The Picador

Volume 8, Issue 9 March 1, 2013

A PUBLICATION BY HOLDERNESS STUDENTS

FOR

THE HOLDERNESS SCHOOL COMMUNITY

By Mr. Teaford

The moment feared most by so

many Out Back participants is

not when they first don their

heavy pack, or sleep on the

ground on the first cold night,

or wander off into the bushes

to “do their business” in the

out-of-doors. What so many

OB’ers dread is that first mo-

ment when they will be alone.

Solo is a three-night time of

isolation in the middle of 11

already-stressful days, though

the challenges experienced

during this period are not

physical, not clima-

tological, not dietary.

The challenges of Solo

are psychological. Hol-

derness students are

accustomed to having

company, to being con-

stantly surrounded by

community. Solo takes

that away from them.

But family and friends

have the means to enter

that void, to offer sup-

port and companion-

ship; they do so by

means of the Solo let-

ter.

How to craft an appropriate

one?

Students are instructed to take

no more than THREE Solo

letters with them on OB. It’s a

limitation that attempts to in-

sure that students are truly

alone during Solo, a time that

is intended to be for reflection,

not for a reading. Too many

letters can clog the experience

with the words of others, when

the words, thoughts, and emo-

tions of the soloist are what

should really matter most.

With that expectation in mind,

composers of Solo letters are

encouraged to do their job

well, to avoid the mundane, to

avoid the illicit, and to stay

within certain guidelines:

Limit the size of the Solo

letter to a typical mailing

envelope.

Refrain from enclosing

“contraband” (no food, no

other reading material, no

contraband).

Be supportive of the recipi-

ent in the same manner that

you would hope to be sup-

ported (a sort of “Golden

Rule” of Solo letter compo-

sition).

Whether from family or

friends, Solo letters have be-

come an integral part of the

OB experience . . . but it re-

mains the responsibility of a

letter’s author to insure that

the letter is taken seriously,

that the content supports the

very idea of Solo, and that the

tradition will remain supported

by the program. Write well . . .

Teaford’s Rules for Crafting the Perfect Solo Letter

May the Poetry Gods be With You!

Inside this Issue... So what are the seniors up to during Special Programs?

Many will be setting off on the experiences they planned to

support the research they completed this winter in Senior

Honors Thesis. To find out more, turn to page 2!

Holderness fashion? Junior Alex Spina didn’t know what to

expect when he first walked onto campus in September. And

while it wasn’t what he expected, he’s been pretty happy with

what he has found nonetheless. To read about Alex’s per-

spective on Holderness fashion, turn to page 8.

There’s a new columnist for the horoscopes section this

week. To find out what your week might look like, turn to

Dylan Arthaud’s carefully calculated horoscopes on page 10.

Ever played “Would you rather…” This week the editors of

The Picador got together and came up with a few questions

of their own. Read their answers on the back cover!

Page 2

The Picador

Learning Through Experience: Senior Honors Thesis Projects While most students are involved in group experiences with

their classmates for the next ten days, Senior Honors Thesis

has something much different in store for its participants. While

the focus is still on experiential learning, students are instead

following their individual passions. Below are just a few of the

amazing adventures our seniors have been planning this win-

ter; their quests for knowledge begin on Saturday!

Dylan Arthaud

Essential Question: How have advancements in optics influ-

enced the change in design from the Galilean telescope to

the Newtonian?

To me, there is something very special about something I make.

Ever since I took the first look through my Galilean telescope, I

have known the next step: make a Newtonian telescope—and I

have finally found the opportunity. Despite its unprecedented

invention in the early 17th century, a Galilean (or refracting)

telescope is relatively simple when compared to the models

used today. The next significant invention in optical astronomi-

cal observation, after the refractor, appeared in Isaac Newton’s

time. Influenced by his revelations in optics, Newton applied

his theories to the telescope and named his invention after him-

self: the Newtonian. My plan is to build a more powerful tele-

scope–in other words, a bigger one. More powerful telescopes

use a combination of

lenses and mirrors. Likely,

I will construct a Dob-

sonian telescope, which is

a mounted Newtonian

telescope. Instead of a

linear positioning of

lenses, like in the Galilean

tube, a Newtonian tele-

scope combines a concave

mirror; a flat, angled mir-

ror; and an eyepiece lens

to optimize light intake

while maintaining a man-

ageable size.

Elena Bird

Essential Question: How should endurance runners and

bikers limit their amount of exercise in order to maintain

their cardiovascular health?

On March 4th I will embark on a road trip across the country to

make stops at cardiology centers around the country as well as

interview several endurance athletes. I will start in Chicago

where I will meet with Dave Wallach, author of the Pace of

Chicago blog about endurance sports, nutrition, and events, and

with Dr. Brown of the Chicago Primary Care Sports Medicine

offices. Similar to my goal of finding ways to maximize the

health benefits of exercise and minimize the hazards, these doc-

tors want to help athletes become educated about how to reach

their full potential through physical activity. Next stop will be

Denver, CO where I plan to visit South Denver Heart Center

and the Olympic Training Center (CSOTC) in Colorado

Springs. There are elite athletes living and training at the

CSOTC with whom I can speak about their training routines

and any issues they may have had with their cardiovascular

systems. My last stop will be Boseman, MT where I plan to

interview two ultra runners - Nikki Kimball (Holderness class

of ’89) and Mike Wolfe. Both run for the North Face Team.

When I return home, I will spend March 25th through March

29th at Mass General in the newly endowed Cardiovascular

Performance Center with Dr. Baggish and Dr. Hutter. Here I

will spend a few days shadowing these doctors, learning about

how they study sports cardiology and what they encounter in

athletes’ cardiovascular systems. The last day, I will have the

opportunity to be tested in the Cardiopulmonary Exercise Lab.

Olivia Leatherwood

Essential Question: How are trends used for branding?

At Korn Design I will sit in on meetings with Denise Korn and

her branding team. Denise has planned a day for me to visit

with different members of the Korn Design team who can help

me better understand the branding industry and what it really

means “to brand.” I'll also be visiting Arnold Worldwide head-

quarters in Boston to meet with Ms. Devine's niece, Amy. Amy

works as a recruiter and handles PR for Arnold. I hope to see

how she uses advertising techniques to make brands attractive

for a long time.

Caleb Nungesser

Essential Question: How can today’s musician progress

their artistic interest into a successful career while main-

taining their artistic integrity?

While in Boston, I will be exploring a wide variety of activities

that will deepen my understanding of how the music business

has evolved and how its path to success compromises the integ-

rity of a musician. To do this I will need to experience several

facets of being a musician in the music business: creating a

music video, spending time in a recording studio, interviewing

musicians/promoters/managers/engineers, and shadowing art-

ists in their daily quests for multi-media success (especially

Page 3

Volume 8, Issue 9

internet promotion). By making myself the subject as well as

interviewing the artists already in the business, I believe that

my March experience will provide me great insight into how

the business works behind the scenes. Is it as gritty and unfor-

giving as it is said to be? In my experience, yes: it’s all about

the money. But are the artists who become successful the artists

that do not succumb to the pressures of the business, thus

breaking into it?

Francis Miles

Essential Question: How have the dramatic fly rod design

changes in recent years enabled anglers to catch more

fish……or have they?

I will start off my March experience by heading home to my

house in Manchester, VT and walking across the street from

my house to the Orvis fly rod factory. I have contacted the fac-

tory and set up a face-to-face interview with a fly rod engineer.

At the factory I will also tour the rod shop and set up a small

internship in the shop building their latest rod, “The Helios 2.”

During my time at the rod factory, I will be filming rod assem-

bly as well as interviewing technicians who design the latest

Orvis rods. These technicians will help me better understand

how the rod has changed and possible steps for the future.

Throughout my interviews and experience at the rod shop I will

be filming for my documentary which will be shown at my fi-

nal presentation. In order to find out more about the history of

fly-fishing I will visit The Manchester Fly-fishing Museum. At

the museum I will be interviewing fly-fishing historians. The

chemistry behind fly-fishing is just as important as seeing how

these rods are made. To get a look at the chemistry I will be

going to Dartmouth College and working will my grandfather

who is a professor of chemistry and physics. At Dartmouth I

will also be filming chemists and finding an easy way to ex-

plain the elements that go into making a fly rod and why these

elements are needed.

Rion O'Grady

Essential Question: Is there a way to produce a lower-cost,

high quality ski that would make entry into the sport of

downhill skiing more affordable?

Last year, nearly 5.5 million people skied in the United States.

That is a lot of people. But what is limiting that number? For

many, it is access to snow. People in the South are not going to

be able to ski. But what about in New England where there are

35 million people who are certainly able to find snow? The

primary reason that I believe people have limited access to ski-

ing is money. The estimated retail price of a quality pair of skis

starts at about $400 and only goes up from there. If there was a

low-cost, high-quality alternative to those expensive skis, per-

haps more people could participate in the sport. During this

project, I will research and experiment with many different

options. What is necessary for a ski to function? If the goal is a

cheap ski, does it make sense to put a metal edge only in a short

section of the ski? Can it function reasonably without the edge?

How about the base material? Are there different materials, and

if so, what are the differences between them? While there are

many aspects to building a ski, I am going to try to explore

what is completely necessary for function, and what is just nice

to have. If the goal is to create a high-quality, low-cost product

to introduce people to the sport, it should be built in a way to

target the beginner to intermediate skier.

(Continued on page 6)

Page 4

The Picador

Chuck Hagel won Senate ap-

proval Tuesday to become

defense secretary, gaining con-

trol of the Pentagon after a

pitched battle and as budget

cuts loom.

Mr. Hagel was confirmed in a

58-to-41 vote, the smallest

margin for any defense secre-

tary in history. The vote,

largely along party lines,

ended an unusually conten-

tious fight over a cabinet

nominee who some believe

could leave the soon-to-be

Pentagon chief in a weakened

position. He succeeds Leon

Panetta in the job.

“I think that he's got some

work to do,” said Sen. Kelly

Ayotte (R., N.H.), who voted

against confirming Mr. Hagel.

“Traditionally it's been a

strong measure to have your

secretary of defense have over-

whelming bipartisan support

and he does not have that.”

Democrats said the partisan

fight wouldn't hurt Mr. Hagel

in his new role.

In a statement, President

Barack Obama said: “I will be

counting on Chuck's judgment

and counsel as we end the war

in Afghanistan, bring our

troops home, stay ready to

meet the threats of our time,

and keep our military the fin-

est fighting force in the

world.”

Mr. Hagel takes the helm at

the Pentagon with an array of

budget cuts, known as the se-

quester, set to kick in on Fri-

day. The cuts mean deep re-

ductions in defense spending,

unless Congress strikes a com-

promise to prevent them.

A former Republican senator

from Nebraska and a Vietnam

War veteran, Mr. Hagel will

become the first defense secre-

tary in history required to gar-

ner 60 votes to win confirma-

tion. Earlier Tuesday, more

than a dozen Senate Republi-

cans put aside qualms with

Mr. Hagel to join Democrats

in a procedural vote that effec-

tively ended a filibuster, pav-

ing the way for a confirmation

vote.

Source: WSJ

World News

Compiled by Fabian Stocek ’13 and Zihan Guo ’14

Hagel Wins Senate Approval and Will Become Defense Secretary

By Nam Tran ’14

Recent studies have shown

that the average temperature

on Earth has risen one degree

Celsius. And in 2012 there

was an abnormal rise in ex-

treme weather cases. What if

global warming continues?

Global warming will continu-

ously bring forth hurricanes

and storms more often, and

dangerous earthquakes are

likely to happen more fre-

quently.

“There are no direct changes

that we can feel,” physics

teacher Mr. Carrigan ex-

plained. “I don’t just simply

wake up, and say ‘Wow, today

is one degree hotter and I can

feel it.’ Global warming is the

indirect and unnoticeable

change that is constantly hap-

pening.”

There are no direct, immedi-

ate, or acceptable solutions.

Causes of global warming are

widely advertised around the

world, but that hasn’t been

enough to get people to act.

While the scientific commu-

nity keeps warning us loudly,

world leaders seem to be con-

fused and challenged by the

problem. It is only local lead-

ers who are having a bit more

success.

Recently, Concord, Massachu-

setts banned the sale of plastic

water bottles in order to reduce

plastic waste. And even before

this, the University of Ver-

mont restricted the sale of wa-

ter bottles, and so did another

twenty private campuses.

In another effort to reduce the

usage of plastic products, San

Francisco banned the use of

plastic shopping bags in 2007.

In many cities around the

world, plastic bags are banned,

“yet about 500 billion to 1

trillion plastic bags are used

worldwide every

year” (howstuffworks.com).

The damage from the use of

these plastic bags is equal to

dumping 12 million barrels of

oil.

Day by day, more damage is

(Continued on page 5)

Aw a re n e s s o f G l o b a l Wa r m i n g : C a n We F i x E a r t h ?

Volume 8, Issue 9

Page 5

By Perry Craver ’14

On January 3rd-9th, Australia

recorded their highest heat

wave ever with temperatures

above 50°C (122°F). The heat

was so extreme that they

added two new colors to the

heat chart: deep purple for 50°

C (122°F) to 52°C (125.6°F);

and magenta for 52°C (125.6°

F) to 54°C (129.2°F).

The record high temperatures

sparked wildfires that burned

nearly 741,000 acres. Trains

were halted in western Queen-

sland because they feared the

tracks might buckle in the

scorching heat. Tires and as-

phalt also became soft.

Experts say this is all the result

of global warming or climate

change. Nine of Australia’s 20

highest recorded temperatures

in the past century have oc-

curred since 2000. That is

45%. Scientists note that the

most recent Intergovernmental

Panel on Climate Change

states that fire dangers will

increase in southeast Australia

by 25 percent by 2020, and by

as much as 70 percent by

2050.

The temperature is not the

only thing changing; precipita-

tion patterns are shifting, leav-

ing more rain in the Southern

Ocean. There wasn't much to

begin with, but it is noticeably

different.

And early last century there

were highland lakes that

would freeze over in the win-

ter (there are abandoned huts

with ice skates stored in them).

Now the lakes no longer

freeze.

Dr. Mumford says when the

North and South Poles melt, it

causes more heat in our sys-

tem. This is because ice re-

flects heat back out of the

Earth's atmosphere. But when

the ice melts, the Earth has to

absorb the heat.

This heat causes more natural

disasters such as hurricanes

and flooding. Hotter air can

hold more moisture, and this

allows hurricanes to build big-

ger and stronger.

There is also more energy in

our atmosphere because of the

heat, resulting in dramatic cli-

mate changes. In New England

people may have noticed that

winters have become shorter

and warmer over the past three

years. The jet stream no longer

swoops down from Canada as

much because there is less

cold air blowing down from

the North Pole. It is predicted

that temperatures will increase

everywhere, but at the poles it

will increase the most.

Scientist picked up on the fact

that our climate was changing

in the 1980's. Thirty years later

we still are trying to convince

politicians that this is happen-

ing. Bill McKibben an envi-

ronmentalist, author, and jour-

nalist, has been one of the big-

gest activists of our time. He

has tried to inform and per-

suade politicians, oil compa-

nies, and regular people.

The best things to do to help

prevent global climate change

is to be energy efficient, eat

and buy fresh food from local

markets, reduce your home

carbon footprint, and spend

less money. Mumford says

that our economics are the

most important way to stop

global climate change.

Heat Wave Forces New Colors to Be Added to Heat Index

being done to the Earth, and

eventually, scientists claim

that global warming will be

irreversible

(commondreams.org). At the

present rate, we are heading

into this chaos at the maxi-

mum speed. It is a matter of

fact that global warming is

not something anyone wants,

but it is a matter that most

people don’t care to fix.

The changes caused by global

warming will continue every-

day, but it is not the present

generation that will suffer the

most; it is the next generation

that will grow up on the dam-

aged Earth that we leave be-

hind.

Fixing Earth (Continued from page 4)

Page 6

The Picador

By Emily Soderberg ’13

After bringing home the gold

from the Lakes Region Cham-

pionships, several brave Nor-

dic skiers ventured to Vermont

this past weekend with Coach

Durnan to race in the oldest

downhill cross-country race in

North America, the 68th An-

nual Stowe Derby.

The race starts at the top of

Mt. Mansfield and ends in the

town of Stowe. The first four

miles of the race traverse a

scary downhill. This year's

Derby was complicated even

further by the rock-like snow-

flakes that hit the eyes of the

skiers who failed to come pre-

pared with glasses.

As always, skiers could choose

to ski the 20K course on either

skate or classic skis. However,

some brave souls, who chose

to do the course twice, once on

classic skis and once on skate

skis, are declared the meister

skiers. Fabian Stocek came in

second overall for male meis-

ters, by only .01 of a second!!!

Rion O’Grady, Aidan Kendall,

and Peter Durnan came in

close behind.

In the girls' race, Celeste Hol-

land, Eliana Mallory, Lizzy

Duffy, Emily Soderberg, Ce-

line Pichette, Sarah Bell, and

Greta Davis all braved the

powdery trail at Stowe as well.

They were dressed in bright

colored leggings and tutus and

even made pole tunnels for the

passing skiers.

Despite the broken skis, bent

poles, and an over-abundance

of pizza at Pie in the Sky, it

was a memorable weekend of

powdery fun, skiing and en-

joying the beautiful scenery of

Vermont!

School Sports

Holderness Nordies Conquer the Stowe Derby in Vermont

Maddie Cicoria

Essential Question: How does the re-balance of the life-

energy flow bring forth physical healing in acupuncture

recipients?

During my March experience, I plan to study the different types

of yoga that I practice and how they compare and contrast with

one another. I plan to attend a workshop in the Kripalu field of

yoga. There are various workshops and clinics in the Berkshires

of Massachusetts not too far from where I live. I am interested

in taking either “Finding Your Passion: A Unique Yoga-

Inspired Retreat” or “Getting High: Yoga, Meditation, and the

Infinite Pharmacy Within.” My final result will be an interac-

tive yoga class based on my research.

Emily Soderberg

Essential Question: How can the many health benefits of

the potato benefit an athlete post-workout?

My hope is for my March experience to open my eyes to a new

side of exercising and nutrition, as well as to the many benefits

that the potato has to offer. I will be experimenting with reci-

pes and learning more about potatoes, potato production, small

granola bar companies, and nutrition for athletes post-workout.

In this time that I am home (March 3rd – 7th), I plan on experi-

menting with eating potatoes and exercising. I will have lots of

time to work on a possible recipe for a bar using potatoes and

also time to reach out to local potato farms in the area. Three

that I will contact and potentially get to talk to are Irving Farms

Potatoes, Wood Prairie Organic Farms, and Naturally Potatoes

(which is a potato production

plant). I plan on interviewing

my uncle, Scott Irving, about

what he knows about the his-

tory of the many uses of the

potato and his view on it’s

nutritional value for athletes.

I also want to interview Will

Sweetser, the competition

coach at MWSC about nutri-

tion for his athletes and their

post-work out diets.

SHT (Continued from page 3)

Page 7

Volume 8, Issue 9

By Sarah Michel ’14

The girls varsity basketball

team had a rollercoaster sea-

son with many laughs along

the way.

The new coach, Mike Hey-

ward, came in with a bang.

The practices were long and

tiring, yet all the girls perse-

vered through his treacherous

demands.

Unfortunately, the season

started out slowly, despite the

numerous suicides run by the

girls on the team every day.

The girls first win didn't come

until January 12th when they

travelled to Middlesex and

beat them in overtime. The

game held a lot of excitement,

especially for Saro Ntahobari,

who in the midst of all of the

excitement ended up on the

ground.

Throughout the season, the

three captains of the team led

with pride. Marissa Merrill,

Migle Vilunaite, and Xajaah

Williams-Flores all contrib-

uted so much to the team. The

team never would have won

any of their games without

their leadership.

Elain Wang and myself took

on the daunting task of being

team managers. We worked

long and hard day after day,

practice after practice, perfect-

ing the art of pressing buttons

on the clock. With a devastat-

ing injury, Hannah Slattery

decided to join us also. The

three of us were our own un-

stoppable team.

A few new players really

showed all that they had to

offer this year. Molly Madden

made a great impact on the

team with her dedication to the

sport; she even won the “Work

Horse Award” for the team.

Natalie McBeath, a ninth

grader, got her share of min-

utes and worked hard no mat-

ter what. Maggie Peake got

plenty of shots up also, truly

helping the team. Grace Eagan

was a fantastic asset to the

team. Although she doubts her

own hand-eye coordination

sometimes, she never ceases to

keep smiling, despite the

screams of Coach Heyward.

Lilly Vittum, Caroline Mure,

and Adrianna Quinn were also

assets to the team with their

nonstop, work-hard attitudes.

Good luck to Migle, Xajaah,

and Marissa as they set out on

their journey to play college

basketball. We had a great

season, and it would not have

been the same if we had lost

any of our players!

Girls Basketball Finishes Rollercoaster Season With Positive Attitude

New England Sports By Axi Berman ’13

The New England Sports universe remained relatively quiet this week. The Celtics made a minor trade, acquiring Jordan

Crawford from the Washington Wizards. Unfortunately, the Celtics are stuck in neutral at this point in the long NBA sea-

son and need more than a mediocre role player to contend with the Heat and Thunder for an NBA championship. The Bos-

ton Bruins started off the shortened NHL season 11-2-2, and are sitting fourth in the Eastern conference. They have played

less games than almost every team in the league, but once that number begins to even out, the Bruins stand to benefit. Al-

though the Red Sox have begun to transition into spring training and the Patriots are making moves (resigning quarterback

and American hero, Tom Brady), what really matters right now is college basketball. Although in terms of New England

there has been minimal success in that regard, across the country there have been several obscure upsets and multiple

competitive games. On that note, if anyone is looking to get dominated in a NCAA basketball tournament “pick-em” or

more simply, wants to pick the winners of the 64-team tournament at the end of the season, feel free to contact me.

Page 8

The Picador

By Alex Spina ’14

Coming from one of the bigger

fashion cities in the world, it

was easy for me to identify the

similarities in a lot of the stu-

dents’ clothes. Holderness

students’ fashion choices are

not poor by all means but

rather similar and at times

have less spice.

It has been five years since I

began to appreciate fashion.

I’m not sure if it has anything

to do with puberty, but it’s

been quite some time. I guess

it had something to do with

my dad going shopping with

me (for what I believe was the

first time ever), and he told me

that I had to start buying “nice

clothes.” Nice clothes, eh?

What did that even mean?

Well, I think I got the memo.

Before coming to school, I

began to psych myself out

with the entire fashion thing

and couldn’t decide how much

of my wardrobe I should

bring. Now six months later I

know that while packing, I

could have brought anything,

and it would have been ac-

cepted by the students. Within

the first two weeks upon my

arrival, I noticed the casual

clothing, the sports attire, and

the shorts. At the first cookout,

I decided to wear my Italian

beige sewed shoes, skinny

Abercrombie jeans, and faded

Roman brown summer hoodie.

Yes, I felt very different.

As it is, I don’t mind being

different from the rest of the

school in the fashion sense; I

guess you can say I’m unique

because of it. But I’m not the

only one. There are certain

individuals in particular who

also seem to dress exception-

ally well. KJ Sanger, Connor

Clemens, John Musciano, and

Mr. Carrigan all take fashion

seriously.

After interviewing each one of

them, I found it amusing that

they answered the same ques-

tions all pretty similarly.

Ironic? I don’t think so.

“Dressing well is a priority. It

is something that makes me

feel good about myself and

unique among some other stu-

dents,” said KJ Sanger.

While I really enjoyed KJ’s

answer it was as if she spoke

to John before I interviewed

him and told him what to say.

“Fashion does mean some-

thing to me. I take pride in

what I wear and feel like it

resembles who I am as a per-

son,” he answered.

Mr. Carrigan, among many of

the other faculty members,

dresses really well. As a stu-

dent who is very interested in

fashion and who dreams of

being on the cover of a GQ

magazine with Channing

Tatum, it was easy to admire

Mr. Carrigan’s chic and classy

clothing.

I was intrigued to find out that

he enjoys doing most of his

shopping online. “I enjoy

shopping at trunkclub.com,”

he said. Trunk Club Men’s

Outfitters is an online site at

which you receive a question-

naire after which a person calls

you and asks more questions.

Finally when this step is done,

the company sends you a trunk

full of clothing. He later told

me that his sister has a big

influence on his style. She, in

fact, used to write for the fash-

ion section of The Boston

Globe. Heck, I wouldn’t mind

having that job either.

Holderness has been quite the

experience for me this year. I

have learned a lot about the

school and about the people

living here on campus with

me. The fashion exhibited by

the students may not be what I

expected, but regardless, the

students make me feel normal,

and not just the guy who wears

a scarf.

Through the Eyes of Alex Spina: Holderness School Fashion

“Holderness students’ fashion choices

are not poor by all means but rather

similar and at times have less spice.”

Volume 8, Issue 9

Page 9

1:277 By Lea Rice ’14

LR: Where are you from?

YC: I'm from Seoul, South Ko-

rea.

LR: What is it like to be the

newest Poetry Out Loud

champion of Holderness?

YC: It feels new. Initially, the

idea of reading poetry sounded

strange to me; the fact that it was

a competition was just ab-

surd. Now, I appreciate poetry

much more and like it!

LR: How did you prepare for

the all-school recitation?

YC: Everyday I went over my

poems line-by-line, thinking

about better ways to “spit the

emotion out.” I consider Poetry

Out Loud more than just speak-

ing because you have to change

the intonation, speed, and loud-

ness of your voice.

LR: Do you think that the

fame from winning has changed you?

YC: Actually, the whole practicing process changed me. The

more time I put into it, the more I began to realize that one's

voice can express so many things; sometimes, we are ignorant

of the capacity we have.

LR: How did you choose your poems?

YC: I did it the common way--random picking. Luckily,

I picked two poems that really were interesting.

LR: What tips do you have for aspiring POL champions?

YC: The cliché, “Practice makes perfect,” is so true that I am

still using it now.

First, memorize a whole poem and think about the intonation,

speed, and loudness while you do that. Second, practice each

line with what you have in mind. Just keep practicing until you

feel that the emotion is well expressed in each line.

LR: What do you like to do

with your free time?

YC: I like to write songs, watch

dramas, and sing. Honestly, the

best moments are when I get to

talk to my family--just an ordi-

nary dinner with my family suf-

fices.

LR: The school has seen you

perform in Hagerman before

during concerts. Do you have

any other hidden talents?

YC: I don't know. I think if you

have passion for something and

work diligently, you'll get it.

LR: What are your plans for

spring break?

YC: I am looking forward to

going back to Korea and seeing

my family and old friends. It will

be awesome!

LR: What sports do you play?

YC: I play soccer in the fall and tennis in the spring.

LR: What has been the best/worst part of going to school

in the United States?

YC: I like Holderness School. One of the drawbacks of being

a studying-abroad student

is that I sometimes feel

some inequity. Often,

the study-abroad students

do not receive the

same privileges the per-

manent residents receive.

For instance, I am unable

to compete in the next

round of Poetry Out Loud

because I am a for-

eigner.

There are currently 277 students enrolled at Holderness School. Each one has a story to tell. This week Lea Rice sat down with

Poetry Out Loud winner Youngjae Cha to find out his story. Thanks for sharing, Youngjae, and have fun at regionals!

Page 10

The Picador

Horoscopes

Masterfully calculated by Dylan Arthaud ’13

Aries (March 21-April 19):

You are missing a lot of socks.

And you feel very disorgan-

ized. Find your socks and

things will be easier.

Taurus (April 20-May 20):

People have been looking at

you strangely, and it is diffi-

cult to understand why. It isn’t

your hair. They are jealous of

your coat.

Gemini (May 21-June 20):

You will make a new friend,

but you will lose an old one.

Sorry, that’s just how it goes.

Cancer (June 21-July 22):

Use your cell phone less. It

makes you realize how worth-

less it really is, despite how

much it costs.

Leo (July 23-August 22):

You will find peace in Texas.

Virgo (August 23-September 22): People ask you for favors

a lot; you are very good at

helping people. However, it is

time you ask someone for a

favor. If karma works, you

should have no trouble getting

someone to say “yes.” If you

do have trouble, consider it a

sign that you are meant to

help, not be helped.

Libra (September 23-

October 22): Do something

funny and do it soon. People

are starting to think you are

boring.

Scorpio (October 23-

November 21): The next per-

son you touch will get sick.

Don’t waste this on a friend.

Sagittarius (November 22-

December 21): If you are

reading this during lunch,

make sure to get some dessert

before you leave. You deserve

it.

Capricorn (December 22-

January 19): You sometimes

really want to draw something

but you don’t know what. It

might be tempting at times just

to write your name. Try draw-

ing a state. Or a country.

Aquarius (January 20-February 18): The woods are

scary. The dark is scary. But

nothing is scarier than the

woods in the dark. Conquer

the fear and you will be spe-

cial.

Pisces (February 19-March

20): Your birthday is coming.

Enjoy it and don’t be sad that

you are getting old. It happens

to everybody.

0

5

10

15

20

25

Fresh Local Fair Trade Organic Healthy

Most Important Quality in Your Food

J a n u a r y D i n i n g H a l l S u r v e y R e s u l t s R e v e a l e d In January, Macy Jones and Ai-

dan Kendall conducted a survey

about the food in the dining hall.

While there were many sugges-

tions for improvement made, the

survey results generally indi-

cated that our kitchen staff does

an awesome job!

While the information pulled

from the surveys was difficult to

quantify, below are a couple

common ideas that we’d like to

share.

Things people would like to see

more of at Sit-down Dinners:

More announcements to email

Ice Cream

Themed Dinners Like Taco

Tuesday

Improved Vegetarian Options

Chicken Patties

More Diverse Tables

Asian Foods

Food Recommendations:

Cheddar Cheese

More Fruit

Rotation of Cereals

Soup Options at Sit-Down

Indian Food

Nutella

Volume 8, Issue 9

Page 11

Overheards

Stepper Hall ’13 and Mike Finnegan ’13

You know those moments when you are walking down the

path past Niles and Webster or walking through the Dining

Hall, and you overhear a snippet of conversation? Some-

times, without knowing the context of the conversation,

what you overhear is just plain funny. Below are a collec-

tion of quotes overheard throughout campus and compiled

by the Picador editors. Enjoy!

Yo, do be like that chick on the show about strange

addictions.

How far can we go? Oh man, that’s so far! That’s al-

most a foot!

The bee's first sting is beautifully strategic.

It's almost as depressing as eating McDonalds.

Just bend over like a straw.

Who lost Harmon this time?

In:

Ferrets

Soul searching

Dating down

Rivers

Potato energy

Out:

Clean cuts

Reality

Dating up

Tilton

Caffeine

In and Out

By Kelly DiNapoli ’13

Shout Outs By Elizabeth Powell ’13 and Morgan

Bayreuther ’14

RM + EA = Oldest of their classes, one of them wears

glasses.

AL + NM = These little siblings are going strong.

HS + CS = Convenient Southside walkbacks.

BC + LC = Boarder without borders.

Boys Varsity Hockey = Congrats on your second year in

playoffs!

Max Lash + Kelly DiNapoli = Good Luck at Nationals!

Senior Editors

Jake Barton

Jeff Hauser

Emily Soderberg

Dylan Arthaud

Junior Editors

Lea Rice

Sarah Michel

Faculty Advisors

Ms. Magnus

Mr. Solberg

Mr. Carey

Contributing Writers

Fabian Stocek

Zihan Guo

Nam Tran

Perry Craver

Axi Berman

Alex Spina

Stepper Hall

Mike Finnegan

Elizabeth Powell

Morgan Bayreuther

Kelly DiNapoli

Contact Information

Holderness School

Chapel Lane

P.O. Box 1789

Plymouth, NH 03245

Phone Number: 603.536.1257

Fax: 603.536.1267

“Time is neutral and does not change

things. With courage and initiative,

leaders change things.”

- Jesse Jackson

“Initiative is doing the right thing

without being told.”

- Victor Hugo

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/

quotes/keywords/

initiative.html#U0RUYrDWk7GclaOg.99

The Picador

We’ve all played a game of “Would you rather…” It’s great for passing the time on a long bus ride... or on a trudge through

the deep snow. So here’s a couple rounds to get the ninth graders and juniors started. Good luck on Project Outreach and

Out Back! (Pictures and questions courtesy of http://www.rrrather.com/)

Would You Rather….?

...Be stuck in an elevator or stuck on a chair lift? Jeff: How high is the chair lift? Any trees to jump of onto? I

would go for the elevator, though.

Jake: Elevator. I saw this movie once called Frozen, where

people got stuck on a chairlift and then were eaten by wolves.

Not me.

Dylan: Elevator. It is easier when you can't see how high you

are.

Lea: Stuck on a chair lift.

Emily: Chair lift.

...Dip your finger in acid or get your toes eaten by a camel? Jeff: Camel for sure. I'll manage without toes.

Jake: Finger in acid. Camels are frightening.

Dylan: Acid.

Lea: Dip my finger in acid.

Emily: One finger vs. 10 toes... so the finger!

...be Duct Tape Man or Glue Man? Jeff: Duct Tape is a man's best friend.

Jake: Duct Tape Man. Isn't Glue Man a cow?

Dylan: Duct Tape Dude.

Lea: Duct Tape Man.

Emily: Duct tape has pretty colors!

...be stuck on a deserted island with four people you hate or alone? Jeff: Four people that I hate.

Jake: I think with the four other people, just so I would have

something to do (hate them). That's a tough one, though.

Dylan: Four people I hate. Food.

Lea: Stranded alone.

Emily: Alone! It would be like solo, but you're stuck there

forever!

...Sleep in a luxury hotel or go camping? Jeff: Do I have to pay? I'd go camping.

Jake: Go camping!

Dylan: I know what you want me to say.

Lea: Go camping.

Emily: Probably camping, unless it's raining or cold, then

definitely the hotel.