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Volume XXI, Issue VI: February 13, 2020
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Pinterest Fails Accent 3
Coco Tsaur and Mitul Kalra The Northwood Howler
A F ( A B B A ) U L O U S P R O D U C T I O N : S t u d e n t s p e r f o r m c l a s s i c s o n g s f r o m t h e 1 9 9 9 m u s i c a l “Ma m m a M i a ! ”
“Mamma Mia!” hits the Northwood stage By Nawal Abdul Staff Writer
Northwood’s Theatre Department put on their annual musical, “Mamma Mia!” from Feb. 6-8. The production was months in the making, culminating in a welldelivered take on an iconic piece. Senior Rachel McMullen took to the stage as the legendary character Donna, shining in one of her last Northwood roles. “This one is extra special because I am a senior, so this is the last musical I will ever be a part of,” McMullen said. “It will definitely be a sob fest.”
The production’s soundtrack was evidently the most carefully curated part of the performance, with each song carrying its own tone that blended into the acting seamlessly. Each song was also accompanied by a unique dance number, showing off Northwood’s incredibly skilled VAPA Department. “The best part about working on the musical is the coming together and collaboration of all the different parts,” Instrumental Music director Ben Case, who conducted the show orchestra, said. The production also showcased the fashion and makeup talent present
on campus. Each character got at least one costume change, including the ensemble cast, and they were mostly all delivered in a way that contributed to the hilarity of the iconic play. What’s more, the wardrobe department outdid themselves by assigning the perfect costumes to every character. “Mamma Mia!” just isn’t truly complete without its Greek vibe, which was beautifully rendered by the props crew. With intricate vines that decorated the fantastically built sets and lights that created a vacation feel, this particular musical offered a chance to highlight every part of the play-making machine, which the
drama department seized effortlessly. “Props are integral to the set because the set dressing is really what gives the show character,” senior Grace Cheng said. All in all, “Mamma Mia!” was delivered truly phenomenally, from its performances made by incredibly dedicated actors and actresses—like juniors Kaitlin Miranda and Jerry Chen and seniors Jeneen Elbershawi, Johan Obillos and Chris Kassir—to its well-thought-out costumes and wonderfully designed props. It did justice to a timeless story and a cherished soundtrack, complete with a ‘70s disco ball.
Integrated Science Viewpoint 10
Girls Water Polo Sports 12
Dancing in a winter wonderland at Winter Formal By Mei Ono Staff Writer
Daniel Dai The Northwood Howler
The chilly night breeze perfectly matched this year’s “Winter Wonderland” theme for Northwood’s annual Winter Formal as students danced their worries away at AV Irvine on Friday, Jan. 17. Upon entering the venue, students were met with a walkway leading to the dance hall with a high ceiling and large snowflakes projected along the walls. Neon lights flashed with the DJ’s music, extending to the veranda upstairs. “The beginning of the dance was a little awkward because not many people were dancing, but as time passed, more people started really getting into it and singing along which was really fun,” junior Jenny Weng said. The crowd was on its feet shouting the lyrics to “Roxanne” by Arizona Zervas and “Plugwalk” by Rich the Kid, not to mention throwbacks like Justin Bieber’s “Baby” and Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You.” Those who wanted a break from dancing played classic arcade games on the second floor, which
Sondos Elbershawi The Northwood Howler
A F U J I F OR M A L : S e ni or s Ad am Fujiw ara and Yukako Fujimori were crowned king and queen at formal on Jan. 17. included Galaga and Super Smash Bros. Brawl on the Wii, or quenched their thirst with a cup of lemonade. Two hours into the dance, the Formal Court was called to the stage as students crowded around to witness the crowning. Senior Alex Ibasitas hosted the ceremony, announcing the crowning of sophomores Tam-
my Lim and Shan Syed as Formal Princess and Prince, respectively. “Being crowned as Formal Princess was a new and cool experience for me,” Lim said. “I didn’t expect for me to win, so that made it all the more fun.” After much anticipation, senior Yukako Fujimori was crowned as
Formal Queen and senior Adam Fujiwara—who was Fujimori’s Formal date—was crowned Formal King. “It felt very rewarding that a majority of the juniors and seniors voted for me as Formal King,” Fujiwara said. “Being crowned with Yukako was very special, and knowing her for as long as I have, it felt like everything came full-circle.” ASB, primarily led by Senior Class Council, had been discussing plans for Winter Formal since September when they found out the location of the venue. A week of ASBorganized activities preceded the dance, including lunch fests, dress ups and this year’s new addition of the school bingo. Students could fill out a series of boxes in a bingo card describing various members of the Northwood faculty for a chance to win a pair of tickets to Formal. “I am so glad to have planned Formal and seeing everyone’s pictures made me proud of everyone that helped plan this event,” Senior Class president Stacy Kim said. ASB is now working hard to organize the upcoming Sadie Hawkins dance which will be held on March 13.
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NEWS
February 13, 2020
The Northwood Howler
Seniors race to the finish line National Karen(own) By Rocky Gao Staff Writer
Mitul Kalra The Northwood Howler
CLASH OR CRASH?: Sophomore Reid Okada aims at the freshmen team in the second dodgeball round. By Pranav Gaddam Staff Writer
The seniors dodged defeat in the 2020 Clash of the Classes event, dominating in Super Smash Bros., spelling bee and the talent show. The annual competition pits each class against the others with a series of events that earn points, including several dress-up days where students wore jerseys, college apparel and class colors. The winner was declared based on which class had the most points. Kicking off the event, representatives from each class competed in a game of Super Smash Bros. during the Winter Formal rally on Jan. 10. As the fight intensified, senior Neil Gopal secured his spot at the top, while the sophomores made
a poor showing in last place. “It was disappointing for us to end up last in the first competition,” sophomore Jonathan Cilderman said. “Even though we started off in a bad spot, it was still exciting to compete against the other classes.” After the spelling bee, which the seniors won, the classes took to the stage, performing in the talent show. The freshmen led with a guitar solo of “I Want You Back.” The sophomores presented multiple acts including a duet, dance and a magic trick. The juniors followed with a group dance to popular TikTok songs, a solo dance and a rap. For the finale, seniors performed a duo dance, songs and a baton twirling performance, ultimately winning the event. “The talent show was entertain-
ing and the junior class was well represented with our displays of talent,” junior Ryan Do said. “Overall, everyone performed incredibly well.” In the culminating event, the juniors defeated the sophomores and the seniors defeated the freshmen in the first round of dodgeball. In the second match, the seniors faced their only defeat, losing to the juniors, but still earned enough points to win overall, while the sophomores beat the freshmen to earn third place. Even though Clash of the Classes is now over, it’s not the only time to show your school or class spirit. You can support the stars of Northwood in the upcoming choir and instrumental concerts during the first week of March, whether you’re a senior or a freshman.
Senior Karen Chung won $2,000 for Northwood and another $2,000 for herself after being named one of the top 300 scholars of the Regeneron Talent Science Search. Her project, titled “Integrating Mathematical Modeling With Machine Learning to Identify Cancer Driver Genes,” led to her success at the competition. Facilitated by The Society for Science & the Public, the Regeneron Talent Science Search is the nation’s oldest math and science competition for high school seniors. “Regeneron Talent Science Search gives me the confidence to call myself a junior researcher,” Chung said. Despite the strenuous demands of the competition, she found the journey just as rewarding as the award, in its own way. “My research is in computational biology, which I love because it allows me to use mathematics—my favorite subject—in a computational context that addresses biomedical issues,” Chung said. “From machine learning to biological situations, I discovered what I enjoy the most about the process of research.” By exceeding academic expectations, Chung took a giant leap as a budding scientist. Her award was the result of her ambition and effort in the realm of science. “I’ve been working with Dr. Qing Nie at UCI,” Chung said. “I submitted a 20-page research paper along with essays and recommendations.”
Excited for the future, Chung is pursuing mathematics in college and hopes to continue to blend science with math to inspire global influence. Chung appreciates the opportunity to capture a national audience through the competition and is proud of her achievement. “I plan to continue researching real-world problems through a mathematical and computational lens,” Chung said. “The Regeneron Science Talent Search feels like a huge milestone in this journey.” In addition to her own accomplishments, Chung is grateful for those who have guided and supported her through this competition “I’m grateful to so many people, like my UCI lab family, my parents and friends and NHS teachers who guided my growth in this long journey,” Chung said. The $2,000 awarded to Northwood will be distributed among the many STEM-related activities that are offered to the students.
Grant Dickerson The Northwood Howler
I N N OVAT I N G S C I E N C E : Senior Karen Chung is named one of the Top 300 scholars.
BosMUN fun
Coronavirus
By Mihir Kulkarni
By Catherine Hu and Zaina Shaik
Staff Writer
The Northwood Model United Nations (MUN) team attended the 19th annual Boston MUN conference from Feb. 7-9. The team competed in a variety of formats throughout the conference and came home with several awards. Senior Carina Lin earned a verbal commendation for representing Spain in the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) committee. Junior Sonia Chacon was also awarded a verbal commendation for her performance in representing Giovanni I Bentivoglio during the Joint-Crisis committee: Bologna. “It was a really fun experience just to walk around and see Boston and take part in the conference,” sophomore Rahul Khanna said. MUN is an academic simulation of the United Nations (UN) organization. Students act as UN representatives of a particular country and debate world issues as a committee before drafting resolutions to address these issues. “I think it was a great opportunity for me to experience a conference as large as Boston MUN,” sophomore Alden Zeng said. “I had a great chance to practice diplomacy and compromise because the resolution groups were so large.” The conference was also an opportunity to interact with not just peers from Northwood but the entire nation, with over 1,500 delegates in attendance. “I became good friends with everyone who went from Northwood and even made a lot of friends from the East Coast and places like Mexico,” Khanna said. With BMUN LXVIII at UC Berkeley just around the corner, the team will continue to prepare and refine their strategies to perform well.
News Editors
Daniel Dai The Northwood Howler
Rising up at the Women’s March By Mei Ono Staff Writer
The voices of women and their allies echoed across the country as thousands nationwide participated in the fourth annual Women’s March to campaign for women’s rights and more on Jan. 18. The march itself is known for covering a variety of topics of interest, addressing issues such as reproductive, civil and immigrant rights as well as climate reform. Protesters held signs with topics ranging from politics such as “I’ve seen better cabinets at IKEA” or simply “equality has no gender.” At the main march in Washington D.C., Martin Luther King III’s wife and human rights advocate Arndrea Waters King took to the stage, urging the crowd to push for “eternal diligence” and solidarity. “I love to be part of events like the march because it’s so inspiring being surrounded by such an immense amount of positivity, and it’s great to see that every one of the thousands of people attending were supporting me as a young woman,” junior Keilani Grace said. “Taking part in a march is part of what makes
a democracy what it is. Our voice is one of our most powerful assets.” The Women’s March began as a Facebook post that came to life in 2017 largely in response to President Donald Trump’s inauguration. Dozens of those participating were seen wearing the march’s signature pink “pussyhats,” originally designed as an allusion to some of President Trump’s remarks, many of which were seen as misogynistic by the public. Although the movement first began in Washington D.C., it was quickly replicated by major cities in the US including Los Angeles, where Grace and junior Chloe Au marched. “I enjoyed marching alongside my friends to help give a voice to women, since a lot of times, we’re just in the background and are afraid of raising our voices,” Au said. However, this year’s march, like most protests, was not without controversy. For the first time since 2017, Black Lives Matter Los Angeles (BLM) was not invited to speak at the event. There have been growing tensions between the two organizations since the first march three years ago, where Women’s March Los Angeles
(WMLA) allowed a single speaker to take the stage after BLM requested more as a reflection of its group-centered leadership. According to LAist, WMLA had released a statement claiming that they wanted speakers that were voting-focused as one of the major themes of this year’s rally, but hoped BLM would still participate in the march. “I wasn’t aware of BLM not being invited until after the march, but I personally would’ve still attended,” junior Harin Lee said. “We’re still advocating for the rights of all regardless of the intentions of the organizers, but it is upsetting to see that BLM didn’t speak despite having done so the previous years.” Despite the controversy, the Women’s March remains one of the biggest annual demonstrations for women’s rights, and continues to fuel the fire of the growing feminist movement in America. “It was such a beautiful thing seeing so many diverse people gather for a unified cause,” Grace said. “Everyone came to march together to advocate for women, which was so inspiring as every person there believed they were making an impact.”
The 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in China has spread globally, with at least 14 cases in the United States, one of which was found in Orange County and has reached around 1,360 deaths and 53,000 confirmed cases worldwide, at the time of publication. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus a global health emergency on Jan. 31. The patient in Orange County was confirmed in January to be a man in his fifties who had recently traveled to Wuhan but was released on Feb. 1 in good health. The new coronavirus, discovered late December in Wuhan, the capital of China’s Hubei province, causes symptoms including fever and shortness of breath. 15% of cases cause severe viral pneumonia. Wuhan and many surrounding cities in Hubei have been in a government lockdown since Jan. 23. Countries like the United States responded by evacuating their citizens on government-chartered planes and quarantining them on military bases. 174 cases have also been found on the Diamond Princess cruise ship near Japan, resulting in a quarantine of all those on board. Fear of another global outbreak like SARS has led many countries to impose bans on Chinese nationals entering, and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a quarantine on people returning from China, the first mandatory quarantine in America since the 1960s. The chance of an outbreak in the U.S. is low, but IUSD has implemented precautionary measures. They regularly clean computers, reversed the ban on face masks and asked for a self-quarantine for sick students who have been to China.
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The Northwood Howler
Keeping it real: reflections on our New Year’s resolutions
February 13, 2020
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Making it batter: a guide to making pancake art
By Jonathan Kang and Erin Kim Staff Writers
While New Year’s resolutions are a breath of fresh air for all who seek improvements in their lives, around 80% of people across the nation fail to stick with their resolutions by February, leaving many to wonder: How can I stick to mine? Here are some Northwood students with their resolutions and tips. Sophomore Yunseo Lee “My New Year’s resolution was to start smiling more, and so far, I think I’ve been pretty successful. I’ve always wanted to appear friendly in order to create a more welcoming atmosphere at school and in my community in general. I believe that a simple smile has the power to uplift sad spirits and spread happiness; it can create an optimistic attitude and supportive environment. I think a reminder for me to stick to my resolution is thinking of how it feels when someone gives me a smile because it encourages me to try to help others feel the same way.”
Junior Elisa Marconell “I started my New Year’s resolution, which was exercising more, 20 days late. I’ve managed to run for an hour for two consecutive days, which I’m pretty happy about, and I’m hoping to continue doing so. I had to quit my sport due to my course overload, which meant that the only exercise I did was walking. It wasn’t until my coworker asked me to go to the gym with her that I realized that it was a good idea! If you’re pursuing a goal and feel like giving up, I’d suggest asking a friend to join you so that it’s more fun.”
Gabriel Dimaandal The Northwood Howler
(FLOUR)ISHING ARTISTS: Juniors Erin Kim, Varun Vishnubhotla, and Anlon Zhu (left to right) fill squirt bottles with colored pancake batter. By Erin Kim, Varun Vishnubhotla and Anlon Zhu Staff Writers
Pinterest is a social hub of creativity, quirky art and impressive craftsmanship. For amateur arts-andcrafters, Pinterest is the birthplace of the harsh realization that reality is not exactly the same as expectation. Never fear, The Howler is here to figure out the ‘to-dos” and “not-todos” for you as we attempt Pinterest pancake art—a balancing act of basic cooking and drawing—saving your sanity and very possibly your souls. A definite to-do is preparation. To our chagrin, science pre-labs indeed serve a purpose, and so does setting your mise en place. Understanding our ingredients, tools and procedures allowed us to go through the project a lot faster. For ingredients, you’ll need pancake mix, food coloring, vegetable oil and water. For tools, you’ll need a whisk, a mixing bowl, a pitcher, a pan and several squeeze
bottles (one for each batter color). The pitcher is important. Pouring the pancake batter into the pitcher makes it far easier to pour it into the little neck of the squeeze bottles rather than scooping in the batter with a ladle. Unfortunately for us, this observation was not made until halfway through the bottle filling process. Then, mix in drops of food coloring into each bottle. Remember, the colors tend to darken as the pancakes cook, so tint them lightly. Something we did right— although accidentally—was drawing without the heat on. Without heat, even the slowest of artists can squeeze out the colored mix without burning the pancake. Trace the outline of your pancake art without heat first; this will maintain the shape of your pancake. Then, turn on the heat and fill in the outline. Drawing with the heat on is how pancake art is typically done, but it’s certainly a race against time. Frankly, anything that makes a pretty product is a valid to-do, even if
that means using safety scissors to cut your pancake into its most desirable shape. What an idealized world we live in. Okay, so that’s what to do. What shouldn’t you do? For one, don’t rush. While we were whisking the pancake batter, one Howler member felt inclined to amp up the speed. After feeling quite accomplished with his arm power, he was disappointed to see batter stains all over his Nike hoodie. Those white stains did not look good. Practicing patience while cooking is also important. We didn’t know that pancakes take a couple of minutes to set, so our first few attempts fell apart into a colorful mix of undercooked batter. You also should not touch a 350 degree Fahrenheit pan with the nozzle of the squeeze bottle because the plastic will melt the hole shut. One Howler member thought that this would be a bright idea, but we ended up having to switch nozzles every time we wanted to use a new
color. Save yourself some trouble. Don’t do it. Finally, don’t be reckless while working with fire. We left the flame open on a pan coated with oil for nearly half an hour, and it took us that whole half hour to realize that the burning smell was coming from the pan. Yes, oil can (and will) burn. Moreover, while scrubbing away at that same pan, one Howler member with a particularly voluptuous rear end managed to turn the stove’s knob 15 degrees clockwise, which ignited a miniature flame and nearly burned his finger. Keep in mind that these stove knobs are designed for an adult hand’s dexterity. Clearly, there’s a lot to be done and a lot more not to be done when creating pancake art. Having gone through all this trouble, The Howler recommends that you try pancake art for yourself! Or if you’re feeling adventurous, try another Pinterest project and experience the fun of being clueless. Bon appétit!
Freshman Harrison Huai “My New Year’s resolution was to invest more time into tennis. Personally, I wanted a drastic change in my lifestyle to accommodate my ambitions in tennis, and thus I set the goal of waking up early every day and practicing tennis for two hours, then practicing another two hours in the afternoon. Initially, this intense lifestyle change left me burned out, and I experienced the feeling of quitting that so many others who try to stick to their New Year’s resolutions do. Yet, I kept my long-term goals in mind and never quit, and I’m quite happy with the result because that has helped me make the Varsity Tennis team at Northwood as a freshman. If I could give one piece of advice for sticking to resolutions, it would be to look at the bigger picture and examine what you want to achieve in the long term, because putting that image in mind helped me stick to my goals.” Daniel Dai The Northwood Howler
Daniel Dai The Northwood Howler
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ACCENT
February 13, 2020
The Northwood Howler
Alina Catiller: (proof)ing her skills in the kitchen By Claire Chien and Helena Zhou Staff Writers
Not everyone can become a great cook, but a great cook can come from anywhere. Northwood senior Alina Catiller is a prime example: after taking two years of culinary arts and a technical Regional Occupancy Program (ROP) baking course, Catiller now plans to pursue her baking passions in culinary school. Developing her own recipes for various sweets and treats, she demonstrates that you can indeed bake it until you make it. The Howler: How did you develop your passion for baking? Alina Catiller: I became interested during my sophomore year when I saw that culinary class was an option here at Northwood. At first, I didn’t really like it, but my parents told me to continue trying it out, and now I have an interest in culinary to the point where it might become my career. TH: What difficulties did you have to overcome with baking? AC: Baking is precision. It has its creative part but also a math part. You have to be very particular with what ingredients go in, so one of my struggles is focusing on and figuring out the measurements. TH: What have you had to go through in order to reach where you are now? AC: I’m actually an immigrant from Ukraine. My two younger sisters and I were all adopted from
Rachel Kang The Northwood Howler
BAKE IT ‘TILL YOU MAKE IT: Senior Alina Catiller strategically positions her cookie cutter to get the most number of cookies out of the rolled-out dough. Ukraine around 10 years ago. Life before adoption was really hard for me. My birth mom was struggling with things, and it impacted all three of us differently. Even though I share some of her struggles, they’re not defining me, and I’m trying my hardest to do school and still trying to learn the language. Overall, my struggles have made me the person I am today, and right now, I’m trying to be better at all the things I want to do in life, like baking, and show that to my sisters.
A (case)adilla for Irvine’s newest Little Onion Mexican Restaurant By Pranav Gaddam Staff Writer
Now open for three months, the Little Onion brings a taste of Mexico to the plates of Irvine residents. At first glance, the restaurant’s spacious lot, extending into the Walnut Village Center with seating both outside and inside, was a pleasant surprise. The inside had an impressive rustic atmosphere, with Mexican paintings adorning the walls and dim lighting throughout. On a Saturday afternoon, it was a gorgeous setting for a meal, not too cramped or too loud with little chatter, perfect for hanging out with friends, family or even a date. Moving onto the food, their spicy salmon and chicken tacos, which both had well-balanced flavors, were my favorite dishes. Every bite filled my mouth with a burst of flavors, from the delicate combination of chopped tomatoes, onions, peppers and cilantro in the Pico de Gallo to the heat of the spicy Chipotle Aioli sauces. The meat was well cooked and tender, but could contribute an extra spice to the taco. The amount of sauce was perfect; it didn’t overwhelm the other flavors, but rather complemented the dish with a kick of spice. In terms of texture, the bell peppers added an extra crunch with every bite. Next, the Mexican Pizza, while messy in presentation, was full of deep, rich flavors. The
combination of a crispy tortilla with rich toppings like shredded chicken, ranchero sauce and cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese was divine. The creamy, melted cheese provided delicious contrast to the spicy ranchero sauce. Additionally, these textures mix very well. However, it was a little difficult to eat because almost all of the toppings fell off mid-bite. Finally, the Lil O Burritos’ filling of rice, beans,
chicken and bell peppers was decent, but I can’t say the same about the corn tortilla. It was slightly chewy and hard to cut. The overall look wasn’t appealing either because the burrito was drenched in Rojo sauce, a spicy red sauce. In the end, the quantity left me content, but I noticed an excess of rice that slightly overpowered the other ingredients. Overall, the meat dishes were tender and juicy. The food was on the more expensive side with three small tacos costing $17, but they have a lot of variety on their menu. From the appetizers to the deserts, there are plenty of dishes and flavors for everyone. An eight out of ten: I would come back, but I recommend exploring the menu because certain dishes excel, but some are not quite as appealing. Victoria Ta The Northwood Howler
TH: What is one of your most memorable moments from baking? AC: Definitely when I made myself a raspberry cheesecake for my 18th birthday. I remember after school, I was so excited to go home and eat a piece. I almost ate the whole thing. I also learned from that experience to wet the knife before cutting the cake for a nice, clean cut. TH: What is your favorite part about baking? AC: I like making the food and
seeing people’s reactions to it. I like how a dish is developed, how you can do so much with just one ingredient and the final outcome of presenting it at the end. I first see other people’s perspectives on how they make their food, but now, I’m really starting to discover what goes together and what doesn’t. The process is definitely fun— putting all the ingredients together and combining all of it. It’s fun if you have friends, parents or anyone to share it with. It doesn’t matter what
you’re making. It’s more about being with the people you love. TH: So, it’s almost Valentine’s Day. As an experienced baker, do you have tips for our readers who want to try baking something for their loved ones? AC: Start off easy and search up step-by-step directions. As you get more comfortable, try more difficult recipes, but start off simple such as with chocolate chip or oatmeal cookies with chocolate drizzled on.
Date anecdotes: Northwood’s cutest couples By Abigail Fang, Rocky Gao and Erin Tsai
Staff Writers
You might not have a date for Valentine’s Day, but no worries— here you can live vicariously through the stories of others. For instance, science teacher Jennifer Nguyen fondly remembers her first date with her fiancé. Six years ago, after three months of texting, Nguyen’s fiancé finally asked her out on a date. “Being young college students, we didn’t have a lot of money, so we went on a typical movie date at the local movie theater as our first real date,” Nguyen said. Following the movie, they went to a nearby Yogurtland where they shared so much about themselves that they spent the entire night talking. “We had talked to each other so much that on this same date we actually got to see the sunrise together,” Nguyen said. “The best dates we have are the ones where we just take the time to be present and honest with each other and understand the other as a person.” Some of the best first dates are unplanned and creative. Others can laugh when looking back at their first date, like how sophomore Alex Fu recalls his disastrous first date in middle school. “Honors Orchestra was going to Disney, so we just called it a date,” Fu said. “It was a massive mess. We didn’t know what we were doing because we were middle schoolers. It was more of a self-indulgence thing.” Later, the couple continued to explore Disneyland by themselves. “I ate two turkey legs because she couldn’t finish hers,” Fu said. “We also went on some roller coasters, whatever people who go to Disney do.”
Michael Huang The Northwood Howler
XOXO: Seniors Joanna Zhang and Eric Lin love to spend time together. Despite the stereotypes, teenage first dates can contain touching moments. Senior Joanna Zhang shares wholesome moments with her boyfriend, senior Eric Lin. “For our first date, we went to this random park,” Zhang said. “We brought a bunch of chalk, and then we did some calculus integral problems on the sidewalk.” Even five months after their first date, Zhang still remembers the moment dearly and cherishes her relationship. “I remember having a lot of fun, feeling like he was one of my best friends,” Zhang said. “He has helped
me realize a lot of characteristics about myself, and I really look up to him as a person in terms of the way he sees the world around him, and the way he handles his emotions.” In the end, relationships have the power to shape people, through the hard lessons learned and forming deeper connections with another person. Regardless of the eventual outcome, they play a role in self-improvement. “I learned about the virtue of patience and tolerance,” Fu said. “I only really cared about myself before, but I learned that sometimes, you have to deal with other people as well.”
The Northwood Howler
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
February 13, 2020
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Disney+ versus Netflix: which is the best streaming service? By Nawal Abdul
By Erin Kim
Disney+ may be the newest streaming service, but Disney is nowhere near new. We’ve all grown up on Disney, and all those amazing shows we’ve been begging Netflix to add for years? They’re all on Disney+. You can watch them all on repeat, just like you did back in elementary school, and bask in the glory of childhood television. But it’s not just the old-school stuff that you can rewatch as many times as you want. It’s the newest movies and TV shows from all of Disney’s affiliates, like the Marvel and Star Wars franchises, which include some of the most iconic movies of the decade––all of which can only be found on Disney+. Another benefit of Disney+ is its affordability. It’s $6.99 per month for up to eight screens, not to mention all of their integration deals with specific companies (like Verizon customers, who get a year free), nowhere near Netflix’s $8.99 per month for one screen, so you’re getting more for less. Disney+ has more content that we know and love, like spin-offs from the Marvel and Star Wars universes. While Netflix is gearing itself more towards its own original content, Disney+ is focusing on building its library of known and loved titles by purchasing distribution rights to shows like the Simpsons and more. Overall, Netflix may seem like the superior streaming service as of now, but that’s only because it’s been running longer and has thus had a lot more time to build its reputation. In a few years, however, Disney+ will surpass Netflix in popularity as well as desirability.
Netflix has always been the best streaming service available, despite comparisons people have made to Disney+ due to social media frenzy surrounding its recent release. The high subscription rate for Netflix correlates to the quality of its user interface; Netflix categorizes shows by specific genres, whereas Disney+ only has five broad sections. You’re also paying for more titles with higher resolution, as Netflix has options to play movies and shows in 4K and Ultra-HD. Netflix has a wider range of options, no matter if you enjoy horrors or comedies. Its 22 years as the most popular service allows it to provide hundreds of shows and full seasons. Netflix has been at the forefront of offering quality entertainment: it even has movies and shows produced in different countries. Additionally, Netflix is accessible in more than 190 different countries. On the other hand, Disney+ is only available in four countries: the Netherlands, the U.S., Canada and New Zealand. Ultimately, Netflix allows travelers to stream their favorite movies and shows on its platform across 186 more countries than Disney+ does. While Disney+ holds many blockbusters like the Star Wars franchise, these movies cannot keep up with Netflix in releasing such a large variety of new films and shows. After all, you can only watch a movie so many times before it becomes too predictable and boring. Although both streaming services are enticing, at the end of the day, Netflix remains the winning streaming service.
Staff Writer
Staff Writer
Rachel Gunawan The Northwood Howler
DJ the night away with Aaron Bonnema Valentine’s Day arts and crafts for your loved ones! By Dylan Yee Staff Writer
Behind every good school dance is a good DJ. DJs need to balance hype songs with mellower ones, all while keeping their audience engaged and lively, despite everyone’s varying music tastes. Simply put, not every song can be “Sicko Mode” or “Mo Bamba.” Artist Aaron Bonnema was the DJ for this year’s Winter Formal at AV Irvine. In an interview with The Howler, Bonnema talks about his passion for music and his goals as a disk jockey. The Howler: How did you start your career in DJing? Aaron Bonnema: I started DJing in high school parties and at school during lunchtimes just to get practice with my $100 mixer. Anyways, word got around that I
was apparently pretty good and one of my friend’s friends asked me to DJ at a house party. I didn’t even know it was a job because I do this for fun, but I got paid for it, and that’s when I realized that this could be a really profitable business. And that hobby progressed into getting paid as a DJ for people. Soon, I found out that N Effect was hiring. N Effect is a Southern California-based entertainment company that caters to people who want a fun time. TH: What do you think of Northwood students when they’re partying? AB: Northwood kids were hype! They are definitely one of the most energetic kids in Orange County and ASB kept the energy high all night! TH: What do you think is the hardest thing about being a DJ?
AB: Believe it or not, I would say advertising. A big part of being a successful DJ happens off the dance floor. DJs need to be known, and the more I put myself out there, the higher likelihood that I can DJ some more. The songs that I choose to play need to resonate with the high schoolers. It’s also hard to keep the dance floor packed and consistently play songs that work for the audience. There’s a diverse group of people with a lot of different music tastes, so I have to balance the interests of many people.
TH: What kind of advice would you give to an aspiring DJ? AB: Don’t be afraid of failure. Use the experience to grow and become a better DJ. Always be practicing consistently and get used to being uncomfortable. Play lots of shows and learn how to read the crowds.
By Pranav Gaddam Staff Writer
With Valentine’s Day quickly approaching, it’s time for Cupid to shoot his arrows and play matchmaker. But whether you’re single or in a relationship, here are a few arts and crafts to celebrate the lovely occasion for your significant other, friends or family members. 1. Candy Garland Take a variety of colored paper and cut them into hearts. Then, holepunch the cutouts at the upper left and right corners to insert a three or four foot string through them. After the garland is assembled, you can personalize it with inside jokes and by attaching candy behind each heart. 2. Puzzle To make this simple gift, the first thing you need to do is to gather your supplies: a piece of cardboard, a picture of you and your loved one, scissors and glue. Afterwards, glue the picture onto the cardboard and cut it into a heart. Once you have the heart, cut it into puzzle pieces and finally show your partner how much they complete you.
Sondos Elbershawi The Northwood Howler
Mixing it up: Students go wild as Bonnema plays one of the crowd favorites: “Dancing Queen” by ABBA.
3. Flower Card This flower card is an easy and creative way to show off both your art skills and your love for your family members! All you need to do to create this gift is to cut a sheet of pink foam paper into slightly curved petals. With these petals, create a flower by gluing each end to the center and attach it to the card.
Anna Ma The Northwood Howler
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February 13, 2020
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
The Northwood Howler
Akustikoff: performing beyond the notes By Cameron Arcand and Ashley Lee Staff Writers
Students from IUSD performed at the 14th annual Akustikoff, a competition for acoustic musicians on Jan. 31 in the Heritage Park Community Center. The performances and bake sale were organized by the Youth Action Team (YAT) to fundraise for the Relay For Life, a series of community events for the American Cancer Society. A group of three Northwood seniors won third place with their performances of “Beautiful People” by Ed Sheeran and “When You Look Me In The Eyes” by Jonas Brothers with Pancham Pawan on guitar and Sreekar Kasturi and Shounok Ghosh on vocals. “Acoustic music is more genuine and down-to-earth,” Pawan said. “Music is our passion and it’s a destressor. The rush you feel especially when you’re performing with someone else and the applause is a lot of satisfaction. Akustikoff is a really fun program and I wish I would be in town to perform in it next year.” Many performances featured themes such as heartbreak, self-love and personal struggle. From old-time classics to modern melodies, there were a variety of well-known tunes the audience could sing along to. Some performances even included songs composed or arranged by students. Juniors Sean Yan and Samridi Iyer arranged and performed a cover of “Jealous” by Labrinth. Yan played piano as an accompaniment to Iyer’s singing, a performance that received
Rachel Kang The Northwood Howler
T H e P e r f e c t D u o : Ju n i o r s S a m r i d i Iy e r a n d S e a n Yan p e r f o r m t h e s o n g “Je a l o u s” b y L ab r i nt h o n s t ag e . much praise from students. “I would say the highlight of the night was the performance by Sean and Samridi because it shined out as a more serious performance against all the others which were more casual and fun,” YAT representative sophomore Jessica Guo said. “When they were performing, you could feel the power behind it and Samridi’s voice really reached out to the audience.” Yan described his experience in exploring a different style of music at the event. “I’m a classical musician, so playing a pop song on a piano with a vocalist is something I don’t do, but it
Classic vs. modern songs: a review By Varun Vishnubhotla Staff Writer
“Memories” by Maroon 5 vs. “Canon in D” by Johann Pachellbel The Howler: Tell me your initial impressions of the songs, starting with Pachelbel. Shounok Ghosh: The piece is extremely structured. I noticed the polyphonic texture as each part was playing different melodies at the same time. TH: Did you notice anything technically? Was it unique in any way? SG: I found it unique that Johann Pachelbel used a rather complex chord pattern. It went from tonic to dominant to submediant and then mediant, subdominant, tonic, subdominant and finished with a dominant. TH: Great! Let’s move on to Maroon 5. How about your first impressions here? SG: The melody added more variation to the basic motif. The song is very repetitive with two main verses repeating each other with different lyrics. The lack of a bridge reiterates that. The chorus is similar to the motif in Canon in D.
“I Can” by Nas vs. “Für Elise” by Ludwig van Beethoven The Howler: Tell me your initial impressions of the songs, starting with Beethoven. Gayatri Kalyan: Set in A minor with modulations and several accidentals, this famous song still has the ability of conveying suspense and emotions no matter how many times one listens to it. TH: Technically, what do you notice? GK: The piece uses cordial progressions, harmonies, and rhythmic contrast to convey emotion. Fur Elise can be heard as a five-part rondo with the pattern of A-B-AC-A. The many chord progressions including the change in key to the submediant of F major during section B captivates the audience. TH: Great! Now, let’s move on to Nas. How about your first impressions here? GK: I definitely notice that this song samples Für Elise with a variation in rhythm, as shown through the repetition of the same rhythmic beat played throughout the song. Furthermore, the lyrics convey a story which is typically the case with most modern music.
Sreekar Kasturi The Northwood Howler
Original or Inspired?: Sophomore Gayatri Kalyan listens as she compares the classical and modern versions of two songs.
was a really good musical experience for me,” Yan said. “I think it’s really cool to see all these high schoolers who are just casually coming together and showcasing music because music is about the pursuit of excellence, but also expressing your feelings.” Although some were introduced to a new genre of music through their performance, audience members and musicians alike were still able to appreciate spending a night together with friends and family in the presence of music. Since Akustikoff is an annual event, tune in next year to listen to the music of various artists and encourage performers on stage.
Anna Ma The Northwood Howler
Battle of the fashion trends: 2019 edition
Grant Dickerson The Northwood Howler
St y l i n ’ i t u p: ( le f t to r i g ht) Junior C ody Nakat suka s a spor t s the middle p ar t a s juni or Wi l l Fe i sh ow s of f hi s pl ai d f l ann el , fol l ow ing th e tre n d s of 2 0 1 9 . By Rocky Gao and Dylan Yee Staff Writers
Every year new crazes hit the streets, and 2019 was no different. With Northwood being no exception, unique styles have swept onto campus and disappeared just as quickly thanks to popular apps such as TikTok and Instagram. To show some of these most popular styles, here are a few fashion trends that have Northwood students feeling and acting like models. 1. The Middle Part Just as the name suggests, the middle part is a men’s style where the hair parts down the middle, showing off your forehead like Keanu Reeves in the John Wick franchise. Ironically, sporting the middle part gives off a unique flair of sensitivity and cool-headed confidence. One key tip to pulling this look off is to keep your hair natural and flowing. Avoid using any type of hard gel that can spike up your hair or make it straighter than it should be.
2. Windbreaker Vest When the winds get vicious, you need something to protect yourself. The Windbreaker Vest is built to keep your core warm and your arms free to power through the winter. Underneath the vest, protect yourself with a long-sleeved shirt or sweater. 3. Scrunchies These are no longer just for tying up your hair! Now we put them on wrists… and hydroflasks. Ain’t that neat? Scrunchies are usually affiliated with an outgoing or studious style. 4. E-boy/E-girl look For those of you eager to make an online presence, the e-boy/e-girl look has recently caught on thanks to social media. For guys, this look requires black-painted nails, chains, beanies, dark clothes and striped long-sleeves. For girls, the apparel is mostly the same with an exception of pink eyeshadow, little hearts drawn under the eyes and an over-blushed nose. This look might remind older
generations of when goths were a thing. 5. Flannel If you want to channel your inner working spirit just like back in the day, the flannel is the perfect fashion piece for you. A symbol of hard work and a deep connection with raw nature, the flannel can act as a light addition to your hoodie or sweater. Even better, tie the flannel around a plain white t-shirt to take your outfit to a whole other level. Predictions Trends depend heavily on other trends, and the trend during this time of year is graduating. Students are always graduating. Because of this, students are getting ready for colleges. It would seem logical that students will soon begin wearing college sweatshirts. And soon enough, seniors will soon be wearing the classic cap and gown to mark the end of their high school careers. That being said, be prepared for a large amount of end-of-high school merch.
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Integrated Science works toward the future Viewpoint Editor and Staff Writers
A mixture of sounds can be heard across the room: student discussion, fans whirring, pencils scratching on notebooks, scissors cutting wood, questions followed by comfortable pauses. Today the Integrated Science (IS) 3 class is wrapping up their experimentation regarding optimal wind turbine design, analyzing various factors involved in the efficiency of the clean energy source. In an era of rapid global climate change, it is difficult to find a place to start when interconnected problems come into play. But here, the students start with a relevant topic and several questions. Integrated Science has been making waves for years among Northwood students and parents as a distinctive replacement to the traditional course progression of separated biology, chemistry and physics. So it’s not surprising that a third year of Integrated Science was poorly received by the community when it was introduced last year to meet the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) recommended three-year integrated science model, “Every Science, Every Year.” Given the communal concern and lack of clarity about IS, The Howler researched and compared the educational benefits of both traditional siloed learning and integrated learning. We’ve found integrated learning holds several merits over siloed learning in fostering students who think more critically, hold more comprehensive understandings of content and are better prepared to succeed in various life paths. Siloed learning, or teaching classes by isolated disciplines, has been used for so long mainly because of its efficiency. Having independent teachers for biology, chemistry and physics has made mapping out the curriculum more straightforward and educational goals more linear. According to STEMscopes, a leading organization creating Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) curriculum for the US, siloed curriculum follows a logical progression of content comprehension that reaches a foundation of understanding in the subject. In theory, this concrete achievement compels students to feel more accomplished upon finishing the course and teachers to seem more like an expert in a single discipline. Overall, siloed learning is easier to execute for teachers and more comfortable for students.
Daniel Dai The Northwood Howler
PERSPECTIVE: Learning is a nonlinear process.
But learning is not meant to be an easy process; we learn the most outside our comfort zone. Oftentimes, tests from the isolated method turn out to be memorization-based rather than comprehension-based, and students rarely retain the information in the long run. Rote memorization does not build understanding, nor is knowing every detail of a topic the ultimate goal of a high school class. On the back-end, while STEM students tend to be overconfident about their career preparedness, only about 55% of employers felt that students possessed required critical thinking and problem-solving skills, according to the 2018 Job Outlook Survey. In this same survey, only 42% of employers felt that students could effectively communicate their ideas. They lack the real-world skills.
“IS is not the one-word answer that we have been conditioned to give. When you think about the job market and [ask] most universitie to say ‘I want them to have all of this content.’ They’re going to say ‘I want this student to have critical thinking and problem solving skills and to be patient with the learning process. Let me teach them the nuts and bolts.’” - Dean Gilbert
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“What [five-scoring AP students struggling in college] were lacking is the ability to synthesize information, to be able to use their critical thinking and problem solving in order to apply what they’ve learned to real world situations,” Next Generation of Science Standards reviewer and STEM consultant Dean Gilbert, who has helped develop California Science Content Standards, said. Northwood has been teaching integrated STEM classes since its founding in 1999. Instead of teaching students separate topics each year, this method teaches chemistry, biology, physics and earth science, all while increasing the depth of understanding year by year. It aims to challenge students to answer phenomenon-based guiding questions per unit by using what they have learned about various fields through experimentation and modeling. “In terms of whether Integrated Science is good or not,
you go to the research. [Both the national wide and districtwide committees for redesigning the science curriculum to fit the NGSS] read research about how kids learn,” science teacher Mickey Dickson said. “Making connections we know is the best way for us to learn.” Integrated Science prepares students for real-world careers while providing a better understanding of the content. Our science teachers developed a curriculum where students build on what they have learned from previous disciplines—like using basic chemistry principles to understand the mechanisms of the electron transport chain in biology—to develop a more enduring, holistic understanding of science. They also apply
students in AP Chemistry, Physics or Biology will find that they have already covered and retained much of the content and overarching ideas. Following this “college application” train of thought, that one missing AP science class in junior year is not making or breaking a student’s college application or future career. Widely renowned schools across the country are dropping AP classes entirely, maintaining or even improving their competitiveness in college admissions and careers. If anything, IS cultivates skills needed to succeed and innovate outside class, tackling pressing issues with creative solutions bridging disciplines—something immeasurably meaningful in college and life paths alike. The second argument is that IS is less rigorous and does not cultivate the intensive, discipline-specific knowledge necessary for today’s scientific solutions. Science teacher David Monge concedes: “If students are saying that IS is watereddown because it has less content, that’s understandable because AP classes cover a lot of content for test-preparation. But AP sciences do not allow you to truly learn. For example, most students tried to rush through the AP Chemistry summer assignment instead of taking it in, so by the time we talk about it two months down the road, they’ve forgotten everything. The pace of an AP class lends itself to providing more content, but it doesn’t lend itself to providing more learning.” Not only does IS have equal levels of rigor (our student sample showed a median rating of 7 out of 10 in difficulty, Dickson’s 19 years worth of IS student surveys showed consistent responses about being challenged by the course and any Integrated Science student struggling to maintain an A will
“[Johnson&Johnson] makes our scientists
seminars to all the research and “give development people at J&J before they’re
Daniel Dai and Anna Lim The Northwood Howler
several disciplines to understanding single phenomena or solving single problems. Students get to see the applications of science to aspects of daily life that we might have never explored, like the cellular processes allowing trees to grow, starting with an inquiry-based investigation. The IS pathway teaches NGSS best; in siloed biology, chemistry or physics, it’s nearly impossible to make connections for big, overarching learning objectives. Moreover, this interdisciplinary approach is key to the modern-day workplace that so highly prioritizes collaboration between departments. A 2019 study on the effects of integrated STEM learning in South Korea from the Korea National University of Education found different degrees of positive effects on student learning. A meta-analysis of several independent studies of different STEM classes found that students were overall rated higher in science engagement, multidisciplinary understanding and eagerness to collaborate. These students faced no detriment to in-depth understanding of each subject. To analyze the longterm effects, this study sampled hundreds of college students comparing those who did and did not take an integrated class (using independent t-tests for those statistics buffs) and found that those who took an integrated class gave statistically significantly higher ratings in real life application, problem solving and interest in science. Interviews of these students corroborated the numbers, as many students felt more engaged in scientific careers and more readily carried the concepts into entrepreneurship. It is worth noting the study mentioned that further research was necessary on the widespread implementation of these programs and teacher training. Furthermore, while this study is not located in the United States, we share the same learning objectives in equipping students for an ever changing, globalized world. Now that we have looked at the benefits of IS over siloed STEM education, it is important to see why IS faces so much backlash from the Northwood community. In a sample of 328 Northwood students, two-thirds of which were current underclassmen, 50% believed it did not prepare them for life and the median rating for overall experience was a 5 out of 10. There are ultimately three major arguments against Integrated Science these students may be responding to, which we hope to refute in the coming paragraphs. One is that it ruins the college competitiveness of a student. “We sent our three-year curriculum out to colleges across the nation [lists Ivies, UC system, BU, WashU, etc.] asking them ‘will they accept our integrated program in lieu of the tra-
2019 CAASPP Science SBAC Testing Results
Provided by Leslie Roach
CAST TESTING: NHS consistently scores at the top.
ditional biology, chemistry and physics?’” Gilbert said. “Every single one put their stamp of approval based on the efficacy of the content that we define in our curriculum.” IS provides the foundation to succeed in APs, and many
hired. Not because we want to hear what they know, but because we want to see how they think. IS is really about teaching your children how to apply what they learn, think and solve problems.” - Dr. Leonard Borrmann
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By Ellen Wang, Mei Ono and Anlon Zhu
confirm this), but it also better prepares students for the scientific world by focusing on cultivating the applicable “Science and Engineering Practices,” like communication, collaboration and project management. According to Gilbert, “it is estimated the amount of science information doubles every three to four years. If this is the case—if we base scientific literacy on the ‘amount’ of information we learn—a high school student would be obsolete before graduation.” Scientific solutions that require deep dives into specific disciplines are not going to be coming from high school students learning AP Chemistry; they’re going to come from experts who have already acquired professional level problem-solving skills before immersing themselves in their field. Moreover, effective scientists and functioning members of society are defined by their processes in approaching situations and problems, rather than the vast amount of information they possess.
Carina Lin and Ellen Wang The Northwood Howler
Rote memorization and comfort should not define our standard of education. Instead, we should value a better grasp of scientific concepts and a problem-solving mindset that allows students to succeed outside the controlled classroom environment. There is an immense collection of empirical evidence backing the benefits of Integrated Science as a way to teach students important and applicable skills while covering equally in-depth content as siloed learning in the long run. While opposition to Integrated Science has valid intention, the fight is ultimately a stubbornness to change ingrained traditional structures. Yes, we are transitioning to a new system, and it is scary to reform something as important as education. Yes, teachers must pour more effort into training and curriculum development to make it work. But given that education—like all things—must progress and that our dedicated and genuine Northwood teachers are seeking the path less taken (for now) to develop better curriculums for us, the least we can do is be open-minded to the new, especially when it is grounded in evidence. The future will not wait for public education, for the public, to catch up. Integrated Science is built on the core goals and principles of education, preparing our students to be adaptable, global citizens in a diverse, interconnected world.
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February 13, 2020
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Valentine’s Day is overcommercialized, xoxo By Ally Chao Staff Writer
Love is in the air—and in wallets too, apparently. It’s no surprise that holidays are commercialized to the point where they hold more meaning for corporations than for the people actually celebrating them. The pressure to show love on Valentine’s Day through gift giving not only encourages needless materialism but also de-emphasizes the original spirit of the holiday. In 2009, 72% of adults aged 18-34 said they planned to celebrate Va l e n tine’s Day, a number that dropped to 53% in 2019, according to the National Retail Federation. In contrast, the total spending on the holiday in America rose from $14.7 billion to over $20 billion—an expected average cost of $162 per person, according to Business Insider. The commercialization of Valentine’s Day isn’t just limited to
couples. More recently, social trends have given birth to campaigns promoting self-love (treat yourself!) to encouraging further spending on friends to show platonic love. While it’s nice to think that the love celebrated on Val-
entine’s is more than romantic love, the holiday’s expanding inclusivity can be largely credited to businesses and their (very successful) attempts to keep the cash flowing. While there are those who are ready to empty their wallets for their loved ones, on the other side of the spectrum lie the cynics who have become discouraged by aggressive marketing and in-your-face advertising. In fact, many have cited the ever-increasing commercialization of Valentine’s Day as a reason for opting out of celebrating it. In a survey from the Statista Research Department, 21% of respondents answered “Valentine’s Day is a purely commercial thing and doesn’t have anything to do with love,” while 27% responded
that “Valentine’s Day is overrated.” In a world where consumerism and corporations hold so much influence, falling into the trap of overspending creates a norm that dulls the holiday spirit and only continues to worsen. However, this isn’t a call to completely stop celebrating the holiday or a rebuke for those planning to splurge on gifts or a special night out. Whether celebrating romantic, platonic or selflove, the spirit of Valentine’s Day should remain the same. There is no right or wrong way to celebrate (or not celebrate)— after all, it’s only one out of the 365 days of the year that couples should be sharing their love for each other. Surprising your significant other with flowers for no particular reason is even more meaningful than dinner on Valentine’s Day, which can almost feel like an obligation. The lack of grandeur on one specific day shouldn’t imply an absence of love, and it definitely shouldn’t necessitate pulling out the checkbook to show it. The pressure to lavish your lover with expensive
gifts may actually do more harm than good by perpetuating the idea that the value of a relationship is equivalent to its monetary value. After all, shouldn’t love be priceless? While pampering a lover on Valentine’s Day is often associated with the conventional gifts of flowers, chocolates and jewelry, these traditions are often prioritized above the said lover’s actual needs and wants. The popular idea of the five “love languages,” originating from Gary Chapman’s 1992 book, asserts that every person shows and experiences love through different
Anna Ma The Northwood Howler
manners—quality time, physical touch, acts of service, giving/receiving gifts and words of affirmation. Chocolate and movies might be the epitome of love for one person, but can come off as tacky and forced to someone else. Each person
interprets and shows love in unique ways—for example, your partner might be thrilled instead by a personalized photo album, aquarium trip or a Spotify playlist that’s special to the two of you. Essentially, the idea of learning a partner’s love languages is another way to emphasize the importance of attentiveness—arguably the most important factor in a healthy relationship, and the key to communication. Valentine’s Day is a time to translate those love languages into action. As consumers, we should be more mindful of how we spend our money and what kind of message that may send. Valentine’s Day can seem superficial and materialistic, but it doesn’t have to be. As long as we redirect the day’s focus to gratitude and appreciation—why we love them as much as we do, from their adorable laugh to their thoughtfulness to the fact that you just can’t live without them—we can make it more about appreciation and less about money.
Iran affair takeaways: fighting another losing battle By Ellen Wang
Viewpoint Editor
Donald Trump ordered a drone strike, assassinating Iranian General Qasem Soleimani on Jan. 3. The administration has deemed Soleimani responsible for several attacks on American citizens and property in the past year. Tensions have been intensifying between Iran and the United States since Trump pulled out of an Obama-era multilateral deal intended to curb Tehran’s nuclear weapons program. Iran responded by launching missile strikes at two U.S. military bases in Iraq and the U.S. announced new sanctions on Tehran and the deployment of more troops. Here are a few key takeaways. You’re Not Getting Drafted Because Poor People Exist (and will continue to be exploited for a long time) The military draft ended in 1973 and has since operated on a volunteer basis, though military recruiting targets young people, especially those in poorer communities, because the armed services require large numbers each year to maintain their population and younger people are more likely to stay and build a career after joining. A 2008 study from Syracuse University found that “the all-volunteer force continues to see overrepresentation of the working and middle classes, with fewer incentives for upper-class participation.” Military service appeals more to marginalized communities in offering the potential of free rides to higher education, insurance coverage or accelerated paths to citizenship. According to the Selective Service System, an independent government agency created during World War I, some of the most common reasons for draft deferment were college enrollment or being or related to an elected official. The Selective Service System in 2020 still requires everyone ages 18-25 male-assigned at birth to register. If the mandatory draft returns, students with more affluence and access to higher education are at an advantage. Donald Trump avoided the draft for the Vietnam War four times for medical disqualification despite being an active athlete through a favor from a doctor (a quid pro quo, if you will). Bill Clinton was a congresswoman’s son. Wealthy men during the Civil War hired substitutes to take their place in the draft. Marginalized communities continue to be disproportionately affected by the repercussions of war and powerful, rich people continue to make split-second decisions at the expense of in-
numerable innocent civilians and citizens. Irvine citizens have leverage over underserved communities in avoiding the “dirty work necessary to protect our national security.” This Looks Familiar… If you’re reading this, you probably don’t remember 9/11. Or Bush lying about finding weapons of mass destruction in Iraq to justify a trillion-dollar war, capitalizing on the widespread fear in the American public after the attacks on various American political landmarks orchestrated by al-Qaeda, a militant Islamist multi-national organization founded by Osama bin Laden. The Washington Post published in Dec. 2019 an extensive investigation of the lies the US government propagated to the public about the ongoing war in Afghanistan through the Bush, Obama and Trump administrations—none managed to deliver on their promises regarding the war. An estimated 160,000 people have died in the longest war the US has ever been involved in, yet previously unpublished notes of interviews with people who played a direct role in the war reveal the US was “devoid in a fundamental understanding of Afghanistan.” The Office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) was created by Congress in 2008 to investigate waste and fraud in the war zone. A series of reports included findings that “the stabilization strategy and the programs used to achieve it were not properly tailored to the Afghan context, and successes in stabilizing Afghan districts rarely lasted longer than the physical presence of coalition troops and civilians.” According to various people directly involved in the war, including a National Security Council official, there was constant pressure from the White House and Pentagon to produce metrics to show success in the war effort, despite hard evidence to the contrary, thus leading to manipulation of figures throughout the war. In an age of misinformation and unrestrained propaganda, we need to be especially cognizant of the same patterns history has seen repeated over and o v e r . The atrocities involved in war are only accepted in the dire and tense situations bred through fear and resentment, often exacerbated by over-exaggeration from the press. The New York
Times was complacent in whitewashing the lies propagated by the Bush administration in order to justify intervention in Iraq and cover up ulterior economic motives.
Daniel Dai The Northwood Howler
We Should Be Extremely Concerned For and Stand With Iranians and Muslims Many American citizens will be indirectly affected by the Iran affair, but it’s not us we should be worried about. Less than 24 hours after Trump’s decision to assassinate Suleimani, Iranian-Americans were being detained and questioned while trying to reenter the United States by Customs and Border Protection agents. Time and time again throughout history, from the wake of the 9/11 attacks to the Red Scare of the ‘60s, the masses have accepted the infringement of civil liberties in order to protect their own security, willingly sacrificing the safety of certain groups of people to secure their own. The wrongful treatment and harmful caricature of Muslims after 9/11 has especially exposed this rot in our democracy. Anti-Muslim efforts singled out Muslims for special treatment in domestic counter-intelligence, devoting extraordinary FBI resources to mass surveillance, undercover informants, and entrapment. Even more than a war on Muslims, this profiling without any suspicion of guilt erodes our democratic ideals and beliefs in universal human freedoms that will inevitably give way for worse down the line. A society that allows for the infringement of liberties for certain cases does not guarantee protection for anyone.
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SPORTS
February 13, 2020
The Northwood Howler
Girls Water Polo scores a spot in CIF Fun off the playing field By Kathy Chun and Hari Sreeramagiri Staff Writers
Breathing heavy, smiling wide and dripping with the exhilaration of victory, the players stepped out of the pool to be greeted by a deafening standing ovation of ecstatic parents and friends. Northwood Varsity Girls Water Polo won their first Pacific Coast League (PCL) championship in school history. After months of hard work, the team finished 7-5 against Irvine at the Northwood Aquatics Center on Feb. 3. Northwood was in the lead throughout the entire game, racking up a 6-1 score by the third quarter. Multiple goals were made by captains seniors Hannah Miller and
Sarah Buting, along with freshman Valerie Wraith. The victory marked the end of an incredible season full of early morning practices, difficult competition and several adjustments. “Our biggest challenge was getting used to having new roles on the team,” Miller said. “Many of our seniors graduated last year and we’ve had new players join varsity for their first time.” Despite having only three seniors and a majority of underclassmen, the team’s incredible season lends tribute to their perseverance. After a 13-1 win against Portola, Northwood entered the final league game with a tremendous drive and emerged victorious as Northwood’s first-ever Girls Water Polo league champions. With a frenzy of motion and
various strategic advances, water polo is a sport that requires utmost communication. This initial hardship was quickly overcome by the team’s strong support system and intensive training by Water Polo Head Coach Kyle Kim-E. “Something I learned this season as a captain is the importance of communication with our team and our coach,” Buting said. “In previous years, our communication wasn’t as strong but this year, we really created a trusting relationship.” The team recently won their first-round CIF home game against Capistrano Valley with an impressive score of 8-5. Propelled by campuswide encouragement, Girls Water Polo aims to ride this unprecedented wave of success into their next game today against Millikan High School.
By Erin Kim
Staff Writer
Across all team sports, one thing remains the key for victory: the chemistry between teammates. When athletes have deeper connections with their teammates, both in and out of their sport, they are able to play smoothly together, reading each others’ next moves, highlighting strengths and covering for each others’ weaknesses. Here are a few team bonding activities to help build these relationships and have an unforgettable season with your team.
Victoria Ta The Northwood Howler
Mitul Kalra The Northwood Howler
G e t o u t o f H e r e ! : S e ni or S arah Buting d e f l e c t s h e r opp on e nt’s sh ot at te mpt .
Karaoke Karaoke is a memorable form of entertainment that will spark laughter and create meaningful connections between teammates. There is nothing like music to bring people together, as similar music tastes will establish a common ground for further discussion and differing styles may help one learn more about teammates and their personalities. “I like karaoke for team bonding because it allows for everyone to let loose and get comfortable around each other,” Varsity Lacrosse junior Arlyn Pandes said. “ It’s an activity that anyone can engage in, whether they are good at singing or not.”
Victoria Ta The Northwood Howler
Bonfire Beach bonfires are cozy team bonding experiences that are sure to leave everyone feeling happy and content at the end of the day. Spend the day by the beach, splashing around in the ocean waves and basking under the warm sun. Then spend the night huddled by the crackling fire, roasting marshmallows, making s’mores and singing along to throwbacks. This is a great opportunity to share conversations, lighthearted or deep, with teammates you haven’t gotten the chance to know well yet. Restaurants Team bonding does not require extravagant planning and the emptying of wallets; in fact, it can be as simple as gathering together for a quick meal at McDonald’s after practice. Affordable and easy activities like this encourage more participation, and any group outing is bound to rack up laughter and memories. “McDonald’s is my favorite team bonding activity because it provides us with an opportunity to get to know each other personally and create lasting friendships,” Varsity Volleyball junior Antonio Li said.
Mitul Kalra The Northwood Howler
Home court Advantage: Senior Shandon Sharifi carefully handles the ball against the Portola defender.
Clash of the classes, clash on the court By Mihir Kulkarni Staff Writer
Victoria Ta The Northwood Howler
A night of exciting basketball came to a close as the Northwood Timberwolves fell to the Portola Bulldogs during the Pack the Gym game on Jan. 31. The night highlighted Boys and Girls Varsity Basketball and revealed the seniors as winners of Clash of the Classes. Although both Boys and Girls Varsity came up short, the games were intense and close throughout. Girls Varsity nearly completed a 13-point comeback entering the fourth quarter, but unfortunately couldn’t close out the game, losing 46-57. Boys Varsity led for much of the game, but after a tight fourth quarter fell to Portola 48-57. “The game was one of the craziest and coolest experiences of my life, especially with the crowd cheering and the intensity of the game,” Boys Varsity sophomore Devon Huang said. Before the game, nine seconds of silence were dedicated to the vic-
tims of the helicopter crash on Jan. 26 that claimed the lives of former professional basketball player Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven others, including Gianna’s coaches, teammates and their parents. The crowd remained silent until the eighth point was scored, representing the number Bryant wore for much of his storied career with the Lakers. “Kobe inspired me to work hard every single day,” Boys Varsity captain senior Shandon Sharifi said. “My prayers go out to all the families affected by the crash.” Pack the Gym was also the last home game for the seniors on the team, who were recognized in a ceremony before the game and were accompanied by their parents and loved ones. Seniors in Pep Squad were also congratulated, and Jazz 1 played to the crowd’s delight throughout the game. The half-time Clash of the Classes reveal also brought a baton twirling performance of “Life is a Highway,” presented by feature twirler seniors Benjamin Zietz and Angelina Chen. Northwood students and
community left the gym that night with immense pride for the hard work portrayed through multiple students. The atmosphere throughout the games was electric, and several key plays sent the crowd into a frenzy.. A layup by Girls Varsity captain senior Amanda Endres to bring the Timberwolves within eight points was one of the highlights of the first game. For the Boys Varsity game, a three-pointer by Sharifi to break the silent night had the crowd roaring on its feet. The culture of hard work and persistence fostered by Northwood basketball is embodied in the players. The dedication they put into their sport is immense, and it was reflected by their play on the court. Although this season has come to an end, the Timberwolves will be ready to defend the den next winter. “Through my experience with Northwood basketball I’ve learned that things don’t always go your way but you can’t let that get to you,” Girls Varsity junior Erin Halle said. “Always put in the hard work, and it’ll eventually pay off.”
SPORTS
The Northwood Howler
February 13, 2020
13
Wrestling tackles winter season Friends, family, 5k By Mihir Kulkarni Staff Writer
Sondos Elbershawi The Northwood Howler
M a n D ow n ! : A Nor thwood w restler systematically pins dow n hi s opponent. By Rachel Gima and Ryan Wu Staff Writers
The shrill, high-pitched sound of the whistle echoed through the crowded gymnasium as the referee raised the arm of an exhausted victor. Cheers erupted from the Northwood section of the bleachers in a blur of white, silver and navy blue. This process repeated throughout the rest of the Pacific Coast League Finals. At the end of the day, the team did exceptionally well, with junior Megna Chalamala and sophomore Aidan Freeland both winning first in their respective divisions, and a total of seven wrestlers placing in the top four seats of their respective weight classes. At the start of the season, however, the team did not anticipate this level of success. The team was an underdog within a competitive league,
averaging just nine wrestlers against the traditional 14. Furthermore, the majority of the short roster had no prior wrestling experience. “Most of our kids are first-year seniors,” head coach Josh Worthington said. “Right now, however, they’re at the varsity level and winning on a regular basis.” This massive improvement can be largely attributed to the rigorous training sessions held by Worthington and assistant coach Jesus Garcia. During intense conditioning, athletes worked tirelessly on jumping and tumbling drills, strength training and one-on-one matches. Throughout the workout, the athletes demonstrated strong effort and positive attitudes, continuously moving through obstacles as a team. “Even during especially strenuous practices, my fellow teammates and I never failed to crack jokes to re-
mind each other of how fun it is to be a part of this team,” Varsity Wrestling captain senior Jack Liu said. Their hard work and perseverance became evident in the ring, with athletes placing high in every competition of the season. At the annual Villa Park Fish Fry, the team earned third place, taking home their first trophy from that tournament in 10 years. Fighting back against early setbacks, the team gained the momentum that carried them through a successful Pacific Coast League competition. The team now looks forward to competing in the CIF Southern Section on Feb. 14 and 15. “It’s the determination to push yourself past what you think you can do,” Worthington said. “You have to fail to learn. You’ll get thrown around a lot, but eventually you’ll learn what this sport really takes.”
The annual Timberwolf 5K was held on Feb. 8, bringing together Northwood students and families for an enjoyable morning of activities. The event included the race itself as well as a pancake breakfast followed by an awards ceremony. Northwood Athletics was represented well at the event, with sophomore Jason Berry taking home 1st place among Northwood boys with a time of 17:17. Junior Audrey Landis came in 1st place with a time of 18:28 among the Northwood girls. “I feel honored to be the first Northwood student to cross the finish line and proud to represent Northwood Track and Field,” Berry said. The event serves primarily as a fundraiser for Northwood Athletics, and proceeds go directly to support athletes. The funds from the race help the school’s athletics teams afford necessities like equipment and uniforms, enhancing the athletic experience of all Northwood students who participate. With racers from all around the Northwood area, the event provides a great venue and environment for young kids, teens, parents and even grandparents to enjoy a competitive yet relaxing morning together. Centered around a family-friendly relaxed atmosphere, it never fails to satisfy its participants. “It’s really fun to see the whole community come together to support
something that’s so important to all of us athletes at Northwood,” Landis said. The brand new course provided a unique experience for those who ran or walked the 5K. The race began near the entrance to the school, with the drumline and Pep Squad ready to cheer the racers on. After the blast of the starting horn, runners circled a nearby hill and continued down Portola Pkwy. The course continued around the Northwood campus ending with a lap around the track to the finish line. Whether they were running hard or taking a stroll, racers appeared to enjoy themselves. “The new course was nice because it had fewer hills, causing the race to feel a lot faster than the last time we raced,” sophomore Justin Lee said. The event also offered several activities for those attending including a play area, sponsor tents and fruit stations. The pancake breakfast was provided by Northwood Culinary, served on the basketball courts where the awards ceremony was held. Volunteers were a crucial part of the event running smoothly, from helping organize logistics to handing out water throughout the race. Due to the success of this year’s 5K, the Northwood athletics teams will be well prepared for the challenges they may face. To continue supporting Northwood athletics while having fun with members of the community, be ready to book your spot at the Timberwolf 5K next spring.
Regulations on the refs? Cultivating the future of youth athletics By Varun Vishnubhotla Staff Writer
With the National Football League’s (NFL) centennial season in the books, officiating controversies have made these past two seasons unforgettable, revealing that the NFL has made no attempts to solve the conspicuous officiating problems. On a seemingly weekly basis from the tough 16-game season all the way to the Super Bowl, referees make some questionable calls, according to fans. As one of the most highly anticipated sports contests around the world, the Super Bowl should be an exciting battle between the top two teams in the league. But year after year, fans feel cheated as referees manage to make blunders, placing crucial games in the hands of the referees’ inconsistent calls. The officiating outcry began as a side-effect of the infamous NFC Championship Game between the New Orleans Saints and the Los Angeles Rams in 2019. In the closing seconds of the fourth quarter, with a chance to send the Rams home, head referee Bill Vinovich and back judge Pat Turner missed Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman’s early hit on Saints wide receiver Tommylee Lewis. This play was a textbook definition of defensive pass interference (PI), and the missed call was gamechanging, leading to a 4th down and Saints field goal instead of another touchdown chance. The Rams were then able to make a game-tying field goal before the end of the 4th quarter and win in overtime to advance to the Super Bowl. The call was so blatant that even Robey-Coleman of the Rams acknowledged the missed call. “Yeah, that was a PI,” RobeyColeman said after the game, cosigning Saints’ coach Sean Payton’s remarks and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell’s vocal disapproval of the call. In an effort to alleviate the scrutiny from NFL fans, all 32 teams in
the NFL and Goodell himself voted to make PI calls reviewable. The new rule supposedly gives coaches more control over the game by allowing them to challenge PI calls. However, the rule change seems like a means to calm fans rather than to implement change in the NFL. Through Week 12 of the NFL’s regular season, 15 of 77 reviews for PI were overturned, but almost half of those reversals—seven of 15—were the result of second looks by replay officials. These referees look at call overturns prior to when coaches have the opportunity to challenge plays. The NFL officiating controversy has led to off-the-field problems as well. According to a Forbes article on why the NFL’s viewership is declining, since the 2018-2019 season, the NFL is set to see its viewership decline by over 10% due to concerns of its “product.” Although it cannot all be attributed to the four referees officiating the Saints vs. Rams game, surely their conduct after the game did not please fans. “It’s a judgment call by the officials,” Vinovich said. “I personally have not seen the play.” Vinovich’s response should serve as an example of what not to do. In a survey from fans, it was reported that fans were disgusted with the referees’ lack of remorse, causing them to not watch NFL games. This was evidenced by Saints fans’ silent protest of last year’s Super Bowl. After Vinovich’s comments after the game, NFL fans decided to boycott the Super Bowl, causing its viewership ratings to be the lowest of the decade. To save the reputation of all sporting leagues, referees should choose their words wisely. Referees are human too. But their refusal to take accountability for their action rubs fans the wrong way. If the NFL’s behavior continues, they will be left throwing Hail Marys in a last-ditch effort to revitalize their fanbase.
Photo provided by Kendrick Pham
huddle Up: Junior Kendrick Pham shares his expertise with a couple of young swimmers. By Varun Vishnubhotla Staff Writer
Whether out on the field, pool or court, Northwood athletes strive to be their best and edge out their competition. However, when they aren’t competing or practicing, some athletes choose to help others reach their potential through involvement with community organizations. There are many opportunties for athletes to help out younger people who aspire to improve in their sports. It is truly rewarding to watch others grow and improve. In an interview with the Howler, juniors Kendrick Pham and Darren Huynh shared their experiences coaching younger athletes for the Irvine Swim League (ISL) for five and two years, respectively. The Howler: How did you get involved in the mentorship program? Kendrick Pham: Since I was on the Westpark Marlins, the ISL
team I attend, for 11 years, the head coach gave me an opportunity to coach there. TH: Why did you choose to become a coach? KP: When I was younger in the ISL, I was coached by high schoolers, so I wanted to be like them and help out the community. I also love the interactions with parents, other coaches and swimmers in the pool. TH: What techniques do you incorporate in your practice sessions? Darren Huynh: I try to recollect any past advice from my previous coaches to improve their technique. It is also important to be encouraging and patient. A majority of the time, the children will often cling to you or the pool wall because they are scared, so you need to listen to them and slowly push them out of their comfort zone. TH: What were a few challenges and successes you face when
coaching? KP: Some challenges that I had were probably getting swimmers to listen to me, especially the ones closer to my age. They act like they’re your friend and just mess around. On the other hand, the success of coaching is when a kid drops a lot of time from their previous best. TH: What do you enjoy most as a coach? DH: The thing I enjoy the most is when my coaching actually works. When dealing with children, it’s very rare to see any immediate progress, but in those few circumstances its very satisfying to see a child improve due to your guidance and their effort. TH: How can others get involved and give back? KP: In ISL, if you can swim and are over the age of 15, you can start volunteer coaching for your nearby ISL team. Literally, any volunteer work can help make someone’s day.
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Feburary 13, 2020
anna’s anarchy
The Northwood Howler
Rising threats to Irvine’s safety: the era of TikTok By Anlon Zhu Staff Writer
Kesha was wrong this whole time. “TiK ToK” has actually begun making the party stop due to a recent epidemic of TikTok-related household injuries. From Northwood High, over-enthusiastic junior Oak Abe Oomur found himself stuck in a hospital bed on Feb. 6 after trying to stay hip with the freshmen before senioritis hit. He tried to hit the woah a little too hard in a Walgreens and dislocated his dignity (as well as his hip). His family reports that he’s still trying to find it, but for the time being, he’ll be working with top-of-theline psychologists at a behavioral health care center in Los Angeles. “I just can’t bring myself to go into Walgreens anymore,” Oomur said. “The worst part is, every time I see the pharmacy at the behavioral center, I’m reminded of my little incident and I get a splitting headache! My brain can’t adjust to a life without dignity. At least Dr. Dre says so… why don’t you say so?
Michael Huang The Northwood Howler
BRING THE HOUSE DOWN: These unsuspecting juniors throw a house into the air for a TikTok stunt while unfortunately forgetting about the laws of gravity. Didn’t even notice, no punches left to roll with… Ah, stop the TikTok music! Please, give it back.” This was not Oomur’s first experience with a TikTok injury. Just two weeks earlier, Oomur had to be
sent to the dentist a month before his scheduled appointment because he fed himself a knuckle sandwich to the left cheek, the face cheek, while following along with the YouTube video titled “Renegade Tik
Tok Tutorial (K Camp - Lottery) Step by Step Tutorial” in a Walmart. “It was the ‘hwoo hwoo’ breath part,” Oomur said. “I don’t think I quite understood what he meant when he said to swing my hands close to
the face. My disappointment is immeasurable and my day is ruined.” These two cases of TikTokrelated injury in such close proximity of time seem to reveal that stores that start with “Wal” are not the best places to film TikTok videos. However, even those who do not produce TikTok content are at risk. In the last three days, the United States Department of Health and Human Services has reported 37 teens from across the nation––all notably edgy and socially awkward––coming into hospitals with finger joint swelling. Numerous studies later, professional analysts have determined a strong correlation between thumb injury and excessive TikTok usage as kids swipe up their “For You” page for hours on end. The results concluded that ”repeated up and down movement caused erosion of the extensor tendons.” TikTok is a dangerous app to own, and if you haven’t made one yet, health officials highly suggest avoiding any kind of exposure. And if you are already exposed, voluntary quarantine is the safest option for our students.
Scientists confirm global warming doesn’t exist. Global boiling does. By Mei Ono Staff Writer
I have spent the past seven decades studying the effects of global boiling on our precious planet Earth as a professor specializing in socio-environmental atmospheric geomorphical climatology at Harvard University. From the extensive culmination of scientific research that my colleagues and I have spent years collecting, we have concluded that the Earth is boiling at unprecedented rates. Climate change has disrupted sea life across the Great Barrier Reef, with boiling water temperatures essentially cooking the fish. Dozens of witnesses have reported seeing the Biggus Mediumax Smallfish, a native species, being cooked alive and washed onto the shores. “The ecosystem will undoubtedly collapse,” Australia-based marine biologist Whal Esrock said. “Oh well.” Still, Australian restaurants are taking advantage of this new busi-
ness opportunity by serving new dishes made from this pre-cooked sea life. With all the gasoline in our oceans these days, there’s not even a need to oil them! My team has estimated that if fish and other sea life alike continue to boil at this rate, we may be able to eradicate world hunger in the next two years just by consuming them. Meanwhile in the United States, obesity rates have dropped to a record-breaking low of 0.2% of the population from the excessive sweating caused by the massive increase in temperature. Fitness industries worldwide are being driven out of business, and many of their former employees are transferring to companies that sell air conditioners for households. This sudden boom in the economy is being attributed to the success of President Trump, who ironically has continued to deny the existence of global boiling despite having shed 80 pounds of fat himself due to sweat. At least, that’s what his personal physician said. Canada, too, has been facing
some of its own problems with recent invasions of polar bears with nowhere left to go. The last of the arctic ice caps are melting away at an astonishing rate of 800,000,000,000 tons a year, double that of what was estimated in 2008. Our detailed investigations have revealed that Canadians have even adopted polar bears into their family. As such, domestic polar bears have revealed a sharp increase in their intelligence levels; buying groceries for their families at Walmart or watching the Tonight Show on the couch. “This says a lot about society,” Canadian resident Po LarbEar said. “Seals are good to eat, but I have to admit, Pringles are too.” If you’re worried about overpopulation with the new integration of polar bears into society, fear not. Thankfully, by summer 2040, overpopulation will no longer continue to be a problem due to the complete evaporation of all oceans. Starting from the northeastern portion of the Indian Ocean, Earth’s water will slowly begin
to boil above 110 degrees Celsius and evaporate into gas that will accumulate in the upper atmosphere. “Yeah, and then it’ll be cloudy for eternity, and we’ll prob-
ably never see the sun again and most living species including humans could die,” climate specialist Chawwes Dawwin said. “But you know, natural selection, YOLO.”
Your Gas Stove The Northwood Howler
IT’S BOILING TIME: Climate scientists posit that Martha Stewart boiling Mother Earth into a soup could explain the mysterious origins of global warming. She may have added too much oil, for everything outside her kitchen is on fire.
Anna Ma The Northwood Howler
The Northwood Howler
anna’s anarchy
Feburary 13, 2020
15
Photoshops of the Year: Trump’s stunning campaign By Anlon Zhu Staff Writer
“When it comes to keeping his promises, there’s only one Person Of The Year” President Donald Trump’s campaign team tweeted this when they photoshopped Trump’s head onto the body of Greta Thunberg, a fifteen-year-old environmental activist. “President Trump’s re-election is inevitable,” they said when they tacked Trump’s face to Thanos. So as some healthy charity work to Adobe’s best customer, The Howler has some even better Trump Photoshop propaganda of celebrity mashups to contribute to his campaign!
Donald Trump and Kanye West “I’ve been used,” past Trump-supporter Kanye West said. And now that Trump and Kanye have merged into Donye Wump, he’s right. Kanye’s hands? Trump’s using them. Kanye’s legs? Trump’s using them. Kanye’s 2020 presidential campaign strategies? Yep, Trump’s using them too. Trump is also using Kanye’s musical genius to produce his own gospel album, titled “President Trump is King,” in which he yodels his policies in discordant harmonies. “I expect that it will be in the top 100 on Spotify by next week,” Wump said. “I’m considering quitting my job and pursuing a career in music. I’ll be huge. YUGE.”
Donald Trump and Senator John Kennedy Johnald Trennedy. Can you tell the difference? Yeah neither can I. With their broad, squared shoulders, bright red ties, and small hands, these two are only distinguishable by their faces. Nothing really changes in the lives of these two once they’re combined. Still thinking of the same ideas. Still working towards the same policies. Just kidding, we never photoshopped this one. That’s just Trump.
Donald Trump and Brad Pitt Trump-pitt. Enough said. Like the wonderful instrument, this beautiful abomination produces a bright sound, loud enough for an entire political rally to hear. His speech’s rile up his fanbase like a fanfare of hopeful tunes. His golden color catches the light to shine brilliantly under the sun. And to top it all off, they both end up being large tubes full of spit after a while. One more thing: Marco Rubio made fun of Trump for his small hands back in 2016, an insult that certainly
stung. However, this jacked President Trump, with his two Golden Globes and “world’s most attractive man” ratings, certainly does not have small hands.
Donald Trump and Queen Elizabeth Queen Donald the First, Defender of Faith, Father of Tweets. “There are those that say they have never seen the queen have a better time, a more animated time,” President Trump said to an interviewer after his visit to Buckingham Palace in July. Well, he was wrong; the queen is undoubtedly having a far better time with Trump’s head on her shoulders! The thing is, this one actually looks pretty good! The queen’s hats suit him quite well. Plus, his face wrinkles match with the queen’s hand wrinkles. They even wear the same extra small evening gloves.
Anna Lim The Northwood Howler
The Top 10 Public Places to Cry on Valentine’s Day after rejection By Nawal Abdul Staff Writer
Perfectly preceding college rejection season and in the midst of the flu season, the Valentine’s fervor is finally here. So you know what that means: mass rejections! Fear not, for the Howler has hand picked the trendiest, pristine places for you to unleash your tear wells. 1. In the gift chocolate aisle of the Target on Barranca Yes, the Target on Barranca. You have absolutely no chance of running into anybody from school because everyone knows the Target on Barranca is the worst Target. Plus, Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, which means at least one half of every relationship is going to be buying the other half of said relationship a heart-shaped sweet. Do them a favor and sob through your heartbreak smack dab in the middle of the aisle, so at least they’ll know how every relationship is destined to end.
2. Noguchi Garden For times when you’re feeling no gucci. Plus, it’s where everyone takes their prom pictures, so you can show them what relationships are really like behind-the-scenes. 3. Outside of Mr. Monge’s AP Chemistry room Just to solidify the concept that all bonds break eventually. Mr. Monge will be proud of you, so at least that’s something!
may be broke, but at least your wallet isn’t! 6. At your 3-year-old cousin’s birthday party All the kids will be crying anyways, so you’ll blend right in! 7. In your parents’ rose bushes You’re already losing gallons of water, so you might as well put it to some good use. You know, save the Earth and all that jazz.
4. In an animal shelter This location is two-fold. The first: the baby animals will sense your sadness and give you licks, so you won’t just be sad. You’ll be sad and covered in animal spit. Secondly, it offers a quick fix. Adopt a cat and be a cat person, so you can have a brand while you’re sad.
8. In your optometrist’s office Maybe they’ll help you see more clearly in your next relationship.
5. In the middle of a water fountain People will mistake you for one of those fountain statues and toss quarters at you. Now, your heart
10. In The Howler classroom Come down to The Howler for Kleenexes! We only print on premium-grade paper, and you deserve the best while depressed.
9. On your friend’s iPhone You’ve got to figure out if they’re really waterproof one way or another, right?
Grant Dickerson The Northwood Howler
POOL OF TEARS: Senior Wilson Chen finds a cozy area in t h e Va l e n t i n e’s c h o c o l a t e i s l e t o c r y a b o u t r e j e c t i o n .
Eliot Lee and Anna Yang The Northwood Howler