Crowd Sourced Language Learning

By: Zachary Rosen '16

     The world today is incredibly globalized, a result of both the international economy and the world wide web. Social media can let people from different continents speak casually to each other. One can read the news from papers of any number of nations. Agricultural products and industrial goods, the tech gadgets and designer clothing, can all be moved between different countries, providing to consumers the most of what they want for the lowest costs.
     The problem this presents is that now, for those seeking careers in any professional field, but most importantly government and business, foreign language ability is a necessity. The problem is that learning a new language, if you aren't raised in a multilingual household or spend a month in a a different country, is exceptionally difficult. This is exacerbated by the fact that many people don't practice when they aren't in school, that we don't live in an immersive environment, and that some people just don't like language learning. Even with the mandate that Severn students take three years of a consecutive language, few will graduate being truly fluent.
      One new language app/website, called "Duolingo", might help fix this problem. Duolingo is a free language learning resource, invented by Luis Von Ahn, the creator of Captcha. The app works by teaching users the basics of the language of their choice with a variety of relatively entertaining games. It then provides users with articles, websites, and other texts in the language of study for the student to translate. Because so many different people are translating the same article, eventually, algorithms determine an incredibly accurate translation, which is then sold to the company seeking the translation (this is how the website is able to keep itself free).
      Of course, this is no way to achieve fluency. However, it does offer a great chance to start learning a language your interested in, and it's incredibly easy to stick with compared to normal independent study. The creators of the website intend to eventually put every language up, but for now, they have Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Irish, Danish, and Swedish. Hungarian, Turkish, Esperanto, Russian, Ukrainian, Romanian, and Polish are coming soon. This is a perfect opportunity to augment study in your current language class or to start looking into something you've always been curious about. Viel Glück!

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From Paris with News

Photo by the Examiner.com

By: Zachary Rosen '16

Most everyone has been made aware, in some form or another, of the terrible events in Paris not long ago. A group of armed men attacked a small satirical newspaper (Charlie Hebdo), killing a total of ten editors and two security guards and sparking the popular tweet "Je Suis Charlie" (or the English equivalent, "I am Charlie"). They were pursued over the course of a few days into the North of France, where they were eventually killed by police forces. A separate individual working with them killed a policewoman in Paris. He was later killed after taking control of a Kosher deli and killing several shoppers. Charlie Hebdo was originally an incredibly small paper that produced around 60,000 copies per circulation, and was in danger of closing because of such a low circulation amount. In light of the shootings, they ran out of the first three million copies they printed in a manner of hours and are now printing more. The paper had actually been fire bombed by extremist several years ago for printing an issue many muslims considered insulting.

There have been a few developments since then. France has moved to deploy a total of 10,000 troops domestically to protect Jewish schools, synagogues, and mosques throughout the country (in fear of both terroristic and retaliatory actions). For some background, France has the highest Jewish population in Europe (around 500,000), yet has been dealing with a huge immigration problem whereby Jews are moving out of the country (many to Israel); hopefully, this move might provide a sense of security to counteract this outward flow.

The attack itself has been claimed by Al Qaeda Yemen, a Yemeni offshoot of the famous terrorist organization, though there is some curiosity as to the truth of that statement. It is also believed that the girlfriend of one of the shooters made her way to Syria several days before the attack (by way of Turkey).

Overall, the actions of these shooters have been decried by press and governments the world over, including the vast majority of Middle Eastern groups. There is also quite a lot of fear that these actions might exacerbate the already elevated levels of anti-Islamic sentiment prevalent in Europe. The Pegida movement in Germany is a good example, opposed to what it considers to be the islamization of Europe. In the wake of these shootings, leaders of many nations have joined marches for toleration and unity in an event to quell public anger or any retaliatory actions against Muslims (i.e. Angela Merkel joined an anti-Pegida protest a few days ago).

In the most recent news, there was a police standoff between suspected terrorists in Belgium; both the suspects were killed after opening fire on police. There is still an investigation as to whether they were connected to the Charlie Hebdo shootings.

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The Urban Image

By: Ben Carsley '18

Hello and welcome to The Anchor's Art column! This week's installment will be on an artist by the name of Richard Estes. Richard Estes is a photorealist (a movement of art which contains paintings so realistic they look like photos...seriously, look it up). Recently his life's work was compiled and curated into one single art exhibit at the American Museum of Art in D.C.

I attended it a couple weeks prior to this article... these are my observations.

Before I address the exhibit itself it's important for you have some background information. Richard Estes attended the Chicago Institute of Art and named some of his major influences as Edward Hopper, Thomas Eakins, and Edgar Degas. With a strong art background in realism he worked as a graphic artist in New York and painted on the side. After gaining popularity as an accomplished photorealist, he moved to Spain and began to paint full time. The American Art Museum decided to create this exhibit because of Estes' subjects. The American Art Museum is devoted to depict American society through artists' interpretations of it. Many of the museum's exhibits consist of folk art, American landscapes, or even politically based contemporary art. All of these subjects address and display America through art. Estes' subjects depict contemporary urban life. He portrays these scenes more realistically than artists ever could before. This is why Estes' work was selected for exhibition.
   
At around fifty paintings (each at least four by five feet) the collection was far from small. The pieces were arranged in chronological order so that the visitors might see Estes' developing style. While the first of his works seemed loose and almost impressionistic, his style quickly became far more detailed and tighter. Each piece contained a strong sense of motion. This illusion of motion was effectively used by harnessing his sometimes loose style to draw the viewer's eye to one point of the painting. Each image also had a mood. Depending of his choice of color, he was able to successfully communicate a sort of feeling to the painting that only increased its sense of realism. Estes paintings always depict day times scenes, filled with light and are consistently full of geometric spaces. The collection felt very personal and I left feeling as if I knew Estes through his work.

Below are some of my personal favorites and two links to the online gallery and an archive of his entire life's work.

Exhibit: http://americanart.si.edu/exhibitions/online/estes/ 

More on Richard Estes: http://www.artnet.com/usernet/awc/awc_thumbnail.asp?aid=139829&gid=139829&works_of_art=1&cid=15766

Richard Estes, Diner, 1971, oil on canvas, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Smithsonian Institution, Museum purchase 1977. © Richard Estes, courtesy Marlborough Gallery, New York. Photo by Lee Stalsworth opyright Richard Estes, courtesy Marlborough Gallery, New York

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The Life and Times of Agent Sot; Chapter 7: Puppy Problems

By: Zachary Rosen '16

         Codename Sot hears a terrible growling noise coming from the stairwell. Slowly, she opens the door and looks in. The light flickers and the growling intensifies. Steadily, she takes a step in, looking up. A figure is hunched over, tearing at a trash can. Sotiropoulos takes out her pen and clicks it; the buzzing noise of a taser pierces the room.

        “Get away from the trash can!” The creature raises its head, catching the light. Black fur shines in the fluorescence, outlining a toothy maw. Drool drips from canines sharper than knives. “You have got to be kidding me?” The beast lunges at her and she ducks, lashing out her fist and catching it on the shoulder. She plunges the taser into the center of his chest and the creature makes a whimpering noise before clawing at her shoulder. They crash into the wall and collapse, rolling around on the ground. Sot throws it off and it takes a protective stance on the stairs.

       “This is why I told my wife we can’t get a dog...,” Sot whispers under her breath. It slowly starts to creep forward and Sot backs up. She pulls at the door handle but the frame broke in the struggle; she needs to find a new way out. “I can’t outrun this thing...” she thinks to herself. 

       An earsplitting whistle pierces the air. Sot covers her ears and the furry mongrel goes running down the stairwell. She stands up, applying pressure to her bleeding arm. She hears someone stepping down the stairwell and looks up. Mr. Klein is standing up there holding a giant whistle.                “What the hell was that?!” Sot asks.

       Klein shakes his head. “Victor Martinez.”

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The Life and Times of Agent Sot; Chapter 6: A Murder of Crows

By: Zachary Rosen '16

       Sot and Kaberline run as fast as they can towards the source of the chaos, which happens to be the cafeteria/nuclear bunker. Standing on a blood red table in the center of the space is a spectral figure, surrounded in a tornado of black feathers. The cawing is so loud it's deafening.

       “Hey!” Sot shouts, sliding her stapler/sub-machine gun out of her back pocket. “Release the birds!” The figure turns to reveal the smiling face of Julian Bartholomee. His shadowed face outlines the evil curl of his lips. He flips his wrist and a way word fowl goes careening into Sot, stealing the weapon before she can fire a shot. Kaberline lifts his hands as if in prayer and begins whispering some of the collected works of Lord Byron he had committed to memory. Another black missile goes careening into his head, shattering his glasses/scrying-lenses and he collapses onto the ground, unconscious. 

       “Welcome, Sotiropoulos. So glad you could come to see me. Don’t you think the students look much more fashionable this way?” He begins laughing maniacally.

       “How are you doing this?! This is much more power then any member of the society of crows possess. Kaberline said he never taught any of you transformation magic!”

       “He didn’t, the fool.” Julian glances down at Kaberline’s unconscious body with scorn in his eyes. “He was weak. We would have never risen to prominence if he was allowed to continue with his dull instruction. We would have been nothing.” Julian slips something out of the inside of his robe. He raises it in the air, a deep black obsidian stone that sparkles in the sunlight. The crows begin to caw more loudly, flying faster. “I found an instrument of grand power, one of a half dozen transformation tools on the planet!”

       “How! Where could you find something like that?!”

       “On my trip to Antarctica! I sold my soul to a man who was also a polar bear!” Julian lifts the stone towards Sot and suddenly she feels a terrible pain. Her skin begins to bubble and she sees her life flash before her eyes. She begins to pray to Poseidon when she notices something out of the corner of her eye. 

       A new crow, but three feet tall, flies into the room and lands at her feet. The figure twists and elongates like candle wax until it reveals the figure of Michael Burns, clothed in a boa of black feathers. “YOU!” Julian screams, “YOU ABANDONED US! WHY DO YOU RETURN!” 

      “I heard the pained screams of my brothers and sisters and I had to fly back.” Michael’s voice is calm, even, but tinged with sadness and remorse.

      “You left us the moment you graduated. You were our king!”

      “I went to the black forest to study the true art of the crow. I’m so sorry, my old friend. But it was always my intention to return, to lead us into the light. Stop this madness. Please, Julian. It isn’t too late to turn back from this path.”

      “I will never stop! I will not rest until the entire planet is one with the great Crow!” Julian flings his hands forward. The crows amass into a great column, a spear of darkness. Burns raises his hand and they stop in midair. 

      “You have an instrument of great power, but you are too young and too ignorant to know how to use it. I’m sorry, my child. But I did warn you.” He bends his ring finger and the crows leap backwards, descending on Julian. He lets out a guttural scream before he disappears from view. A few seconds pass and they scatter, revealing nothing left but a torn uniform.

---

      Sot and Burns walk across the beach along the Severn. “Thank you.”

      “Do not thank me,” Burns whispers, “I am only sorry we couldn’t have saved him.” He hands Sot the stone, glowing and pulsing with a cold warmth. “You must throw it into the river. It is too great a power for any man to have.”

      “You can stay with us. Guard it. Teach them the art of the Crow.”

      Burns smiles. “I still have much training to undergo. The stone shall corrupt me.”

      Shaking her head, Sot throws the cursed object into the water. They walk away.

---

      A bald head wearing a pink and green snorkeling mask erupts from the murky, midnight waters. A pale hand rises with it, holding a stone, sparkling in the moonlight. Gvozden chuckles.

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The Adventures of Agent Sot; Chapter 5: Yelling At Kaberline

By: Zachary Rosen '16

         Sotiropoulos storms into Mage Kaberline’s room without even knocking on the door. The councilor/level three sorcerer looks up with shock to see the history teacher carrying a crow. “Are you here to join our sacred society?” he asks, a smile breaking out over his face.

         “This is William Fung.” 

         Kaberline twists his head and then reaches his hand out, making a vaguely "Y" shaped formation with his fingers. He closes his eyes and speaks a few words of Aramaic. He opens his eyes and opens his mouth in awe. “You’re right. I can sense his presence.”

         Sotiropoulos’ foot shoots out and reaches behind Kaberline’s head, pulling him forward and down onto the desk. Disturbed, William flies across the room to roost on a gaggle of Victorian Spy novels/classified government memos. With Kaberline incapacitated, Sot’s foot prepared to snap his neck in a moment, the angry woman shouts, “How can you be teaching your students transformation magic?! This is far beyond anything Lagarde allows and anything I will tolerate. Now turn him back this instant!”

         “I didn’t do this!” Kaberline replies, breath taxed, hands held on his desk, “I teach them various telekinetic and physical abilities. Poetic magic, derived from the works of Poe and the dark transcendentalists. Occasionally a little necromancy. Never anything like this. I can’t even do any transformation spells myself.”

           Sot relaxes her held and the man sits up at his desk, gasping. “Then who could be doing this? Spiegel?”

           Kaberline shakes his head. “He’s in the gym trying to turn lead into gold and feeding the Speagle. No. This has to be a student.”

           “Could you speak to William? Ask him who did it? You speak crow, correct”

           “I do. But he doesn’t. He’ll just be stuck trying to make human sounds, which he can’t. I could bond with him telepathically, but since he is now a bird I might end up just erasing his soul from existence.”

            Suddenly, there is a horrible screaming sound, and a collection of students begins to run across the hall and outside as fast as they can. A few crows begin to follow, equally hysterical.

Agent Sot points. “Or we could just go that way?”

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The Adventures of Agent Sot; Chapter 4: A Fowl Development

By: Zachary Rosen '16

       There were black feathers scattered along the pavement, caught in the folds of a white oxford, red tie, and blue backpack. Sotiropoulos came upon the seemingly abandoned clothing and tapped it with her foot. It was cold outside, the winter chill making the hair on her arms rise. The last thing any student needed was to be walking around naked. Think of the paperwork.

        She felt eyes on her and looked up, examining each of the windows of the Creeden facade. Somewhere, on the third floor, there was someone looking. But the figure moved as soon as she began to look, and she could only make out a shock of black hair. English?

        Suddenly, the mess of clothing moved and a small, black creature squirmed out. It ruffled its feathers and looked around. “What are you doing here?” Sot asked. The crow looked at her with eyes clouded by doubt, uncertainty, fear, and confusion.

        “Caw!” it shouted. It turned its head, as if listening to itself. “CAW! CAW! CAW!” The crow seemed incredibly distressed by now, flapping and dancing as if in a seizure. Sot knew it might be rabid or attack a student. She tried to shoe it away with her foot, but then it stopped. It went back to the pile of clothing and began to rifle through the pants it had just climbed out of. With its long beak, it reached into a pocket and pulled out a wallet. Carefully, the crow slipped the maroon card of a Severn ID, and held it up to Sotiropoulos. She examined the card. It had the name William Fung on it, with the picture of the pasty Asian boy plastered underneath. 

        Sot looked at the creature at her feet and sighed. “This is not my department.” She reached her arm out and the bird flew gracefully onto her outstretched wrist. She walked into Creeden, looking for the only person she knew could deal with this. And then she'd yell at him.

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The Life and Times of Agent Sot; Chapter 3: A Crazed Brit

By: Zak Rosen '16

Chapter 3: A Crazed Bit

       The two women woke up tied on opposite sides of a thick doric column, a small lantern to the side of them. Though equally dark, this room was obviously much bigger than the chamber Sanders had taken Sot to. The light didn’t even reach the ceiling, and it felt like they were sitting under a starless sky. The air was so cold they could almost believe they were outdoors.

       “It seems that whoever we’re looking for didn’t wait for us to come to them,” Sot panted.

       “Give me a moment. I can cut us out.” Sanders slipped the small pearl bracelet she wore of her left wrist. It had nominally been a gift from Tyler; it actually contained a small knife and some C4. A few flicks of her finger and the rope fell away. The two women got up, brushing dust from their pants.

        A noise began to emanate from their right. Glancing at each other silently, the women nodded their heads. They began to walk, silently, taking protective stances. Whoever the attacker was had gotten the better of them once. It would not be allowed to happen again.

         As the darkness encroached behind them, a new light, diffuse and green, starts to glow in front of them. Eventually, the pair came upon a set of over a dozen gigantic computer monitors with a chair situated in front of them. Some of the monitors showed images from classes, students moving about and teachers lecturing. One focused on Cirillo, his unconscious body lying prostrate on the nurse’s cot. There was no noise, only the images playing out silently.

         “Show yourself. Maybe you’ll be spared. That’s more than you deserve considering all the trouble you’ve caused,” Sanders yelled, brandishing her pearl bracelet knife.

        “Oh, how quaint,” a distinctly British voice chuckled. The chair turned around to reveal the pale figure of Dr. Norledge, stroking a snow white cat. “You’re too late.”

         The two gasped. “Norledge,” Sot whispered, “I thought we killed you in Berlin.”

         “Oh you tried. And succeeded. This school has a remarkable distaste for loose ends. Luckily, I was able to build myself a doppleganger and implant my consciousness. And here we are.”

         “What have you done?” Sanders shouted.

         “I’ve unbalanced the space time continuum around the school. In a matter of minutes, we’ll all be sucked into an alternate dimension.” The crazed Brit began to laugh maniacally.

         Sanders leaped and pinned him to the ground. Sotiropolous lounged at the key board, furiously typing command after command to override the destruction module. The screens lit up with the words, “Please say the password.”

         “You’ll never guess,” screamed Norledge, his head squished onto the floor.

          Sotiropolous thought. Carefully, with tears in her eyes, fearful of the end, in the most British voice she could muster, she said, “Tea and Crumpets.”

          The screens all turned off. “NOOOO!!!!,” cried Norledge. Sanders promptly punched him in the face.

                                                                              ----

          Norledge’s clonebot was dismantled, the computer apparatus stored in another secret chamber, and Cirillo was given an antidote. Sanders and Sot shook hands. This wouldn’t be the last conflict, but the school had been saved for now. That was what was important.

                                                                              ----

          Somewhere, in a dusty closet in subbasement 9, where the computers were stored, the door opened. A young man with black glasses and a shiny bald head took his seat at the console. The lights flicked on. Gvozden smiled.

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Patriots Prevail, Exploit Baltimore's Rocky Secondary

(AP Photo/Steven Senne)

By: A.J. Gersh '15

It was a game of back-and-forth offensive surges, all culminating in a thrilling battle of "who will make the least mistakes."

The hometown Baltimore Ravens jumped out to an early fourteen point first quarter lead off of Kamar Aiken's first career postseason touchdown reception and an incredible grab by veteran wideout Steve Smith, who separated from All-Pro Patriots DB Derrelle Revis in the end zone.

However, the scoring didn't stop there. Tom Brady and the pass-happy New England Patriots answered with fourteen points of their own, as the three-time champion quarterback scrambled into the end zone to end the first quarter and later found slot receiver Danny Amendola to even the score.

Baltimore came soaring right back, scoring yet another fourteen points-- two more passes from Joe Flacco to TE Owen Daniels and RB Justin Forsett.

Fourteen point surges sure seem to be the story of this game, as the Patriots, yet again, answered the Ravens offensive outburst and marched over Baltimore's secondary (which features an injured ex-superstar in Ladarius Webb, a cut Tampa Bay Buc in Rashaan Melvin, and a safety who seemingly couln't make a tackle in Matt Elam) for two more touchdown passes: the first to Rob Gronkowski, a monstrous target at tight end, and the second on a trick screen to Julian Edelman (an ex-college quarterback at Kent State University), who caught the ball in the backfield and flung a 51 yard bullet to Danny Amendola.

Ravens kicker Justin Tucker chipped in a 25 yard field goal to put the Ravens ahead 31-28 early in the fourth quarter, and coach John Harbaugh hoped for a defensive stop on the ensuing drive.

The Ravens defensive line, led by Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil, known as one of the stingiest in the league, held their own, but yet again, Tom Brady was able to exploit the Ravens secondary (who were missing Jimmy Smith, their star in the defensive backfield) and connected with Brandon LaFell for a 23 yard touchdown.

Baltimore's next possession sealed their fate, as Joe Flacco was intercepted by Patriots safety Duron Harmon in the end zone with under two minutes remaining on the clock. Following a defensive stop by Baltimore and a punt from New England, Flacco hurled up a last-second desperation throw, which was knocked down by safety Devin McCourty, ending the Baltimore Ravens hopes of a miracle Super Bowl run.

The Patriots will face the Indianapolis Colts (24-13 winners against the Denver Broncos) next week in the AFC Championship.

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Theatre-Goers Club Review: Beauty and the Beast

By: Zak Rosen '16

On Sunday, December 7th, the Severn Theatre department arranged to take a group of students to the Synetic Theatre in Virginia to see their version of Beauty and the Beast. The show was very good, but far from what many of the students who signed up were expecting. 

The purpose of the show was not to reenact the fairytale that everyone was familiar with, complete with an obsessive compulsive clock and a candle stick with a French accent (why he is the only character in the movie with a French accent is still a point of inquiry, but I digress). 

The director (Ben Cunis) meant to provide a darker, more real story that, while still appropriate for families, was more geared towards an adult interpretation of the play. 

The Witch, Emeranne, narrates the story of her life and her death. She loved the prince and he loved her, but when confronted by his family, he claimed she bewitched him. She was burned at the stake, but in death she transformed into a vengeful spirit, cursing the prince into a Beast and tormenting him for eternity. 

From then on, the story continues fairly normally. 

The father is caught by the Beast (in this story, he is released with the command to send Belle back or he would die), and Belle takes his place in the castle. The two are first wary of each other but over time they begin to develop a friendship and a deep love for each other, with Emeranne trying to destroy their relationship as it progresses. 

In the end, the Beast is transformed (after being killed by a rival for Belle’s affections) and the two dance together, both human.

Not only was the story interesting, more obviously a tale of redemption and less of a simple fairy tale, but it was also technically very interesting to watch. 

The costumes were much grayer, drearier, in line with the story, and the fight scenes (Beast/Wolves and Beast/Townspeople) were all very interestingly choreographed, often appearing to be in slow motion. 

The actor who played the Beast (Vato Tsikurishvili) was obviously very skilled, and it showed. Throughout the play, the way he moved always appeared distinctly animalistic (he was often on all fours), and he jumped around and retained great control of his body despite what was probably a cumbersome costume.

Overall, the performance was great. The director, Ben Cunis, will, in fact, be coming to Severn as the fight choreographer for the Spring play, which will be very interesting. I cannot wait for the next performance that the Theatre department decides to take students to. It has a lot to live up to.

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The Life and Times of Agent Sot; Chapter 2: A Torturous Teacher

By: Zak Rosen '16

       CHAPTER 2: A Torturous Teacher

        The sound of a chainsaw wakes Sotiropolous up. Her hands are bound with sailing rope. The words of dark romantic poetry are scrawled on the walls, illuminated with the light of a single candle. Looking around, her eyes fall upon Ms. Sanders, wearing a cloak as black as night and brandishing a running chainsaw.

       “A little birdy told me that you were studying space-time,” she chuckled.

       “Sandra this isn’t what you want. Let me go. It doesn’t matter what you did, I can help you.”

       “No talking except to answer my question. Now...” she absentmindedly waved around the spinning blade. “How have you been causing these space-time events? And why?”

        Sotiropolous didn’t understand. She began to shake her head. “I’m not creating them. I’m studying them, for god’s sake. That’s why I went to Cirillo. To ask him what they were.”

        Sanders paused for a moment. “Cirillo was just found in a coma-- poisoned. You’re lying.”

        Sot shook her head furiously. “I didn’t do anything. I swear by the power of Doug Lagarde.” This was not a statement made lightly. Any untruthful oath taken in the name of Lagarde wreaks dire consequences on whoever makes it. “I’m afraid that it’s another power, someone intent on destroying the uneasy peace that has been established within the school. If the English and History departments go to war, it’s only a matter of time before everyone follows suit.”

         Sot saw the wheels begin to turn inside the English teachers mind. Her eyes squinted and she looked at Sotiropolous. With a great heave, she held the chainsaw high and brought it downwards. Sotiropolous looked away, fearing it was the end. Instead, she felt the manacles on her wrists and feet fall away. Sanders didn’t even scratch her wrists. That woman could handle a chainsaw.

         “Let’s go. We may not have a lot of time. My contacts in the mathematics department have noticed an exponential increase in the spatio-temporal activity. It might culminate soon, and we have to stop it. Do you have any idea who could be doing this?”

         “No idea. But Cirillo did notice that the epicenter of the activity seemed to be located in sub-basement number 7. Where are we now?”

         “In a secret antechamber off of a closet in Creeden. You’ll have to put on a blindfold before exiting. We can’t have you learning the secret haven of the English department.”

          Sot agreed, but just as she was about to put on a blindfold given to her by Sanders, the two heard a strange hissing noise. The room, dim as it was, grew darker with a thick green fog. The miasma filled the two women’s lungs and they crashed onto the cold ground, unconscious.

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Horoscopes: January 11-17

By: Annie Mott '16

ARIES: Your mood will change often this week and you will feel unsatisfied. You'll lack consistency in your decisions and projects, and every draft of that essay you have to write seems wrong.

TAURUS: Your mind will be on point this week, answering questions with ease and speed in class. The week will seem to fly by, despite the obvious faulty school day that should have been a snow day.

GEMINI: It is probable that you will slip or fall in the walk between Creeden and the portables at least once this week. You've been unsteady on your feet for awhile and, despite the new boots policy, the winter weather makes walking up a slippery ramp rather difficult.

CANCER: You'll be rather grumpy this entire week-- whether it be from that not-so-great exam grade you just got back or having to continue adjusting to that earlier wake-up call. Being in school while it's snowing doesn't help things, either, but keep your head up and push through. 

LEO: You are actually excited to be back in school and to start the new semester. You're so chipper you actually start to irritate your less than positive friends, and the winter wonderland you're in only serves to make you more positive.

VIRGO: You are in the mood for a snowball fight with the weather outside. The last thing you want to do is be in school, and you take full advantage of the freedom they give you and go outside during free period and have a snowball fight.

LIBRA: You are satisfied with your exam grades, and not really stressing about the end of the semester. You are happy to start a new elective and try new things! Even being slightly annoyed at having to drive at 25 miles an hour on the highway cannot get you down.

SCORPIO: Having to drive on the snowy highway, you saw a car accident right in front of you, and it gave you a new outlook on life. You are reminded of your mortality and decide to stop procrastinating and to do the things you want to.

SAGITTARIUS: The winter is your favorite season! You can't wait to get out of school, unfortunately, at the regular time, but you can't wait to get your sled out and go down that big hill in your neighborhood. 

CAPRICORN: You probably aren't feeling quite a hundred percent today. The winter cold has given you a stuffy nose and a cough that you can't quite seem to shake. Take some cold medicine, and chances are you won't have to miss too much school.

AQUARIUS: Winter is just not your season. You'd much rather be on a beach on summer break than in a winter coat not having a snow day. The weekend can't come quick enough, and you are looking forward to sleeping in Saturday morning.

PISCES: Nothing can get to you this week. You had a pleasant winter break and are recharged and ready for the new semester. You don't even have trouble getting up in the morning without a delay and not even a half hour of traffic can get in your way. 

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Big Changes Coming Between U.S. and Cuba

Photo courtesy of "US News"

By: Neel Lakhanpal '16

On December 17th, President Obama made a historic announcement regarding the relations between Cuba and our country. He told Americans and Cubans that a lot of change was coming for the two nations, and that he has a vision of bringing normalcy back to our ties with the communist island. Obama was acting to change actions taken decades ago, when in late 1960, President John F. Kennedy signed a trade embargo against Cuba as a response to Cuba’s alignment with the USSR during the Cold War period. This embargo restricted all Cuban imports to the U.S. and strictly controlled US exports to Cuba. The goal in doing this was to punish the Cuban regime for oppressing its citizens and allying with communist Russia.

The government hasn’t changed, however, and the embargo has proved quite ineffective. The effects on the Cuban economy have been devastating ever since. Since the Cuban economy relied in many ways on exports to America, especially sugar and agricultural products, Cubans suffered immensely without being able to sell their goods to Americans. Today, despite Cuba’s normal relations with most other countries, the effects continue. Millions of Cubans live in poverty and the average Cuban makes just around $6,000 a year, roughly a tenth of what the average American makes in a year. Additionally, Cuba is one of just a handful of countries with which America has no diplomatic ties -- there isn’t even a Cuban embassy in Washington, D.C..

The President’s announcement looks to change all of that in the long term, to our and Cuba’s benefit. To start, he wants to establish a Cuban embassy in Washington and an American embassy in Havana, then lift the trade embargo. Down the road, the ultimate goal would be for a democratically elected government to take over in Cuba.

For Cuba, these actions would help in countless ways. More trade with the U.S. would mean more money for the people and a healthier economy, and U.S. businesses setting up shop in Cuba would help both economies. Car companies search to sell to 11 million Cubans, as do technology companies. Hotels and cruise lines hope to bring Americans to vacation on the vibrant tropical island, if eventually allowed. American companies could prosper, while adding money to the Cuban economy.

For now, this doesn’t mean all that much for Americans without family ties to Cuba. For Cubans and Cuban-Americans, however, this is a very big deal. They are presented with realistic prospects for more prosperity and hopefully a less oppressive government. They look at this opportunity in awe and hope for a better future. In America, companies are enticed by this virtually untapped market lying just below Florida. And, eventually, all of us in Maryland might be hearing about someone’s recent vacation to Cuba, unthinkable two months ago

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The Life and Times of Agent Sot; Chapter 1: A Strange Discovery

By: Zak Rosen '16

CHAPTER 1: A STRANGE DISCOVERY

       “These readings are very strange. Some sort of space-time anomaly,” Cirillo said, staring confusedly at the computer screen.

       “Any idea what it could mean?” Agent Sotirpolous asks, gently stroking her chin.

       “Nope. Now your end of the bargain?”

        Sighing, Sotiropolous handed Cirillo a folder. Contained with in its manilla boundaries were the access codes to the underground nuclear weapons laboratory. It pained her to do so, but the History apartment agreed. Sacrifices had to be made in order to get to the bottom of this. In this school, secrets must be given for information to be obtained.

         Now walking down the carpeted Creeden hall, avoiding students like mines, Sotiropolous was lost in thought. The strange noises and light flashings and other odd events had been plaguing the various faculty for some time. The science department was ruled out; the teachers were brilliant but after the various cybernetic attacks carried about by the math department, there is no way they were unified enough to carry out such an assault. As a result, most of the History department pointed at the English (or possibly the Fine Arts) teachers. But that rang false for Sot, and Codename Buckley agreed with her. 

         The English teachers might have been a fan of surrealism and fantasy, but they in no way had the resources to make those goals a reality. And it wasn’t doing much to weaken the History department so much as make them angry. Almost motivating a war. The same reasoning stood true for the Fine Arts. Though it was possible Agent Giddings was using his tech for the subversive attacks, it wouldn’t really gain him anything. There was something strange going on, and Sot had to find out before war broke out.

          Sot was alone by this time, when she felt a sudden pain in her neck. Hand slapping at the skin of her throat, she felt a lump. She pulled it away and saw in her hand a blowdart. There was only one person, she knew, who used such a weapon. Sanders.

          The room started to spin. Sot had to get out. In Creeden commons now, she tried to knock over tables, get attention. She noticed a student standing by, Tricia Oxford. “Help me,” Sot whispered. Tricia smiled and shook her head, pulling from her pocket a camera that is also a dart gun. Just before blacking out, Sot saw a figure enter from around the corner, to stand beside Tricia. A shock of blond hair and the telltale laugh of that English witch, and everything went black.

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2015 Musician in Residence: Preview

Photo by Lester Cohen

By: Tricia Oxford '16

Eric Hutchinson, this year's Dillon Moran Musician-In-Residence, was born on September 8, 1980 in Takoma Park, MD (about an hour away from Severn). He started playing guitar when he was 15! He moved to Boston to attend Emerson College and, four years after, he moved to L.A. Over the years, he has toured with various mainstream musicians, such as Joe Jackson, Jason Mraz, and One Republic. His most popular song “Rock & Roll” is off his first album, “Sounds Like This.”

Eric will be hosting songwriting sessions at Severn next Thursday, January 15th and will perform in Price Auditorium that night.

Watch the music video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bm5TZX5hz3g

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5 New Things to try in 2015!

By: Tricia Oxford '16

1. Try listening to a podcast

One to try is "SERIAL!" It is a 12 episode podcast that follows Sarah Koenig as she uncovers the truth about a murder in Maryland 15 years ago. Start listening here: http://serialpodcast.org

2. Take up a new hobby

Try a creative project or a new sport/activity with some friends! By letting your brain take a break from all the homework and papers, your stress will drastically decrease! 

3. Go on more adventures

Take a road trip with friends, go on a hike, or explore a new restaurant in town! Create memories that you will remember for a long time.

4. Try to go a day without your phone

I understand this sounds ridiculous- especially with our generation- but try to spend a few hours of the day phone-less and focus more on what's happening in front of you, not on the latest tweet or post.

Need convincing? Watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRl8EIhrQjQ

5. Do something today that your future self will thank you for

Try sitting with someone new for lunch, going to extra help in a class that you are struggling in, or working on the paper a few nights before it's due, not the night before!

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Anne Arundel County Public Schools Remain Open Despite Dangerous Conditions

Two teens involved in a car crash in Pasadena earlier today. Photo by Chuck Cochran.

By: A.J. Gersh '15

This morning, many Severn School students arose to angry tweets and texts from friends as, despite a forecast of over 3 inches of snow, Anne Arundel County Public Schools made the "judgement call" to start schools at regular time this morning.

Over 142 snow-related accidents have been reported, many of which involved students attempting to promptly get to school via un-plowed highways and roads.

Some parents urged their children to stay home due to the drastically unsafe conditions. Many frustrated students arrived to school late, and nearly all of Severn's seniors either saw an accident on their drive in, or were nearly involved in one.

Let's face the facts: A.A.C.P.S. blew the call. 

This brings upon the "Deja Vu" effect, as in February of last year a very similar snowfall was treated with the same response.

Throughout the hallways of Creeden, "We should have been off today," "I can't believe schools weren't closed with these terrible roads," and "A.A.C.P.S. blew it again" have been three VERY popular sentences.

Due to the outrage of parents and students alike, many schools have begun to take action, most drastically Archbishop Spalding, who will now make weather-based decisions independently.

So, the next time moderate snow is in the forecast, A.A.C.P.S. must make the correct "judgement call," or Severn and other private schools in the area might choose to follow Spalding's footsteps to determine their own snowy fate.

Stay safe on the roads.

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