Throughout my long life, I have grown and lived in upstate New York in the Catskill Mountains. Every year during the four seasons, the same things happened. In the spring, I’d absorb up all of the rain water that I could get so I wouldn’t be thirsty during the long, hot summer months. During the summer, I would soak up all the sunlight that I could get. When fall came, the wind came with it. I always loved the wind because it rustled through my branches from the top all the way

to the bottom. By the time the winter

c a m e I was ready for

the snow and the chill

of the cold air. Every winter families came

in and cut down my smaller

friends for Christmas

t r e e s . T h e joy and

spirit of

Christmas is overwhelming with every visit and something I found myself drawn to. After many years of this never ending cycle, I considered myself ready to become what I’ve always wanted to be… a Christmas tree.

My neighbors and friends have always talked about how when they get older they strive to become Christmas trees. They all want to be the healthiest, fullest and greenest trees in the forest. Every winter, I noticed many men coming through the forest and looking at me and my friends. Each year they cut some of my friends down. It made me upset but I knew they were accomplishing their life’s goal, becoming Christmas trees. I was getting nervous. Would they ever choose me? After countless winters I was finally chosen. The men started taking their axes and chainsaw to my trunk and started cutting me down. It hurt a little but it was just a flesh wound. I suddenly felt myself being tipped over and I fell immediately to the ground. The men dropped netting around my fallen body and put on a truck to be shipped. This was it! I was now on my way to becoming a Christmas tree! During this journey, I was put on two different trucks as I traveled. I heard many stories from my fellow trees about how men sometimes cut us up and use us for firewood. I was hoping and praying that this did not happen to me.

Finally, I reached my destination. The men took me off the truck and out of the wrapping and I was propped up on a pedestal. The men had to climb on

ladders just to reach me. They worked together to decorate me, they put the lights and ornaments on me. It was at this exact moment that I realized how tall I was. As they finished up the decorating, I felt that there was something missing that all Christmas trees should have. Then I

saw a man holding a giant star. The man put the star right on the tippy top of me. This is the moment when I realized all my dreams have come true. I am a Christmas tree!

Now, I find myself in the middle of a big city. Many people gather

to see me each day. Everyone in the city admires me throughout the Christmas season. People always stand in front of me and

take pictures with me. This makes me feel great! I am an important

part of the Christmas season. It was well worth the wait and is better than I ever

imagined!

MOLLOY FORUM’S TOP 5 CREATIVE GIFTS

Dummy KitsGet this for your favorite dummy to teach them how to do something

those normal human beings can do without help.

Cookbook for DummiesThis gift is good for those who like to cook and eat. Whether it’s

cooking Cup of Noodles or a Thanksgiving Feast, the book will contain a compilation of their favorite recipes along with tedious step by step instructions including how many grains of salt to use.

Personalized CalendarsThis gift is perfect for people who need to be reminded of what day it is.

it is also useful in leaving them a message to help get them through those weeks where they’re mindlessly doing the same things day in and day out.

Themed Gift BasketsMake a basket with a bunch of different things unified by one theme. If

you’re a real overachiever then you can weave the basket yourself.

Photo CollagesGet this for the person you’ve been trying to embarrass for years. Gather

all those flattering pictures and crazy “Kodak” moments for them to look back on so they grin, cry and laugh (until they maybe even pee a little).

My Journey The story of a Christmas tree

By Megan GaskinForum Reporter

By Nick WoodForum Editor

& Brigid Damm Forum Managing Editor

DeDication with every issue

Dear Readers, With the chaos of finals and Christmas finally over there’s

one thing on the immediate horizon: New Year’s Eve. That holiday means a few things, time to blow off some steam, buy gym memberships you won’t use and get ready for a crazy night of calendar changing you’ll never forget . . . or remember?

It’s usually the same old routine, but there is something slightly different this year. Could it be this is the last year in which I will still be an undergraduate? Maybe. Could it be that the world is “predicted” to end in 2012? . . . That’s most definitely it. Unlike everything else in my life, I probably shouldn’t put off my preparation for zombie apocalypse. An all-nighter of preparation won’t save me in such a case.

While going through the list of rules presented in the movie “Zombieland” in preparation for the imminent zombie apocalypse, one rule really stuck out. “Rule # 32: Enjoy the little things.”

This rule is important to remember in everyday life and it shouldn’t take a zombie apocalypse for us to realize it. The little things are what makes life enjoyable and allows us to get by when stress and life becomes a burden.

Another year has gone by and one can use the post-holiday down time to remember all the little things that have made us smile over the past year, whether it be time spent with friends and family or inside jokes. This is college, real life is right around the corner. Soon moments like these will be few and far between. Thanks for the memories, 2010.

Nick WoodEditor-in-Chief

Nick WoodForum Editor

Letter from the Editor

Brian Vodoklys/Forum Cartoonist

Molloy Forum

Black Friday is exhausting

2

Brian Vodoklys/Forum Cartoonist

6.

The Man’s View

The following is a timeline of how a typical December goes as far as Christmas shopping is concerned.

So it’s the beginning of December, and there is plenty of time to shop as well as homework and studying to be done. ’Tis the season” . . . for procrastinating. Planning out what I will be buying is also a waste of time, I’ll figure that out once I drag myself to the mall. A list of who I need to buy for may be a good idea too but I’ll also do that later.

Now it’s mid-December and I am in the midst of finals hell and still haven’t bought a single gift. Uh-oh. However, finals are more imminent and extremely important so its study time. I’ll shop after finals are over.

Holy crap! It’s December 21, finals are over and I haven’t bought one present yet. Ugh, I need to hit the mall, now. The annually recurring nightmare that is last minute Christmas shopping is upon me yet again. The mall is jam packed, the lines are long and not only do I need to buy gifts but I need to figure out what to buy for whom; as a result I’m pissed and defintiely not in the Christmas spirit.

It’s December 24, and I’m finally done with Christmas shopping. Thank God holiday shopping is a once a year event.

“’Tis the season . . .” It is December yet again and that only means one thing: HOLIDAY SHOP-PING! Whether you find it to be a chore or a pastime, it’s something that has to be done or many

family members and friends will be disappointed. Neither of us can speak on behalf of our respective genders as a whole, but the following are views on Christmas shopping by a man and woman on staff.

Holiday ShoppingIt has to get done but Women and Men

have different opinions on it

By Nick WoodForum Editor

By Megan GaskinForum Reporter

Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving, and the kick- off to the holiday shopping season.

Retailers nationwide get aggressive with their over-the-top marketing strategies and even more aggressive with markdowns, price cuts and exclusive deals. The goal of the retailer is to come out of the black and way into the green. This is to make up for sales lost on Thanksgiving.

Many retailers depend on their holiday season traffic and sales to carry them for the rest of the year. As expected, Midtown Manhattan, the center of a shopper’s universe, was the epitome of chaos. Shoppers rose at the crack of dawn to get the best door busting deals and there were plenty of pushing, shoving and screaming matches.

Most stores prepared heavily for the day. However retail workers of all sorts were clearly exhausted, either from talking intensely about promotions or trying to convince shoppers to buy more. No matter how fast the workers moved, there was a never-ending line the entire day. The goal of the shopper was to get great deals and save tons of money; why else would people rise before the birds and wait outside in the freezing cold? However Black Friday can be overrated. Many retailers extend the sales throughout the holiday weekend so the rush could be unnecessary.

Working and buying on Black Friday are equally exhausting. When you have a feast the day prior, the last thing you want to do is shop or work after the tryptophan overload.

Wait out shopping and shop from home on Cyber Monday, where retailers give a lot of the same deals they did on Black Friday. You can shop from the comfort of your own home; no pushing, shoving or screaming matches here. Best of all you won’t have to have a ridiculous amount of bags; the merchandise is shipped directly to you!

By Tara DennenyForum Reporter

By Megan GaskinForum Reporter

The Woman’s View

Oh Christmas. The trees, family, Santa and of course Christ-mas shopping. I am one of those people who loves shopping for Christmas gifts. I know there are some of you out there who don’t share my love of Christmas shopping but I just love the whole experience. I like the decorations all over the mall; they always put me in the Christmas spirit. I enjoy hearing the Christmas music in the background when trying to find the perfect gift. I am always looking for the bargains, full price is never an option.

I also know that you always have to find that perfect gift for each person. Many people find this to be a burden but I find this to be just another exciting part of the shopping experience. I always go to the store with a positive attitude. This helps when finding a gift because if you have a negative attitude you won’t end up finding anything. Another thing I highly recommend when you go Christmas shopping is a shopping buddy. Having a shop-ping buddy makes shopping a lot easier. You are able to think and brainstorm more ideas with your buddy instead of just by yourself. It’s also great to have somebody to chat with and eat lunch with on those long shopping trips. Also, always get your shopping done early; it makes it a lot easier when the wrapping begins. Merry Christmas and happy shopping!

These are not scientific in any way, shape or form; they are not even serious. Applying these to one’s life is highly recommended.

Aquarius (January 20 - February 18)To avoid catching a nasty cold be like Tiny Tim bundle up and

dress accordingly. Remember, he never leaves his house without his winter cap.

Pisces (February 19 - March 20)

Go to the mall for your holiday shopping. While there remember, you’re never too old to get into the holiday spirit. To feel like a kid sit on Santa’s lap and tell him your hidden desires. You’re sure to receive a special surprise.

Aries (March 21 - April 19)

Proceed with caution; when celebrating Christmahanakwanzika, be sure to remember to blow out every last candle. There’s sure to be a lot of them. One lapse in judgment and more than a Yule log may be burning. Taurus (April 20 - May 20)

Crazy as it may seem, that old magical silk hat you found might not be the reason you feel the snowman’s alive. You might want to lay off the corn cob pipe.

Gemini (May 21 - June 20)

Was sledding a great outlet for your finals stress? Of course! Although it may not have been at the top of your list, you’ll have a blast … as long as you’re not the person getting hit on at the bottom of the hill.

Cancer (June 21 - July 22)

Someone can easily be left behind, so make sure you remember everything and everyone when you go on your holiday trip. It’s a party for one and all your cardboard cutouts are attending.

Leo (July 23 - August 22)

On the night before Christmas be careful crossing the street, Santa isn’t the best driver. Last year he got grandma... some people’s favorite part of the holiday season is the eggnog.

Virgo (August 23 - September 22)

The lesser known holidays are often forgotten. Give Festivus a try. The aluminum ornament and some eggnog could really spice up your New Year’s Eve party.

Libra (September 23 - October 22)

Business packages may arrive from someplace known as fra-gi-le. Don’t be alarmed if it’s more than just a leg. It is likely to be a thoughtful gift that will light up your holidays.

Scorpio (October 23 - November 21)Take it easy on the ice luge or you may take an unexpected trip (an

express trip to the ground). Although it may be fun at first; there is a good chance you will end up hitting a wall.

Sagittarius (November 22 - December 21)

Clothing choices for your holiday party are crucial. Don’t think it’s an ugly sweater party. Bad Santa and his naughty list full of elves are sure to think you’re a fool if you do.

Capricorn (December 22 - January 19)

Optional choices such as snow cone flavors may be more important than you think. Don’t forget they are out of season. The Lemon flavor that was suggested to you may taste a little off.

Molloy Forum3Happy HoroscopesBy Brian Vodoklys & Nick WoodForum Cartoonist Forum Editor

Brian Vodoklys/Forum Cartoonist

Brian Vodoklys/Forum Cartoonist

Brian Vodoklys/Forum Cartoonist

Molloy Forum 2

Movie Review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1

If you’re looking for a great gift guide this holiday season to help you get your special someone that perfect something then Dave Barry’s Gift Guide to End all Gift Guides is definitely not what you’re looking for.

With lists of “gifts” that you can actually buy, such as the ball of owl vomit and Budweiser slippers, Dave Barry’s guide is more of a gag gift in and of itself.

Overall the book is a funny read,

and it includes some classic gag gift favorites like the timeless Rubber Chicken. There are also some surprising (and/or gross) gag gifts that show up, such as the Medically Accurate Model of One Pound of Fat.

The gift suggestions come hand in hand with humorous descriptions of all of each gift’s possible uses; for example, Duck Butts. “As you are no doubt aware,” Barry says “a major problem with traditional duck decoys is that they are all in the upright position; whereas real ducks periodically stick their heads underwater to look for

snails or car keys or whatever it is that ducks are looking for underwater.”

Some of the descriptions are lengthier while some are kept quite brief. Overall this works out well enough since some of the gifts are much funnier than others, giving Barry more to run with. Unfortunately, some of the gifts aren’t as clever as others and it leaves the reader wondering if that was really the best he could find.

Overall the book is lighthearted and fun for a one time read, but definitely not meant to be seriously referenced.

The highly anticipated first part of the final movie in the coveted series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1, is most definitely all it is said to be. Although it is sad to know the series is ending, this installment is exciting, intriguing and it leaves you craving Part 2, which does not come out until July 2011.

In the seventh movie, we find our favorite wizard trio searching for Horcruxes, dark objects that house the soul of Volde- excuse me , He-Who-Must -Not -Be-

Named. On the journey to total destruction Harry Potter and his two best friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, portrayed by Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson respectively, learn about the three most powerful objects known to all witches and wizards: the Elder Wand, the Resurrection Stone and the Invisibility Cloak. These three items are known better as the Deathly Hallows. With He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and his army growing in power rapidly, Harry, Ron and Hermione must act stronger, smarter and faster.

Although Hogwarts fans may

be sad to see that Harry, Ron and Hermione are not attending classes this year, the adventure is nearly doubled in the hunt for the Horcruxes; dangerous situations, rough visions and a lot of “holey” parts fill the screen. Along with the danger, the movie is filled with witty moments and subtle romance: a movie for all!

The only downfall of this movie was when the credits rolled. I sat in my seat in sadness for a while, contemplating if I could wait until next summer. Since we all must wait, I suggest watching Part 1 over and over again as much as possible.

Reviews Molloy Forum 4

Go ahead and have yourself a Mariah Christmas this year

MY RATING

Book Rating Guide:1- Terrible - If you are looking for some-thing to cure your insomnia read this book.2- Poor – It may be good enough to finish, but rather than residing on your bookshelf, it will serve you better as a door stop. 3- Ehhh - This book will hold your atten-tion but you may find yourself counting the pages.4- Good - This book is worth your the time.You may find yourself up late at night with a flashlight reading. 5- Great- This is an excellent book, a must read. Go buy it right after you finish reading this issue of the Molloy Forum.

Movies Rating Guide 1 – Terrible – Waste your time and money on this movie if your hobbies include: shredding money and watching paint dry. 2 – Poor – Go see this movie if, and only if, you found ten dol-lars on the street and have time to spare.3 – Ehhh – Not great but not terrible. If you have nothing bet-ter to do, it is worth seeing.4 – Good – Go see this movie during that long break between classes.5 - Great- This movie is so amazing that before you finish reading this you should already be on your way to the movie theater.

Book Review: Dave Barry’s Gift Guide to end all Gift Guides

MY RATING

Music Rating Guide1- Terrible - Listen to this album or go to this concert if you are trying to punish your ears.2-Poor - Want to hear something that is not quite as bad as the cat crying in the alley? Well, if that’s your only requirement check out this concert or album.3. Ehh – Check out this album or concert if you are bored and need something to listen to. It may be worth the time and money, maybe not. 4. Good - Looking for some good songs to put on a mix tape for your sweetheart? The songs that you will hear at this con-cert or on this album are what you are looking for. 5. Great - This album or concert is defi-nitely worth a listen. However, you may not want to play any songs by this artist while you’re driving. The need to start dancing will keep you from seeing the idiot in the right lane trying to cut you off.

By Bianca AlvaradoForum Reporter

MY RATING

Merry Christmas II You  is the second holiday album and the thirteenth studio album by singer Mariah Carey. The album has several Christmas classics including:  Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane), O Come All Ye Faithful, O Holy Night, The First Noel/Born is the King, O Little Town of Bethlehem/Little Drummer Boy, and Auld Lang Syne. The album also contains four original tracks, which Carey helped write:  Oh Santa!, All I Want for Christmas is You, Christmas Time is in the Air Again and One Child.

Carey’s first hugely successful Christmas album was released in 1994; her hit single All I Want for Christmas is You is considered to be a Christmas classic by many critics. Therefore, Carey decided to re-record this song

and add it on her new holiday album. The song happens to be one of my favorite songs of all time, so I was very excited to listen to the new and improved version. The updated version features rejuvenated vocals, an orchestral introduction and fortified background vocals. In my opinion the newer version is quite enjoyable but not as good as the original. As the saying goes “don’t mess with perfection.” The updated version may not be as good, but the lyrics are the same and that is the most important part. I believe that the lyrics play a huge role because they have special meaning. This song is a love song about not wanting any presents or anything else associated with Christmas. All she wants and needs is her lover for Christmas. It is no wonder why this song has been so popular and successful for so many years. Between the catchy beat and the

lyrics it is a perfect song for the holidays.

Another track worth taking a listen to is:  Charlie Brown Christmas.  The song begins with the famous  Peanuts  song and then segues into Mariah singing  Christmas Time is Here. Carey’s vocals are immaculate and the orchestra is impeccable. The song is soothing and beautiful; it is the perfect song to help get you in the mood for the holidays. The most impressive song is O Holy Night since it was performed

live. This song allows Carey to show off her outstanding vocal ability. Her high notes toward the end of the song leave you with chills. The song is both entertaining and riveting due to her vocal range. It is a great song to remind us what the holidays are all about. It is not just about the presents and the food, Christmas is about the birth of Jesus. Sometimes we need to be reminded of that fact; therefore, the song serves that purpose.

Merry Christmas II You  is a great holiday album and it is definitely worth purchasing if you are looking for something new to listen to during the holiday season. The songs are great and catchy but Carey’s voice is the best part. She is such a talented singer and has been so successful for so many years. You get your money’s worth, if you decide to purchase the album.

By Erica KrilovForum Copy Editor

By Shannon BurdenForum Reporter