The Examiner

Man commits raw-chicken vandalism, could face 18 years in prison.

A love-scorned Denver man placed raw chicken in his ex-wife’s heating ducts. The 58-year-old also committed several other strange acts of vandalism towards his former spouse. After six hours of deliberation, he was convicted of second-degree burglary and criminal mischief and could face up to 18 years in prison. This man was clearly no chicken about revenge.

Thirsty child wedges himself in chimney.

An eight-year-old Utah boy climbed his neighbor’s tree and attempted to slide down their chimney for a simple glass of water. The boy managed to slide 30 feet down before getting stuck feet first, where he stayed for over four hours. When the rescuers arrived on scene, they ended up having to cut an 8-by-5-foot hole in the chimney to free the child. Moral of the story? Try the tap first.

Connecticut man reports own traffic violation.

Michael Andes of Shelton, CN was so upset about the lack enforcement in his city for traffic violations that he parked illegally and then called 911 repeatedly. When police arrived at the scene, Andes was subdued with a stun gun. His screaming and combative behavior over the issue also got him arrested. He was charged with breaching the peace, interfering with an officer and was given a parking ticket. Maybe next time he could try a strongly worded letter, unless he finds his current solution more productive.

Man charged again for putting ribs down his pants.

65-year-old Donald Noone has been charged for a second time for attempting to steal ribs by shoving them down his pants. Noone tried to hide over $20 worth of ribs in his pants in late September, after pulling a similar stunt in a grocery market earlier this year. Since he is a repeat offender, his crime will be considered more seriously as a second-degree misdemeanor. Noone, however, is not alone in his idea. There have been several similar reports all across the nation of people stealing things in their pants, such as snakes, turtles, and live lobsters. What is this world coming to?

Newlyweds shoplift reception food.

After nearly eight years since the release of their self-titled album, blink-182 has made their much-awaited comeback with Neighborhoods. Released on September 27th after being postponed numerous times (the band even cancelled an overseas tour due to not having the album out), Neighborhoods certainly had very big expectations surrounding it.

The three members of blink-182, Mark Hoppus, Tom Delonge, and Travis Barker, have certainly had their problems that even lead to an “indefinite hiatus” in 2009, but after sorting everything out, they are back in full force even though all three guys are very busy with their own projects. Hoppus has his show on Fuse, “Hoppus on Music”, Delonge has his other band, Angels & Airwaves, and Barker just released his own hip-hop album, making production of the album difficult for everyone in the band. They finally pulled through, however, to make an album that is more mature than their previous albums (which nearly all contained more than a fair share of toilet humor), but most certainly does not disappoint.

The first single, “Up All Night” was released in July, and was the first real taste of any new blink material that fans had heard since blink-182 was released in 2003. Personally, I was worried after I heard the song because I thought it sounded far too much like Angels & Airwaves. Hearing it with the other songs on the album, however, it sounds just right.

One of my favorite tracks on the album is “Natives” which starts off in the style of “Lemmings” or some of the other tracks on Dude Ranch, with a fast-paced guitar riff and Barker’s signature style of drumming.

The whole album has a much deeper feel, especially compared to far earlier albums like Dude Ranch and Take Off Your Pants and Jacket. The songs are not nearly as happy, and the music sounds a lot like every blink side project came together and had a baby, which they called Neighborhoods, but it’s blink-182 nonetheless and it’s a great album.

However, for fans of Hoppus’ deeper voice, Neighborhoods may be a bit of a disappointment since Delonge sings most of the songs. “Kaleidoscope” and “MH 4.18.2011” are two Hoppus tracks (as you can probably tell by the track of MH 4.18.2011...Mark Hoppus 4.18.2011) that will hopefully satisfy some of the Hoppus hunger. Delonge and Hoppus also switch of on some choruses like they have in the past.

I went into this movie with absolutely no idea what to expect. I kind of knew the plot, I didn’t know who was in it, and I’d never even seen a single commercial for it. But by the end of Contagion I knew without a doubt what the movie was about, and was even a little freaked out.

Contagion is about a virus that nobody has ever seen or heard of before; this virus can be passed just by touch and can kill the infected person within days of contracting it. Since this virus was unknown, there was no cure for it when the epidemic started, so it quickly spread throughout the world killing millions of people. The virus is compared to the Spanish flu, and they expected the same death rate for this virus (around one percent of the world.)

Throughout the movie, to make it feel more realistic, producers worked alongside the CDC (Center for Disease Control) to make the movie as realistic as possible. This worked very well and made you feel that this epidemic could actually spread as fast as it did and be as contagious as it is.

            The seriousness of this virus and its effect is portrayed very well all through the movie. They show how society breaks down from such a large spread epidemic.  They show how the government reacts to this, even showing some of the lows/unfairness that happens within the government compared to the average people, with the people making the medication to stop the virus and the people studying the virus getting the cure first, then the people with the most money being a close second.

            The main cast of Contagion consisted of Matt Damon as a normal person going through the epidemic after losing his wife (Gwyneth Paltrow) and daughter, Laurence Fishburne as the head of the CDC, and Jude Law as a passionate blogger fighting the ways of the CDC and the government throughout the movie.

Running across countries. That is what they don’t do in cross country. Instead they stretch their athletic abilities and run baby run.

As I sat through one of the practices, the boys cross country team stretched their muscles and prepared to run. Some practices you’ll see them running on Sullivan or other roads around the school, covering long distances but nothing close to multiple countries.

That day they practiced on the track. Coach Mahoney yelled something and they took off in groups jogging around and around the track. I thought they would never stop. These boys have to have lungs of steel and legs like the road runner.

I got a chance to talk to the infamous sophomore, Patrick Hinea. This is Hinea’s first year on the team. He enjoys it because it is a fun activity, it releases stress, and he thinks Mahoney is pretty cool.

“My favorite part of cross country is the races and running with my big glasses on,” said Hinea.

“Every other night I have the same dream. It’s in black and white, the finish line in sight and I’m in first place. I cross the finish line in slow motion with Beethoven’s 9th symphony playing in my ears,” he said. Hinea illustrates his dedication to running even when he sleeps.

 “I like cross country because I enjoy running and it takes care of a P.E. credit while doing something I love. I plan on staying in it next year,” said junior Duggan, another first year runner.

It's your first day. You walk into your first class. You see no one that you know. You ask yourself, "Where should I sit?" You choose a spot next to someone who looks like they won't bite you. You think, "Should I sai 'hi' or keep to myself?" Your teacher starts talking about his expectations for the year. You're already dreading this class and wishing it wasn't required to be here.

Finding yourself is hard enough. Finding somewhere you fit in is even more difficult. It also doesn't help when all people do is judge you, and when you first walk through the door of high school, that's all you worry about, because that's all people do.

Everyone else seems to have this whole "high school thing" figured out, and no one's quick to let you in on the secret of how it's done. The thing you have to remember is that they've all been trough this same exact situation before. No one walks into high school on their first day and is totally happy and prepared.

So I'm going to be awesome and let you in on this secret...TALK. That's pretty much all it takes. Get to know your partner or group in class because, hate to break it to you, you're stuck with them all year. Approach the kid sitting alone at a lunch table, because they're probably even more terrified than you are. Ask questions, even if others laugh at you, because someone else is probably wondering the same thing. Don't become the status quo, be yourself, because it's going to give courage to others to do the same.

If you don't fit in right away, don't freak out! It's not going to be an instantaneous success. It takes time and effort, but before you know it, you'll find a whole lit of different people that you can get along with and high school won't seem quite so bad anymore,

The Homecoming game against Ferris came as a disappointment to the seniors as well as the entire school. Central Valley lost against Ferris 10-28. It was apparent after the second half; CV hasn't shown up for the entire game.

"We shut them down the first half," Senior Anthony Brommer said. "After half time the defense became tired, and the offense couldn't get anything moving."

Central Valley's offense only rushed a total of 49 yards. Ferris rushed 235 yards, nearly five times greater than CV.

"The defense needed to stick to their tackles and the offense their blocks," Senior Jordan Tabish said. "Our running game wasn't effective, but Ferris is a really big team."

Ferris' team is comprised of larger football players. Their largest player tops the scales at 258 pounds. Central Valley, as a team, is quite a bit smaller on the field. Central Valley is faster with the ball, but when Ferris gets the ball, they break tackles and march down the field.

"I think the outcome could've been different if we threw the ball more," said Senior Brett Busch. Busch was out with an injury but supported the team from the sidelines.

Central Valley had issues Friday night with blocks from the offensive line. Gaven Deyarmin was sacked numerous times while attempting to throw the ball. Central Valley had three fumbles and lost two of those; compared to Ferris who had three as wel, but recovered them all.

"We needed to pass the ball more, but ultimately, we as a team needed to stop ferris," Brommer said.

"Coach told us after the game that this wasn't the end. The team needs to focus now on getting a good seed in the playoffs," Senior Garrett Sawyer added.

Central Valley needs to win the next four games in order to get a second seed in the GSL playoffs.

"I'm looking forward to the next games, we'll face Ferris again in the playoffs," Tabish said.

"We learned last year that a second seed is a heck of a lot better than third seed," Sawyer added. 

Central Valley then proceeded to lose against Gonzaga Prep Friday October 7th 28-41.

Beginning high school can be one of the scariest experiences a teenager has, but thanks to the LINK program, that transition is made a little easier.

Every year, a group of upperclassmen, along with Mrs. Hoard and Ms. Riddle, organize an orientation for freshmen a few days before school actually starts. The LINK program has been a wild success at CV ever since it was established. The LINK leaders not only dedicate a good piece of their summer to the program, but the do the best they can to ease the process for the freshmen.

"I wanted to help acclimate the freshmen with the high school atmosphere," said senior LINK leader Lucas Schneidmiller. His transition from middle school to high school was much smoother due to LINK, so he joined the program to give back.

Orientation consisted of a motivational speaker, small group time with LINK leaders, a tour with LINK leaders, a short dance party, and closing by the same speaker. The goal, as a LINK leader, is to have the freshmen return on the first day of school with a little more confidence and a little less fear.

LINK also gives the freshmen upperclassmen allies that they can count on for support. LINK night is to help forge bonds between freshmen and upperclassmen as well as introduce them to the school.

It's a common misconception that upperclassmen hate freshmen.

"I don't discriminate," said Schneidmiller, "I don't dismiss freshmen for being freshmen; I give everybody a chancem as do all LINK leaders and most upperclassmen."

Mrs. Hoard and Ms. Riddle put in many hours and a lot of effort to ensure that LINK will be a success every year. They do a fantastic job with coordinating orientation night and with the program in general. 

"I would encourage other students to become LINK leaders," Schneidmiller said, "it helped them as a freshman so they could give back, not only that but LINK night is a lot of fun."

So there you have it sophomores and juniors, join LINK in the spring!