In Loving Memory of Akim King 1988-2006 In Loving Memory of ...

The
Forecast
JagwireTomorrow’s
High 41°F
Falls Church High School Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Volume 59 Issue 5
Featured
Stories:
Seasonal Affective Disorder Could
Prove Detrimental to Students
Page 2
What Really Entertains Us
Page 3
An Open Letter for those in need
of a Valentine’s Day gift also including:
Valentine’s Day Spread
Page 4 & 5
Munich Review
Page 6
Black History Month
Page 7
Super Bowl XL Review
Page 8
Flurries
DECA Students Complete Civic Consciousness Project
Ryan Farrell, Editor-in-Chief
Three Falls Church High School
seniors raised $1,680 for the National
Eating Disorders Association (NEDA)
in completion of a civic consciousness
project for their involvement in
the Distributive Education Clubs of
America (DECA) chapter at Marshall
High School. Dana Cook, Alyssa Michel
and Andrew Forte are all enrolled
in marketing classes at the Marshall
academy; Dana and Alyssa take Hospitality
Management, and Andrew and
Dana take Entrepreneurship together.
On January 18, Dana hosted a benefit
dinner in which she, Alyssa and Andrew
served parents of the swim and
dive team Mexican dishes. The money
from the dinner went to purchase items
for a silent auction, which was held
on January 21st at our school’s Little
Theatre. The Foldger Foundation generously
matched the $1,680 that the
students raised to donate to NEDA,
bringing the total to $3,360.
Previously during the month, the
students held a spirit week to raise
awareness of the many illnesses both
mental and physical that are associated
with eating disorders. They were
seen on the morning announcements
promoting each day, which began with
“Movement Monday.” Students were
asked that day to sign a declaration
freeing them from “a weight-obsessed
world.”
$3,360 Is Donated to National Eating Disorders
Association
On “Thoughtful Tuesday,” Dana,
Alyssa and Andrew could be seen
circulating around the cafeteria putting
sticky tabs labeled with positive
compliments about one’s personality
on the backs of students. They were
encouraging people to say nice things
about someone’s personality rather
than merely complimenting how they
look physically, which they say some
people take too literally.
On “Workshop Wednesday,” there
was a meeting after school to teach
students about the dangers and signs of
eating disorders.
“Throw Away Thursday” saw students
throwing old clothes that no longer
fit in a bin that was donated to a
local clothing store.
Finally, on “Fearless Friday,” Dana
and the others asked students not to
over obsess about dieting, a typical
sign that one could become bulimic or
anorexic, two of the most common eating
disorders.
There are roughly 5,000 DECA
chapters in high schools across the U.S.
and Canada with over 172,000 current
members, most of whom are juniors or
seniors. Membership in the high school
division is restricted to students with a
career interest in hospitality, finance,
sales and service, business administration
and/or entrepreneurship.
In Loving Memory of
Agazit Asihel, Staff Writer
On January 07, 2006, Akim King
died of heart complications, at the age
of 17. He died at Fairfax Hospital,
where he stayed from November 28,
2005 to January 2, 2006. The student
body has mourned his death in various
ways. While some attended the memorial
service that was held for him in
the Little Theatre, others commemorated
him through collecting money
for hospital and funeral bills.
Several members of the student body
remember him as being a charming
and charismatic person. Senior Eder
Berrios remembers Akim because “he
taught me new and funny words, like
‘wifey,’ ‘do-do,’ etc… Love you man
to the fullest.”
If you are interested in helping his
family, you can directly donate by giving
money to the Leadership Class in
Room 212. Or you could buy a ticket
to the upcoming Sadie Hawkins
Dance, where half the money will go
to his family.
“Akim’s big thing was doing one
step better than his brother, and his
cousins. Akim was kicked off the
basketball team as a freshman and he
went and asked the varsity coach if
he could practice with us. He tried to
Akim King
1988-2006
work harder than everyone else, and
Akim lived his own life. Akim passed
happy with himself. He was a great
person and forever will be missed,”
said Senior Chris Jerro when asked
about what he will remember about
his life long friend.
The Jagwire Newspaper would like
to recognize Akim King by dedicating
this issue in his honor.
Top: Alyssa and Dana embrace on “Thoughful Tuesday.”
Below: Dana, Alyssa and Andrew pose before the Benefit Dinner.
In Loving Memory
of Cassie Marshall
James Hill, Assistant Editor
1989-2006
On January 31, 2006 our warmhearted
Cassie Marshall passed
away. A beloved part of the PD
Department family, the seventeen
year-old Marshall will always be
remembered for her kind spirit
and uplifting personality. Even
though soft-spoken at times, she
possessed the uncanny ability to
speak her mind and express her
feelings through the simplicity
of the single word, “Yeah.” PD
Department Chair Mrs. Allison
emphasized that Marshall’s ability
to converse despite the ability
to communicate fluently was
truly representative of Marshall’s
persona as a whole. Her likeable
character and diligence set her
apart as a hardworking, successful
student in her classes while
many underestimated her potential.
Cassie Marshall will be
missed dearly and the Jagwire
sends the heart of the community
out to her family during these dif-
ficult times.
The Jagwire Newspaper would
like to recognize Cassie Marshall
by dedicating this issue in her
honor.

2
Letter to the Editor
Dear Editor,
I was wondering why you had not responded to my previous
commentory letter. I was merely suggesting the areas of
your papers weakness. Like many other Editors, I thought you
and your committee would be open to the publics thoughts, afer
all we are who your paper is regarded to, and if you are not interest
in what we might have to say, then how do you know we will
be interested in your paper?
In my previous (disregarded) letter I mentioned how the
school might like a humor column or any thing of that sort. I
would personally love it if you included some riddles, jokes, issues
of the Jagwire.
Thank you for taking the time to read what i have to say, and
I hope you respond to my letter.
General News
Fatima Elamien
P.S. I am really not tyring to offend you or your editing comitee.
I am trying to help you make your Jagwire prosper!
Dear Fatima,
We’re sorry for delaying our
response to your commentary; our first
reply letter was deemed offensive by our
advisor and removed from the newspaper.
It was not “disregarded”, despite
what you may believe. Misconceptions,
like the aforementioned example, are
precisely what we would like to address.
In essence, the original letter stated that,
although you “did not intend to offend
us”, most of the members of The Jagwire’s
staff were in fact insulted by your
first letter, which was interpreted as an
attempt to point out errors in our paper.
We understand that our newspaper can
use improvement, content-wise. Horoscopes,
riddles, and jokes are all feasible,
but at this point we are more focused on
the types of articles being submitted and
the layout of our paper. In fact, improvements
in length, amount of articles, and
appealing subject-matter have already
been made. Color is being worked on,
also; we have made our best attempt to
try and satisfy your needs, as the reader.
After all, it is YOUR newspaper. If you
are truly dissatisfied with The Jagwire,
you can write articles, as well, since accept
most submissions from guest writers
to our paper. At that point, if you are still
dissatisfied with The Jagwire, we suggest
that you begin reading a professionally
made newspaper. Remember, we are
High School journalists, and everybody
makes mistakes. Thanks for understanding,
and we apologize if we offended
you. We just want to make you prosper!
Sincerely,
The Jagwire
How Winter Weather Affects Adolescent Schoolwork
Caitlin Peck, Staff Writer
Hibernation: One advantage animals have over
high-school students. It seems like such an easy alternative
to classes, exams, and school activities in
general. Who wouldn’t want to binge eat then take
a 3-month-long nap? The general consensus at Falls
Church High School is that winter weather is a real
downer. Junior Shay Saunders states, “Cold weather
makes you not want to leave your house.”
If students have no interest in leaving their nice,
cozy beds, then why would they want to come to
school? Sophomore Megan Paukstitus observed that
“the warmer it is the more willing I am to participate
in activities and keep up with my schoolwork. The
second I get my grades up, I start to relax. Then they
drop again.”
As Megan said, colder weather causes a decrease
in her interest in her usual activities, including
her schoolwork. But why is it that students feel so
dreary and dismal in the months between November
and March? The National Mental Health Association
(NMHA) states that the mental changes may
be caused by the seasonal variation in light. During
the winter months, especially January and February,
there is a shift in our biological internal clocks, also
known as circadian rhythm.
However, the sun may not be the only factor present
in determining a decline in the interest in activities
during the latter parts of the year. Women and
adolescents are highly susceptible to a mood
Seasonal Affective Disorder Could Prove Detrimental
Poor grades are a result of a shift in circadian rhythm
The Jagwire Congratulates...
disorder primarily associated with circadian rhythm
known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). The
problem: waves of depression. The cause: melatonin,
a sleep-related hormone produced at increased levels
in the dark. Melatonin has been linked to symptoms
of depression, which is experienced in seasonal
waves by sufferers of SAD. Studies have shown that
when the days are shorter and darker, the production
of melatonin is augmented.
The NMHA reports that some of the symptoms of
SAD are the following: excessive sleeping and eating
leading to weight gain, cravings for starchy and/or
salty foods, and full remission from depression in the
spring and summer months.
Not everyone who experiences unhappiness and/or
lethargy in the winter has SAD, for example, junior
Andrew Hirsch, who simply feels locked up inside
since it’s too cold to play baseball. However, if you
fear that you may have SAD or another form of depression,
please contact your local mental health center
(NMHA Alexandria 703-684-7722).
A common form of treatment is phototherapy
(bright light therapy), however, for mild symptoms,
spending time outdoors during the day is a sufficient
remedy. Both are shown to suppress the brain’s secretion
of melatonin. For SAD treatment options and
suggestions, visit the Society for Light Treatment
and Biological Rhythm website, www.websciences.
org/sltbr.
The Jagwire would like to congratulate the following Falls Church High School students for their accomplishments:
District Chorus members:
Eisra Ahmed
Walter Beck
Tiffany Jones
Soo-jeong Kim
Anna Massaro
Cherie Neslson
Danielle Pettiway
Daynee Rosales
Scott Silverstein
Taryn Stait
Julie Updike
All-District Band:
Kendra Bellamy
Anothony Come
Lind Conway
Lawrence Laws
Pegah Sadeghi
Loretta Scott
Kelly Slocum
Amanda Weaver
Joe Wilkinson
National Scholastic Art Contest:
Katie Johnson
Maddison Louden
Kelly Ly
Kari Svendsen
Brittany Brooks
Brett Crenshaw
Sarah Kane
Amy Ly
Lucy Ly
Esther Oh
Andre Simmons
Selma Zlatarevic
Senior Portfolios:
Jessica Smith
Selma Zlatarevic
Sasha Zuniga
Congratulations to Mike Berzonsky, whose It’s Academic
Team earned second place in a spirited contest
competitions from Wilson and Eastern on January 14th.
The FCHS participants included: Lawrence Laws (captain),
Loretta Scott and Megan Stegmiller, (performing
cheerleaders), Eva Reissis and Rebecca Hall. The airing
of the taped competition can be seen locally on channel
4, an NBC affiliate that serves the metropolitan Washington
D.C. area, on February 25th at 10:00 A.M.
The Jagwire Newspaper
Falls Church High School
7521 Jaguar Trail
Falls Church, VA 22042
703-207-4250
Editor-in-Chief:
Ryan Farrell
Managing Editor:
Diego Plaza
Assistant Editor:
James Hill
Sports Editor:
Dylan Forshay
Entertainment Editor:
Jon Powell
Photo Manager:
Caitlin Peck
Business Manager:
Alex Pham
Columnists:
Ted Wray
Nick Bashore
Thomas Gray
Staff Writers:
Agazit Asihel
Marini Castillo
Candace Square
Lauren Washington
Ervin Uriarte
Alexa Carter
Janine Leki
Helaneh Salem
Seres Snyder
Advisor:
Katherine Ingwersen
The Jagwire is a publication written
and edited by Falls Church High
School students. Its purpose is to inform
students of events and issues
that pertain to their everyday lives;
reflect the ideas and opinions of the
student body, and provide a forum
of free expression. Advertisements,
news, and editorial columns alike
are intended to serve the best interests
of the readers. The staff is
committed to a code of journalistic
ethics, which demands accuracy,
objectivity, and good judgments
while maintaining a high standard
of truth and appropriateness. Students
and faculty are encouraged to
submit signed letters for length and
content. Editorials are representative
of the views of the entire staff.
The views expressed in the letters
to the editor, columns and commentaries
do not necessarily reflect
those of the Jagwire staff or of the
Falls Church High School staff or
administration. Jagwire is a nonprofit
publication of Falls Church
High School. Businesses are encouraged
to call regarding advertising
rates. Jagwire reserves the right
to refuse ads.

People & Opinions 3
Bolivia’s Short Term
Beginning
Will the New President do Well?
Diego Plaza, Managing Editor
It seems as though the holiday season has
brought South America: one fallen government,
two leftist leaders, three socialist candidates,
and a fear of a communist regime.
The South American continent has begun to
witness a leftist movement in the last couple
of years with the help of removed democratic
leaders and the growth of a poverty stricken
population. Like
Hitler and the Nazi’s
in the 1940’s,
radical groups in
South America are
taking advantage
of the economic decay
in many of the
Latin countries.
One clear
example is the Republic
of Bolivia,
which is located in
the heart of South
America. In elections
held on December
18, 2005,
Evo Morales came
out victorious becoming
the first
ever indigenous person to become president
of Bolivia. He was also the second president
in history to ever get more than 55% of the
overall vote since the 1970’s. In the first
couple of weeks as president of the Republic
of Bolivia, he has visited the President of
Venezuela, Hugo Chaves, who happens to be
a leftist leader. He has also visited the dictator
of Cuba, Fidel Castro, who is notorious
What Really Entertains Us
By Jon Powell
The addiction known as Myspace has
overcome a stunningly large chunk of the
student population here at Falls Church.
Kids spend hours everyday browsing the
profiles of friends and strangers, checking
every few moments to see whether
or not they’ve received a new comment.
Even during school students flocked to
computers to check their homepages to
see who was on and if there was maybe
another comment or two waiting for
them. After the
website became
banned by the
county you could
see kids experiencing
“Myspace
Withdrawal,” to the point where if you’d
ask your friends to go to McDonalds or a
movie after school, they would decline,
sighting a need to go home and check
their Myspace.
As an active user of Myspace, I tried
to figure out what the allure to constantly
use the website is by analyzing what my
own motives for using it are. Now, after
sitting here for nearly 15 minutes, I’m
unable to come up with a logical reason
for even using Myspace for myself. The
responses I managed to elicit from others
didn’t yield much insight either. A
common response was “It’s a great way
to meet people and make new friends.”
Picture courtesey of www.segundoenfoque.com
for ruling the small island with an iron fist.
Newly elected President Juan “Evo Morales”
Aima, is planning on inviting the Zapatistas
of Mexico or the Zapatista Army of National
Liberation (EZLN), who believe in liberating
parts of Mexico in order to imply a neoliberal
rule.
Being a native Bolivian, I am worried
with the current
standing of
my country and I
am outraged with
the ignorance of
the newly elected
president. He has
recently stated that
“Cuba is a country
of democracy.” Either
he is extremely
ignorant or fails to
understand the differences
between
a free democracy
and a totalitarian
government. In
my opinion he in
fact may help our
economy by tap-
ping into our natural resources, like oil. But I
fear that he will use up our natural resources
too quickly and not preserve any of it for the
future. I also feel that most if not all of his
economic as well as political reforms are targeted
towards a short period of time and may
not offer Bolivia the long term up lift that it
desperately needs.
Now that’s a fine and dandy answer and
all, but when people say they’re making
friends on Myspace, more often than
not, they’re browsing someone’s profile
that they find physically attractive and
just click the “Add Friend” button with
no real intention of ever interacting with
the person. The other common answer I
received on why people use the website
was “It’s a way for me to express my individuality.”
Whether or not there is any
truth behind that statement
I am an unable to
fairly judge, but I don’t
really see how 12 pictures
and a customizable
background can
fully express one’s complex persona.
From what I can tell, the majority
of the people I’ve observed using
Myspace, including myself, just use it to
talk to others through comments posted
on a user’s main page. I fail to see why
there are full conversations with 20-30
responses from each person posted on
someone’s home page every now and
then. It may just be me, but I find it considerably
easier, not to mention faster, to
just talk to someone using AIM or simply
pick up a phone and call them. From
what I can tell, all Myspace truly is, is a
flashy, “cool” email service.
Tom Gray on the War
This March will mark the three-year anniversary
of the U.S. led attack on the tyrannical regime of
Saddam Hussein and his terror-funding Baathists.
Before the United States-led coalition entered Iraq,
its citizens suffered relentless attacks initiated by
their ruthless dictator. Hussein ordered the mass
murder of Kurds in northern Iraq, at which time
his generals used chemical weapons to exterminate
the Kurdish people.
Now that the United States and its allies
have freed the Iraqi people, they have taken their
country into their own hands; they have formed
a police force, complete with a bomb squad and
patrol unit and multiple military divisions including
armored
vehicles, aviation
units, and
of course, basic
riflemen. The
U.S. military
has trained
these Iraqi soldiers
in the
latest of tactics,
including
urban search
and seizure,
and maneuvering
strategies
for armored
vehicles. Until
the most recent
elections, U.S.
forces had been
leading the main operations with a small number
of Iraqi military and police units tagging along, but
in recent months, the Iraqis have shown that they
are well able to take control of the minor cities and
place more units under U.S. command in the Major
cities and hotspots of the Sunni Triangle.
The U.S. and Iraqi forces detained 140 terrorist
suspects, catching many in the act of placing
or transporting roadside bombs, confiscating and
destroying over ten tons of munitions and bombmaking
materials. After an attempted bombing in
Balad, Iraq, the 3rd Brigade Combat Team of the
101st Airborne Division captured and killed two
suspected terrorists. One was captured immediately,
but the other was killed after a long chase which
ended in a firefight. The 172nd Stryker Brigade
Combat Team found a small weapons cache in Mosul,
where Iraqi forces seized multiple rounds of
ammunition from tanks, mortars, rocket-propelled
grenades and launchers, pistols, and AK-47 assault
rifles. Also, coalition and Iraqi forces captured six
suspects while another weapons cache was excavated
in eastern Iraq.
The city of Kirkuk is receiving a power
substation feeder cable in March of this year. The
Army Corps of Engineers is overseeing this project
which will assist hospitals, electric sewer systems,
and water pumping stations, not to mention
the 3,000 people in the city itself. The cable will
be laid under the surface of the Iraqi countryside
so insurgents will not be able to destroy the power
supply to the city and the substation currently under
construction in
Kirkuk can be
connected to the
distribution center.
These bits and
pieces of news are
only part of the
picture that is taking
shape in Iraq.
The American
military forces
and their allies are
doing everything
that can be done
to build this oncehostile
sand-trap
into a peaceful,
democratically
governed country
in the Middle East. It is strange to study the Assyrians,
Babylonians, Sumerians, and other early
civilizations that began in this area of the globe,
and the connections that can be made to the area
today. Ironically, the one advancement that has
not taken place in this area yet is democracy. That
seed has been planted, however, and it will hopefully
grow into a large tree, that will reach into all
countries of that region, including Syria, Lebanon,
Israel, Palestine, Iran, and Yemen. The wheels are
rolling, the only thing in its way are those who do
not believe it will work. Just remember, the day
we stop believing that democracy can work is the
day we will lose it. Two more countries are believing
now thanks to the American military and its allies.
Hopefully more will join the cause for a better
world.

4 Happy Valen
An Open Letter for
Those in Search of
that Perfect Gift
Dear Fellas,
It’s that time again, yes, the beloved season of Valentine’s Day.
It’s at this time where families and communities gather around and
celebrate the mysterious legend of St. Valentine, the famed Roman
priest who continued to administrate marriages despite the decree of
Emperor Claudius II outlawing marriages amongst young men in order
to develop heartless soldiers. As St. Valentine continued to fight
this injustice, Claudius II declared him to be killed for his actions on
February 14th, 269 A.D. St. Valentine became a martyr for love and
we celebrate his passion annually to commemorate his life.
Did you really know that? We wouldn’t have known all of that
if we hadn’t just “Googled” it. We always believed that Valentine’s
Day was, well, never really knew what it was. All we know however
is that Valentine’s Day is another chance for outrageous commercialism
and the shelling of big bucks to confess you love for your better
half.
Figuring out what Valentines Day actually is isn’t even half the
battle. We spend a good amount of time determining what gifts to
buy, and which are appropriate. We take into consideration how long
the relationship has lasted and how much money we are willing to
spend. You can trust us when we say that you can never go wrong
with Tiffany’s Co. but presents are representative of how serious the
relationship might be.
Flowers and candy are a necessity for Valentine’s Day, but if left
alone, they will come across as an uninspired gift and should be accompanied
by a more sentimental present. The run-down is as follows:
First two months, flowers alone are acceptable. We don’t want
any of our fellow men to fall into the trap of the female species haphazardly,
so take it slow, and don’t go big during your first couple
of months. For a relationship that has lasted half a year or so, the
significance of the gift is more important than a price tag. Consider
a dinner out on the town, or a gift from the heart with sentimental
value. Recall back to any inside jokes or memories that girls generally
suppose “us pigs” would never remember. Guys, this is where
you score big points and can manage to save some cash from your
wallet at the same time. Any relationship over a year, you’re on your
own. Not too many of us have been to this uncharted territory before,
but we have heard that the forbidden “L” word could more than
likely resound over dinner. Jewelry is a safe bet, but be sure to outdo
last year’s performance. If you haven’t noticed, women remember
everything, so pace yourself.
Dearest Ladies,
I know you just finished reading all of the obnoxiously honest
material we directed specifically to the men. To get down to it, we’re
sorry. We apologize if you see our thoughts as completely chauvinistic
and inaccurate. Our intentions were simply to help your relationship
flourish until this time next year. Hopefully all goes well.
Love,
Dylan Forshay and James Hill
P.S. Disclaimer:: Anything written or inferred from this piece cannot
and will not be used against the writers in the court of love. We
apologize ahead of time for any misunderstandings by our significant
others. Happy Valentine’s Day!!!
Picture courtesy of: hellocrazy.com
Ervin Uriarte, Staff Writer
Marissa Rubenstein-10th
“Chocolate because it’s crazy delicious”
David Medina
Junior
Kaitlyn Robbins
Junior
What’s the best p
Vanessa Escobar- 11th
“Roses because it shows love”
V

tine’s Day!
Valerie Golden
Senior
Josh Knepley
Senior
Phillip Latham
Senior
Anna Massaro
Junior
Christopher Edwards
Senior
resent you’ve ever received for
alentines Day?
Candace Square-12th
“A gold diamond heart shaped necklace”
Lauren
Crumpecker
Senior
Robbie Hayduk
Junior
Lizzi Walter
Senior
Whitney Washington- 12th
“Peach roses from my boo”
Keith Long
Sophomore
Valentine’s Day’s origin is both mysterious
and uncertain. What is clear is
that there are several legends that have
survived attempting to resolve the holiday.
One story dates that while in jail, a
man names Valentine fell in love with a
girl. On the eve of his death, he sent her
a note signed, “From your Valentine.”
The most widespread myth or perhaps
truth about the origin of Valentine’s
Day is set during the Roman ages. It is
believed that there was a holiday called
Lupercalia that paired a man and woman
together until next year’s celebration.
Years later, Claudius II outlawed
marriages for his soldiers believing that
they would be better soldiers and more
devoted to the empire. A priest named
Valentine believed this law was outrages
and secretly married some men. He
was caught and put to death on February
14. When Christianity became the
widespread religion, Lupercalia was
renamed St.Valentines Day and was
moved to February 14.
This holiday has survived for centuries.
In fact, it is the second most
celebrated holiday following Christmas.
In the present day world, ap-
5
A Sappy Assortment
of Student Serenades
Survey by: Marini Castillo, Janine Leki, Seres
Synder and Helaneh Salem
1. We Belong Together by Mariah Carey
2. Stick Witchu by the Pussy Cat Dolls (PCD)
3. Be Without You by Mary J. Blige
4. Collide by Howie Day
5. You and Me by Lifehouse
6. For the Longest Time by Billy Joel
7. I Miss You by Incubus
8. Far Away by Nickelback
9. If You’re Not the One by Daniel Beddingfield
10. Blue and Yellow by the Used
11. If I’m Not the One by N’Sync
12. As Long As You Love Me by Backstreet Boys
13. May It Be by Enya
14. Swing, Swing by All American Rejects
15. My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion
Did You Know?
By Marini Castillo
Ashley Rosson
Sophomore
proximately 1 billion cards are sent.
Teachers receive the most cards followed
by children, mothers, wives, and
last, sweethearts. Valentine’s Day is
traditionally believed to be the day on
which birds choose their mates. During
the medieval times, girls ate foods on
Valentine’s Day to make them dream
of the husband they would one day
have. Also in the medieval ages, it was
believed that the first person of the opposite
sex you met on Valentine’s Day
would become your spouse. It did not
become popular to send notes and gifts
till the 17th century. It was during the
9th century that Valentine’s cards were
found in stores, and in 1825, the Post
Office handled over 200,000 letters on
Valentine’s Day. Hallmark has created
about 1330 cards specifically for Valentine’s
Day. A funny fact is that 15%
of women send themselves flowers.
King Henry VIII made Valentine’s Day
an official holiday in 1537. 110 million
roses are brought during the Valentine’s
Day week. On average, 15 couples renew
their vows on the famous Empire
State building on Valentine’s Day.

6 Entertainment
Nick’s Movie Review
Munich Takes the Gold
“Munich,” as you might already know, is a controversial
drama about loyalty, terrorism, and revenge. That’s not to say
that it doesn’t provide a good dose of excitement. Directed by
Steven Spielberg, the film tells the story of a group of secret
assassins hired by the Israeli government. Their job: to kill the
terrorists responsible for the 1972 murders of all eleven Israeli
Olympic athletes. The motive: revenge. The point: …unclear.
As we watch the ongoing tribulations they face—finding the
right guy, building the right bomb, separating their targets from
civilians—we, as they do, begin to question the overall outcome
of their mission. And questions, as with any good drama, are at
the core of this movie’s greatness.
I suppose it would be right to say that the film’s protagonist
is Aver Kaufman, a former bodyguard, for Israeli leader Golda
Meir, but that feels a little unfair. To say that there is a protagonist
is to suggest that the film has us rooting for one specific
character; one single good guy fighting against all the bad guys.
That is not the case. Aver is the main focus, but we hope he
makes it not because his quest is a particularly noble one, but
because we like him. He’s a nice guy. So are his targets. When
we meet the first man on his hit-list, he is jokingly introducing
a copy of The Arabian Nights that he has translated into Italian.
Afterwards, when Aver and his team confront him in a deserted
stairwell, he wins our sympathy when he tries innocently to coax
them into lowering their guns. He’s a grandfatherly character,
Sudoku Reigns!
Japanese Puzzle Becomes Latest
Fad in Many Teens Lives
Alexa Carter, Staff Reporter
The word Sudoku comes from two words in Japanese,
one, “Su”, meaning number, and the other, “Doku”, meaning
the single place in the puzzle the number can fit into. Although
the name Sudoku is Japanese, its origins are actually
American and European. A Swiss mathematician named Leonhard
Euler developed the idea of a “Latin Square” where
numbers in a grid appear only once. Then in the late 1970s,
Dell Magazines began publishing what we now call Sudoku
puzzles using Euler’s concept. They called it Number Place.
When a Japanese company began publishing versions of the
game, it soon became a huge hit. They soon began to improve
the game by limiting the amount of numbers shown. Newspapers
and magazines started adding in Sudoku puzzles daily,
and the country became addicted. America, too, it seems has
become captivated by these logic puzzles. By the summer of
2005 most major newspapers and magazines had a place for
these puzzles. Sudoku is an enjoyable and challenging way for
people of all ages to sharpen their deductive skills.
We asked the following people these
questions:
1) What’s your favorite article of clothing
to wear in the winter?
2) Where do you go to shop?
3) What is your favorite color to wear in
the winter?
4) What shoes do you prefer to wear in the
winter?
5) What is your favorite brand in the winter?
6) What would you not wear in the winter?
7) What piece of clothing could you not
live without in the winter?
8) What inspires you to wear what you
wear?
9) How long does it take you to get ready
before school?
Hanan Mohammad- Ahmed- Senior
1) Fitted jackets
2) Forever 21, Urban Outfitters
wise and scholarly, and yet he took part in the brutal murder of
eleven innocent people. Aver struggles to make sense of moral
complexities like these throughout the film, along with the rest
of his group, an assortment of specialized agents from a variety
of ethnic backgrounds.
The varied dialogue among this bunch is often profound. For
example, a seemingly unscrupulous French contact reveals his
sideless opportunism to be the result of a hard-born disillusionment
with all forms of government. A man who is basically the
antithesis of everything Aver is fighting for talks calmly to Aver
about his perspective of things, days before the two face off in a
brutal shootout. Scenes like this more than compensate for the
rare passages of clunky conversation that take place in the film.
There, were however, a few things I didn’t like about Munich.
I didn’t see why Aver and his group of assassins were completely
kept off of governmental records, as their prime purpose was
to make a statement to Israel’s enemies. I was annoyed by the
use of insipidly ethereal new-wave music in a few scenes that
would have been better left untouched. A flashback at the end of
the movie was a bit too melodramatic, and in its context, kind of
silly. But I barely had time to notice these small grievances until
after the movie ended because I was so caught up in its story.
Ultimately, Munich is about much more than the trials and
errors of an Israeli team of assassins. It is about the usefulness
of vengeance. The film takes its characters on a wild, tense roll-
Give It A Try!!!
1 5 7
1 6 8 2
3 8 6 4
9 4 5 6 7
4 7 8 3
7 3 2 6 4
4 8 1 9
1 7 2 8
5 3 7
Winter Fashion
Candace Square and Lauren Washington, Staff Writers
3) Turquoise because it’s bright and wintry
4) Flats
5) Anything
6) Skirts
7) Black button-up jacket
8) Beyonce
9) 45 minutes
Tristin Simmons- Senior
1) Roca Wear Sweater
2) Oakwood, Canal St. in New Orleans
3) Blue and Black
4) High- top Nike to keep my ankles
warm/ Timberlands
5) Roca Wear
6) Shorts
7) My black hoody
8) Girls
9) 15 minutes
Melissa Phan- Junior
1) Knee- High boots
2) Tyson’s/ Springfield
3) Brown
4) Boots
5) American Eagle/ Hollister
6) Sandals
7) Green Jacket
8) Amerie
9) 30 minutes
Rashad Meadows- Senior
1) Hoodies
2) Springfield
3) Black
4) Jordan’s
5) G-Unit
6) Shorts
7) White Hoody
8) My hometown, Miami
9) 1 hr.
ercoaster of violent struggles in the name of payback; a rollercoaster
that never ends, just pauses to let them off. Afterwards,
we wonder whether their ride was worth it. Seeing Munich,
however, is definitely worth it.
Directions:
To complete a Sudoku puzzle you do not need
any calculation or arithmetic skills. All it requires
to complete a puzzle is a little time and
logic.
1) Every row of 9 numbers must include all
digits of 1 through 9 in any order
2) Every column of 9 numbers must include all
digits of 1 through 9 in any order
3) Every 3 x 3 subsection of the puzzle must
include all digits of 1 through 9 in any order

More News
Black History Month
People of Color Living the Dream...
“Until the philosophy which holds
one race superior and another
inferior is finally and permanently
discredited and abandoned, everywhere
is war.”
–Bob Marley
“I think that the quote is saying that
as long as we think that our race is
superior to another, then we are at
war within ourselves.”
-Eddie Kamara, 10
“You don’t choose your family. They
are God’s gift to you, as you are to
them.”
-Desmond Tutu
“I think it’s true because you really
are a gift from God, and there are
people who wish they could have
different families but God gave you
that one.”
-Nancy Valenora, 9
“The greatest discovery of all time is
that a person can change his future
by merely changing his attitude.”
-Oprah Winfrey
“I’m all about determination. If I
want something, I work hard until I
get it. And I plan to use this method
through out all of life. I can relate a
lot to this quote.”
-Lehi Ruiz, 12
“We must learn to live together as
brothers or perish together as fools.”
-Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
“This quote’s a reality hit, because
there’s always so much drama everywhere,
high school especially! How
are you going to get anything done if
you don’t have anyone on your side?
You won’t…”
-Megan O’Rear, 11
7
“I knew someone had to take the first
step and I made up my mind not to
move.”
-Rosa Parks

8 Jagwire Sports
Dylan Forshay, Sports Editor
Steelers Win Equals Last Stop for Bus
Jerome Bettis, known also as “The Bus,” likely
made his last stop Sunday night in Detroit,
Michigan. It is speculated that Bettis played the
last game of his illustrious 13 year career in Super
Bowl XL. Bettis, arguably the most popular
Pittsburgh Steeler, had eluded a championship for
12 years until the Super Bowl, when the Steelers
walked away victorious by a score of 21-10.
As a native of Detroit, Bettis leaves the game of
football as the 5th all-time leading rusher in NFL
history.
MVP:
After Pittsburgh had sealed their victory, a question
on everyone’s mind was “who will win the
MVP award?” The Steelers hadn’t done much
offensively, and Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger
went 9-21 with 2 interceptions, so it wasn’t going
Since the beginning of time, man has yearned
to break out of the ordinary. In most instances,
nobody wants to wear the same clothing as others,
share with others, or do the same thing every
single day. Mainstream recreational sports such
as football, basketball, baseball, and soccer often
intensify the constant redundancy that is experienced
life, and become uninteresting over time.
However, various alternative sports give
new life to athletics.
While one can play, watch, and hear about
the same sports everyday on television, in
the newspaper, and from colleagues, another
option is to “break out of the shell” and
enter a vast world of sports that has yet to
be thoroughly explored. Some open-minded
athletes at Falls Church High School choose
to play Hacky-Sack or Ultimate Frisbee,
while others opt to participate in games of
Ping-Pong. Believe it or not, the aforementioned
activities are all established sports
played by students throughout the school.
Hacky-Sack, a game played in a variety
of ways with a woven “footbag” filled with
beads, involves passing the sack to other players
without allowing it to hit the floor or the hands
and arms of players.
Sophomores Terrell Brooks and Ben Marsh
both agree that Hacky-Sack is an entertaining,
calming activity, along with Brad Weeks, who
to be him. Hines Ward, probably the most deserving
player, only finished with 5 catches and 123
yards won the award for 2006 and was awarded a
new 2007 Cadillac Escalade as well.
Record Setting:
Ben Roethlisberger, the QB of the Pittsburgh
Steeler, is the youngest quarterback ever to win
a Super Bowl in NFL history at the age 23 years.
The RB from the Steelers Willie Parker also set a
record of longest rushing run in NFL Super Bowl
history at 75 yards. The biggest play for the Seahawks
was the record setting 76 yard interception
by Marcus Herndon.
Play of the Game:
With only 9 minutes in the fourth quarter, the
Steelers had to pull the trick play out of the playbook
to seal the victory. Pittsburgh used the reverse
handoff pass to set up WR Antwaan Randle
adds that he likes it because “It’s a hippie sport,
and I love hippies. And no ugly girls play.” This
social sport sometimes constitutes inflicting pain
on players with the sack, which appeals most to
Junior Dwight Bell, who, as most “Hacky-Sackers”
do, plays the sport many times a day-“Once,
twice, three times…”as Senior Luke Haines puts
it.
On the other hand, the sport of Ultimate-
Frisbee is a non-contact, player-regulated sport
played similarly to American Football, which
Senior Chris Jerro likes because “The junx is
tight like football”. Yet, he plays rarely, only
“Once in a blue moon,” in his words. Michael
El, who was a quarterback in college, to throw a
43 yard pass to MVP WR Hines Ward. This made
the score 21-10 and gave the Seahawks no hope
of coming back.
Out of the Box, Away From the Ball
Alex Pham, Business Manager
Steelers Win Equals Last Stop for
the Bus
Loudoun Who?
Ervin Uriarte, Staff Writer
As most of you have probably already noticed
there is new school in the national district this
year. Loudoun Valley, a school out of the AA
Dulles district in Loudoun County, is part of the
redistricting that has occurred in the Northern
Region. The induction of this new school has
had a major impact on our district as Loudoun
Valley either won districts or came in Second
in every fall sport. The Viking’s football team
most evidently displayed the shift in powers
as they stole the district chanmpionship from
Edison and in the process knocked Yorktown out
of the playoffs. Many teams in our district feel
that it is unfair to have a team solely compete
in the post-season, as Loudoun valley does not
compete in our district in the regular season only
in post season play. Specifically, our very own
field hockey team feels that they were the most
affected by this decision, as they won the district
field hockey tournament which previously had
determined the district championship. They
were shocked to find out that their record during
regular season play determined who won the
district. “I feel we were robbed because Loudoun
Valley doesn’t even have a team so I don’t see
why it should apply to us” stated junior Minnie
Wodatch. Kira Schoenfelder added “I was pissed
off; we didn’t know that the rules had changed till
half way through the season.” However, some
teams benefited from Loudoun Valley entrance,
such as our Volleyball team who tied for the
district championship based on their record
during the post season. Once Loudoun Valley
showed up to the district tournament they easily
won the tournament as they posted a record of
55-0 over the past 4 years.
One of the main reasons that most people feel
that Loudoun Valley is a nuisance to our district
is the commuting time it takes for us Northern
Region teams to travel to Louden host games
and vice versa. “I don’t think they like traveling
down hear either, I mean it’s like 2 hours” stated
Alternative Sports at FCHS
Super Bowl XL MVP Hines Ward celebrates
after scoring the game’s deciding touchdown
junior Alexa Carter.
Our District is not the only district that is
under these similar circumstances; the Liberty
district has similar feelings as they too have had
a Loudoun County school entering their district.
Every district in our region had some change
occur in some way or anther. The Patriot district
saw rivals split as Robinson left and Lee high
school entered also newly founded school South
County became a member of the Patriot district.
The Condored district saw the entrance of
Robinson and Fairfax and saw Thomas Jefferson
leave.
What ever your opinion may be these changes
are permanent as the districts must say the way
they are for a minimum two years. The Jagwire
would also like to hear your opinions on this issue.
If you have any comments or suggestions please
bring them to room 219 in the History Hallway
and we will publish them as soon as possible.
“Yeti” Jerdak, a Varsity Football Player, likes the
sport because it allows him to flaunt his athletic
ability- “An exceptionally good vertical jump
and great agility”- and he plays frequently during
the summer, like Senior Tom Moore, who
played every Friday at one point. Tom plays with
close friends, and enjoys its need for sportsmanship
and teamwork.
Another sport, Ping-Pong, stresses individual
talent, unlike Frisbee. When interviewed,
Chris Edwards, Samear Khatib,
and Alan Asher all said it honed their handeye-coordination
skills, and is a competitive,
enjoyable sport. Edwards likes the fact
that “Nobody can beat me in it,” and he
plays almost everyday with his family and
friends Lehi, Jamie, Maxx, Phillip. Samear
Khatib plays whenever he can, not just with
friends, but with children at his mosque.
Similarly, Freshman Alan Asher enjoys
playing with whoever he can, whenever he
can, and loves “Smacking those balls as fast
and hard as I can”.
In essence, alternative sports all help with
the regular physical skills, but whether it’s Frisbee,
Hacky-Sack, or Ping-Pong, most alternative
sports can all be easily accessed and enjoyably
played.
FCHS P.E. teacher Mr. Thorpe demonstrates
a correct throwing of the frisbee
Profile
of an
Athlete
Eric Huggins
Senior
Q:How long have you been diving?
A: Since I was twelve years old?
Q: What seed where you in the district
tournament?
A: I was 4th out of 32
Q: What is your best dive?
A: Front one and a half 3 twist
Q: Do you want to dive in college?
A: No, because I wanted to play
lacrosse
Q: What will you miss most about
diving?
A: The friendships I share with the
team
Q: What is your favorite moment on
the swim and dive team?
A: Winning districts
FCHS swimmers celebrate after a victorious meet (from
left): Kira Schoenfelder, Irene Howe, Kathy Walter and
Christina Smith