Pulse Magazine: Volume 5, Issue 1

November 2009 Volume 5 Issue 1

letter from the editor I

n the past decade, we have seen a dramatic change in journalistic presentation. Newspaper and Nightly News programs are decreasing in popularity, and a shift towards online news has displaced our parents’ static sources. Every major news outlet either has a website, or has completely moved online due to staggering print popularity.

Bloggers have found their place on the internet, breaking several developing news stories before the networks and papers.

The age of our parents’ news hasn’t died, just changed.

With that said, Pulse is glad to say that we have hopped on the digital bandwagon as well. Alongside our print issues, CCApulseonline.com will be updated frequently, with more time-specific stories. In the past, we have been unable to cover stories ranging from sports to entertainment, due to the timeliness of each article. We now have an outlet to update you on these types of stories.

In this issue, we follow up on a story Pulse covered last year. With a new school year, you can’t help but notice larger class sizes, limited in-class supplies, and restricted advisement. In his first issue on staff, Garrett Peterson tackles the school budget. ` ASB also has a new bright-eyed and

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bushy-tailed staff. Already a quarter of the way through the school year, ASB has already coordinated a successful pep rally, introduced new and exciting products to the student store, and celebrated a stylish Homecoming dance.

In the past month, we have all seen the effects of drunk driving. With the death of a former CCA student, the third in four years from the class of 2010, it is apparent that this continuing problem has deep roots inside and outside our community.

Even with the smallest writing staff since Pulse’s “White Album”, we promise nothing short of dedicated journalistic prowess. It is going to be a full year. It is going to be an exciting one.

Sincerely,

Chris Cubbison Editor-in-Chief

NOVEMBER 2009

in this issue Editor-in-Chief Chris Cubbison

news

5 10

ASB Store Budget Cuts

Magazine Editor Kait Bell Online Editor Amruta Trivedi

features

opinion

fun

8 11 18 20 22 24

6 7 14 23

4 28

Content Editors Maia Ferdman Brittany Jahn Pooja Magavi Matt Scarano

ASB Representative Profiles College Corner Teen Life in Belgium Cafe Expose Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland Copy Editors Austin Evans Blast from the Past Anita Shah Pooja Magavi Drunk Driving Coffee Photo Editor Healthcare Pro/Con Rebecca Sicile-Kira Farmville Layout Editor Kait Bell November Calendar Funny Car Names

Staff Writers Garett Peterson Naomi Stapleton Business Managers Carly Gutner-Davis Kimia Zomorodi Paige Press

@

For reader feedback or advertising information please contact Pulse at:

5951 Village Center Loop Rd. San Diego, Ca 92130 (858) 350-0253 x 4192

ccapulseonline.com

editors.pulse@gmail.com

Advisor Michael Gaughen The opinions expressed by the writers and the content of the advertisements do not necessarily reflect those of Pulse Magazine, Canyon Crest Academy or the San Dieguito Union High School District.

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FUN

Monday

Sunday

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8

november Tuesday

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2

The Bravery

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4

finals (half day)

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finals (half day)

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House of Reps meeting

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Raven Idol vocal recital

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23

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Thursday

Wednesday

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Saturday

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Attack Attack

Comedy Sportz

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13

Instrumental Recital

“theatre show”

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20

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Student-Staff Basketball game “theatre show”

Say Anything

Third Eye Blind

Raven Idol Raven Idol vocal recital Dashboard Confessional “theatre show” “theatre show”

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Friday

5

Raven Idol vocal recital

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2009

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Bedford Grove

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7

14

28

Thanksgiving Break Shoot-a-thon

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ASB EVENTS ENVISION EVENTS and SCHOOLWIDE PERFORMANCES CONCERTS PLAYS OTHER

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what’sin

NEWS

store?

by Austin Evans

meet the health code, and won’t have too much of an odor.

Aside from food, ASB has also started offering birthday balloons. The cost of four latex balloons and one mylar is $5 with an ASB card and $6 without.

An increase in clothing inventory is another change worth noting.

“We’ve had all the same clothing in the past. This year we really wanted to go all-out in terms of clothes,” said Lawson. In order to make sure that students knew the new class shirts were available, anyone who bought an ASB card got a free one during Raven Readiness. The only thing missing now is a CCA sweatshirt, a commodity that nearly every other high school in the area offers.

“They are probably going to be zip-up hoodies, tackle twill embroidered,” said Lawson of the sweatshirts, which should run somewhere between $35-50. They are currently available for pre-order in the student store and should be ready for pick-

T

Photo by Rebecca Sicile-Kira

his year, the ASB student store is all but lacking. ASB members have made it a priority to make the store a place where students want to be, and it certainly shows. As some may have already noticed, the store has undergone some big changes in terms of inventory while still maintaining items that were popular in previous years (frozen fruit bars, anyone?).

“We’re offering three new [food] brands this year. The first is the gourmet lollipops which have been really popular, and the second and third are still uncertain,” said Nick Lawson, ASB Executive President. The lollipops are available every day in the store for 75 cents each. According to Lawson, ASB has already tried offering, and later withdrew, slushies and popcorn. The difficulty lies in finding a food product that can be sold at a decent price, will

“ASB members have made it a priority to make the store a place where students want to be.”

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up by the end of this year.

The store is open every day at lunch, so make sure to stop by if you haven’t already and check out all the new goods.

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OPINION

making theright decision A

typical Saturday night for five Torrey Pines High School seniors. A local party, complete with alcohol and illicit drugs.

In other words, an average Carmel Valley/ Del Mar/ Rancho Sante Fe party.

Noting good happens after midnight.

On Sunday, October 4, around 1:30 a.m., five boys piled into a 2008 Mazda 3 and drove down Granada, a windy Rancho road.

Within minutes, the driver of the Mazda lost control on a curve and rolled the car several times. Alex Capozza, a former Canyon Crest Academy student, was ejected from the car and pronounced dead at the scene.

A week later, it was revealed that the driver of the car had a blood alcohol level of .10, over the legal limit for someone 21 and over, and clearly above the legal limit for a minor, which teens these days tend to forget is actually zero. It is sadly all too common.

I woke up to a grey sky that morning.

I learned about the accident through scattered Facebook statuses, each one topped off with Alex’s initials, hearts, or RIP’s. It was a grey day, but I woke up and Alex didn’t. This death, now the third for the graduating class of 2010 in four years, is clearly tragic.

However, by no means is this accident an isolated or even uncommon event. With a combination of drugs and alcohol, fast cars, and late or no curfews, I’m surprised that we don’t see these accidents more frequently in our community.

We have all seen the images of cars wrapped around trees or light poles. We have all heard the shocking statistics of what happens when you drive drunk. But despite it all, far too many among us forget or disregard better judgment and get behind the wheel in no condition to drive.

We can give Alex’s life and death a new meaning by learning from this accident. It is unfair that life can come down to one poor decision. Please, for everyone’s sake, make the right one.

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by Chris Cubbison

OPINION

wake up & smell the COFFEE

by Maia Ferdman

Photo by Rebecca Sicile-Kira

C

offee is one of the most misunderstood beverages of all time. This age old remedy for fatigue is an easy target for all sorts of criticism. Biased rumors and ancient myths tend to rise up in anti-coffee arguments, condemning it to suffer a negative connotation.

However, what critics may not realize is that coffee serves as a healthy remedy for much more than fatigue. It also acts as a gateway into a culture well known to all faithful coffee drinkers.

The amount of caffeine in every cup of joe has most famously led the masses to believe that this innocent brew stunts growth. This fabrication began decades ago when scientists thought that osteoporosis might have been linked with the caffeine in coffee. However, “these people were more likely replacing calcium-rich milk with coffee or caffeinated sodas,” leading to the bone mass deficiency, said nutritionist Joy Bauer to MSNBC. Roel Grootenhuis, a CCA junior, has other theories related to the negative effects of coffee: “[It] poses absolutely no health benefit to frequent drinkers. Coffee consumption may lead to heart disease, gastrointestinal

problems, and maybe even developmental problems in teenagers.”

Negative effects of coffee drinking do include raising blood pressure and heart rate, in addition to causing indigestion in some. This leads scientists to suggest that pregnant women and heart patients should limit or avoid the habit altogether. In spite of this, studies show that these effects do not cause most healthy people to sustain any significant harmful consequences.

Rather, coffee has proven to cause an immediate increase in awareness and athletic performance. Brazilian studies even suggested that children who drink one cup of coffee a day are less likely to suffer from depression than others. There are also no studies showing that coffee in moderation causes any noteworthy negative impacts on children. Therefore, teens such as CCA freshman Stephanie Schechter who drink coffee because it “tastes good” can keep on enjoying their occasional or even regular cup of java.

In addition to presenting advantages in the short-term, biology teacher Mr. Haas says that “there are a number of published research papers that show that drinking coffee can help reduce the incidence of certain diseases, including type II diabetes, liver cirrhosis, colon cancer, and Parkinson’s disease,” and even that “some of these studies show that the more you drink, the more you reduce your risk of these diseases.” Vanderbilt University’s Institute for Coffee Studies maintains these conclusions as correct.

The growing list continues as many researchers, including those at Harvard and UCLA, recently published the correlation between coffee and reduced risk of gallstones,

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SEE COFFEE ON PAGE 28.

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FEATURE

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Canyon Crest Academy’s 6th year is looking promising, as the hardworking ASB members set their sights on making this school year the best one yet. ASB has upped the rate of student participation and school spirit at CCA this year by working diligently, promoting sports through the “Raven Lunatics” program and selling Robeks smoothies and gourmet lollipops in the student store. Here are your ASB officers for the 2009-2010 school year:

meet your

asb

reps

by Carly Gutner-Davis Photos by Rebecca Sicile-Kira

President: Nick Lawson What do you hope to do for CCA this year?

CCA has always been committed to having a positive academic atmosphere but when we leave class, the campus has very little to offer.

This year, I plan to hold events to get students excited about athletics and Envision, promote causes in the community, and make students proud to attend CCA.

Fun Fact: I’m very into graphic design. This year I created several items in the student store, including the raven lunatics shirts.

Vice President: Brian Doyle What do you hope to do for CCA this year?

As an athlete at the school, I really try to increase the CCA spirit and attendance at sports games all throughout the year. Overall I would like to create much more meaningful events and skyrocket the CCA spirit.

Fun Fact: I am known for my Joker voice, and my impressions and noises are priceless. “We’re off like a herd of turtles!”

Senior President: Chen Zhang What do you hope to do for CCA this year?

I hope to promote CCA senior spirit, create awesome events for the seniors, and listen to what the seniors want from CCA for their last year at this school.

Fun Fact: I can yo-yo!

Sophomore President: Blair Noble

What do you hope to do for CCA this year?

I would like to see CCA become more united and spirited this year. I love seeing the student body excited for ASB events, so my goal is to get more students involved in all school functions.

Fun Fact: I am obsessed with the shows Entourage and Gossip Girl.

Junior President: John Davidson

What do you hope to do for CCA this year?

As Junior class president, I hope to bring the class of 2011 together through bonding events and class spirit. And as dance manager, I hope to plan some of the best dances this school has seen.

Fun Fact:

I’ve never broken a bone!

Treasurer: Selaina Petrou What do you hope to do for CCA this year?

This year I really hope to see our school become more passionate about being Ravens.

I would love to see our student body excited for our amazing programs, like Envision and athletics, and just see our campus full of spirit.

Fun Fact: That bright yellow bug in the parking lot… yeah…that’s mine.

Secretary: Taylor Patterson

What do you hope to do for CCA this year? This year I hope to see a lot more school spirit on campus. From dances to athletic games, I would love to see more people attend and truly appreciate what CCA has to offer!

Fun Fact: I love the TV show Bones!

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unbalanced budg et

an

$

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by Garrett Peterson

he 2009-2010 school year has opened with mixed news concerning the budget for the San Dieguito Union High School District. The district is considered a basic aid school district by the state. This classification means that the district is supported solely by property taxes. It is rare for a district to fall into this category. Most schools are considered revenue-limit districts since the property taxes in these districts are not sufficient to support the school.

Although being a basic aid district is generally a positive attribute, it currently has its negative aspects. State legislature has decreed that basic aid school districts will be required to make a “fair share” contribution to the state. This contribution will be equal to the loss incurred by the state on behalf of the limit-revenue districts. This adds up to an 8 million dollar loss for the district over the next two years.

Fortunately, these “fair share” losses will be offset in part by funding from the federal government. These funds are available to the district via The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. While these funds will be helpful in the immediate future, they will not be available next school year.

Not surprisingly, the effects of the current

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fiscal situation are apparent at CCA. Principal Brian Kohn said “On a day-to-day basis, the main way that the budget cuts impact the school is mostly around supplies and materials.” For example, teachers no longer have a budget for making photocopies, so students are responsible for printing their own documents.

“The amount of money that has been spent on copying has been huge,” said Mr. Kohn. Other materials that might be affected are the supplies for art classes or the music sheets for music classes.

CCA no longer staffs individuals to distribute and collect textbooks; this job has fallen into the laps of teachers.

Teachers have also felt the impacts of these cuts.

“What we try to do is to try and save money without negatively impacting the students. We are being pushed to look at our systems and see how we can streamline them,” said Kohn with regard to the impacts of the cuts on teachers. Yet another area that has been impacted by the cuts is teacher development conferences. In the current economic environment, the school does not have the funds to allocate to these conferences.

Students can also take part in the effort to deal with the current fiscal situation. Perhaps the most effective way that students can help the school save money is to take care of the campus. For example, it takes campus supervisors an hour to remove the after lunch debris from the quad. This hour could be spent maintaining the school in some other way if students would be more responsible with the remnants of their lunch. Expenses for maintenance can range from computers to desks; any part of the campus, no matter how mundane, that requires work by a staff member also requires funds.

The athletics department at CCA has also felt the effects of the cuts. “In the past, when we have had budget cuts, athletics have never been affected. Over the span of our district’s history, athletics have never been cut,” said Matthew McCullough head of the athletics department.

Each of the four high schools in our district has had to cut six coach stipends as part of the effort to reduce expenses. “Now, if you want these coaches, it falls to the parents to pay for their salaries,” said McCullough.

The situation with the athletics department mirrors the overall attitude of the school. The

NEWS expenses that are absolutely necessary can still be covered, but the more superfluous expenses have been cut. Fortunately, largely due to the support of parents, no entire school teams have been cut.

“Our ultimate goal is for the cuts not to affect the students,” said McCullough.

Envision, another unique element of CCA, has not been immune to the budget cuts either.

There have been reductions in materials and the number of guest artists who can be brought to the school. “We are trying to keep the sanctity of the programs together and make the cuts in areas that students will not feel as much,” said Amy Villanova, program coordinator for Envision.

Fortunately, the cuts have not lead to the loss of any of the Envision programs. “The key part of all the cuts is that we are doing whatever we can to maintain the high level of the all our programs,” said Villanova. Student ASB clubs help to fulfill some of the needs of Envision. The foundation has also played a key role in maintaining the quality of the programs offered by CCA.

Meanwhile the effects of a tightening budget are also being felt at UC campuses across California. For instance, the UCSD campus was filled with protestors on the first day of class.

These protestors were seeking to raise awareness of the fee increases, faculty layoffs, and furloughs.

These measures are due to the $82 million in budget cuts that the state has issued.

Another notable protest against the budget cuts took place in Sproul Plaza on the UC Berkeley campus. Approximately 5,000 individuals gathered in the plaza to voice their anger. Participants in early protests claim that a protest of this magnitude has not occurred since the Vietnam War. Among other forms of protest,

some students blocked traffic with a sit-down.

Overall, the protests that occurred on UC campuses demonstrated the frustration that many students and faculty feel with the California legislature.

Obviously it is impossible to make the kinds of budget cuts that our current economic situation requires without students noticing some changes. These changes, however, if made with care can have a minimal negative impact on students. So far, the current round of budget cuts has proven that through creativity and adaptability the qualities of CCA can be preserved while balancing the budget.

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check out

CCAPULSEONLINE.COM news|features|opinion|entertainment| exclusive content

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college corner Some colleges have decided to omit SAT and ACT scores from their application process. Here are a few of those schools.

by Carly Gutner-Davis

LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY

http://lawrence.edu

Lawrence University, located in Appleton, Wisconsin, is calling all CCA conservatory students interested in music. Lawrence is home to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, offers an excellent music conservatory program, and houses undergraduate students from almost every state and 50 countries. Online student reviews of Lawrence stated that “There are a lot of geniuses here, so jump in with all senses open… I like how everybody lives on campus and there is a strong sense of community. I also like the creative energy that is all around in the form of theater, art, music, weird clubs, and interesting conversations.” Students at Lawrence University are provided with essential skills, intelligence, and a range of knowledge that will help them become successful in whatever career they chose to pursue.

LEWIS AND CLARK COLLEGE

http://lclark.edu

Looking for a West Coast school surrounded by beautiful mountains, trees and colorful landscapes? Lewis and Clark College lies in Portland, Oregon, and provides students with a tight-knit community filled with creative and innovative minds. One student reviewed the strengths of the college, saying that “[its] greatest strength, in my opinion, is its extensive overseas program. Something like 60% of students spend a semester overseas in places like Africa, St. Petersburg, and Cuba. As opposed to other colleges, the general-ed requirements are designed to make spending a semester abroad incredibly easy, so you don’t have to worry about not having time to take all your classes. ” A historic and culturally diverse campus, the Lewis and Clark College also offers outstanding athletic facilities, well-stocked libraries, and awardwinning green buildings.

DREW UNIVERSITY

http://drew.edu

If you’re interested in pursuing an in-depth study of liberal arts, you should check out Drew University, in Madison, New Jersey, where you’ll have the choice of attending the College of Liberal Arts, or the Drew Theological School. One student’s online review claimed that “If you’re involved, and make the most of what Drew has to offer you, you will love it here. The campus is beautiful, the location is great, and New York is nearby.” The student went on to say that, in addition to the large Northeasterner population, there is a notable amount of international students as well: “I think diversity is more apparent here than other small liberal arts colleges.” The school is surrounded by 186 acres of wooded forest, and is committed to providing opportunities to its undergraduate students to help change the world’s environment. Drew University’s varied resources, knowledgeable mentors and teachers, environmental surroundings, and its small class sizes provide students with a great quality education.

NAROPA UNIVERSITY

http://naropa.edu

COLUMBIA COLLEGE

http://colum.edu

Interested in a college with a citysetting that excels in arts and media, as well as 120 other academically diverse programs? Look no further than Columbia College, located in the heart of Chicago, Illinois.

Undergraduate students are taught by nationally recognized mentors and will get personal attention from their teachers, as the average class size is less than twenty students. One student raved about their school, saying “The big thing about Columbia College is having relationships with your teachers. Also, Columbia’s campus is in the city of Chicago which provides a more real world experience than the typical college campus.” Columbia College helps students gain experience by assisting them to secure part-time jobs and internships in the city.

Boulder, Colorado, is home to Naropa University, and is an undergraduate option for CCA students who are interested in receiving a unique education at a private, nonprofit, nonsectarian institution dedicated to advancing contemplative education. By mixing two cultures and traditions, those of Classical Greece and Classical India, this college helps students gain access to a more worldly education.

One student’s online review gives some personal insight on their experience: “I was interested in holistic health, yoga, and spirituality and assumed Naropa would foster these things. I wanted to be around people like me and be in a supportive environment.” Naropa University’s approach to learning integrates Eastern and Western educational traditions, and as a result, guides students on the path towards deeper self-knowledge.

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the

dividi ng

Congressmen drag their heels in healthcare debate.

PRO

T

by Matt Scarano

e lin

he United States’ medical system is ill.

Our government spends more money per capita on healthcare every year than any other industrialized country in the world, with very little to show for it. The performance of our expensive system lags behind many of these other countries on a variety of key indicators, such as life expectancy and infant mortality. Over 45 million Americans are currently uninsured, a product of rising premiums that make it difficult for individuals and businesses to buy health insurance.

“In reality, the new plan will lower costs because all Americans will have the coverage they need to stay healthy with routine doctor’s visits and procedures.”

Many insured citizens are covered by the government programs called Medicare and Medicaid, which grant health care to the elderly and impoverished families. Both programs are severely under funded and, according to health care providers, do not pay them enough

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Illustration by Madison Brotherton

to cover their costs. To make things fiscally worse, hospitals and emergency rooms are required by law to treat anyone, insured or not, experiencing a life threatening emergency.

These costs must be absorbed by providers, private insurers and the government in one way or another.

Under this policy, the healthcare system in effect provides healthcare to everybody in the country, insured or not, legal or undocumented alien; but only in emergencies. These emergency procedures tend to be significantly more expensive than the type of medicine that could prevent them, but preventative medicine is unavailable to the uninsured masses who clog emergency rooms.

There are other problems. Medical records are not uniform or readily available to the various providers who may need them.

Patients with preexisting conditions cannot get health insurance from private companies whose main concern is profit, and insurance companies often drop those with chronic conditions.

Therein lie some of the problems.

No one said the solutions would be easy, but difficult as it may be, it is clear that something needs to be done to reform our healthcare system.

President Barack Obama touted healthcare reform as one of his top priorities throughout his campaign, and is following

OPINION bracket: the wealthy.

This plan eliminates the option of private insurers.

People wouldn’t be able to buy better health care insurance through private insurance companies even if said company could provide a better plan.

That argument also inversely holds true. If private insurers can provide better plans than the government is, what is the point of all of this?

Thankfully, the Public Option has been shot down by the Senate Finance Committee. However, it is still alive in the House of Representatives.

The plan does have its benefits. It calls for employer responsibility, meaning that if an employer refuses to help one of his or her employees with medical coverage, he or she will need to contribute to the National Plan. This creates some sort of financial responsibility within larger companies.

The plan has already stirred up much controversy. From interruptions in Congress to public outcries from key political figures, both the left and the right are fighting. Conservatives have been citing fallacies while liberals have been too idealistic. The bottom line is this: nobody knows how much this plan will cost and how smoothly it will run (if it even does).

Thus, a gradual change must take place.

Obama’s plan is a good start. It helps many people who could not previously afford health care.

However, it seems like this plan lifts the burden off of one group, and places the weight on another group: the wealthy. Though many say that the wealthy can afford higher taxes, it still does not change the fact that one group is reaping the other’s benefits.

Congress needs to come together and hammer out a bipartisan plan that does not discriminate against one group. Until then, we will either be forced to cope with the current state of healthcare or accept President Obama’s plan and just hope for the best.

“The bottom line is this: nobody knows how much this plan will cost and how smoothly it will run.”

CON

O

by Chris Cubbison

n average, 14,000 people lose their health care coverage every day. Of all the reasons why people declare bankruptcy, medical bills are the number one cause. It is evident that this country needs health care reform. However, the plan being backed by President Obama, which would bring the country one step closer to universal health care, is anything but flawless.

Many Americans tend to confuse the words “universal” and “free”. The idea that Universal Health Care is medical coverage for all citizens of a given country is a common misconception.

Under Obama’s plan, Americans will see the price of medical bills drop. However, this is not the case.

Higher taxes would be put into place to pay for the price of universal coverage, and on top of that, many critics claim that a heavier tax burden would be put on the wealthy.

Obama’s plan would also mandate some sort of health insurance, either through individuals’ employers or through the government. Sounds good, right? Making health insurance mandatory like car insurance would lighten the burden of many people’s overall expenses, as well as raise their standard of living. In order to allow all citizens coverage, Obama would put in place a “Public Option,” which in essence creates a government run insurance company, subsidized with tax dollars.

Those who would take advantage of the government option would pay for it through increased taxes. However, many on the public plan would be those who cannot afford to pay for health coverage now, and still would not be able to. The extra dollars necessary to cover these beneficiaries would be contributed by those in a higher tax

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do you speak CCA?

by Naomi Stapleton Photos by Andy Ribner

“

What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”

Nice try, Mr. Shakespeare, but try telling that to a British person in America who expected a nice, hot bowl of sizzling French fries, but instead received a disappointing bag of Fritos.

Slang, accents, and even the language itself greatly differ between American and British speakers, Northern and Southern Californians, and even fellow CCA-goers. George Bernard Shaw once said, “England and America are two countries separated by a common language,” and it’s certainly true.

English is spoken in such a wide variety of places and cultures, that it really isn’t just the one language anymore. English is a living and breathing creature that is constantly growing and adapting in accordance with the many cultures, events, and people that influence it. Your accent and the slang you casually toss in to a conversation give listeners a big clue as to things such as your

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personality, history, and education. Even among CCA students, there are numerous different groups each using their own personal selection of slang. From the math team’s abbreviations for terminology to the surf team’s wave-related lingo, CCA is a diverse campus populated with countless different styles. Together we form a united school population, but chances are if you stepped into another group’s conversation, you could be completely lost.

A major aspect of language development is the slang we all use, consciously or not. Depending on our interests, everyday activities, and the people we come into contact with, we all have an assortment of slang vocabulary we favor. Whether employed for abbreviation, insult, or generally being cool, slang is an integral part of our communication.

One of the primary powers behind the slang movement is the increasing popularity of the Internet. Now many people around the globe have immediate access to the latest “in” thing everywhere.

Thanks to this, slang words and phrases go in and out of fashion more rapidly than ever before. Not only does the Internet connect people across the world, but also what takes place on the Internet itself provides a major talking point. An important feature of many students’ lives is Facebook.

Facebook has provided the student population with numerous slang words that to outside ears, make absolutely no sense. Just a few examples include

the use of “creeping”, “liking”, and a person’s “wall”.

Vivian Zhang, a freshman, defines creeping as “watching or following someone’s life without their being aware of it, often through a social networking site or other kind of technology.

Also, appearing uninvited in the backgrounds of photographs.”

A very recent example of exclusive teenage vocabulary took place during one of CCA sophomore Sara Orpin’s classes in which a student randomly twitched and the class burst out laughing. Confused, the teacher asked as to what had happened, and the student responded simply, “I twitched”. Intrigued, the teacher asked, “Is this some new teenage word I should know about?” Although twitching is not yet one of them, CCA students really do have their own personal language. When asked about current favorite “sketchy,” sophomore Ben Perlman said, “I use it to describe something that is suspicious.” And if your aging relatives are ever feeling bemused by the torrents of ever-changing slang, take a quick look at urbandictionary.com, a site dedicated to “defining your world.” Some new slang terms have become so widely acknowledged and accepted that they’ve even been made official in new print dictionary editions.

A few words heard regularly around the campus are “noob”, “lame”, “stalker”, and “fail”. Even among Californians there are differences in the slang we use. While a big fad in Northern California, “hella” is a word rarely heard at CCA. While slang is moving quickly towards a global lingo (even the French describe things as cool now), a person’s accent remains indicative of where they’re from. Whether distinct, general, or hybridized, everybody has an accent. Yeah, totally like even in California – oh my gosh!

Take, for example the surprisingly different American English and British English. Since moving from the United Kingdom to San Diego, I’ve experienced firsthand both the subtle and glaring differences between the two. Not only is the pronunciation of “water” different, but of course British English speakers also have a whole other set of words for many everyday items. Brits in America and vice versa are plagued with incidents involving confusions between chips and crisps, pants and trousers, braces and suspenders, band-aids and plasters, and so on. If we are all truly speaking the same language, Americans must think British people have been having some very odd conversations. I doubt putting a plaster on your finger makes much sense when for an American plaster is reserved for walls, and wearing braces to hold up your trousers must certainly sound rather uncomfortable!

With globalization on the rise, the world is quickly moving towards a common culture and language. What with the Internet and the speed at which we can communicate and spread

Raven Lunatics

by Pooja Magavi

T

his fall, ASB has been promoting “Raven Lunatics” in an effort to encourage support for CCA sports. Executive President of ASB, Nick Lawson, voices a valid concern: “There’s a lot of support for Envision and the arts on campus, so we’re trying to build the fan base for sports,” he said. The brainchild of James Lewis, a junior, “Raven Lunatics” was coined as a pun on the phrase “ravin’ lunatics.” The program’s overarching goal is to increase attendance at home games, and apart from the new spirit shirts that students are sporting, it involves two components.

First we have the game of the week, which puts the spotlight on a different sports team each week. At these “focus games,” as Lawson refers to them, ASB provides complimentary refreshments as a perk to raise student attendance. The first such game of the week—volleyball—was paired with CCA’s back-to-school BBQ and more than 50 students were present. Not all sports can be represented, however; track, for instance, is excluded as meets are generally held on weekends.

The second component of “Raven Lunatics” is the punch card system. Once students’ Rupert cards, named in honor of Rupert the Raven, are punched at six games of the week, they receive a secret item from the student store. “We know [“Raven Lunatics”] is successful because the games of the week are more highly attended,” Lawson reflected. So far, so good.

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information, it’s not too surprising that the French are munching les nuggets de chicken and the Greeks are gulping down their Starbucks coffees, too. Languages already share common roots and certain words – who’s to say they won’t entirely match within a few decades?

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17

teen life in Belgium

Shraddha Kothari, a native Belgian teen girl details her daily life in Belgium. English is Shraddha’s second language, while she is already fluent in French. Take a look at this snapshot of Belgium.

www

What is your typical daily routine in Belgium?

Well, I wake up at 6, get ready by 6:40, have breakfast, go to the school bus at 7 and reach school at 8:15. I reach home by 6pm, and directly have some dinner and get to work from 8 to 10 and then watch a Gossip Girl episode and fall asleep.

What is your typical routine?

Well the usual, every Saturday, I wake up at 11am and have basketball practice from 12 to 1. Then I get back home and immediately take shower and have lunch. After that, meet up with friends, go to town (do some shopping) or else, go to the movies if it’s bad weather. And in

18

by Anita Shah

the night, stay with family, or go to a shisha bar with friends.

Sunday is actually just a study day… and a dance practice.

Where do you and your friends hang out?

We mostly try to go to someone’s house, and if not, we just go to restaurants for lunch and coffee, and also, mostly town… shopping and just hang out.

What are the most popular sports in Belgium? Do you play any?

It’s badminton. But I play basketball, I dance, 6 hours a week and I use to do badminton but I stopped because I couldn’t fit in my schedule.

They are also really good at tennis.

What do Belgians think about American teens?

Honestly, we think that they think they’re all that, I don’t know, it really depends of whom answers… real Dutch people would definitely say they’re “weird” but non-Duchies would say “I have American friends, and they’re cool”.

What are the differences between Americans and Belgian teens?

American’s eat so much fast food, we don’t. We dress totally differently and talk differently.

What is the best part of living in Belgium?

People are amazingly nice and the food is okay, but the environment is so peaceful but at the same time crazy! I love it!

Did you follow the American presidential elections? If so, who would you support and why?

Of course! I supported Obama the whole time!

I really think that he can make a change for the whole world for the economic crises, I didn’t think any of the other candidates could do a better job then Obama. AND, he is the only president in the history of the world trying to stop all bombs and all, witch surprises me and I love it How is the quality of life environmentally in Belgium? Is there a lot of smoke, or is it relatively clean?

It’s very clean in the area where I live (Wilrijk) but once you reach town, it’s pretty smoky, (not that much) but you can see a difference.

What type of music is popular in Belgium?

I actually never listen to Dutch/Nederland’s music so I have to clue; I only listen to American R&B. What are the trends and foods in Belgium today??

Very western, (for example: leggings, boots, and a top, or skinny jeans, uggs and top) The popular food here in French fries and baguettes (bread) with salad and everything.

It’s amazing!

How much influence does the Belgium government have on your life?

Not much.

How would you describe living in Belgium?

It’s a very calm place to be, peaceful, very family oriented, but at the same time, we can have lots of fun going to cafes and all.

Peter Hoban Picture Show

by Pooja Magavi

C

anyon Crest senior Peter Hoban isn’t your average actor: he has memorized the entire script of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Hoban first saw the movie during his freshman year, but he didn’t start going to the weekly performances at La Paloma Theater until last December. After experiencing both the movie and live versions, Hoban claims that The Rocky Horror Picture Show is best experienced live.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show is an adaptation of the British musical stage production Rocky Horror Show.

First released in 1975, the film is a parody of science fiction and horror films. It is the longest running theatrical release in film history and gained notoriety as a midnight movie in 1977 after audiences began participating with the film. Thus, the shows performed at La Paloma Theater in Encinitas are shadow cast performances. Hoban explains that shadow cast performances involve a local team of actors acting out the movie while it plays in the background.

According to Hoban, audience members yell “call backs” at the actors and the screen.

He said, “In the theater you can expect to be yelled at, humiliated, and made quite uncomfortable,” which is why film-goers are told to “leave [their] dignity at the door.”

With the entire script and call back lines available on the web, Hoban quickly memorized lines of the show. His favorite line is a call back during the song “Hot Patuty Bless My Soul.” Hoban explains that people go the midnight shows for a variety of different reasons, including turning 18, celebrating the end of a test, or just going out on a Friday night. However, the main consensus among the regular show-goers seems to be that, like Hoban, they “just can’t get enough of [The Rocky Horror Picture Show].”

Hoban has also been involved in other stage acting around San Diego. He most recently acted in ACT San Diego’s production of Rent over the summer.

Although Hoban has not participated in CCA’s theatre productions, he hopes to be in a local production of Batboy soon.

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19

café exposé .

FEATURE

pannikin $$

This quaint café, with locations in La Jolla, Del Mar, and Encinitas, is perfect for a lazy day or for a long study session with a couple friends. It has a homey atmosphere making it easy to relax and enjoy a nice cup of tea (or coffee). Grab a cozy leather chair and read a book or sit by the window for some fresh air while studying. Not only do they serve exotic teas and coffee, but they sell them in bulk as well. A personal favorite is the coconut tea with an almond croissant. Pannikin also serves lunch items like paninis and salads. To finish off your lunch, try their assortment of pies and cobblers.

Pannikin is cheaper than other cafes that many students go to. Lunch should never exceed $10, including a drink.

by Chelsea McGuerty

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naked café $$$

Naked Café is excellent for a Saturday morning breakfast, but make sure to get there early because it can get crowded towards 10 A.M. This café is nestled in beautiful Solana Beach with an ocean view. Its bamboo exterior mirrors the beach theme on the inside.

Photos by Chelsea Mcguerty Before surfing, check out Naked Café.

While Naked Café serves the classic pancake breakfast, it also caters to more people by serving organic breakfasts.

A good suggestion is the “Spuds In Lingerie” (crisp potatoes with jalapenos, onions, tomatoes and covered in black beans, topped with avocado,cheese, sour cream and salsa) with a “Golden Fairy Dust”(chai tea, ginger, soy milk, and cinnamon) latte.

If you’re going for just a latte, the prices are around the same as Starbucks.

However, their incredible breakfasts can easily cost you up to $25.

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the living room $$ The dark wood ambience puts the customer in a comfortable mood, and with the ocean nearby, the atmosphere inspires the art-lovers of San Diego. The Living Room is located in La Jolla, as well as Old Town, Point Loma, National City, and San Diego State University for college students. The name itself gives off a homey vibe, so make yourself comfortable in the cozy couches at The Living Room. The menu features items for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. For breakfast, I recommend the granola and fresh fruit parfait with a mint mocha.

For lunch and dinner, try the pesto tortellini.

The prices match those of Pannikin; not too expensive for a healthy breakfast to get your brain power for the day. The lunch and dinner prices are relatively cheaper than an average sit-down dinner.

Dear Kimia,

Advice by Kimia Zomorrodi

Dear Kimia, I’ve been going out with a guy for three days. We’ve been best friends since fourth grade but when he asked me to be his girlfriend, I think I said yes too soon. I don’t want to ruin our friendship, but I don’t feel a connection with him. I’m thinking we should break up but I don’t know what to say. Please help!

-Dismayed Dear Dismayed, There are a couple of ways you can approach a dilemma like yours. On one hand, you can take the mature yet complex approach and explain the reasons why your relationship just isn’t working. It may be a little hard in a situation like yours because it’s only been three days, but just explain to him that you made a very rash decision and felt pressure when he asked. When maturity is overrated, resort to your imagination for help. Make up a weird but believable fact about yourself that could freak him out. For example, talk about how you’re ready for marriage and how you can just tell he’s the one. Or mention children and ask for his opinion on names. Become very clingy and constantly call him and ask what he’s doing because most guys hate that. Dig deep and see what his past girlfriends did that really annoyed him. A great movie to watch for inspiration is How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days or, in your case, three. Be very stealthy in what you do and keep your eye on the prize: being single! Hope everything goes well.

Good luck,

Kimia

21

FEATURE

alice wonderland

in

is back

by Matt Scarano

T

im Burton is at it again, this time adding his notorious oddity to the Disney classic Alice in Wonderland. The film promises to incorporate the incomparable characters of Lewis Caroll’s novels with the imagination of Disney and Burton’s dark edge. An all star cast includes Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter, Anne Hathaway as the White Queen, Michael Sheen as the White Rabbit, and lesser known but very talented Mia Wasikowska as Alice. And to do Alice’s traditional drug-inspired vertigo justice, it will be coming out in 3-D and IMAX. Mix all that together and you have an instant masterpiece, from the same Disney studio that boasts a legacy including Fantasia, The Lion King, Pirates of the Caribbean, and most of my other favorite movies too.

Burton’s Alice brings a new plot to the beloved characters of old by taking place approximately ten years after the original story.

Alice has aged to , having not visited Wonderland since that fateful day 12 years previous. In the time Alice was gone, the White Queen was overthrown by her sister, the Red Queen, who brought violence and unrest to Wonderland. It is now up to Alice to help the citizenry of Wonderland rise up against the tyranny.

By utilizing a combination of live action and motion capture technology, Burton has been able to create a special kind of viewing experience,

22

by Matt Scarano

Paddy Fitz at flickr.com Helena Bohnam Carter portrays the Red Queen in Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland.

already available for preview in the promo trailer, which was released in July 2009. What adventures will Alice find this time? We will have to wait to find out until March 4, 2010. These six months better go by fast.

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what’s the deal

OPINION

farmville?

with

by Brittany Jahn

they begin to wilt. For instance, if you buy a crop of carrots that will harvest in four hours then you have four hours to log back on to Facebook and harvest it. Here is the catch: if you don’t log on in time to harvest the carrots, then they will wilt and you will lose money, or in Farmville terms, “experience points.”

Each time a person gains or loses experience points he or she goes up or down a level. So this is good news for UC Davis and Cal Poly SLO, seeing as their agricultural programs will be booming with this new generation of farm experts. Or virtual farm experts—it’s all the same.

On paper, Farmville sounds like another addicting computer game that sucks innocent people into its entertaining electronic vortex. We have all felt our eyes sting after a successful tour on Rockband or Photo by Sabrina. our thumbs get sore from a winning round of he bumper sticker era was fun for everyone.

Halo III. And while Farmville does have its fair The video trend was amusing for those with share of red-eyed addicts it compensates for this by a webcam and for the creepers without one. allowing players to socialize while tending to their However, the recent Farmville fad that has been farms. They can interact with each other by giving plaguing our newsfeeds since summer began is a their neighbors (other Farmville-playing facebook little more difficult to understand. If you do not friends) crops, petting each other’s livestock or play, that is. inviting more people to play. So now it is virtual and The online video game in which players social. Win-win. tend to a virtual farm has done something to the Facebook community that hasn’t advertisement happened since the introduction of Facebook chat—Facebook has become even more distracting.

“I don’t know why it is so fun or addicting. It is kind of silly if you think about what it actually is: a virtual farm,” said CCA senior Marina Vicario. A virtual farm. Meaning that you log on to Facebook and harvest virtual vegetables, raise virtual livestock and give your virtual neighbors virtual gifts. It’s all very virtual.

But through all of this cyberspace farming business there is actually something real, and daresay thrilling, about the game.

It is played in what that the web world calls “real time.” This means that you only have a certain amount of time to harvest your crops before

T

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23

FEATURE

blast

past from the

by Brittany Jahn

Y

o-yos. Beanie Babies. Hey Arnold. Is this ringing a bell? Girls, think butterfly clips, jelly shoes, Spice Girls. Guys, think Batman, cooties, Captain Underpants. It’s all there, in the back of your mind, underneath your latest SAT score and what happened on House last Monday night. It’s behind all that stress, the last text message you sent and it’s behind that Black Eyed Peas’ song that you cannot get out of your head. It’s from a time when homework took an hour to finish and getting wood chips stuck in your shoes was the most annoying thing that happened all day. It’s when Shia LeBouf was known as Louis Stevens and Amanda Bynes’ name was synonymous with dancing lobsters.

It’s when everyone got a trophy and nobody lost. But now we find ourselves in a world where bigger things than wood chips can ruin a day and CIF banners are not just handed out. It would be nice to forget about this teenage wasteland for a minute and remember the world that came before it. So set down your Red Bull and pull out a Yoo-Hoo— it’s time for a blast from the past.

Before the CW and 30 Rock, we got our nighttime fix of TV from Disney Channel. It was a time when all shows were created equal.

There was no special treatment for High School Musical, and Hannah Montana did not rule

“

the TV Guide. It was Disney at its finest. There was Brotherly Love, The Famous Jett Jackson and let us never forget, Brink. This was the Disney Channel Original Movie in which Andy “Brink” Brinker taught us to skate for our souls. It was when Team X-Blades was crueler than Blair and Georgina combined. And when all of us wished we could be as cool as Team Pup ‘N Suds.

Another Disney Channel staple that has been long forgotten is Zoog Disney. Zoog, Zoog, Zoog. How can we forget you, with your little anthropomorphic robot characters and colorful movie introductions? You came on to introduce commercial breaks or to remind us to mark our calendars for the newest episode of Lizzie McGuire. R.I.P. Lizzie McGuire.

R.I.P. little robot characters. R.I.P. Zoog.

For those of you who were not Disney Channel junkies, I assume you went another, more animated, route. I’m thinking Rugrats? Wild Thornberries? Rocket Power?

Oh yes. Rocket Power. Otto, Reggie, Twister, Squid and Tito. We could never forget the family who taught us to watch in awe as they surfed, skated and biked through life. We all wanted Reggie’s purple hair and we learned how lucky we are to live in southern California and we all wanted a dad like Raymundo.

After watching a few episodes of Rocket Power we would want to skate, just like them. After Nickelodeon we would flip back to

It was a time when all shows were created equal. There was no special treatment for High School Musical, and Hannah Montana did not rule the TV Guide.”

24

Cosmic Egg Album Review

by Chris Cubbison

T

Disney Channel to watch Johnny Tsunami and want to surf, just like him. Motocrossed would come on next and we would suddenly want to be part of a hardcore motocrossing family.

So we every July we would get off our butts and attempt these extreme sports through the beautiful invention of summer camps. We took up surf camps, skate camps, BMX camps. Camps were everywhere. And where you found camps, you found lanyards.

Lanyards were the thrifty craft of yesteryear.

Simple or colorful. Straight or twisty. Two strings or five. A 7-year-old boy could give one to his mom for mothers day and watch her eyes light up, whether it was finished or not.

Also found at summer camp was good food. At home you got red apples; at camp you got Red Vines. Happy Meals, Fruit-by-theFoots and the occasional bowl of Fruity Pebbles were being thrust into our bellies and health was just a word. To please our parents and get a daily dose of calcium, we loaded our milk with Nesquik and ate Trix Yogurt for breakfast.

But that was when we were kids. Now we sip on Starbucks or indulge ourselves with a nice parfait. And while these chic treats are just as delicious, we will never forget the days of Trix Yogurt. Silly rabbit, tricks are for kids and kids never grow up.

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wo parts Black Sabbath, one part AC/DC, one part Led Zeppelin.

Four years after the release of their self-titled debut album, Wolfmother has delivered again with Cosmic Egg, an impressive sophomore album. Between their first album and Cosmic Egg, the band’s original lineup imploded with the departure of the band’s rhythm section, leaving front-man Andrew Stockdale alone at the helm. After promising fans another album, Stockdale recruited three members, including another guitarist.

Fans were both worried and skeptical of how the new band would measure up compared with the old. They don’t need to worry anymore.

Though the hard rock revival sound isn’t exactly new, Cosmic Egg is a powerful album that should be put on the same level as any other great album of the genre. There are the loud power-chord driven songs, like “California Queen” and “New Moon Rising”, along with the right amount of lighter, more up-tempo ones, like “White Feather” and “Far Away.”

It’s been a while since there has been rock group that can maintain a 1960’s/70’s sound without being compared to past legends. Though at times Stockdale channels other rock artists like Angus Young and Robert Plant, the band still manages to thrill the listener with pure hard rock vigor. With the advent of a second guitarist, this album feels even fuller than their debut.

Wolfmother’s Cosmic Egg held my attention for the course of the entire album, and I enjoyed every minute of it.

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25

etc.

continuations, advertisements, & other oddities

coffee,

continued from page 7

asthma and several types of cancer.

For those who have trouble sleeping after even the slightest coffee intake, try decaf. Research shows that decaffeinated coffee reduces blood sugar and therefore reduces the risk of diabetes as much as caffeinated coffee.

However, as with almost everything, a more moderate consumption of coffee is ideal for many, especially those who have a low metabolism or caffeine tolerance. Or you may decide, like Grootenhuis, to take a caffeine clean route. He finds that “keeping my body free of all substances except those necessary, like food and water, has helped me to be a strong, healthy individual with very few health problems.”

Despite the various benefits of coffee consumption, addiction in any form is not ideal. Even coffee aficionado and CCA English teacher Mr. Leal says that coffee “shouldn’t be a crutch.”

And while he’s “not out to convert anyone,” he claims that “it’s very difficult for morning people to understand the pain involved with waking up in the morning.” Coffee gives him that extra jolt to get him through the day.

Like Mr. Leal, I

26

am not a morning person.

Because of this, and because of the large and growing list of the health benefits of coffee, I will continue to guiltlessly enjoy my own daily cup.

Coffee is not just a beverage that has the potential to improve and prolong one’s life. It is the reason why Starbucks has become a part of everyday vocabulary. It is a hobby to some, and a religion to others. It is a unifying and gratifying culture to which 50% of America belongs.

past,

continued from page 22

Those days are missed.

The Happy Meals are missed. The toys from the Happy Meals are missed. Sometimes we wish we could have those days back—we wish we could have that one last Happy Meal without worrying about calories or picturing the documentary that ruined McDonald’s for everyone. But it feels good to remember what we did. It feels good to know that the memories are still there and they always will be. So keep studying for the SAT, get back to watching Community and finish up that text you started. But never forget—Team Pup ‘N Suds for life, my friends.

pro,

continued from page 22

through with an effort to pass a bill before Congress recesses

for the year. He has attempted to open discussion between liberals and conservatives in order to craft a comprehensive bill that will address Republican concerns over a “government takeover” of the healthcare system. However, partisanship and a Republican bloc that is more interested in killing the plan than working to improve it is impeding his progress.

Leaders in the legislature need to realize that despite political differences, it is in times like these that the country needs to stand together, and there is no issue better to unite over than healthcare reform. Any objective examination of the current system clearly demonstrates a need to change it. The real debate is over how.

A few fundamental ideas have already been introduced as staples in potential healthcare reform bills currently being debated in Congress. For starters, every US citizen would be required to possess some form of medical insurance, and insurance companies would not be able to deny coverage because of preexisting conditions. That way, everyone could get the preventative care they need before being forced to rely on expensive emergency room visits. Medical records would be computerized and uniform, a development that will save lives and millions of dollars per year in administrative fees.

Additionally, the government would offer citizens an optional alternative to private insurance carriers.

Private companies are most interested in making a profit,

which sometimes makes them insensitive to patient needs.

The government, however, is motivated by the prospect of a healthier citizenry, and does not need to make a profit, allowing it to provide more effective coverage.

Unfortunately, this so-called “public payer option” has met stiff opposition and is not included in some of the bills pending in Congress.

Some conservatives claim that the reform proposals currently on the table will increase costs and the federal deficit. In reality, the new plan will lower costs because all Americans will have the coverage they need to stay healthy with routine doctor’s visits and procedures.

The net cost of healthcare in the US will drop dramatically.

The Congressional Budget Office recently determined that one of the key health care reform bills currently being worked on would actually lower the federal deficit.

It is true that healthcare reform will be contentious and difficult in the short run, but in the long term it will surely improve our economy by creating a healthier workforce and lessening the cost of healthcare. Many who wish to keep healthcare reform from occurring loudly declare that the current system works and only needs some tinkering around the edges.

This is a narrow and naïve view that must be rejected.

With cooperation across the Congressional isle, hopefully a consensus can be formed for meaningful reform.

27

FUN

who’sthat car?

LOis HEaLm e

my n

Benny

“I named my car Helga because I needed the perfect name for a girl car that portrayed burly, masculine qualities but still knew how to get down and party when it came time for a girl’s night out. Helga has no regrets.”

Natalie Morris, Senior

HE

my naLmLO e is

Helga

HELL O my n ame is

Georg e “I was thinking with my friend about a name that would suit it’s personality and we decided he looked like a Benny.”

Karla Renschler, Junior

“He’s such a George.”

Vanessa Csordas-Jenkins, Junior

LOis HEaLm e

my n

green e machin

“I named it Green Machine because it’s green and a machine.”

Grant Jurgenson, Senior