Edition
Final 07/08
TRAIL MIX
LONG TRAIL SCHOOL
1045 Kirby Hollow Rd. Dorset, VT 05251
Staff:
Jennifer Britton, Peter Caras,
Hannah Ogden, Katheryn Chen,
John Kreig, Peter Kosmorsky,
and Rachel Eisemann
Advisors: Barb, Melissa, Nate
June 6, 2008
Bringing Back the Classics: The Finale
By senior! Nora Fiore
The fateful hour has come…after seven
years of writing this column at Long Trail
School (the longest run on record), the time has
come to say goodbye. However, I’m going to
try to avoid getting sappy - after all, what’s the
point of reading this if not for some chuckles
and a few good movie tips? So, in closing, I’m
going to list out the top twenty (actually, I went
a little over, but I couldn’t choose!) classic
movies I’ve ever seen…in no order whatsoever.
Some I’ve reviewed, some I haven’t, but here
they are. Please note that these movies are my
own opinion - the ones I keep coming back to so don’t be offended if your favorite is not
found among them! Keep watching, it’s the best
way to bring back the classics.
British officers in India, played jubilantly by
Cary Grant, Victor MacLaughlin, and Douglas
Fairbanks Jr. who fight against an insidious
revolution led by a bloodthirsty cult and its
terrifying leader. Sam Jaffe is brilliant as the
title character, the essence of all that is pure
and heroic. If pathos isn’t your thing, don’t
worry: the fight scenes are totally worth it!
Citizen Kane - Alright, if you haven’t seen this
one, shame on you! The meteorically talented
Orson Welles co-wrote, directed, produced,
and starred in this, generally considered to be
the best film ever made. It tells the story of the
brash, egotistical newspaper mogul Charles
Foster Kane who lived the American Dream
and turned it into a tragedy, seen through the
eyes of a reporter frantically trying to decipher
his last word: “Rosebud.”
The Third Man - My all time favorite, as I said
earlier this year. The entrancing tale of a hapless American novelist (Joseph Cotten) as he
discovers that his dead best friend (Orson
Welles) just might have been a conniving
blackmarketeer, a murderer…and not quite as
dead as was thought. Also stars the radiant
Alida Valli and my perennial favorite, Trevor
Howard. Set in war-torn Vienna, this movie is
breathtaking. A must-see.
Odd Man Out - A Northern Irish rebel,
brought to life by the great James Mason, is
wounded in his last robbery and left to struggle
through the streets of Dublin, pursued by the
police. His manhunt is shown in all of its sad,
triumphant beauty, as the woman who loves
him desperately attempts to save him. Bring
your handkerchiefs.
Gunga Din - The granddaddy of all action
films is full of adventure, comedy, and camaraderie. Gunga Din recounts the story of three
The Fallen Idol - This film tells the tale of an
adorable but lonely little boy, the child of an
ambassador, and his admiration for and friend-
ship with the witty, charming butler who runs
his house. Beautiful cinematography, taut suspense, and a Graham Greene-inspired plot who could want anything more?
Sunset Boulevard - You think you’ve got problems? Down-and-out writer Joe Gillis (William
Holden in one of his best, most cynical, and
most handsome roles) is taken in by unhinged
former silent movie queen Norma Desmond
(done to perfection by Gloria Swanson) who
falls in love with him and creepily tries to control his life. American gothic - unsettlingly gorgeous.
Casablanca - People sometimes wonder what
the big deal is about Casablanca; the answer is
that it is as close to perfection in acting, filming, score, and dialogue. Rent this one next
time. I promise that there isn’t much better than
it out there. “Play it, Sam.”
The Treasure of the Sierra Madre - Gritty, daring story of three mining prospectors guaranteed to make you caught up in their adventures…and a little paranoid. Walter Huston is,
as always, amazing, even stealing some of the
limelight from Humphrey Bogart, who plays a
very unusual role here. If you think Indiana
Jones movies are good, watch this.
Continued on Page 2
The Changing Face of Long Trail School
2 0 0 8 LT S S e n i o r S u r v e y
By senior! Jen Britton
When you think of Long
sometimes it’s the simple things
Trail, what comes to mind?
you miss. In recent years, our
Maybe it’s your group of friends,
school has become obsessed with
the great teachers you have, the
getting new recruits- a necessary
classes you take, or the feeling of
but perhaps too paramount misgoing to a school so entirely difsion.
ferent from that public one you
We have witnessed the
used to attend. I have to admit, I
creation of the
love Long
Student AmTrail. Howbassadors, an
ever, my
organization
relationship
focused enwith the
tirely on this
school and
purpose. We
its commuhave seen our
nity has
numbers climb
changed
higher than
throughout
ever before.
my years
Sure, it is nechere. I feel
essary for a
this is due
The Long Trail School
school to grow,
to some funbut let me ask
damental changes in mentality
you,
how
many
of
you
can name
and outlook on the part of the
everyone
in
the
school?
Middle
school, both from the administraschoolers,
do
you
know
all
of the
tion and the students. These difupper
schoolers?
Half
of
them?
ferences manifest themselves in
my everyday life, and make me
As a senior, I know that I
realize what I miss about Long
sometimes don’t know if a kid is
Trail from when I was a seventh
a student or a visitor, and there
grader here.
are many students I would not
I am certainly not saying
that Long Trail is a bad school; it
is much better than most other
schools you could end up at. But
recognize outside of school. I do
not feel my case is special, as I
have heard many of my peers
Continued on Page 4
Alexis: When I came to LTS I was 4 ft tall, and now I am 5 ft 8½ in tall.
Andrew: When I came to LTS I was short, and now I am not too short.
Caitlin: When I came to LTS I was well off, and now I am poor.
Chris: When I came to LTS I was fourteen, and now I am eighteen.
Dylan: When I came to LTS I was shy, and now I am outgoing.
Gifford: When I came to LTS I was content, and now I am crazy.
Giulio: When I came to LTS I was growing, and now I am still.
Hannah: When I came to LTS I was diffident, and now I am outspoken.
Jen: When I came to LTS I was spacey, and now I am spacier.
Ji Soo: When I came to LTS I was Korean, and now I am Korean.
JT: When I came to LTS I was a nerd, and now I am really cool.
Karl: When I came to LTS I was shy, and now I am outgoing.
Kat: When I came to LTS I was motivated, and now I am lackadaisical.
Lindsey: When I came to LTS I was mean, and now I am nice.
Mike: When I came to LTS I was happy, and now I am smarter.
Nicole: When I came to LTS I was, and now I am.
Nora: When I came to LTS I was ten, and now I am seventeen.
Peter: When I came to LTS I was a geek, and now I am an evil genius.
Sam: When I came to LTS I was short, and now I am a little bigger.
Sarada: When I came to LTS I was blonde, and now I am multicolored.
Stefan: When I came to LTS I was sixteen, and now I am eighteen.
Stephanie: When I came to LTS I was a loser, and now I am amazing.
CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2008!!!
TRAIL MIX: PAGE 2
LONG TRAIL SCHOOL
The Fourth Corner:
By senior! Peter Caras
My classmates and I are now college
bound seniors. We just need to pass a few tests
and high school will be over. This is all good
news. So why do I feel so lousy?
I discussed this with a few teachers and
found that this condition is not unique to me. It
even has a name – Senioritis. It’s in the dictionary.
Is there a cure for Senioritis? No, but
you can sometimes treat the symptoms.
One of my Senioritis symptoms, for
example, is a pronounced difficulty in dealing
with school authority figures. School authority
figures naturally seem to aggravate Senioritis
suffering. I think it’s an autoimmune response.
According the Merriam Webster Online Dictionary it is a noun, added in 1957 that means
“an ebbing of motivation and effort by school
seniors as evidenced by tardiness, absences,
and lower grades.” Wikipedia adds that it is,
“a decreased motivation toward studies displayed by students who are nearing the end of
their High School careers.”
Senioritis sits like a physical weight on
my shoulders. I have become slow and dimwitted, and not just in my English teacher’s opinion.
I’m living up to my IEP. And it’s not just me.
Many of my fellow seniors also have that thousand-mile stare.
Continued from Page 1
The Lady from Shanghai - Orson Welles, you
devil, how did you get to be such a bloody genius? In this noir gem, a naïve sailor (Welles, in an
unusually meek role) becomes tangled in a web
of deception, infidelity, and murder when he
agrees to work on the yacht of a wealthy, beautiful woman (Rita Hayworth, called “the love goddess” of the 1940’s for very good reasons).
Filmed on exotic locations, this one is what every
noir film should aspire to be: so darkly beguiling,
it is difficult to turn away. Watch especially for
the famous climax in a fun house mirror maze fantastic!
Senioritis
know I didn’t do “it.” I’m too apathetic to do
anything! I have Senioritis! So all I have to do is
smile, wish said Dean luck in the investigation,
and pull out the trusty guitar.
The key to defeating Senioritis, I think,
is momentum. You may think this is impossible,
given the nature of Senioritis. But here, you
would be wrong.
Senioritis affects only the common
everyday aspects of life. Moving behind the
Senioritis scene is an overriding thought:
we’re almost out of here!
If, fellow senior, this affliction is
afflicting you, my advice is: keep your eyes
on the prize. Roll with it. Keep on keeping
on until exams are over and it’s cap and
gown time. Then freedom. (At least until
we’re confronted with life’s next hurdle.)
I have tried to fight this thing. But so
far, the 12th year plague is winning. For example, I used to be up and ready each morning. Now, every morning I wake up and immediately fall back asleep. I am no longer
“Mr. Sunshine.” I am surly and indifferent.
When I get to school, I’m no longer
eager to pluck the fruit from the tree of learning. Not even the easy-to-reach stuff on the
lower branches. I hear words like “homework”
and can recall having done none of it.
June 6, 2008
The senior class of 2008 in Ocean City, NJ
A case in point: often, while investigating high crimes and misdemeanors, a certain
Dean of School who shall remain nameless,
often seems to think I did it (whatever “it” may
be that day) or had a hand in it, or knew about
it, or once thought about doing it. And he lets
me know it.
Of course, thanks to my affliction, I
the Classics cont.
Out of the Past - Another classic of the noir
canon stars the ideal anti-hero actor, Robert
Mitchum, as Jeff Bailey, a man who
tried to escape his fate. You see, a
couple of years ago, Jeff was assigned to find the runaway girlfriend of mobster Whit Sterling (all
man Kirk Douglas in an early role).
He found her, fell in love with her,
but in the end, she betrayed him and
fled with 40,000 dollars worth of
illicit dough, as femme fatales are
wont to do. But now, men in dark
suits and fedoras are showing up at
Jeff’s gas station and he may not be
able to avoid a final confrontation
with his former boss…or
his former moll.
In the meantime, when those “senior
moments” occur – when rousted by an authority figure, or you find out it’s a lecture
instead of a movie – just smile. Then do
what works for you. Pull out your guitar,
sneak some YouTube, whip out the Ipod,
and finalize those plans for World Domination
or whatever.
Senioritis isn’t terminal. But it does
have some lingering effects. I have it on good
authority (I think it was Peter Ahfeld who said)
that Senioritis eventually transforms into a mild
chronic condition. This condition manifests itself
over the years in great memories, memories
about these days, the good old days at Long
Trail School.
has sooo many justly famous moments from the
hilariously intoxicated Thornhill (not his fault!)
trying to drive a car to his being chased by a crop
duster to the final, thrilling chase across Mount
Rushmore.
Robin Hood - Look, I know that you’re probably
sick of my praising the
looks of most of the male
stars of the past, but I’m
sorry; I don’t care what
you all might think of
Johnny Depp or Orlando
Bloom, but Errol Flynn
has it all over them. Let’s
This Gun for Hire - Alan Ladd is on fire as the
face it, this movie might
detached professional killer Raven with a soft
as well have been called
spot for cats. When double-crossed, Raven goes
“Errol in Tights” because
after revenge on his former bosses and, man, you
it is all about his smile, his
don’t want Raven on your tail. However, it beinsolent wit, his devilcomes complicated when he kind of falls for a
may-care charm, his abilswoon-worthy nightclub
ity to wield a sword (no
singer engaged to a cop. This
double entendres - let’s
one is stunning - another
keep it clean!), and his
North by Northwest - In
ideal crime movie. Say, can
handsome face - and he
my opinion, Hitchcock’s
you tell that I really like film
can act, too. Here he plays
best movie, hands down.
noir?
everyone’s favorite outA movie poster for Citizen Kane
My point of view has not
law, tripping up Guy of
changed since I first reLaura - When a glamorous
Gisborn (Basil Rathbone,
viewed in it in sixth grade: mesmersocialite and female execuwho is spot-on here as the restrainedly evil Norizing. Roger Thornhill, portrayed by
tive is found murdered, a
man tyrant who almost has you rooting for him),
the ever-divine Cary Grant, somehard-boiled detective comes
romancing Lady Marion (the very pretty and
how got himself confused with a
in to solve the crime. After
sweet Olivia de Havilland), and battling it up for
CIA agent and now is being relentall, there’s no shortage of
merry old England.
lessly pursued by the sinister Mr.
eccentric suspects. But the
Van Dam (the silver-voiced James
real problem is that our deGreen for Danger - A bang-up mystery thriller
Mason). In his desperate quest to
tective has become a
about a murder taking place in a British hospital
escape the clutches of an evil organitad…obsessed with the imduring WWII air raids. The cast is perfectly apt
zation, he is also trailed by a mysteriage of the murder victim. Of
and the whole thing is a great whodunit, as well
A movie poster for The Spiral Staircase ous, glamorous woman (Eva Marie
course, that may not be too
as a parody of all movies of this sort. British huSaint as the ultra Hitchcock blond),
much of a problem…because
but what are her motives? This film
she might not be actually dead.
Continued on Page 4
TRAIL MIX: PAGE 3
TRAIL MIX
June 6, 2008
Music Reviews
“This is My Story”
By senior! Hannah Ogden
by Jessica Carr
So I decided to change it up this month and write a list of my top four new favorite songs that have been released in the last year and a fifth song that I deem
the worst song of 2007. So in no particular order, here it goes…
This is the story of a girl who didn’t know her way around
Didn’t know where she was going, or even who she was
Every day she asked herself where happiness could be found
1. “Where I Stood”, Missy Higgins, On a Clear NightThis simple yet moving song is about, yes you guessed it:
love. However, it is a song that most people can relate to
and it is artfully crafted with acoustic piano and guitar as
the main instrumentals. Missy’s voice is clear, emotional,
and shows no hint of her Australian roots.
The answer was always the same—You can’t find it because
You have to make it yourself
She hadn’t learned her lesson when one day she met a boy
Who didn’t care about anyone
2. “Unfold”, Marié Digby, Start Here EP- This acoustic guitar driven ballad
not only showcases Marié’s gorgeous voice, but also her extraordinary talent for
creating heartfelt lyrics. This song shows vulnerability and even though Marié
is a relative new comer to the main stream music, one could not guess it from
this powerful piece.
But he was handsome, smart and funny, so she made him all her joy
And decided to do what couldn’t be done—
To make him smile for her
Two years passed, filled with memories painful and dear
3. “Dear Mister President”, P!nk, I’m Not Dead Yet- If you don’t lean even
slightly to the left on the political scale, you can appreciate how artistically P!nk criticizes our current commander in chief. Although the lyrics are somewhat
controversial, many songwriters are beginning to incorporate more social and political themes in their music.
Not only does this piece have breathtaking harmony
(courtesy of the Indigo Girls), it also was written by
P!ink and this comes across to the listener when hearing this very poignant song .
Good times were when she could stand before him unafraid
More often were the bad times, full of shame and longing and fear
At every thing she said wrong—and there was a price to be paid
For making herself so fragile
She whispered, “This is my story,” as she stood alone in the rain
“It’ll go my way, or I’ll end it here and now.”
4. “Old Enough”, The Raconteurs, Consolers of the Lonely- I’ve always been
a fan of The White Stripes, however, Brendon Benson’s power-pop songwriting
ability combined with Jack White’s eclectic style of mixing blues, grunge, and
rock is something to be reckoned with. “Old Enough” incorporates fiddles,
power chords, and some seriously witty lyrics. This is definitely a band to keep
an eye on.
She tried to pull through, but without much hope; she couldn’t face
the pain
So she ran away to a high place and made a solemn vow—
“I’ll remember you forever”
That little lost girl, she lived on only in dreams
5. “Glamorous”, Fergie, The Duchess- The only good thing I have to say about
this song is that I will never again forget how to spell it’s title. It strikes me as
rather sad when the entire chorus of a song consists of nine letters sung ad
nauseum, but that’s just my two cents on the matter. The general theme of this
song is that if you get in a band with three
more talented males and dance around like a
maniac, you will earn enough fame to go solo.
Then you will have your songwriters create
obnoxious tunes about how wealthy you are. I
say that Fergie flies her “first class” plane way
up in the sky so that us mere mortals who
aren’t worthy of being in the “fast lane” can
live in peace without G-L-A-M-O-R-O-U-S
trapped forever in our brains.
Uncle Sam
wants YOU
to join next
year’s Trail Mix
Her story had no happy ending
Life is hidden shadows, nothing is as it seems
So if you see someone whose heart needs mending
Be sure and say hello
Selected Quotes
By Rachel Eisemann
"Laugh as much as you choose, but you will not laugh me out of
my opinion."
-Jane Austen
"Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but yours is the only
one that matters."
-Rachel Eisemann
"I have opinions of my own—strong opinions
—but I don't always agree with them."
-President George Bush
Many of the Trail Mix staff
members from this academic year
are graduating seniors. With the
loss of much of our staff, the Trail
Mix is looking for some talented
writers for next year’s edition.
Please join us for the chance to be published.
Don’t forget to check out Trail Mix online
www.longtrailschool.org
"Opinion has caused more trouble on this little earth than
plagues or earthquakes."
-Voltaire
"Always remember you are unique, just like everybody else."
-Anonymous
"Wear short sleeves! Support the right to "bare" arms!"
-Anonymous
LONG TRAIL SCHOOL
TRAIL MIX: PAGE 4
Continued from Page 2
Outlook on Life
June 6, 2008
the Classics cont.
By John Krieg
mor and creativity at its cheeky best.
Dawn
Peeking up over the mountain that is visible from your window
The sun’s first beam of light falls upon your sleep crested eyes
For years the sun has woken you up every morning
Saving you an alarm clock
Ignoring the dazzling and increasingly intense rays
Rolling over is tempting
Knowing that many tasks await your hand
Inspires you even more to remain in your ever growing more
soft, warm and fluffy bed
Your head seems to melt into the seemingly bottomless supple
pillows
While drifting back down to sleep
Midday
A bead of sweat slowly forms and falls
Creating a rippling effect on the dry dirt
Feeling tired and put upon and thinking that I can’t go any further, I persist
For I know a break is coming soon
A break is what I live for the end is nowhere near
It seems that peers will always judge me harsher than an outsider
I can never do it right, nobody every appreciates me
Nobody loves me, all I get is criticism
So I’ll try harder
I do know I am not doing my best
I know that I’m not truly distressed
So I’ll stick to my old motto
Everything is over eventually
Sunset
It is over work is done
I couldn’t be happier!
The most beautiful sunset I have ever seen outlines the trees
With shades of pink, blue and purple
The vision mesmerizes me shooting me into a trance
The clouds, more beautiful than the most prominent neon light
Shining from the busy cities
Reality presents it self
Colors created from pollution
Suddenly remind me that
There is another day of hard work ahead
But, it will all be over soon
Continued from Page 1
The Changing Face cont.
complain about the same issue. This problem is
not only caused by having a larger student body,
but by a fundamental disconnect between the students. How can we get to know each other better?
I don’t know the answer, but trust me, the solution is definitely not to play more house games.
With the influx of new students has also
come a plethora of new teachers and faculty. This
year in the newspaper, in an attempt to get the
students better acquainted, I interviewed several
of them, including Sally Leonard, Scott Magrath,
and John Suitor. They all conveyed that they
wanted to get to know the students better, but
that it was difficult, especially for those having
the Golden Days of Hollywood. This Billy
Wilder comedy (he also has the hysterical
Some Like it Hot to his credit) is simply delightful. Sabrina (Audrey Hepburn, the pixie
who we just love to see in a tiara - could anyone else pull this off?) is the daughter of the
chauffeur at the luxurious Larrabie estate and
has had a terrible crush forever on caddish
David, the younger son of the family. However, when Sabrina returns from a stay in
Paris newly elegant and mature, David’s
older brother Linus (Humphrey Bogart, in a
nicely comic turn) tries to woo Sabrina to
save her from his irresponsible brother. Who
will Sabrina choose?
Twentieth Century - John Barrymore is a
high-strung Broadway director with a gift
for acerbic articulation (in one notable instance he calls a crony, “You amoeba!”),
temper tantrums, and discussing his own
genius. Carole Lombard is his lovely
protégée, Hollywood star, and ex-lover
who adores nothing better than to make a
scene. Put them in a train and watch the
feathers fly. This is, in my humble view,
the best screwball comedy ever made.
Father Goose - Okay, so whoever thought
that a little bit of dirt and some stubble
could make Cary Grant unattractive was
The Spiral Staircase - Seriously, I don’t
really underestimating the king of savoir
know what kind of suspense you can all take,
faire. Walter Ekland (Grant) didn’t ask for
but I would advise you to
much, just to escape
watch this one with a
foolish society for the
friend (having the windows
peace of his little boat in
and doors locked and a cup
the Pacific and let the
of hot cocoa can’t hurt eiworld pass him by. But,
ther). In a little Victorian
when he’s drafted by an
New England village, a
old friend to be an island
ruthless killer is on the
watcher during WWII,
hunt and “women with afthe complications begin
flictions” are his targets.
to amusingly pile up in
So, it’s understandable that
the form of pelicans, a
Helen, a mute servant in a
lack of Scotch whisky,
great mansion just outside
and a hapless group of
the town, is a bit apprehenschool girls who end up
sive that she will be the
on his isle complete with
next target. However, when
their prim school misa rainstorm traps her in her
tress (the ravishing Lesemployer’s house, Helen is
lie Caron). Of course, we
in for some serious fear,
all know that Ekland has
because the murderer just
a hero inside of him, but
might be in the house.
the question is, does he?
A film poster for Green for Danger
This is a family favorite
at my house with great lines, wonderful
Brief Encounter - Warning: do not watch
slapstick, and a really adorable ending.
this unless prepared to have your heart
wrenched. Celia Johnson and Trevor Howard
give some of the most genuine and lovely
Oliver Twist - A British epic; forget modperformances I have ever seen as strangers
ern versions, as much as I do love the
ostensibly happily married to other people
BBC. This black and white adaptation of
who have a chance meeting and fall unexthe famous novel is simply perfect. You’ll
pectedly in love. This movie is like a ballet:
find yourself wondering where they found
impeccably choreographed and sweepingly
actors so perfect for the parts, from the sinmelancholic. I weep copiously…like I am
ister old crones at the work house to the
weeping right now at the thought of no more
cocky little runt Dodger to waifish, saintly
articles. Oh, well - now you’ll have to dig up
Oliver. Dickens himself, I presume, would
your own hidden jewels in the crown of old
have loved it.
movies.
Sabrina - You know, I don’t want this list
Thanks for the memories.
to be too heavy; people who think that a
drama is always better than a comedy
We’ll always have Long Trail,
haven’t seen some of the classic works of
Nora Fiore
contact with only a limited group of people.
There are other things I miss
about the old Long Trail. Not to sound too
sentimental, but I remember when we
had morning meeting in the Whalen Common
Room, and actually, concerts were in there as
well. Not so practical now, I know, but the feeling
that that gives you is lost in the impersonal theater. I also miss the trust that the school used to
have in the students. Since when did we have to
have teachers monitoring the halls during lunchtime? I am sure the teachers appreciate it as
much as we do. However, I feel this issue stems
from students’ lack of respect for the school; there
is usually a cause behind a loss of trust. In general, students at Long Trail today do not have the
same love of their school that former classes have
had, which has led to a difference in attitude and
behavior. Things like the Honor Code, by which
our student body is supposedly governed, do not
have meaning when no one takes them seriously.
It is true that our school has been in a
transition period for some years now,
which has undoubtedly changed the way
we view Long Trail. Perhaps students just
do not feel like a part of the school, and
this lack of identity has altered our mindset. This overall student outlook influences the way the administration views
us, and the consequences only result in
more discrepancies.
Certainly no school is perfect, and
Long Trail is not an exception. It is easy
to get sentimental, but one also has to realize that places change, and our school is
certainly moving in a new direction. Everyone should think about what they get
out of Long Trail- if it is more than just a
good education, then they should not be
afraid to get passionate about certain
things. Respecting our school is important, and so is speaking out against things
we don’t want to change.