Prospector issue 4

F RI DAY, J A N UA RY 31, 2014

Equality doesn’t mean sameness OPINIONS pages 4 & 5

VOLUME 55 NO. 4

TV: Modern escapism

Student snowboarder SPORTS pages 10 & 11

FEATURES pages 6 & 7

CEO goes to CES

The Prospector

CHSPROSPECTOR.ORG

Student Newspaper of Cupertino High School

MICHAEL LI news editor

BRIAN ZHONG sports assistant

In a now highly-publicized case of government surveillance ethics, the National Security Agency (NSA) is at the center of a controversy that demonstrates the difficulty in defining a balance between liberty and security in an increasingly tech-driven world. Reports released in June 2013 by former CIA employee Edward Snowden revealed the agency’s practices of collecting data from citizens’ emails and phone calls,

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FLIPSIDE page 12

... Focus not on the acquisition of data but on [the usage] -Dharma Naidu, sophomore

spurring widespread disapproval of the Obama Administration’s security measures as well as calls for reformation.

On Jan. 17, President Obama addressed the nation regarding the program and put forth a plan to quell fears.

His proposal revolves around several key issues, including increased transparency and greater regard for the public’s

civil liberties. For one, third parties will have a say in the secret intelligence court — third parties that will intend to “fight” for the public’s privacy rights and ensure that no law has been violated.

Obama, in addition, called for the NSA to allow tech companies to divulge more information about the agency’s surveillance operations. With these recommendations in place, companies such as Apple and Google can reveal more about the number of requests they receive from the NSA and the nature of those requests. Most significantly, Obama requested that the NSA hand over its bulk collection of phone records to a third-party entity, which would lower the chances of illegal government intrusion.

Obama’s remarks, however, did not placate those already opposed to the agency’s collection program. Wikileaks founder Julian Assange deemed the 45-minute speech “mere window dressing,” while Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) labelled the reforms “the same unconstitutional program with a new configuration.”

While many remain unsatisfied with these attempts to quell surveillance activities, some students

flip side assistant

Indian news channels have been buzzing about the “Indian diplomat situation” for the past three weeks. They all outline the same story: an Indian diplomat traveled to America with an assistant to help her. The assistant eventually ran away, and the U.S justice system brought a criminal lawsuit

The state of surveillance

SURVEILLANCE, CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Indian diplomat ignites controversy NIKITA DEVDHAR

10100 FINCH AVENUE, CUPERTINO, CA 95014

against the diplomat for not paying the maid proper income, and then let the U.S law take its course with the diplomat, which included a strip-search and handcuffs.

Many Indians took great offense to the treatment of the diplomat because they believed it violated unspoken respect between the two countries. Almost every news channel invited officials and important political figures to talk about their stance on the situation and almost everyone holds the same viewpoint — the assistant of the diplomat knew exactly what she was getting into. Unlike Americans, the Indian people believe that when the diplomat travelled to America, both the diplomat and her assistant were bound by Indian wage laws since they were both employees of the Indian government.

Therefore, most Indian people believe the maid used the American laws to her advantage by saying that she “wasn’t being paid enough” and was “suppressed,” leading to the arrest of the Indian diplomat.

Many Americans, on the other hand, have very different opinions on the situation, believing that when the diplomat and her assistant travelled to the United States, only the diplomat was bound to Indian wage laws, not the assistant.

However, if the assistant were to be paid by American wage laws, she would be earning more than the diplomat herself. Therefore, the Americans believed that the maid was not being paid properly, so she had justification for running away.

“Because America views everyone equal under the eyes of the law, they thought what she did under the DIPLOMACY, CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Model UN at Tino KATIE MARTIN editor-in-chief

For the first time since its inception, the school’s United Nations Club has expanded to include Model UN as a subcategory of its program. The community service-oriented group has a long history of involvement in global events via fundraisers and projects, but before this year had never chosen to venture into the committee-style conferences that allow students to further examine these issues in a mock UN session.

According to junior and Model UN Chair Amy Ran, garnering interest for Model UN among club members had never been difficult; however, what proved to be a challenge was finding an officer willing to become the leader. Ran ultimately took on the role of president of the newly-founded team, which boasts approximately 20 members in its inaugural year.

Model UN functions as similarly as possible to a regular session

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MODEL UN, CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

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News

The Prospector

Letter to the Editor

The Prospector

S TA F F 2013-2014

Cupertino High School Established 1958 Vol LV, No. IV | 2014

Recently, an article argued that fine arts and languages were unnecessary [Dec. 6, 2013; A Waste of Time; Tanay Tandon]. However, an absolute career path leaves no room for experimentation and can hinder a student’s progress should he or she wish to change paths. The fact is, by high school, eighty percent of students do not know what they want to pursue and leave for college with an undecided major (Simon, Cecilia). California’s K through 12 education system allows students to explore different areas of

editors-in-chief katie martin chris s. yoon

web editor

opinions editor diana kruzman SURVEILLANCE, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

features editor keely zhang lifestyles editor ashley liu

Tensions over surveillance

sports editor nirmit shah

at the school possess a different outlook.

Said sophomore Dharma Naidu, “[The collection of data] is going to happen anyway. With new technologies coming out ... technology is going to be intelligent in the future. You’re not going to be able to stop that.

“We should focus not on the acquisition of data but on [the usage]. [The government should] make sure that some institution is not abusing this data, and that way everyone will be happier.”

copy editor tanay tandon photo editor thu dam business manager ashley liu

study in order to broaden the possibilities of the future. If students were told to choose a career path at a young age, curriculums would be limited to their specific paths, and would take away opportunities instead of provide them. Additionally, if a student were to decide that their initial selected path did not suit them, they would fall severely behind in their attempt to restart their career. Another statistic to ponder upon—eighty percent of those in college change their majors at least once. In other words, based on this stated

curriculum, eighty percent of students would be falling behind. While specialization can potentially help make progress, the limited room for success and new experiences will ultimately create regression in society’s desire to push forward.

Sincerely, Ameera Mungale, senior Esther Hsu, junior

hackTECH and the rise of hackathons

TANAY TANDON

news editor michael li

flip side editor jessica shin

January 31, 2014

The fever of ‘hackathons’ — all day, all night events that consist of coding and building tech products — is beginning to sweep Bay Area universities and companies. Large tech firms like PayPal and Facebook, along with high-profile colleges such as MIT, Stanford and Caltech have all put on major hackathons for high school and college students in the recent past. Over the weekend of Jan. 26, a four-student team from the school, consisting of seniors Shaul

Fuhrmann and Ken Kudo, junior Aman Gupta and sophomore Tima Peshin, placed in the top 10 of the hackTECH hackathon. Their hack was an Arduino microcontroller-based device that makes use of video processing to generate a threedimensional model of small objects, for which the team won a trip to 20 Under 20 Summit. The hackathon itself was organized by alumni Kshitij Grover and Shubhankar Jain and saw many current and former students in attendance.

NIRMIT SHAH

news assistants

laura shkouratoff jay shroff myung-ju song

opinions assistants

alex levine isabel lin

features assistants

serena ngan alex shieh joyce ye

lifestyles assistants

maithilee kanthi marvin wang

sports assistants

nikita devdhar brian zhong

flip side assistants

delanie medina jeremy xue

photo crew web crew

News briefs RISHI NAIR web crew

A Royal Caribbean cruise ship, Explorer of the Seas, returned to port two days early after an outbreak of gastrointestinal sickness. According to Ms. Burden, a CDC spokeswoman, 623 of the 4,215 individuals fell ill.

MODEL UN, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Students lead Model UN

gloria choi rishi nair adviser ann peck

Contact Us The Prospector 10100 Finch Avenue Cupertino, CA 95014 prospector.chs@gmail.com

THU DAM

of the UN. Students adopt the position of delegates to various committees that mirror those established by the actual organization, working alongside fellow representatives to create a resolution beneficial to every nation — junior and club member YunDa Tsai, for example, sits on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Committee, the group responsible for crafting international nuclear power regulations and treaties, while Ran is a member of a UN Development Program focused on thirdworld entrepreneurship.

The group is currently gearing up for its first conference, in which they will represent the small African horn nation of Djibouti. “[Forming a position] can be difficult, especially for a small country like ours,” Ran said. “[But] you can look at different events, like developments your country has been undertaking [or] their allies and what they think.”

Much of the research required, Tsai explained, must take place outside of meetings, as writing position papers and “digging up information” plays a large role in creating a compelling argument to present at a conference. Tsai’s research has yielded a position regarding nuclear energy that he describes as along the lines of “since [Djibouti is] a poor African country, we need

The security of the Sochi Olympics is in question due to the rising threat of terrorist attacks, sparked by those such as the suspected suicide bombing at Volgograd. Russia has prepared 50,000 personnel as defense.

DIPLOMACY, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Indian diplomat conflict law was incorrect,” sophomore Kaushal Kanikaram said. “I wouldn’t place myself with saying the Indian or American side was correct, I think [the Americans] just followed the law.”

Overall, the conflict between

gloria choi anirudh pai

Editorial Policy “The Prospector” is an open forum of expression for student editors to inform and educate their readers. It will not be reviewed by or restrained by school officials prior to publication or distribution. Advisors may and should coach and discuss content during the writing process.

The staff of “The Prospector” seeks to recognize individuals, events and ideas and bring news to the Cupertino community in an accurate, professional and unbiased manner. “The Prospector” will not avoid publishing a story solely on the basis of possible dissent or controversy.

If you believe an error has been made or wish to have your opinion expressed in “The Prospector,” please contact us via mail or email. Letters sent become the sole property of “The Prospector” and can be edited for length, clarity or accuracy.

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Authorities said on Jan. 27 that a 12-year-old boy is missing after being snatched by a crocodile in a remote part of the Australian Outback. Rescuers have been searching the area in Kakadu National Park since Jan. 26th.

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The conflict occurred because of different interpretations of international laws

the two countries occurred because of different interpretations of international laws concerning domestic assistants. Although both countries agreed that the diplomat was paid under Indian wage laws, the maid was the

matter of discussion. Had both countries simply discussed the laws before or during the conflict, perhaps the outcome of the situation would have been different. “[America] gets a lot out of India itself, so although I don’t think this situation was very detrimental, I definitely think this has definitely affected [foreign policy] a little bit, since the woman in question was a diplomat and a government official,” sophomore Sajan Sawhney said.

Although the foreign policy of these two countries is not as strong as it was previously, perhaps both countries will talk about the situation later in a calmer state and make amends to end the situation on a note hopeful for the future.

nuclear power as a resource.”

Ran, on the other hand, will present her Djibouti-oriented views on microfinance, stating that the nation “strongly approves of foreign investments” to spur business, but that “industrial developments can also be used to help support their economy.”

This first year of Model UN has not been without difficulties — Ran was quick to note that setting up a bank account to cover delegation fees, registering for competitions and even beginning the conference preparation process were all last-minute tasks. Initial difficulties aside, however, the team shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon, with two upcoming conferences and a whole lot to say in the activity Ran has deemed “a cooperative debate.”

News

The Prospector

January 31, 2014

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Drought plagues California JESSICA SHIN flip side editor ALEX SHIEH features assistant While the East Coast is blanketed under piles of snow and suffering due to frozen roads and record low temperatures, California has remained warm and dry throughout the winter. Though the season is typically mild, the continued lack of both rain and snow in the state has Californians worrying if the driest year on record is the beginning of a long-term drought.

San Jose typically receives about 14 inches of annual precipitation, but this year, the city has received a mere 3.6 inches of rain since January 2013.

While sunny days may sound enticing to Easterners, the insufficient rainfall is already leading to serious complications. California’s water shortage has led to a sharp drop in agricultural production, which may cause a large increase nationwide in the prices of staple foods such as fruits and meats. Governor

Tino’s Got Talent cancelled, to be rescheduled LAURA SHKOURATOFF news assistant For the past ten years, Tino’s Got Talent has been an ongoing tradition at the school, showcasing performances that have ranged from juggling to musical numbers. This year, however, a number

Jerry Brown declared a drought emergency in the state and has asked residents and businesses to voluntarily reduce water consumption by at least 20 percent.

Agricultural producers and consumers are not the only ones suffering. Due to the lack of snow, vacationers have returned home disappointed after trips to popular skiing locales in the Sierra-Nevada Mountains.

“I go skiing every year,” sophomore Vivien Xu said. “The difference between this year’s snow and last year’s snow [is] that there was no snow at all this year. At the top of the mountains, it was all ice and partially some man-made snow.”

The aberrant climate has been attributed to the statewide increase in air pollution and other particulate matters in the atmosphere, which affect cloud development and eventually reduce precipitation in dry regions.

Meteorologists also claim the reason for low rainfall is a pressure zone four miles high and 2,000 miles long,

of issues before the annual show, which was slated for Friday, Jan. 17, led to the cancellation of the ASB-sponsored event.

Normally, the show occurs on the third Friday of January, the Winter Sports rally taking place a week beforehand. This year, the dates of the rally and Tino’s Got Talent were switched in order to provide students with another week to prepare for the rally. Consequently, it created a time crunch for the attempting to find a sufficient number of performances to put on the show.

Originally, 13 acts had signed up to participate. However, according to ASB

Historian Gene Wang, only six acts showed up to the run-through two days before the show. While initially planning for Comedy Hour to act as a fill-in, ASB chose to cancel the event, deciding it was unreasonable to hold the event with just six performances.

Assistant Principal Andy Walczak, who normally assists in the process of putting the show together, was very unhappy that it was put to an end this year.

“I love Tino’s Got Talent, mainly because the students that usually take part in it are students that you don’t usually see onstage with choir or drama or

New Student Union building opens ASHLEY LIU lifestyles editor

Welcomed into the new semester by the Student Union building that includes a two-story cafeteria, library, College and Career Center, front office and balcony featuring tables and umbrellas, students and staff alike shared a variety of opinions on the latest campus addition.

Assistant Principal Andy Walczak noted the new building as positive overall, having taken part in the building’s opening ceremony on Jan. 16, which was complete with performances by the school’s or-

NIRMIT SHAH

which currently blocks storms from entering the coast.

In order to increase awareness of the drought and need to conserve water, the school’s Environmental Club will be creating poster-style infographics with facts about the crisis as well as water-saving tips.

“There are a lot of choices that can be made to save water,” senior and Environmental Club President John Zhao said. “However, people often forget [about these]. One of the most important ways students can contribute to water conservation is by talking about it. Students should remind their friends about the drought when they are wasting water.”

As many worry that the ongoing drought is indicative of drier years yet to come, Governor Brown has encouraged citizens to act now in order to avoid lasting strain on this vital resource.

“Hopefully, it will rain eventually,” he said.

“But in the meantime, we have to do our part.”

chestra, the drama department and choir, plus cookies and punch for attendees. The ceremony saw notable attendees, among whom stood ASB President Annie Boyle, principal Kami Tomberlain, district superintendent Polly Bove, construction and architecture representatives and four former principals.

The additions to the campus are largely due to the consistently increasing school population, which topped 2000 for the first time this year.

“Obviously, we’re growing as a campus ... rather than having random groups of kids down different hallways [the kids are] more centrally located, which is kind of neat because it gives them more opportunities for more interactions with different kinds of students,” Walczak said.

“I’ve seen groups of students who never interacted before now intermingling with one another,” he added. “I really like that aspect to it.”

Many students noted the new colors were reminiscent of McDonald’s. Apart from such humorous interjections, students agreed that the new building offered more areas to study as well as rendezvous.

Freshman Jasmine Till noted her interest in the building’s new and convenient features, such as the water bottle fountains. Sophomore Shripad Banguru added that the crowd control mechanisms at the lunch line had substantially improved as well.

However, students also pointed out a variety of areas for improvement — perhaps not in the near future, however.

Said Till, “I think they could have made the library significantly larger … the library is just looking smaller and smaller.”

Banguru stated that the cafeteria ought to employ a greater number of workers, perhaps with an extra incentive of community service hours for students during brunch and lunch.

“Get a couple more workers … because right now, the people who are working there are really stressed out [by] the amount of students,” Banguru said.

As construction ended on the Student Union

rallies or playing sports,” Walczak said.

“It’s kids [who] have the opportunity just once this year to go up there and shine.”

However, to satisfy those who still want to perform, ASB has decided they will be given another chance to showcase their talents.

The dates are still undetermined, but the shows will most likely take place in the quad over the course of a few days at lunchtime.

With a goal to better publicize auditions and find more students at school interested in performing, ASB is hopeful that Tino’s Got Talent will come back bigger and brighter than ever.

building, however, demolition began on yet another central area of campus: the 200s wing, which had previously housed the library, several classrooms and temporary front and guidance office.

Senior Justin Cha, though approving of the updated campus, expressed frustration with the ongoing process, saying that “it sucks that we have to deal with all of this construction.”

Although initial reactions to the newly opened facilities have ranged from apathetic to ecstatic, Walczak believes that the building needs more time before official judgments could be made.

“At this point, we don’t know,” Walczak said. “We’re only a couple weeks in, I’m sure we’ll probably figure something out that needs to be ... better or worse to it; [but] if I could change one thing, it would be that people stop littering!

A lot of littering has been going on, and the aggressive seagulls.

Other than that, everything has been pretty good so far.”

NIRMIT SHAH

Opinions

4

UNDER THE

KNIFE

January 31, 2014

It’s easy to judge people who undergo plastic surgery ­- especially when the cause is society itself YANE AHN copy assistant

Recently some of my friends told me that they plan to fly to Korea and get cosmetic surgery as soon as they graduate high school. They talked about how they would just get quick double eyelids surgery — it wasn’t a big deal for them, nor should it be. Cosmetic surgery is often heavily criticized, but it doesn’t deserve the bad rap it gets.

There’s a negative connotation surrounding the phrase “plastic surgery,” largely because it’s mistakenly thought of as being stuffed full of unnatural materials. This isn’t the case, even linguistically — the word “plastic” actually refers to the Greek word plastikos, meaning to mold or to shape. It has no relation to the material known as plastic from which your trash bags or water bottles are made. In fact, plastic surgery itself is different from cosmetic surgery — plastic surgery is performed with the intent of correcting dysfunctional areas of the body. Cosmetic surgery is defined as surgery that modifies or improves the appearance of a physical feature, irregularity, or defect. It’s unfair, first of all, to accuse people of “being plastic” for enhancing or correcting their physical features. It allows people to look the best they possibly can, even if isn’t based on a roll of genetic dice, similarly to the way makeup or nice clothes do.

The truth in our society is that appearance is important. It can help establish a positive first impression and be the reason why one person is approached while another is not. Meanwhile, media is obsessive in its focus on beauty, often citing Photoshopped images or skinny models as the highest standard of beauty. This leads many to believe that they must uphold to a certain level of beauty. Thus, it can only be expected that students will feel they have to conform to what has been socialized into them for their entire lives.

Yet, when these people try to receive surgical enhancement, they’re looked down upon by the same society that tells them that they must be beautiful. It’s hypocritical that society says that the inside is what counts, while ultimately rewarding beauty.

It’s not realistic to expect society to completely change its centuries-old tune of “beauty wins.” It’s important to address this head-on, rather than pretending that it’s purely what’s on the inside that counts. It matters what people look like. People who receive cosmetic surgery will almost always speak of it highly, saying it’s raised their confidence and that they’ve become happier with themselves. Is there really a problem at all, then? People should be the ultimate judge of what they do with their own bodies.

And besides, if it’s really what’s on the inside that matters, then why does whether or not someone has received cosmetic surgery matter at all?

GENDER NEUTRAL ISABEL LIN opinions assistant

The fight for gender equality is unquestionably an ongoing struggle across many countries of the world. As various nations take strides toward eradicating gender discrimination, Sweden has caught the world’s attention with its radical new implementation of “gender neutrality,” a philosophy that encourages the avoidance of deeming certain qualities as belonging to only one gender. According to gender-neutral activists, enforcing gender neutrality is the only way to erase sexism and thus achieve a truly equal society. However, as Sweden heads toward the possibility of eliminating the idea of man and woman altogether, the dangers of extreme gender neutrality have become distinctly evident.

Sweden has taken many widespread measures to eliminate gender boundaries, most recently with the popular usage of the gender-neutral pronoun hen, an alternative to the Swedish words han (he) and hon (she). Companies and public institutions are transforming to reflect their support for gender neutrality — a Swedish children’s clothing company recently removed the “boys” and “girls” sections in its stores, while a toy company pub-

lished a catalog showing a boy in a Spiderman costume pushing a pink pram as a girl in denim rides a yellow tractor. One Swedish preschool even removed free playtime from its schedule on the premise that free playtime allows for hierarchy, exclusion, bullying and, most importantly, gender stereotyping. As more and more extreme measures are being established to enforce gender neutrality, a serious question has been raised by many critics: Have the efforts gone too far?

While proponents of gender neutrality advocate that the system is necessary for equality, the idealistic promises of a gender-neutral society simply fall short of its many dangerous consequences. At its core, the enforcement of gender neutrality essentially calls for society to disregard the innate differences in men and women and avoid associating qualities with any one gender. Recent studies, however, have shown that male and female brains are hardwired to produce significant differences in function — some of which could explain the stereotypical differences between men and women. Researchers have found that nerve connections in the male brain run along the front and back of the same side of the brain while nerve connections in the female brain run from side to side along the left and right hemispheres of the brain. Such differences explain why men often succeed in using spatial awareness and large motor skills while women are

In the quest to achieve perfect equality, what do we sacrifice?

typically better at verbal and social cognition tasks.

Gender neutrality ignores these inborn differences and generalizes that males and females are one and the same. The obvious fact, however, is that males and females have varying characteristics and distinctions that are instrumental in making each gender unique. Gender neutralism, which overlooks these variances and blurs the lines between male and female distinctions, poses the threat of eventually eroding away the traditional characteristics of these two genders.

Though gender-neutral activists in Sweden have good intentions in enforcing gender neutrality to achieve equality, the measures they have since implemented are simply not contributing to the cause of gender equality. The way to achieve equality isn’t by enforcing uniformity across the country; however, the direction that gender neutrality is steering Sweden indicates that future generations will live in artificial sameness. Instead, Sweden should recognize that each gender has special and distinct characteristics that deserve to be celebrated, not eradicated. While gender neutrality is certainly justified in doing away with the roles each gender is tied to, it should also acknowledge that men and women are intrinsically unique and different — and ought to be treated as such.

The Prospector

January 31, 2014

We can keep you breathing, but should we?

In our face-to-face society, it’s not very socially acceptable to have a circle of online friends. The taboo against these encounters online and the idea of online safety is carefully spoon-fed to teenagers and pre-teens alike, often accompanied by horror stories of unsuspecting children meeting and then getting kidnapped by their online “friends.” Although these dangers do exist and high schoolers must certainly exercise online safety, there are also a multitude of possibilities for beautiful friendships that can be cultivated online.

The truth is, the online world is much like the “real world.” There are the crooks and the thieves, yet the majority of the world still consists of kind-hearted people.

When I open my computer and interact with this somewhat mystical world, it’s as if I’ve stepped into a magical land where anything can happen. In today’s society, a person’s visual appearance often determines his or her popu-

the benefits of

online friends

JOYCE YE features assistant

larity; but once online, that display can be shed and people form friendships based on personality alone.

In addition, having online friends broadens one’s horizons greatly. When I started online chatting, I was immensely shy and quiet. Soon, however, I realized that these unique communities invite chatters to leave their “masks” at the door and say what they want to say. The anonymity offered online makes honesty much easier; outside of the virtual realm, there are often facades that people feel pressured to constantly maintain.

The online world is greatly flexible and vast, and brings people from across the world together. Like my classmates at this school, I live in California’s Bay Area.

However, in stark contrast to most of my peers, I have friends who live all around the world: the Philippines, Canada, even England. These are friends I would not have met without going online, yet they bring so much support to me during hard times in my life that I do not know where I would be without them. It’s much harder to confess feelings to friends in real life, because it’s always a concern that they will spread rumors to ruin reputations in the blink of an eye. Online, there is none of that concern, as they usually have no mutual friends to whom they can spread your secrets. The result? Someone who’s willing to listen and help, without the risks.

Online relationships are complex; even though they may not fully replace a buddy in real life, they can be even better in some ways. Having experienced online friendships firsthand, I would not trade my virtual pals for anything.

BIO

In a world that is constantly news assistant changing, with new innovation and technological advances in almost every aspect of both work and play, it is not surprising that we see these kinds of advances in the medical field as well. With earlier detections of lifethreatening ailments and newfound cures to many diseases once thought to be incurable, the average lifespan of a person in America is steadily rising. We can even keep people alive even longer by keeping them on ventilators and other machines that do what their bodies normally do for them. But for what use?

Modern medicine can keep us alive, but it keeps us alive in a way that is useless.

The case of Jahi McMath is one that illustrates perfectly the ongoing debate regarding the ethics of life support. 13-yearold McMath suffered from postoperative complications as a result of a tonsillectomy at the Children’s Hospital of Oakland.

Three days after her operation, doctors at the facility declared her brain-dead and wanted to take the now-legally deceased McMath off of the ventilator. However, her parents took legal action and forced the hospital to obtain a second opinion on the state of their daughter. Multiple medical professionals ultimately declared her dead; at the insistence of her family, however, she is currently being kept on a ventilator at an undisclosed facility.

What should have just been a tragedy, plain and simple, has gone terribly awry due to McMath’s family’s impossible hope for a miracle. After being proven brain dead, there is no turning back. Yes, in a sense, Jahi McMath is “alive” — but again, all of her life functions are being carried out by a machine. Although she continues to breathe and react to touch with the assistance of devices like ventilators, feeding tubes and pacemakers, life is more than an artificially-supported heartbeat. Truly being alive is having the ability to move around, interact with surroundings and communicate with others. It is foolish to define living as being hooked up to a machine. These patients are no closer to living than someone six feet under.

JAY SHROFF

Opinions

5

ETHICS 1944-1980s: The U.S. government sponsors secret research on the effects of radiation on human beings, without telling the subjects they are being irradiated.

1956-1980: Researchers conduct hepatitis experiments on mentally disabled children at The Willowbrook State School.

1950s-1963: The CIA begins a mind control research program, which includes administering LSD to unwitting subjects.

1978: Louise Brown, the world's first test-tube baby, is born.

1979: The National Commission releases The Belmont Re-

port, principles of ethical research on human subjects.

COURTESY OF NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES

Another example of this human injustice is the case of Marlise Munoz of Texas, who was 14 weeks pregnant when she fell into a coma and was later declared brain dead by John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth on Nov. 26. Marlise and her family had asked the hospital for the “do not resuscitate” option, which meant that she did not want to be kept alive if she entered a vegetative state. However, Texas state law, as interpreted by the hospital, did not allow doctors to remove Munoz from the ventilator because her unborn baby was still alive, despite the certain deformities and brain damage the fetus would face due to oxygen deprivation — if it was even still viable. Munoz’s wishes for a peaceful death were finally granted on Jan. 26. Texas’s assault on both women’s rights and the natural process of death is clearly demonstrated in this horrific event.

As the world lurches forward into a modern age based almost entirely on ever-advancing inventions, more and more of these cases will inevitably arise. But humans need to understand that it is both illogical and impractical to let technology overrule mortality. Yes, it may appear to be a cold and heartless move, but accepting death instead of letting a body slowly deteriorate on a respirator is indeed a far more humane path.

Features

6

January 31, 2014

Couch potatoes rejoice:

TV is now an art form KEELY ZHANG features editor

For a long time, the TV was just a small 12x12 gray box that vaguely resembled the shape of a glorified toaster. It contained exactly four shows about the same white middle-class family battling various first-world problems. Eventually, TV developed color and started featuring some minorities, but it remained the bottom feeder of the entertainment industry. It was where washed up actors went to pay the bills, where repetitive one-liners elicited pathetic pre-recorded laugh tracks and where couch potatoes wasted away, murdering their own brain cells. Television was basically dismissed as film’s younger, stupider sibling But not anymore. Today, our sad little TV has grown into a giant plasma screen son-of-agun with HD-quality resolution. It now keeps hundreds of thousands of shows at its disposal, some of which cause me physical pain (“Here Comes Honey Boo Boo”), some of which I watch as guilty pleasures (“Gossip Girl”), and some of which I consider genuine artistic masterpieces of today’s world.

Let’s begin with AMC’s “Breaking Bad,” a six-season epic about Walter White, a high-school-teacher-gone-meth-cook-gone-drug-lord.

Though the setup may sound ridiculous (can you imagine your chemistry teacher as a drug lord?), the show itself is both ambitious and captivating. Walter White’s narrative as a family man gone rogue carries enough suspense and (reverse) character development to rival any bildungsroman from literature class. The bromance between White and student Jesse Pinkman highlights everything beautiful and destructive about a father-son relationship, promising no fairy-tale endings.

Netflix’s “House of Cards,” a political drama about the fictional Congressman Frank Underwood’s path to presidency, serves as another testament to television’s artistic achievements. Each episode more depraved than the last, “House of Cards” unveils the underbelly of politics, which in many ways reflect the human condition as a whole. Underwood’s brilliantly

crafted political exploits not only keep us glued to the screen, but also repeatedly puts our own values to the test.

Of course, those shows aren’t alone. Depending on who you ask, you can add “Sherlock,” “Battlestar Galactica,” “Game of Thrones” and dozens more to the list of 21st century masterpieces. UC Berkeley even has an entire class dedicated to analyzing episodes of “Doctor Who.” Part of television’s modern-day success is due to its increased convenience. Today, almost everyone has access to television shows, whether it is through a TV, laptop or tablet. As the market grows, so does competition, and television producers are under more pressure than ever to deliver newer, more groundbreaking content. Serious actors like Kevin Spacey (“House of Cards”) and writers like Steven Moffat (“Doctor Who”) have transformed television from the backwards time-stink of yesteryear to a blank canvas ripe for creative expression; in a way, television has adopted the role of an extended movie. Like the novel is to a short story, television provides a platform for artists to tell a lengthier, more complex narrative than a movie ever could. It has become a medium of unprecedented freedom: creators can spend 30 or 90 minutes per episode, pack each season with three or 24 episodes and even spend $300 or $5 million per episode.

These last five years have yielded some of the best television in the history of the world and certainly the most television shows in a quantitative sense. However, directors have only just begun to explore the medium — concepts like satire, dark comedy, 24-character casts and anti-heroes are only just beginning to take root on the small screen.

Movies have captured American intrigue for the last five decades, but the medium has since hit a bit of a plateau (just count how many non-sequels are coming out this year). Perhaps like the TV had done with the radio, quality television shows will now replace mediocre movies. More and more, Americans — especially the young — opt to spend free time engrossed in television. And as terrible as it may sound, I support their decision — they’re just appreciating 21st century art.

Through television, viewers are exposed to the same essential questions about humanity and the world the best art of antiquity have asked. As long as they’re not watching “Keeping Up with the Kardashians.”

The push for 4K TV

Television is, in many ways, a great American pastime. Having access to an abundance of sitcoms and livestreams to watch, the average American spends 34 hours news assistant a week watching TV (2012 Neilsen Statistics). With so much time spent watching shows, many are expressing curiosity in new improvements to standard televisions that greatly enhance the viewing experience: the 4K Ultra-HD TVs. The 4K televisions are not called “Ultra-HD” without reason. These televisions are at the forefront of display technology, packing more than four times the pixels of current HDTVs and were recently showcased in January at the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Many reviewers, including representatives from high-profile tech media companies CNET and Engadget, were quick to praise 4K UHD TV’s “stunning” images and “crisp” visuals, saying that “all around, 4K TVs are a dream come true for TV enthusiasts.”

Samsung Executive Vice President Joe Stinziano pushed these notions even further in a speech made at CES, claiming that “[4K TVs] surpass the realm of reality in viewing experience and promise to change the way we watch TV.” Despite their promises, 4K televisions are still a novelty for most consumers. Most new 4K sets have only just started to debut as of January 2014 and do not come cheap, ranging in price from about $1,000 to $40,000. Furthermore, there are still a lack of native 4K programs and movies that support the new televisions.

Even so, 2014 looks to be a year for 4K UHD televisions as Netflix, Hulu and other providers will openly support 4K viewing. Prices are also expected to drop to a more reasonable $1,000 to $5,000 — all the more reason for couch potatoes to rejoice before settling into a chair to watch just a few more episodes.

MYUNG-JU SONG

TVLAND

D

Features

The Prospector

January 31, 2014

7

Tino’s top

5 TV shows:

5.

Psych 4.

Modern 3.

Family Drake and Josh

1.

Sherlock 2.

How I Met Your Mother

Netflix: reengineering the way we watch TV Gone are the days of lazily potate-ting on the couch, thumb pressed against the televieditor-in-chief sion remote, hoping against hope to find something mildly interesting to watch on a dull Tuesday afternoon. Now, with countless on-demand streaming services like Netflix, viewers are free to watch whatever they want, whenever they want. “Binge-watching,” a term coined to describe watching anywhere from two to six episodes of the same TV series in one sitting, has become the new way of television consumption.

According to Netflix’s recent study on online content streaming, 61 percent of viewers report bingeing on shows — 73 percent of these respondents feel good about their behaviors. Furthermore, the study suggests that releasing all the episodes of a season is much more appealing to voracious viewers who are eager to devour everything the show has to offer. In fact, in the past few years, Netflix has released six original series this way — some notable ones include Orange is the New Black and House of Cards, which were met with both outstanding critical and popular success. And in its most recent earnings report, Netflix reported 29.93 million paid subscribers.

As an avid television watcher myself, I’m not a big fan of those cliffhanger endings with unbelievable backstabbings or dramatic reveals — or essentially anytime an episode CHRIS S. YOON

ending spurs that uncontrollable impatience to find out what happens next (we’ve all been there). But now, thanks to Netflix and its revolutionary all-at-once series release approach, I can comfortably cuddle up in my bed with a bag of chips and my laptop and binge-watch my way through an entire season in a matter of days.

However, Netflix’s re-engineering of the way we watch TV shows goes far beyond the simple satisfaction of alleviating short-term curiosity or anxiety while heightening the simultaneous pleasure and embarrassment of doing nothing but watching television: It often changes the quality of the show. By releasing all the episodes at once, Netflix can create dramas that resemble extended (13-hour) movies, allowing more in-depth scripts and, therefore, more tangible character connection with the audience.

No more aimless channel surfing. No more weekly anticipation. And definitely no more unnecessary frustration during mid-season breaks. Now with a click of a button on Netflix, an entire season is at the viewer’s disposal and the possibilities are indeed limitless.

TV shows:

A contemporary form of escapism MAITHILEE KANTHI lifestyles assistant

TV series can offer students the chance to live vicariously through another medium, just as books have famously done in the past. They’re a form of living outside oneself and experiencing the adventures too fantastic for reality. However, while books have been praised throughout history, television shows are often accompanied by a negative connotation, seen as a form of passive entertainment and therefore for the mentally inferior, especially when compared to the level of imagination required in reading a fictional piece.

“In books, there is freedom to use your own imagination,” junior Manjiri Sahasrabudhe said. “TV shows actually limit it because all the visuals take that away.”

Despite the medium of storytelling, there are very few differences between the two. Episodes are compacted storylines that establish their own narrative in the half hour-hour given while also furthering a larger story arc, just like chapters in novels.

Said sophomore Andy Cheng, “Whatever [you’re] trying to escape will still be there when the forty minutes are up, but you can still use it as entertainment.”

So despite the abundance and accessibility of an enormous variety of engaging shows, negative perspectives toward those who spend a significant

amount of time watching TV still prevail, possibly since reading has long been seen as a sign of an educated individual, but because TV shows and movies are viewed as taking the imagination out of the process. It is essentially only consuming, not challenging or enriching the viewer in any way.

Freshman Shivani Maisuria echoes this sentiment.

“Imagination is how I escape. TV shows don’t let me imagine because I’m just consuming someone else’s story,” she said.

Passive entertainment is a form of escapism, perhaps.

But there’s nothing wrong with reading a book or watching a TV show. TV shows, especially in the modern market, are often made with high production costs with the top names in the industry, with thousands of dollars spent per episode with cinematography, special effects, makeup and costume, and cast and crew. Accompanied by such a high level of art and dedication, it cannot be simply degraded to cheap entertainment for the masses. Escapism suggests people dissatisfied with their lives abandoning reality to simply consume. Entertainment, on the other hand, is an age-old art and, for most people, the purpose they sit down once a week is simply to enjoy a well-woven tale.

8

Lifestyles

January 31, 2014

COSMOPOLITAN CHIC UNITED KINGDOM THU DAM

photo editor

Fashion is an art that makes a statement ­­— and all over the world, different trends communicate an area’s culture and unique style. As people change, so do the kinds of clothes they wear; the diverse looks on the street intermingle influences from entirely different continents. However, each locale has distinct trends that are popular on the streets and can serve as inspiration for the next new look.

Both men and women on the streets of the UK keep their looks fashion forward and sophisticated with deep and dark colors.

More oversized silhouettes are popular for the colder weather and different textures such as lace or leather add an extra element to clean and simple outfits. Solids and minimalistic pieces can be seen often as a base for statement accessories.

Latin America

In Latin America, the warmer weather invites people to adorn brighter colors and lighter fabrics. Large graphics and bold prints add excitement to outfits, which matches the festive culture.

Layering allows people to adapt to the changing temperatures, and also allows for more mixing of textures and prints.

ASIA

Many look to Asia for fashion inspiration since they tend to lead in the fashion industry. Pea coats and trenchcoats are becoming more and more popular for the cold weather, as are subtle prints such as stripes and plaid. Vibrant pops of color add a finishing touch to polished looks.

The hot, humid climate in India calls for flowy fabrics and bright colors and patterns such as paisley print.

Below, the girl in the black outfit is wearing a kurta, a traditional garment that can be incorporated into everyday wear to create a unique and clean outfit.

India

Lifestyles

The Prospector

January 31, 2014

9

Sexist tropes warrant an online response

2%

flip side assistant

of women think they are beautiful. friends in an incisive, albeit critical, manner.

Sulzbach explains his stance on body image and the way impossible standards many individuals — most notably young women — feel they must meet in order to find love, then claims that the video made by Grier is a perfect example of those who perpetuate those unrealistic expectations. Clips from Grier’s now-infamous video play throughout, paired with commentary that exposes the double standards that have now been further ingrained in the minds of the young girls who make up the majority of Grier’s viewing demographic .

While some are quick to judge Sulzbach and his video, saying that the boys’ actions did not warrant such harsh criticism, Sulzbach was within his rights — and, indeed, correct — to call them out on their harmful attitudes. It is true that in an online platform as big as YouTube, there are bound to be comments and responses that push the boundaries of what some might consider acceptable. But that does not

WHAT BOYS

90%

I guess I should thank Nash Grier and his friends for letting me and almost 900,000 other girls know that having any arm hair is a big no-no and that if we don’t want to end up as the creepy cat-obsessed old ladies people gossip about, even the peach fuzz has to go.

Recently, there has been some controversy over a video posted by Vine-famous Nash Grier on his YouTube channel in which he and two others describe what traits they — and apparently all other boys — look for in a girl.

The three boys list qualities they consider favorable, then move into areas of contention, criticizing girls who are louder and more outspoken than most as well as girls who choose not to shave. Perhaps the most controversial statement is when Grier states that “the chase” is an integral part of getting a boy to like you and that it is up to the girl to find a happy medium between playing too hard to get and being, as he so eloquently put it, “a whore.” The kicker comes at the very end of this 10-minute video, when Grier and his friends agree that the most important element in a girl is to “be yourself.”

Amongst the many response videos submitted, one particular video uploaded by regular YouTuber Daniel Sulzbach, who goes by the username MrRepzion, seems to be the most popular. In his video, Sulzbach picks apart the many comments made by Grier and his

of all women want to change at least one aspect of their physical appearance.

only

DELANIE MEDINA

mean these views should be accepted without question. Users have a responsibility to challenge the sexist tropes put forward by Grier and his friends, if only for the sake of the young women who feel their only route to romance is through changing their very identities.

WANT

(?)

Weigh in: Nash grier’s “What boys want” video Response NIRMIT SHAH sports editor

Recently, I came across a response video

by YouTuber Daniel Sulzbach, who goes by the username “MrRepzion,” to a video by well-known YouTuber Nash Grier and a few of his friends labeled “What Guys Look for in Girls” and found myself with conflicted views.

The response video features an adult ranting about the content of Grier’s video, which set absurdly high expectations for women and contained claims such as the idea that any form of body hair needed to be removed for Grier to like said female. With Sulzbach’s response on the content of Grier and his friends’ video, Sulzbach also includes comments such as “Why would someone want to kiss you?!” when one of the boys talks about how it took a romantic in-

>1/2

terest three weeks to kiss him.

While Sulzbach is justified in being angry about the content of someone else’s video, his approach to meet his goal is skewed.

Sulzbach’s goal is to promote empathy for people as a whole — he wants to make it so that people feel comfortable being who they are, body hair and all.

In the process of doing so, however, he attacks three individuals in a way that crosses the line between stopping future misogynists in their tracks and simply perpetuating conflict.

While Grier and his friends wrongly promoted the impossible standards to which many women feel the must to comply, they did not bring up any specific examples of a supposedly undesirable girl — no photos, no video clips of anyone they deemed “ugly.” Sulzbach, on the other hand, chooses to push for abolishing these standards by publicly humiliating three targeted boys, claiming that nobody should want to kiss them. He also claims that the individuals watching Grier’s videos are likely to be minors with malleable minds, yet forgets that

adolescents and teens have been bullied online.

(about the same number have engaged in cyber bullying themselves)

Grier himself is not yet an adult. Should Grier someday find the harsh backlash too much to handle, as so many other young people humiliated on the Internet have felt, Sulzbach would become less of a hero and more of a bully. Many young people make unfortunate choices on the Internet and, due to the Internet’s wide audience, remain immortalized for the public to see.

Through it all, Sulzbach becomes a paradox of sorts as he attempts to advocate against Grier’s awful attitude toward women with additional — and highly personal — attacks. Through his method of Internet activism, he ends up throwing more individuals under the bus. It is a shame that his message is lost in criticism surrounding the boys rather than the content they produced.

>25%

of teens have been bullied repeatedly.

Response shows call-out culture gone too faR

10

Sports

January 31, 2014

The heartbreaker

Fans react to 49ers NFC Championship loss, Sherman interview, next season MARVIN WANG lifestyles assistant

`As the time dwindled down to the last seconds of the game, 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick threw a self-assuring pass to receiver Michael Crabtree, anticipating a game-tying catch. It didn’t happen.

Brett Koci: Wrestler extraordinaire DIANA KRUZMAN opinions editor

An unfortunate circumstance of athletics is that age frequently has a negative effect on performance.

Often, athletes find themselves unable to regain their former prowess as injuries, stress, or other factors take their toll. Senior wrestler Brett Koci, however, defies this progression — in more ways than one.

Koci, who joined the wrestling team his junior year, recently won the Cupertino Memorial Wrestling Tournament, and is currently ranked second in the Central Coast Section for wrestlers of his age and weight class. Over the past two years, Koci has worked hard to improve his skills as a wrestler while balancing school and other activities.

“Wrestling’s hard [to balance with school], and my accomplishments have taught me self-discipline, to never give up, and to always fight for what I want,” Koci said.

Despite this difficulty, he eagerly recounts the most exciting moment of his wrestling career: winning the Cupertino Memorial Tournament.

Said Koci, “I remember getting my hand raised, turning around and seeing all my friends up in the stands … I ran to my coach and jumped up into his arms.”

Instead of falling back, however, Koci has continued to improve over his past two years as a wrestler - a fact that his coach, Mike Moyano, attributes to effort and determination.

“A big part of [his success] is just the amount of work that he’s put in. He worked the entire offseason [and] put in an exorbitant amount of time, and it shows,” Moyano said.

Koci also cites the support and dedication of his teammates as a strong influence in his success.

“There’s definitely a sense of team… [even] when you’re wrestling alone, you know your team is back there up in the stands, watching your match and cheering you on, [and] it boosts your self-confidence,” Koci said..

Koci hopes to continue this success in the future by maintaining his high ranking in CCS, attending the State tournament, and wrestling competitively in junior college - feats that seem not just possible, but likely, considering Koci’s passion for and skill in wrestling. Time may take its toll on many athletes, but for Brett Koci, it is simply a tool for improvement.

“

compared the rant to a WWE interview while some defended him, claiming that it was simply his intense adrenaline that ran through his passion for the game or that racism played a role in his newfound fame as a “thug.” Sherman himself later wrote on his blog that “I shouldn’t have attacked Michael Crabtree the way I did. You don’t have to put anybody else down to make yourself bigger.”

But who is to blame for the loss of the game? Some, including Mehta, point to the noise levels at the Seahawks’ home stadium, Cen-

What Sherman did was uncalled for — he trashed talked even though he has proven himself a good [cornerback]. I think he was very hyper at the time and he stretched it … it looks bad for the [Seahawks] team What did happen was the unexpected tip from Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman who snuck up at the last split moment of the pass, the ball itself caught by teammate Malcolm Smith. 49ers fans held their breath. The game was over. Confetti flew. And a crazed media buzz began. Typing in “49ers vs Seahawks” into any search engine yields results ranging from “Colin threw three interceptions in the fourth quarter” to “Sherman rant” to “NaVorro Bowman injury.”

But according to sophomore Rishita Mehta, “The worst part was after the game, how people reacted to the 49ers losing the game.

That w a s just bad sportsmanship.“ With many fans still glued t o t h e i r televisions shortly a f ter the game, FOX football reporter Erin Andrews got a hold of Richard Sherman for a post-game interview in which Sherman attacked Crabtree for his shortcomings during the game, revealing an ongoing rivalry between the two. Sherman later regretted his words, but the public hasn’t yet forgotten the incident.

Said Mehta, “ W h a t Sherman did was uncalled for — he trashed talked even though he has proven himself a good [cornerback].

I think he was very hyper at the time and he stretched it … it looks bad for the [Seahawks] team.”

Sophomore Christian Buenrostro echoed Mehta’s sentiments, saying, “If you win a game that important, to have a chance to go to the Super Bowl, you have to stay humble and be disciplined after the game.”

Indeed, the “rant” became a headline story: a YouTube video of the incident recently reached a million views. The comments below that video and other social medias such Twitter displayed a sense of disgust with phrases like “classless” and “trashy.” Others

- Rishita Mehta, sophmore

turyLink Field, which set a world record for outdoor stadium sound levels at 137.6 decibels and which many refer to as the Seahawks’ “twelfth man.” 49ers devotees are also quick to mention the crucial calls that went in favor of Seattle. Still others hold Kaepernick responsible for the misfortune of the game.

Said Buenrostro, “I thought he was too conservative. He didn’t use his arm too much and play like a quarterback should; [instead, he] uses his legs too much. [And] on the last play of the game … when he threw a pass [attempt] to Michael Crabtree, he should’ve taken his time and made a better decision.”

On a slightly more optimistic note, sophomore Joseph Luo added that “[Kaepernick] is a rookie; he has so much potential. He just needs experience.”

The last play came out with no luck for the 49ers. However, Kaepernick himself later mentioned that “when I saw the matchup, I thought we were going to score o n that play.”

Some others commented on the loss of linebacker NaVorro Bowman to a severe leg injury i n the crucial fourth quarter, when h e attempted to strip the ball away f r o m the Seahawks receiver. To add insult to his injuries, the referees said the possession was invalid. 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh stated later on after the game that Bowman had torn his ACL, an injury sophomore Michael Munson described as a “big downfall.”

“Not only did he get injured, he didn’t get the ball,” Munson said. “The call wasn’t fair, but things happen. You can’t really change it.”

Though the season is officially over for the 49ers, principal Kami Tomberlain is among the many fans who remain hopeful for improvement in the coming year.

“It will be interesting to see what happens in the off season with all the free agents, and they will have the difficulty of keeping all of them together,” she said. “I think they played well [this season] and certainly hope to see them in Santa Clara soon.”

As for “Quest for Six”? Perhaps next year.

The Prospector

January 31, 2014

Sports

11

From school to slopes Junior Hanalei Edbrooke takes on snowboarding SERENA NGAN features assistant

Sleeping until noon is a typical element of many high schoolers’ weekends. But junior Hanalei Edbrooke defies this teenage phenomenon, starting each Saturday with a 4 a.m. drive to Lake Tahoe in order to pursue her passion for snowboarding. Edbooke’s family has needed to go to gruelling measures in order to accommodate her dedication to her sport. Instead of staying home to do school work, she spends her free days hurdling over rigorous obstacles, rails and boxes set among the white powder.

Edbrooke first discovered her love for snowboarding, which escalated instantly, during her first family trip to Tahoe.

Said Edbrooke, “From the first day, I was addicted.

It was an addiction [that] I knew I had to do again and again. During my very first season, I went five times — just whenever we could. During the second season, [my family] went even more times. Finally, I went forty days last season. I went almost every weekend, but now, being on the Kirkwood Free Ride team, we go every weekend.”

Aware of Edbrooke’s intensive schedule, those that know her well often question how she balances school work and commitment to her sport. Edbrooke’s response is often unexpected. “[Snowboarding] helped me with discipline in school,” Edbrooke said. “I am able to get all my homework done on time and I have learned to plan my schedule around [snowboarding]. It shocks people, but snowboarding does not add any stress.”

On the contrary, “It actually relieves stress and it gives me something to live for. It might take time from weekends, but it’s worth it.”

During this past winter break, Edbrooke’s snowboarding career took a turn for the better. Instead of identifying herself only as a team member of a ski resort, she

became a competitor.

“It was the last day of winter break that I had my first competition, the Rail Jam. The thing is, I used to hate rails and boxes and I’d be really scared of them,” Edbrooke said, “I just started using them this season and surprisingly, I won second place during the rail jam against nine other girls. I landed a twentyfoot jump on my butt the day before, so I did well, being in my condition.”

Even after five years of experience, taking the plunge into competitions is a great step forward in Edbrooke’s snowboarding journey. Her devotion to the sport is a testament to her classmates that one can indeed balance school work and sports despite an onerous schedule and, perhaps more importantly, that the sort of enthusiasm displayed by Edbrooke often minimizes the feeling of sacrifice.

Said Edbrooke, “Every single day out in the slopes is the best experience for me because I love snowboarding so much. It makes me really happy.”

Winter Olympics: Putin’ pressure on Russia ALEX LEVINE opinions assistant

Despite, or perhaps because of, the Olympic Games’ status as a symbol for global unity and a focal point for international attention, they have historically brought up major controversies. The upcoming 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, are no exception; while Russian president Vladimir Putin is trying to use the Games to display Russia as favorably as possible, few Games have attracted as much negative attention as Sochi’s. For various reasons, the Sochi Olympics have incited notable controversies in the areas of human rights, environmental impact and security.

A recent Russian law banning “the propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations” to minors has raised questions about how LGBT athletes and visitors will be treated at the Sochi Olympics. Though President Putin has assured the world that LGBT individuals should feel safe in Sochi, he has also been criticized for insisting that Russia’s law is not discriminatory to sexual minorities and for comparing homosexuality to pedophilia. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has attempted to alleviate the issue by guaranteeing that athletes will be free to speak out against the Russian law. However, the law remains a point of contention worldwide, encouraging LGBT rights organizations to promote boycotting the Games and prompting President Barack Obama to appoint several openly gay athletes to the official U.S. delegation to Sochi..

The Olympics have also brought to light the situation of the Circassians, an ethnic group native to the Sochi area. In the 19th century, the expanding Russian Empire drove the Circassians from their homeland, killing 800,000 and forcibly removing over one million. The 150th anniversary of the alleged Circassian genocide coincides with the Sochi Olympics, a fact which has united the Circassian diaspora in outrage. Again, though the IOC has tried to diffuse the situation by promising that Circassian culture will be represented at the Games’ cultural ceremony, the Circassian controversy has raised questions about Russia’s sensitivity by hosting the Olympics at the site of a major violation of human rights.

The environmental impact 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi has also attracted international scrutiny. The Games will be held in the buffer zone of the West Caucasus UNESCO World Heritage Site and the Sochi National Park, which compose one of the few remaining pristine wildernesses in Europe. The construction of Olympic venues in this region may result in long-term harm and the deterioration of a place of global significance in biodiversity.

Sochi’s location in the volatile Caucasus may also threaten the security of visitors to Sochi during the Olympics. Terrorist activity has recently increased in southern Russia,

with two suicide bombings killing at least 34 people in the city of Volgograd. Because of this, Putin has focused on addressing security concerns in Sochi, establishing extreme security measures in the city and at the Olympic venues to protect athletes and other visitors. This has in turn sparked protests from Sochi residents, who claim that the security arrangements interfere with their daily lives. Still, the IOC agrees with Putin, emphasizing the importance of security at the Games.

The 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi are turning the world’s attention to Russia, exposing all relevant controversies. The Games will certainly have a great impact on Russia and how the world perceives it, but whether the controversies will be glossed over and Russia’s reputation spared or escalate and damage Russia’s reputation remains to be seen.

Chess Club: No longer rook-ies CHRIS S. YOON editor-in-chief

The school’s chess team hosted a three-way chess tiebreaker match on Wednesday, Jan. 22 with a five-member squad: freshman Ram Nandula, his older sister and senior Alekhya Nandula and juniors Chirag Ramesh, Michael Li and Jigar Shah. Nandula played the top board for the team in two sets of five 15-minute games, ultimately leading to a triumph over both Lynbrook and The Harker School, winning 6.5 points out of a possible 15 compared to Lynbrook’s 5.5 and Harker’s three. The victory places the team in second place overall in the league, just behind rival school Monta Vista.

Compared to last year’s seventh place finish, the team has seen a tremendous improvement, largely under the leadership of Li and Alekhya

Nandula, the President and Team Captain, respectively. Ram Nandula too made great contributions with his consistently strong play, beating most of the other schools’ top board players.

In their most recent competition, Ram Nandula finished with 0.5 of two points, Ramesh and Shah finished one for two and Li and Alekhya Nandula both had two for two. Ramesh in particular produced a spectacular finish over his Lynbrook opponent, playing the winning move with less than a second of time left on his clock.

The team, having finished highly all season, will be partaking in the annual Monta Vista Chess Tournament on Feb. 1, at which they hope to be able to replicate their performance in the regular season.

Flip Side

January 31, 2014

12

JANUARY IN PHOTOS THU DAM

THU DAM

THU DAM

NIRMIT SHAH

GIRLS SOCCER | Senior Natalie Vigent chases after the ball during a game against Milpitas High School.

JASON CHEN

NEW BUILDING CEREMONY | Principal Kami Tomberlain and other members of the administration cut the ribbon.

Q: What inspired you to start Tran Time?

A: I started teaching about six years ago and I’ve always noticed that when my students feel I genuinely care about them, they are more invested in my class. As I got to know my students more and more, I found that they were really multifaceted and ... complex. [T]hey had a lot of questions that, for some reason, their parents weren’t really answering for them; [therefore], I decided this year, for the first time actually, to have Tran Time. I’ve had a good, positive response, so I’m really happy with it.

DECADES RALLY | Cheerleaders show their spirit during the Decades Rally.

BOYS BASKETBALL | Freshman Koshi Huynh jumps for the ball.

THU DAM

A CEO visits CES TANAY TANDON web editor

WHAT TIME IS IT?

fortable in the classroom environment?

A: I’ve never thought about it like that, but probably! I think when they see me talking about a topic other than math, they realize that I am a normal human being who doesn’t do math 24/7; that I’m much more complex than that, just like them.

Q: How do you choose what you will be discussing during Tran Time?

A: It’s just random! Sometimes when I’m at home and after I’m done working, I watch TV and learn something interesting or I have a discussion with a friend that I found fascinating and I say [to myself], ‘You know, I think it’s about time the kids learned this too.’

IT’S TRAN TIME! COMPILED BY GLORIA CHOI

NEXT MONTH: FEBRUARY Monday-Friday, Feb. 3-7

AVID Parent Night Tuesday, Feb. 4

11th Grade AP/H Info Meeting Wednesday, Feb. 5

CAREER FAIR | An emergency room nurse speaks at the career fair.

Q: What is Tran Time?

A: Tran Time is a time for me to educate the students about social, emotional and financial intelligence.

Basically, real-life knowledge.

Q: What is the importance of Tran Time?

A: It helps connect me to students in case they have any questions or need advice outside of the classroom. Sometimes I talk about things that I wish someone would have told me when I was in high school ... When I was growing up, I had a parent who didn’t speak much English, so my mom didn’t expose me to a lot of things. If I had just known it in high school, I would have been a lot more confident going into the real world and talkQ: Do you believe Tran Time en-ing to my boss, or my co-worker, or new people that I met in college. ables students to feel more com-

Powderpuff Week

SERENA NGAN

10th Grade Parent Night Thursday, Feb. 13

Winter Comedy Showcase Friday, Feb. 14

Presidents Week Break Monday-Friday, Feb. 17-21

JOYCE YE

A few weeks ago I got a chance to visit the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas as a presenter in the Mobile Application section of the conference. The CES is an annual showing of some of the latest gadgets and gizmos crafted by companies like Samsung, LG and Intel. Walking around the showroom is like taking a brief glimpse into the future: drones whiz by overhead relaying video feeds, men and women stroll by sporting augmented reality glasses, and people wear watches that take pictures as well as tell time. What I found there was a series of devices and apps that are sure to change the world as we know it.

Personally, I spent most of my time within the Mobile App showdown, a demonstration of neat iOS and Android applications with hardware add-ons. Some highlights I noticed included Tinke, an application and hardware-plugin that turns your iPhone into a blood analysis tool through the use of spectrometry, generating a report of heart rate, respiratory rate and blood oxygen saturation; Zubie, a small device that plugs into the OBD port of any car and provides real-time reports of engine health; and Maluuba, the Siri-killer that makes use of advanced Natural Language Processing to recognize voice and conduct tasks — ‘call me an ambulance’ does not, in fact, change my name to ‘Ambulance,’ quite unlike its Apple counterpart (I checked, much to the displeasure of nearby iPhone users).

Following my presentation, which consisted of a demo of an upcoming Clipped app version, I headed to the main showroom where larger companies were showcasing technology. I caught glimpses of Samsung’s upcoming curved glass television, which attempts to create a more immersive experience through the use of a concave viewing platform. Also showcased was the much-hyped 4K viewing technology, considered the next step for in-home televisions. The viewing experience was definitely a huge improvement, giving each image a clear and crystal like viewing structure. Personally, I felt these two were the biggest winners at the conference and would likely have the greatest public appeal.

I left Las Vegas inspired of the future that is yet to come, even more convinced technology holds the ability to truly enrich and improve our lives. Each invention and gadget at the conference represented years and years of work, finally culminating into a single product that I could hold in my hands. If that gizmo, whether it be a phone, watch or television, could make a human’s life even slightly better, it would be an achievement not in vain. Once these products begin to seep into the fabric of our daily lives, I’m sure we’ll all be happier, more productive beings.