The Talon | Issue 2 | November 1, 2011

mid-season update Junior Nolan O’Such celebrates a school victory.

homecoming dressing No-Nos

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ENTERTAINMENT

Physics Be AP

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201 Almond Ave. Los Altos, CA 94022 Los ALtos high school VOLUME XXVI, Issue 2 October 19, 2010

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Lauren Liu Copy /Content Editor

Physics Honors

The Science Department hopes to introduce a new AP Physics class, AP Physics B, and integrate AP Physics C Electricity and Magnetism into the current Physics C class by the next school year.

“Currently at this school we only offer one AP Physics class … AP Physics C, Mechanics,” AP Physics teacher Adam Randall said. “Next year the school, Superintendent Barry Groves and [Principal Wynne] Satterwhite are going to propose to the school board that we offer AP Physics C Electricity and Magnetism as well as Mechanics.”

The Physics Honors class will be replaced by an AP Physics B course.

“The issue with AP Physics C is that it is a calculus-based course, so many students are concurrently enrolled in calculus as they take AP Physics C,” Randall said. “But we use [calculus] from the very beginning, so it’s difficult if you’re just learning the language of calculus and have to depend on using it on a regular basis right away.”

Unlike course C, course B will utilize trignometry and algebra and is intended for those who have not taken calculus. “[Students will be] getting an exposure to similar material as they were in a regular physics but at a higher content level … and a broader

range of material,” Randall said.

Randall said that course B will be “a significant step” away from the Honors curriculum.

Because the school only teaches the mechanics portion of course C, students are limited to taking the Mechanics AP exam. By adding course C Electricity and Magnetism to the current Physics C curriculum, the Science Department hopes to provide students with the opportunity to take both tests.

Randall anticipates that both AP additions will help the school.

“The students benefit from having more access to more rigorous scientific curriculum,” Randall said. “...as a whole the school has more AP test offerings and the [school’s] API score benefits from students taking more tests.”

Randall said that both he and physics teacher Karen Davis are willing to take on the work necessary to teach the new courses.

To fund the courses the school must invest $20,000 into the course C Electricity and Mechanics program and what Randall estimates to be $5,000 into the course B program. The funds will be used to purchase necessary lab equipment for both courses.

“It’s pretty exciting that the school is financially supportive and the superintendent is enthusiastic about making that change,” Randall said.

Water polo

dominating the water

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Photos by alex kent

Senior ‘Nice Greg’ makes music, friends, fans Drew Eller Staff Writer

Nice Greg and Friends is not your average rap group.

It consists of one known member and possibly two other mysterious members (maybe there are more, or maybe there are none at all). It combines handwritten guitar riffs as the rhythm for its music with the beats of a hip-hop song, all of which are mixed digitally. The lyrics, while rhythmic and witty, also aim for laughs. Oh, and its front man is a bit crazy too.

Senior Greg Cairns works in his personal studio—his bedroom, that is. As the leader of his group, Greg takes it upon himself to do all the technical work behind the music. The band was originally going to be a cast, and Nice Greg and Friends would have instead been made in the style and form of a television show.

“The idea was that we were these hella good rappers, even though we were terrible,” Greg said.

According to Greg, the group consists of just three members —Nice Greg (Greg Cairns), The Snuggler and Lil’ Cesar. The

true identities, whereabouts and contributions of the group’s other members remain a mystery, however.

Some speculate that they don’t even exist.

Other rumors suggest that the unknown members are children Greg has adopted solely because of their musical talent.

“I actually don’t know who the other guys are,” said senior Wesley Oribello, who was introduced to the group by Greg himself. “I’ve heard they’re some guys from another school, but I don’t really know who they are.”

Whoever they are, they definitely have some sort of involvement with the music, as they have made small, anonymous appearances in certain songs. Greg would only allude to one line in the song “Nice Greg, Twice Greg,” which was dropped by a rapper other than himself.

So far, Greg has released only three songs to the general public: “Nice Greg, Twice Greg,” “Gregalicious” and “We Get Real High.” These three songs have been enough to already drive his popularity to levels unheard

photo illustration by Jenna Louie

of at LAHS. Friends and fans alike have taken a liking to Greg’s music because of both the professionalism and humor that goes into making it.

“I feel like if he tried hard and put some more time and effort into it, Greg could be really famous,” Wesley said. “Being a DJ myself, I’ve noticed that it’s really hard to make music.

Greg has really good editing techniques. It sounds really smooth. It sounds like someone

See Nice Greg, page 13

Q&A with Nice Greg The Talon: Who are these other members?

Nice Greg: There are actually no other members. It’s all me, baby.

Talon: What is your goal with this music?

Greg: This really gets to the core of what Nice Greg really is and ... he’s an idea. He’s above the influence.

Talon: Do you have anything to say to your fans?

Greg: I feel that I have too many fans and I might ask some people to leave.

News

October 19, 2010

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Downtown Los Altos to undergo renovations Shilpa Venigandla Staff Writer

The Los Altos City Council plans to renovate downtown Los Altos. Its plans, which are intended to stimulate the economic growth of Los Altos, include making downtown more pedestrian-friendly and adding office buildings.

The first major plan to take place downtown is the renovation of the Safeway located on First Street. At a study session held Tuesday, September 14, the City Council discussed plans for the new Safeway with a 41,575-square foot market with additional rooftop parking.

The existing 21,000-square foot store was built in 1967 and does not have all the amenities that are found in other Safeways.

The improved Safeway will offer all departments that the Safeway located on Grant Road has.

In addition to the new and larger Safeway, 4,800 square feet of extra retail space will be used. The money for this project will be provided by Safeway.

“The old Safeway didn’t provide much; it was very old,” freshman Elizabeth Fuchs said. “But now that they are renovating it, I’m probably going to visit it more often.”

Safeway has been trying to persuade the City Council to allow it to renovate the old building for years. Assistant City Manager James Walgren told the San Jose Mercury News that the main reason the council has ignored the request is limited parking.

AMELIA EVARD

Construction downtown is the beginning of the renovation and revitalization process in Los Altos. City-owned property where the Home Consignment Center (above) was located is being demolished and will be used for new buildings.

In addition to the rooftop parking on top of the new Safeway structure, the city needs about 65 more parking spaces. Accounting for the area that the new Safeway takes up, it needs at least 231 parking spots, but only has room for 167. In order to fulfill its requirements, Safeway has opened up its parking to the public, and has decided to become part of the “downtown parking district.”

At another forum held Monday, September 20, council members discussed plans that could accelerate downtown growth. At the forum, officials suggested

plans to increase productivity in the downtown area, draw consumer attention and maximize retail growth. “[The renovations] will definitely change the minds of others who don’t live around [Los Altos],” sophomore Jami Hsia said.

The exact topics and plans discussed have not been released to the public yet, and they are to be broadcasted on KMVT Community Television Channel 15 on Sunday, October 31. The uncertainty of the projects has caused differing opinions about the renovations.

“I really didn’t know anything

Native American artifacts showcased Justin Koehler Features Editor

At the beginning of the school year, the Jane LaDu Eustice Memorial Collection of Native American items was brought back to the school library. Librarian Dr. Nina Waite was instrumental in bringing the collection back to the school and installing it at the entrance of the library.

The artifacts were assembled to commemorate the life of Jane LaDu Eustice, who served from 1959 to 1967 as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District and one year as president. She was also involved in the advancing of women’s rights, starting the Los Altos branch of the American Association of University Women, and serving as a member of the Los Altos Morning Forum and League of Women Voters.

Eustice was a supporter and collector of Native American art, particularly that of the West. After she died in 1975 at the age of 56, her husband, Gordon Eustice, thought donating the collection to the school would be a fitting tribute to her educational and cultural contributions.

“It honors her memory,” Waite said. “She was an avid collector and

ALEX KENT

Artifacts from the ancient collection are displayed in the library. collected some really nice things that reflect a lot on the cultures of those who made them.”

Dorothy Dunn Kramer, who studied Native American art in the 30s and established Native American schools and craft centers, served as the consultant for the art collection. She also contacted others to contribute to it, and put together a catalog detailing each item, which can still be found in the school library.

When Waite began her work in the fall of 1999, the collection was boxed in storage while the the library underwent construction.

It contains baskets, dolls, a headdress and a variety of other

items that are from the Miccosukee, Cherokee, Comanche, Kiowa, Apache, Navajo and Yurok tribes.

The items in the collection were crafted more recently, although they represent longstanding artistic traditions of Native American tribes.

When Waite found out money for trophy cases had been donated to the school, she worked to find the appropriate cases in time for the beginning of the school year.

“I love it,” Waite said. “Anything that brings people in and gives them something interesting to look at and something new, something beautiful, brings another shade of glory to our school.”

about it, or that [City Council] was considering changing downtown,” Elizabeth said.

Another major project is the construction of a 3-story, 48-unit building, which will be located on First Street.

This building may add more private businesses, offices and possible lodging sites to the downtown area.

Minor replacements will also take place in order to further beautify downtown.

These decorations include monuments, fountains and trellises along First Street and Main Street. Art pieces will be hung around First Street and Main Street. Also, street

lights with banners, hanging baskets and string lights will be added to downtown.

Sidewalks and roads will be completely refurbished and new benches and bike racks will be added to make downtown more accessible to bikers and pedestrians.

A variety of trees and new plants will also be added to finish the new look. Parts of downtown will still be open during construction.

“I thought of Los Altos as a small town with mostly old people,” Jami said. “But now that they’re changing [downtown], it gives Los Altos a bit more life.”

Staff promotes reading skills Catherine Hua Staff Writer Many departments at school have staff who participate in a reading apprenticeship group, which helps teachers make changes to their curriculum so that students can read and use their textbooks more efficiently.

The English, Social Studies, Science, Math, World Language and the Special Ed departments are involved in the group.

Staff members attended trainings and seminars held at the Oakland office of WestEd, an organization that receives grants and funding to study research and teaching methods.

The WestEd researchers also designed a study to find how students of different grade levels get information from text.

Seniors in English teacher April Oliver’s class and freshmen in English teacher Keren Robertson’s class read a poem

by Gwendolyn Brooks and an excerpt from “House on Mango Street” for the study. The data collected will be used in the group’s five-year study of how kids use text to get evidence.

Some of the group’s current plans are to encourage students to follow a process of thinking out loud, making

predictions, visualizing and breaking writing into chunks.

However, some teachers believe that the reading apprenticeship group’s plans are unnecessary.

Math teacher and Reading Apprenticeship member Carol Evans explained a possible reasoning behind certain teachers’ reluctance to implement the group’s plans.

“Some teachers have put many hours into creating lesson plans,” Evans said. “They don’t want to change them. [Incorporating the plans is] easier with a new class.”

However, Oliver saw good results come through after incorporating reading plans.

“I think it’s making a big difference; [it gives] students more power to work independently,” Oliver said. “It allows students not to have to wait to be told what that reading meant, but to be able to work through it on their own; to feel that kind of power and independence.”

Evans believes that teaching students to learn to use and understand their textbooks is a skill that will be useful in the future.

“If I don’t teach students [reading] independence in high school, they’re not going to know how to do it in college,” Evans said. “It’s not a zero investment.”

October 19, 2010

Science and Tech Week encourages interest in STEM Jasmine Xu Staff Writer

The school’s Science and Technology Week, otherwise known as Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) week, takes place from Monday, October 18 to Wednesday, October 20.

Science and Tech Week is dedicated to promoting elements of STEM through speaker presentations and lunchtime activities.

“We have this week to show all of you the possibilities [of future careers],” STEM coordinator Dr. Patty Einarson said. “We want to expose as many kids as possible to the opportunities and excitement that [are] possible through math and science as topics or careers.”

In previous years, the week has been a “great way to promote science school-wide as well as a great opportunity for students,” science teacher Greg Stoehr said.

The Science and Tech Week committee seeks to enforce a permanent structure and system for organizing and marketing Science and Tech Week. One major change from previous years is the movement of Friday speakers to Wednesday in order to accommodate the Parent-

Teacher Conferences that are happening this week. A number of small changes have been made.

Popular speakers have also been invited to return to stimulate a marketing buzz.

Lunchtime activities in the past have included bringing a horse on campus for students.

This year, activities will include cars on campus as well as a relay experiment.

“The main difference is the lunchtime activities. This year we have [Assistant Principal] Cristy Dawson involved, and we’re going to try some new things that will hopefully be more impactful,” Einarson said.

A wide variety of speakers usually come to the campus to talk about their jobs. Topics that are selected for presentations are based on ideas and themes that are innovative and interesting to high school students.

At the end of each year’s Science and Tech Week, students fill out a survey selecting their favorite presentations and themes from the year’s speakers. A student committee is then established to provide even more feedback for topics.

The volunteer committee then compiles a list of trends that reappear throughout the years

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News

SPECTREPERFORMANCE.COM

Amir Rosenbaum, a STEM Week speaker, will display his record-setting gasoline powered vehicle today at lunch in the quad as a part of the school’s Science and Technology Week. to aid them in the upcoming year’s speaker selection process.

Popular topics throughout the past years have been security, entertainment and forensics.

“The keynote this year [Danielle Feinberg], works for Pixar and has been involved in many movie productions,” Einarson said. “Past speakers have talked about cyber security as well as the trajectory of sniper bullets. There’s always a huge variety.”

Speakers are chosen based on their presentation abilities, their ability to relate with students and their capability of moving students and instilling the same passion that they have for their topic. They are evaluated by a

student committee as well as through interviews. Presenters are usually found via mutual acquaintances, but “teachers have been an integral part of finding viable speakers for Science and Tech Week,” Einarson said.

Speakers tend to be people who are extremely passionate about what they do. The Science and Tech Week committee hopes that these individuals can convey and infect students with the same sort of passion.

“I think that it’s [really] generous that [speakers] actually come to our little high school to talk about their magnanimous lives,” science teacher Carl Babb said. “It’s generous [of] them to let

us see what professionals do.”

Science and Tech Week was founded by PTSA President Mike Abrams five years ago. Abrams started the week to counter the stereotype that “math and science were for nerds and geeks.” “[STEM Week] was really fun because [speakers] were talking about a job where you can hack stuff,” sophomore Jacqueline Liu said. “It just reminded me of a lot of different jobs. It’s impactful because it shows me all of the different possibilities.”

For more on see the centerspread

AP plans grading, curriculum changes AMELIA EVARD

Students in Chemistry Honors listen to a lecture in class.

Students drop Chem Honors Michael Drake Sports Editor Over 30 students have dropped Chemistry Honors this year, leading faculty and students to hope for a system that will avoid this in the future. This number is so large that many are unable to take regular chemistry due to space constraints.

Chemistry Honors was first offered last year, and former students said that the class was equally as difficult as Biology Honors. This year’s Chemistry Honors class uses new textbooks, which many cite as a factor for increase in difficulty.

Teachers maintain that because it is an honors course, the work should not be lessened.

“We’re not going to change the honors curriculum; it is appropriate,” Chemistry Honors teacher Craig Seran said. “[There is significantly] more math in honors because we’re trying to provide a greater challenge and the pacing is faster.”

The high number of dropouts has nonetheless caused much distress for the teachers.

“It breaks my heart when the kid’s been here for four weeks and realizes, ‘I’m in over my head,’” Seran said.

The Science Department is discussing methods to prevent high dropout rates in the future.

Ideas include adding more explicit course guideline sheets at the beginning of the year, worksheets that compare Regular and Honors problems, and tests similar to the mathematics knowledge test that Physics AP students take during the first week of school.

Seran believes that an aptitude test would serve as a “frame of reference” for students, allowing them to evaluate their own abilities before making decisions.

He said that the faculty members do not mean to act as “gate keepers” to whether students can take the class, but are instead in favor of “providing as many tools to kids as possible to make the right choice.”

Grace Gao Staff Writer

This year, the Collegeboard will change the grading of AP exams so that students will not be penalized for guessing incorrectly on multiple choice questions. The raw score will be derived from the number of questions a student answers correctly.

Collegeboard has set new standards for several of its AP classes and plans to change the structure and grading of many of its tests. This decision will impact students who will be taking the AP test this coming May. Specifically the AP exams in the science, world language and history departments will be impacted. The first tests that will be changed next year will be the AP French Language and Culture, AP German Language and Culture and AP World History.

The changes that the Collegeboard plans on implementing are intended to help the courses focus more on the students’ ability to think deeply.

“For the French test, [the students] will hear an audio sample and then reflect into it,” AP French teacher Christophe Barquissau said. “They have to look at their own cultures and other cultures, and then compare the two.”

In particular, the AP Language courses will be changing how classes are taught. According to the Collegeboard website, instead of using textbooks, teachers are required to find authentic materials, such as articles and news reports, to incorporate the language and culture into the curriculum.

For the AP science classes, Collegeboard plans to change the tests because scientific discoveries and knowledge increase daily.

Instead of focusing on broad knowledge, the new changes will focus a student’s attention on reasoning and experimentation.

According to Collegeboard, these changes should not significantly affect the scores of the students.

The students’ own test-taking strategy might, however, be impacted by such modifications.

“It will help me, [because] I’m not good with multiple choice tests,” junior Nirav Agrawal said. “I think it’s a good decision overall.”

History teacher Gabriel Stewart agrees.

“Psychologically it will help a lot of students,” Stewart said.

“Know your information and you will be rewarded.”

There are other students who do not feel the same way.

“You can guess and know absolutely nothing about the question and still not get penalized for it,” junior Carla Alonso said. “I don’t think that

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October 19, 2010

News

News Briefs: AVID speaker shares advice, experience

MYA BALLIN

Auditions for the school musical were held after school last week. Thirty students will be chosen for the production’s final cast.

‘Fiddler on the Roof’ announced as school’s next drama production Sarah Corner Staff Writer

At the informational meeting held on Wednesday, September 22, it was announced that this year’s school musical will be ‘Fiddler on the Roof.’

This school-run performance, separate from Broken Box and individual performing art classes, is put on every other year by Choral Music Director Mark Shaull, drama teacher Nancy Moran, dance and English teacher April Oliver and band and orchestra teacher Ted Ferrucci.

Auditions were held at 3 p.m. after school on Monday, October 11 and Thursday, October 14.

Oliver said this year they are looking for a smaller cast of only 30 people, so they tried to spot

“triple threats,” students who can sing, dance and act.

“Personally, I am looking forward to working with a smaller group than in years past because it will give me more one-on-one opportunities to help students develop realistic characters and create poignant moments that will really touch the audience,” Moran said.

Before auditioning, students learned one solo song and one chorus song in either Girls Glee or Varsity Men’s Glee. Those who auditioned said that because music was taught beforehand, the proccess ran more smoothly.

On the first day of auditions, about 55 prospective performers reviewed music, read through scripts, practiced lines and learned dance choreography.

They showcased these skills

in the evaluative part of the audition, which began with rotating groups, allowing each student time on stage to perform the rehearsed material.

Although the rehearsal schedule is not finalized, practices will take place between Wednesday, January 5 and Wednesday, February 2 three days a week, with the addition of Saturday practices. Singers will have their own sessions during lunch, while actors and dancers will meet during zero period.

Extra rehearsals for soloists will be added after casting based on prior commitments of the cast.

The musical, which opens on Thursday, February 3, renews the classic tale of “The Fiddler on the Roof” based on the book

by Joseph Stein. The story takes place in Czarist Russia and

centers on Tevye, the father of five daughters, and his attempts to support his family and maintain his religious traditions while outside influences encroach upon their lives. He must cope with both the strongwilled actions of his three older daughters—each one’s choice of husband moves her further away from the customs of her faith—and the edict of the Czar that evicts the Jews from their village.

As this year’s musical date draws closer, Moran anticipates that a high school twist on this classic tale will promise entertainment and fun for both the cast members and the audience.

“For those students who earn a place in the cast, this will be an amazing experience,”

Karen Davis participates in nuclear missile project Katie Gonsalves Staff Writer

One week after school let out, physics and integrated science teacher Karen Davis began her summer internship at Lockheed Martin, working on nuclear missiles for naval submarine defense.

Davis worked on test missiles that the military will use to test a new submarine coming out in 2028.

Before beginning the internship, Davis had to sign a security clearance as well as be a United States citizen, and could not state exactly what work was being done with the missiles due to top-secret legal and safety aspects.

“I was surprised when I interviewed for the job; I knew it had to do with submarines, but I didn’t know it was serious ballistic missiles, so it was kind of scary when I got there,” Davis said.

The internship lasted the whole summer, and the missile was actually built in Utah.

“It was basically an engineering job for eight weeks, which is what I did before I began teaching,” Davis said.

However, Davis enjoyed the internship much more than engineering because she got to see

and understand the importance of precision while working with such important materials.

“It had to do with creating a test missile for the navy starting to build this new submarine,” Davis said. “But for me it was just interesting to see how long and slow these military projects are. These missiles that we are working with have been here since 1990 so it’s a 20-year-old product, but you realize they do need to move that slowly in case something goes wrong that’s a giant worldwide event.”

Davis said the internship encompassed much more than just working with missiles. She was able to tour NASA and said she saw the construction of real satellites right in front of her.

“Every day I found some totally cool thing for me to go check out, and that’s what I liked about it,” Davis said. “In a lot of ways, it was like I was a student for a summer.”

After hearing about the job from many other teachers, Davis began the summer internship as a way to do something different than teaching summer school as she had done in past years. Davis said that she was able to easily apply aspects

On Tuesday, October 12, speaker Melanie Watkins talked to AVID classes during second, third and fourth period about her life experience and struggles while growing up.

Melanie is a single mom who became pregnant at the age of 16, but still fulfilled her dream of becoming a doctor.

Watkins has written stories for “Chicken Soup for the Single’s Soul” and “Chicken Soup for the African American Soul.”

“Dr. Watkins [came] in to share her experiences and expertise for several reasons: to be an inspiring role model, to encourage students to consider careers in medicine, and to give AVID students more direct involvement in the STEM activities,” AVID Department Coordinator Joanne Miyahara said.

Students write about cell phone use policy English teacher Michael Smith’s Creative Views classes collaboratively wrote a letter to Principal Wynne Satterwhite about changing the cell phone policy at school.

The letter was completed and sent on Friday, October 8.

The composition of the letter was a collaborative effort between Smith’s second and fifth period classes, as the students worked together to come up with ideas. In the letter, students addressed their desire to adopt Mountain View High School’s cell phone policy of allowing phone usage before zero period, after seventh period, and during brunch and lunch. They also included potential punitive options for violating the electronics policy.

“I would like to work something out with the staff and students,” Smith said.

School alumni reunion gathers class of 1970

COURTESY LOCKHEED MARTIN

Missile Trident II is one of Lockheed Martin’s nuclear projects. she learned this summer about seeing how science is used in the real world to her teaching.

When she asked the interviewers what they were looking for when hiring students out of college to be engineers, their answers were unanimous.

“Without a doubt they needed people who can write and communicate, so I will apply that to my teaching and work it into my classes,” Davis said. “And now I

know I should have more writing and have my kids do more communicating.”

The 1990 missiles have never been used and are tested annually.

Despite the military’s secrecy, they film the missile tests and post them on YouTube as “Trident Missile Test,” to show other countries what the military is capable of doing.

“It was a very different kind of job and that’s really what I liked about it,” Davis said.

On Saturday, October 2, the class of 1970 held its 40-year reunion in Portola Valley. According to attendee Kim Gabriel, the event was “a success.”

“It was great catching up with everyone,” Gabriel said.

“It felt like we were back in the quad at school, hanging in our small groups again.”

In the 40 years since they graduated, the school has seen a lot of change.

“When I last went there, we were still the Knights and our colors were blue and gold, so it’s strange to have a different mascot and school colors,” Gabriel said.

She noted that reuniting with old friends was a fantastic way to spend an evening.

“The group obviously wanted to be there and seemed pretty happy with their lives,” Gabriel said.

COMPILED BY JACQUELINE CHU AND MARK SCHREIBER

Editorial

The Talon October 19, 2010

School should permit cell phone use during non-academic periods Editorial Opinion of The Talon

Walking across the quad during lunch, students and teachers alike share no surprise when they see people on their cell phones. Students on their phones know fully well that they are violating the school’s cell phone policy, but they continue to text in the hallway.

This policy, as defined in the school’s parent/student handbook, requires phones to be “turned off, not used, and out of sight during the school day (7 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.).” But students’ blatant disregard for the rule and the lack of strict enforcement highlight how unrealistic the policy is.

The school should revise its cell phone policy so that students are able to use their phones whenever they aren’t disrupting a learning environment. Now in the 21st century, it’s unfair to deny access to phones during students’ leisure time—especially with such an ineffective policy.

Use of phones in classrooms should still be banned. But during brunch, lunch, passing periods and free periods, students should be able to use their own time on their own terms—cell phone in hand or not.

Mountain View High School is heading in the right direction by stating that although students may use their phones before zero period, after seventh period

and during brunch and lunch, “Cell phones must be turned off and may not be visible in classrooms, offices, library, tutorial center, gym or theatre.”

But LAHS should take it a step further by permitting cell phone use whenever students aren’t involved in an educational activity. Whether or not the school approves of cell phone use outside of class, students will continue to text and call.

Faculty members have expressed concern over the policy as well. Many staff members agree that cell phone use during breaks will continue regardless of teacher enforcement.

Out of 50 staff members who responded to an online voluntary poll, 55.3 percent said they did not agree with the current cell phone policy.

Three of the 50 did not comment. One staff member said teachers’ time would be “better spent helping students than enforcing the cell phone policy during brunch [and] lunch.”

The implementation of a policy that allows cell phone use during non-educational periods would encourage teachers to strictly enforce cell phone bans in the classroom. Students would have no excuse for using their phones in class when they could have used them during breaks, and teachers could enforce the now-effective policy without ambiguity. Teachers

Letters to the Editor Non-school sports School should not should be included lock back gates

Los Altos High School 201 Almond Avenue Los Altos, California www.lahstalon.org October 19, 2010 Volume XXVI, Issue 2

Staff Writers Caleb An, Sarah Corner, Jacqueline Chu, Megan Davis, Drew Eller, Grace Gao, Katie Gonsalves, Rachel Grate, Alice Hau, Catherine Hua, Libbie Katsev, Sparsha Saxena, Mark Schreiber, Julia Son-Bell, Shilpa Venigandla, Jasmine Xu

should still confiscate phones in the classroom; phones should be off and out of sight during educational periods.

But the administration should realize that it’s important for students to stay connected

in a growing technological world. Daily cell phone use is commonplace for both adults and teens, and with appropriate cell phone use now, students are prepared for a fluid transition out of high school.

SCVAL rules should still be changed

supposed rule, as it impedes the joy of participation that interscholastic athletic competitions afford our students.

I implore the Administration and SCVAL Board to repeal the “Seniors must play Varsity” “rule” and let the students play at the level they are best suited to play.

Becky Larsen Parent

Dear Editor,

Dear Editor,

Dear Editor,

The Talon only focuses on sports at the school. Many of its readers, myself included, would enjoy a few articles on local Bay Area teams and the sports scene in general. For example, The Talon could write about the Giants’ current playoff run. My suggestion would be to ask the students about their favorite athletes, such as NBA guard Ray Allen.

It would be great if the school could refrain from locking the gates at the back of the school.

This poses an inconvenience to students who arrive early.

Although I’m unsure of the gate’s justification, I can surmise that it is to keep people out; those who would be the target of this policy would be completely unfazed by a locked gate.

Jonathan Yu Sophomore

Egan McComb Senior Thumbs up to ASB’s and Green Team’s initiative in making the school more eco friendly. Their efforts have earned the school a certification from the state deeming it a “Green Business.” On Monday, October 11, a representative for Ira Ruskin recognized the school for being a local environmental leader. Green Team’s constant efforts in greening the school—from spearheading the new solar panels and encouraging biking to crushing cardboard by the dumpsters and leading the paper recycling—were instrumental in earning this award. ASB’s drive to recycle the school’s cans and bottles was another factor among many that made the school stand out.

Thumbs down to the morning senior activities held during the PSAT on Wednesday, October 13. While the focus for the day should rightly be on testing 10th and 11th graders, the administration should be more creative in thinking up senior activities. Though the administration tried to recruit senior attendance with prizes, it failed to let seniors know the day’s scheduled activities. Because seniors were never informed of specific activities, many did not show up to school. As the school receives funding based on attendance, the administration should have allowed more time for helpful workshops—such as the after-brunch essay workshops.

Thumbs up to the online lesson lectures from the Math Department.

After math teacher Betty Yamasaki attended a technology conference last spring, she began uploading videos of how to complete practice problems onto her website.

Other Math Department teachers are also experimenting with ways to move extra resources for students online. By moving information online, students who have been away from school or students who need to review at home can access the website at any time. Also, the introduction of videos adds a more dynamic element to plain solutions.

The Talon

Editor-in-Chief Carolyn Huang Managing Editors Mark Levin Zia Rosenzweig News Editor Trisha Nangia Opinions Editor Max Wiederholt Features Editor Justin Koehler In-Depth Editor Jason Hu Entertainment Editor Nika Ayat Sports Editor Michael Drake Information Editor Anny Dow Copy/Content Editors Vivian Hua Lauren Liu Curran Mahowald Kelly Moulds Business Managers Alex Kent Erika Schonher

I have poured over the pages of the CIF (and CCS) Constitution and Bylaws and could find nothing that required seniors to play on varsity teams. In regards to the application of Title IX rules, equity is not a matter of which team you play on.

I think the players and coaches, along with their parents, have a much better idea as to which team a player is best suited. If they are worried about litigation (which I am sure is the main reason for this change) the waivers and letters required by CIF are enough! I see no reason for the enforcement of any “seniors must play varsity”

thumbs

5

The Talon welcomes letters to the editor. E-mail letters to lahstalon@ gmail.com or drop them off in room 409 or the box in the attendance office. If you have any questions, send an e-mail or call (650) 960-8877.

In the case of spelling or grammatical errors, obscenities, libelous information or personal attacks, a letter may be edited or not run. Letters must be signed, but a name may be withheld upon request. Letters may be published online, in print or both.

Thumbs up to ASB’s efforts to air video announcements for Homecoming Couples. In previous years, the PSAT was scheduled a week prior to when it currently takes place. This change took effect last year and left little time for ASB to organize announcements.

But this year the ASB Film Crew and the Homecoming “babysitters,” who are assigned to ensure Homecoming events run smoothly, worked hard to find a way around the PSAT schedule.

Thanks to the extra work that these team members have done, Homecoming King and Queen nominees get a chance to showcase their personalities to the students.

Photographers Mya Ballin, Amelia Evard, Alex Kent, Jenna Louie, Niki Moshiri Graphic Artists Joey Giacomini, Jason Hu, Tin Huynh, Lauren Liu, Lizzy Lukrich Webmasters Seena Burns, Austin Conlon Adviser Michael Moul Los Altos High School’s Compositional Journalism class is solely responsible for The Talon, which is published eight times a year. The Talon also maintains and updates its website, www.lahstalon.org, with fulltime coverage. The Talon is a public forum for student expression.

The Editorial Board sets the policies of The Talon and crafts its editorials and thumbs. Its members are Jason Hu, Carolyn Huang, Alex Kent, Justin Koehler, Mark Levin, Curran Mahowald, Zia Rosenzweig and Max Wiederholt.

Please send subscription and advertisement inquiries to Alex Kent and Erika Schonher at thetalon. business@gmail.com.

Talon Supporters Honorary Pulitzers Ashok and Bharti Killer, Jeanine Valadez, The Bergevin Family, Myriam McAdams, Jeff and Katie Wiederholt, Zorica Ljaljevic, Seth and Debra Strichartz, Shu-Hua and Ching Hu, Chuyen Do and Quyen Nguyen, The Nangia Family, Kefeng Hua, Ted and Rebecca Liu, Alice Hsia and Perry Huang, Mack Johnston, the Son-Bell Family Silver Supporters Jaleh Morshed, Alex Barreira, Michael Stanley, Camilla Bixler, Drew Lytle, Karen Eustis, Jacob Kuo, George Salah, Joanna Beyer, Barbara Small, The Biondi Family, Bill and Karen Shannon, Ali Nahm, Anne Hau, Bey-Bey Li, John Grate, Trudy and Jim Chiddix, Eugene and Shirley Radding, Don Schreiber and Lynn Saunders, the Kent Family, Mark Drake, Kip and Kathy Skinner

The Talon October 19, 2010

Opinions

6

November election propositions reviewed Prop 19: No Proposition 19 allows people 21 years or older to possess or transport up to one ounce or cultivate up to 25 square feet of marijuana for personal use.

The proposition also allows the local government to authorize the sale of larger amounts of marijuana and collect taxes to offset any costs associated with marijuana regulation. However, marijuana is prohibited on school grounds, cannot be used in public and cannot be smoked in the presence of minors.

Although Proposition 19 will yield several significant benefits, a few provisions must be made before the proposition is safe to be passed.

Under the current law, the possession, cultivation or distribution of marijuana is generally illegal. (The severity of the punishment depends on the offense.) Nevertheless, state and local governments spend millions of dollars annually incarcerating and supervising certain marijuana offenders.

Prop 21: Yes

Prop 23: No Over the past several decades, global warming has become an increasingly important issue. According to “SciTech Today,” the United States is the world’s second largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world, and California is the second largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the country.

Increasing concentrations of these greenhouse gases result in increasing global temperatures that could eventually cause significant problems such as rises in sea level and the number of extreme weather events. California must play its part in addressing the issue of global warming.

Proposition 23 suspends the implementation of the air pollution control law (Assembly Bill 32) for reducing greenhouse gas emissions until the employment rate drops to 5.5 percent or less for one year.

State agencies cannot propose or adopt new regulations, or enforce previously adopted regulations, that would implement the bill during the

conducted by the Office of National Drug Control Policy, 41 percent of Americans aged 12 and older have tried marijuana at least once in their lifetimes. Proposition 19 would actually increase the penalty of selling marijuana to minors.

But although the proposition has evident benefits, it is not complete. The proposition fails to provide standards for what can be deemed as “driving under the influence,” an issue that could seriously compromise safety on the road and in the community.

People could technically use marijuana right up to the point when they begin driving. For example, school bus drivers would be prohibited from smoking marijuana on school grounds or while they were behind the wheel, but could drive with marijuana already in their system.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, marijuana affects many skills required for safe driving such as alertness, concentration, coordination and reaction time. Studies show that up to 14 percent of drivers who died or sustained injuries in car accidents tested positive for THC.

California Vehicle Code 23152(a) VC criminalizes driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol and/or drugs. However, proving that an individual is driving under the influence of marijuana is challenging, as the life span of THC ranges from hours to months, depending on the amount of marijuana consumed, the concentration of the THC, and the individual’s personal tolerance to marijuana. Chemical tests alone cannot determine when the marijuana was actually used, only that it was used at some point. Under the law, all that matters is whether an individual was DUI marijuana at the time he or she was driving. Additionally, California DUI marijuana law has no standard for prosecution, unlike the 0.04 percent blood alcohol content for alcohol impairment.

Despite the benefits of the measure, safety must come first. Before Proposition 19 is approved, further research must be conducted on how to test for DUI marijuana.

California’s state parks and beaches are literally in danger of becoming extinct, threatening the wildlife habitats that exist in those areas. But Proposition 21 can save and protect state parks and wildlife programs. By implementing the vehicle surcharge, the state would be able to generate at least $250 million annually for state and wildlife conservation.

Not only will Proposition 21 protect the diversity of plants and animals in California, but preserving parks will contribute to public health because forests and natural areas are sources of clean air and water and can reduce greenhouse gases, combating climate change.

Opponents argue that the proposition is “a cynical ploy by Sacramento insiders to bring back the ‘Car Tax.’” However, Proposition 21 creates a new

trust fund that requires funds to be used solely for the maintenance, operation and repair of state parks and the protection of wildlife and natural resources.

T h e formation of the Citizens’ Oversight Committee and annual audits will mandate strict accountability, ensuring that funds are properly spent and not diverted to extraneous projects.

Furthermore, vehicles that pay the surcharge would be granted free parking and admission in all state parks (currently ranging from around $5 to $15 a day). The $18 annual vehicle license surcharge is a small price to pay to save California’s state parks and preserve its wildlife, not to mention set precedent for other states to follow as far as state parks are concerned.

suspension period.

In 2006, the state enacted the California Global Warming Solutions Act, commonly referred to as Assembly Bill 32 (AB 32). Under AB 32, the state would try to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases to 1990 levels by 2020. Achieving this target could mean a 30 percent reduction in greenhouse gases in 2020 from where the level would be in the absence of the bill.

However, u n d e r

2 quarters of 2010, the unemployment rate was above 12 percent while economic forecasts for the next 5 years estimate the rate remaining above 8 percent. Given these numbers, AB 32 would most likely be suspended for many years.

Proposition 23 will temporarily p r e v e n t energy cost increases by putting off the

Agricultural and Resource Economics Professor at UC Berkeley, these added costs would reduce economic output in California by more than $80 billion and cost over 500,000 jobs by 2020.

Suspending AB 32 will allow air pollution to increase, resulting in a decline in clean energy companies which will have trouble competing with oil companies like Valero and Tesoro.

Large oil companies, among the worst polluters in California, are actively supporting Proposition 23 to escape accountability for gas emissions. If the proposition was implemented, portions of the health and safety code requiring the reduction of air pollution in California refineries would be repealed. This would contribute to more air pollution, leading to asthma and lung disease.

Implementation of clean air laws under AB 32 would contribute greatly to increasing respiratory health. Although the proposition may work for the time being, it is important that the long-term repercussions are considered.

According to the Drug Policy Alliance, implementation of the proposition could allow police to focus on more violent crimes (which have been overlooked in the past as a result of the prevalence of illegal marijuana possession), help cut off funding to drug cartels, and generate

Lauren Liu

$1.4 billion in revenue by allowing the government to tax the annual $14 billion in marijuana transactions in California.

Furthermore, outlawing marijuana hasn’t stopped over 98 million Americans from trying it. According to a survey

Grace Gao

Proposition 21 establishes an $18 annual vehicle license surcharge to help fund state parks and wildlife programs. The proposition could be the answer to California’s dying state parks and beaches.

Over the last couple of years, state parks have accumulated a backlog of more than $1 billion in repairs and maintenance due to lack of funding. In the past year alone, 150 state parks were closed part-time or suffered service reductions. Public parks have been poorly maintained. The problem has grown to the extent that the National Trust for Historic Preservation has named California state parks one of the 11 most endangered sites in America.

By Anny Dow Information Editor

implementation of new clean energy laws.

Proponents of the proposition also argue that higher energy prices as a result of AB 32 will hurt California’s poor, working and middle class families who are dealing with lost jobs Proposition and fewer hours.

23, AB However, by keeping us Grace Gao 32 would dependent on fossil fuels, Proposition be suspended immediately and 23 would eventually increase household the suspension would be sustained electricity costs in California by 33 percent. until employment dropped under 5.5 According to David Roland-Holst, the percent for a whole year. For the first

October 19, 2010

Opinions

SCVAL rule change unfair to athletes Surely, you jest?

Grace Gao Staff Writer

In an effort to make the competitive opportunities equal between males and females, the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League (SCVAL) now requires all senior athletes to compete on varsity teams. The change has generated a strong reaction from athletes and coaches alike, and while SCVAL’s effort to adhere to its reactions is commendable, the changes were unnecessary in the first place.

Originally, girls of all grade levels were allowed to participate on JV teams. But this year, SCVAL began implementing a new system to standardize competition rules.

Under these new rules, all seniors can participate only on varsity teams. Cross country teams have been hit the hardest by the change due to another new rule enforcement that limits competitors on varsity teams to the top seven runners.

Cross country coach Patti Sue Plumer said that both the runners

PHOTO Illustration By Mya Ballin

and the coaches were unaware of the new SCVAL rules before the beginning of the season.

“It really hit us a couple weeks ago when we had to run all our seniors on varsity,” senior Tori Greenen said.

However, that was not the only rule the league changed.

Now only the seven fastest runners on the cross country team are allowed to run on varsity. Because cross country is a no-cut sport, many seniors were able to compete in the past. The rule of only letting seven varsity members run prevented many who wanted to run from doing so.

“This is frustrating to us as coaches because we coach a non-cut sport,” Plumer said.

“It is supposed to be open and accessible to everyone who is willing to work hard.”

Before, there were 12 runners on varsity who switched in and out. Under SCVAL’s new policy, varsity runners had to participate in at least 50 percent of the races. Runners who were neither seniors nor in the top seven would not be able to participate in the races. Because the school has the largest cross country team in the league, it was hit the hardest.

SCVAL realized that many athletes couldn’t participate in the meets and therefore decided to hold an emergency meeting on Monday, September 27 with the league’s athletic directors, including LAHS Athletic Director Kim Cave, to talk about altering the rules to let more athletes run in cross country.

The meeting focused on how to change the rules to benefit the students who cannot compete at the top level in cross country. As a result of

the meeting, varsity teams now have an A and B. Varsity A will have the original varsity runners, while the rest of the seniors will run in Varsity B. “Everyone else who wasn’t in the top seven can race,” Cave said. “So they can still run.”

Although SCVAL did respond quickly to the public’s concern, it should have anticipated these results. Not all athletes are ready or want to compete at the varsity level, and they shouldn’t be forced to because of their grade level.

“Why do they call it Varsity B when it is not Varsity B?” senior Audrey Cole said. “It’s basically JV.” In the school’s cross country league, the two divisions are frosh/soph and varsity, with JV no longer a race. But in other leagues, seniors can run on JV. Before the emergency meeting, the schools in SCVAL would have been unable to compete in leagues outside of SCVAL. Although the cross country girls were affected the most, the rule was put into effect to make the rules equal for girls and boys.

“Girls aren’t necessarily faster as seniors than they are as freshmen or sophomores,” Plumer said.

Cross country rules in years past were simple and accepted by the majority of those involved with cross country. The rule changes were unncecessary, only serving to complicate the original rules.

Though SCVAL should be commended for making an effort to revise the rules, it should have notified the athletes and coaches well before the change was in effect in order to smooth out problems before the season began.

Teen shows portray hyper-sexual reality Rachel Grate Staff Writer

“Are you sexually active?”

I was at the doctor recently when that pesky little question came up. Distracted by the “Juno” line that pops in my head whenever I hear it (“Am I gonna, like, deactivate some day or is it a permanent state of being?”), I was a bit slow to respond.

“No,” I said as my doctor raised her eyebrows doubtfully and checked the appropriate box.

I blame modern television for her doubtful eyebrows. More and more TV shows are portraying an altered reality in which sex becomes the priority in teen lives.

Take my guilty pleasure, “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” (ABC Family). “Secret Life” is the only show you can count on to have as many pregnancies as it has seasons.

“If I just focus on what she’s saying, maybe I won’t think about oral sex,” Alice, a character in “Secret Life”, begins a rare high school classroom scene in season two, episode seven. Her willpower quickly gives out, and the camera takes turns panning to half the students in the room (who, amazingly, are all thinking about sex). The only exception, one could argue, is one anonymous character who wonders, “Am I the only one

Joey Giacomini

in here thinking about sex?”

Call me crazy, but while in Biology I never wanted my teacher to “point me to the direction of a nice pistil.” A nice grade on my report card was more central to my thoughts.

I suppose a school full of determinedoverachieverswouldn’t attract as many viewers as a school full of self-professed sluts.

Other shows seem to agree, because networks are swarmed with images of teens skipping school to have sex in a hotel room. (Never mind that I know a fair number of students at LAHS who, if skipping class, can be found in the library studying for a test later that day.) One such

show is “Gossip Girl” (The CW).

“Gossip Girl,” which follows the lives of spoiled Manhattan teenagers, stole 16-year-old Jenny Humphrey’s virginity at the end of season three, thus making all main characters sexually active.

One minor detail, though, is that the man she slept with (notorious player Chuck Bass) is the same man who tried to rape her in the very first episode.

I forget half the plot twists of these drama-filled shows, so I’m not surprised that an assault was rendered ancient history after three seasons. The threat of being quickly forgotten makes producers vamp up the sex appeal in an effort to retain viewers like

you and me. But how far is too far?

I can’t deny that there are a few selfprofessed sluts at our school as well as in “Secret Life” (though in a less exaggerated form).

However, some realities shouldn’t be diluted by television as doing so risks minimizing their implied importance in real life. Rape is one of the realities which should not have its severity undermined.

Until producers agree, we’re stuck with shows in which the “Secret Life” of students like you and me is assumed to revolve around the newest sex position.

We are the ones who supposedly start “Just Say Me” masturbation campaigns at school (“Secret Life”) instead of sticking to studying. We are the ones who supposedly work our way through a little black book of prostitutes to get over a bad break up (“Gossip Girl”) instead of relying on plentiful ice cream and romantic comedies (my preferred approach).

And so, we are the generation that needs to get used to getting a lot of raised eyebrows.

7

By Max Wiederholt Statements made in this column are not to be taken as fact. Satire is protected by California state law. None of the content in this column is malicious in nature.

Marijuana illegalization working ‘just fine,’ local dealer says In an announcement proclaiming his opposition to Proposition 19—which would legalize, tax and regulate marijuana in California— local marijuana dealer Darryl Hummins said the current system of strong federal crackdowns has been “great for business” and thanked the DEA for providing “the kind of market protection that you can’t find anywhere else.”

“I think it’s great that marijuana is illegal,” Hummins said. “If it were legal, then I’d have to deal with a market that is affected by all that business crap like supply and demand and federal regulation.

There’d be taxes, I’d have to advertise—that’s not why I got into selling weed.”

Hummins said that in the past, he was able to operate his business as he pleased with all the protections afforded any average small business owner. Under Prop 19, however, all this would go “up in smoke.”

“It just hurts when the politicians say they’re protecting the common man and then they jump to legalizing marijuana,” Hummins said. “I’ve built my life around this business— they can’t take it away from me. I feel betrayed.”

While billions of dollars in potential tax revenue might be persuasive to many people, Hummins said he believes that it is “selling out to just focus on the money, man.”

“Real people are going to lose everything they have for this proposition,” Hummins said. “The feds should show more compassion and stop just dismissing us as criminals. Of course, we are criminals, but we’re people too.”

Larry Prine, one of Hummins’s customers, said that he will try to support Hummins if marijuana becomes legal but warned that it might be hard.

“Of course I’m going to look out for Hummins because we’re friends, but I’m not gonna lie, it might be tough once the competition really heats up,” Prine said.

“Bigger companies might have special promotions, like ‘Buy McDonald’s weed and get 10 free cheeseburgers.’

Darryl can’t compete with the corporations, man, and to be honest his homemade brownie recipe just isn’t cutting it anymore.”

As a backup to selling weed, Hummins is considering panhandling and passing a donation box around his local church.

“If all else fails, there’s always God,” Hummins said.

8

October 19, 2010

Opinions

guest columnist of the issue

“Coming out, Coming home”

By Justin Koehler

The evening of its Homecoming game this year, a Rutgers stadium of over 50,000 observed a moment of silence in the loving memory of Tyler Clementi, who, earlier that week, decided to end his life after discovering that his roommate secretly broadcasted his encounter with another man.

The afternoon of the LAHS Homecoming game, the student body will instead roar in applause as openly gay members of court walk out onto the football field and a pair is crowned King and Queen.

And these candidates, just like all the others, have been highlighted by the student body for making outstanding contributions to the school community. Throughout the month of October, they have been included in student hype about who is coupled together, jokes about romantic drama, and debates over who will become King and Queen.

That these candidates are respected by their peers enough to make it onto court, regardless of their sexual orientation, says a lot about the level of tolerance at the school.

It’s easy to forget in the tolerance of Los Altos that hatred is still an issue in schools across the country, and the tragedy at Rutgers is only another painful reminder of this truth—thousands of high school and even college campuses struggle to understand or even acknowledge homosexuality.

Gay bullying doesn’t just affect gay students. Many students acknowledged by their peers at these schools consider declining recognition to avoid judgment and hatred.

Once a part of a Homecoming court, even if they are comfortable with themselves, these students stand in direct confrontation with violence and bullying. Students like Clementi weren’t even openly gay before being criticized for their sexuality.

As a school, we can’t deny that some homophobia still exists, but we should be proud of how far we’ve come with regard to treating gay people just like anyone else. At LAHS, gay students can return each year to a community that embraces them, and this year’s Homecoming is a testament to that fact.

We’ve come a long way, not just for gays, but for every group that has ever felt alone or misunderstood. But we can’t be complacent; we still have to fight for equality both here and in other campuses.

And maybe someday, stories like that of Tyler Clementi will be a memory, and only that.

Why one girl refuses to go to Homecoming Libbie Katsev Staff Writer

Homecoming is in less than two weeks, but instead of exciting plans I’ll be making excuses not to go. My whole life, I’ve dreaded dances: They’re loud, crowded and full of potentially awkward situations. No thank you, I’d rather stay at home and watch Hulu.

It’s flu season. I’m contagious.

My feet will be stepped on.

It’s flu season. You’re contagious.

I’ll go deaf from how loud the music is.

I broke all my toes. Ouch.

The dog ate my dress.

I spent all my money on my dress (the one the dog ate) and now I can’t afford a ticket.

I’m allergic to teen spirit.

Reasons I can’t go to Homecoming: I have a lot of homework. But maybe if you helped me with my math, I could go—hey! Why are you running away?

I’m grounded, my parents put bars on my windows and everything.

I’ll stand alone in a corner all night.

My future son will travel backwards in time and I’ll fall in love with him and not my husband.

Six years ago today my goldfish died, and I just can’t have a good time knowing how much he’d love to be here right now.

Terrible things that will probably happen at Homecoming: I’ll be trampled to death in the crowd of dancing people.

Homecoming 2010

The secrets to a yes: How to pop the question, Homecoming style Erika Schonher Business Manager

A girl is sitting in the quad at brunch, when all of a sudden she notices the man of her dreams walking across the grass seemingly to talk to her!

He approaches. No chocolate.

No flowers. No elaborately decorated sign that singles her out as the perfect girl. He just asks, in one measly word, “Homecoming?” How did he know! This is exactly what she had been dreaming of the last few weeks: a plain, simple asking to one of the most important dances of the year.

Sorry boys, but not many of those girls exist. In fact, in today’s day and age, most girls have all sorts of crazy expectations about being asked to Homecoming.

Now for girls, it’s not only about who you’re going with, but how you were asked.

Do the

Note to boys: We understand that we girls are complicated creatures and that it’s hard to think of ways to ask us to Homecoming. So, in order to help out, I’ve devised a stepby-step process to help you guys figure out what the heck you’re going to do to ask that perfect girl.

1. Decide: Public vs. Private

The first step in deciding how to ask a girl is to ask yourself how far you’re willing to go. Public askings include anything in front of a crowd, from writing your prospective date’s name on a giant sign at a sports practice to crooning her name at a brunch activity or football game half time.

These methods require the guts to face some potentially scary consequences. A good tip to avoid public humiliation: be pretty darn sure you plan to ask someone to your girl is going to say yes.

Homecoming dance?

Another way to avoid mass public rejection is to do something private.

It is important for you to know your girl’s capacity for 66% attention. Maybe she’s not into public scenes, or maybe all that attention isn’t for you, either. In that 8% case, stick to the private option.

Private askings are usually more intimate.

A 148 polled

Boys:

Yes No

Girls:

No

Yes

scavenger hunt at her house or a decorated room when she arrives home are usually good ideas. (Make sure you ask her parents’ permission first, though!)

2. Do a research

little

Will you go to the Homecoming dance if you don’t have a date?

Boys:

Yes No 45%

Girls:

Find out what she likes. Asking a girl based on shared inside jokes or interests adds a personal touch that makes it hard for any girl to refuse your proposal.

Whether that means asking her by writing on a tennis ball or spelling out “HOMECOMING?” with her favorite candy, the thought is sure to not only pluck some heart strings, but make her laugh as well.

3. Enlist the Help of Friends Asking your prospective date’s friends to help can be extremely beneficial, as long as you are very careful about which friends you choose. By working with her friends, you can gain insight into things about her that you probably didn’t know.

For example, if you were thinking of asking your date with a delicious treat of your mom’s famous peanut butter cookies, it might be helpful to learn beforehand that she is fatally allergic to peanuts.

Her friends can also do a little prodding about what she thinks of you if you are feeling unsure or

Yes

No

71%

Polls Compiled

by Erika Schonher and Libbie Katsev

nervous about asking this girl.

Friends can also be good at directing your date to where you need her to be. For example, if you need her to be somewhere at 6:24 p.m. in order to ask her in a place she normally wouldn’t be, you can get her friends to help swoop her away without making it too obvious that she is about to be asked.

4. Just do it Don’t worry so much. Girls appreciate whatever you do to ask because we just want to be asked. Work up the guts to ask someone you’ve always wanted to, or think of a funny way to ask one of your best friends.

No matter what, just don’t be scared, because a girl is never going to reject you based on the way you asked her. Girls may be complex, but when it comes to being asked, we’re just happy it happened.

9

October 19, 2010

Features

the pop culture grid Teresa Fabbricino

Jose Villanueva

Carolyn Huang

Yes

Yes

Yes (glow in the dark!)

No

If you could describe yourself as any animal...

Tiger—they are cute and ferocious at the same time

Elephant

Koala—they are loving and like to hug

Cheetah—they are classy animals and just look hella good

Favorite subject, and why?

Physics. [Adam] Randall is hilarious and I love the challenge.

Math, because it’s straightforward.

Talon, because I love writing, reporting, and I love all of the Talonites!

History. I love learning about the past. It’s just hella interesting to me.

Editor-in-Chief of The Talon, Interact Co-President, Concert Choir, Girls Glee

Claire Evangelista: varsity basketball, ASB, Random Acts of Kindness Club, freshman advisor

Randy Jimenez

Silly Bandz: yes or no?

ASB, field hockey, soccer, basketball, badminton, LAAL President

“The Mayan Civilization because they had the most modernized weapons and I wouldn’t have to fight as hard.”

cheer, wrestling, diving, gymnastics, dance

ASB, LSU Outreach Commissioner, Peer Tutor, freshman advisor

“Since I have studied Latin for three years, I would probably be a Roman. Romans were the most powerful and authoritative of the ancient civilizations.”

Wesley Oribello: wrestling, cross country, track, Key Club, ACLU, Breakdancing Club

ancient civilizations Which would you join?

“I would live in the Egyptian era because of all the glamorous jewelery and the bomb Egyptian hieroglyphs.”

Mari Molina: LSU President, Mock Trial, Concert Choir, Class Council Activities Commissioner, ASB

a look at this year’s court “if I were

“I would choose to live with the Vikings because they had the opportunity to explore the world. Also, they didn’t worry too much about shaving regularly.”

Justin Koehler: School Garden President, Features Editor for The Talon, tennis

“I would participate in all school activities and encourage others to participate as well.”

Alex Cala: Broken Box, Students for Haiti, field hockey, softball

Homecoming King or Queen for a day”

“My first act would be to shave my head (I haven’t done this since third grade).

Then I would probably just draw pictures of cakes.”

Mikey Vendelin: cross country, Broken Box, Tea Club

“I would celebrate with all my family and friends.”

Alejandra Ruelas: cheerleading, Latino Student Union

“I would give everyone free Otterpops.”

Danny Giacomini: Broken Box, Sixth Man Club, soccer, football, baseball

Tawny Peek: Yearbook, Sisters’ Club, LSU

What’s your favorite music album right now?

Dainen Bocsary: water polo, swimming, Main Street Singers, Varsity Men’s Glee “I have musical ADD. But I am always, no matter what, ready to rock out to Led Zeppelin.”

“Anything 80s. That was the best music.”

match-off Who’s your favorite actor/actress and why?

Martin Luna: LSU, Broken Box, Varsity Men’s Glee “Jack Nicholson, because he often plays seriocomedic roles which make you laugh on the surface but play tricks on your mind underneath.”

The Talon: What are you looking most forward to this school year?

Tawny: “I’m looking forward to ending the school year and graduating with everyone in the senior class. Yeah seniors!”

Libby Strichartz: ASB, Class Council, Juntos, Mock Trial, Cultural Unification Club

Kayla Valpey: Marching Band, Klüb Kitchen, softball “Tim Curry. He played Dr. Frankenfurter in Rocky Horror Picture Show, i.e. the greatest movie of all time. Plus he’s got an awesome afro.”

Q&A

Jack Montgomery: ASB, Interact Club, Science and Tech Week, Site Council The Talon: How does it feel to be recognized by your peers and make Homecoming court?

Jack: “I feel very flattered, surprised and elated.”

Tyler Stout: ASB, Class Council VP, Jew Crew, Sixth Man Club, Finance for the Future, football, baseball, Silicon for Society The Talon: What are your thoughts about this year’s court?

Tyler: “[They are a] very diverse and fine group of people.”

Erika Schonher: soccer, field hockey, Class Treasurer, Business Manager for The Talon, Sixth Man The Talon: What has been your most memorable high school experience?

Erika: “When my super awesome kickball team won sophomore year, or when, as freshmen, we beat the seniors in tug-o-war.”

Important Homecoming “dates” to remember Tuesday, October 26 Friday, October 29 at 1:30 p.m.

Saturday, October 30 at 11 a.m.

Saturday, October 30 at 1:30 p.m.

Saturday, October 30 from 8 to 11 p.m.

Homecoming Assembly Homecoming Parade JV Homecoming football game Varsity Homecoming football game Homecoming Dance

October 19, 2010

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Failure Is Not an Option—It’s Pre-Installed with the Standard Package

“First, be open-minded.

Your life will never be what you expected. Second, be Computer Security: The Road Ahead kind to people. And finally, Dan Boneh, Ph.D., Professor of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, Stanford University learn from everything.

What you might initially Erase/Replace: It’s all about Stem Cells see as bad may actually Jill Helms, M.D., Associate Professor, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, School of Medicine, Stanford University turn out to be a blessing.”

David Cohn, Ph.D., Senior Research Scientist, Google

It’s not your everyday nose job. In recent years, the field for superficial socialites has gotten a makeover to include the new area of stem cells.

Yesterday, October 18, Jill Helms, Professor of Surgery in the department of Regenerative Medicine at Stanford University, addressed myths and facts surrounding the controversial

topic of stem cell research. Stem cells can be used to heal broken, not simply imperfect, body parts, and seeing this goal accomplished is one of Helms’ personal dreams.

“If enough smart, motivated, inquisitive young people are interested in helping then I am sure we can accomplish the goal,” Helms said. -MD

Learn to Walk again using the Tibion Bionic Leg

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Moon, Mars, and Beyond: Space Exploration

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Matt Murphy, Vice President of Engineering, Tibion Bionic Technologies Most of us will never have to learn how to walk again, but for the unfortunate few who do, Matt Murphy is your second chance. At Tibion Bionic Technologies, Murphy helped develop a robotic prosthetics that will help patients with stroke relearn how to walk, and yesterday he shared that technology with the school. -GG

Jen Heldmann, Ph.D., Research Scientist, NASA, Division of Space Science and Astrobiology

Native Bees: The Urban Buzz

Marissa Ponder, Ph.D. Student, U.C. Berkeley When it comes to bees, it was love at first sight for Urban Bee Gardens cultivator Marissa Ponder.

“I remember the first time I saw a Megachilid bee fly across the garden with a leaf in her mouth,” Ponder said. “I instantly became fascinated with native bees.”

To many, bees are hidden traps in a barefoot stroll through the grass, yet they are part of a diverse species that sustains our food industry and are responsible for 90 percent of pollination worldwide. In her presentation during Science and Tech Week, Ponder addressed the importance of California native bees.

Ponder was a psychology major in community college but realized that something was still missing from her life. Ponder’s love of gardening inspired within her a curiosity of bees. This curiosity bloomed into her ever-growing and slightly quirky devotion.

“I love the faces audiences make when they hear that there are 1,600 species of bees in California. Or that there are green, blue and polka dot bees,” Ponder said. -MD

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Medical Imaging is Life-Saving Technology Ismayil Guracar, Senior Key Expert, Siemens Medical Solutions Babies, hearts, internal bleeding and cancer are all part of Ismayil Guaracar’s day. Guaracar works in the ultrasound department of Siemens Medical Solutions, developing new applications and software for the versatile diagnostic tool.

One of Guaracar’s specialties is a diagnostic ultrasound that detects cancer. Close to being FDA-approved, the test injects small bubbles into the bloodstream and uses sound waves to bounce back for a contrast image.

Yesterday, Guaracar presented students with the opportunity to perform an ultrasound using a hand held unit and a “phantom.” The phantom mimics the human body and has targets placed inside, so that students are able to visualize how an ultrasound is performed on a human body.

“I hope [LAHS teens] will get excited and inspired and realize that there’s a lot to do,” Guaracar said. “And we need their help.” -MD

Ugochi Achol School of Des

Shane Gran

Engineer

Nabeel Ka

“Right now we [at Cliff Bar] are The Scien launching our reformulated K K Mui, Prod energy gel and are very excited Scien about the eight new flavors that Amir Ro will be released soon.”

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Water, agua, eau, or shui is not just on Earth. Jenn Heldmann is looking for extraterrestrial water.

At NASA, she has been involved with LCROSS, which detected water ice on the moon thanks to a plume kicked up by a rocket’s impact, and various missions that explore Martian terrain.Each mission is a multi-step process that brings variety to her job. She has worked on the actual instruments that now analyze planetary bodies.

“I like the fact that my job is not just stitting behind the desk,” Heldmann said. “I also get outside and I go to places and I get dirty. I like the fact that I’m not stuck in the office all day.” -MLD

Using Vir

“I once made a film Living w Rosent involving a chimpanzee Henry Commander who ... unloaded a Drug massive quantity of urine Brent Tre along a hallway. “

Articles compiled by staff writers Ca Davis, Grace Gao and Mark Schreibe editor Michael Lincoln Drake

To Infinity & Science B

Danielle Feinber & Lighting, Pixa

Danielle Feinberg created many of o The Director of Photography for L Animation Studios, she’s worked o A Bug’s Life; Toy Story 2; Mons Incredibles, Finding Nemo; Wal recently Toy Story 3. Tomorrow, s exeperience with the school.

Feinberg says that her presenta how Pixar makes a movie from be but more so show what she lov computer graphics and computer a “ I will go through each step in Feinberg said be

11

October 19, 2010

1st Games People Play: Analyzing Strategic Behavior Yossi Feinberg, Ph.D., Professor of Economics and Joseph and Laurie Lacob 2nd Faculty Fellow for 2010-2011, Stanford University Stepping Out of Your Profile Box

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random events like being hit by a falling apple; it takes a lot of thinking and a strong cup of coffee to develop his theories.

“This usually requires a whiteboard, a pen, lots of

who specializes in Game Theory, a behavioral branch of mathematics, and its applications in economics.

A math major in college, Feinberg was curious about human behavior and how mathematical models could predict how people act. After taking a few courses in Game Theory, he was hooked.

For Feinberg, revelations do not come from

paper and a large recycling bin,” Feinberg said.

Luckily for Feinberg, mathematics is both his work and his passion.

“Both research and teaching are activities I enjoy tremendously,” Feinberg said. “The only activity I prefer to them is spending time with my family.” -CA

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nberg, Detective, Homicide-Crime Scene Unit, San Jose Police Department

Game Theory isn’t about games, but Yossi Feinberg still can beat you at poker, while explaining mathematically why you lost.

Feinberg is a professor of Economics at Stanford

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The Luck and Skill of Scientific Discovery

Diane Wooden, Ph.D., Research Astrophysicist, NASA

For a phone call and some cash you can have a star named after you, but it takes something far more extraordinary for your very own asteroid. Diane Wooden’s asteroid, 17421 Wooden, is testament to her ground-breaking work with crystals and comets at NASA. However, Wooden won’t be focusing solely on her work, hoping to

3rd

inspire students to follow a path in science.

“If I was in your shoes I would want to know ‘How do I get from my shoes to her shoes?’” Wooden said. “Tips and tricks that I have learned, things that I have experienced.”

Perhaps students can apply these lessons and one day have an asteroid of their own. -MLD

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I wouldn’t play with them,” Zeviar said. “All I wanted was a motorcycle.”

Zeviar earned his master’s degree while working with BMW, and armed with experience at one of the top carmakers in the world, Zeviar now works at Kleenspeed, where automobile technology is racing ahead.

“New technology gets familiar fast,” Zeviar said.

“Where I see the technology going, soon you’re just going to take electric vehicles for granted.” -CA

Hilary Lackritz, Ph.D, Senior Staff Engineer, Lockheed Martin Nanosystems

and Beyond! The Math Behind Movie Making

our childhoods.

Lighting at Pixar on movies from sters, Inc.; The ll-E; and most she shares that

Picture a sleek green and white racecar zooming forward under the Monterey sun at 93 mph. But the roar of a gas-guzzling V8 engine is nonexistent; this racecar is completely electric.

Dante Zeviar is CTO at Kleenspeed, the automotive company that created this paradoxical eco-friendly racecar. While he has only been at Kleenspeed for a few years, Zeviar’s relationship with cars runs all the way back to his childhood.

“My parents would buy me toys and stuff and

physics, some basic math principles like the XYZ axes, some trigonometry and a few other tidbits sprinkled in there.”

Feinberg was first exposed to computer graphics when she was eight, when she designed spirographs in LOGO. During her junior year at Harvard, Feinberg “fell in love with computer animation” when her professor showned her computer graphics class a few of Pixar’s first animated short films.

Jobs were popping up everywhere following the release of Toy Story, and as a female in the maledominated field of computer science, Feinberg remembers that “it was much easier to stand out.”

With the industry suddenly booming and her aspiration to combine both her mathematical skill and artistic mind, Feinberg knew what she wanted to do with her life.

C o m p u t e r animation was “everything she had ever tried to do,” but it’s no walk in the park.

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Wednesday 7:00 p.m. Eagle theatre

According to Feinberg, people are most surprised with how much work goes into an animated film after hearing her presentation.

“About 1,600 to 2,000 shots are in each movie,” Feinberg said. “My team and I begin working on a film three years before it even comes out.”

From every detail of plant life to the inferno erupting from an explosion, Feinberg is required to use up to 40 controls over each light to produce a realistic image that the director wants to see.

During “Finding Nemo,” for example, creating the jellyfish scene was no easy task; each of their amorphous shapes all had to be created from scratch.

“It was a really hard sequence and the hundreds of jellyfish images were bogging the computers down,” Feinberg said. “I spent hours slaving over making a realistic image of jellyfish that would actually be in the Southern Pacific.”

But it wasn’t for nothing. At the director’s review meeting that afternoon, Feinberg presented the sequence, and she remembers “the director starting to clap, and then the entire room following along.”

“Finding Nemo” then went on to win an Oscar for Best Animated Feature.

In the future, Feinberg

is excited to continue working on more fun and artistically interesting projects. She is working on the movie “Brave” (set to release in 2012) with the first female director at Pixar and is ecstatic to go back to realism. Her last project, “Wall-E,” was more sci-fi. “Brave,” however, is set in Scotland, and Feinberg is looking forward to designing “more realistic images of nature.”

“I get to create new worlds,” Feinberg said. “It’s like nirvana.” -MS

October 19, 2010 Hau I see it

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Features

Costume enthusiast fights school monotony Caleb An Staff Writer

By Alice Hau

Getting wheels

Amelia Evard

Sophomore Brandon Blackman, dressed as a ninja, peeks around a corner during one of his pre-planned costume days.

Color guard often misunderstood Any student who is unfortunate enough to have a zero period can testify to how hard it is to wake up in the morning, especially when the gloomy dark sky challenges every optimistic thought about the day. However, the dedicated members of color guard do it every morning without complaining because they love what they do.

What many people don’t know is that the purpose of color guard is to serve as a visual addition to marching band. Members spin flags, rifles and sabers, timing their actions to match the music.

While marching band may play the music, the guard represents the emotion the music conveys.

“We make marching band more interesting to watch,” color guard co-captain senior Mariela Rodriguez said. “Color guard is what gives life and color and prettiness [to marching band performances]. There would just be music without it.”

A normal practice day consists of stretching and running with the band, and then separating to rehearse and practice on their own. On Saturdays, members sometimes practice for 12 hours at a time, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The incredible amount of dedication needed for color guard may seem overwhelming, and practice is difficult.

Members are careful when tossing rifles and flags because they are heavy and can injure members if caught incorrectly.

The most important aspect of flag and rifle work is to make sure that it corresponds with the music beat by beat, and everyone needs to stay in sync.

“If there is some delay, it can ruin the visual that the whole color guard makes,” color guard member senior Brenda Navarro said.

Color guard members also use dot books, which have pages that mark where they should be on the field on a certain count of music.

“I feel like we’re unique because it’s not really like any other activity on campus,” color guard co-captain Neha Rathaur said. “Guard combines marching on the field; you march, you perform to the audience, you’re spinning your equipment, you have to go along with the music, it’s just like a lot of different acts put together into one activity.”

Even though the members of color guard enjoy their activity, they lose family time and it is often hard for friends and other students to understand why members would put so much time and effort into color guard.

While a majority of students like sophomore Lauren Waller may view color guard as “interesting, but a little pointless,” they often don’t

senior Mariela Rodriguez

Catherine Hua Staff Writer

“Color guard is always something good to look forward to”

All teenagers look forward to the moment they sit in the front left seat of the car, grasp the steering wheel, and slam the pedal to the metal.

This wondrous moment quickly ends when they realize they’ve forgotten to put the car in reverse and have rammed through their garage wall.

Almost 11 months away from turning 16, I have begun to dream of coasting to school in the sweet ride I’m inheriting from my brother: the Toyota Sienna XLE Minivan.

My dad, though, says that he doesn’t trust me enough to even start learning how to drive. His thinking is absurd, considering how responsible and focused I am. Right?

In fact, I was able to muster all of my brainpower and channel all of my energy into counting down the days until I’ll be able to get my permit: 111 days.

After proudly telling my dad about this proof of my responsibility, he gave me an ultimatum. He said that I had to test my natural driving instincts on a kiddy go-kart racetrack. If he found that I was naturally gifted enough to deserve the family van, I’d be able to start learning.

I laughed at his silly idea. Who would want to participate in a go-kart race with 12-year-old kids?

My dad defensively said he was being completely serious, and that I was taking his suggestion with too much levity to deserve to drive. He retracted his offer of bringing me to the go-kart track, permanently ruining my chances of driving until I’m 40.

I plopped on the couch and munched on some potato chips to think of a way to deal with this major crisis.

I flashed-back to the racetrack that my dad took my brother to when he was 15, and I remembered the horror flickering in his eyes as he ran over unsuspecting little moles popping up in the racetrack. He didn’t start driving until a long two-anda-half years later.

At last I understood why my dad was so hesitant to let me drive. If I had the ultimate power of driving, I could be hurting innocent people, not just cute moles and the occasional slow squirrel.

If you are itching to get behind the wheel, remember that driving is really dangerous. If you think that you’re ready for this responsibility, visit the kiddy racetrack, pity those poor moles, and think again.

As for me, I’m too afraid to wield the ultimate power of the Sienna just yet. It looks like the only wheels I’ll be getting are those on my mom’s rusty old bike.

Every Friday, fanciful characters from our fantasies invade the school. A stealthy ninja stalks the English wing, a pirate cries for booty in chemistry class, and a cowboy kindly tips his hat at passerby.

All three are the same person—a man on a mission against monotony. Sophomore Brandon Blackman comes to school every Friday decked out in a costume and acts in character for the whole day.

Reactions to Brandon’s appearances have been mostly positive. While there are a few naysayers who are weirded out

by Brandon’s costumes, Brandon has felt a lot of acceptance and support from students.

“You’ll get the people who are like ‘You’re awesome, I love you,’” Brandon said. “Then you get the people who are like ‘You’re a weirdo,’ but generally people have liked it.”

Brandon cites the dull routine of high school life as a motivator to do something quirky on Fridays. Bored of the monotonous routine of school life, Brandon decided to start wearing costumes after he discovered his father’s old giant pantaloons and realized

the fun that costumes offer.

“I figured I might as well spice it up a bit for myself and for others,” Brandon said.

Brandon’s teachers are supportive of him as well.

Chemistry teacher Danielle Paige was so enthusiastic about Brandon’s masquerading that she joined him in costumed camaderie on the day he was a pirate; she taught that day dressed up as Captain Feathersword, a pirate from the TV show “The Wiggles.”

“My third period class is definitely the most lively class because of it,” Paige said.

Another student joined Brandon as well. Sophomore Neal Kenney donned ninja robes with Brandon on his “act like a ninja” day. Brandon is enthused at the possibility of this movement growing larger.

He has been raising publicity about his dress-up days and trying to increase participation.

Brandon hopes other people will join him to spice Fridays up as well, as the whole point is raising school spirit. Schoolwide super-casual Fridays would certainly lighten the mood and add some spontaneity to the high school routine.

“I’ll do this until I run out of ideas, which is hopefully never,” Brandon said.

understand the hard work it takes.

After hearing about the long practice hours and the activities that color guard combines, sophomore Caroline Deng said that “it seems a lot harder than I expected.”

Although it’s a major time commitment, members are motivated and look forward to performances where their hard work pays off.

Even during its performances, color guard has the support of the band. Given the small size of the color guard, members are both able to form close bonds within their team as well as to have the support of marching band. Experience level doesn’t matter in color guard, and members gain many friends from marching band.

Whether it’s learning new routines, staying in unison or performing, the color guard is always excited to improve.

“Color g u a r d is always something good to look forward to,” Mariela said. “Getting on the field is the most amazing thing.”

Amelia Evard

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October 19, 2010

Features

Students sip tea, play Ultimate to destress Jacqueline Chu Staff Writer

Some students are engaging in a heated debate in mock trial while others are investing their time in improving life in third-world countries by building schools, all the while keeping in mind that these activities will bolster their college applications. But some clubs view lunchtime in a different manner that doesn’t affiliate itself with college advancement.

The Tea Club For Tea Club presidents senior Simon Zorin and junior Adam Colcord, inspiration hit at three in the morning.

In April on a Europe art trip, while most students were fast asleep in a hotel, Simon Adam discussed the idea of starting a tea club for the following school year.

Perhaps it’s because Simon drank tea daily in English teacher Keren Robertson’s class last year.

“At least two or three people would want tea anyway,” Simon said. “And there were cups provided by Ms. Robertson that we could just take and sometimes I would bring in my own tea just to widen the selection for myself and others.”

Or maybe it’s just because Adam and Simon both have a love for tea. Adam drinks two or three cups of tea on a daily basis and Simon grew up drinking tea with his family.

“I have a whole cabinet dedicated to tea, including my favorites: peppermint tea, earl grey tea, red African teas and green tea,” Simon said.

While Simon has more tea at home than Adam, Adam still has a huge appreciation of tea.

“We buy tea in packs so we have a lot,” Adam said. “I usually drink black tea in the morning and I really like raspberry tea, too.”

Tea clubs are not a new addition to the school’s club history. Adam’s older sister told him about the club, which died out in 2007 because its members graduated.

“I heard it was just a small group of friends,” Adam said. “It wasn’t very open.”

The Tea Club had its first meeting on September 27 in Robertson’s room with Klüb Kitchen, which was generous enough to share its food with the Tea Club members.

Amelia Evard

On the left, junior Stephen Soward (left) looks to pass around junior Adron Mason. On the right, senior Julia Sauerhaft receives a pass over her shoulder. Ultimate Frisbee Club meets purely to have fun, unlike many clubs.

About 20 to 25 members came to the first meeting, and more are expected to come.

Although they originally intended for the clubs to mingle, Simon and Adam changed the meeting time to every other Monday and occasionally Friday so the two clubs would not coincide.

The members said they plan to bring lots of food and many different types of tea.

Simon and Adam said they understand that students have busy schedules, and don’t want the tea club to be a burden.

“We just want people to enjoy the tea and food [and] chilling with friends,” Adam said.

Senior Mikey Vendelin said Tea Club pays homage to a seemingly mundane activity.

“Tea is such a wonderful healing drink, and this club allows us to sample all kinds of tea and bring food,” Mikey said.

Ultimate Frisbee Club At lunch, while some students are scarfing down their sandwiches, others are busy running back and forth across

the field, chasing a disk. And at the end, friends say goodbye to each other as they head to their next class and the players on the field pat each other on the backs for a game well played.

Consisting of 80 members, the Ultimate Frisbee Club plays Friday at lunch and Sundays from 2:30 to 4 p.m. The idea of the club developed out of a series of pickup ultimate frisbee games at cross country.

“There was a club started before we were freshmen that played pickup frisbee games at lunch,” Co-President junior Stephen Soward said. “But it didn’t have enough popularity, so it just died.”

During baseball season, Stephen and his friend junior Joe Chedid more seriously considered forming a team.

“Stephen started bringing frisbees to cross country and we started playing with them before and after,” Co-President junior Adron Mason said. “Because frisbee [became] a tradition in cross country, we

figured we could ... start the club.”

On the second Friday of the school year, Stephen, Adron and about 30 other cross country members all went to the Bullis Gardner Elementary School to play.

“Ultimate is not about competition.

It’s about having fun and being low-key,” Adron said. “It’s all about the spirit of the game. We want to make the club about playing frisbee and having fun. Not about meetings, officers and qualifications.”

The club is talking about the possibility of forming a casual team for those who are interested. When Stephen visited American University in Washington, D.C., he talked to the club frisbee team president, who happened to be his tour guide, about frisbee tournaments and websites like Bayareadisc. The club hopes to enter some of these tournaments.

“What we’d love to do is put together a semi-official team,” Adron said. “Not with the intention of being super hardcore and competitive, just to get some experience.”

Visit Dr iversEd .com an de during the onli nter discount* ne paym code CA HS ent pro cess.

Courtesy Greg Cairns

Senior Greg Cairns (right) and his mysterious “friend” point down to the camera.

Nice Greg: avid rapper creates humorous music CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE

who’s an actual musical artist.”

Greg’s quirky music and somewhat silly lyrics have grabbed the attention of many students. With lyrics like “I was born in a stable at the age of three/skipped two years because of my destiny/I want to be like Jesus, but even better/ Jesus didn’t have his own line of sweaters,” from the song ‘Nice Greg, Twice Greg’ or “I’m on match dot com/gettin’ ladies one click at a time/I got a sign as I look out my window/I saw a lady, her name was Roberto (man, who’s Roberto?)/Sh*t, I don’t know,

I’ve never met her before/I’m going crazy bro,” from the song ‘We Get Real High’.

Even further proof of Greg’s popularity is his Facebook fan page, which already sports 231 fans, a number that has continued to grow over the past few weeks. Unlike most rappers, however, Greg isn’t excited about the attention and praise he’s receiving.

“I feel that I have too many fans,” said Greg. “I might ask some people to leave my fan page, or I’ll create another fan page for them.”

Wesley feels Greg is a different breed of musician, as he puts

aside the allure of fame to aim for something much bigger.

“I think one of the reasons [he makes music] is to meet girls and get money like most rappers, but I feel like Greg goes deeper than that,” Wesley said.

Greg’s reason for starting a project and his ultimate goal in making music is much deeper than the bass in his songs.

“I don’t know, that really goes into the core of what Nice Greg is,” Greg said, when asked what the purpose and goal of his group is. “He’s an idea. He’s above the influence.”

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Entertainment

The Talon October 19, 2010

14

What not to wear for Homecoming Dance Curran Mahowald Copy/Content Editor

You’re psyched to party like it’s 500 B.C., and the outfit is the finishing touch on your theme for the dance. But wait –are you guilty of one of these fashion faux pas? As a four-year school dance veteran/fanatic/ evangelist, I’ve seen it all, and these are some of the most common style mistakes that turn heads in a bad way.

A ninja headband, wife beater and running shorts– You must be nostalgic for the Back to School Dance! That was in August. No matter how fierce you think you look baring upper thigh muscles, the Homecoming Dance is not the time.

Curled, straightened, braided, crimped and dyed updo–So you’ve nailed the outfit, but as a female you still have one more important element to take care of: the hair. Instead of short-circuiting your house by making simultaneous use of all the electronic hair devices you own, keep it simple yet elegant. You want people to wonder how you got your hair to look so shiny, not what is eating your head. Besides, crafting an elaborate hairstyle for Homecoming is similar to monogramming your bathrobe; only a few people will see it until it inevitably gets soaked.

The semi-decent polo you wore to school yesterday when you spilled that spaghetti sauce–This one’s self-explanatory.

Guys, the girls are inevitably going to put at least three times as much time and effort into their appearance on the big night than you do. If nothing else, at least try to clean up for your date.

A classy mini-toga–While tempting because of the ancient civilizations theme, dressing slut-chic is not in this season, nor will it ever be. Take the phrase “semi-formal” as a personal invitation to cover up more than you would for hot tubbing, at least this one night. Double the amount of fabric on your body before you even think about getting past the administration on the way into the dance. Don’t try to pretend you didn’t know it was sheer. Here’s a quick check: If you feel the wind on both sets of cheeks, you may need to add some garments.

Thejeweled/glitter/rhinestone/ extra-sparkle dress–Dressing up like shopping Barbie is not only tacky, it’s dangerous for all eyes that have to fend off the glare from your dress that looks like it was bedazzled twice by a three-yearold. “Special occasion” is not code for princess-status bling coating your dress. Keep it simple with one or two sparkly ornaments to avoid overwhelming the dress itself.

Your baby brother’s outfit –News flash: You grew since elementary school graduation.

Congratulations! Now get pants that cover your ankles and a shirt that goes past your elbows.

A great suit and then … tennis shoes–You were so close!

Don’t worry about having to make a quick escape or not sporting the right athletic gear; there is life after track practice. Remember, the word “semi-formal” applies to the entire outfit, shoes and socks included!

Jason Hu

The floor-length white gown– Don’t forget the “semi” part of the “semi-formal” concept just to compensate for the guys’ oblivious donning of t-shirts and jeans. Keep the dresses that are so expensive you could retire after selling them safely in the closet until Prom or your very own wedding. After all, it’s only Homecoming.

Silly Bandz craze stretches across school campus Anny Dow Information Editor

What do Justin Bieber, princesses and Batman have in common?

They are on the wrists of thousands of students across the nation in the form of Silly Bandz, a phenomenon that is stretching from East to West.

Silly Bandz is a brand of silicone rubber bands formed

into a variety of shapes such as animals and letters. The idea took off in November 2008 when Brain Child Products (BCP) Imports started selling the bracelets online. Since then, Silly Bandz have taken America by storm.

Even though they hit stores for the first time in 2009, as of August 2010, Silly Bandz are already available in 8,000 stores in the United States.

America can’t get enough of these Silly Bandz.

Photo Illustration by mya ballin

Bandz fans show off their collections on Youtube and the Facebook fan page has gained a following of more than 400,000 fans. EBay even holds live auctions for the Bandz in 15 countries where they can be purchased for prices as low as 1 cent.

With themes ranging from sea creatures to fruit to Tom and Jerry to Spongebob to Hello Kitty to dinosaurs, it’s clear that BCP Imports has gotten pretty silly with their accessory designs.

But it doesn’t end there.

Silly Bandz fans can send BCP a message and request designs they want to see. Some people have requested bands in typical shapes such as skateboards a n d Nintendo characters w h i l e others have requested more obscure designs such as a platypus.

With enough shapes and colors to satisfy nearly all customers and a cheap prices of

only $5 for a 24-pack and $2.50 for a 12-pack, Silly Bandz have become collectibles that people just can’t get enough of.

But with their raging popularity, they have become a distraction for some student collectors. In fact, some schools in North Carolina, Colorado, New York, Texas, Florida and Massachusetts have banned Silly Bandz from the classroom as the fiddling with and swapping of bands during class detract from the learning environment.

The Silly Bandz craze has turned into a serious addiction for some. Some of the testimonials on the official Silly Bandz website demonstrate peoples’ tight bonds with the Bandz.

On the Silly Bandz website, Johnathan from Turlock, Calif. declared his obsession for Silly Bandz: “I love Silly Bandz! I have 1,253 and [am] getting more tomorrow!”

But kids aren’t the only ones jumping on the Silly “Bandzwagon.” Heidi from Las Vegas, Nev. said that her teacher gives them to her class to reward students for good grades.

Jane from Jefferson City, Miss. said, “My co-workers and I use these little animal rubber bands as currency around the office. It’s fun! Can’t wait to

show my underwear-shaped Silly Bandz!”

Students from the school have also been joining the Silly Bandz craze.

“Pretty much after I started wearing hella bracelets every person I would meet saw them and ended up talking to me about how many bracelets I have and if they had Silly Bandz they would give it to me,” junior Emily Nitzberg said. “I guess in a way each band has its own little story about someone else, and that’s how they started being part of [my] collection.”

There have also been some concerns regarding the safety of the bands. The fact that some children wear Silly Bandz extensively and in huge quantities has led to reports of injuries, primarily loss of blood circulation and wrist numbness.

However, school bans and health concerns have not been able to deter the surge in popularity of the colorful bands.

Silly Bandz even has a blog and Twitter that you can follow to find out about the latest Silly Bandz events. Enthusiasts can show off their Silly Bandz in the Silly Bandz runway show, trade Silly Bandz with others, and get new Silly Bandz at these events.

Isn’t it time you jumped on the Silly “Bandzwagon?”

October 19, 2010

Entertainment

Fall brings various show premieres Alice Hau Staff Writer

TheDefenders (First Season)

After a long summer, September had many notable TV show premieres. Eager fans waited for their favorite shows to return, and new shows have collected interested audiences.

Outsourced (First Season)

Pete Kaczmarek and Nick Morelli are two lawyers working together in Las Vegas in this legal drama. Lisa Tyler, their associate, worked as a stripper to pay for law school, and now battles her trashy reputation.

They use their keen street senses and not-so-good legal knowledge to solve a variety of

and six other students form a Spanish study group made up of an old moist-towelette tycoon, a former high school quarterback, a divorced mother and other quirky characters. Jeff acts as the knowledgeable father of the group and has intermittent romances with two other group members. In each

In this comedy, Todd Dempsy is an American forced to go to India to keep his job as a manager and pay off his immense college debt. He manages a call center for American novelties. In the pilot episode, he has his Indian employees play with the novelties they sell to get into the mindset of American customers. Not only do the employees learn about American culture by the end of the workday, Todd also accepts Indian culture and decides to eat the traditional Indian lunch rather than American food.

Despite the frequent use of stereotypes of both Indians and Americans, this show highlights the benefits of working so closely with another culture.

30 Rock (Fifth Season) Tina Fey writes and stars in this comedy as Liz Lemon, a head writer for the fabricated comedy TV show “TGS with Tracy Jordan.” “30 Rock” follows Liz’s hopeless love life and her attempts to make friends with her employees, rather than act as their boss and mother. In this season, Liz’s new boyfriend Carol is an emotional airplane pilot.

Is she ready to take the plunge and take it a step further with Carol?

Boardwalk Empire (First Season)

The Office (Seventh Season)

E n o c h “ N u c k y ” Thompson is a corrupt treasurer running Atlantic City during the Prohibition.

After delivering a speech condemning alcohol, Nucky ironically tells his bosses about the possible fortune they could make selling illegal alcohol.

Watch “Boardwalk Empire” to find out which scandals Nucky gets involved in and the dire consequences sure to follow.

Nikita (First Season) Nikita was once a troubled teen on death row. In the dramatic first season, the rogue government organization “Division” rescues her and trains her as an assassin to carry out top-secret missions.

Three years after escaping from Division, she comes out of hiding with the goal of destroying the secret agency from the inside in this exciting spy drama.

Outlaw (First Season) Cyrus Garza quits his job as a Supreme Court Justice to work in private practice, hoping to deliver more justice to the people in this courtroom drama.

This playboy gambler works with a team and travels across the country settling difficult legal cases. Although it seems unlikely that any Supreme Court Justice would resign, the story is a touching one that fights for the underdogs in society.

drama, Chuck Bartowski’s old Stanford University roommate implants classified secrets into Chuck’s brain after he is expelled.

He is forced into the spy world as a tool, not as an agent, for the CIA. Although his new spy life is much more exciting than working at the local electronics store, he may find his actionpacked life full of secrecy to be too exciting. With his father murdered, will Chuck be able to locate his mother who left his family when he was only a child?

strange cases they encounter on the strip.

Glee (Second Season) In the musical comedy-drama, Will Schuester is director of McKinley High School’s Glee Club. He tries to inspire students to join and embrace their singing abilities, but the students face much opposition from their peers. The cheer team is the Glee Club’s enemy, and its coach, Sue Sylvester, enjoys torturing Will.

The personal lives of the Glee Club members are large parts of the show. Stereotypical high school drama dominates the show, but the musical element makes it unique and worth watching.

Community (Second Season) In this comedy, Jeff Winger is a lawyer forced to attend Greendale Community College after his college degree is deemed invalid. He

episode, these individuals’ surprising comments and behavior in a community college setting will delight audience members.

Chuck (Fourth Season) In this action-comedy-romance

Steve Carell plays Michael Scott, the incompetent manager of a paper sales company, Dunder Mifflin.

The show portrays Dunder Mifflin’s strange workers and their eccentric behaviors, sometimes delving into their personal lives. Though the show is a scripted comedy, it follows a mockumentary format in which the characters often gossip about each other, specifically to the audience.

Carell plans to leave “The Office” after this season and move on in his career. It is unknown who will replace his character, and many fans believe that “The Office” won’t be the same without him.

Premiere Dates Outsourced: Thursday, September 23 at 9:30 p.m.

Boardwalk Empire: Sunday, September 19 at 8 p.m.

Nikita: Thursday, September 9 at 9 p.m.

Outlaw: Wednesday, September 15 at 10 p.m.

The Defenders: Wednesday, September 22 at 10 p.m.

Glee: Tuesday, September 21 at 8 p.m.

Community: Thursday, September 23 at 8 p.m.

Chuck: Tuesday, September 20 at 8 p.m.

30 Rock: Thursday, September 23 at 8:30 p.m.

The Office: Thursday, September 23 at 9 p.m.

16 Mark My Words

October 19, 2010

Entertainment

15

By Mark Levin

Fortunate Criticism

I lost my innocence to a fortune cookie. Just as my father began to pressure me to finish my plate of chow mein, I unfurled that little slip of paper, which told me: Believe it can be done. So following its advice and giving in to my father’s demands, I chowed hard and I chowed fast. I was believing in Chef Chu, a mysterious deity.

SoIstruggled,chewingquickly and recalling my ancestors back in Egypt—the ones who built pyramids and ate nothing more than crackers. I finished my plate with triumph, but just after, the seas parted. My stomach erupted like a volcano, spewing out partially digested Chinese food.

Ever since then I have never trusted a fortune. That is why I would never have mine told by a psychic.

But because I would never do it, I had to do it anyway.

I went to a psychic last week and let her read my palm.

Now I know it’s not fair to stereotype and to say that all fortune tellers are wrinkly, old ladies with silvery hair, wrapped in blankets. It’s really not fair to make assumptions.

But I met my fortune teller and she really was a wrinkly, old lady with silvery hair, wrapped up in a wool blanket.

I admit I was reluctant to show her my hands. Because no matter how much of that rosescented hand lotion I put on, they still peel. I think if I were ever a hand model, it would be for a Halloween catalog.

But despite my concerns, I showed her my palms. She looked at them as if she were in a deep trance and then began to recite an infuriating series of observations about my life. She told me that I had “problems with confidence,” and I clenched my ugly fist.

Then she said I “take things too personally,” and I almost got up to leave. Then she told me I was “temperamental.”

She gave me advice. She told me to escape the negativity in my life, which I found impossible as long as the San Francisco 49ers still suck.

She read on and I really did not understand where she was coming from with all of this criticism. Were the creases of my palm forming a maze that I just could not solve? I left the room scratching my head.

I have never been good at puzzles, and from where this woman got her psychic senses is a puzzle I will never solve. But there is one thing I do know, that it can take some outside forces to prompt you to reflect on how you live your life.

So give it a shot. Reflect. And if you ever want to examine my hands, go ahead. You can feel them, smell them, taste them, whatever. But be careful — I’m temperamental, and who knows what those hands can do?

PAC-MAN

tin Huynh

Talon Top 5: Trick-or-treat alternatives

The talon explores trick-or-treating alternatives for teenagers on halloween weekend Sparsha Saxena Staff Writer It’s a waste of Halloween to spend every year walking around town trying to chase down that Snickers bar. Trick-or-treating doesn’t make for a memorable Halloween as much as these options do.

Spookfest If you’re in the mood to wear a Halloween costume and dance all night, then the Spookfest is the place for you. Hosted by Live 105 at the Cow Palace, it will feature techno artists and bands including The Limousines, Classixx and Steve Aoki. Spookfest takes place on Friday, October 29 from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Tickets are $50 and you must be 16 or older to attend. There’s no need for candy to sweeten up the night when you can spend it sweating the night away.

Haunted Houses

Halloween Party

Horror Movies

Bigger or Better

What’s the point of Halloween without a good scare? Instead of rotting your teeth, go to a local haunted house and have the time of your life.

One of the most praised haunted houses in the Bay Area is the Beach Street Haunted House at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. The house has professional actors that can scare even Marilyn Manson out of his make-up.

Another spooky place is California’s Great America Halloween Haunt. During October, on Fridays through Sundays from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m., step into a creepy world of goblins and mazes, and, not to mention, several haunted houses. The entire park is fogged and filled with frightening creatures roaming around, providing few opportunities for a normal heart rate.

Halloween is the night that we all want to spend with our friends, so combine every aspect of your ideal Halloween by throwing a spooky rager.

Before the party starts, make creepy creations with your friends.

Some classic dishes that still manage to taunt guests are peeled grapes representing eerie eyeballs, shortbread cookies that look like witches’ fingers and gravestone cookies. Have plenty of facepainting booths, fortune-tellers and candy so you aren’t missing out on the best parts of Halloween.

Later, offer prizes for the funniest, scariest and most original Halloween costumes. Feel free to have your party outside with crazy decorations like skeletons and disco balls. When night falls, share spooky stories over a crackling fire. Bring the fun from the streets to your own home.

If Halloween happens to be your all-time favorite holiday but you’ve grown out of that old witch costume in the basement, a horror movie marathon is the perfect solution.

Make a short trip to the movie rental store and pick out a scary movie that will keep you and your friends awake until sunrise. If you aren’t an expert on scary movies, some notorious ones include “The Fourth Kind,” “Arachnaphobia” and “The Human Centipede.”

Share a bowl of popcorn and your favorite Halloween treats to maintain that Halloween spirit, and make sure to hand out candy to the kids who ring the doorbell. If you want a little extra fun, try scaring them. The best part about this is that you and your friends are entertained without much effort at all.

Who wants candy when you can get something even bigger or better?

Here’s how the game works.

First, divide your group of friends into teams. Each group gets a small item (preferably all the same object, like a paperclip), and then each team is assigned to a different neighborhood.

The objective of the game is to go to each house and ask for an item that is “bigger or better” than what you have. At the end of the night, choose the winner by determining which team has the biggest or the best item.

People can end up with “bigger or better” items such as couches, bikes or TVs. There are definitely a lot of possibilities for the best and biggest item, and Halloween privides the opportunity to seek them out.

Halloween: an excuse to dress inappropriately?

Erika Schonher Business Manager

For five-year-olds, Halloween is about being an adorable little princess or Transformer. For 10-year-olds, it’s about being cool, creative and scary. For 17-year-olds, apparently it’s about being a sexy piece o’meat.

Halloween means different things to different age groups, but the principle is essentially the same: dress up, get candy and embrace the scariness. However, this principle of Halloween seems to go over the heads of one age group: teenagers.

As stated in the timeless classic, “Mean Girls,” “Halloween is the one night a year when a girl can dress like a total slut and no other girls can say anything about it.” Let’s think about this: Girls tend to wear the same type of costumes every year, whether that be a sexy cop or a slutty school girl, and nobody ever seems to ever care. Huh? Okay, so maybe some girls prefer to show a little extra skin on Halloween, but at least get creative. Should girls choose to dress a little more risqué than normal, they should try to be original and make sure not to

take it too far. For example, if a girl dresses up as a straightup stripper, that’s not creative, that’s just showing too much of what we don’t want to see and giving teens a bad name.

To see if a costume is appropriate, a good rule of thumb to avoid falling into the trap of just being plain ol’ slutty is this: If the word “Playboy” is i n the name of the costume, skip it. The same goes for the words sexy,

hottie, steamy or lizzy lukrich French-maid.

Instead, go for something like 60s Flower Power Barbie (yes, that’s my costume this year). It might be more “out there” than something I’d normally wear, but it is still appropriate enough to wear when walking around the neighborhood. Another idea

might be to dress up in a princess or mermaid costume that allows girls to show some skin but still look cute.

Now, it may seem easy to predict what kind of attire girls will don for Halloween, but what about guys? Most guys opt to not dress up, thinking they are too cool for costumes, and the few guys who do dress up think they are even cooler than the guys who don’t.

Teenage guys’ costumes usually involve anything shirtless to allow them to show off their hot bods.

You know what I’m talking about: the togas, lifeguards and “300” costumes.

This skin-showing effort makes the dudes who dress up no better than the gals in the nurse costumes, but maybe that’s why no one complains.

They’re all in the same boat. They are all just looking for the same thing: to excite the raging hormones of the opposite sex.

So, it might be okay to show some skin, but keep it appropriate and be creative!

Dress up with a group of friends to keep each other in check, and

don’t be afraid to go with a funny or scary costume. Just don’t be so skimpy that when people ask

what you’re wearing, you have to answer like Karen in “Mean Girls”: “I’m a mouse, duh!”

Entertainment

October 19, 2010

17

‘Life as We Know It’: cheesy, yet entertaining Shilpa Veniglanda Staff Writer

Most people picture a romantic comedy as a movie in which two outrageously opposite people somehow fall in love in a hysterical and unpredictable way. Now, add an adorable baby who not only causes mayhem, but also brings the enemies togther against all odds.

The movie “Life as We Know It” is a romantic comedy about two opposite people, Holly (Katherine Heigl) and Messer (Josh Duhamel), who are set up on a date by their two best friends. Since Messer is an irritating player and TV sports director and Holly is a busy, responsible and dedicated caterer, the date isn’t expected to last long. Their first (and last) date goes horribly; Messer shows up an hour late, improperly dressed and without dinner reservations.

As expected, they both gladly part ways.

Flash forward a couple of years, and the two enemies are forced to reconvene under the same roof, this time not as dates, but as guardians of their best friends’ one year old daughter, Sophie, after their friends die unexpectedly in a car crash. As much as they dislike each other, they don’t want to send Sophie off to foster parents and would

rather fulfill their late friends’ wish of taking care of Sophie.

The challenge: Holly and Messer must struggle with work and money on top of raising a child. As their love for Sophie grows, Holly and Messer’s relationship changes.

Yes, predictable and cheesy, but also entertaining.

Whether its Josh Duhamel as the roguish player, or Katherine Heigl as the responsible and determined entrepreneur, the actors in this movie tie the comedy and humor in with the struggles the main characters face. Both Heigl and Duhamel get into their characters, and as they evolve, their acting sums up the whole movie.

However, the film moves a little too fast in terms of emotions. When Holly’s and Messer’s friends die, there’s only a brief moment of sorrow.

The characters barely get any time to grieve for their friends, because by the next day they’re already planning how to take care of Sophie. However, the film’s purpose is to focus on Holly, Messer and Sophie, not on Sophie’s parents.

The main plot of the movie is a little impractical; since when did enemies decide to come together under the same roof and act as a married couple just for the sake of an adorable

baby? But then again, it is a organized manner that leaves its flaws, being unrealistic romantic comedy—when are the audience cracking up and and predictable, the director they realistic? wanting to see what else is in accomplished his main goal Although it’s predictable and store for Holly and Messer. by keeping the audience a little unrealistic, the movie Although this movie has entertained and enthusiastic. is funny and entertaining.

As the main characters slowly forget their hatred, they understand and respect each other more. The baby is hilarious.

Not only does she set the tone for the movie and bring the two enemies together, but she also gives the audience something to laugh about.

Director Greg Berlanti’s main goal was to entertain the audience, not to show a hardcore movie about the struggles of the “parents.”

The director definitely accomplished that, and the movie is filled with a lot of humor.

He conveys the movie Katherine Heigl (left) and Josh Duhamel (center) star in “Life as events in an We Know It.” In the movie, the stars must quickly adjust to parenthood.

New iPod nano doubles as watch Vivian Hua Copy/Content Editor What time is it? Time to get a Nano.

As he revealed the new iPod Nano on September 1, Apple’s chief executive Steve Jobs joked that one of the Apple employees would have liked to turn the new model into his personal watch. Unbeknownst to this far-sighted executive, users from across the world have wasted no time in strapping this useful little device to their wrists.

The birth of the hybrid iPod-watch baby owes partly to the Nano’s new size and shape.

Apple’s newlyreleased version flaunts a 1.5-inch LCD screen and a lower resolution of 240 by 240 pixels.

Shaped like a square, it is 46 percent smaller and 42 percent lighter in comparison to previous Nanos.

While the new model introduces a touchscreen, it has lost the built-in voice recorder, speaker, camera, games and click-wheel characteristic of its predecessors.

Preserved features include volume buttons, VoiceOver, FM radio, Nike+, Pedometer, support for 29 languages and 24-hour playback.

Most importantly, however, the

sixth-generation model comes with a clip that allows users to strap it onto whatever they desire.

Jacket, shirt pockets, bags, you name it. Oh, and watch straps.

While Apple itself has not produced any matching watch straps, several aspiring

companies, including iLoveHandles and Watch My Nano, have released “carrying solutions” that offer compatible wristbands and cases. Watch My Nano provides straps that come in an array of colors, including brown, diver blue, gray, “original James Bond,” red, black, desert tan, orange, racing green and sporty yellow.

“It is awesome as a watch,” said sophomore Neal Kenney, who bought the strap separately.

“It feels like that watch from Spy Kids ... If you’re on the go and need something that is a Shuffle with a watch, this is your iPod.” There are, however, some disadvantages to the “iWatch.” For one, it is not waterproof and can only withstand temperatures between 32 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit.

Moreover, it must be continuously charged and activated because it automatically dims.

But the benefits far outweigh the costs.

The Nano is small and comfortable, and provides the date, a stopwatch and a countdown timer.

The configurable clock is also designed to appeal to the tastes of various owners with the option of black and white background color. And obviously, who doesn’t want a watch that can conveniently play music and tell the time at the same … time?

Avid technological enthusiasts can just sit back and relax. Now that the wristwatch Nano is here, the wristwatch phone won’t be far behind.

Embarrassing Stories One time I clogged my friend’s toilet. Instead of going through the embarrassing ordeal of asking him for a plunger, I decided to try and flush again, praying that it would go down.

Unfortunately, it did not go down, but instead, began to overflow out the top of the toilet along with gallons of toilet water.

My friend and I spent the next two hours cleaning.

-A senior I was doing hookah with my brother and his friend in the garage. They passed me the pipe to take a hit and I couldn’t resist.

I began to rip it hard, when all of a sudden, I let one rip myself.

I farted long and loudly in the middle of the pure silence. They couldn’t stop laughing at me.

-A senior One time when I was walking home past curfew, I saw a car coming and quickly jumped into the nearest driveway. I didn’t want the car to see me so I ducked behind some bushes.

However, the car happened to be heading toward the house I was hiding in front of. Not having enough time to move, I sat quietly and prayed the driver wouldn’t see me.

However, as soon as he pulled in, the headlights shone right on me. The driver got out and started yelling at me, thinking I had broken in to his house.

Knowing he wouldn’t believe me if I tried to explain, I got up and bolted.

-A senior

It was the fourth grade, when I was really skinny. I was wearing this one pair of jeans with a belt, but it didn’t help much. I stood up and my pants went straight to my ankles. After I quickly pulled my pants up, I looked around the room to see if anybody saw, and luckily enough only my best friend had seen. For a few minutes after that, I had complete embarrassment on my face and couldn’t stop smiling.

-A sophomore One time at football practice, we were doing hitting drills.

They made me, the smallest guy on the team, go against the biggest guy. As I was running the ball, he came in to make the tackle and body slammed me to the ground in front of everyone.

After that, I was super dizzy, and everyone was laughing at me.

-A junior I was doing my speech on how George Washington saved the Revolutionary War. During my speech, I was about half way done, when I noticed how many people were staring at me. I started to sweat and I was really nervous because it was worth about half of my grade. I felt pressure in my appendix, and then it just came out. I cut the cheese, and it was a big one. It lasted for about five seconds. The entire class broke into laughter, and I just walked out without finishing the speech.

I was ridiculed for a week.

-A sophomore Note: All stories are submitted by students.

Sports

October 19, 2010

5-3

18

MID-SEASON

T

Tennis

Jenna Louie

Katie Gonsavles Staff Writer

he varsity girls tennis team lead by coach Hung Nguyen is halfway through its season with a De Anza Divsion record of 5-3. The team is looking to take third place and hopefully sneak into CCS. They’re only losses have come against Monta Vista and Saratoga, the two best teams in the league, and Gunn High School in the first league match. However, in their second match against Gunn, they defeated them 4-3. The team had many seniors last year, so it has been a welcome surprise for Nguyen to see how well they have done.

“In my opinion we’re over achieving, [because] we lost nine seniors to college last year.” Hung said. “We should be one place higher [than last year] if we place third this year.”

In the rest of its games, the team hopes to defeat all its opponents except Monta Vista and Saratoga to take third.

The number 1 singles player is freshman Kacey Incerpi and the leading doubles are juniors Alice Carli [left] and Ali Dyer.

Cross Country

Julia Son-Bell Staff Writer

The varsity boys cross country team is ranked 4th overall in all of CCS. The team is composed of a tight-knit group of upperclassmen that trained rigorously over the summer.

“I owe my improvements to summer training and an incredible coaching staff,” senior Blake Bowers [right] said. “The cross country team has become my second family.”

Blake decreased his average mile time from 6:22 last year to 5:33 this year, and the entire team has improved as well.

“A lot of it has to do with depth,” senior Ben Schneider said. “We have people close behind [the top runners] …. five people get into the Alex top ten [at a race].”

Kent However, the varsity girls squad has not been as successful. The team has had trouble recruiting athletes from the other fall sports at the school and club teams. In addition, they lost their two best runners from last year, Erin Hicks ’10 and junior Serina Rye who is not running this year.

A significant percentage of the runners are sophomores and have little experience on the cross country team. In addition, not as many ran in a group over the summer.

“You can’t get in shape in five to six weeks,” head coach PattiSue Plumer said.

However, the fact that the girls varsity team is young also gives the team a lot of potential to improve over the course of the year, and later in their high school careers.

The girls field hockey team is pushing itself through a tough season. Led by captains seniors TeresaFabbricino [right] and Erika Schonher the team is composed of just 17 players and has struggled for wins.

“We’re in the top division for our league so it’s always a challenge, especially when we’re playing both private and public Katie Gonsavles schools,” coach Mary Donahue Staff Writer said.

Unlike LAHS, these top schools, such as Los Gatos and Gilroy, enjoy the advantage of year round, club team players.

Field Hockey

2-5

Mya Ballin

The varsity football team has October 8.

“A good quarterback is gone undefeated so far this season. The team has won every a quarterback that can game except against Santa Cruz produce points and win on Friday, September 24 which games,” Steven said. “ Martin and Todd ended in a tie.

However, injuries have are those type of hindered the varsity team. quarterbacks. They Specifically, starting quarterback produce the points sophomore Steven McLean needed and extra to injured his throwing wrist at come out on top.”

Other notable Santa Cruz He hopes to return by the homecoming game on injuries include a twisted ankle to leading running Saturday, October 30.

Second-string quarterback back senior Jason Lopez, and a junior Todd Grimm’s separated shoulder suffered concussions forced senior Martin by wide receiver senior Joey Giacomini.

Aycott to step in However, the as quarterback injuries have at Santa Cruz not kept the and Mountain Eagles from View, leading dominating. a last minute JuliaSon-Bell Staff Writer “This year comeback to tie Santa Cruz 27-27, and handily our team has suffered a few key injuries, but I think it shows defeating MV 28-14 .

“I was surprisingly how ready our whole team is comfortable,” Martin said. to play in every game,” Steven “Coming in playing quarterback said. “I’m not concerned [with as a wide receiver, I knew where injuries], especially with how to place it for receivers. Like well our defense is playing.”

Opposing offenses have the connection I have with McLean, I can develop that averaged just 13 points.

“The defense has been great all with my receivers.”

Todd’s recent recovery year,” head coach Bill Waggoner allowed Martin to return said. “[Its] very aggressive and to his original receiver [good at] blitzing. We have two position against Monta really good linebackers, seniors Vista, a 38-19 win on Friday [Tyler] Stout [above] and

Jenna Louie

Football 4-0-1 (2-0)

Volleyball This year the majority of the team isn’t just composed of upperclassmen. a big component of the team has been the freshmen and sophomore players, making this year’s team more diverse than previous years. “[The team needs] to gel better together” said coach Jason Kennedy. “There are so many new players this year.”

Kennedy said he is anxious to see the team continue to use its rapidly growing skill the next half of season. Because their are so many new players, the team is learning from its mistakes each game and becoming a stronger team.

“I think that the team is “Not many of our players play in the offseason like the other teams, so we learn as we go along,” Donahue said, “We try to improve in the second half and build up wins.”

True to the coach’s word, the team has improved recently.

In their past four games the team has defeated Leigh and Saratoga high schools 2-0 and 1-0, while narrowly falling to Archbishop Mitty and Presentation High Schools 1-0.

“We’ve improved a great deal these past weeks,” Donahue said. “Overall our defense is playing really well. I’m pretty pleased with the way we’ve been playing and we’re working on scoring more.”

3-3

[Jason]Lopez and defensive ends junior Nolan O’Such and senior Daniel Tangi. [junior linebacker George] Schneider (3 sacks) was great against Mountain View.”

Above all though, Waggoner attibutes the success of his team to its character.

“The team plays with a lot of heart,” Waggoner said.

“Expectations are high. Other teams are surprised by how hard and fast the team comes out.”

Sparsha Saxena Staff Writer

improving our game every time we play,” sophomore Natalie Dwulet said.

“For being such a young team and with many of the starters not having played with each other before, I think we are really growing as a team.”

Natalie said the “amazing” freshmen are constantly showing the team that they are ready to help. She said they contribute to the team “every second they are on the court,” making them an essential part of the team.

The freshmen players are Hanna Koehler, Meghan McDermott [right] and Katie Tritschler “This is the game that made me realize how much potential we have, because we won by coming back from a huge hole in the 3rd game,” Hanna said. “[We] beat the other team by [using] our energy coming from the court and the bench.”

Jenna Louie

Sports

October 19, 2010

Berkeley cuts affect grads Lauren Liu Copy/Content Editor

my Torture fetish

By Drew Eller I’ve never been so happy to be tortured. From April till the last day of September, it felt like the whole Giants organization was taking turns strapping me to a wooden plank and waterboarding me. I thought it would get better. I even prayed. But I was foolish. Ever since October started the team has taken to pulling finger nails instead.

After seven dormant years, the Giants are finally back in the playoffs. It was a trying season. Even as a fan it was exasperating. From the horrific struggles of Tim Lincecum in August to the extinction of the one ‘Panda’ held captive at AT&T park, this year has been best described as “Giants baseball ... torture!”

The outcome of the season came down to the very last game, and the playoffs have only raised my blood pressure.

Against the Braves, the Giants enjoyed a narrow 1-0 win, a heartbreaking 5-4 extra innings loss, a 3-2 win that came down to 2 outs and 2 strikes, and another 3-2 win that got interesting at the end, (and by interesting I mean to say I hyperventilated). But the Giants escaped to see another game, and now face the Phillies for the title as NL Champion.

As a fan I have no control over the game, other than the Brooks Conrad voodoo doll I made, so the torture is only that much more. .. well, torturing.

The only release I have when Brian Wilson walks the first two batters in the ninth is to laugh at Dodger fans or imitate a Bobby Cox ejection. I can’t help but scream in angst when Buster Posey, this season’s messiah, hits into a double play to ruin any chances at a win.

But at the end of the game, all the times my dad had to use the defilibrator on me were worthwhile. A baseball team is representing the Bay Area in the playoffs, and with its young artillery of pitchers, its thongwearing, superstitious players, and its caricature-headed manager, I wouldn’t hold anything against this team.

The number of bases loaded, two out, ninth inning jams we’ve been in have only made the season interesting. All the untimely errors were to test the resilience of our pitching staff.

And every time we allowed Barry Zito to pitch was just to see who the true fans were (because only a true fan would endure watching Zito).

So torture us as they may, I’ll take it if they make it to the World Series. It really is the time of year when the impossible can happen. The Giants in the World Series? Why not!

So when it comes down to it, yeah, I like the torture. You might even say I have a bit of a torture fetish.

The University of California, Berkeley (Cal) announced that it would cut 5 varsity sports from its 29-sport program for the upcoming school year.

Two of the athletes affected are recent LAHS graduates.

Current Cal junior Erik Johnson and sophomore Arla Rosenzweig are among the 163 athletes whose sports were cut.

Erik pitches for Cal’s baseball team and Arla competes all-around on the women’s gymnastics team.

“Our whole team was pretty disappointed and the last two days we had some guys who did not know what to do and were very confused,” Erik said.

Cal cut the teams due to statewide budget cuts and will save an estimated $4 million.

“I was devastated when I first heard the decision, as was our entire team,” Arla said.

For the Cal student-athletes who were given athletic scholarships, the university’s administrators promised to honor those scholarships until the affected athlete’s graduation.

The university will help students transfer to other universities

if they wish to continue their “Our team has really made the athletic careers. choice to play the season out Arla, although she did consider and hopefully the core guys will transferring, “loves Cal too much stick together,” Erik said. “We’ll to leave.” show people this year that they But Erik did not feel that there made the wrong decision to cut was a reason for him to stay at Cal baseball.” beyond the baseball program.

The other sports affected were “I’m planning to play with men’s gymnastics, girl’s lacrosse the team and finish out this and men’s rugby. In addition season,” Erik said. “I to the 163 am eligible athletes, the to play cuts will also After everything I’ve professional affect 13 fullsacrificed to achieve that baseball. time coaches. goal, it was hard to process Hopefully “ T h e that will that gymnastics was being majority work out for of us have taken away from me. me, [but if it been doing does not] I’ll gymnastics find another since we school to go Arla Rosenzweig ‘09, s t a r t e d play at.”

Cal Gymnast w a l k i n g Since the and have sports will not be cut until the dedicated our entire lives to end of the academic year, both it,” Arla said. “After everything baseball and gymnastics will I’ve sacrificed to achieve that finish their current seasons. goal, it was hard to process that “There is nothing complacent gymnastics was being taken away about any of the teams that have from me.” been dropped,” Arla said. “Only being given one last season is Article first going to take a toll on a lot of my published on teammates, and myself, but I know it will motivate us to work harder to make [it the best].”

Erik shares these sentiments.

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lahstalon.org

19

Soaring Eagles

Martin Aycott Senior

2 games: 8/17 127 yards 27 carries 112 yards 3 TD The Talon: What was it like going in for Steven McClain in the Santa Cruz game when he broke his wrist?

Martin: I was pretty nervous. At first I had a lot of pressure on me, [but] the line takes a lot of pressure off of me. I can depend on my line if I need to pass. In the end it worked out pretty well.

T: How do you think your team reacted to the injury?

M: We have a lot of injuries, but the second-string players have really stepped it up.

The secondary players really know their positions. They come in with intensity, so yeah. We’re doing pretty well.

T: What do you want to see happen the rest of the year?

M: Well, obviously I’d like us to go to CCS. I want to play QB a little bit more. Being introduced to it really turned me on to the position. [When Steven’s back] we’ll probably pick up where we left off.

Nicole Larsen Junior Photos Courtesy Arla RosenzwEiG and Catherine ShYu

LAHS graduates Arla Rosensweig ‘09 and Erik Johnson ‘08 were recruited to Cal for gymnastics and baseball respectively. Both programs will be cut at Cal after this year.

Sports Briefs Spring spots

“Though on-campus coaches have their benefits, the application process for coaching candidates will continue for off -campus coaches,” Cave said.

meaning the limitation of additional costuming is only for display case photos.

This year the Athletic Department has chosen to prohibit the use of props and costumes in the team photos displayed around the school.

“The pictures we take for the school are to show off our teams, seniors and coaches. Most of the time, the props used will cover most of the athlete’s face and nobody really knows who it is,” Cave said.

Cave also added that in some cases the props or hand signals used in a picture can be inappropriate.

“This is not how we like to display our athletes,” Cave said.

But for those athletes who plan to purchase and take home their photos, props are allowed,

of the teams will start on this date.

Tryouts for winter sports will last a few days past the end of the fall sports season. Fall athletes cannot try out for the winter team until their fall season is done.

However, depending on the coach, the extra time could just be for fall sports athletes.

Prospective players not involved in fall sports should not count on having the same amount of time as fall sport athletes. They should show up to tryouts as soon as possible.

The only anomaly so far is that girls soccer tryouts will start on November 8.

Preliminary winter coaching Props prohibited sport tryout dates The first day winter sports can available in sports photos start tryouts is November 1. Most

Varsity boys tennis and frosh/soph boys and JV girls swimming still have coaching openings. However, because the spring sports do not begin until March, Athletic Director Kim Cave is not worried about finding a new coach.

In fact, the new Varsity Boys Tennis coach should be announced shortly.

“We’ve just finished interviews for varsity boys tennis coach, so we should be making that decision pretty soon,” Cave said.

Cave is open to either oncampus or off-campus coaches for the remaining positions.

On-campus staff have been helping with the absence of former coaches.

Compiled by Sarah Corner

4 goals allowed per game 11.4 saves a game The Talon: As goalie you do a lot of waiting, right up until the moment you’re being attacked. What’s it like?

Nicole: It’s making sure I have a really intense focus. I try to help the rest of my team.

You don’t really notice until after, like, ‘woah I’ve been yelling for 20 minutes.’ But just concise short orders ... I used to be a field player, so that really helps me decide what they need.

T: Goalies tread water the entire game. How do you get in shape for that?

N: At practice I have a weight belt that’s about 20 pounds I use. I have thighs the size of most people’s torso.

T: How long ago did you switch to goalie? Was it hard?

N: I’ve played for five years and I’ve played goalie for three. It’s a lot of work but it’s worth it. [It’s] definitely hard to get used to it. I know people who have tried but couldn’t do it. The position has to pick you.

20 C

Sports

olin Mulcahy treads water and hoists the ball high up by his ear. Underwater, a war is waging between the lower halves of Colin’s body and the two players defending him. As a third defender rushes over to provide yet another set of arms in Colin’s face, Colin casually tosses the ball across the pool to senior Emilien Fritsch, who easily puts the ball past the goalie in a matter of seconds.

Since being named the CCS Division 1 player of the year last season and a preseason AllAmerican this year, senior captain Colin Mulcahy has dealt with the increased defensive measures of other teams.

“I’m so used to double and triple teams I just approach it like it’s one defender,” Colin said.

“You just have to be creative and more physical.”

This type of unprecedented defensive attention on one player, and the Eagles’ unselfish team mentality is what has lead boys water polo to an undefeated (8-0) record this season. Due in large part to its two leading scorers, the team has not lost in league play.

“Those two [Colin and Emilien] go hand in hand, they play really

well together,” said first-year varsity head coach Johnny Bega.

“They’ve played for the last someodd years together, and they do really really well.”

Bega took over as head coach of the Eagles this season. He spent the last five years coaching the boys team at Menlo Atherton High School, leading them to three CCS finals appearances, winning one in 2007. Bega expects the same from LAHS’s team this year.

“I told them at the beginning of the season that I thought we could end up in the finals, whether we’re D1 or D2 and it’s very realistic I said that,” Bega said. “We’ve become an exceptional team.”

Emilien echoed his sentiments, stating that he never doubted the team’s ability to do well.

“My expectation for league was to go undefeated and win league because we have done that for the past three years,” Emilien said.

“I am hoping we at least make it to the finals of CCS. That would make my senior season.”

If the team meets all expectations, though, a lot of the credit will be due to Colin.

“To have a guy like that to pass to, it’s just unheard of,” Bega said.

“You can throw the ball to him anywhere and he’ll score at any will. And the other players know that, and they’re okay with that.”

Colin agreed with his coach, and the ability of the team to play as a cohesive unit has really attributed to its success.

“Everyone is stepping up and accepting their role on the team which is good,” said Colin. “We are the same team in a lot of ways as years in the past. We have a lot of offensive talent and we put up a lot of goals.”

Colin’s dedication to the sport goes beyond personal growth as well, for he has taken his role as team captain very seriously.

“In training, he personally works hard so he can achieve what he wants to do later on in college, but also he’s really good with all the teammates,” Bega said. “I see many players at his level say, ‘oh this high school thing is stupid’, but he’s really done a great job helping these guys out.”

As far as college goes, Colin’s top choices so far are UCLA, UC Berkeley, and UCSB. Wherever Colin decides to go, he’s sure to have a pretty big impact. Even if he’s triple teamed.

October 19, 2010

Alex Kent

Senior Colin Mulcahy rises up over a Palo Alto defender. Colin scored 9 goals in the Eagle’s 17-6 victory on Wednesday, October 13.

domination 4-year varsity stars lead teams to perfect De Anza records

Boys Season Totals

Goals Assists Colin Mulcahy 97 29 Emilien Fritsh 57 30 Ma O

Steals 48 25

By Drew Eller Staff Writer All stats and records are updated as of Thursday, October 14.

C

Alex Kent

Senior KK Sandlin shoots in a game against Palo Alto. KK led the team with 4 goals, 8 steals, and 4 assists in their 12-5 win.

aitlin “KK” Sandlin steals the ball, weaves through the opposing defense, cocks her arm back, and fires a shot into the back of the net. A few minutes later, KK snatches the ball from her opponent, switches the ball from her left to her right hand, springs up out of the water, and slings a shot past the reaching goalie. As the Eagles venture into the second half of their season, don’t be surprised to see KK steal the show and shoot down the hopes of any and all other teams.

At the forefront of the Lady Eagles’ (8-0) undefeated league season is team captain KK Sandlin, a four year Varsity water polo player who leads her team in both steals and goals this season. KK’s defensive prowess has made her one of the most dominant Los Altos water polo players in recent memory.

“She’s everywhere in the pool at the same time. I’ve never seen someone be able to steal the ball from as skilled of players as KK can,” Coach Brian Whitlock said.

“She’s like a seventh defender in a six player defensive game.”

While KK has always been an outstanding defensive player, this season, her increase in offensive production has made

Girls League Totals

K.K. Sandlin Katy Schaefer Carrie Beyer

Goals 26 27 23

her more dominant. “[KK] stepped up her offense immensely this year, leading our team in goals and being able to hit the tough shots,” Whitlock said. “We have plays that revolve around just KK taking a shot.”

Brian Whitlock ‘03 is a former LAHS waterpolo player as well. Whitlock went on to play D-1 Waterpolo at Pepperdine following his time at Los Altos.

He has coached the team the past three years.

“We also have five girls that I started off with as freshmen two years ago when I started coaching who are now juniors that have solid varsity experience,” Whitlock said. “They all played on varsity as freshmen and got really good experience. And now that they’re juniors, with KK leading the team, we definitely have a solid chance at winning.”

This core includes several players, including juniors Katy Schaefer, Alyssa Waln, Carrie Beyer, Nicole Larsen, and Olivia Santiago, who was named to the Youth National Team. The experience playing together goes a long way in creating a ‘symmetry’ as the team’s chemistry and comfort has been instrumental in helping the team keep an undefeated record.

Assists 19 6 3

Steals 51 13 12

“Most other teams lost many of their strong players who were seniors last year, so we have an advantage [over] them,” KK said. “We barely lost any of our starters or main players” One returning player is goalie Nicole Larsen. KK didn’t hesitate to name Nicole as a key component to the teams ability to rise to the top of the league.

“I feel like the difference is that this year, our main players have stepped up and have become bigger threats to the opposing team,” said KK. “Especially our goalie Nicole has been doing great and helping out the team a lot by working hard this year.”

However, life as a goalie is made somewhat easier when a player with KK’s defensive prowess is in the pool at all times.

With just four games left in the season, the girls prepare for their shot at both a perfect season, and hopefully a CCS championship, which Coach Whitlock believes will come down to ‘whichever team plays the best,’ since all the superior teams are even in strength.

It’s having a player like KK Sandlin that may just prove to be the difference maker.

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