Issue

COUNTRY GIRLS: Seniors Jenny Xiong and Amanda Le perform their traditional Hmong dance at Renton’s IPAC on Thursday, April 7.

Representing both China and Laos through dance, the two ladies hit their steps on beat. Xiong and Le practiced for an estimated three months to ensure their movements were intricate and on point. “ When we keep practicing it makes us feel more comfortable and stronger to perfrom in front of the audience,” Xiong said. “it was very very interesting, they were really good!” sophomore Vianca Lazaro said. “I liked their outfits, the dance was very well done and we can see that they were having lots of fun!”

Olivia Fry photo

blueprint The Word

THE GREENHOUSE BUILDING EFFECT Photovoltaic array safely out of way of roof on top of battery banking shed

E.I.C to you.

Clerestory windows bounce low winter sun off drywall ceiling

Dear Readers,

So I have this friend. An amazing friend. We’ve been best friends for 5 years. His name is Daniel, but I call him Danny.

Danny lives in Australia.

He’s helped me with all my problems regarding relationships, friends, school, family, everything.

He even mentions to my boyfriend how lucky he is to have a cool girl like me, which I think is nice. He’s the first best guy friend I’ve ever had, and we only talk on the internet.

What if there was a blackout all over the country? All internet completely gone. No phones, no computers, nothing. What if Danny died? How would I know? I couldn’t just go on his Facebook wall and see what’s going on. I couldn’t just text him and be like “Danny, are you okay?” It would all be gone.

Think about it, really think about it. All internet gone. No ifs, ands or buts. I wouldn’t know what to do.

That long time friend I made would be a figment of my imagination.

Now think about your family in different states, different cities, different countries. What about all the family who lives in places like the Philippines or Europe? It would be hard. I mean, you could just say “I’d take a plane over there, or I’d drive there,” but really? A vast majority of our whole generation depends on the internet and their phones for everything.

The internet is taking over.

It’s putting on a helmet which transports you into a holographic classroom. It’s putting you in a virtual park, The internet is so cool right? So why does it matter?

You just don’t get to pet a dog, hear the birds. You get fake bird chirps. That’s lame. Is the internet really that interesting? Or is it just fake?

Think about it. Enjoy.

Yours Truly, Olivia Fry

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water cistern collects run-off water for use in greenhouse circ

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Olivia Fry photo

Olivia Fry Never apologize for showing feeling, that’s like apologizing for the truth.Editor-in-Chief Max Bureau is begging for sun to warm his back through the window in class.....Managing Editor Joe Vo Spring break is coming up, make plans on what you have to do! ..............Photography Editor Mark Mariano is the dragon......................................................................................................Know More Editor Darren Briggs cool blazers with a fitted cap...........................................................................Play Hard Editor Alyssa Antonio is going to California, Anaheim for journalism nationals!....................Portraits Editor James Enebrad Hannah Montana is daaaaaaaa best.........................................................NUM83R5 Editor Queenelle Gazmen holds Disney musical shower concerts daily...................................NUM83R5 Staff Bryan Diaz is kickin’ it with the soccer team.....................................................................................Faces Editor Mindy Saeteurn wants to get an American Eskimo dog, but she never will.......Perspectives Editor Farid Ahmach got his driver’s license on Thursday (April 7, 2011) YUP!....................................Art Editor Angelica Aguilar can’t stop thinking about how wonderful life is...........................................Faces Staff Rosalyn Chan is kept busy with her cell phone always in her hand..........................................Faces Staff Malik Roper can’t wait for spring break................................................................................................Faces Staff Gary Nguyen is on Cloud 9..........................................................................................................Perspectives Staff Eli De Los Santos is eating Nutella crepes......................................................................................ARROW Staff FINE PRINT

Every issue, the editor-in-chief explains the magical and maniacal torture behind the ARROW scene. If it’s less than (or especially) magical for you, let her know at rhsarrow@ gmail.com

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ARROW is an open forum produced by internet-addicted, photo-crazed, mind-bending, Twister-loving, hopelessly romantic, endlessly hungry students who love chomping on free spicy pizza and bunny shaped marshmellows dipped in Nutella. Awesomely enough, they all go to Renton High School at 400 S. 2nd St., Renton, WA, 98057. EIC Phone number: 425-457-0195

ARROW is printed six times a year by Pacific Publishing Company in Seattle, Washington.

Word processing, graphics and layouts are created on Microsoft Office 2007 and Adobe Creative Suite 3 programs. ARROW has a press run of 2000.

The staff welcomes letters to the editor and will publish letters which meet our standards of good taste (as space permits). Letters must be signed. ARROW reserves the right to edit letters, though every attempt will be made to

|Katie Reynolds |Copy Editor/Story Development The new greenhouse, or Renton High School Green Building, stands in the middle of the grass by the gym. The building will house seeds of various seasonal herbs and vegetables. Fresh vegetables and seasonings will be grown for the use in culinary arts and perhaps elsewhere.

“I started planting seeds for the greenhouse in Mr. Sidman’s room,” senior Hung Lu said.

After these seedlings of tomato and basal get going, the students in the special education classes may be taught to care for the plants and grow them. The brainstorming doesn’t stop there.

“Maybe some small decorative flowers in pots to brighten class rooms,” chemistry teacher Alfred Sidman said.

Students of the Building Construction Program, run by Geoffrey Newing, built the greenhouse and the adjoining shed and donated the materials to do so. The Renton Community Foundation also donated $1000 for other materials to be used.

“Hydroponics may be a project next year,” Sidman said.

Hydroponics is a technology for growing plants in nutrient solutions, like water containing fertilizers. These plants grow in the water without soil. Using hydroponics is highly productive, conserves water and land, protects the environment and requires little agricultural skills.

“Rain water from the roof will be used to water the plants,” Sidman said.

The rain water will be collected by gutters on the sides of the roof that will drain into a barrel. Solar panels on the roof of the shed will store electricity in a car battery that will power the lights of the greenhouse. There may even be a contest between groups of students to build solar panels that can generate hot air inside the building itself.

“Mr. Sidman designed it himself,” Lu said.

“This is just the very beginning,” Sidman said. “Once it’s up and running, we hope to have a fall and spring open house at lunch run by Science Club and Green Team who will give tours and explain everything to the rest of the student body.”

Devante Swann is currently EV training.................................................................................................Unplugged Editor Kenneth Orejudos loves that fluffy, loud, and sticky. I think I need to hug it......................................Photo Staff Jonathan Lon Don’t under estimate my driving skills.....................................................................................Photo Staff Vanessa Abenojar dances in the shower, not sings...dances..........................................................Know More Staff VyVy Nguyen according to my ballet teacher, my new name is squeakers :\ ...........................Know More Staff Gabriel Dominguez paper everywhere...................................................................................................Know More Staff Dauvee Keith is the best of great juice makers...........................................................................................Play Hard Staff Hamilton Carter hearts her <3.........................................................................................................................Play Hard Staff Joseph Varnadore says “We can dance if we want to, and leave our fears behind.”..........................Intro Staff Tony Le enjoyed Multi week Friday April 8 nom nom nom 1 hour lunch.............................................Portraits Staff Katie Reynolds drinking coffee at Luther’s....................................................................................................Portraits Staff Tristan Cawagas is cramming +50 words by May 7th for SAT...........................................................NUM83R5 Staff Joshua Davis is running on the basketball court.......................................................................................NUM83R5 Staff Mona Orejudos doesn’t trust you anymore...........................................................................................Perspectives Staff Aaron Garcia on the mat, under the light, that’s where real men come to fight......................Unplugged Staff Daniel Tran is getting hella drunk off pancake syrup............................................................................Unplugged Staff Derek Smith is furiously copy editing in the back room........................................................................................Adviser preserve original content.

Unsigned editorials and editorial cartoons represent the majority view of ARROW editorial board and do not represent the views of the Renton School District or RHS. Opinions, commentaries, satires, and perspectives are the views of the writers and artists, not the Renton School District or ARROW editorial board.

ARROW is financed by advertising based on size-determined rates. These range from $20-$80.

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Know more OUR ROOTS GO DEEPER The Beat

CARIBBEAN GIRLS: Freshman Chelsey Renee Reliford dances with confidence, overwhelming the crowd.

These Caribbean girls represented Jamaica with so much flare it got the audience to join in with them. “It’s a different culture from what Iv’e seen,” senior Alex Martinez said. “It was unexpected.”

TOP RECIPES

FAN DANCE: Senior Tricia Bui and sophomore Cynthia Fang participate in the Multicultural Week tradition of the fan dance. The design, choreography, and noises made from opening and closing the fans paid off with one of the loudest rounds of applause. Though there were a lot of Vietnamese acts, this was a crowd favorite.

FASHION SHOW (below): Multicultural Fashion Show participants line up for the grand finale. “The fashion show was really diverse.

Although it didn’t represent all cultures around the would, it gave us an idea of what cultural diversity is. The fashion had some unique aethetic values that represent cultural values,” junior Hung Lu said.

LION DANCE (above): Alumni Scott Saephan lifts the dragon’s head as junior Alex Le lifts him up. Saephan jumps and kicks to the beat of the drum played by fellow alum Steven Le. The dragon had precise movements, creating the effect of a wild animal on stage. “It was really cool,” sophomore Michelle Voluntariso said.

“I liked the part where the dragons started kissing.”

SPAM MUSUBI 2 cups uncooked short-grain white rice 2 cups water 6 tablespoons rice vinegar 1/4 cup soy sauce 1/4 cup oyster sauce 1/2 cup white sugar 1 (12 ounce) container of Spam 5 sheets sushi nori (dry seaweed) 2 tablespoons vegetable oil Directions 1. Soak uncooked rice for 4 hours; drain and rinse.

2. Bring 2 cups water to a boil. Add rice and stir. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes. Stir in rice vinegar, and set aside to cool.

3. In separate bowl, stir together soy sauce, oyster sauce, and sugar until sugar is completely dissolved. Slice SPAM lengthwise into desired thickness, and marinate in sauce for 5 minutes.

4. Fry slices until lightly browned. Cut nori sheets in half and lay on a flat surface.

Place rice press in the center of the sheet, and press rice tightly inside. Top with slice of SPAM, and remove press. Wrap nori around rice mold, sealing edges with a small amount of water. Musubi may be served warm or chilled.

MOCHIKO BIBINGKA •½ stick of butter, soft •2½ cups sugar •5 eggs •1 box (16 ounces) Mochiko rice flour •5 teaspoons baking powder •2 cans coconut milk or evaporated milk •1 cup coconut flakes •1 cup cheddar cheese Directions 1. Preheat your oven to 450˚F, and grease a 13-inch-by-8-inch baking sheet.

(The pan is critical. Any other size, and your bibingka is doomed.)

2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the butter until smooth. On low speed, slowly add sugar, and continue to beat until fluffy.

3. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.

4. In a medium bowl, stir together rice flour and baking powder. Pour the dry mixture into the wet mixture, and mix.

5. Stir in the milk, one can at a time, and mix well. Add the coconut flakes and cheese and stir just until combined.

6. Pour the batter into the pan.

7. Bake at 450˚F for 15 minutes, then turn the heat down to 375˚F and bake for 20 more minutes. Cover the pan with foil when when it gets brown.

8. The cake is done when a knife stuck in the center comes out clean.

Every month, The Beat explores the latest news going around the school.

Everything from dress-code offenses to school-wide events. Breathe deep.

Clarification on school news has finally arrived.

Play Hard

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VARSITY SOFTBALL NOT-SO-SOFT

Angelica Chu Player #7

Lynhda Vuong Player #1

Michelle Voluntarioso Andria Belote Player #2 Player #13

Jazmyne Stroy Player #6

Sophomore Softball Varsity 2nd baseman

Junior Softball Varsity 3rd baseman

Sophomore Softball Varsity 1st baseman

Junior Softball Varsity pitcher

Senior Softball Varsity outfield

Happiest moments in softball are during...

GAMES: “When we played against Kennedy and we were losing and I was able to go first base because Andria was injured. Someone hit the ball and I was able to go home. I was able to run home.”

Happiest moments in softball are with...

TEAM: “That one time when we almost won our game. ALMOST, won the game.”

Happiest moments in softball are during...

BONDING: “We were in the gym batting, and Lynhda said, ‘I want some Dick’s [Burgers],’ and me and Maria were like, ‘Mmm, Dick’s!’”

Happiest moments in softball are the...

FIRST TIMES: “I wrote my grandpa’s name in my glove. It was my first year playing and I made varsity pitching. I got the ‘Most Improved’ player award.

I’ll never forget that.”

Happiest menents in softball are during...

PRACTICE: “One time, Marianda, Tasha, and I were in the outfield and we were waiting for the pitcher to get ready. We just started dancing, and it was funny.

We came up with a dance called, ‘The Sweetcakes.’”

456 ARROW

JUMPING FOR THE GOLD

The

Sidelines STEADY RUNNING

A LEAP OF FAITH: Sophomore Jazzlynn Joshua leaps into the air at Renton Stadium during the track meet against Lindbergh and Hazen on April 7, 2011. “I just do. I don’t think,” Joshua said. “I picture myself achieving my goal when I’m getting ready to jump.” She says she’s nervous right before she starts to sprint for the leap, but after the gun goes off all her nerves go away.

Johnathon Lon photo

TRACK AND FIELD STARS REFLECT ON DIRT, TURF, AND AIR

Ponci Ortiz, senior

Jennifer Hoang, senior

This is his third year of track. He came to track because he got injured during football and decided to pursue a sport with less contact.

He can throw javelins and discus, or sprint to the finish line.

Last year he went to the League Track Meet in last place, but then finished 6th place out of a total of 20.

In the future he plans to go to a junior college and continue track there.

About this year’s track team, he said: “The talent is still there, just not with as many people as before.”

Vanessa Tran, Senior

Former Varsity cheerleader Hoang decided to join track because her parents did track in high school. She wanted to continue the legacy. “I used to lift girls up off the ground in cheer for fun, so I thought throwing wouldn’t be any different.”

This is her second year of throwing. She can throw javelins, discus and sprint.

She made it to districts her first year in the discus, and made second in the Seamount league.

She could be described as a hardworking, indecisive, strong, and always having the urge to try something new.

“Track runs in the family” Tran said. who started track when she was only 5 years old. Her greatest achievement in track are winning the All City Cup and taking first place throughout her season.

For Tran, track is life. She throws javelin and discus. When asked about rivalries Tran said: “Lindbergh is our greatest rival because they took our All City Cup, which we had a record of winning the last 20 years.”

“The more you sweat during practice, the less you bleed during battle,” Tran said.

Immanuel Carter, Junior Carter joined track because he was inspired by his friends.

This is his second year of running 200 and 400 meter, 4 by 1, 4 by 4, and long jump.

Coming in at 24.10 seconds in the 200 meters on March 25th, he is a speed machine.

“I am my own competition,” he said proudly.

Since the beginning of the year, he feels the team has changed a lot. The team has become more competitive, and is also funnier.

He has high ambitions.

“I plan to keep working hard and go to the Olympics.”

| Hamilton Carter | Play Hard Staff I have been a runner for years and didn’t even know it. As a kid I ran the mile at a good time: 6 minutes. But it took me five years to realize that my favorite sport would become track.

When I first laced up my spikes I got a nervous feeling. I had never run in front of a crowd. All the other runners looked nervous.

This was a new experience. When I neared the starting line for the first time my stomach tightened. I felt like all eyes were on me, and there was no turning back.

Standing at the start looking around at my competition, I started to hear my heart beat. An energy rush came to me.

Adrenaline beyond belief.

I wanted to do well.

The starter said On Your Mark.

My body tensed.

The gun went off. I’m gone.

The only thing on my mind is finishing the race. As I run corners the crowd yells out go, go. The coaches on the sides yell at runners to catch up.

The one thing on my mind is: I have to give these people a show. I want to prove I’m not going to lose this race, not to anyone.

Running with strategy was the way to run. This was my time.

My body tired. I felt like I had no more in me. Truly, I was at the point of giving up.

But then the sounds of my teammates yelling and cheering boosted me right back up. I was on my way to first.

I knew what needed to be done, and I wouldn’t let fatigue get to me. All I had to do was push on that track for a few more seconds.

I just kept saying I can win I can win I can win I can win. The finish line was right there and I passed it.

2:08!

My first race. My first half mile.

Done. And I did well. I felt so proud at that moment. I felt invincible. Like no one had a chance to stop me.

I love this sport. Now the desire to become even faster, to circle the track at every-increasing rates of speed, motivates me - in practice, at competitions, even in class.

I love the feeling of not giving up.

The track is where I need to be.

On the turf tearing it up with every step I take nearing my goal of becoming number one.

Every month, The Sidelines provides a first-hand account of a sporting event or activity with the sweaty, sticky details in tact. Relive the experience with the greatest glory, and maybe a few laughs.

From letters and meetings to Twitter and Skype, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re different from how we used to be. 3-D? Dorky, dated, and defeated.

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re pixelIzed.

The internet has changed us into something that no longer reflects what we used to be but what we are destined to become.

Is this a sign of smarter teens living in ever-loving prosperity as hyper-digital adults?

For the next five pages your fellow Indians and cyber-citizens will tell stories of their lives in the new world, and leave it to you to decide where you stand.

PORTRAITS

ARROW789

Olivia Fry photo

ONE GIANT STEP FOR MANKIND, BUT GOING NOWHERE FOR OUR MINDS |Hayley Brunk |Guest Writer Gadgets in schools could potentially be another giant step for mankind.

But are the pros worth the cons?

Schools are already starting to shun the seemingly timeless textbook and opt for gadgets that will get students more engaged in learning.

When given the chance, students will jump the gun before ever putting real thought into the question at hand.

Impatience is virtue. Ironically, machines are quick and easy to access – but they take too much of our time.

Our attention spans are very quickly becoming shorter than the fuse on TNT. And that sums up the world of tomorrow.

Pen and paper were merely a 500 plus year old fad and they’re very quickly going out of style. Students no longer have the patience for cursive or handwriting.

The result is a generation drowning in technological advancement.

SELF DISCIPLINE NEEDED, BUT CORPORATE INFLUENCE UNWANTED |Cole Jennings |Guest Writer As schools decide if students should use computers, self discipline is one thing students struggle with. The internet can be distracting simply because one hyperlink leads to another.

Schools have “solved” the problem by using an authoritarian monitoring system. From my experience students can find a virtual cornucopia of distractions despite this system. Most teens just lack the attention span.

Branding is another thing to consider. The early use of technologies can lead to a sort of conditioning. Using Microsoft products in school conditions us to use Microsoft products later in life.

This isn’t advertising, but an experience that hardwires commands into the brain.

Self discipline and afree market.

Gentle outside discipline will help us.

THREE THINGS TO OUT WITH CONSIDER BEFORE THE OLD WORLD IMPLEMENTING AND IN WITH TECHNOLOGY THE NEW IN SCHOOLS WORLD STYLE

|Rochelle Mascey |Guest Writer First: Schools should figure out if technology is necessary. iBooks are potentially cheaper than textbooks, but what if one breaks? Money is needed for a new one. Textbooks don’t break. Students can learn either way. iBooks are just a distraction.

Second: Internet access should be considered.

If you’re doing a project at school and a site is blocked, it’s annoying.

But you might abuse online freedom.

Click the mouse and you’re somewhere else. You won’t work on projects, you’ll go on Facebook. I know I would.

Third: Schools should consider if technologies will be beneficial. iBooks may look fashionable, but are they helpful? They certainly aren’t necessary. Technology is useful but like the saying goes, “There’s a time for everything.” School is not the place.

|Michael Weaver |Guest Writer Type a word in the search box and a definition is right before our eyes in black, easy to read font. Use a dictionary, we skip pages, scroll the page, and finally see our word in small, hard to read ink.

Thirty years ago, there was no internet. People relied on books. We grew up with smart phones and computers.

When books were first invented, students listened to their instructors. They didn’t read books. But students wanted a wide range of knowledge, so they went for books. We go for the web.

Students today have grown up with smart phones and Mac computers. This is how they learn.

We can count on the world changing.

We prefer faster, stronger, overall better things because this is how we grew up.

There’ll always be a newer, faster, stronger, better product everyone wants and changes everything.

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Num83r5

READ THE KEYS CAREFULLY

Meaning

VIRTUAL VISION

| Queenelle Gazmen | NUM83R5 Staff A pimply-faced emotional youngster textually rebels against the world in 300 characters or less.

Are computer privileges put to good use when we just leave them in the hands of teenagers? Or do teens use their freedoms to procrastinate and create alternate worlds? A recent ARROW survey explored those ideas.

Around 94% of students said they have no parental control over their computer use. These poor delinquents have the reigns to use condemned websites. But trusting the angel on their shoulder, some teenagers make good decisions online with the notion that whatever they post online stays online forever. Perhaps that threat motivates them to practice discipline.

Deleting browser histories helps too.

About 33% say they are addicted to the internet. Despite the popular image that teenagers are BFFs with the virtual world, one-third of students prove that stereotype right. Maybe it has to do with having an actual life with living and breathing friends outside the confines of their room.

About 29% of students do not read or watch the news online. At first glance, It looks like we are as self-obsessed as some believe we are. And yet, when the earthquake hit Japan, statuses revealed condolences to the issue, showing that teens may have more than an ounce of self-awareness. They told friends and followers to pray and donate.

Around 13% handle more than 6 profiles online. That’s like raising virtual sextuplets. We give them each equal care, letting them stay in their assigned browser tabs. These teens silently declare their responsibility, making sure each profile is updated so their “friends” won’t think they “died.”

Never underestimate teenage time management.

[FINE PRINT: ARROW staff members conducted this survey in Advisory classes on Thursday Mar. 31. From these 240 surveys our margin of error is 2.0 percent.]

The Meaning offers the interpretation to the numbers you see to your left. The percentages you see are based off of surveys given out during advisories and have been mathematically calculated.

Faces

ARROW

We're all addicted to Twitter...

@manooniepooh

“I feel free to say whateveer I want. It has the latest information on celebrities and even other people. #IloveTheDrama between everyone else, great way for me to be nosey.”

- Quiarra Gipson

@itxjamaicabetch

“I can write anything less than 140 characters and I express my feelings.

People just love to follow me. Plus, I’m hella funny. #feelme, #swag.”

- Jamaica Atal

@ Lindy Nguyen

“Instead of telling people about my day, I like to #express it on Twitter. I feel the need to tell someone besides the people I see every day. It's like my secretive updating network.”

- Lindy Nguyen

@XOXOraven

“I'm #Dependent on it. Whenever there’s no one, I can always count on Twitter. I'm on it everyday. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t tweet.”

- Raven winfrey

@brian4562

“I can invent my thoughts and feelings to my friends, like putting random quotes on my Twitter and following random people.”

@Cnaylher

“I can let you know what I’m doing every second, every minute and every hour of the day. #Bow.”

- Christian Naylor

@fisforfrancis

“It’s freaking amazing. I get to #express myself and have people follow me and be friends.”

- Brian barron

-Francis Edoria

@DraeLeonMorr

@Ray412Castro

“I like to stay updated on what my friends are doing, vent, and share past interesting things for others to re-tweet. #KeepItReal.”

-LeonDrae Morris

“I like to tweet because girls that don’t have my number follow me. What can I say? #TheyLoveMe.”

-Ray Castro

@tdejohnette

“Females are always in my business anyways, so why not give the haters something to read about? #Feelme?”

- Taylor Dejohnette

@ AngelicaChu1

“I just like to share my thoughts. I like to read my friend’s tweets. It let’s me know what’s up. Every time I think about something, I just tweet it. It’s usually a tweet about food."

-Angelica Chu

@kfedd

“Most of my friends are on there. I go there to talk to them and know what they say. I keep my follwers updated alomst #EveryDay.”

- kevin luong

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Perspectives The

LAPTOP LIP-LOCK FOR DIGITAL DUO |Olivia Fry |Editor-in-Chief The first thing I see when I wake up is his face. He’s sleeping next to me. He breathes deep with a small uplift in the corner of his mouth.

He has his arm placed slightly below his head with fingertips curled around his hair.

I can’t even touch him because his face is behind a screen.

You see, my boyfriend Brock lives in Canada. We met online.

The night before that night we had set up our laptops in the same spots we always do.

Mine was on the left side of my bed indented into my green and blue sheets. His, on the tan suede footrest of his couch. Our brightly lit laptop screens sat there shining in our faces, but we never mind.

Our idea of sleeping together through our little virtual world came from the two weeks that he visited during winter break. We were always so comfortable falling asleep together.

I got used to the small sounds that he makes when he sleeps and he got used to my tossing and turning through the night so when he left, it made it hard for us to sleep alone. We realized the first night we tried sleeping on camera, we actually both fell asleep.

The morning after I whisper ‘I love you’ into the microphone and turn off my computer.

The lovable text messages commence. He’s usually asleep by the time I send him a message so I wish him sweet dreams and not dreams about gummy bears that eat innocent people.

Later in the day he replies with hopes that I have a good day and that he loves me more than I love him...which is a lie. Haha.

After school, if he’s home, I get on MSN automatically and tell him to log in. I roll up in my blue and white blankets and my husky stuffed animal and tell him about my day and he smiles and listens. Then we both get on Xbox Live and argue back and forth about who’s going to pick the movie on Netflix.

We end up watching a movie about an evil man who makes people into a human centipede, or a movie about talking toys, number 3 of

course. Or if we don’t feel like watching a movie we end up playing a video game such as Left 4 Dead where we walk around like the beastly couple we are and shoot zombies.

Then at night before bed, he helps me write this article. I read my rough draft to him probably five times. It’s cute because he never seems to mind. He always tells me that the article is good. It’s kind of like when your mom calls you pretty: it doesn’t count because it’s your mom. All girls know that.

The thing I love about our relationship is that although we may be far apart, we still have a tremendous amount of love for each

Heat

BLACKOUT

|Mindy Saeteurn |Perspectives Editor Pitch black with no light except the one from the screen of my laptop with the sounds of screams of my nieces, a yelling brother, and a cussing of my sister surrounded the house. The sound of lighting and an explosion from the phone pole sounds like a gunshot.

That day my whole life ended.

I’m just sitting on my couch with my laptop next to me and suddenly everything in the room is dark.

Now I’m stuck with an unfinished video that stopped loading from internet loss. Right at the climax of the scene where the girl was finally going to reveal that she was a girl to the guy she is falling in love with. Now I will never know what will happen till the power comes on.

I get up and look around, I see my hallway. I always think that someone is going to jump out of it and kill me. Even though I know it will never happen, I think it.

As everyone in my family was stumbling around looking for any source of light, I walked cautiously down my hall with my phone, using it as a flashlight for any possible Mindy Saeteurn photo art dangers, like a misplaced shoe or wall. other. Sometimes it’s like I’m not even that far During the wait everyone in my away from him. People always tell me that long family sits in the living room lit by a distance relationships don’t work. I say they’re few candles, one which burnt my wrong. Sure it’s hard, it’s always going to be finger when I picked it up. My sister hard until he moves here. But you know what? kept insisting that we make the best Visits help. of a blackout even though she clearly And until then, the smiles and “I love could see how pissed I was. you’s” I get before bed help. The way he calls me There was nothing to do but wait beautiful helps. The way I can be myself in front for the electricity to come back on. of him helps. The kisses over the computer help.

It took a lot longer than I expected.

The arguments about who loves who more helps. Several hours passed and the light never came on. Every hour that had Call me a dork, call me crazy, but I love him. passed just continued building up And unlike everyone else, I don’t have to be next my frustration. to him for him to feel that.

When I watch my dramas I really don’t like being disturbed. If you talk to me I pretend I’m listening, but really I don’t even know what you are saying because I just don’t care.

I care about their problems or friends’ friends’ So I just nod my head in agreement problems when the Earth is already messed up, so you will go away and stop talking and everyone says my generation is the worst to me. ever in history?

When I woke up the next day my We are a dark, swirling mass of selfloathing gelatin. Because we don’t communicate power was restored, bringing light into the dark pit of despair that I had with anyone normally, we don’t know how to state our emotions. We waste our time. We go to been trapped in for the last 24 hours, school, go home, do homework, go to bed, repeat; or less. But soon I came to realize I have another obstacle in my way. nothing is fulfilling.

School.

PIXELIZED COMMUNICATION, A SELF LOATHING MASS OF GELATIN |Joseph Varnadore |Intro Staff We have horrible communication skills.

They’re devolving. We aren’t the same people we used to be. People used to let emotions like love and hate flow out of their daily writing.

We submit posts with no point to online social media, most of them demonstrating that one can complain and type at the same time.

The problem is that we don’t have a problem with this. We read these posts and we don’t see anything wrong with one minute updates. Some people post how they hate their jobs, or how it’s a hassle to update their profiles every twelve minutes with what they’re doing. Is this a person, or a conceited, hateful talking head, screaming out in a sea of talking heads all screaming at the same time?

A hundred years ago, we didn’t have these problems. We went out of our way to see friends, going to their houses uninvited, perhaps knocking on doors and asking if they were home. It used to be that most of the people we knew lived nearby. Now, Facebook as erased the need to know, understand, and empathize.

Emotions are complex. Artists strive to accurately represent them in art. Most of what we see on the internet cannot be considered art – or emotive. In “emoticon” symbol-slang , happy is now :D, and sad is D:. Just as the internet is out to turn every possible phrase into an acronym, emotions are out to turn every emotion into a winky-eyed smirk of its original self.

We’ve lost empathy for other people; it’s hard for us to care about friends’ small problems when they’re everywhere. Why should

You post it on Facebook and “friends” pick you up, but really you fall deeper into the hole.

You need to get out. Tell someone you love them. Give a friend a present. Write a nice card to someone you hate. Then go outside, paint a picture or something. Break away from the computer screen, and do something more interesting.

Each month, The Heat showcases the opinions and thoughts of a reporter willing to tell her personal truth. Or make your lower lip tremble. Enough reality to inspire action in you, our reader.

Unplugged Computer Fasting

For Daniel Tran, the internet is a simple math problem. Multiply the people, divide the diversity and subtract the ads.

Those horrible, annoying ads.

Devante Swann photo

On average, you spend at least 5 hours online each day, sitting in front of a screen typing, watching, chatting, playing. That’s like 35 hours total each week. One thousand and fifty hours each month. Imagine the electricity bill your parents get at the end of the month. | Tristan Cawagas | NUM83RS Staff There’s over a million or more things you can do instead of all that.

Here are a few: Attempt. Breaking a world record is no easy challenge. In fact, it is VERY time consuming due to all the various upsets and rules.

Battle. Have a “yo momma” battle.

Depending on if you have a good sense of humor or not this could make or break your day.

Shoot. Do you remember all those “NERF” and “Water Soakers” commercials? The guns are cheap and you can have a war with your friends.

Create some rules, form a team and you’re ready to go. Who doesn’t like the feeling of victory, domination and complete annihilation?

Read. Some people don’t really like books because they’re so boring, but

once you actually find a book you relate to, you might start to enjoy reading books. Books have the same genres as shows you watch on your T.V or computer.

Practice. Wouldn’t you rather improve what you like doing instead of chatting with people waiting for a response that might take a few minutes of your life?

Donate. Even one person can make a difference. Participate, donate, anything to assist. Instead of watching ads about global disasters, do something to make the scene less disastrous.

Clean. Clean your parent’s house, it may not be fun but they’ll appreciate the chore you did. It’s better than wasting electricity just chatting with people and playing games.

Prepare. The problem of being online for a long period of time will make you miss out in reality. Letting

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time pass you by and by the time you know it you’ll be out of high school. On the road to the future.

Instead doing so, you could prepare for your future before it’s too late. Even though the road to your future depends on computers but you’re actually using your time wisely.

Reconnect. Some people can forget friends easily, some not so much. For people who forgot a lot of friends, don’t you ever wonder what happened to them when you and your friend stop talking for a long period of time? Friends that was really close to you?

Having a great family member you look up to, playing with you, hanging out with you is a priceless thing to have.

If you lose it you become more distant and drift away from the whole family.

Getting addicted is one way to escape reality and leave some things behind, such as your family and friends.

ADS ARE TOO RANDOM Kicking back after a long hard day of school or work I start up my laptop, fire up my Firefox browser and head to animefreak. tv, wait for Naruto to load up, then am hit with a commercial! Seriously, I just waited twowo whole minutes for my video to load.

That is a lot of time to wait for when you’re on the internet. Then this inconsiderate person pops up telling me to buy car tires.

Dude, come on. Advertisement people; do you seriously think someone who is watching Naruto wants to buy freaking car tires? At least put the ad on a car or racing site, but don’t you ever dare put it on my dang Naruto. You may as well go sell cars on Cartoon Network so all the little kids can get their freak on or advertise skateboards on the retirement home website.

ADS ARE TOO PERSONAL I swear these companies are hiring psychics. They know too much about my personal life. If you read the acceptance terms on Facebook (which nobody does) it probably says you are agreeing to a psychic telling you what you are going to need to buy.

Like how did the ad on the side know I just ran out of apple juice and is now trying to sell me this off brand crap? Is Facebook giving up information on me in order to make a quick dollar? If I were to steal a Cheetoh from a friend and had to stand up in trial, Mark Zuckerberg (creator of Facebook) would probably rat me out. That’s probably why you shouldn’t post too much personal information about me on internet. You never know who can get a hold on it.

If someone from school or an employer were to get hold of my Tumblr their whole view point on me would change in a negative direction. I would end up having a parentteacher conference where my parents looked at me in shame and took away my laptop for the rest of my life despite the fact I am a grown up eighteen year old.