1. Animals that can talk.
2. A caterpillar that smokes tobacco.
3. Sleighing a jabberwocky- whatever that is.
4. Card soldiers.
5. Me dancing the fudderwagon.
6. Thinking that Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland was a terribly made movie.
   
   

   That's right, all you Johnny Depp lovers: Johnny Depp plays the madhatter. Isn't he just dreamy?

Entering this dream we call Alice in Wonderland, I thought it would be a totally twisted, cavorted depiction of how Tim Burton saw the original animated Alice in Wonderland. During this wonderfully composed dream-like film, I realized that Tim Burton wasn’t at all trying to poison Walt Disney. No, besides a few parts, he followed the original storyline, but intensified it. As I came out of the dream-like movie, I was refreshed and found myself wanting to buy the DVD when it comes out.

Alice is the main character, whom, we see at first as a young child, around the age of seven living in 19^th century England, an imaginative girl who is a little bit “mad”, “bonkers”, and “off her rocker crazy”, waking up from her dreams of talking animals and flowers, smiling cats, blue caterpillars, and much more.

Thirteen years later, she is the same Alice, only older. However, her dreams are still as vivid as daylight and she is always being told what to do and how to act and how to dress. Attending a party in which has been planned since before she was born, she finds that her dreams are coming to life right before her eyes.

So when the nightmare in her life proposes to her, she runs away, not knowing where to go. A suspicious tree trunk catches her eye, so that’s where she runs to. Seeing a hole near the trunk, she looks in and falls endlessly until she reaches solid ground. There she find a key to the wildest of wild- the jungle of her imagination. There, she meets all types of strange creatures, finds out that she has to defeat the jabberwocky once and for all, restoring the crown to the rightful queen, and most importantly, finds herself in this dream-like expedition.

I would highly recommend seeing this, especially if you are “mad”, “bonkers”, or “off your rocker crazy” or if you are just a normal sane person. Just remember to think of six impossible things before you see it.

Zavon Watkins takes first in the 1000m race at States. Photo from tullyrunners.com

Super soph Zavon Watkins, the only sophomore in the Indoor Track State Championship meet at Cornell University on Saturday, made the win look easy as he pulled away from the pack with a lap to go. A hundred meters from the finish, it was clear to see that he had first place in the bag.

Watkins took first in the 1000m race, with a time of 2:31.06. He is Liverpool’s first individual state champion, in any sport, since Ben White won the 1600m race at the Outdoor Track State Championship meet in 2005.

All of the success has come as a surprise to Watkins.

“I just did indoor track to get in shape for the outdoor season. I had know idea that I would do this well. It’s crazy,” said Watkins.

Less than  two hours later, Watkins played a pivotal role in his team’s 4×800m relay.

Liverpool went into the race with the top time in the nation so far this season (7:47.32). The state meet should have been a cake walk for the undefeated 4×800m relay team, but on Saturday that was not the case.

Senior Chris Clemons led off for the Warriors, but didn’t have a very strong performance. He got boxed in halfway through his leg and was never able to break away from the pack.

“Chris just didn’t look good today. His running looked flat. But it’s okay. Everyone is bound to have at least one off meet,” said coach Justin Block.

After Clemons’ lackluster leg, Wilke had his turn with the baton. He made up some ground, but still handed off the baton well off the leaders.

Next for the Warriors was senior Colin Savage. He was able to make up a good chunk of time and gave the baton to anchor leg Zavon Watkins just behind the leader.

The winning 4x800m relay. From left to right: Clemons, Wilke, Savage, Watkins

Watkins took charge with two laps to go, and held off an opposing late surge down the homestretch.

The winning time of 7:59 beat out runner-up St. Anthony’s from New York City by less than a second.

Although the team didn’t win as easily as they had imagined, they still got the State Championship they had been training for.

Up next for the Liverpool quartet is the Nike Indoor National meet, which will be held in Boston on March 12th, 13th, and 14th.

Yearbook adviser Sean Brown has managed The Hiawathan since 2001, and may - or may not - step down after the 2010 yearbook is released. Photo by George Clarke

The Hiawathan, Liverpool High School’s yearbook, holds fond memories and its fair share of funny pictures. The Hiawathan has been an end-of-the-year treat to many students who find it important to keep their high school memories. Many students own several LHS yearbooks, and in each are the good tidings that their closest friends have scribbled on the inside of each cover.

What most students do not see in the book is the hard work that goes into its publication and design. Sean Brown, a technology teacher at LHS, has advised The Hiawathan since 2001, alongside his duties as the varsity ice hockey coach and the adviser of Liverpool Live.

Brown is considering handing over the yearbook duties to another adviser next year. He loves the work, but with a schedule overflowing with teaching, broadcasting, family, graduate classes and the yearbook, he might just have to let go of something.

“There’s no real mystery – it’s a lot of work, but there are only so many hours in a day,” Brown said.

Brown, a 2000 alumnus of Ohio State and a 2003 graduate of SUNY Oswego, is pursuing an educational administration degree at SUNY Cortland. He is also looking forward to coaching his daughter, age 4, in soccer.

No decisions have been made, and Brown will continue doing his best on the yearbook until the 2010 edition is released. Only then will he make his decision and choose his replacement.

At least one thing is already certain: The Hiawathan will continue to collect the memories shared at Liverpool High School.

Senior Stanley Hines raised $65 in his first 20 minutes at the Phone-a-Thon. Hines is working hard to secure scholarships for his fall semester at Temple University in Philadelphia.

Some people are nauseated by the idea of volunteering at a phone bank. For others, like Cory Folk, winning over random strangers on the telephone is an unexpected talent.

Folk and Kristin Wrobel, both seniors, raised exactly $600 on the first night of the Dollars for Scholars Phone-a-Thon, a phone bank that collects donations for college scholarships.

“We called certain people, and we were lucky enough to get a good folder, I guess,” Folk said.

The Phone-a-Thon, which has been running for eleven years, is one of the largest Dollars for Scholars fundraisers, and is still growing: according to Dollars for Scholars president John Cerrone, over 125 students appeared today, and more are expected next Sunday.

The organization keeps records on each participant, from grades 9 to 12. The more a volunteer participates, the more likely he is to receive a scholarship. Between 25 and 30 scholarships are given, ranging from $300 to $500 each.  Because the organization’s board of directors receives no compensation, every penny donated goes directly to the students in scholarships for graduating seniors.

In 1999, 20 students attended Phone-a-Thon, raising a total of $2000. Last year, 230 students volunteered, raising about $18,000. The goal in recent years has been $25,000; typically, the Phone-a-Thon meets that goal, but the Great Recession considerably affected last year’s donations. With such a great turnout, Cerrone is optimistic about meeting the $25,000 mark this year.

“They’re working very aggressively, and they’re doing a great job…they’re a great bunch of students, and we’re very happy that they’re here with us,” Cerrone said.

Folk, who has never volunteered at a Phone-a-Thon before today, attributes his group’s success to simple charisma.

“Hopefully we can do as well next week,” Folk said. “Kristin and I are going to team up and see what we can do.”

Sometimes, charisma just isn’t enough.

“I called a person and started talking, they said ‘Hello’, I started talking, and halfway through my pitch, they hung up. I kept talking…it was a little awkward, just talking to myself. It happens, though,” Folk said.

“People were actually really nice about it,” said senior Mike Cardwell,” except one guy who doesn’t take phone calls on Sundays.”

Seniors Tyler Sadonis and Tyler Bender work their way down the calling list.

Cardwell, who has also had no prior Phone-a-Thon experience, raised nearly $100 with junior Josh Peelman.

“One lady answered ‘Ooh! Ba ba la la!’, and I said ‘Pardon me?’ – I had to be respectful. Then she said it again, and I had to say ‘ Sorry, I can’t understand you’. Then she hung up on me,” Peelman said.

“I had to explain it to the guy over and over again…when he finally got it, I said ‘Would you like to make a pledge?’ He just said ‘No!’ and hung up…” Cardwell said.

More than anything, Phone-a-Thon was a chance for college-bound students to volunteer with their friends and secure their futures.

“It definitely was a pleasant surprise,” Folk said.

Softball coach Dominick Spataro introduces the inaugural concert fundraiser.

Sarah Tram plays "All I Want is You", her first original song performance. Tram has been passionate about songwriting since elementary school.

Jessie Gherardi shows her newly-discovered ukelele talent in a performance of "Be OK", by Ingrid Michaelson. Gherardi, winner of Liverpool Idol and a regular at Coffeehouse, is already one of the most talented singers in LHS.

Jim Wright, a senior known for his sense of humor, hosts the concert.

Joe Manganiello gets the crowd laughing. Mags is a skilled actor and a sports editor for The Lifeguard.

Manganiello is a regular singer at Coffeehouse who is gaining a passion for the piano. Here, Mags performs "Childlike Wildlife", by Jason Mraz.

Connor Thuotte prepares to play "Perfect", a song from "Sunblind", his new album.

Justin Hambrecht and Stephanie Langdon perform "Conspiracy", by Paramore.

Coryn Curtis, a member of the softball team, speaks to Ryan Tibbetts in the auditorium commons. Alongside Thuotte's album, CDs of the concert and DVD recordings by Jordan Harmon are available.

The team is trying out a new form of sports fundraising: a concert.

Jessie Gherardi shows her newly-discovered ukelele talent in a performance of "Be Ok", by Ingrid Michaelson. Gherardi, winner of Liverpool Idol and a regular at Coffeehouse, is already one of the most talented singers in LHS.

“It was originally my grandfather’s idea,” said Sarah Tram, “and then I brought it to life.”

Tram is a senior softball player and the mastermind behind this concert. She hopes it can help raise enough money to finance the team’s annual training trip to Orlando, Florida.

“In the past our fundraisers have been kind of crappy. No one wants to buy flowers or candles. And with this, the girls will be making more than five dollars for the team.”

It’s not all about money. One of Tram’s biggest goals for the concert is to show off the spectacular talent of the class of 2010.

“I want to represent all the seniors. All of the performers are seniors, except my brother. It’s a really talented group of kids.”

Tram is also aiming to donate a large percentage of the funds to a local charity.

“I’m looking to give about 1000 dollars to charity. We’re expecting a really great turnout.”

The concert will take place in the LHS auditorium. The doors will open at 5:45, and the show will begin at 6:30. Tickets will be sold during lunches at school and at the door for 5 dollars each.

At the concert, there will be food and beverages, as well as performances by Joe Manganiello, Connor Thuotte, Jessie Gherardi, Dion Dyer and more. Each performance will be broken up by MC and funny-man Jimmy Wright.

If you can’t make it, don’t sweat it. DVDs of the night’s performances will be sold for $15, so you can get your fill of the sounds of softball in the comfort of your own home.

The next time you think softball, don’t think slow pitch. Think perfect pitch.

Dennis Rodman in 3D? Thanks, but no thanks.

Best in Show goes to…nope, not Sadie. It’s the 3D TV.

Oh, I was talking about the Consumer Electronics Show, where the latest technologies for the Average Joe are put on display for collective “ooooo-ing” and “ahhhh-ing.” Consumer Reports projects that manufacturers such as Sony, Vizio, LG, Samsung and Panasonic will come out with new 3D televisions as early as mid-March!

Cool, huh? Yeah, but think about it: Do you really want to see The Biggest Loser in 3D? As far as I’m concerned, they’re big enough.

How about Celebrity Rehab? Want to see Dennis Rodman in 3D? Maybe playing hoops with MJ and Pippen, but not with Dr. Drew and enough bags under his eyes to fill my grocery cart. (No offense, Dennis. Do what you gotta do.)

Flip to MTV. A concert is on, oh cool. Alright, my favorite: Insane Clown Posse featuring Lindsey Buckingham and Destiny’s Child! But Bruno flies in on an invisible cable and lands straight on Eminem. Too bad Eminem is wearing a camera hat, and you just got hit by a big ole helping of “scarred for life.”

Broke your glasses? Pay for this.

Those okay with you? Alright, let’s paint a picture: It’s Super Bowl Sunday, the greatest night in football. You’re a monster Saint’s fan–who dat?–and are having a huge party for all your bros. You got the brand new Panasonic 42600 3D installed with the surround sound, rotationg wall mount and Blu-ray with 3D capabilities. You and your family have 2 pairs of glasses that came with the TV, and had to buy 2 more at $100 a pop. But for the Super Bowl party, youre down 6 pairs.

Eh, no biggy. You foot the $600 and have the best party on the block. Oh, time to refill the chips. You get up, fill the bowl, grab some drinks and sit back down before the Doritos commercial. Wait, the screen looks all funny… double-vision in red and blue. Wait, you left the Panasonic 66985563c glasses on the counter. You run to get them, only to hear a loud roar from the other room, accompanied by that one guy with the most annoying laugh you’ve ever heard that you met at the post office and had to invite.

Fast forward. Saints ball, 4th down, field goal. The camera shifts between the uprights. Hartley kicks the 40-yarder, the pigskin flying right at your face–in 3D. You flinch and close your eyes like anyone would, and you miss the go-ahead score, knocking over your cherry Coke. Who’s got the bag on their head now?

I understand, it’s the next big thing. Cool! Go for it! Just remember that those $100 glasses will end up in the wicker basket next to the couch with your SEGA Dreamcast and your girlfriend’s Seventeen.

 Paradigm Journal, an online quarterly, is based in Columbus, Ohio. Each edition includes diverse literary elements, including fiction, non-fiction, interviews, and poems. 

Every edition has 6 to 10 poems, and Phoenix’s poem, “From the Telescope, a Marble Eye,” will be published among the works of a national group of scholarly writers.

“I’m the youngest writer in the poetry section. I’m the only poet in the journal without a master’s degree. I got my degree in studying existence.”

 Phoenix, an avid poet and lover of the written word, has been writing for years. After sending his work to the journal earlier this school year, he received word that he will be published in the magazine’s first edition since the start of the new decade.

“Poetry is like painting. You are the creator who creates a reflection of yourself,” Phoenix said. “It’s like a silkworm landing down on a silk bed and juicing down a berry.”

 Kevin Phoenix has become quite the figure within the unvarying halls of Liverpool High School. Even while being pinned in the center of such a diverse and talented senior class, he stands like a pleasant sore thumb amongst his many on lookers, peers, elders.

 “Kevin Phoenix is a unique dude. You can never put your finger on him, but that’s a good thing. I love talking to him,” said senior Cory Folk.

 Phoenix clings to an inimitable wardrobe, almost none of which is coherent with modern-day attire. He has an insistent conversation style, utilizing his sharp, witty mind to find the exact word he wants to say, to whomever he feels like approaching.

 Yet it’s a world of Kevin Phoenix – that the majority of people can’t see - that is his most attractive trait. He has  a soulful spirit and a calming honesty that can only truly be captured by personal connection. This otherwise private and guarded world is opened to the readers of his poetry, one small dosage at a time.

 “Words are like our children. We, as God, cannot hold dominion or dictatorship over it. Words are their own being. It’s very beautiful,” said Phoenix.

Phoenix has many interests besides writing. Among other things, he is also a varsity cross country athlete, a skateboarder, a musician, and a talented performer.

Phoenix has performed in three Liverpool High School productions since 2008, including Little Shop of Horrors, F.A.M.E, and a portrayal of the Rabbi in Fiddler on the Roof. Yet despite positive feedback from many an audience member, Phoenix has chosen to take a sabbatical from his career in theatre.

 “Poetry is my saving grace. No scripts, no lectures, no dictating. I’m me,” Phoenix said. “There is no prerequisite. Over and over again, the truth wasn’t there. Everything, in theatre, is influenced.

 “Poetry has no influence from anything else but “your own” soul or “your own” self righteousness. I’m proud of poetry and what it stands for. It’s a pure, clear glass canvas, the writer’s own canvas.”

 Phoenix, who is a regular in the Liverpool High School’s poetic journal, Genesis, wants to make it clear that he is not writing for any reason but the love he has for the craft.

“I don’t know why I sent (Paradigm Journal) my poem… it’s probably because I like what I write,” Phoenix said, chuckling.

 “It’s not about “published” or just so other people can read what I write, sometimes I write because the process of writing is important for me. I have never said to myself ‘Oh this one is a good poem, this one could get published’ because that’s not where it’s at. The poem is what’s extraordinary.” 

The journal’s website is open to the public at http://www.paradigmjournal.com/weiss/. Until then, Phoenix would like to leave his peers the following message: “There is playfulness everywhere. I wear a toga, walrus mask, and yodel and freak people out. It’s beautiful.”

34,616…A new collegiate basketball attendance record. I was just one piece of that amazing crowd.

The stage was set for one of Syracuse’s most anticipated games since the National Championship in 2003. ESPN’s College Gameday was visiting the Carrier Dome to witness the #4 Syracuse Orange take on the #8 Villanova Wildcats.

This was an event that any Syracusan could have been proud of. As a member of the Syracuse University Class of 2014, I took a lot of pride in what my future university had thrown together.

The Dome was electric. There was not a moment throughout the entire game where you couldn’t hear someone screaming their brains out. Excessive cheers came from every corner of the arena.

I arrived at the Carrier Dome two hours before the game started. The gates to a typical Syracuse game open an hour and a half before the tip-off. This was no typical game.

I arrived at my seat in the 300’s level. I could not believe my eyes. From my estimate, there were easily 10,000 fans who had arrived before me. The student section was already filled to capacity. Their excitement was very obvious. The Jim Boeheim, Wesley Johnson, and Andy Rautins giant faces had already emerged from the crowd. They began their routine chants and cheers.

The area behind the court was littered with fans shooting baskets, buying SU merchandise, and anticipating the crucial game that was just about to come their way. News of Kansas and Kentucky losses that occurred throughout the day meant a number one ranking was on the line for the Orange. They needed a win to audition for this honor.

It was now 8:45. There was not an empty seat in the house. Many of the fans were finally getting over harassing the few Villanova fans that were brave enough to make a trip to the “Loudhouse.” Their attention was captured by the arrival of the Syracuse Orange. The arena went into a loud frenzy. A chill went down my spine. I could feel the goosebumps. The game was about to begin.

A very humorous rendition of the national anthem was played. The singer almost forgot the words! Although, this was the least of everyone’s worries. The highly talented Wildcats were about to attempt to suck the life out of the Carrier Dome.

Right from the tip-off, the place was jumpin’. Cheers of “Let’s go Orange”and “We are Orange” rang throughout. Obviously, Orange was the color of the night. Every shirt was orange. Some seats were orange. The towels that were provided for the fans to twirl endlessly were orange. It was a true “Orange-Out.”

There were many moments in this game that my counterparts and I were extremely excited for, and proud of. Forward Wesley Johnson made a three-pointer in the early outset of the game. This was a relief to many of us as injury has hindered his ability to shoot the basketball in recent games. Rick Jackson’s numerous slam dunks caused the crowd to almost blow the roof off the building.

One of the best moment’s of the game came from a crowd favorite in Arinze Onuaku. He scored the “and-1” of the year. Just as he was falling to the ground after a hard foul, he threw up an unbalanced shot that left many of us bewildered. But it went in! The shot sent the Dome into one of its wildest stages of the game. It almost brought a tear to my eye.

As the final minutes of the game were ticking down, I thought to myself what an experience this has been. The atmosphere within the Carrier Dome was indescribable. The excitement was plentiful. The fans were in high spirits for the entire game. Not once did the Dome go silent. This was by far the greatest sporting event I have ever witnessed.

The final buzzer sounded…95-77. The Orange had won.

Leaving the Dome was a hard thing to do. Many had stayed just to take in the sight for a few more moments. Despite all this, the party was just beginning.

Outside the arena the chants continued. The screaming had not let up. One of the cheers that rose from the masses was “Number one, number one!” The Orange had all but secured this spot with the convincing victory.

Some of the SU students were sledding, with sled or not, in celebration. Snowballs were being tossed everywhere. Some of the most creative profanities were yelled throughout the streets. Drivers were blarring their car horns with the thought of victory.

As a future Syracuse student, I was proud of every moment.

Wesley Johnson showed his appreciation on his twitter page: “First I wanna thank all the fans for your support much love from me and team!!!”

You’re welcome, Wes.

SU vs. Villanova. High quality graphic by Corey Crockett.

The year was 1996. Clinton was president, Seal was at the top of the Billboard charts, ’Cuse was “in the house,” Dick Vitale sounded significantly less annoying, Jim Boeheim look significantly less old, and John Wallace was leading SU to a promising season in the Carrier Dome, where the surrounding concrete was, well, gray.

Nostalgia is a force that binds us to the past; memories that fill our hearts are truly a part of who we are. Music, sports, entertainment and politics impact what we do today in so many ways, many of them unoticed. But take a trip down memory lane and see a different kind of fan.

ESPN and the local stations went nuts with all of the SU-Villanova hype this week, and rightfully so. Two Top 10 teams, potentially number one seeds, squaring off in front of the largest ever on-campus crowd for a college basketball game. It’s exciting, and new, but maybe you’re getting sick of it by now. Its understandable – no need to apologize. But what is new, is actually something old.

ESPN Classic aired another memorable ‘Nova v. ‘Cuse matchup from back in the day: 14 years back. Flip to Time Warner channel 109 and you’ll see something a lot different. You see it? Hurry up! Yes, 109. Ya there? You see it? Yeah, no orange.

What, no orange you say? Yeah. Look in your crystal ball back to the mid-90s and take a glimpse at the crowd. They may be rowdy, they may be excited, but they sure didn’t show it in their clothes.

In Saturday’s big game, orange was the only color; all you could see was orange, even on the drive home.

Is it player appreciation? I don’t think so. Back in ‘96, SU had a pretty good team. It’s obvious that fans just showed it in a different way. Fans weren’t engrossed in the orange way of life. We were the Syracuse Orangemen, not the Orange. Now, the color is who we are, a part of our lives and our fanhood.

Going to a game was a simpler feat in ‘96, I guess. Today, people try to overload with orange to show their pride with orange towels, painted faces, and the latest commemorative holyshirt! tee. In ‘96, going to the Dome and giving it your all was pride enough.

The world of sports is always changing. Is it a good thing? Is it a bad thing? Is it even a thing? Those are questions you’ll have to ask yourself. But the Yanks still wear pinstripes, the Bills are still in Buffalo, and Syracusans still bleed orange; those are just facts of life.