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American Studies class formed to combine American history and literature

February 3, 2012

Nicole Sarquis, Staff Writer

History teachers tend to ramble off unrelatable facts about flappers, bootlegging, and the ease of life in the “Roaring 20s” during a typical U.S. History class, leaving their students with no real understanding of the subject. At the same time, English teachers’ enthusiasm over F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” can only be understood if students reading the literary classic have a solid knowledge base of the time period the novel is set in. In an attempts to bridge the gap between literature and history studies, two teachers––Ms. Megan Kern and Ms. Anne Marie Dominguez––have paired up to teach their newly developed class, American Studies, to juniors, combining the... Continue Reading

Lumpkin’s layup helps boys’ basketball avoid upset

February 3, 2012

Matt Muenzberg, Sports Editor

“Don’t miss.” That was the thought that ran through the head of senior forward Sanjay Lumpkin when he got the ball under the basket unguarded with three seconds left in the game. Lumpkin made the layup, giving the top ranked boys’ basketball team a 67-65 win over number two Spring Lake Park. “We were just trying to get a screen and roll on the top. The ball went into the corner and I just cut back door and no one was guarding me,” said Lumpkin. The Red Knights struggled to contain Spring Lake Park’s Sean Scott, who had a career night with 36 points, 13 rebounds, and six blocks in a packed, pro-Panther gymnasium. Head coach Mr. John Moore admitted that guarding Scott isn’t an exact... Continue Reading

Rising actors partake in Les Miserables performance

Junior Shannon Galvin rehearses for the upcoming Les Miserables performance wither her fellow cast members. (Giulia Imholte)

Rising actors partake in Les Miserables performance

January 27, 2012

Emily Kline, Staff Writer

Blue Water Theatre Company, one of the Twin Cities’ top performing arts groups for youth, is taking on “Les Misérables,” one of musical theatre’s most famous works, for their winter production. Juniors Rachel Hogen and Shannon Galvin, along with sophomore Rachel Wallace, joined the cast in late November and are currently in rehearsals for the... Continue Reading

SOPA bill is ineffective, inefficient, and infringing

February 1, 2012

Nick Hillson, Staff Writer

The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) is a bill running through Congress in an attempt to curb the illegal uploading and downloading of copyrighted information and programs. Unfortunately, due to extremely vague wording and unclear definitions, the censorship proposed could extend to websites such as Facebook, various e-mails, and any other free forum. Not only is SOPA ineffective for all but the technologically impaired, but it violates our rights and benefits only a small handful of elites. SOPA works by requiring websites and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to search through sent information and to censor any infringing material. Not only does this ignore the privacy guaranteed in the Constitution... Continue Reading

Mock Trial season testifies the team’s talent

The Mock Trial team had a succesful season at several competitions due to immense practice and help from professional lawyers. (Photo courtesy of Jim Vogl)

Mock Trial season testifies the team’s talent

February 3, 2012

Mallory Hoch, Staff Writer

Beginning in October, the Mock Trial team has practiced every night from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in room 121 in preparation for upcoming competitions. Coming to a close on January 31st, the season ended on a strong note, making it to subsections before loosing their last competition. The season commenced with general practices to help initiate new members.... Continue Reading

SportDateOpponentResultW/L
Boys BasketballFri, Feb 03 Spring Lake Park67-65 Read StoryW
Girls BasketballTue, Jan 31 Minneapolis Southwest70-38W
Girls HockeySat, Jan 28 Hill-Murray1-3 Read StoryL
Boys BasketballSat, Jan 28 North Branch82-21 Read StoryW
Girls BasketballSat, Jan 28 North Branch66-40 Read StoryW
Dance TeamSat, Jan 28 Catholic JamboreeJ: 2nd/K: 3rd
Girls HockeyFri, Jan 27 St. Francis/North Branch10-0 Read StoryW
Boys HockeyFri, Jan 27 Moorhead2-6 Read StoryL
WrestlingFri, Jan 27 Robbinsdale Cooper47-27W
WrestlingFri, Jan 27 Mahtomedi33-34L
Boys HockeyThu, Jan 26 Irondale6-1 Read StoryW
Girls BasketballThu, Jan 26 Chisago Lakes58 -45 Read StoryW
Click on any sport above to see a full schedule for that sport.
SportDateTimeOpponentLocation
Girls HockeySat, Feb 04 3:00Totino-GraceParade Ice Gardens
Boys HockeySat, Feb 04 7:30Spring Lake ParkBlaine
WrestlingSat, Feb 04 9:00TBAPine Island
Girls BasketballMon, Feb 06 6:00DeLaSalleDeLaSalle
Boys HockeyWed, Feb 08 7:30Shattuck-St. Mary'sShattuck-St. Mary's
Girls BasketballFri, Feb 10 7:15St. Louis ParkSt. Louis Park
WrestlingFri, Feb 10 6:00Chisago LakesHome
Boys HockeySat, Feb 11 2:30Totino-GraceSt. Louis Park
Dance TeamSat, Feb 11 1:00SectionsAustin
Boys HockeyTue, Feb 14 7:00Chisago LakesChisago Lakes
Girls BasketballTue, Feb 14 7:15Columbia HeightsHome
Girls BasketballThu, Feb 16 7:15WaconiaHome
Click on any sport above to see a full schedule for that sport.

One of the scariest films of the year, “Paranormal Activity”

There's something unknown making bumps in the night and half the time, these happenings are occuring right at the foot of leads Micah and Kate's bed.

Chandy Clemens
November 2, 2009
Filed under Movie Reviews, Reviews

“Paranormal Activity” is one of the scariest films I have ever seen, as generic as that may sound. When a horror movie succeeds at truly shocking-and-awing that’s when you know you’ve got a keeper. “Paranormal Activity” is a keeper.

After Hitchcock’s “Psycho” I never wanted to take a shower with supervision again. Once finished watching “The Descent,” hell no was I ever going down in a cave. And once my case of heart palpitations settled, “Paranormal Activity” made me afraid of my own bed.

This paralyzing thought probably never crossed Micah (Micah Sloat) and Kate ( Kate Featherston), the two leads, a lovely couple living in their lovely American home who suspect there’s an extra something rather than nothing making bumps in the night. Kate holds the belief a spiritual entity may be haunting their abode or some sort of creepish, invisible monster.

The greatest part of “Paranormal Activity” is it’s ability to be so scary without revealing the true cause of any terror. Like “The Blair Witch Project,” horrifying events are taking place throughout, but the appearance of any evil-doer fails to appear. We as the viewer are continuously left in the dark and by no means aware of what could possibly take place next.

The digital camera becomes a third character and we the outside observers. Micah and Kate’s dedicated performances seem so realistic, one easily could have assumed we were watching America’s Scariest Home Video the entire time, but despite the introductory teaser trying to fool the audience, “Paranormal” isn’t actually real.

The subtle direction of first-timer Oren Peli allows for a more organic and less forced relationship between Micah and Kate. Slowly, they become unhinged with the other after multiple sleepless nights and the infringing presence of whatever the hell is in their house.

Kate begins to loose her grip on sanity and it is Micah, who despite his own anxieties, must cater to her emotionally deteriorating state. At a certain point, their believability becomes frighteningly real.

Made on a shoestring budget of no more than $11,000, “Paranormal Activity” is exceptionally well-done especially as it lacks the typical special effects, gore, and buckets of blood that are supposed to add extra fright according to horror standards. “Paranormal” doesn’t need excess carnage in order to get the point across.

Peli progressively built up an unbearable amount of suspense from scene to scene that the anticipation in itself was terrifying. I felt relieved to see a director not bombard the viewer with grotesque imagery and instead rely on the absence of a physical villain to make the supernatural extremely freaky.

Peli’s highly original feature debut is one chalk full of goods to scare you senseless. Be prepared.

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