Quartermaster John Stevenson on duty in Iraq

"It has become a war of information and propaganda and in this atmosphere it is so easy to breed hatred."

Luke Harriman

In mid February, John Stevenson, father of Park High math teacher Bob Stevenson and a first sergeant in the 639th Quartermaster unit of the Montana National Guard, departed for Iraq. Several days after leaving the deployment station in Ft. Carson, he joined about 135,000 other U.S. troops in the country in trying to maintain control of the area and bring democracy to the Iraqi people. Many of these are National Guard troops who left behind homes and families to be called up to active duty.

Stevenson is currently stationed somewhere in southern Iraq. Because of security and intelligence issues, he is not allowed to state his exact location during his few, brief satellite phone calls home. His son, Bob Stevenson, who most Park High students call "Mr.", said that John is usually "more interested in what's going on over here." As a quartermaster, his job is primarily to escort and supervise Iraqis and third party foreign national who have been contracted to bring the infrastructure of the country up to a higher level. He protects them from any possible threats to their work, and maintains security by ensuring that no photos or other records are taken of sensitive areas.

Since John is located in southern Iraq, an area dominated by the more friendly Shi'ite sect of Muslims, the violence and chaos of the kind seen in many cities in the "Sunni Triangle" is not seen as much. He says it's "hot up North", and security has been heightened in his area, but poverty and hunger are the major problems in his area. It is not unusual for crowds of Iraqi children, looking for food, to approach American soldiers holding machine guns. The troops have instructions to tell the Iraqis to move back, due to the possibility of attacks. Many of the soldiers drop a water bottle or a bag of rations in the back of a vehicle, against orders.

During a recent phone call home, John said, "Al-Sadr can control his militia, but the terrorist and criminals thrive on the chaos, which is what makes it difficult to control. The Iraqi civilians are so uninformed. It has become a war of information and propaganda and in this atmosphere it is so easy to breed hatred."

Yet with all of the hardships of the Iraqi people and the American soldiers ("It's dry and hot," he says), Sgt. Stevenson maintains that the U.S. did the right thing by invading Iraq. Although he had some misgivings about the motives of the Bush administra

tion and the presence of weapons of mass destruction, John believes that Saddam Hussein's crimes against humanity were reason enough to start the war.

Still, the situation in many parts of Iraq is worsening. News reports are daily filled with deaths of American soldiers, whether at the hands of the militia of Shi'ite cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr or Sunni insurgents. As Bob Stevenson says, the Sunnis especially are upset at the changing circumstances in Iraq because, "with the upcoming democracy, they'd be the minority."

Geyser photo courtesy of the internet

A new Socialist government in Spain recently removed over 1000 troops in the area after a bombing on a train in Madrid. But President Bush and the current U.S. government appear committed to "stay the course" in Iraq, saying, "In this conflict, there is no safe alternative to resolute action. The consequences of failure in Iraq would be unthinkable." By all accounts, American troops will be in Iraq for some time yet, and they need the support of everybody here on the home front.

Gearing up for German

California Dreamin'

Quinn, Leah and Angela's spring break continued...

Those who speak English should appreciate German because our language comes from German...

Bayard Lewis

The weather there was excellent. For the majority of the time, we just hung out and spent a lot of time outside soaking up the rays. We also did some shopping. The day we left, it was 89 degrees at 10:30 in the morning and when we got to Bozeman, it was 45 degrees. Overall, it was a rather fun but also very relaxing trip.

ever, was not as nice as anticipated. Nonetheless, Beau and I went to Oceanside and Laguna Beach before driving back to Bakersfield.

Wednesday we decided to go to Six Flags Magic Mountain outside of Los Angeles. As I mentioned before, everyone was on spring break in California, so the average wait for a rollercoaster ended up being around an hour and a half. Beau and I spent around six hours at Six Flags, experiencing only four rides.

The rides we rode, however, included the first looping rollercoaster, the fastest suspended rollercoaster, one that shot you through loops facing forward and then proceeded to go through the same course backwards, and the rollercoaster with the biggest drop at the fastest speed. Oddly enough, Quinn and I were in the exact same place, although at slightly varying times, and we never did see each other.

Thursday we drove back to Las Vegas, finding a hotel a few blocks from the infamous Strip. While Beau had been down Las Vegas Boulevard before, it was my first time, and he knew all the good attractions to take me to. We walked through the MGM Grand, Excalibur, the Luxor, and the Mirage. Altogether, at least four hours were spent downtown in the lights and among the other tourists. Thursday night in Vegas was without a doubt my favorite night there.

Unfortunately, Beau and I had to rise early the next morning to begin the long drive back to Livingston. Beau was tired, and so was I, but I had to drive all by myself the whole morning anyways, on the verge of dozing off the entire time. I slept the rest of the way home though, returning to Livingston with about one dollar and fifteen cents in change.

Kannst du deutsch sprechen? Can you speak German? Next year a German language class will be available for a limited number of students.

Those who speak English should appreciate German because our language comes from German as well as Latin roots. English continued to evolve and borrow words from other languages, but German retained its archaic base.

Currently, German is spoken in Germany, Luxembourg, Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. Eighty million people speak German worldwide. Mr. McGrath teaches German independently to twelve students right now. The cool thing about German is that so many of it's words are cognates or words that look the same in both languages. German also sounds so full of energy, but at times can be very harsh.

Mr. McGrath hopes to cover not just the German language, but also Germany's history and geography. It's kind of ironic that while Mr. McGrath actually majored in German, he spent his last year of college in Segovia, Spain. He also spent one year as an exchange student in Cologne, Germany.

To spot German in the English language look for words that have an "ish" sound to

them, or even start with "sch", because many German verbs start with "sch". Germans are known for their delicious chocolates (Schokolade) and their techno "musik", although their culture includes great philosophers and writers like Goethe. I was surprised to find out that the German language has several thousand more words than English does.

Here are some German words that appear in English: alpenglow, diesel, blitzkrieg, fahrenheit, gesundheit, iceberg, kindergarten, luftwaffe, neanderthal, poltergeist, pretzel, Quartz, rottweiler, sauerkraut, waltz, wiener schnitzel, yodel, and zeitgeist.

Some of the mechanical differences you'll encounter with German are some umlauts (2 dots above a letter) like Ü Ö and another letter that looks like a big B is called an Eszettß. Some words in German can be bunched together to create words that look like they could fill up an entire sentence. German is a really cool and powerful language once you get the hang of it.

Gordon Gertiser is a fluent German and Spanish speaker who will be back for his Senior year! His sister Hannah can also speak German well. If you have the urge to see a movie in German, or with German subtitles, check out Run Lola Run and Das Boot (a WW2 German submarine movie). Bist zum nächsten Jahr (See you next year)!

Angela's Vacation

Similar to the spring break destinations of Quinn and Leah, I also headed to the state of California to spend eight days in the sun. Anxious to get out of the depressing Montana weather (it snowed the morning I left), Beau Coffman and I departed in the early hours of the morning on Friday April 2nd. We drove thirteen hours to Overton, Nevada, where the only hotel room in the Las Vegas area remained, as it was spring break for everyone else apparently, too.

Saturday was another day filled with driving. We took a short stop in Bakersfield California to meet with Beau's cousin, and were preparing to leave on a four hour drive to San Diego when my car broke down. We borrowed another car and continued South.

In San Diego, we all went to Sea World. While the Shamu and dolphin shows were impressive, and the sea lion and otter show was entertaining, Sea World was kind of a rip-off. I've seen it all before, and unfortunately, between the two of us, it cost nearly one hundred and fifty dollars for admission and refreshments. Much of my spring break budget was spent on this first day, and as a result, I was not able to go shopping at all on my trip.

That night, we found a hotel in a small town along the beach. Our plan was to spend the entire following day driving up the Pacific Coast Highway, visiting a variety of beaches. The next morning, how

213 South Main Livingston, MT 59047

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Stacey Raney

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Don't let the summer-time blues get to you!

This compilation of outdoor activities is sure to keep

you entertained throughout your summer vacation.

Angela Hiatt

The summer holiday usually begins with a cheerful outlook, with everyone looking forward to three months of no school and sleeping in. You envision yourself lying in the sun all day, going out with friends at night, and even hopeful fantasies of mingling with some attractive tourists.

Anyone who has ever spent a summer holiday in Livingston, though, knows that by the end, you're running out of ideas, missing your friends you have not kept in touch with, and are sort of ready to go back to having something to do every day.

For this reason the Geyser staff has decided to bring to you a list of cheap summer activities to keep you out of doors and entertained.

Floating the Yellowstone - On a hot day, this past time can be full of some good old rest and relaxation. Whether you begin up at Carter's Bridge, Ninth Street Island, or Mayor's Landing, the ride is sure to offer some great sights and a good tan after a full day in the sun. Tubes can often be purchased at tire shops around Livingston, and rafts or boats would perhaps provide a "dryer" alternative. One aspect that is important not to forget, however, is a life jacket - the Yellowstone River has an ample amount of undertows that can be danger

ous when you are not prepared for them. Also, don't go alone!

Hiking - Many students often overlook the opportunity to enjoy the wilderness surrounding Park County, and hiking is a great way to enjoy it. Some favorite and well frequented locations include the Pine Creek Falls, Livingston Peak, and Emigrant Peak. All expeditions could be made into a full-day's event or just a simple afternoon outing. Water, sunscreen, and proper clothing is important in case you accidentally wander from the well-beaten path and are out for a longer period of time than was originally planned.

Bicycling - Whether you decide to go for a casual bike, or opt for the more extreme, mountain biking pasttime, there are many opportunities close by. The bike trail through town provides a safe, enjoyable pathway from the middle of town south to East River Road. Popular mountain biking trails are Pine Creek and Livingston Peak.

Camping - People of all ages seem to enjoy camping, whether it is a weekend trip out of town or one night at campground nearby. The beginning of summer is the best time to take advantage of this activity, however, for fire restrictions are usually in place by August, putting a damper on one of the

best parts - the campfire. Pine Creek, Mallard's Rest, Loch Levan, George Lake, Greybear, the West Boulder, and countless other locations usually welcome campers.

Iceblocking - Few may know the details about this activity, but those who have been iceblocking before would no doubt place it among their favorites. To start out, an iceblock needs to be purchased from a local grocery store, prefferably as large as possible. Fold up a towel and place it on top of the iceblock for additional padding before sitting on the iceblock and sliding down a hill. While the water hill on ninth street is a prime location for starters, the interstate hill out by McDonald's may provide a greater adrenaline rush. While some may choose to wear a helmet, shoulder and knee pads, they are not required.

Folfing - Folf, or frisbee golf, is often played at Sacajawea Park. The only object needed to play is a frisbee, and the rules follow those of golf. Par can be set, and score is kept accordingly. It is a cheaper alternative to golf, and can be played in a variety of locations.

Horseshoes - A fine horseshoe pit in Sacajawea Park can function as a leisurely

summer afternoon activity. Get some friends together and spend a few hours at the park, taking breaks to play on the swings, in the kiddie pool, or down by the river.

Barbecuing - While playing horseshoes, camping, folfing, or any other summer activites a barbecue is a great compliment. Cook some burgers and hot dogs on the grill and bring some pasta salad. Whether in the back yard, at the park, or in the woods, a barbecue can (usually) never go wrong.

The Park County Fair and the Rodeo - Nobody will disagree that these two events are two of the biggest highlights of the summer. The three or four day affairs reunite friends who have not seen one another all summer and usually end up being quite memorable. While the costs can become expensive, purchasing buttons for the entirity of the event is worth it.

Other various sports - Basketball, baseball, soccer, football, tennis, or a variety of others, are fun and important in keeping in shape in the summer. People of all ages and interests usually will not argue with a game outside in the sun, full of good times and great memories.

Keep your eyes open for other activities, for this is only the beginning of what Livingston has to offer.

Rangers find success on the track, and in the field

Famous May Birthdays

The Rock - May 2, 1972

Red Baron - May 2, 1892

Niccolo Machiavelli - May 3, 1469

Billy Joel - May 9, 1949

Yogi Berra - May 12, 1925

George Lucas - May 14, 1944

Joey Ramone - May 19, 1951

Bob Dylan - May 24, 1941

John Wayne - May 26, 1907

Ralph Emerson - May 25, 1803

John F. Kennedy - May 29, 1917

Walt Whitman - May 31, 1819

Clint Eastwood - May 31, 1930

"I think if kids have any interest in being athletic

track's the sport that gives you the best training,

and there's not a lot of pressure."

--Coach Joe Tacke

Angela Hiatt

While in the past the Park High track team has not been noted for great success, this year seems to be an exception.

"We have a good team, and people don't realize it," senior Robyn Keyes said. "If we had more people on our team, we would be a lot more competitive."

In recent track meets, the small team from Livingston has held its own, with individuals and relay teams consistently placing among the top.

Track coach Joe Tacke contributes part of the team's success to the weather. "We've had good weather so far, and that's one of the reasons we're probably ahead. It has allowed us to be outdoors and to get in better shape quicker."

Tacke claims this year's team boasts a good bunch of athletes who are willing to work. "It's been good and it's been frustrating," Tacke said. "It's been frustrating because of the little nagging injuries we get. You don't like to see athletes not being able to compete at their best."

One downturn on the season came when senior Brian Skattum partially tore his hamstring in a Belgrade meet over spring break. Skattum is expected to return in time to compete at the Central A Divisionals, which will be held in Anaconda, May 21-22.

Skattum will continue his track career at either -Dickenson State or Jamestown University next year.

First time participant Dan Johnson has made a mark with a successful season so

far. Dan Johnson is among the top in the 100, 200, and 400 meter runs, and runs on both the 4x100 and 4x400 meter relays.

"Dan has been our biggest surprise," Tacke said.

Johnson agrees. "It's been more surprising than successful," he said of his track debut. "I kind of wish I would've done track last year because then I could've done track in college instead (of football)." Johnson will be playing football at Rocky Mountain College in the fall.

On May 4th, at least seven athletes will have traveled to Billings to compete in the annual Top Ten meet for the area. Johnson is expected to compete in the 100m, 200m, and 400m, while Justin Hartley will throw the discuss and Jacob Bausch will compete in the high jump.

Freshman Olivia Rider will run the 100m, 200m, and the 4x100m relay, and freshman Brianna Ackerman will be running in the 100m, 4x100m relay, and competing in the long jump. Sophomore stand-out Stacie Johnson will run the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relays, and Keyes will also run in the 4x100m relay.

Dan Johnson encourages anybody who has ever thought of being in track to try it out, because "you don't know how fast you are or how good you'll be until you try it."

Tacke has a similar opinion. "I think if kids have any interest in being athletic track's the sport that gives you the best training, and there's not a lot of pressure."

"An Altogether Peculiar Perception of Our Natural World"

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Web: www.parksreece.com

E-mail: [email protected]

Combination Block

119 S. Main, Suite A2

Livingston, MT 59047

Where the music lives

The Apple itunes music store...allows customers to legally download a song for

$1. For many people, this is more appealing than buying some of today's

music albums that cost $15-20, but only have a few good songs.

music downloads.

For music fans with a tight budget, Wal-Mart's online music store offers songs for $0.88 each. Some of the top downloads from Wal-Mart include "Stacie's Mom" by Fountains of Wayne, "Unwell" by Matchbox 20, "You Raise Me Up" by Josh Groban, "So far Away" by Staind, "Hot in Here" by Nelly, "Perfect" by Simple Plan, and "Your body is a Wonderland" by John Mayer.

These music services appeal to music lovers because anybody can make a dance, party, or road trip mix and pay less for all the songs that they love. With the advent of MP3 players, users can store their entire music collection on just a couple of CD's. Once again, music is being redefined by technology.

For more information you may want to look into www.apple.com/itunes or www.walmart.com.

Bayard Lewis

she earned several thousand dollars by appearing in a commercial for Pepsi and the Apple itunes music store.

There are several legal alternatives to today's Kazaa, Grokster, Limewire, and other programs that still allow users to download pirated music and other media. Many users who downloaded music on these networks before have stopped because of corrupted files, queues for music downloads and the hassle of dealing with annoying and sometimes malicious spyware that plagues these popular programs.

A very notable online service is the Apple itunes music store which allows customers to legally download a song for $1. For many people, this is more appealing than buying some of today's music albums that cost $15-20, but only have a few good songs. Apple's store has sold more than 50 million songs and currently has a catalog of more than a half million tracks.

With all the world entering the digital revolution, it's music's turn to stand in the spotlight.

Just a few short years ago a college student named Shawn Fanning sparked the music sharing controversy by creating Napster, a program which allowed users to download music for free. His original intentions were not to infringe on copyrights, although many individuals decided to use the networks to illegally share music. However, after Napster was shut down, several other file sharing services cropped up in it's stead.

Today the record companies have been filing lawsuits against several hundred individuals who still obtain music free of charge off of these networks and programs.

One such lawsuit against a 13 year old girl ended quite ironically. She was sued for approximately $2,000 for all the songs she had downloaded, but soon afterwards

Users can also purchase best-selling audio books to enjoy at their leisure.

Another excellent feature of the store is the fact that it allows users to listen to 90 seconds preview of the songs before they are bought. The site also allows browsing of music by genres and categories to discover new music.

All of the songs are fully burnable to CD's, although there are limits on how many times a song can be copied. Current popular songs include "My Band" by D12, "I miss you" by Blink 182, "Someday" by Nickelback, "The Reason" by Hoobastank, "This Love" by Maroon 5, "I don't wanna know" by Mario Winans, "Ocean Avenue" by Yellowcard, "Tipsy" by J-Kwon, "Toxic" by Britney Spears, "Roses" by Outkast, and "Hey Mama" by Black Eyed Peas.

Other legal music services where users can listen and/or buy songs are Napster, Real Rhapsody, and Wal-Mart's new service for

From the Halls of

Park High:

Students, teachers

recommend their favorites for summer reading

Thomas Murphy

A Perfect Circle

I would definitely encourage anyone who likes Mars Volta or A Perfect Circle, even a little bit, to catch one of their shows.

A Perfect Circle is not a band on the tongues of many high school students. They are the type of mellow hard rock like Tool, for those of us who have not heard of them. Their music moves from the harder metal sound to sounds that can only be described as trancelike. The other band touring with them was Mars Volta. This big hair band is a bit faster and has a great stage presence. They have a type of artsy hard rock sound with long guitar solos and a high voiced singer who struts around swinging his mike at everything in sight. Mars Volta was a good high energy show to get the crowd hyped up for A Perfect Circle.

We were late to get to the concert and when we arrived there was already people going inside but the line still stretched out of the Ice Garden front doors curled around the side of the building and went all the way to the back of the structure. Finally after waiting in line forever I got into the front doors and made my way through the crowd. The fast paced music of Mars Volta could be heard in the background as I was being searched by security. After being searched I was funneled into the second set of doors and on to the top walkway. From up here I could see the crowds starting to grow and I could make out a faint stage through all the artificial and cigarette smoke. Soon I found

myself on the main floor in front of the stage. It was a pretty typical concert to start out the singer was going crazy, the drummer had his shirt off and guitarists were playing it cool.

Mars Volta left the stage a little over an hour since they started. Then came a long set up time. It took the set guys forty minutes to set all of A Perfect Circle's equipment and props up. Finally, after they were good and ready, a Perfect Circle came on stage. They started out with an elaborate light show and a curtain in front of the drummer making an oversized silhouette of him on the stage. Then the show progressed into flashing lights and other various effects. It was hard to concentrate on the music with all the show.

A fan of A Perfect Circle could really get into the music. To my left and right there was two people who were in a trance, swaying back and forth with the rhythm of the music. The concert overall was a good experience. The only problem that I had was how hard A Perfect Circle worked to impress it's fans, but they still played a good show and were very involved with the audience. I would definitely encourage anyone who likes Mars Volta or A Perfect Circle, even a little bit, to catch one of their shows.

Leah Boehlor

Summer is not only a time to play around in the gorgeous weather but also a time to read a good book. Reading over the summer keeps the mind circulating and it keeps it in gear for the school year ahead. For a list of recommendations for summer reading, I thought that the teachers would be the best source.

As an English teacher, Mrs. Powalisz had a lot of good recommendations. With some thought, she recommended the Da Vinci Code by Daniel Brown. This book was highly recommended by a few teachers. It reveals the mysteries and codes of Leonardo Da Vinci such as the meaning behind Mona Lisa's smile and also the mysteries of the Last Supper. It portrays ideas of religion and suspected secret societies. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat. Mrs. Powalisz also suggested a couple of classics as well. Books such as Wuthering Heights, and Pride and Prejudice are good reads for a rainy summer day.

While asking Mr. Shannon, he also recommended Da Vinci Code. Other than that popular book by Daniel Brown, he suggested another one by the same author called Angels and Demons. Another of Mr. Shannon's favorites is Don't Sweat the Small Stuff by Carson.

Librarian Mrs. Robb had some different but good suggestions. She suggested some factual books that deal with what is going on with the world. A book that provides a lot of information on North Korea is North Korea by Christopher Salter. She also endorsed such books as Beyond Glory by Larry Smith, Cowboys and Longhorns by Jerry Stanley and Poems From Homeroom by Kathy Appelt.

When I approached Mr. Beitel to ask him about his reading habits and recommenda

Photo courtesy of the Internet

tions, he said "I am a voracious reader that tackles books of different genres. I often loan my favorites to students. Currently, all world athlete Dan Johnson is reading Into the Wild. Dan Johnson says that the book is "a good book. It's hard to put down." A few others of Mr. Beitel's favorites are The Zero Game by Brad Meltzer, Counting Coup by Larry Colton, Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett, and The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara. Of these, his favorite is The Killer Angels. He says that it is an "excellent piece of literature which I am looking at incorporating into my U.S. History class."

Mrs. Evanson had a handful of books that she would recommend for reading over the summer. Among some of her favorites are Peace Like a River by Leif Enger, The Power of Now by Eckhart Toll, and Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd.

I know reading over the summer doesn't sound too appealing but it never hurts. In fact, it's a really good idea. Mr. Powalisz recommends that you should "read as much as you can. Take care in your reading selection so that your reading material is that of which you enjoy and might learn from and attempt to develop reading habits from that of which you do enjoy."

Take a book with you on a family vacation. Reading is a good way to pass the time on a hot summer day.

Quotes of the month:

Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction.

-Albert Einstein

A person starts to live when he can live outside himself.

-Albert Einstein

Education costs money, but then, so does ignorance.

Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for

you are crispy and good with ketchup.

To give pleasure to a single heart by a single act is better than a thousand heads bowing in prayer. -Mahatma Gandhi