hop- ing to make that arena shake.” Seniors Matt Creighton, Jordan Rich, Will Hartley, Hunter Lucas, Jack Carvalho, Jared Henderson and Guy are all hoping to finish their careers off with Mountain Brook’s 3rd state championship, an unprecedented number in this AHSAA era. “It means a lot because we’ve been playing together for so long,” said Creighton. “It’s really nice to have the chance to win it again this year.” Photo by Alec Lewis The boys basketball team plays hard while being cheered on by the school’s famous student section.
- 2. 2news Thursday, February 12, 2015 The Sword & Shield Letter from the editors The Sword & Shield Co-Editor-in-Chief: Claire Davis Co-Editor-in-Chief: John Sisson Managing Editor: Chandler Gory Art & Photography Editor: Mathilde Sharman News Editor: Madeline Mitchell Sports Editor: Alec Lewis Features Editor: Margaret Heath Opinions Editor: Coke Matthews Reviews Editor: Natalie Jones Business Manager: Sarah Beth Daniel Staff Writers Sponsors: Ms. Catherine Lowe and Mr. Peter Perez Letters to the Editors Policy The Sword & Shield welcomes Letters to the Editors from its readers. We re- serve the right to edit any letters for grammar, length, or libel; however, the meaning will be preserved. Whenever possible, changes made with a letter will be discussed with the author prior to publication. All letters must be signed, but names may be withheld upon request. Email letters to gosands@gmail.com. The Sword & Shield Mountain Brook High School 3650 Bethune Drive Mountain Brook, AL 35223 Telephone: (205) 414-3800 Fax: (205) 969-8113 Printing made possible by Alabama Web Press 1793 Eva Road Cullman, AL 35055 Telephone: (256) 734-5104 It’s finally 2015, readers. A new year of possibilities, revelations, change, and fun has begun, and while most of us still have the winter blues, The Sword & Shield has been busily working away (not in the least because of the lack of a window in our room). For instance, you can read about the choir show “Brookie Invasion” that is premiering next week. Or you could refresh your memory about things like course selection forms and decide whether you made the right choices or you need a schedule change in the near future. For those who feel like the flu has a never-ending death grip on you, try reading Nurse Barbie’s advice on page 7. We promise it won’t be what you expected. If you want instead to relive those tense and exciting moments from the end of this year’s Superbowl (ads), check page 15 and see what we thought about them. Finally, we have heard a rumor that love is in the air, so for the annual cute couples article with a new manly twist, turn to page 11. As of press time, we were unable to cover the regional games in basketball, so we hope you enjoy the game and read this issue on the way home. Go Spartans! Thanks for reading, Claire and John Thomas Cooney Will Davis Carter Ennis Casey Fan Scott Lepley Leigh Lewis Caroline Lowe Jonathan McWane Lily Smith Brooke Tucker By MADELINE MITCHELL News Editor On January 29, January 30 and February 1, Mountain Brook High School hosted a beauty parlor in the Fine Arts Center. Actually, it was just a play about one. The Theatre Department performed “Steel Magnolias,” which centers on a small-town beauty shop and its female patrons. Set in the 1980s, the classic play highlights the women and their close friendships as they face var- ious obstacles, such as a runaway husband and a daughter’s diabetes complications. The play featured seniors Hamp- ton Adams as M’Lynn and Ann Thomas as Shelby as well as juniors Camden Ferreira as Truvy, Addie Glover as Annelle, Kelsey Potter as Ouiser and Elizabeth Turner as Clairee. The actresses encountered many challenges in this production be- cause of its long length, small cast and deep emotion. “It’s a very long and involved show,” Thomas says. Because there are so few characters, each character had many lines and a prominent role. “The hardest part was getting all of the lines down,” says Potter. “For me the hardest part is getting into the last scene, right after we lose Shelby,” Adams says. “We can’t just think about a fic- tional character dying; we all have to think about things that make us individually cry.” The girls also had to master the deep Southern drawl typical of the characters in the play. “We really just try to enhance the natural ac- cent we have,” Turner says. “We also thought of the older women we know, like our grand- mothers, who still speak like the characters do. That helped us pick up the accent,” adds Thomas. However, the actresses could not perform without a great deal of help from the other students in the theatre class. “We put this together in just a month,” Potter says. In order to accomplish this, the cast rehearsed every day and relied on the other theatre students to prepare a set, costumes, makeup and everything else needed for a production. “Everyone worked on it even though there are six actress- es in the play,” says Potter. Ferreira adds, “We had student directors, student project teams. So it’s not just Mr. Jesse Tilton direct- ing us. It’s all of the theatre students taking responsibility for their own part in the arts.” “Students learned to do sound, learned to do hair, learned to do makeup,” Potter says, allowing every student in the theatre class to be involved in the play. MBHS Theatre steals the show with “Steel Magnolias” Photo by Madeline Mitchell Theatre students perform “Steel Magnolias,” a play written by Robert Harling in order to cope with the loss of his sister.
- 3. 3news Thursday, February 12, 2015 The Sword & Shield By CASEY FAN Staff Writer It’s that time of the year, when sophomores and juniors are signing up for the classes they will be taking next year. While most of the choices remain the same, MBHS is offering sev- eral new electives that will hopefully appeal to a broad range of students. One of the new classes that students will be able to take is AP Computer Science Princi- ples, which will be taught by Mr. Fred Major. Computer science embraces problem solving, hardware, algorithms and perspectives that will help utilize technology to address real-world problems in contemporary life. This class was designed to instill ideas and practices of com- putation thinking in students and have them engage in hands-on activities that show how computing affects our global society.The school has recently applied for and received a grant to help fund this class. Mr. Major says, “Data analysis and collabo- ration are big components of this course, and one of the principal motives behind creating the program was to increase female representation in this rapidly expanding field.” Another class that will be offered is the Proj- ect Seminar, which will be taught by Mrs. Jane Major. The concept of the curriculum for this class is similar to the 20% project that Mrs. Ma- jor began this year, in which her English class spends their Fridays researching an idea/con- cept that interests them and develops a thesis/ project to summarize their research and to state their conclusions. Students will write a paper and make a presentation at the end of the year. Principal Amanda Hood and Assistant Principal Ben Hudson created the idea for this class. Mrs. Major says, “This will be a great class because the students have to submit a plan prior to enrolling in the class, meaning that they real- ly have to enjoy what they are proposing and be dedicated to working on developing this project throughout the entire school year.” For students struggling with writing or want- ing a chance to have their friends and classmates edit their writing, whether it be a research paper or a personal narrative, Peer Tutorial offers this opportunity in a collaborative, friendly environ- ment and was inspired by Julia Spaht, a former MBHS teacher, who left the high school to coor- dinate a writing lab. According to Mrs. Christina McGovern, the sponsor of this class, “Our students are a largely untapped resource at this school and have the ability to help each other in real and meaningful ways. This spirit is one fostered in the commu- nity and through other avenues such as Leader- ship Mountain Brook.” Because these offerings will be new classes for the upcoming school year, there’s no saying how effective or successful they will be. How- ever, Mr. Hudson believes that the classes will begin small initially but will grow in popularity as they develop and as more students become aware of the experience. MBHS offers new courses for 2015-2016 school year Photo by Margaret Heath Sophomore Savannah Page discusses her course selections for the upcoming school year with counselor Mrs. Elanor Dukes and Mr. Peter Perez. Junior Creagh Goings, who was recognized for perseverance, said, “When I found out that I won the award, I was so honored to be chosen because there are so many students who work hard and persevere through many different circumstances. So, I’m just humbled and grateful to all my teachers and friends who encourage me every day.” Month Character Trait 10th Grade 11th Grade 12th Grade September Citizenship Gracie Tortorici Caroline Moore Katie Littleton Philamon Thomas Hemstreet Austin Du- bose Jacob Car- roll October Respect Caroline Selesky Caroline Morris Bryna Martinez Butler Wilbanks Benjamin Honan John Sisson November Thankfulness Sarah Grace Hayes Kaylyn Greene Mallie Given Mabry Crane Robert Wauby Joshua Weisberg December Generosity Grayson Gamso Camden Ferreira Gabi Goldfarb Turner Beard Alex Debruge Charlie Steinmetz Month Character Trait 10th Grade 11th Grade 12th Grade January Perseverance Rose Levine Creah Go- ings Julia Smith Andrew Bargeron Will Turner Arthur Triantos February Compassion ????? ????? ????? ????? ????? ????? March Trustworthi- ness ????? ????? ????? ????? ????? ????? April Fairness ????? ????? ????? ????? ????? ????? May Responsibility ????? ????? ????? ????? ????? ????? Stand-outs, continued from page 1
- 4. 4news Thursday, February 12, 2015 The Sword & Shield By THOMAS COONEY and MATHILDE SHARMAN Staff Writer and Art & Photography Editor On Tuesday, January 6, the first day of Spring Semester at Moun- tain Brook High School, students returned to a surprise. Over 20 alumni visited the school to talk to students about the opportunities MBHS offers and ways to prepare for the college application process. Returning after a long time was overwhelming for many alumni. Nick Barnette, a sophomore at TCU, said, “So many memories flooded my mind as I walked through the high school for the first time in years.” Alumni spoke to the students about topics such as preparing for college, taking advantages of opportunities at MBHS, AP class- es, SAT, ACT and the application process. Kate Causey, a student at Furman, said, “I wanted to speak about how well Mountain Brook prepared us for college and gave us the tools to succeed." This is the first time MBHS has invited alumni back to talk to stu- dents. The idea for an alumni visit was proposed by Dr. Sue Davis, the AP Physics teacher at Mountain Brook, and Mrs. Tricia Pugh and Mrs. Honey Taylor, parents of cur- rent and former Mountain Brook students. Dr. Davis explained the original idea for an alumni visit. “I came back and talked to Tricia Pugh and suggested a Cookies and College forum where our alumni could talk about their schools. We had a meeting to figure out alumni who would be in town and who would be easy to communicate with. We eventually decided on the class- room setting versus a large assem- bly, hoping students would pay more attention and ask questions.” The group started brainstorm- ing an alumni visit in the fall, but “it really came together in these last couple months," explains Mrs. Pugh, PTO president. The group took the original idea of an after school forum and brought it to principal Amanda Hood, who suggested bringing it into the class- room. On January 5, math classes were assigned two alumni each, who shared their experiences and answered questions during the period. “It was fascinating to sit in on a classroom, hearing alumni talk about the impact of their high course selection on their college life. They all talked about how they learned how to write here,” said Mrs. Taylor. “My oldest went to Sewanee,” continued Mrs. Taylor, "and he loved to be able to give tours and show his school. He was thrilled to be able to come back and talk to students.” The alumni shared how Moun- tain Brook has impacted their col- lege experience. Tulane University freshman Emily Bedell said, “My English professors at school were impressed with my writing, which shows how well Mountain Brook prepares you.” Bedell also commented on the work ethic Mountain Brook instills in students. “Managing the little things, even if they’re not for a grade; that’s something you learn at Mountain Brook that’s important in college," she said. University of Alabama junior Joey Weed also appreciated Moun- tain Brook’s impact. “I’m a math major. Coming into the University of Alabama, I was two years ahead of a lot of my classmates, and I think that’s because the math de- partment at Mountain Brook push- es you so hard.” He added, “More than just classes, Mountain Brook teaches you how to carry yourself with poise.” Bedell shared how life beyond the classroom at Mountain Brook prepared her for success in college: “High school is the perfect time to figure out how much academ- ic work you can handle and how much you can do socially and in terms of extracurriculars. The more you do in high school, the more you’re going to learn to manage your time," she explained. Bedell and Weed agreed that it’s the day-to-day details of a school that can really determine the right fit. “Any place is going to advertise great academics and great profes- sors, but I think it’s the little things that remind you of home that really connect with you,” said Weed. But how do you really begin to understand a school--how do you find those connections that will lead you to the right fit? Be- dell’s answer: get to know a school through its students. “Do not be afraid to reach out to a college student to talk to them about their school. Everyone loves their school, and they’re going to have nothing but great things to say about their school,” said Bedell. Weed’s connection with the alumni network played heavily into going to the University of Alabama. “I looked at colleges big and small, public and private, and I choose Alabama because of the personal connection I experienced there. Sitting down with alumni, making that real connection with a school, that’s what makes or breaks a college choice and creates your excitement to go there; you know they’re being honest, and you know it’s going to be a good four years,” he said. But the discussion of colleges wouldn’t be complete without the most important factor: cost. Weed and Bedell agreed that college is an investment and understanding your potential at a school influenc- es that investment. Weed looked at investment as a two-way road when it came to picking a college. “To me, scholarships are about schools seeing potential in you and wanting to invest in you, so I chose a place that showed that.” Students and organizers reacted positively to the alumni visit. The majority of students responded well to the speakers and reportedly gained a better understanding of the college process. Sophomore Joe Calvin, said, "I felt like I could relate to Nick, and he gave a lot of good tips that would help down the road.” The response from all involved in the event will have students looking forward to the next alum- ni visit. Pugh explained, “I’m sure we’ll have seniors who will reach out to us in the future to come back and share their college experience.” MBHS Alumni return to speak on college preparation Photo by Claire Davis MBHS graduates Nick Barnette and Daniel Bolus answer questions about college in Mrs. Nancy Hollis’s Algebra II class.
- 5. 5Features Thursday, February 12, 2015 The Sword & Shield Having fun isn’t hard when you’ve got a library card By CLAIRE DAVIS Co-Editor in Chief What if you were told you could download your favorite music, take an online course, read magazines, receive tutoring and read books all legally and for free? Here’s the kicker: you don’t have to imagine this. It’s all available for you to use right now – if you have a Jefferson County library card. While many think that libraries are obsolete with the new handy-dandy Internet, they still have much to offer to the population, especially if you are a student in Mountain Brook. For example, our very own school library has multiple ways to get in touch and request books. Librarian Mrs. Annalisa Keuler said, “We have our own Twitter account, @MBHSLibrary and our own Goodreads account at /mbhs_library, where we post about new books added to our library.” The librarians themselves also can direct you to a book about a topic you are interested in. “We call it ‘personal shopping,’ ” Kueler said. “We recently did it for Mrs. Jane Major’s class and their 20% Projects. They came to us with their chosen topics, and we showed them three titles that would be helpful for their work.” Another resource students can use is something called Homework Alabama. Found on the school library’s webpage and partially provided by Emmet O’Neal Library, this website provides free online tutoring to anyone for any class from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. Users are required to fill out a questionnaire to connect with a live tutor, so you can ask your question. The Emmet O’Neal branch of the Jefferson County Library Commis- sion also provides all its cardholders with unique resources like the latest free magazines online through Flipster or a plethora of online classes through Rosetta Stone or Universal Classes. Universal Classes are free, while Rosetta Stone is free through the first level of over 30 languages. But perhaps the real diamond in the rough is Emmet O’Neal’s partici- pation with Freegal, a database of millions of songs that allows cardhold- ers to download songs for free every week. Artists from Meghan Trainor to Passion Pit to Mumford & Sons all agree to give Freegal the rights to some, if not all, of their songs so library members can enjoy the music for free. All that’s required is the library card number for the free music. And how does one get a library card? Signup for one at your local library, of course. And the best part is that it’s free. Photo by Claire Davis The Emmet O’Neal library is useful even after hours. Hidden poetry opportunity for students at MBHS By SARAH BETH DANIEL Business Manager The time for submissions for the Muse Literary Magazine is coming up, which begs the question, ‘What is The Muse’? The Muse Literary Mag- azine is often unknown to Mountain Brook High School students. Spon- sored by Ms. Denise Trimm, it is an excellent opportunity for aspiring writers or those who want to improve their writing skills. Students get the chance to improve their writing skills as well as enter their works into several contests throughout the year. The Alabama Writ- ing Forum is one contest The Muse staff has entered already. They also participate in Nanowrimo a.k.a. National Novel Writing Month and the ASFA Creative Writing Contest. Junior Adelaide Kimberly, second year staff writer, won a national award with Scholastic, and last year’s senior Adelaide Dunn won a schol- arship for her writing from Alabama Writer’s Forum. Last year, several of the Muse staff also placed in the AHSLAA and ASFA writing competi- tions. “Our students have won at least one major contest each year since I have been here,” Mrs. Trimm said. The Muse also allows students an opportunity to have their work published. Every year students of Mountain Brook High School and staff writers for the Muse can submit poems and works of fiction to the Muse Literary Magazine to be published online on the Mountain Brook web site. Contrary to what many people think, Muse is a very relaxed class and provides a way for students to express themselves through their writing. “Students can expect time, support and community,” Ms. Trimm said. Students can also expect time to write and a nonjudgmental group of writers who will help improve their skills. While focused, this class has a natural and comfortable flow, creating a relaxed environment for students, making it easier for them to express themselves, and each year the class develops a distinct personality. “Shenanigans are prevalent in Muse every year,” Mrs. Trimm said. “I take them with patience, for the most part, and accept them as part of working with creative students.” Muse admissions will be accepted between now and February 20. Photo by Sarah Beth Daniels Senior Cat Schultz, junior Sam Poole and sophomore Robert Krauss edit each other’s work in Muse.
- 6. 6Features Thrusday, February 12, 2015 The Sword & Shield Brookie Invasion: A British twist on Mountain Brook’s annual choir showBy LILY SMITH Staff Writer I bet you are all dying to know what happened to this year’s big choir show. In recent years, the show has taken place at the end of the first semester. This year, however, the dates have been changed to February 18- 20 at 7:00 p.m. Mr. John Kincaid, the choir teacher at MBHS, said, “I am very excited that the show is in February this year because this way all of the choirs are more prepared vocally.” The show is headlining as “Brookie Invasion,” which refers to the British music invasion in the 1960s. Each choir will perform a medley of songs, all of which are of British origin. This theme was suggested by last year’s choir students. People attending the show can expect to see a variety of songs from British artists, including “Viva la Vida” by Coldplay, “Wannabe” by Spice Girls, “Wings” by Little Mix and “Story of my Life” by One Direction. Sophomore Turner Beard said, “My favorite song from our medley is ‘Good Times Bad Times’ by Led Zeppelin because it is the most fun to perform.” Choir members this year are excited to display the product of their hard work and extensive efforts to make this show as successful as pos- sible. Sophomore Ann McQueen Whatley said, “I can’t wait to sing and dance with my friends, especially after we have worked so hard for so long.” If you want to purchase a ticket for the show, contact a member of the choir. Although there will be tickets sold at the door on the night of the show, the supply is extremely limited. The smartest method would be to talk to someone in choir or purchase them at the school. There will be one day where the tickets will be sold in the mall, but it had not been announced by press time. Photo by Lily Smith Members of choir rehearse for the choir show’s dances and songs, which have a British theme this year.
- 7. 7Features Thursday, February 12, 2015 The Sword & Shield The Hot Zone: Just a chat with Nurse Barbie Sanak By CARTER ENNIS Staff Writer Nurse Barbie Sanak is no stranger to the perils of working in a high school health room. Throughout her years of service, she has encoun- tered runny noses, headaches, minor colds and other ailments that beset the human race during winter months or test days. The extent of these terrible sicknesses, depending on how good of an actor a student may be, is enough to send him or her home. Seeing as how the flu seems to be keeping everyone and their mum out of class this winter, S&S rep Carter Ennis donned a model SSP-99 “Ecologist” Hazmat Suit and had a chat with our venerable school nurse. The Sword & Shield: What precautions should one take in order to pre- vent getting sick this holiday season? Nurse Barbie: My biggest suggestion to people is handwashing. Proper handwashing, not touching your face, and lots of sleep. S&S: What types of ailments have you seen so far this season? Nurse Barbie: This is the biggest flu, stomach bug and sore throat season. We’re seeing a lot of kids with the same complaints head to toe. I ache, I’m tired, I have a sore throat, I don’t feel good and I can’t put my finger on it, and they have a fever. S&S: Is it true that the best way to prevent sickness is to don blood red robes and dance around a monolith of human bones during a full moon? Nurse Barbie: No…it’s not. S&S: Is it advisable to cut off one’s hands in order to prevent contraction of diseases? Nurse Barbie: I’m sure that would work, but it’s too radical of a thing to do. S&S: What are some of the signs of an oncoming flu? Nurse Barbie: I use the F.A.C.T.S. I know you guys have seen it on the news. “F” is fever, “A” is aches, “C” is chills or a cough, “T” is tiredness and “S” is that it suddenly came on. Those are the symptoms of the flu, and the fact that you’re really well one day and extremely ill the next, very abruptly, is a sign that you should go get swabbed. Fever over 100? Think about flu. S&S: Do you advise against the use of flu mist? Nurse Barbie: Yes. S&S: How effective is modern medicine in regards to helping students smell better? Nurse Barbie: I guess if you go to a dermatologist, and they wanna use Botox, you can get rid of a lot of ailments that way. S&S: How dangerous is the flu? Nurse Barbie: The flu is dangerous to people who are young and very old. So that’s why we try to do as much immunization against it as possible, because the young people and the old people have trouble getting rid of the flu; it can really take them down. Cause, if you’ve ever had the flu, without Tamiflu, you’re sick for 9-10 days. Very sick. S&S: Do leeches have a place in modern medicine? Nurse Barbie: They do if you have gangrene. S&S: Do you keep any leeches on site? Nurse Barbie: Nope, no leeches here at school. S&S: What charms should I use to ward off the bad spirits that cause the flu and other illnesses? Nurse Barbie: I guess just your charming self. Photo by Carter Ennis Nurse Barbie is a staple at Mountain Brook High, taking care every school day through the cold, flu and senioritis seasons.
- 8. 8Features Thursday, February 12, 2015 The Sword & Shield Why can’t we be friends? The importance of other holidays in February By MARGARET HEATH Features Editor When you think February, do you think of the solemn faces on Mount Rushmore? George Wash- ington Carver creating hundreds of uses for peanuts? Sleepy little groundhogs hiding from their shadows? If you answered yes, then you might be able to see through the red haze that shrouds February, better known as Valentine’s Day. Although fun can be found in struggling to acquire the perfect gift for that special someone or spending your day alone cramming chocolates into your mouth and watching chick flicks, there are many other holidays in February that are overshadowed by the ever present V- day. Holidays such as Presidents’ Day, Groundhog Day and Black History Month, get pushed further into obscurity as Valentine’s Day gets pushed into the limelight earlier every year. Yet each holiday has its own unique and endearing qualities. To start: Black History Month. MONTH, not day, not hour, but month. The holiday screams importance. The month celebrates black accomplishments, not just of Civil Rights activists like Martin Luther King, Jr., and Rosa Parks, but also of African American scien- tists, lawyers and athletes. Among these were Dr. Mae Jemison, the first African American woman to travel into space; John Mercer Langston, the first black man to become a lawyer in Ohio and one of the first to hold an elected public office in America; and Jack John- son, the first African American man to win the World Heavyweight Championship in boxing. These amazing individuals should not be overshadowed by a holiday making couples look sappy and singles look unhappy. Without the contributions of these mem- bers of society and many others, we would not live in such a tech- nologically and socially advanced country. Nowhere close to being as important as Black History Month but still a fun holiday to celebrate is Groundhog’s Day. On February 2, Americans all around the coun- try hold their breath and sit closer to the TV to see some furry little critter who has been hibernating all winter get blinded and decide whether or not he sees his shadow. Multiple states hold their own celebrations, each having its own groundhog to really confuse the prediction. Alabama has its own groundhog affectionately named Smith Lake Jake who wears lots of hats and has a twitter if you want to follow him (@smithlakejake). Now if giant rodents don’t say love, I’m not sure what does; until we figure out our strange relationships with the little beasts, let’s at least be glad ours doesn’t have the unfortu- nate and difficult to spell name of Punxsutawney Phil. Yes, I did have to Google the spelling. One of the later holidays, and by later I mean two days after Valentine’s Day, is Presidents’ Day on February 16. This holiday highlights the great leaders of our country such as Abraham Lincoln, George Washington and those other two guys on the front of Mount Rushmore. No, the day now awards all the nation’s presidents with a spotlight of their own, yet Washington can claim all the glory since the day is actually scheduled on his birthday, sorry Abe. The actual date has been shifted around several times but was cemented onto the third Monday of February in order to give American workers more three day weekends which happens to be great for those of us without jobs. See, Valentine’s Day takes a chunk of cash out of pock- et while this much more docile holiday gives students and laborers a well-deserved day off, thanks Obama… and all the other presi- dents. Now that you know all about the holidays you’ve already missed or have yet to celebrate, get out there with your new knowledge about February and share it with the world. Who knows, maybe we can turn Presidents’ Day into a commercial holiday, give little groundhog sculptures to those we care for on Groundhog Day or just enjoy the advances accomplished by great African American citi- zens like the illustrious George Washington Carver who changed the economy of Alabama with the simple peanut. Cartoon by Claire Davis Martin Luther King Jr., George Washington and Smith Lake Jake try to get Cupid to give their holidays a turn in the limelight of February.
- 9. 9Features Thursday, February 12, 2015 The Sword & Shield By MATHILDE SHARMAN Art & Photography Editor I remember elementary school in terms of holidays. Crossword puzzles, spelling tests and word problems centered around pump- kin pie and Christmas shopping. I spent many of my school days in a haze of holiday themed songs, puzzles and stories. But the best was Valentine’s Day. We bought dozens upon dozens of cards fea- turing our favorite Disney charac- ters and corny messages. And the candy—those tiny aluminum balls of Hersey kisses will forever hold a place in my heart. Time has passed, though. The innocence of younger days faded, but I didn’t fully understand the depth of this change until recently. Every February, The Sword & Shield staff faces the grim task of writing Valentine’s Day themed articles. As I have zero experience/ knowledge/background in the dating department, I was asked to write about Sweethearts. Cor- rection—I was asked to research and analyze the messages on those crummy little candies. In my younger years, I was not so quick to judge; Sweethearts (also known as conversation hearts) served as a quintessential element of my Valentine’s Day celebrations. But a simple Google search robbed Sweethearts of their innocence. Necco, a New England based candy maker, has pursued various marketing strategies over the years. According to the company, their products keep up with current trends. Necco explains, “From old tech, ‘Call me’ to new tech, ‘E-mail me’, Sweethearts keep the pulse on the heartbeat of the nation.” The candy giant’s recent attempt to stay as fresh as your Twitter feed disturbed me. Last February, Necco released their Date Night Hot Hearts and Cool Hearts, describing them as “irresistibly fresh.” The Hot Hearts feature “spicy sayings” such as “Kiss Me,” “Wow Me,” “Ooh La La,” and “Wink Wink.” Ooh La La is the clear winner. To maintain the high standards of investigative journalism, I at- tempted to purchase the candies. Howev- er, after calling sev- eral stores, I couldn’t find the hearts. Too risqué for Publix aisle 2? According to Candyblog.net, an expert in the world of delicious confec- tions, “The flavor is cinnamony, has an immediate warmth to it, but there’s a note of clove and some of the oth- er more woodsy flavors of ground cinnamon.” (Sweet- hearts are apparently moving up in the culinary world.) The Cool Hearts also feature special messages: “Chill Out,” “Frosty,” “Shivers,” “Icy Blast,” “So Fresh.” No comment needed. While Necco is obviously mov- ing in bold new directions, the messages are a departure from those of my childhood (true love, hug me). Do second graders need to be munching on hearts labeled “wink wink”? I didn’t make eye contact with a boy until eighth grade, let alone tell him to “Wow Me.” As our lives changed, Sweet- Hearts evolved as well. And while I admire the company’s innovative marketing, they tainted my child- hood memories and robbed the innocence of Valentine’s Day from millions of children. Bitterness is unattractive, especially on Valen- tine’s Day. So face the changing times with courage. Try Date Night Hot Hearts and Cool Hearts today. These Sweethearts are fresher than your Twitter feed Cartoon by Sarah Beth Daniel Juniors Ella Jernigan contributed this new Sweetheart slogan. Junior Edmund Perry wants to show his love for Coach Gino, baseball coach and United States History teacher here at Mountain Brook. “I’d put ‘I <3 Gino,’ ‘Gino is Love,’ ‘Gino is my man,’ ‘Gino 4 Prez’,” says Edmund.
- 10. 10Features Thursday, February 12, 2015 The Sword & Shield Kayaking with Katie Jackson By NATALIE JONES Reviews Editor While most prefer the cozy comfort of the indoors during those dreary rainy days, senior Katie Jackson can’t wait to venture outdoors. In fact, this adventurous senior has a very different idea of comfortable. Instead of heading for the couch in hopes of a nice nap or movie mara- thon, Katie heads out to tackle the Southeast’s river rapids. “My dad started taking us down the Cahaba River when we were little, and I’ve been hooked on kayaking ever since. Because I started learn- ing early, I was able to get a good feel for the sport. I knew it was something I wanted to continue to do,” said Katie. But Katie quickly mastered Birmingham’s lo- cal rivers and realized she would have to search elsewhere to find challenging courses that would prepare her for high-level com- petitions. “The Cahaba River is great for learning the movement of the kayak, but it’s flat with little to no white water. I knew I needed to get exposure with more intense rapids in order to improve, so I ended up going camping in North Carolina during the summer to practice,” said Katie. Through specialized summer camps, Katie was able to meet fellow kayakers and expand her comfort zone. She believes kayaking with a group makes the experience more enjoyable. Perhaps even more importantly, though, Katie believes group kayaking is absolutely essential to keeping everyone safe out on the rivers. “At camp I was able to kayak with a group of people, and I think that made all the differ- ence. I felt so much more secure having others around me in case something went wrong, and I think having a group to practice with is especially critical if you’re a beginner or attempting a really difficult course,” said Katie. Although kayaking with a group is a great safety measure, Katie believes the best way to ensure safety is to be as prepared as possible. “Even if you’re with a group, that doesn’t nec- essarily guarantee they’ll be able to reach you if you get in a tight spot. I think the most import- ant thing you can do before riding a river is to make sure you’re completely prepared. If you’re not confident in your preparation, you won’t be confident out on the course,” said Katie. Despite the dangers of the sport, Katie has managed to prepare for her competi- tions without the assistance of a coach by practicing with more experienced kayak- ers. “One of the amazing things about kayaking is that all the professionals are out there on the courses with you. When- ever we need any advice about a certain course, they’re always willing to help train or advise us about which areas are safest and which areas we need to avoid,” said Katie. Speaking of things to avoid, Katie ranks careless kayaking top on the list of rookie mistakes. Because you can’t always tell the depth of certain pockets, Katie believes it’s always good to be alert even on the easier courses. “It’s kind of like driving a car. Acci- dents can happen in a split second, and you don’t want to be caught off guard. If you’re aware of what’s going on in your surroundings you’re a lot more likely to react fast enough to prevent any serious injuries,” said Katie. Although getting in tight spots can be scary, Katie admits that sometimes it’s necessary to mess-up a few times in order to learn and prepare for the more difficult challenges. In fact, Katie hopes to encounter as many difficulties as possible in the upcoming months to prepare for the U.S. Team Trials. “My style actually isn’t offered in the Olym- pics yet, so for us the biggest competition is Worlds, which is being hosted in Canada next August. In order to compete at Worlds, I’ll first have to qualify in the U.S. Team Trials.” Katie hopes to begin training shortly after AP exams to prepare for the trials, which will be hosted in Colorado during the last week of May. With her ultimate goal set on Worlds, Katie hopes to represent the U.S. at Worlds next sum- mer. Photo courtesy of Chap Jackson Katie manuevers her kayak through the course. Photo courtesy of Chap Jackson Katie cheers after finishing her race with her team behind her. Photo courtesy of Chap Jackson Senior Katie Jackson walks in her kayak skirt after a compe- tition.
- 11. 11Features Thursday, February 12, 2015 The Sword & Shield Mountain Brook’s Cutest Bromances Who made the first move? Will Freeman: “We had been friends for a very long time. We were always close and were the best of friends. But then one day as we were walking down the hall we made eye contact and knew there was something more there. We embraced, and that was the first move.” What is the cutest thing y’all have ever done for one another? Ben Rysendorph: “After a tough breakup, we would take the one who had their heart crushed up to the top of Vulcan for a candlelit dinner to make them feel better.” Will Freeman and Ben Rysendorph What is the sweetest memory you have together? Vince Bolus: “One time Frese was feeling a little blue, so I just took him to the Summit. We spent the day people watching and reading, and then we went back to my house, watched “Space Jam” and made jello pud- ding.” Andrew Frese: “What can I say? He speaks the truth. Vince often is vic- tim to the stress of his unusually large work-load. So, one evening when he was particularly stressed I came over, and we chatted over a pot of his favorite chamomile tea. Time flew by and after all of the laughs, we parted for the night, with schoolwork out of mind.” Who made the first move? Vince Bolus: “I made the first move. Frese is a very gentle creature, much like a desert rose. He had to be introduced to this new bromance delicately, so I slowly eased him into this relationship by giving him lots of CD’s of obscure jam bands. Since then, we’ve been going strong.” Vince Bolus and Andrew Frese
- 12. 12Sports Thursday, February 12, 2015 The Sword & Shield By WILL DAVIS Staff Writer In 2014, the Mountain Brook baseball team won the 6A Region Four championship and made it to the quarterfinals of the state playoffs in thrilling fashion. With so many returning players, it’s easy to understand why expectations are high for 2015. “We had a meeting, and we let our players set the goals for this season,” Spartans’ coach Lee Gann said. “Their goals were to win the area champi- onship, sweep the area and win a state championship, so that’s our goal for this season, to win an area championship and a state championship.” Seniors Jack McPherson, Hunter Holcomb, Alan Hale and Andrew Autrey are a few of the returning stars from last year’s team, a team that finished 31-15. McPherson and Autrey have both accepted scholarship offers to play baseball at Auburn next year. “It means a lot,” McPherson said about his scholarship offer from Au- burn. “I love to play baseball, and I get to do it for four more years.” Mountain Brook hopes to carry over the momentum from last season’s playoff run into this season. “We want to do better this year than what we did last year,” Hale said. “We always want to get better.” “Last season’s finish gives our team confidence that we can come back again and make it farther this year,” McPherson said. One of the reasons why the team is confident about their chances in 2015 is the abundance of returning players and the senior leadership on the roster. “We got a lot of seniors back,” Gann acknowledged. “We also have a lot of guys who are leaders. We’ve got team captains that are back this year, and we’re excited about those guys leading us.” The Spartans began practicing on January 26 and will begin their sea- son on February 16 with a doubleheader in Gardendale against Benjamin Russell and Gardendale. After the Mid-Mississippi Classic in Jackson, Mississippi and a road game against Chelsea, Mountain Brook will finally play their home open- er against Homewood on March 12. The way the Spartans schedule sets up this year differs from years past, due to the introduction of the new 7A classification. The new 7A also affects the area and the amount of teams that will be able to make the playoffs. The Spartans know their new region, which consists of Spain Park, Vestavia and Hewitt-Trussville will make for some new and unique chal- lenges. “Our area has changed,” Gann said. ”So, it’s going to be very difficult in order to get into the playoffs, but we’re looking forward to the challenge.” The Spartans will host their annual spring break tournament at the high school on March 28-31. They will conclude their regular season on April 16 at Vestavia, and the first round of the first 7A state playoffs will begin on April 24. Mountain Brook baseball looks to build on 2014 playoff run Photo by Will Davis The baseball team began practice almost 3 weeks in advance of their first game in February. By JONATHAN MCWANE Staff Writer Mountain Brook’s tennis teams have been historically successful, and the team this upcoming season is no exception. The varsity boys team is looking to improve upon their record of 12-2 from last season with their only two losses coming to Vestavia, 6-3 and 7-2. The varsity girls squad is looking to repeat an undefeated season, which included five shutouts and their 10th state championship since 2000. The varsity boys and girls teams began practicing on January 12 and 13, respectively. The teams are led by Mrs. Susan Farlow. “We lost 3 of our top 6 players from last year,” Farlow said. “The work ethic is much stronger in practices because of that and this is important to our success.” Varsity boys games began on February 9 when Mountain Brook host- ed Oak Mountain, sweeping the Eagles 9-0. The girls games began the following day at home against Hoover. “Both teams are practicing twice a week right now to make final prepa- rations for the season openers,” Farlow said. Both teams are poised to face tough competition throughout the sea- son. “On both sides, we have our most competitive matches with Vestavia and Spain Park,” Farlow said. “We always look forward to playing these teams because it generally is a gauge of how successful we will be and areas that need more work.” Farlow believes the future looks promising for both teams. “We have lots of strong returning players,” Farlow said. “But new varsity members who are standing out in practice are Seth Cohen in the junior class and Ellie Polk and Peter Hartman in the sophomore class.” Junior Connor Morgan is poised to have his best season as a member of the Spartans. “I have a pretty good feeling about our team this year,” Morgan said. “We’ve been working hard in our first few practices so hope- fully that will show during the season.” The boys and girls teams are looking to win their 24th and 27th overall championships, respectively. Coach Farlow has tremendous confidence in both teams. Senior Lil Kilgore is also expected to have a great final season with the Spartans. “The team has to make sure they’re not distracted by the fact that we won the championship last year,” Kilgore said. “I think we’re all well prepared for the season.” On the boys squad, senior Sam Lidikay is expecting to have a produc- tive campaign. “It feels really fulfilling to know that I’ve done as much as I can to get to where I am today as a player.” Lidikay said. “I think the other teams in the state have been too comfortable playing us in the past but I’m extremely confident that will change this year.” Both the boys and girls squads have aspirations to return to the state championship, which will take place on March 11. Spartan tennis teams set new goals for the season Photo courtesy of Lil Kilgore The girls team celebrates last year’s win and aims to win another championship for their 2015 season.
- 13. 13Sports Thursday, February 12, 2015 The Sword & Shield By ALEC LEWIS Sports Editor “The biggest thing we’ve got going right now is that we’re playing really well,” said Lady Spar- tans Coach Mark Cornelius. After losing two seniors and two five-year starters in Mary Kath- erine Pinson and Collier Ogilvie, the Mountain Brook Lady Spartans are returning to Jackson- ville State after placing 2nd in area six. “We’re healthy, the chemistry of the team is probably our biggest asset right now which is something we’ve definitely needed a little bit more of,” said Cornelius. “We’re playing with a lot of confidence. We’ve found ways to use new pieces such as junior Nicole Strahl and hopeful- ly we can keep this rolling.” To open up the area tournament, the Lady Spartans faced off against rival Vestavia for the 3rd time this season. Just like the other two contests, the Mountain Brook girls jumped out to a quick start with junior Sara Carr tallying 17 points in the 1st half and ultimately finishing with 27 as Mountain Brook won, 74-46. On Carr, Cornelius said, “She was our third option to begin last year. With her personality, she doesn’t mind being the girl out front and she’s averaging a double-double as a junior. She’s just a beast, she’s our Marshawn Lynch.” In mentioning the double-double, Cornelius said Carr was averaging near 20 points per game and in that, she’s opened things up for seniors Louise Shearer, Neely Francis and Abby Gar- rett. “Our team is truly so close this season. We aren’t just goin to practice after school to play basketball, but we’re going to play basketball with our best friends,” said Carr. “These seniors show tremendous leadership to the young girls and keep a positive, fun vibe for the team.” In last year’s playoffs, Mountain Brook matched up against Huntsville High School for the 2nd straight year. Who do the Lady Spartans face this year in Jacksonville? Huntsville High School, go figure. In last year’s thrilling regional game, Hunts- ville led 48-36 with 3:41 to go. Mountain Brook, led by Carr who had 31 points and 12 boards, finished an 18-6 run to tie the game and force overtime. Unfortunately, the Lady Spartans came up short, but fortunately, they get another chance this year. “Huntsville’s three best players have been their best for the past three years, and they’ve always caused problems for us,” said Shearer. “However, they act as posts and guards so they don’t have much depth past them. Because of this we can use that to our benefit and get mis- matches and feed the ball to Sara inside which worked well last year.” “Huntsville is ranked No. 1 in the state, and we’ve played them twice, so we know how to play them,” said Cornelius. “I really think we’re very capable of beating this team.” At press time, this game will take place, but it’s certainly a game that these Lady Spartans would love to win. MBHS girls basketball team shoots for victory Photo courtesy of Image Arts Junior Sara Carr shoots a lay-up in the Lady Spartan’s recent game against McAdory. By SCOTT LEPLEY Staff Writer LJCC Church League basket- ball returned to action this past November after an off-season full of surprise free agent acquisitions. Hundreds of superb athletes across 16 teams have gathered at the LJCC gymnasium to display their talents and compete at the highest level. Senior Yellowhammers guard and league steals leader Sam Har- mon said, “Church League is the ultimate basketball league. It’s an art form. You can be as creative as you want to while competing with tons of great athletes at the same time.” The reigning league champion Birmingham Yarn added to their already elite arsenal of weapons this season by adding former Mountain Brook guard junior Ben Nelson. The Yarn finished the regular sea- son with a 6-1 record. Junior Yarn guard Parker Bethea said, “This year’s league is extremely competitive. There are some really good teams and players out there that are going to be hard to beat. I think our team came to- gether at the end of last season and has been playing well ever since.” The Yarn face stiff competition from top senior teams SMOTHS, St. Francis, Yellowhammers, and the Bowlcuts. SMOTHS, led by league MVP and senior Will Freeman, fin- ished off an undefeated season after giving the Bowlcuts their first loss in the season finale. LJCC Red guard Eric Weintraub said of the SMOTHS, “A team like that is extremely difficult to guard. Seniors like Will Freeman, Parker Henley and Charles Hoyt, they’re going to tough for anyone to beat.” Perhaps the SMOTHS biggest challenge will be senior team St. Francis. This year, St. Francis added former varsity guard Deke Mar- bury to an already loaded squad. This season’s playoffs only upset came at the hands of the Maliters, upsetting their rival and reigning champion Birmingham Yarn to advance to the semifinals against the Yellowhammers. Maliter’s guard junior Tanner Williams said of the win, “It’s a big confidence boost for our team to beat them. We knew we could beat them all season and never got our chance to prove it until the play- offs.” Across the bracket, St. Francis defeated Team Bosh to advance to the semifinals to face Freeman and the rest of SMOTHS in a matchup of the league’s best squads. Marbury and St. Francis are sure favorites to take this year’s champi- onship. Church League basketball wraps up Photo by Scott Lepley St. Francis competes in the playoffs of the LJCC Church League.
- 14. 14Sports Thursday, February 12, 2015 The Sword & Shield By SCOTT LEPLEY Staff Writer This past weekend, both boys and girls track teams earned top five placing at the indoor track state championship. The girls placed second only behind Hoover while the boys finished in fifth. Junior Drew Williams received the second highest points total across all boys events, placing 2nd in the 1600m, 4th in the 800m, and 3rd in the high jump. Senior Marshall Smith placed 3rd in the 3200m. For the girls, sophomore Anna Grace Morgan placed 4th in the 1600m with junior Frances Patrick right behind in 6th. Patrick and Morgan also placed 2nd and 5th, respectively, in the 3200m. Senior Sanders Reed placed 2nd in both the 400m and 800m as well. On placing 1st in the high jump and setting the 7A state record, senior Julia Leonard said, “Obviously we wanted first, but as a team we know this was one of our best performances, and we all did really well.” “The moments that stand out in a season like this are when the athletes finally break through a personal barrier and learn to compete,” said coach Michael McGovern. “We had athletes achieve their personal bests in every meet of the season which really bodes well not onl for out- door but also for next year’s indoor season.” On the seniors leaving following their successful careers, McGov- ern added, “Marshall Smith, Julia Leonard, Reid Pyburn, Sanders Reed, Caroline Barber, Caroline Kennedy, Walker Tortorigi, and William Dod- son all had their best performances at the state meet. Their performances and their leadership will be hard to replace.” Indoor track makes the bar at state Photo courtesy of Image Arts Junior David Kirkpatrick lands after safely avoiding the high jump bar. He and the rest of the boys track team placed fifth in the state meet this past weekend. Signing Day Photo by Jonathan McWane Seniors Ansley Joy Peacock, Leigh Haynes, Maggie Clemmons, and Sarah Grace Lindsey signed February 2 with Auburn, Wake Forest, Vanderbilt and Wofford, respectively. By ALEC LEWIS Sports Editor This year’s signing day, which took place on February 2, brought excit- ed friends and families to the Spartan Arena to celebrate their daughters’ successes. The girls soccer team return four seniors that will be playing soccer in college. All of these players will be competing at the Division-one level, at four high caliber universities. Ansley Joy Peacock has signed with Auburn University, Leigh Haynes with Wake Forest University, Maggie Clemmons with Vanderbilt Univer- sity and Sarah Grace Lindsey with Wofford University. Senior soccer girls reap rewards
- 15. 15Reviews Thursday, February 12, 2015 The Sword & Shield By JOHN SISSON Co-Editor-in-Chief After the wild finish to the Super Bowl on February 1, many Seattle Seahawks fans felt more deflated than the Patriots’ footballs in the AFC Championship Game. However, the moments of stress and horror for both teams were interrupted by the ever entertaining commercials, a Su- per Bowl tradition. The Sword & Shield took it upon themselves to watch, rewatch, break down, criticize and search to find the best (and worst) ads of the 2015 Super Bowl. Budweiser What’s better than cute puppies and Clydesdales? Budweiser contin- ued its tradition of quality Super Bowl commercials with the saga of a lost puppy and his adventures as he finds his way back home thanks to his Clydesdale friends. For the emotionally weak, this was a tearjerker. Budweiser used a traditional, all-American ad that was not too flashy, but it still captivated the viewers. Footballs: 9/10 Skittles Over the years, Skittles commercials have become increasingly more bizarre, and their Super Bowl commercial was no exception. The “Taste the Rainbow” commercial featured a Western town where the adults, babies and even dogs had one normal sized arm and one arm that looked like it belonged on Hulk Hogan. Skittles has created a unique brand for itself with this absurdity, making it easily identifiable. Super Bowl viewers were sure to laugh at this strange and seemingly out of place commercial. Although Skittles may have “won” with their commercial, they could not help their most famous customer, Marshawn Lynch, pull out a Super Bowl victory. Footballs: 7/10 Clash of Clans Clash of Clans popped up as one of the most popular apps a couple of years ago, and recently Supercell, the company behind the game, has tried to rekindle interest in their game. Liam Neeson starred in this ad, play- ing the part of an angry Clash of Clans player eager to seek revenge. This commercial highlighted new features of the game while also making sub- tle references to Liam Neeson’s role in the movie “Taken.” For all Neeson and Clash of Clans fans out there, this commercial was a hit. Footballs: 7/10 Nationwide Although Nationwide did have several good commercials throughout the Super Bowl, one morbid commercial ruined their efforts. A little boy talked about all the fun things in life he would never be able to do because he was killed in an accident. Other than just being completely depress- ing, this commercial was highly inappropriate and disgusting as it used a supposedly dead child to advertise for its business. Footballs: 1/10 Overall This year, the commercials were a huge let down. After being bombarded by promos for NBC shows that no one cares about, I started to get a little upset. Where had the years of quality, hilarious commercials gone? Every now and then, a good commercial would air. However, these efforts were completely wiped away when NBC aired another “Blacklist” promo followed by more incredibly dry commercials. Companies and their advertising teams need to step up to the plate to wow the viewers during next year’s Super Bowl. Footballs: 4/10 Super Commercials of Super Bowl XLIX Photo courtesy of usmagazine.com Nationwide’s morbid child accidents ad left a huge impression on viewers, mak- ing it one of the most controversial of the Super Bowl ads.
- 16. 16Reviews Thursday, February 12, 2015 The Sword & Shield By CLAIRE DAVIS Co-Editor-in-Chief We all know the feeling: it’s Saturday afternoon. You’re hungry, but not just for any random snack. You want cookies. Chewy cookies, still warm from the oven. But your grandmother is busy, your mom is tired of making you cookies all the time, and you can’t bake anything that doesn’t look like charcoal in the end. The only solution is to find your cookie paradise somewhere else, and quickly. You’re in luck, reader. The Sword & Shield is here to solve your cookie quandaries and spend the money necessary to find the best cookie in Bir- mingham. Cookie quandaries? L o o k n o f u r t h e r Urban Cookhouse’s Half-Baked Cookie Everyone has heard of this sweet-tooth’s dream: a warm, gooey cookie half- baked in a skillet and topped with a liberal scoop of vanilla ice cream. But is the 20 minute wait worth the hype and inevitable sugar crash? The Sword & Shield decided to find out by ordering lunch first. We went when the restaurant was relatively slow. While we got our meals in record time, the cookie did take longer to come to the table. When it came, it took all three test-tasters to finish it, despite the fact that the cookie itself was no more than 4 or 5 inches in diameter. The ice cream was necessary in cooling down the molten cookie-dough lava, but one taster complained that it was much too sweet. Another liked the way the taste of a regular cookie came through, especially at the crisp edges. Price: $4.95 These cookies are great when: you have half an hour, want a super-sugary finish to your meal, and want the cookie taste without the typical cookie texture. Insomnia Cookies Located in Five Points South, this cookie joint is not on the usual Mountain Brookie’s beat. However, they make it easy to get a taste of their style: they de- liver from noon to 3 a.m. at a very reasonable charge. The cookies themselves range from classics like Snickerdoodle, which was more buttery than cinnamo- ny, to twists like S’more Deluxe. From the flavors we tried, The Sword & Shield decided that Insomnia’s forte is making the classic cookies fabulous, but the quirky flavors weren’t slacking either. Besides their cookies, which have perfectly crunchy edges and moist centers, they also deliver ice cream and original ice cream sandwiches, letting you pair your favorite cookies with your favorite flavor of ice cream. On a scale from Keebler to Grandma, these cookies score a definite Grandma Wanna-be. Price: $1.35 for a cookie, $1.50 delivery charge with a purchase of $6 These cookies are great when: you crave that fresh cookie with gooey chips but don’t want to wake your parents up by turning on the oven. Photos by Claire Davis Colorful cookie displays, like this one at Insomina Cookies in Five Points South, dot the Birmingham landscape and provide a sweet treat - if you know where to find them.
- 17. 17Reviews Thursday, February 12, 2015 The Sword & Shield Savage’s Bakery We all have fond memories of going to this sugary-scented bakery to get one of those treasured orange smiley face cookies. The nostalgia of the place ranks up there with favorite TV shows and the days when Disney Channel was actually good. But as we grew into possibly more mature teenagers, our taste buds changed. Can the cookie pass the muster of today’s standards? Surprisingly, the cookies do not. Even an assortment of different varieties showed that most of their cookies, including the chocolate chip, had nuts, which can be a huge problem for the allergies among us. All of them were crisp and required more chewing than we thought necessary. The flavors were fine, but the main reason to pop into this Homewood landmark is for the Meltaways or new Cake Bombs and nostalgia’s sake. Price: ranging from $0.60-$1.25 These cookies are great when: you want the taste of a carefree, distant child- hood or something sweet that’s not a cookie. Icing on the Cookie Tucked away in the fringes of downtown Homewood, this cookie shop is un- assuming from the outside, but their cookies tell you a different story. Their tra- ditional cookies can be described with one of the most flavorful on the menu: the Monster. They scoop the dough onto the baking sheets with an ice cream scoop, making a huge, mounded cookie that is still cooked all the way through. Their chocolate chip cookie was one of the better ones, and their ginger cookie is arguably their best, chock full of molasses and that warm holiday flavor that evokes the most dandy of holiday cookies, the gingerbread men. The business’s real forte, however, is their catering. Their collection of cookie cutters numbers to over 400, and the thick sugar cookies are iced expertly in bold colors for any occasion. They request you make your order 48 hours in advance to bake all of them in time. Price: $1.50 for a traditional cookie, starting at $2/each for iced cookies These cookies are great when: you are throwing anyone a party. Baby shower, wedding shower, Valentine’s Day party, Singles Day, Presidents’ Day... Full Moon’s Half-Moon Cookie Known for its delicious, albeit messy, barbeque, this restaurant’s cookie has lain in the limelight for years. However, after it made the “100 Foods to Eat in Alabama” list, it has gotten the appreciation it deserves. Some bright marketing soul has also made it available in tins, dozen, and half dozen increments, satisfying people of all cookie hankerings. The cookie itself was crunchy and contained pecans, but the flavors were so great we didn’t mind having to sweep up the crumbs at the end. Price: $21.00 for a tin These cookies are great when: you need something sweet to follow that smoky and savory barbeque sauce. It also is great with milk right before you go to bed. Steel City Pops Cookie Pops If you're looking to decimate your sweet taste buds and likely put yourself into a sugar coma, then the new culinary treat brought to you by the Frankensteinian geniuses at Steel City Pops are perfect for you. New pops just introduced boast a gluten-free cookie or brownie center (provid- ed locally by Dreamcakes) surrounded by the artesian pops which have made Steel City famous. New flavors include Chocolate Brownie, Coffee Brownie, Vanilla Brownie and Vanilla Chocolate Chip Cookie. These pops sport a delicious, chewy and surprisingly not soggy center that pair well with the refreshing popsicle. Unfortunately, after just three bites, the sugar rush began giving The Sword & Shield staffer a headache and his taste buds began screaming for mercy. This cookie pop gets a 10/10 if you're going to share it with your statistics class, but in the end is relegated to the bottom tier of cookies reviewed due to its overwhelming and unrelenting sweetness. Price: $4.50 This cookie is great when: you’re sharing the cookie pop with your statistics class or have an insane sweet tooth.
- 18. 18Reviews Thursday, February 12, 2015 The Sword & Shield SpongeBob Goes on Dry Land and the Big Screen By Thomas Cooney Staff Writer I can’t describe how excited I was to see The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge out of water going into the theater. I had good reason to be excited too.- I have been watching SpongeBob since I can remember, so I felt fully prepared and ready to see what this new movie had to offer. The movie begins shot in live action (not animated), which didn’t strike me as terribly odd because it was nothing new for SpongeBob to incorporate live action. The movie transitions back to anima- tion and continues, delivering the same hilarious absurdity that had been always been associated with SpongeBob. Some of the clever, mature and creative jokes flew right over the heads of the children in the theater but hit me right in the face, sending me into fits of laughter. Because I was the only one in the movie the- ater above the age of nine paying attention, I often was the only one laughing at times and became quite uncomfortable very quickly. The movie is equal parts hilari- ty, absurdity, and nostalgia. It’s an amazing movie experience until SpongeBob and friends step out of the water and onto dry land to recover the secret formula. Then the movie takes an extremely weird turn. The rest of the movie returns to live action and the movie tries hard to stay true to the Sponge- Bob theme of absurdity and clever humor. Ultimately, though, it fails horribly. The heroes are all grant- ed super powers in order to fight Burger Beard, the evil restaurant entrepreneur pirate, played by An- tonio Banderas. Sandy, the cute animated squir- rel, is transformed into a realistic looking, creepy squirrel that has the ability to shoot nuts out of her mouth. Aside from Sandy, the emo- tionally scarring squirrel, all the other characters seem awkward and out of place in every live action scene. The movie ends with our ma- rine heroes victorious, and Burger Beard is punted onto an island where he is surrounded by seagulls that start to sing the beloved intro song. At this point I was lead to believe that the movie would try to redeem the horrific second act by tying the intro song into the movie plot. Then, right in the middle, Bubbles the Magical Dolphin who watches over the universe and keeps order over our world, jumps right in and proceeds to completely ruin the theme song by rap battling Burger Beard and his seagulls. This movie shows the strength of a writing staff that has been able to squeeze spongy material out the SpongeBob series for 16 years. For the most part, they have done it again in this installment. Just try not to cringe at the live action scenes. Rating: 7.5/10. Cartoon by Leigh Lewis While the new SpongeBob hits some high notes, the rest devolved into sea sludge.
- 19. 19Opinons Thursday, February 12, 2015 The Sword & Shield By JOHN SISSON Co-Editor-in-Chief On January 16, “American Sniper” opened in theaters across the United States. The film tells the story of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle (Bradley Cooper), the deadliest sniper in U.S. military history. While the movie itself received rave reviews, the late Kyle was subject to scrutiny from many Americans, including several celebrities such as Bill Maher and Michael Moore. These concerned Americans argued that Kyle was not a hero; instead, he was a deranged psycho- path who killed “the Iraqi savages” for pleasure. These critics could not be further from the truth. Chris Kyle died an American hero, and he deserves all the recognition he can get. Moore first argued that Kyle and all other snipers were cowards because they often shoot from thousands of yards away without their enemy even seeing them. However, Moore obviously did not do his homework. More often than not during his tours overseas, Kyle and his SEAL teammates joined the Marines on the frontlines when he wasn’t sniping, clearing houses one by one. Kyle could have sat back in his safe sniper nests without caring about the Marines down below. However, this brave SEAL directly faced danger by putting himself on the most dangerous job in the warzone. Sure, Kyle’s work was gruesome. He had to make tough calls, killing anyone who threatened the safety of the Marines or fellow SEALs he worked with. The American people living in luxury do not understand the pressure he was in. They are not the ones in the trenches, taking enemy fire and having to push on through adversity. This “psycho- path” saved hundreds of mothers the grief of seeing their young Marine sons coming back home in American flag-draped coffins. In- stead, these men survived because of the hard work of one man and were able to live productive lives as a result. Not only that, Kyle took his hero status and used it to help other veterans when he finally was discharged from the Navy. He took valuable time away from his family to help others who were physically or mentally injured. His charity, not his time on the battlefield, is what actually got him killed. If Chris Kyle is not a hero, I am not sure that anyone can be. He volunteered to trade in a life of ranching and enjoying himself for the hard work and living hell of BUD/S (SEAL training) and eventually tough military life. He sacrificed everything for this coun- try, putting his team and men even in front of his family. He saved lives of hundreds of American soldiers while also protecting the very liber- ties that you and I take for granted. Kyle displayed unmatched patrio- tism, something that many Ameri- cans have lost from the past. All in all, Kyle was a great man who loved God, protected his brothers, and fought to keep us free. Most impor- tantly, he is an American hero who true Americans will never forget. Chris Kyle: American Sniper and American Hero By COKE MATTHEWS Opinions Editor Though the new College Football Playoff sys- tem is fairer than the old bowl and BCS system previously used to crown a national college foot- ball champion, it is flawed. For years, fans have been clamoring for actual head to head games on the field rather than relying on polls and politics to determine a national champion. So, many fans and experts were thrilled when the new College Football Playoff system was announced. The top four teams at the end of the year would play to de- termine a true national champion. Now there would be no more arguments about SEC bias, media influences or old-fashioned politics. However, after watching Ohio State beat Oregon to become the first national champion under the new playoff system, it is also clear that the system is not perfect. In its efforts to remove the influence of the old-fashioned polls and bowls, the NCAA an- nounced that a 13 member commit- tee would rank the top teams and de- termine at the end of the year exactly which four teams deserved to be in the final four. In hindsight, if the 13 members of the committee had relied a little more on the old BCS computer ranking system, they might have eliminated some of the complaints about bias and out- and-out bizarre conclusions. For instance, there is no way that TCU would have dropped from third to sixth place, and therefore out of the playoff, after such a lopsided win over Ole Miss. Likewise, even though the committee might have had a hard time excluding Florida State and their undefeated record, a deeper computer analysis of their entire year might have revealed that they were not one of the four best teams in the country. Having the top teams battle for the champi- onship on the field is fairer for sure, but even with a four-team playoff, the No. 5 team is going to feel robbed. If the series is expanded to eight as many propose, then No. 9 is going to be cry- ing about a conspiracy against their team. Ironically, the efforts to diminish the human element actually just shifted it. The critics are questioning the make-up of the committee – for instance, exactly what were Condoleezza Rice’s qualifications and how could the USC Athletic Director really be unbiased? What is clear is that the only team and group of fans that will be totally and enthusiastically in favor of the new system is the team that wins the championship, which is the same as the old system. Only one team thinks the new College Football Playoff system is perfect: the winner Photo courtesy of businessinsider.com The new College Football Playoff system may have seemed like a good idea, but it has its flaws as well.
- 20. 20Opinions Thursday, February 12, 2015 The Sword & Shield NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATION: The Mountain Brook School system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability or age in any of its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries re- garding nondiscrimination policies: Dr. Dale Wisely—Director of Student Services (Title VI), (wiselyd@mtnbrook.k12.al.us); Mrs. Sylvia Harper—Personnel Director (Title IX), (harpers@mtnbrook.k12.al.us); Dr. Missy Brooks—Director of Instruction (Title II), (wildman-brooksm@mtnbrook.k12.al.us); Mrs. Shannon Mundy—Special Education Director (Section 504), (mundyl@mtnbrook.k12.al.us). Contact Information: 32 Vine Street, Mountain Brook, AL 35213, 205-871-4608. NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATION: The Mountain Brook School system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability or age in any of its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries re- garding nondiscrimination policies: Dr. Dale Wisely—Director of Student Services (Title VI), (wiselyd@mtnbrook.k12.al.us); Mrs. Sylvia Harper—Personnel Director (Title IX), (harpers@mtnbrook.k12.al.us); Dr. Missy Brooks—Director of Instruction (Title II), (wildman-brooksm@mtnbrook.k12.al.us); Mrs. Shannon Mundy—Special Education Director (Section 504), (mundyl@mtnbrook.k12.al.us). Contact Information: 32 Vine Street, Mountain Brook, AL 35213, 205-871-4608. By COKE MATTHEWS Opinions Editor When juniors received the wrong vocabulary books at the be- ginning of this school year, no one thought twice about it. But here we are over halfway through the school year, and many juniors still do not have the right vocabulary books they need for weekly tests. This mishap highlights a prob- lem with The Spot. Though won- derful in concept, The Spot fails to adequately meet student needs. So, what exactly is the prob- lem with a place that sells school supplies for students’ convenience? In theory, nothing. However, in ac- tuality, The Spot could better serve students with some fairly minor adjustments. Let’s start with The Spot’s hours of operation. Currently, The Spot is open every school day 1st, 2nd and 4th periods. If you need some- thing from The Spot, and you are not available during those periods, you may ask Mrs. Joy Boozer at the front desk for help. However, it certainly would be more convenient if The Spot regu- larly opened before or after school a couple of days a week to make it easier for students who may not be able to access it during the desig- nated times. Who knows, juniors may even have time to get the right vocabulary book they need before the end of the school year. This small change may be a win-win for students as well as The Spot since it may help broad- en service while increasing the existing customer base and sales. Another prob- lem that needs to be addressed is the reduction in coffee sales that has resulted since students are re- quired to purchase tickets to buy coffee at The Spot and then go to the Coffee Bar to get their coffee. A one-stop shopping concept would certainly be more efficient and would likely improve sales. It’s hard to complain about the convenience The Spot offers for the purchase of school supplies. It is helpful that steps have been taken to address accessibility issues since students can now ask for help at the front desk when The Spot is closed. But, why not make The Spot even better so students can take maxi- mum advantage of it while possibly increasing sales at the same time? These few changes may be just what are needed to help The Spot be spot on. The Spot or not? Minor changes could better serve students Pick your poison: Moodle or Google Classroom? By CHANDLER GORY Managing Editor “Check Moodle” is a phrase you’ll hear about a million times before you graduate high school. In terms of frequency, it’s up there with the infamous and ominous “you’ll need this for col- lege.” Moodle is as ingrained in our education as factoring or boring summer reading books. It’s in a long-term relationship with the first day of school syllabuses and get-to-know-you activi- ties, and it’s just as annoying. Sometimes, when I’m scouring a teacher’s Moodle for the PowerPoint they promised to put on there, I wonder why we even bother to use it. What’s the point? Most teachers are more likely to email you back than put that Power- Point on Moodle, and we all know how hard it is to get some teachers to return an email. I’ll admit that Moodle has its perks, even if they are few and far in between. It’s relatively easy to access and for teachers who actually know how to use it, Moodle is a convenient way to compile and organize information and assignments. Moodle has also made several improvements over the years. It’s not quite as buggy as it used to be, which is nice, but that also means we can’t use the ole “Moodle was down” excuse anymore. Bummer. But despite it’s enhancements and adequate convenience, Moodle could very well be on the way out. There’s a new kid on the block: Google Classroom. It’s a lot like Moodle, but it’s linked with Google Drive. This allows teachers to share an assignment in a Google Doc with everyone through the classroom. Stu- dents can then open the Doc, edit it in their Drive and submit the Doc to their teacher when they’re finished. It’s convenient once you learn how to use it, but it’s also confusing and a little temperamental. I like that you get an email every time a new assignment is added, but it forces you to check your stu- dent email more. It gets irritat- ing having to switch between your school and personal email 50 times a day. The biggest issue I see with Google Classroom is that most teachers don’t use it. Many teachers are just finally learning how to use Moodle, so I doubt they’re eager to break up with Moodle and jump into a new relationship with Google Classroom, but you never know. When you compare them side-by-side, they’re both pretty mediocre, but I’d have to say that I think Google Classrooms has way more potential than Moodle. Maybe if Moodle had an app or a friendlier mobile format it would be a better competitor, but the lack of easy mobile access is really holding it back. One thing is for certain: having information online doesn’t seem to be optional anymore. In the new digital age, you either join or die, so pick your poison: Moodle or Google Class- room? Photo by Margaret Heath Senior Parker Henley checks Moodle for only a few of his classes, checking websites for assignments for other classes. Photo courtesy of Jack Tucker Junior Coke Matthews is a little confused why the school supply store is not open.