6November 2009Hi Times Issue 2 Vol. 101

10% off for allLaPorte High SchoolStudents and Staff

with Valid School I.D.

Available at these locations:1102 W SR 2LaPorte IN 46350Sunday- Thursday 6a.m.-11p.m.Friday and Saturday6a.m.-11p.m.

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Roast Beef PattyMelt,Roast Beef Gyro,

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The temperature outside has fallen, but that doesn't mean that style within the LPHS hallways won't heat up. Fall 2009 brings classic essentials back to the forefront of the fashion world, but with a modern twist. Listen up ladies, leather is back! Although not traditional leath-er Harley jackets, but leather in other forms, for example, leg-gings and skirts made of leather add an edgy twist to a feminine piece. Also, asymmetrical tops add a bit of an allure to an outfit, but make sure proper undergarments are used. Two-piece suits are also very popular this season, as are fitted blazers. Blazers can be worn with jeans or skirts and can create a more polished look. Also, as in previous season's scarves and bold jewelry are also fall essentials. A pop of neon can escalade an outfit to all time brightness, although too much neon can cause dizziness. The basics such as dark washed denim are still a "Do" as well as trouser cut jeans. Leggings are also a fun way to layer and add depth and comfort to an outfit. “I love to take my basics and jazz them up with more trendy pieces. I also really love leggings; they are super comfortable and stylish. The neon trend is exciting and I can’t wait to incorporate a little neon into my wardrobe,” said senior Natalie Pope. Alright gentlemen, pay attention fall brings fun fashion for guys as well. The number one must have fall fashion piece for men is the cardigan. The cardigan is very versatile and can be worn as the statement piece of an outfit but also can be layered. Striped shirts are also an essential for guys this fall; striped shirts add polish and a preppy feel to a guys look. The best wash in jeans for guys is the worn in and relaxed jean. These jeans can be paired with anything and look amazing; basics are what really make a wardrobe and if there are good basics then the looks will be complete. “I love the relaxed jean look, I basically live in my jeans,” said senior TJ Harrold.Also, guys' accessories this fall are scarves, hats and masculine jewelry. The number one rule for girls and guys this fall is layering with rich natural colors and to have fun and express yourself!

Get in style this fall

In 2002 America began working alongside other countries to train the Afghanistan Police force. Former LaPorte Police Officer Cal Reed has recently joined the quest. Reed has taken a voluntary, civilian job training police overseas. “He left in September and will be back home around the first week of January,” said Ellen Reed, Cal’s wife. Reed has been a police officer for 15 years. Look for an interview with Reed and his wife in next month’s issue.

Local officer in Afghanistan

Nike, with its iconic swoosh, tells buyers to “just do it.” Wal-mart has everything customers need for low prices. And Aunt Jemima’s pancakes have never sounded so enticing… From the iPhone with which teenagers text, to the Ameri-can Eagle jeans pocket into which it is slipped, today’s high schoolers are ceaselessly bombarded with media images. Advertisements telling them everything, like which sham-poo to buy and what to eat for lunch, scream for their atten-tion. Their thoughts are being stretched in so many different directions that it’s no wonder experts have referred to them as the ADD generation. With the holiday shopping season fast approaching, brand-conscious consuming is more than an interesting study—it’s a reality. It is apparent that brand names, and the messages behind them, do matter. But experts insist that brand-ing is not all bad, especially if smart shoppers use it to their advantage. “Brand names are powerful--there’s no denying it,” said DeAnn Sykes, retail manager

Erin SassStaff Writer

With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, one of the biggest shopping days of the year is right around the corner. Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving and is consid-ered the beginning of the holi-day shopping season. This year, the famous shop-ping day is on November 27. Many stores open their doors to customers earlier than usual. Wal-mart, Dicks, and Best Buy have all been known to open at 5 a.m. Even though the stores open early, one can still find long lines of people waiting outside to get a first look at the stores best deals. About 172 million people ven-ture out on Black Friday every year. “Usually I get up really early and go with my dad to a lot

Brand names or bust? What students are wearing

Christmas gifts go on sale

at Macy’s. “They make life much easier for busy consum-ers by providing a shortcut. You should choose brands that you like and feel good about, ones that fit your image. But, of course, brands are not a sub-stitute for the actual product. The product itself must work.” In a sense, brand names have been around as long as prod-ucts have been sold. They are a security blanket for customers who have previously used the product, who trust and believe in its efficiency. “We get Crest [toothpaste]

because that’s just what we have always used,” said Aman-da Minich, a sophomore at LPHS. Then, as in every holiday season, there’s the “cool” fac-tor. While it is true that the buyer wants to know his gift is trendy and top notch, he wants to make sure the recipient knows it, too. Freshman J.J. Daniels com-mented on the pressure teens feel to purchase name brands. “I think my friends expect me to buy them brand-name stuff if I’m getting them a gift. It it’s

not new and cool, then they just won’t want it.” On the other hand, many students still stand for saving money and purchasing generic options. “Often the [product] ingredi-ents are exactly the same,” said Junior Kelsey Tuholski. “What you’re paying for is the name.” Sophomore Halie Hajek agreed that name brands are no more reliable than generic options. “I don’t like spend-ing more money on items than I have to. It’s stupid, because a lot of the time off-brands are

better than brand names—they taste better!” When it comes down to the final round of brand-crazy vs. penny-pinching, a tie is de-clared. As is often the case, a happy medium between the two extremes seems healthi-est. Junior Alec James summarized this controversial topic. “Are Kroger oyster crackers really more delicious than Nabisco? I don’t think so. For some items, name brands are the way to go. However, in other cases it just doesn’t matter.”

Brittany BelkiewitzStaff Writer

Natalie PritzNews Editor

of stores. We try to beat the crowd at all the deals,” said ju-nior Callie Nowak. According to an article on CNN, a Best Buy in New York reported lines of more than 150 people at 4:45 a.m. waiting for the store to open their doors in 2008. A lot of stores offer “door buster deals” only to people who shop in the first few hours that the store is open. Retail-ers hope to draw in a larger sale earlier in the day. It is estimated that $41 bil-lion was spent on Black Friday in 2008.

And while many are out shop-ping this year, they might as well get a head start on their Christmas list. As in past years, electronics dominate as some of the most wanted gifts. “For this Christmas, I want a 16 GB iPod Touch,” said sopho-more Ryan Hawkins. From digital cameras to the Nintendo Wii, there are a lot of great deals out there for the most wanted items of the holi-day season. The best deals are expected to be at Best Buy, Kohl’s, and Target.

Courtney West Staff Writer

Photos by Samantha Holifield

Juniors Cain Grisham and Kyle Schell show off their Aeropostale shirts; Karen Ault models her Converse sneakers.

Photo by John DeckerMany Americans choose Wal-Mart for holiday shopping.