SDA Mustang Feb. 2010

The Mustang

02.26.10 issue four volume fourteen

02.26.10

the

Mustang On the Cover Senior Emily Chaves has a gift for photography that has landed her a place on one of the few Mustang covers featuring fine photography.

Chaves said she used an underwater camera even though the photo was not taken underwater.

Chaves likes how the photo is calm and clean. She also likes how above the water, everything looks different than below the water. In AP studio art, Chaves used this photo for her concentration on “Rebirth.” The idea of rebirth will help her to improve her style when she attends San Francisco Art Institute in the fall.

Substantial Abuse SDA Mustang’s own Nicole Fisher gets down and dirty examining the effects of the media on the teenager. Does the media really affect teenagers? Are bad grades a symptom of that aforementioned media?

Find out, page 37.

Sketchy Art! Up and coming SDA artists quickly sketched bits of art showcased in the

centerspread of the paper. With a robot and an owl pirate genie, SDA’s artists illustrated why SDA artists are second to none.

See it to believe starting page 23.

Staff News Editors Ariel Chao Andrew Kasselmann

Managing Editor Kyle Shohfi

Opinions Editor Ana Reyes McKenna Taylor

Arts Editors Rieko Michelle Whitfield Thea Brown

Features Editor Nicole Fisher

Circus Animal Fun Editor Dimitri Fausch

Essay Editor Design Editor Danielle Gradisher

Sports Editors Pauline Disch Kaylin Greene

Ads Manager Alexa Shapiro

Photo Editor Nina Moussavi

Staff Writers Lindsey Agnew, Laura Avila, Hayley Baker, Domenica Berman, Casey Dayan, Julian Dennis, Josh Drilling, Amy Dushkin, Paige Ely, Nicole Greene, Emily Hall, Eleanor Hendrickson, Maddison Lyon, Erika Mazza, Ashlynne McClean, Shelby Meyers, Bailey Mezan, Kate Murphy, Caroline Pollock, Kate Radcliffe, Kerry Roberson, Jack Rushall, Anna Sheridan, Henry Sweat, Tatiana Skomski Advisor Tim Roberts San Dieguito Academy Room 93 800 Santa Fe Drive Encinitas, CA 92024 (760) 753-1121 x5161

Notice The Mustang is the student newspaper of San Dieguito Academy. Advertisements do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the newspaper.

The Mustang is an open forum which welcomes letters. Letters can be submitted to room 93, emailed to sdamustang@hotmail.com, or mailed to the above address.

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Summer’s cool

Tiiiiiiiiiiiimmmmmmberrrrrr

Summer school will be cut back this year. andrew kasselmann

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any students who have failed classes this year at San Dieguito Academy may be out of luck when trying to make them up this year at summer school. According to Principal Michael Grove, summer school will operate this year with large-scale reductions due to a lack of funding from the state of California for supplemental school programs.

Funding for these programs was actually completely cut by the state before the summer of last year as a result of California’s severe budget problems, but the San Dieguito Union High School District decided not to cut summer school classes that year. The District thought that the last-minute decision to cut classes would not have been fair to students. As a result, SDUHSD paid the complete cost of summer school last year which has traditionally been paid by the state.

The district decided this year that it could not cover the same costs required to run a complete summer school program, and decided to severely limit the scope of this year’s programs. “Summer school will held as a four-week program on an invitation only basis this year,” said Grove. Only seniors who immediately need classes to graduate and Special Education students (as required by law under the Extended School program) will be asked to participate, he said.

Many students who do not fit into these categories are disappointed that they will not have the opportunity to retake classes during summer school. A male sophomore who recently failed English expressed his displeasure: “I was counting on taking that again this summer. It wouldn’t have been fun during the summer, but it will be worse to have to double up next year.”

The need to retake classes the next year has created some scheduling problems for counselors too. SDA counselor Candice Rolfsmeyer said, “The increased number of students retaking classes will give them less room for electives. That may make it hard for some of the less-popular electives to be offered next year.”

jocelyn lee

Although the realitively heavy rains Encinitas experienced this past January made the grass look like it was on steroids, the rain loosened up the soil, causing the weight of the tree to overpower the roots’ grasp of the Earth. Branches went down and roots went up. Students here are seen checking out the scene the morning after the fall. ana reyes

Walk the walk

Administration and students look to improve and update the Academy’s appearance. lindsey agnew

lindsey agnew

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tudents have been resorting to desperate measures recently to give SDA a little bit of a much needed makeover.

Ranging from beautifying the walk to the tech classrooms with a “gum wall” to adding a unicorn horn to the mustang symbol over the summer, students have been thinking up creative ways to make SDA more aesthetically appealing.

However, students will no longer have to employ these crude measures in order to redecorate the school.

On February 16th, 13 SDA students and several teachers met with Principal Michael Grove and walked around campus, where they pointed out unappealing areas and brainstormed ideas about how to fix them.

The student walk came about when two students, senior Ana Reyes and sophomore Derrik Marow, talked to Grove about their own separate idea of collecting plants and using them to beautify SDA. Coincidentally, Grove was going to meet with an architect and discuss beautification plans as well, and the two ideas

Walkabout Principal Grove, several teachers, and students tour the campus.

merged together.

Many of the problem spots were unanimously agreed upon.

“I think everyone has a mutual hatred for the grassphault,” said sophomore Michelle Berry at the start of the walkabout, towards the tech buildings. Increased student seating around campus was also emphasized.

Murals were another popular idea. “Quick murals will add splashes of color to SDA,” said art teacher Jeremy Wright. “It’s going to take an eye for design, but the execution could be fairly quick and simple.” Some ideas for placement of student murals were around the library, and a

robotics mural next to the shop classes.

New directional signs designating various buildings were also incorporated in the plans.

Signs above the media center, front entrance, Mustang Center, and student store were included.

Planting more foliage throughout the school was a major part of the discussion as well.

Chemistry teacher Russ Davidson proposed a “succulent garden” in the dirt area between his and science teacher Michael Santos’s classrooms.

Spanish teacher Suzanne McCluskey had a similar suggestion: planting drought-tolerant flax,

lavender, and ice plant around the portables.

The next day, Grove and several students did a similar walk during school, this time accompanied by a landscape architect. They discussed some of the previous day’s ideas and formulated plans on how to realistically carry them out.

Many of these changes will be temporary, however. “Some of the buildings are going to be torn down in five to 10 years from now, so possible murals might get torn down.

“We have $47 million from the district for redoing our buildings in the future. What we’re looking for are relatively temporary things for the time in between then and now,” said Grove.

Those new buildings will probably include the science rooms and the 10’s classrooms and a new two-story gymnasium.

The district is also putting in some funding for this project as well. “We’re going to use the district money for bigger things like walls, irrigation, and signs for buildings. We also want to make a list of things we can do ourselves through student and parent groups,” said Grove.

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Newbrary Librarian retires, replaced by technician. kyle shohfi

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s of the conclusion of the first semester, San Dieguito Academy no longer has a librarian. SDA’s longtime librarian Cathy Straitiff decided to retire effective at the end of first term.

According to Principal Michael Grove, teachers in California receive maximum retirement benefits after they have worked in education for 30 years and have reached at least 59 ½ years of age, and Straitiff had reached those requirements.

Straitiff has been replaced

by Lead Library Technician Donna Gonzales, who returned to SDA after moving to Canyon Crest Academy when the school opened. Grove said that the San Dieguito Union High School District has implemented a policy that no more “librarians,” signifying an individual with a teaching credential, will be hired. Instead, “library technicians” will be hired to work in libraries throughout SDUHSD. Grove credited the policy to the budget crisis California schools are facing and the lower costs of hiring a library technician as opposed to a librarian.

The library will continue operating exactly the same way and during the same hours, said Grove. “The only difference is that we used to have a ‘librarian,’ Ms. Straitiff, and now we have a ‘library technician,’ Ms. Gonzales,” he said.

Students get smart

Students for Christ meet Friday during lunch in room 103.

World Health and Medicine (WHAM) club meets Friday during lunch in room 121.

Cabaret Night on Sat Feb 27 at the Encinitas Community Center. Event starts at 6 pm.

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Clubbing at SDA

A deputy sheriff comes to SDA to teach parents, students of the dangers of drunk driving. anna sheridan

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he Smart Start course at the SDA library was sure to be a success. Teen deaths in the past year and police crackdowns on DUIs have caused teens and parents to be more concerned about the dangers associated with drinking and driving. Start Smart is a program similar to D.A.R.E., run through the Sheriff’s office and brought to SDA by San Dieguito Alliance.

The program shows students and their parents how to drive correctly, defensively, and how to follow the rules of the road.

Over 120 people signed up to take Smart Start driving on Feb. 17. Administrators of the event had to turn 80 participants away.

Only 67 parents and students showed up to the event.

Deputy Sheriff Matthew Carpenter led the class. Students felt that Carpenter knew what he was talking about and presented the information in an understandable manner. Jake Bert, freshman, said, “The speaker... made it interesting and entertaining.”

The first subject of the night was DUIs, due to the large num-

Here at SDA...

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Mira Costa placement test on Friday March 19. Students attending Mira Costa during the summer or fall of 2010 will take an English and math placement exam, attend orientation, and recieve their scores. Sign up in the College and Career today.

ber of traffic collisions caused by drivers under the influence of alcohol. Carpenter stressed that thousands of teens die every year in collisions because of inexperience. He also said that there is no such thing as an accident, referring to car crashes as “collisions” instead. He said that most collisions can be avoided.

Carpenter told the audience how hard it is to pull a high school student out of a car. “I always replace the kids with someone I know in my mind, my mother, my little brother, my wife,” he said, getting choked up, and having to take a minute break.

Carpenter stressed the importance of always wearing seatbelts properly. He has never had to unbuckle a fatality from a seatbelt, he said. Even after a teen gets his or her license, parents should have weekly ride-a-longs with their kids, said Carpenter. He explained the use of practicing driving in snow and heavy rain. “You want your kids to be prepared for anything,” Carpenter said.

As a follow-up to the class, there is a Taking Control class offered at Qualcomm Stadium.

PI Day is Friday March 12. Memorize as many digits of pi and head to the amphitheatre during lunch for prizes!

Free Math Tutoring Monday through Thursday from 3:30 to 4:30 pm in room 122.

Bilingual Tutoring is available in any subject after school Monday, Wednesday and Thursday until 4:15 pm in room 16.

French Club meets Thursday at lunch in room 121.

ariel chao

Senior Amanda Killebrew talks to a student signing up for the club Students For Christ while seniors Gen Baskiel and Ryan Cardenas chat.

After the fatal Fallbrook crash, families and friends of the victim donated a large sum of money to sponsor seven kids from every high school in the county to learn to correctly stop skidding, spinning out, and fishtailing.

There are limited spots for

this class. If you are interested, contact Nancy Perry-Sheridan (760) 943-7232.

“Every police officer wants to reduce DUIs and promote public safety. That’s the goal of this Smart Start class,” said Carpenter.

Yearbooks cost $75 with or without an ASB sticker. After March 31, the price will go up to $80.

Spring Dance is March 26 from 7:3011 pm in the gym.

CAHSEE is March 16 and 17. This test is mandatory for all sophomores. Late starts for 9, 11, and 12 graders.

College Visits Sign up in the College and Career center to attend free college visits! Visits include Academy of Art, UC Riverside, and New School of Architecture.

Writing Lab is available Tue-Thursday Pennies for Pasta from 9 am to 3:45 fund-raising competi- pm in the library. tion is from March Make an appointment 1 to 19. Bring loose for help on essays or change. writing assignments.

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Senior Out March 2-12.

Get your game face on.

John Sergio Fisher and Associates Inc.

Ready to go. Here is an artist’s rendering of one of many rooms inside SDA’s new performing arts center that is now able to proceed with construction.

Performing arts center funds now accessible The state of California has released $8 million that it had committed to the project.

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HS2 A C e cod * t oun cess. c s i er d nt pro t n nd e payme a .com online d E s iver ng the r D i t dur Visi

so long, and going to bid is a huge step.”

A ground-breaking cerhe cooking classroom emony for the center will take doubles as a dressing room. place in June. The theater’s There are concerts in the gym, construction will start this and band practices in the cafsummer. Construction will take eteria. A new performing arts center with plenty of room to let around 18 months, allowing current underclassmen to use creative juices flow is a dream the completed arts center before for many students at SDA that they graduate. has now become a reality, as The 16,000 square foot center funding for the project is now will host many facilities, includavailable from the state. ing a separate theater and drama Over the course of three classroom, years, the state a drama of California workshop, has committed and storalmost $8 milage for lion of funding sets. There in loans and will also grants to the -Principal Michael Grove be a music performing arts classroom center for SDA. and practice “Previously, these funds had been frozen due rooms, a rehearsal hall, instrument storage, and a recording to state budget deficit, but have studio. The current Roundabout now become accessible,” said Theatre will remain in use as an Principal Michael Grove. acting classroom.

The district will now go The SDA Foundation has out to bid on the project to see raised half of its goal of contribwhich companies will offer the uting $1 million to the project. best rates for construction. “The “People have been hesitant to center is estimated to cost $9.7 donate more money because [the million, but going out to bid funding] has been frozen for will provide a better estimate. so long.” said Grove. “This is a By early May we should have big step, the first we are taking a good idea of the cost,” said where we’re like, ‘Wow, this is Grove. “I’m excited because we actually going to happen.’” have been talking about this for lindsey agnew

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[“ ”] Wow, this is actually going to happen.

Robotics Competition Want a fast, easy way to fundraise for your class?

Earn a 25% commission and save your friends 15% off drivers ed.

Visit www.DriversEd.com/Associate-Programs. *Discount for online drivers ed class only.

2.1_BW_6x10_D26 © 2009 DriversEd.com

Come cheer on Team Paradox on March 5 and 6 from 9 am to 5 pm at the San Diego Sports Arena.

Don’t forget to show team spirit by wearing red, yellow and blue!

T-Shirts for sale for $5

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Just dance

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ariel chao

Two hours of fame. English and Social Justice teacher Kerri Leonard signs her book at the Carlsbad Borders for a reader.

Leonard shares her journey T

eachers, friends, students, young and old flooded the small room crammed with rows and rows of chairs at the Carlsbad Borders on February 18 in support of SDA English Teacher, Kerri Leonard and her newly released book titled “A Dollar a Day.” Leonard’s new book, co-written with her partner Christopher Greenslate, a teacher at LCC, discusses their three month long journey looking at the different economics of eating and also touches on health and the access people have to certain foods.

According to the high turnout of 110 plus people at her “A Dollar a Day” book signing, and 66 total books signed and sold (the record for most books sold at the Carlsbad Borders to date), her agent was right when she said “I think you have a story here” to Leonard. The two San Dieguito High School District teachers have drawn a sizable amount of attention to their cause, also appearing on Fox 5 San Diego News on February 21.

When asked why Leonard decided to start this experiment, she said “because we were spending a lot of money on groceries.” She and Greenslate knew a lot of people that could not and were not spending so much money on groceries and wanted to know if she and her partner could go without spending so much money on food, too. After six months, they finally made the decision to begin.

Throughout their journey, the two English teachers kept a blog when in October were contacted by an author of the New York Times who had referred their story to a literary author. “It was never a serious dream or anything. We never thought we were ever going to write a book,” Leonard said.

“It’s an amazing story,” said Diane Pawling, a mother of a former LCC student who had Greenslate as a teacher. Pawling was attracted to the book signing to learn more about methods of “how to cut down on food prices.” Other attendees expressed their motives of why they were there ranging from interest in helping out at the San Diego food banks to SDA Economics teacher Steven Fisher’s simple answer of “I know Kerri Leonard.” Meghan Sills, a former SDA student and current Borders employee put it simply, too, with “they’re local, and I’m vegan.” “[The book signing] was very exciting. We were there for two hours, but it felt like it went really fast.

Once it started, I felt relived because I was nervous,” Leonard said. “It was fun, but a little overwhelming.”

ariel chao

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ir Bands is a competition in which students who love to sing and act are put into the spotlight. In this year’s Air Bands competition, taking place on February 25th, teams are made of student participants of all grade levels.

Up on stage, students dance and lip sync to the rhythm of a song. A typical Air Bands routine consists of lots of dancing, a bit of comedy, and plenty of enthusiasm as each team works together to make their own original routine.

Team ‘Group That Shall Not Be Named’ has created a Harry Potter-esque routine complete with wands.

The group said that their inspiration was a collective love for the YouTube video “A Very Potter Musical”. “We saw the video and fell in love with it, and decided that this just needed to happen,” said group member Ariel Jones.

Andrew Walker, another Air Bands participant, said he’s glad that he joined and “It’s just a really great way to make a fool of yourself, and have fun with your friends.”

ASB teacher Rod Keillor, the teacher overseeing the organization of the event, said, “Air Bands is for anyone who likes to act on stage, or likes dancing. It’s a good way for friends to bond, and overall a fun experience.” emily hall

Forum meeting discusses beauty

Watch out students!

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t a Forum meeting on Feb. 17, about 40 students talked about beautifying the campus, improving back to school night, bringing back quarter classes, and replacing Mustang discussion days with the opportunities to try out different electives.

The Forum was held in Physics teacher George Stimson’s room.

This has been a practice since 2007, allowing students to express their views on possible improvements that could be made to make SDA better.

Students and faculty within the room collaborate on what can be done to achieve the idea.

“It’s kind of nice to get together and find out what’s going on in people’s lives,” said Stimson.

One of the topics debated at the forum was the subject of quarter-long classes.

Some students thought that more quarter-long classes should be available so that students could try more electives.

Other students argued that it wouldn’t be enough time to figure out whether or not you liked the class, and that universities did not accept quarter-long AP and Honors courses.

At the end of the forum meeting, students and faculty members seemed satisfied with what had been discussed and were excited for what was planned for the future. ashlynne mclean nicole greene

ana reyes

At the student vs. faculty dodgeball game held during lunch in January, psychology teacher James Hrzina prepares to peg a student in order to make the win for the teachers. Eight teams in total signed up to play against the teachers and among them, two teams advanced to the finals to take on the teachers. Final result: Teachers one. Students one. ariel chao

Registering for classes

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egistration for the 2010-2011 year has begun. Many new classes are being offered for 2011, along with a few being brought back after a few years of absence.

Many of these classes have been added as electives, offering new ways for students to engage in their interests, such as Creative writing. “Creative writing will be run like a professional writer’s workshop, in which students will work on extended pieces in the genre of their choosing and bring it to class for sharing and feedback with their peers,” said Robert Ross, English department.

The Road to College and Beyond, a new class proposed for next year, is an opportunity for freshmen, sophomores, and juniors to begin college prep and explore future career paths. “This course will be an introduction to the college application process that students will go through during their senior fall. As well, the class will research a lot of colleges, majors, careers, and much more” said Carolyn Lee, who currently teaches English and a college applications class for seniors.

Individual Learning Project (previously known as Senior Project), is being offered again after a 2 year hiatus for juniors and seniors. The class is based on students exploring a topic or skill of their choice.

Overall, students are enthusiastic about the new classes for next year. “I’m excited for Social Justice because I have heard about it and it’s a great class,” said freshman Alexis Burnstan.

Among the multitude of changes to the course list, many classes have been cut out due to lack of student interest in the past and budget reasons. Among these are Fiction/Film, Interior Design, Co-ed Basketball, ROP Surf/Ocean Lifesaving, and Seminar in Art P. amy dushkin

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Numbers 66 2,500 dollars in reward from “A Dollar A Day” books

statewide Milquarious video competition

signed by author & teacher Kerri Leonard

855 44 average cost of winter students at winter

formal ticket

formal

430 540 projected number of eighth graders who

incoming freshmen for applied for SDA lotthe 10-11’ school year tery

8student teams that

participated in lunch dodgeball game

112 rose grams sent to

students for Valentines Day

210 6 seniors signed up for teams participating in

Senior Out

Airbands

Archetype

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fter reading “Dark Star Safari,”students from the Writers’ Block Club met with the author Paul Theroux on Monday. The five students and SDA English department co-chairman Rob Ross discussed different books one-on-one with Theroux over lunch.

From the dark and dreary theme of high school novels to the journey of reading a book being far greater than the ending, the club and author were able to connect.

The students also talked about “Dark Star Safari” and Theroux’s travels to Africa. His strong views against other countries’ aid in Africa became a topic of interest.

Most of Theroux’s books are about his world travels, and his experiences in this book left a lasting impresson. “It was interesting to listen to a person who has traveled around the world and actually met with the people in Africa,” said senior Samantha Kim.

mckenna taylor

Concerted effort

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an Dieguito Academy Performing Arts will be holding Cabaret Night, its annual benefit concert and fine dining experience, tomorrow at the Encinitas Community Center at 6:00. Students have been working by themselves and in groups to prepare short pieces of music and monologues to entertain diners.Tickets are 30 dollars for adults, while student tickets are only 10 dollars. People who would like to buy tickets can buy them on the SDA Foundation website, sdamusic.org or email band teacher Jeremy Wuertz. Proceeds from the event will go towards benefitting SDA’s band and theatre programs.

henry sweat

Hurley contest

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ant to help SDA win $25,000? The Academy is in a nation-wide contest sponsored by Hurley.

For the first video entry, contending schools must show their school’s DNA. SDA’s footage includes the surf team doing exactly what SDA is known for, surfing.

After proceeding through the first round, Hurley asks schools to create a video advertising Hurley’s girl’s low-rider shorts and boy’s phantom board shorts.These products will be provided by Hurley for SDA to use in the video.

Finally, for a third part of the competition, SDA will be asked to design and produce a window display in a Hansen’s store using Hurley products such as clothes and surfing equipment.

For each part of the competition, the school is given $500 for participation even if they don’t win the final prize of $25,000.

In order for SDA to win the competition, students need to go to www.hurley. com/wtw and create an account.

At the end of the competition the schools with the most votes are invited to the Hurley U.S. Surf open in Huntington Beach to participate in a Hurley fashion show with students from their high school.The school with the best fashion show then wins the grand prize of $25,000.

ariel chao

Got milk? Seniors Alex Finden and Zachary Simmons accept their award.

Milking them for all they’re worth

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tudents from San Dieguito Academy received fourth place in the statewide Milkquarious video competition. The competition was to promote drinking milk and was put on by the same company who made the Got Milk ad campaign.

The group, led by Alex Finden and Zachary Simmons, filmed one scene from the Milkquarious rock opera about White Gold, the main character, who attempts to rescue his kidnapped girlfriend, Strawberry Summers, from the evil Nastirious with help from his friend Jug Life. The winners, Santa Susanna High School, took away a grand prize of 20,000 dollars. As an honorable mention, SDA’s group received 2,500 dollars to benefit SDA’s arts program when voting finished on Jan. 25.

The competition had two stages. The first stage consisted of public voting on all of the videos submitted. The winner automatically went to the next round. The remaining videos were judged by an independent judging agency based on adherence to original scene, originality, depiction of healthy hair and teeth and White Gold spirit. San Dieguito Academy’s video qualified for the second round via independent judging. The winner of the final heat was decided by the highest number of online votes and where SDA placed fourth.

SDA’s film team remade the opening scene of the rock opera. In the opening scene, White Gold, played by senior Zachary Simmons, and Strawberry Summers, performed by junior Haley Jo Lewis, declare their love for each other until they are rudely interrupted by Nastirious’s henchmen who kidnap Summers.

Senior Alex Finden, director of the movie, said that he was satisfied with the sound, lighting, acting and pre-production. “The only thing I could have done better was had a final version of the song while I was shooting, so the actors could correctly lip-sync to the song,” he said.

The group became infamous for setting off the fire alarm with a fog machine during the SAT on Dec. 5 while attempting to film the movie in the Mustang Center. They were kicked out. Fortunately the Eric Neubauer agreed to supervise the filming the next weekend in the video film room.

Finden said Channel 6, the Union Tribune and the North County Times all had stories on the group’s attempt to win the grand prize.

The group further advertised by passing out 2000 green fliers telling people to vote for the movie. Finden said he also constantly spammed Facebook since students were already on their computers and literally just two clicks away from voting.

According to Finden, the hardest part of making the movie was finding the powdered milk after the SAT fiasco since the team had already ransacked the local grocery store for their first attempt filming the scene.

henry sweat

tatiana skomski

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Out with the old, in with the new A walk around SDA’s unkempt campus reveals the beautification that needs to take place.

What’s up with...

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ome changes are underway in SDA’s future. On Feb. 16, Principal Michael Grove had 13 students walk around campus with him and point out the places that need improving. An architect walked with Grove the next day and went over the students’ suggestions to help the school make the recommended beautification process fall within our budget.

The question of replacing the old with the new has created different views on the issue. The

“...the pile of students sleeping in Stimson’s room?” betty huang, freshman

STAFF EDITORIAL Mustang Staff was split between short-term and long-term alterations with a few who opposed any changes.

SDA’s greenery is a main concern for most of the Mustang Staff. From the stadium field to the overall campus landscape, students are finding the school’s grounds too barren for their taste. Although the Mustang Staff agrees with a need for more plants on campus, the details of the long-term plan, which is supposed to start within the next 10 to 15 years, initiated discussion.

The long-term plan includes tearing down the science and 10 buildings that line up at the south end of campus, due to their age and outdated electrical wiring. A second story would also be added to the gym, which would include space for dance and weight rooms.

These long-term changes worry many staff members.

Questions arise such as how SDA’s history will be kept alive,

“...$50 hairdos?” laurel sorenson, freshman

ana reyes

The grass is not greener on the other side. Making our campus greener is an obvious issue that needs attending to.

or what will happen to the murals on many of the buildings that are planned to be torn down. Some of the Mustang Staff are concerned that the new, more modern-styled buildings will take away from the old-fashion, classic SDA. Others, though, say that the school has been adding and changing since it was built in the

1930’s, and that the long-term plan is necessary to improve the school and attract students.

After two years of absence, however, the lottery is returning to SDA, hinting that the school’s appearance is anything but a detractor.

While there are mixed views on what should be done to beautify SDA, changes will be

taking place in the upcoming years. Whether these variations will completely alter SDA from ground up or simply give it a face lift, is a question that will for now be left unanswered.

The Mustang Staff had 26 votes for short-term school beautification, 11 votes for longterm school beautification, and 1 vote for no school beautification.

Letter to the Editor Dear Editor, I have always considered our school to be the most accepting and tolerant school in the district. It is not unusual for people to show up in pajamas. Anyone who wants to can wear outfits on Friday’s with the Sky Consortium Club can. In fact, every single club on campus is open for anyone to join. Except one.

The letters N, H, and S are insignificant individually but when put together can stand for a plethora of phrases. In England, NHS stands for National Healthcare Services. In the United States it stands for

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National Highway System. At SDA, it stands for National Honors Society. Until recently, I was as guilty as anyone for wanting to fill up a line on the activities list of my college application with “National Honor Society Member.” Until, that is, I realized that the only thing NHS really stands for at SDA is unfair treatment of anyone with less-than-exemplary grades.

NHS has nothing unique to offer to the San Dieguito student body except the discriminatory admission practices in place to keep everyone who has lower than a 3.8 GPA out. If you

want to do community service, join the Interact Club or one of the many environmental organizations. If your goal is to be surrounded by intelligent people, join the Math Club or the Literary Guild or the Model UN. It would be one thing to have an academic club with a 3.8 GPA requirement, but a community service organization? Since when are people without a 3.8 GPA less qualified to do community service? It is baffling.

NHS was formed on the noble premise of doing good things for those less fortunate; I am all for that. However, a

grade requirement for a club at a public high school, especially one known for its acceptance and open-mindedness, seems unjust and wrong. Over the years, NHS has evolved and changed and now it consists of just a name. And colleges know this. Colleges know that almost everyone in NHS is just doing it for those three letters on an application. Wouldn’t it be more impressive to a college for a student to join a community service organization that doesn’t have forced hours?

Just my two-cents worth.

Max Oltersdorf, Senior

“...woodchips?” nestor tadeo, sophmore

“...wearing short skirts when it’s raining?” danielle ashley, junior

“...McDonald’s being the official food of the Olympic athlete?” henry chesnutt, senior

Mustang

the

opinions 02.26.10

gotta have it

Attention all phone addicts

kerry roberson

Obsession. Get help. Let’s face it–parting with our cell phones only leads to one thing: withdrawal symptoms.

“Y

just staying warm

eah, I should text her that… hold on a sec,” I say into my phone, and start rooting through my bag, looking for my cell phone. Shoot, where’d I put it? I think to myself, mentally backtracking. I was upstairs eating dinner, and then I took a shower… “Oh my gosh! Where’s my phone?!” I screech, the panic erupting.

My friend on the phone snorts back her laughter. “In your HAND, you idiot!” Oh right, there it is… I laugh, but secretly, I’m worried. Have I honestly had two where’s-myphone-at panic attacks today?

“Wow, I’m really tired,” I say, even though I know that I am perfectly well-rested.

Something else is up. This isn’t exhaustion, this is (dare I say it?) addiction.

“I went to Mexico on a vacation this summer,” said a junior girl. “I kept having these sudden panic attacks when I’d have the urge to check my phone, and I’d realize my phone wasn’t in my pocket. I’d look all over for it, even dusting away loose sand, thinking I had dropped it before realizing it was at home. In Encinitas. Where I left it. I don’t get service in Mexico.”

We’re not the only crazy ones, I can assure you. Many of my peers have even offered to be interviewed for this article. “I’m

T

emily hall It’s in our jeans. Cell phones not only occupy our jean pockets but also the genes of our generation.

obsessed. You can quote me.

It’s so bad,” they all say distractedly while their fingers are tap-tap-tap-ing all over their cell phone keypads. When I asked what they were texting, they all responded, “Um, nothing,” snapping the phone closed. “What were you saying?”

Which reminds me: multi-

tasking is a myth, right? It’s been scientifically proven that nobody can physically do two tasks at once and be completely successful. I mean, hello, texting and driving? That has caused a ridiculous number of car crashes and untimely deaths. I wonder why people keep doing it. Are they seriously willing to risk

their lives just to send a text? It sounds insane now, but we all know how tempting it is to pick up your cell phone at a red light when it’s buzzing.

I want to know what’s so riveting about cell phones. Look around you, right now. I guarantee you can see at least five people’s phones, and the major-

ity of them will be in use. You can double or triple that number if you’re outside of class.

In middle school, when my friends were getting their first cell phones, parents would say that they were only for emergencies. Yeah, right. Checking in with mom turned into texting about homework questions which then turned into unlimited messaging to whoever, whenever, and hours-long conversations over the phone. Total emergencies, I swear! I really can’t recall ever using my phone for a full-blown crisis. I’ve never had to call the fire department or the police. It could happen (knock on wood) but I think I have dialed and will continue to dial my friends quite a few times more than 9-1-1.

So, I guess we don’t want our phones because we’re able to get help within a few seconds. No, that’s not why I freak out every time I ‘misplace’ my phone, and that’s not why relief floods through me when I find it, under a book or in my pocket.

Again.

Yeah, they’re stylish, they’re sleek, they’re small. I know that.

But why do I get all hopped up on adrenaline each time my fingers dance around the shiny touch screen answering that dumb “Heyy whats up” text?

That’s what I want to know.

February showers bring fireplaces With the rainy weather at SDA, fireplaces in classrooms seem more reasonable than an umbrella. jack rushall

oday it rains. Did you hear me? We’re all taking showers: the natural kind. If there were cats and dogs falling from the sky, skater kids would have kitties knitted in their beanies, and girls who are dubbed “mean” would ironically live up to their “bitch” title, as small female Pomeranians would be tugging down their skirts.

Today is the rainy day. How ever do we find solace when seemingly the high heavens above have it out for us? Well, a good place for us to start to combat such cold and rainy days is to add fireplaces into every classroom in the school; seriously, actually think about this: do you want to know why? Here

is why: After we take a shower, do we not need a towel to dry off?

It’s the same sort of concept.

You slide into class resembling the fish in the class mascot’s tank, and you huddle up next to the fire and you suddenly are of a drier species. Being drier on rainy days is always preferable, in that if you’re dry, you won’t irritably waste class-time drying yourself off with Kleenex or raincoats from the less stylish kids.

Also, wasting plenty of paper after smudging and disgruntling your constructed answers and sentences can become tiresome, and really you’d be helping the environment by drying on im-

mediate entry to class and not wasting the greater gifts received

by Mother Earth and her tree spawn.

The mantle-place not only keeps you dry, but can also help with socializing in class. If you don’t like any of the kids in your class, as I’m sure plenty of you do (or maybe that’s just me), you never know who you’ll find yourself warming your hands next to. This is always the perfect segue into fresh conversation.

Imagine it like this: your name is Dan Blaze and you are just meeting Anita Flame. “Hi, Anita, isn’t this fire hot?” Dan might say, warming himself.

“Yes, you are,” Anita may reply,

fastening her mittens.

If not simply to reap social benefits, teachers can make use of their new “hot “enterprise as well. Think of Christmas time, each student can get a stocking hung up on the hearth, and the student who does the best on the before-break midterm testing can receive an extra candy cane or an A+ paper stapled inside this so-called sock to showcase their mastery. Kids are always the target audience in regards to candy appreciation, and teachers, who already have those meddlesome bags of Smarties stored behind their desks can rejoice at this activity of togetherness.

Remember, fireplaces won’t

just add a sense of “warmth” to students, but could also add the “fuzzy” bit by making them feel more at home. After all, where do you find fireplaces if not in the living room of your own house, where the majority of the love and acceptance is represented in your everyday life? That is, if you have family.

Just imagine it: the last day of school, children racing to choose the heftiest brown twigs from behind the science building and then roasting marshmallows together, tossing away old homework assignments next to the stucco hearth. It just—it doesn’t get much “hotter” than that, and those marshmallows serve as “food” for thought.

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I was hungry.

kyle shohfi

O

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the

opinions 02.26.10

A dream deferred The new administration has left our hopes to dry up like raisins in the sun. Art by Hayley Baker.

ver one year ago, an inspired American majority elected Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois because of his promises of reform. While conservatives gagged at the word, a population both youthful and elderly found itself enchanted by the prospect of change. However, over a year after his election, 34,000 additional troops were sent to Afghanistan, Guantánamo Bay remains open, and 46 million Americans remain without health insurance.

Throughout his campaign, Obama warned against the dangers of fighting two wars and preached the necessity to bring the brave men and women overseas home.

But ohno-no, we’ll have none of that after the inauguration. Though Obama immediately implemented a plan to begin phasing troops out of Iraq, he injected more young Americans into Afghanistan than Bush sent to Iraq during the infamous “surge.” To quote Joe Biden as he accepted the nomination for vice president, that’s not change, that’s more of the same.

U.S. casualties in Afghanistan in 2009 were the greatest in number since the war began. The number from 2009 also doubled the figure from 2008.

On January 20, hundreds of Afghan workers protested at a U.S.-occupied air base in response to allegations that American soldiers treated the workers inappropriately and exposed them to materials hazardous to their health (New York Times). Two days later, over 500 demonstrators protested a NATO air raid that locals say killed 4 civilians, including a 15-

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year-old boy and two children younger than seven years old (BBC). On Valentine’s Day, a U.S. rocket strike killed 10 civilians, including 5 children (New York Times).

U.S.-sponsored attacks on civilians is certainly not what

Obama promised America throughout his bid for office, and as an enthusiastic supporter of the Illinois senator during the campaign, I am not only devastated but also personally hurt that he could pursue this course of action.

I urge President Obama to remember why he was the

candidate elected—not because of his eloquent rhetoric or his impressive 3-point range, but because of his plans for the

future. Abandoning the plans he promised Americans would be destroying the hope the majority of voters had for change.

I applauded the freshly-inaugurated President Obama’s

executive order on January 22, 2009 to close the Guantánamo Bay detention camp within one year, though the plan was shot down by the Senate within four months.

I cannot fault the President for the Senate’s de-

cision (though by all means he should have been able to convince his own party), but what pains me most is that he didn’t even fight for it. Rather than rallying his allies in Congress to move closer towards the notorious prison’s close, he simply gave in and let his beliefs go by the wayside.

He is so intelligent, so articulate, and certainly inspirational enough to render change, yet he seems reluctant to take a firm stance on anything that may cause a political conflict.

Most heart-breaking of all is that the force driving health care reform died with Senator Kennedy. After the Liberal Lion of the Senate passed away, all momentum toward passing revolutionary health care legislation diminished, faded away. Once both House and Senate versions of the bill had been passed, things seemed to be looking up for President Obama’s vision of reform.

However, following the Massachusetts special election won by Republican Scott Brown, Obama immediately announced that the health care bill would have to be modified to make it appealing to both parties—essentially, it would do very little.

Potentially one-quarter of the way through Obama’s tenure as president, his top legislative goal has thus far been a dud.

The worst part of all is that President Obama is no longer only responsible for fulfilling his own goals; as an elected official, the duty with which he is charged is to fulfill the goals of the voters. I have no doubt that Obama sincerely cares about the safety of our troops, the fair treatment of detainees, and the end of discrimination in the health insurance industry, but his answer for these issues seems to be to wait it out. Keep waiting. Someday it will be time for change, but not today.

In other words, our dreams are deferred.

Mustang i see dead people

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opinions 02.26.10

casey dayan

On vanity and things

It is only shallow people who do not judge by appearances. The true mystery of the world is the visible, not the invisible. -Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) Irish poet and dramatist.

I

into the bathroom that there’s somebody there, looking in the mirror. Nothing wrong, nothing bad, nothing immoral. Everybody does it.

Yet, each time: they recognize the sound of footsteps on tile and flinch and look away.

Wash their hands for the second or third time. I usually text somebody for a minute until they leave, and then look at

think it was an Adam Sandler movie. No. No it was “Rocket Man.” A dork. He picks up a bar of soap, runs it under some warm water, and presses it against the mirror.

Squeak.

He draws a circular space helmet; he adds antennae. He positions his face in the center of the helmet, perfectly, so that if it weren’t for the reflection of the teal-painted wall behind him, the one holding the grubby rusted towel rack, he would be

myself.

Is it insecurity? I must be vain if I care about how I look.

There must be something wrong with me. Hide it.

in space.

Seniors Diez

Of course, like any experienced astronaut, he completes his mission with a dance. The one where you bounce up and down slightly, fists spinning around each other. Look left, look right. Head moving forward and backward, independent of the body. Like a chicken. The overbite. Awesome.

The knowledge of my adoption and regular execution of this dance is usually information solely savvy to my closest of friends: My toothbrush, bathroom reading material, rug, bathroom door lock, and, of course, my girlfriend and all of her friends who, I’m sure, revere my dancing abilities to the high-

T

dimitri fautsch

ana reyes

Tubular! This sexy man stares into the mirror while creating an alternate soapsuds universe starring an astronaut.

est possible degree.

So many biscuit fortunes have told me to be genuine and myself, wholly. Out the window with any of those “societal convention” thingys.

There, I think there is an

apparent hole in moral adages like these. Ray Croc, the entrepreneur who gave birth to one of the world’s largest franchises, “McDonald’s”, was known for his acute awareness and meticulous upkeep of his personal

appearance. Microsoft and Macintosh and Starbucks and Stater Bros. Image. Image. Image. It’s important in a world of first impressions.

Still, I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s every time that I walk

Yet, in the age of the dinosaurs, the cretaceous period or something —the 70’s— archeologists believe that it was common to carry with one’s self a comb. Hair brushing was part of the routine.

Bathroom, wash hands, dry hands, comb hair. Do I look ok?

Yes, back to class. Why, now, would that be so awkward?

Maybe it’s insecurity. Maybe it’s that whole thrift store and hemp thing trickling down from Berkeley. My entire outfit was a dollar!

Whatever it is, I think I’m just going to bring a bar of soap to school to stir things up a bit.

Don’t mess with the Fortune 500 The Supreme Court has a little brown on its nose courtesy of AT&T, Citigroup, and many others.

hings are finally looking up for America. “24” is back on the air, and the flagging economy is entering step 10 of economics anonymous, but on Jan. 21, 2010 the U.S. Supreme Court decided to throw the American people a giant turd-filled curveball; the Court’s decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission that invalidated the McCain-Feingold campaign financing reform act.

The law had banned the broadcast, cable or satellite transmission of “electioneering communications” paid for by corporations or labor unions in the 30 days before a presidential primary and in the 60 days before the general elections.

Going beyond the (newsy)

jargon, the decision essentially brought down the barriers that limited the amount of money corporations can contribute to a politician’s election campaign.

The 5-4 majority in the Supreme Court justified their decision using a broad scope of the First Amendment. Justice Anthony Kennedy said, “If the First Amendment has any force, it prohibits Congress from fining or jailing citizens, or associations of citizens, for simply engaging in political speech.”

Woah, woah, woah, wait a hot minute Justice Kennedy (I’ve always wanted to say that). Are corporations really “associations of citizens”?

When companies choose which candidates to endorse,

they don’t call for a vote from all their employees, they sit down in smoke-filled rooms with lacquered tables and pick the candidate who has the most free-market approach toward business regulation.

Corporations exist to make money, not to contemplate the needs of a diverse population or to speak for the downtrodden huddled masses, labor unions, or anyone who does not own their stock. By giving these profitdriven entities the same right to free speech as “we the people” the Supremes have turned our democracy over to a population of “greed is gooders.”

With this new ruling, corporations are still prohibited from giving money directly

to a politician’s campaign, but they are free to run as many ads as they wish, at any time they want, supporting whichever candidate they choose.

As it is, big businesses already indirectly contribute millions of dollars a year towards candidates’ campaigns, giving them considerable leverage to influence their chosen representative’s policy stances.

This system already had politicians of both parties suckling at the teat of corporate funds, but now their suckling has become something that would be featured in a genre that rhymes with “shmorn.” This x-rated abomination of the US political system is the start of a disturbing trend that gives the few more

power than the many.

Although I do sound like that unshaven, “down with the man, man” kid you see handing out Communist propaganda at the street corner, this decision will fundamentally change the way elections are conducted in America.

Your measly individual donations will almost become irrelevant when multinational firms can act like money-phobic rappers in a music video, throwing cash like its hotttt.

The era of grassroots campaigning and individual donations will be replaced by another of blitzkrieg ad campaigns by businesses seeking lower tax rates and more lenient environmental policies.

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Flight or fight

ariel chao

Mustang

the

opinions 02.26.10

A turbulent flight

No matter how far your destination, no matter how great the weather is, flying always sucks.

T

coexist...psh...

he perfect word to describe a 14 hour flight across the Pacific? Problematic. It all started when I set foot onto the plane at the Taipei International Airport.

One would think that after being inspected, interrogated, and personally invaded, most would be knocked out before the peanuts could be served, but no.

Instead, upset babies cried, people thrusted their bags into others’ personal spaces, little boys ran up and down the aisles, cold air was thrust in the direction of neighbors and, worst of all, bladders cried for mercy at a chance to get to the restroom.

Not once in the first hour since we had departed was there a vacant lavatory. Perhaps there was a) someone who was taking a crap in every single one, b) a group of kids playing “let’s see who I can hold hostage the longest,” or c) 200 or so passengers who just needed to go just as badly as I needed to.

In any case, when it was my turn, some little kid squeezed past me into the lavatory and stole my toilet. I stood there gawking at the little ‘occupied’ sign that popped into place, red, bold, and glaring at me for moments before collecting myself again.

Obviously there’s no inter-

This is it. Tearful toddlers, pesty passengers, and bathroom battles can turn what should be a pleasant flight into a disastrous one.

national rule as to who gets to use the toilet first, but there was a line.

I guess I could have thrown a tantrum and caused a scene until some sumo wrestler guy came to save the day by knocking the door down with his tremendous belly and tossing the little sucker outta there, but instead I waited patiently.

Back at my seat, I discovered that my neighbor had made herself at home. From what had appeared to be two individual seats, had turned into one almost-the-size-of-first-class type.

The armrest separating her

seat and mine was up, allowing her and her anime drawings to be sprawled in my space.

Amid my surfacing anger was a bit of disappointment that I hadn’t brought my mosquito fryer along with my carry-on bags. Normally I’m not a violent person, but who wouldn’t think of the possibilities?

If there was one person worried about the welfare of the girl drooling all over my seat, it was her father. At least he had the decency to wake her up.

When she did, she didn’t open her eyes, but groaned, whined at her father, then

pulled up the arm rest between them, and clunk, fell back asleep.

When I took my seat I immediately realized two things: my pants were wet and sticky.

Oh yes, the drool AND my knees were practically up to my chest because her luggage too, was everywhere.

Oh yeah, did I mention that she turned her air conditioner towards my seat on full blast too?

I was just surprised that she wasn’t on the “no fly” list. If there’s one type of terrorist that hasn’t been identified yet, she’s

hayley baker

the poster child of it.

Only three hours had passed when I attempted to fall asleep.

That is, until I realized the abnormal number of angry babies on board. Crying babies that is.

The drone of sniffling and wails in the background essentially became the soundtrack to the end of my trip, a Welcome Back to America!

In a perfect flight, none of these things would be problematic because the only problem should be turbulence. Unfortunately, there is no such thing. So people, just be courteous to your fellow flight mates, okay?

Bumper stickers? Really? bailey mezan

M

The accesories of the road are now too tacky for me to ignore.

y mom is the scariest driver I have ever encountered. Sometimes after a near death experience, I can’t help but sigh in exasperation at the irony of the huge blue and white peace sticker on the bumper of her car. If a drive with my mom is peaceful, I would hate to know what isn’t. It’s safe to say that most bumper stickers portray a gross contradiction between what they read and how the driver acts.

These distracting little accessories are the text messages of the road; words that act as cowardly substitutes for what the driver refuses to say out loud.

Mostly they are unnatural addi-

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tions that force curious drivers inches away from the aluminum bumpers in which they lay.

Often while I’m on the road, I feel as though I’m doing more reading than driving. Between the, “Hang up and drive(s)” and the, “If you’re not outraged, you’re not paying attention(s),” the stickers that are supposed to make me contemplative, instead make me infuriated.

It’s like putting raisins in cereal; an appalling addition to something usually quit enjoyable.

All stickers are equally out of place on the back of a car. Political stickers are asking for road rage. Environmentally friendly

stickers are ironic on the back of a car. Narcissistic stickers are only entertaining to those who know the driver and all other stickers are just plain dangerous.

Though I would like to ignore the nonsensical babble on these decorations, I often find my vehicle dangerously intimate with a bumper littered in stickers; my eyes peering down at the eighteen point font unconcerned with my own fate. The stickers that seem so harmless scattered across a teenage boys wall, take on a more threatening form on the back of a car.

Henry Ford would be appalled if he saw the way the greatest invention in history was

being defaced and abused. Do you think people were slapping permanent hunks of laminated plastic onto the back of their Oldsmobies in 1899? How would Henry Ford or Karl Benz feel to see their decades of work blemished by donkeys humping elephants and talk of PMS? I am often annoyed by what I read on the rears of cars, but mostly I feel embarrassed for the human being who chose to insult the world by defacing their own property.

Put as many “I’d tell you to go the hell, but I work there and don’t want to see you every day” stickers on your car as you’d like because if nothing else, one

thing I’ll ALWAYS have is a cleaner bumper.

So stick your stickers to manila folders, stick them to scrapbooks, or to computer cases for all I care, but next time you slap a sticker to the untouched aluminum contours of a brand new car, realize that no one cares to read the thoughts that belong in your head.

I propose everyone treats their cars as if they were a brand new Mercedes; no longer should we take advantage of the privilege of owning cars. And no longer should it be considered appropriate to entice others inches from an accident all for the sake of a decoration.

essays

the

Mustang

Following

04.02.10

footsteps her

Colleges look for it. Parents encourage it. Students try to get it out of the way.Volunteering should be more than just a requirement for college. It should be a way of life. Essay by McKenna Taylor.

T

hree. Two. One. They’re done! A sigh of relief is heard from every senior who has submitted the last of those despised college applications. Another rite of passage has been fulfilled. Another check off the to-do list of life is applied. Now it is a matter of finding something worthwhile to spend the rest of our time doing.

Volunteering is what one person brought to light for me. This person is Interact Club’s Rotary advisor, Carolyn Cope.

You may have seen this SDA alumnus walking around our campus bursting with exuberance. Her quirky personality is unmistakable. It is these characteristics along with Cope’s heart that hold the answer for us, seniors, seeking advice on what to do with our lives.

Like most of us, Cope began her volunteering as a

Helping hands Cope and her fellow Rotarians painted the way for the Rotary Rose Parade Float, winning best floral design. Their passion for volunteering is apparent in the work they put into the float. Photos courtesy of Carolyn Cope.

student, mainly dedicating her time to cleaning a homeless shelter.

However, Cope did not stop volunteering after high school or college. She is still helping out the least of her neighbors. Every year, she gives consistent donations of clothing and furniture to the Refuge Network of San Diego, Christmas gifts to the children at the Migrant Center, and helps pack food boxes for the local Community Resource Center.

In addition to being a community activist by taking part in a variety of volunteer organizations, Cope is also the organizer of many SDA Interact Club events.

Over the past years, Cope has spearheaded Interact’s beloved Project Mercy, where students build a house for a Tijuana family. Cope calls each house a “permanent structure they can call home.” Volunteers spend one day putting sweat into building and painting so by sunset, the house is finished.

“It’s one of my ultimate feel-good projects,” Cope said. She said that the experience is life changing for the family as well as the volunteers who build it.

Paige Ely, a senior and Interact Club’s president, talked about how Cope’s role in the Mexico trips made all the difference: “She [Carolyn] offered to drive everyone over to Mexico without any hesitation. Her consistent attendance to our meetings is one of the reasons Interact is still going.”

By personally being a part of two of these Mexico house-building trips, I have seen Cope’s generosity firsthand. She always brings clothes, toiletries, toys, and candy to the families along with her constant smile.

She supplies the volunteers with tools and paintbrushes along with sandwiches, potato chips, and water for lunch out of her own pocket.

Whenever I think of Cope, I think of her enduring energy and willingness to help others. She gets just as much out of volunteering as the people she is helping benefit from her work.

Max Oltersdorf, a senior and Interact Club’s treasurer, added, “Carolyn has provided us with many opportunities to be a part of something bigger than ourselves.”

Watching the example she has set for us Interacters, I can see how volunteering is not just about getting college credit. It’s about giving back to our community and helping our world become a better place.

With Project Mercy, families just across the border needed our help. There are so many different ways to reach out in not only our community, but also the world. Through picking up trash, serving food at soup kitchens, tutoring a struggling child, volunteer opportunities are just waiting to be taken.

I know it’s cliché, but let’s face it. Making a difference is what our world needs. It doesn’t cost us anything; it can only have a positive affect on our lives.

Volunteering and helping the least of her neighbors has shaped Cope’s life, so it can definitely help shape ours.

We are the senior class of 2010. Let’s inspire the underclassmen to continue a trend of volunteering for the pure enjoyment of helping others. College credit is so overrated. Making a difference is anything but.

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Mustang

the

essays

02.26.10

I

’m still yawning as I walk into “Videogame” homeroom in room 91. On this particular morning, I still have an outstanding assignment due second period, so I shimmy my way in to snag a computer before they are all taken.

I freeze.

No, I’m not too late—there’re still one or two more computers left—but on the ones that are occupied, screens blink chaotically with a variety of war games, stupid-yet-irresistibly-funny kitten cannon games, TRON, and the like.

No, this isn’t necessarily why I stopped. What is blazingly obvious, though, is that my presence brings the total female count in the room to exactly one.

All right, I admit, it’s generally the boys with a perpetual interest in videogames, but that’s the thing. Has anybody ever heard of a female videogame designer? Does anybody personally know a woman who went into computer sciences?

Female engineers and mathematicians are a rare breed, and there are definitely fields of study that have yet to achieve a 50/50 gender makeup.

This is obvious even here. In my AP Calculus class, there were 29 students. Twenty-one of them were boys.

In contrast, in a friend’s AP Painting class, there were 15 girls and three boys. I find this especially interesting, because nearly every artist portrayed in a special art feature in a recent issue of Time Magazine was male.

There was one experience I remember during my first weeks as a freshman—I had initially signed up to join Comedy Sportz and had gone to the club’s first lunch meeting. Upon my arrival, Christy Laubach, then a junior, noticed me and announced something to the effect of,

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Just

do it Comedy Sportz. Guys. Calculus. Guys. Robotics. Guys. Where are the girls in all this? Maybe they’re hiding out in painting and musical theater and cooking and English. Now that’s what I call tradition. In a quest for a break from the norm, staff writer Kaylin Greene goes on a girl, er, WOman hunt.

“Yeah! We got more girls! We don’t have very many girls in Comedy Sportz… A lot of people think girls can’t be funny—guys are supposed to be funny, but girls can totally be funny!”

She turned to me, “Are YOU funny?” Of course, being the typical freshman that I was, I only returned with a gape and silence. But she was right. It looked like she was really the only girl in Comedy Sportz, which is ironic, because there are probably fewer than 10 guys currently involved in the drama department who participate in school productions.

Darlene Blanchard, AP Calculus teacher at the Academy, discusses that many gender differences stem from the toys given to young children to play with. “Girls are generally given dolls to engage in social play while boys are handed tubs of Legos and chemistry sets,” she said.

It’s only natural that girls and boys develop to become more educationally inclined towards the fundamentals of the play toys they grew up with. Many gender differences are not, therefore, the result of biological distinctions, but are simply determined by parenting and early social situations.

It all comes down to all the single ladies. So put your hands up—if you like what you’re doing, you should definitely put a ring on it. Many colleges focus on bringing women up into the forefront of fields such as engineering and mathematics. Universities LOVE it when they receive female applicants that declare these majors because it increases campus diversity as well as opportunities for all women everywhere.

Empowering the girls at this school to venture beyond the standard nearly-all-female art class and instead challenge themselves with, say, an elective in biotechnology, requires the effort of the entire school—boys and girls alike, students and teachers alike.

Gender issues are not often on everyone’s minds today, but they do still exist and must be addressed and resolved to the best of our abilities. It’s up to everybody to challenge the stereotypes people make when they say that girls are not, for example, “good in math,” in order

to create an encouraging environment.

High school is the perfect place to inspire young women to step it up and take on male dominated areas.

At SDA, a place where there has been an increased amount of participation of girls is the Robotics Team Paradox.

The Academy’s Robotics team is divided up into two divisions: Marketing and Build. The Build team actually produces the robot used for competitions while Marketing tackles a variety of jobs that range everywhere from silk-screening t-shirts, to raising school awareness, to establishing partnerships with companies that provide funding to the robotics program.

While in past years there was never really a presence of double X chromosomes in the Build side, this year has seen girls take greater interest in the construction of the robot.

Robotics has helped to get girls more involved with applications of science, math, computers and technology. “I’m more interested in science and math and how to operate machines,” freshman builder Betty Huang said.

“We were the fourth team in the entire country to sign up for a program called US FIRST Girls, so we definitely think about these kinds of things,” senior Issac Spiegal said.

Be it Robotics, AP Physics, woodshop, architectural design, or even AP Computer Science, ladies, realize that your opportunities are endless. Realize that your involvement in high school is crucial to the balance of the world as you venture into your careers later in life.

It’s time to get your row of dominos falling, early on.

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This fictional story details a sister’s period of greiving and the memories that remain of her and her sibling’s moments in time. Essay by Paige Kutilek.

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ime of death, 9:23 PM. Who could have guessed that your birth date and death date would be the same?

You taught me so much, in the harshest way. Love was never apparent. You would always leave me guessing. I hate and love you so much, which you will never know because I will never tell you. This is my only way of giving you a taste of your own medicine. Still, I know it will never affect you as it did to me, which makes this even harder. My love for you is clearer than ever.

I imagine your opinion of me as simply a mess, a mess full of strange emotions and literal tons of stress that terrorize me. I realize this is also my opinion of myself. I keep wondering what your actual opinion is though. Since the day mom gave me life to the day someone took yours away, I keep thinking—or hoping that you would have something good to say.

Remember Lake Geneva, playing Nintendo 64, surf lessons, Disneyland and Sea World, street hockey, and tubing? I’m sure you remember the fun you had. I remember watching your face. The happiness that the little things brought you seemed impossible. Of course I was excluded from your fun because I was the annoying little sister. Not until years later could I look back with a smile.

Everyone knew you were perfect. As a child I resented you for that. You had everything I couldn’t have. Everything, everything you did came with ease.

School especially. I know I resented you so much for this because I was only average. I never understood how we were related, the perfect child versus the average. There was no fighting it. I learned to deal well on the surface.

Not you or our family could even guess that I cried at night. Cried about my failure.

Failure really became the main topic in my mind. I realized taking risks would only end in my failure. So average is where I stayed for years. When high school began, I started to see things differently. You and I started to have a relationship. This flipped everything into different directions for me. I still strived to be everything you were. To this day, I strive to be everything you are. It is harder now that you’re gone. I want you to tell me how to improve myself, but I know that can’t happen.

Our relationship began the day you realized I was no longer the annoying sister. I had grown up. Your friends, my new friends, helped you realize this. They helped you realize I was ready. They urged you to let me into your world. Once I saw your world I could parallel everything in my world to yours. Not so different after all, or so it seemed.

My first invitation was subtle. You claimed I was ready. I knew how unready you were. Yet the first day was fun. As more days of our relationship progressed, so did adventures of which I had never experienced.

These days are crystal clear in my memory, which seems impossible.

I realize I created problems in our relationship. Not everything ran smoothly. At first our adventures were limitless. Then things turned uncontrollable. I did not have limits. I did not know of limits. I know I went too far and I’m sorry. The worst part was that you didn’t do anything to help. Maybe you wanted me to learn my lesson. Still, you know it went to far. Consider my lesson learned the harsh way.

Apologies were given. We moved on. Our adventures were safer now. I was okay with this. You took more of an interest in my friends this time rather than me taking an interest in yours. Thus why it was safer. Thank you for introducing me to the real world. It helped me realize I was not ready to leave my world yet. The day I enter the real world I will thank you even more for showing me what to expect.

The next step seems to be moving on. I have to move on from the death of the most influential person in my life. Again, you will never know this. I looked up to you in every way possible. You influenced what music I listen to, how I act in public, how I communicate with different people, but most importantly my sense of humor. We shared favorite bands and went to concerts. I became less shy and had ease when meeting new people.

You introduced me to the color of laughter and the scent of smiles; you always knew how to make me happy.

I realize these last few months that we’ve spent together have been the perfection I have always dreamed of experiencing. High school changed the way I saw things because I realized how much we had in common.

I became friends with your friends while you did the same with mine. Never had my life been better. How am I expected to move on from this? Maybe I never will.

I look back with no regret. I try to only remember the good times we shared. You changed me. You made me unbelievably happy. You recreated me. I miss you and love you. One day we’ll share the happiness again, I promise.

Are you interested in getting your writing published? The Writer’s Block Writing Club is still taking submissions for the literary magazine, The Archetype. They meet every Tuesday during lunch in room 94, advised by English teacher Rob Ross.

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Condoms. $0. The pill. $0. Not getting pregnant senior year, being able to go to college, not having to wake-up to a smelly diaper, and keeping your social life and sanity. Priceless. Art and essay by Hayley Baker.

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ccording to an article in the Jan 26 Washington Post, “The pregnancy rate among teenage girls in the United States has jumped for the first time in more than a decade, raising alarm that the long campaign to reduce motherhood among adolescents is faltering, according to a report released Tuesday. The pregnancy among 15-to19 year olds increased 3 percent between 2005 and 2006, the first jump since 1990, according to an analysis of the most recent data collected by the federal government and the nation’s leading reproductive health- think tank.”

What is the problem here? Pregnancy is not a pandemic, it’s not a sweeping disease, it’s a simple thing to prevent, by the magical thing we know as “contraceptives.”

It is one thing to be taught about birth control. Any handful of California high school students who have gone through the public education system can tell you what a condom is or that the ominous term “the pill” means a contraceptive pill. It’s listed in the curriculum.

Many San Dieguito students fall in the category of “oh hey, a condom, that goes on a penis,” but do students here realize that birth control prescriptions are available to them in complete confidentiality, that is, parents do not need to be informed of the prescription, and for the low, low cost of completely free?

One of the most common reasons teenage girls feel that they are not able to obtain birth control: “I can’t get

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the pill, my mom would freak out if I asked her!” “My parents would kill me if I got on birth control!” Ladies, excuses excuses. Thankfully for you, you no longer have to rely on the pull-out method or stress out about a broken condom. Because birth control is available to you, and your mother does not have to know, and it is free.

So there is absolutely no reason that any sexually active teen should be without birth control. No longer can you complain about how far away the nearest Planned Parenthood is (approximately 10.6 miles, about a 15 minute drive, located in Carlsbad on 1820 Marron Road), because there is a free clinic in Encinitas located on the 101 at 629 2nd Street. The North County Health Services there provides a family planning program that is available to students who cannot go to their parents. “Young adults, as young as 12, are eligible for the planned parenting services. It is based on income, but it is free for students, because we assume that no student is making enough income to pay for these services,” said supervisor Maria Banuelos.

The program includes free appointments regarding birth control prescriptions, STD and pregnancy tests, and general questions about sexual health. All the tests and prescriptions are free. You will be asked to fill out some paperwork, which includes some general questions about any other medical issues you have, income, dependency status, a number in which to contact you by, an emergency number, and your address. You will not have to present any formal paperwork or documents of any kind. All information you provide can be requested to be held in complete confidentiality. They aren’t going to scam you and call up mumsy and tell her that her skanky daughter is trying to get on the pill.

These are doctors and nurses who are there to help you. You will be provided with a green card which can be used to waive all prescription fees. You will get access to free appointments for checkups, STD screenings and PAP smears are also available here.

So suck it up. If students are going to make the choice to be sexually active, regardless of what their parents would have to say about that, they are going to have to grow up and learn how to take care of their bodies. There is no excuse for unprotected sex. There is no reason that any adolescent girl should have to worry if her next period is even going to come.

I would like to add as a final note that I understand the reaction some parents may have about all the information provided. I would like to say that it is worth calls of ONE HUNDRED irate mothers if one girl is saved the worry over a possible pregnancy.

Thanks SDA and rep those condoms.

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I wanted to curl up and die while visting the “Happiest Place on Earth,” but then I decided that would be taking the easy way out. Essay by Danielle Gradisher.

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et’s start with this: I hate children. Okay, so that’s a bit harsh. Let’s try this, then: I severely dislike children. They cry, they whine, they puke, they pick their noses. And, while I’m aware that people of other ages also do those things, children do them more. Way more.

With this in mind, you’ll understand why I accepted an invitation to visit Disneyland with no small amount of trepidation.

As a friend asked me, “Why would you go there? It’s swamped with children!”

Yeah, I know, I get it. Disneyland is a theme park for kids. Kids go there. Many kids go there. But even I found myself powerless in the face of Space Mountain and the Indiana Jones Adventure.

At 8:30 in the morning, we piled into the minivan for the hour and a half long drive to the Happiest Place on Earth. In between pulling onto Disney Way and lining up for the shuttle that would take us to the park, I had already seen enough children to last me into the next decade. While waiting for the aforementioned shuttle, I began to count.

There were 37 strollers, 12 Mickey Mouse hats, and eight babies under the age of 12 months. Tell me, what is the benefit of taking a small mewling, crying, pooping monster that will not, cannot, is physically unable to remember the “experience” that is Disneyland?

All I know is that the

awesome funness of the Pirate of the Caribbean is not enhanced by a screaming six-year-old and no, the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage is not the place to take a claustrophobic four-year-old.

After a long day of fast rides and $4 churros, the shuttle ride back to our car was filled with the exhausted bodies of sleeping children and the parents who held them. A little girl caught my eye. She couldn’t have been more than three and was curled up on her mother’s lap.

She looked at me with her thumb in her mouth and I was struck by a thought: This version of her was probably more like the real

her than the screaming hellion I was witness to in the park. If her parents hadn’t brought her to Disneyland, bought her fizzy, overpriced sugar water, and then sent her on rides that taxed her already overwhelmed system, I can hardly guess that the girl would have chosen to spend her day in tears.

When the selfishness of the parents who chose to bring their immature children causes their children (and the rest of us!) pain, I say “enough.”

Enough of the delusions of well behaved offspring when parents know full well that their spawn has yet to progress beyond the meltdown stage. Enough of the holiday visits to a crowded theme park when those children whose best interest is supposed to come first would have way more fun at home, playing with blocks.

As we disembarked I was struck by another thought: I may never return to Disneyland.

Even though I now know it isn’t the kids’ faults they bring out the homicidal in me, their piercing shrieks still slip like knives into my ear drums and the killer within is far stronger than my internal Bono.

hayley baker

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Fifty family members, three weeks, one place: Michoacan. Senior Laura Avila travels to her parents’ hometown to reconnect with family.

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t is the second week of December. It is early. I can feel the sweltering rays of the sun tanning my face the second I step out of the car that I have ridden for 39 hours, with minimal bathroom and rest stops.

Only in Mexico, could you feel the future sunburn on your face during a mid-winter morning. I see my cousins Luzy, Evelyn, and Junior, who traveled from North Carolina to Mexico to join the great family vacation, then Gaby who already lives in Mexico. I see them staring at me with joy as I walk out of the car.

Luzy, Evelyn, and Junior grew up together along with 10 other cousins in my age group; they all grew up on the time zone, same state, same city, same street.

They all went to school together; they all grew up together in North Carolina.

I only grew up with my parents and siblings, while my extended family always lived and never visited from the East Coast. I grew up without family gatherings, Thanksgiving dinners, holiday mornings, or family birthdays. I grew up never meeting them up until my twelfth birthday when I visited Mexico for the first time.

Every year, I miss 10 days of school before winter break due to my vacation to Mexico. Classmates wonder why I enjoy being “stuck” with my family in a car or small town; sometimes they simply don’t understand how important the vacation is to me.

Teachers question my motives: how could I allow my family to make me leave school for 10 consecutive days for a “worthless” trip. To me, Mexico is a vacation, not a trip. Trips are mandatory, while my vacations are voluntary and fun. My parents do not force me to go; I beg to go.

My trip to Mexico is the only time I am allowed to focus on my family and nothing else, family which I only see for the three weeks. I visit my father and mother’s hometown, in where they grew up together and started to date, where they started their lives together.

This year when I visited Mexico, I grew closer to my four cousins more than I had ever before. Luzy, Evelyn, Junior, and Gaby are not people who share my last name; they are like my brothers and sisters. We treat each other like siblings, even if we only see each other 21 days of the year; we enjoy every minute of it.

We enjoy having family get-togethers, holiday mornings, and New Year’s Eve together, and as much as it hurts, we enjoy saying goodbye. To us, it is a symbol of the close bond we share and the strength that it has to survive a year without seeing one another.

I live in two different worlds. I have two sets of friends who live on different coasts of the country; California and North Carolina, friends from school and friends who I enjoy seeing in Mexico, and who will never meet. I live in the laidback small city of Encinitas, California but am from a conservative small town in Michoacán, Mexico, where everyone knows your name

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It’s a family affair. 1. The ladies and I out for a day of shopping.

2. My family together on Christmas Day. 3. The girls and me goofing off. 4. It was feeding time for the family pet.

and your forms of identification are the names of your parents, where there are more visitors than residents, where the hills and colorful houses show me that the place where I should be an outsider is where I feel the most comfortable. Here, I am just a face lost in between all of the rush and commotion of life.

By visiting Mexico every year, I have been brought into a world that is never dull, where I always have a friend to talk to, or just a friend who is willing to listen.

I have two different views of life, but one set of morals that I will always follow because they are the morals that my parents instilled in me as a child. I believe that I have been granted the opportunity to be part of two worlds which others may have never been allowed and I will always be grateful for that.

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from a

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Perspective A girl sees the world a little differently after studying biology. No, she is not suffering from some neurological affliction. Essay by Casey Dayan.

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he awoke from a cocoonous slumber. Time moved differently now, maybe. No, no. It wasn’t a change in the time itself; it was a change in her recognition of its movement. It was measured with some internal clock. Electric signals transduced into chemical ones and back again. Optic devices, glass maybe, shiny at least, absorbed light and ran it to some place for processing.

Auditory signals were also recognized. There were motor functions. A mechanism of some sort ran fuel to each working part of her new mechanical being.

Her friends, too, were these strange robots now. Pets and insects and gulls and fish were, also. Words like “death” were replaced with words like “turned off”, and perhaps there wasn’t anything magical or spiritual now.

That all died. So it goes.

Things were not devoid of anything of real importance or intelligence or interest, though. Quite the opposite. Things had been created now, by natural design.

And they were intricate and sexy and evolutionary and every form fit every function.

It was the study of life that turned veins into tubes, eyes into cameras, a biology class that re-wired her so.

Soon, she would pass this particular class. Maybe she would take another.

So, she woke up this particular morning feeling somehow different- looking at things from a new perspective- and it was the morning of an end-of-the-year AP biology fieldtrip.

She boards a yellow and black bus, apian- kind of.

She notices its similarity to something anatomical. Tires become legs, appendages. Fossil fuel becomes food. It breathes carbon dioxide, it breathes. It runs to the wild animal park.

Great wooden doors grow beneath clouds of silver.

A path runs through the fence, by a lake, and through the raw red sands of a pseudo-safari. Between there and some monkeys is a bird enclosure. Two species of horn-bill perch in cages congruent, so similar, but each possessing differences seemingly perfectly suited to their natural domain, and neither bird nor bird could be replaced by the other. One’s beak a sword, the other’s a grub-shovel. So seamlessly specialized, these birds, a grand symphony of nature. A masterpiece. And further down the path are flamingos and apes and sunflowers and worms, this place, churning with life like some grand circus of endless possibilities, none of which could possibly be appreciated without the knowledge that god or nature or chance created it.

So, the girl now rose and walked with a different gait. One that held more intellegence and confidence and curiosity and interest in the world around her. And she emerged, all sticky with that metamorphosis goo.

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And the winner is...

For the first time in 82 years the Academy Awards has nominated a staggering 10 movies for best picture. The contenders are strong, each posesessing the key ingredients to success. Tune in March 7 to see the results.

...Neytiri guides our “Avatar” through flight and inspires life with that gaze...

As “A Serious Man” pitifully harumphs and searches for the meaning of life...

...Sandra Bullock opens everyone’s eyes to embrace “The Blind Side,” and...

...while, “Precious,” struggling against obesity, illiteracy, and racism,...

...endures enough to earn “An Education,” as does Jenny in the wake of heartbreak.

avatarmovie.com

Avatar

“Avatar: An IMAX 3D Experience” was maybe the single-most influential film of my life. On par with the breathtaking honesty of “Rambo,” the heart-wrenching emotionality -and stimulating innuendo- of “GI Joe: Rise of Cobra,” and the monumental technological breakthrough of “Fast and Furious 5: Really Really Fast,” these films, like “Avatar,” stand out as masterpieces, pinnacles of modern art.

Art has never been so bold. Utilizing the most multidimensional ensemble in any movie in the past century (excluding “Anaconda: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid”), “Avatar” confronts the burden we bear as white men in a world full of the less-civilized. For the entirety of the drama-laden spectacle, the ironic hero of the movie, Colonel Quatrich, combats the naïve notions of protagonist Jake Sully. Defying logic and standard American tradition, Sully and Sigourney Weaver, the badass from “Aliens,” try to protect the Na’vi, indigenous hippies of the planet Pandora, from the scope of America’s future badass space empire.

The Na’vi, who are a grand parody of the ridiculous extremes the environmentalist movement will drag us into, are sexy and huge. Except for their over-masculine heir to the throne Tsu’tey, it’s great; Neytiri and the Na’vi women strut around in little leather lingerie all day. During the best sex scene in the past thirty years my hands and I almost forgot we were in a movie theatre watching something serious with others: that’s how good this movie is.

Achieving beauty in every way possible, “Avatar” has transcended mere “movie” and asserted itself in history as “Best Film of All Time.” I hereby nominate James Cameron to be Presidential Candidate in 2012, not to oppose Barack Obama, the Tsu’tey of our nation, but to unite all Earth’s tribes, just as Jake Sully did in “Avatar.”

-Josh Drilling

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A Serious Man

When the Academy Award nominations come out, it is usually a time for speculation and weighing the contenders tirelessly. But with the close of 2009 comes a list of best picture nominees that you can pretty much burn after reading. Make no mistake; this year will be a country for serious men.

The Coen brothers have done it again… wooed the Oscar nominating crowd with a film that is as deserving of the gold as any of their other classics. “A Serious Man” portrays a Jewish man whose life is falling to pieces before his very eyes. Then he sets on a series of misadventures which tumble towards the film’s obscure and overwhelmingly ambiguous conclusion… did you expect anything less from the Coen Brother?

-Ari Brin

Precious

The powerful drama “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” is up for Best Picture and it’s no wonder why. The plot is gritty, making the movie hard to watch as the protagonist Precious is impregnated twice by her father. The Academy loves what makes our stomachs twist, especially when it’s sexual. Take, for example, the 2009 Academy Award nominee “The Reader.” But the grittiness in the film allows for something greater. The hope instilled at the turnaround of the movie is given greater room to grow, so by the end, it is extremely inspirational.

But the movie isn’t solely powerful because of the content, but because the actors portray the pain and situation of the characters perfectly. The direction and screenplay, also up for nominations, create the perfect cohesion to make it the most unsettling and most tender movie this year.

-Paige Ely

The Blind Side

This true-story film is sure to leave viewers with an impression as large and lovable as the main character himself. The plot may not win any awards for imagination (after all, it is a true story) and the movie’s graphics may not utilize state-of-the-art special effects (hey there, Avatar), but what launches “The Blind Side” from mediocrity to excellence is the emotion it evokes in the viewer.

Sandra Bullock’s performance as Mrs. Tuohy may well be the best of her career, as she so expertly captures the tender and protective nature of a mother toward her little (well, 6’ 4”) cub.

-Kyle Shohfi

An Education

“An Education”, directed by Lone Scherfig who has won 22 awards and 11 nominations internationally for her work, is a must see and a definite possibility for an Oscar. Carey Mulligan stars as a 16-year-old English school girl who falls in love with a man twice her age. He introduces her to a sophisticated and cultured lifestyle.

Although the story line is a little predictable, it’s presented in an original way and has incredible acting, music and setting that makes it Oscar worthy. It’s filled with a great cast including Emma Thompson, Olivia Williams, Dominic Cooper, Peter Sargaard, and Mulligan. Mulligan has been nominated for the actress in a leading role and is sure to have a big future.

The story is based on an autobiographical essay by Lynn Barber that was originally published in Granta magazine (a British literary journal) and was adapted by novelist Nick Hornby for the film.

-Dominica Berman

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Up

Up in the Air

District 9

Inglourious Basterds

Not many movies can make its viewers cry in the first 10 minutes, but “UP” is an emotional rollercoaster from the beginning. The depth of the movie surpasses most animated films. Although a house that floats to South America on an adventure appears light and childish on the surface “UP” also addresses ideas about life and death.

The different layers have the potential to capture the interest of all ages. “UP” continually tries to squeeze out a tear, but just when one is ready to slide down someone’s nose a joke brings laughter instead.

Nothing adds emotion to a movie like music and Michael Giacchino, who scored the music in “UP,” knows what he’s doing. The music is simple and beautiful. Each note fit its moment in the movie perfectly, helping people to cry and to laugh exactly when they are suppose to.

The emotional grip UP has on viewers makes it a strong contender. Even among the harsh competition of movies like “Avatar” and “The Blind Side,” the future is looking “UP.”

-Caroline Pollock

One in a slew of many films to come from producer Peter Jackson after a four year lull following the release of “King Kong” in 2005, “District 9” is certainly ready, and well equipped, for the Oscars. Directed by Neill Blomkamp, it’s definitely not your typical alien movie. It is much darker in tone, filled with political messages and thought-provoking undertones.

Its main character, Wikus Van De Merwe, at first an unsuspecting department manager in the employ of antagonist MNU, becomes a fugitive, wanted for his DNA, slowly transitioning from human to alien. As he runs from his once benevolent employer, he gains a deeper understanding of the alien race which he had helped force into oppression.

With a stimulating story-line, great special effects (which actually enhance the realism of the piece) and an ending true to life —with ends that are not quite tied up and which continue to make you think— “District 9” surely deserves the Oscar for best picture.

-Julian Dennis

“Up in the Air,” a film about a heartless man, Ryan Bingham, played by George Clooney, who gets paid to travel around the country and fire people. It may seem ridiculous for a company to actually hire someone to do the dirty work, but… actually, that seems pretty accurate and this movie reveals that it happens on a daily basis.

It’s rare to find a movie that can make us laugh, cry, and yell at the movie screen all in the same 2 hours. But when one comes along The Academy likes to give it the “proper recognition.” And I think everybody can agree that 6 nominations is “proper recognition.” “Up in the Air” is nominated against 9 movies that have proven themselves to be worthy of winning this category.

Nonetheless, with the reviews that these movies have received, I am confident that all 10 movies are deserving of the title of “Best Picture” and after looking at the amount of professionals in these movies, there shouldn’t be any hard feelings when the winner is announced on March 7th.

-Nina Moussavi

Quentin Tarantino has blasted himself into the Oscars, carefully planning his moves through a montage with Ennio Morricone. As Morricone plucks his final notes before the sound of trumpets fills the air, Tarantino snags 8 nominations for his latest war “Inglourious Basterds.”

It is often sited that the decline in Tarantino’s work at the Academy Awards was due to the loss of a solid editor to cut down the scenes that were just a little too long or violent for an everyday Joe’s aesthetics. Maybe it was that people did not see the redeeming value of girls kicking the crap out of a sadistic misogynist.

Whatever the reason may be, it no longer matters. Its 153 minutes of grade-A Nazi killing, revenge, and a little bit of romance. Though history aficionados may disagree with the accuracy of the movie, and English teachers may disagree with the spelling, the Academy possesses the ability to look beyond little technicalities at the overall genius.

-Thea Brown

thehurtlocker-movie.com

While Russell and Carl resolutely climb “Up” to fulfill forgone adventures...

...George Clooney ponders the emptiness of his constantly “Up in the Air” lifestyle...

...Mikus Van de Merwe realizes and confronts the prejudice of life inside “District 9”...

...while the “Inglourious Basterds” wreak havoc in Nazi-occupied France.

...and Sgt. James confounds both friend and foe wearing “The Hurt Locker”...

The Hurt Locker

Celebrating violence is awesome. Every good movie made ever attests to this. “No Country for Old Men,” “The Departed,” “Lord of the Rings.” What do they have in common? Academy Awards for Best Picture. The violence in these movies is rammed down our throats again and again. Bam. Bam. Bam. Bam. Mmm guns, viscera, bone marrow and spittle.

After being taken on the climactic ride atop their meaty directorial successes, though I ached for more, we moviegoers pulsed out of the theatre, the doorway thickened with wide shoulders and worn-in Wranglers.

Then I stood erect on the sidewalk. I wanted to karate chop every body who looked up at me, or gouge ‘em or something equally brutal. On the way home I listened to some Winds of Plague and didn’t wear a seatbelt.

Anyways, “The Hurt Locker” is not like the others.

I’m not even sure whether “The Hurt Locker” is prokilling or not, it’s confusing and the camera is all up in people’s faces n’ emotions instead of following the bullets like that kickass movie “Wanted.”

The ‘protagonist,’ Sgt. William James, is intense. He is the leader of this three-man bomb disposal unit in Iraq with that guy who played Tupac and some guy with glasses.When he goes all gung-ho it does not make you want to go gung-ho.

He is not like John McClane from “Die Hard” at all.

When people n’ kids n’ bodies are blowing up behind John McClane it’s awesome and not even scary and it wreaks awesomeness and makes me want to blow things up too.

McClane is excellent through and through, half-man, half-badass. Sgt.James though? Sgt. James is missing that half-man half, instead of kicking the door down and tackling his wife real sexy like they just hang around and go shopping and everything’s real sterile and boring and gives me the crazy-cravings for more guns. What kind of war movie even has wives?

When things blow up behind Sgt. James it’s really stressful and not awesome. But the whole time, Sgt. James somehow stays pretty cool, like he’s got some inner drive or something like that. For example he listens to metal but on his other hand he is always kind of a let-down like he’s got all these dimensions and turmoil.

Whatever, internal conflict is for bitches. Actions should mean one thing, not kindofalotof things.

-Josh Drilling

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Big in Japan ...and SDA? Overseas sensation Becca plays for SDA students March 11. rieko michelle whitfield

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ashimi bars. Hello Kitty. Motorola Droids. Honda Civics.

Out of all the Japanese crazes that have caught on in America, SDA students just might experience the hottest new import yet.

Singer/songwriter Becca, 20, has been touring throughout Japan, and will be performing at SDA’s amphitheater during lunch on March 11 as part of her debut tour in the U.S. Though Becca (Rebecca Hollcraft) is admittedly far from being Japanese, this Portlander has drawn attention as an up-andcoming act overseas. Inspired

by Paramore, Evanescence, and Alanis Morissette, Becca has a signature sound as a strong, female vocalist with a pop-rock edge. In 2008, she released her debut album “Alive!!” in Japan, and has been on tour since then.

Now she is on tour through the West Coast to Texas’s South

by Southwest music festival before she returns to Japan to continue touring. But amidst her busy touring schedule, she will be stopping by to serenade SDA with our very own private acoustic set.

Excited to play at a high school, Becca said, “I want to be able to meet new people and play my music. I thought it was a cool idea because I get to go in to schools and have a specific, personal connection with the students.”

kai schlesinger & emily maxwell Josh Drilling

MMMMM BABY... Evan Robinson outlines the woman he croons about while guitarist Reid Curby shoots him a face of bro agreement.

Tradin’ War Stories

Up-and-coming band War Stories performs their righteous jams for a crowd of SDA students. rieko michelle whitfield

casually conversing and partially engaged teenagers eating sack lunches on the grass surrounding leekly coordinated in an the amphitheater. With a selfensemble of black button up described “timeless quality,” the shirts, skinny jeans, and Rayband is reminiscent of Joy DiviBan Wayfarers, front man Evan sion, Interpol, U2, and Depeche Robinson, bassist Eric Mace, Mode. drummer CurAndrew rently, Rivera, and “By having our voice reach the fourguitarist more people and through piece Reid Curby band is comprise sharing our songs, new on tour the San relationships are formed.” through Diego based -War Stories’ lead singer Evan Robinson June indie-rock under band War Nu Conrad management, based Stories. around playing at high schools This new-wave inspired group has toured throughout the at lunch.

“At first it was weird playing US and Canada, and has been at high schools,” said Robinson, featured on MTV and VH1. Last “we’re playing for people we’ve month, they performed durnever seen, and that have never ing hour lunch amid a crowd of

S

[“ ”]

beccaofficial.com

Live Becca will play at SDA March 11.

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heard of us. A fresh audience is an instant reflection of whether we’re doing a good job or not.”

Yet Robinson insists it all pays off in the end. For him, the greatest joy of their profession is being able to connect and affect other people. “By having our voice reach more people and

through sharing our songs, new relationships are formed,” said Robinson.

If you like uplifting lyrics with an up-beat sound, be sure to check out numbers such as “Holding On” and “Lion” off War Stories’ album, “War Stories Volume 1.”

kai schlesinger & emily maxwell

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Under My Moleskine

From top left to bottom right: artwork by Mike Guhl , Miguel Ramirez, Tamzin Elliot, Reem Jubran, Skyler McKee, and Chelsea Krolicki

Beyond the stereotypes of art as banal oil paintings resting in dusty museums, why is art so difficult to define? Perhaps that is the purpose of the artist to push the envelope of these definitions.

Yet no matter what the outcome, every work of art starts with a vision. I believe the purest and most humble forms of art are the sketches in an artist’s notebook. The ideas in the pages of a notebook are raw and uninhibited. They are windows into the subconscious and blueprints for potential masterpieces.

For the past few months, I have been passing a notebook around campus to various students to contribute to this collective art journal.

Part showcase, part social art project, students expressed their personal style aesthetics while looking beyond the standard Merriam-Webster definition of what defines art - and how art defines them.

-Rieko Michelle Whitfield

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“art

For me,

is just

a different way

of looking

at things.

Sometimes

it can convey a certain

feeling

or emotion, and

other times,

02.26.10

“ugly

I think in playground

doodles and people tell me

it’s good.

Tate Dannemiller, 11

it’s just

beautiful

to

look

at.

Lindsay Mizock, 12

“

Art can be absolutely anything that makes the

heart

sigh.

Sarah Hertica, 12

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“release.

It quiets my mind.

It’s a It’s one

part of the

little

big scheme of

things that I

can make

my own.

Natalie O’Brien, 11

“

art to get

I do

my mind off

other things.

Art to

is a way

get my

ideas

out.

Shane Donaldson, 11

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“define art You cannot

because everyone’s

definition is different.

To me,

Art is conveying your

imagination

to the

rest of the world.

Suki Berry, 10

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Scott Saw

It’s a bird, it’s a plane...wait no, it’s a bird-plane. Images like this bird-shaped rocket and meal comprised of paper aeroplanes are constants in arist Scott Saw’s vast collection of painted works.

As seen in dreams

Artist Scott Saw lifts the veil of other-worldy visions to tell tales of his artistic journey and dreams of the future. julian dennis

S

ince he was a young child, local artist and SDA alumni, Scott Saw was inundated with images of space age technology, and brightly colored landscapes which shared the stage with woodland creatures in top hats and oddly emotional skulls.

It was all he could do to put these images onto paper and out into the world. He would draw, he would paint and despite many troubles, he would become the artist he always aspired to be. Saw’s original interest in the art world began with his father.

“I just get blown away by these amazing visions that were coming out of his head. I thought it was awesome,” says Saw. And like his father’s work, those who look upon Saw’s vast body of work are inspired and amazed. His images are made out of moments of intense emotion, death, love, and all the little details that make up our lives. On however deep or undisturbed a level within us, Saw’s images, always on wood with oil, invoke a sense of awe and let us reflect

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on life in a very different way.

The Mustang: You say a lot of the imagery in your work reflects the afterlife. Do you have concrete views on this that you can put into words, or are your ever changing and evolving paintings the only way you feel you can express them?

Scott Saw: I like to leave it a little bit open to interpretation.

I like it to be a little bit vague. I like it to mean something serious to me, but at the same time, there’s no way that anybody can look at what I’m working on right now and decipher what it means because it’s just a reflection of really deep thoughts and it’s just how it came out.

Through my art I’ve kind of gained internal knowledge of my own spirituality, and I’ve explored the idea of there being a life beyond this one. There’s no particular god that I say I subscribe to. I just have my own ideas on spirituality, and I’ve kind of explored them through my art.

TM: What is the process from

an idea to turn into a finished piece? Does the original image or idea change from what you originally intended.

SS: It does evolve, significantly.

The initial spark usually comes just like that, it’ll just be a coffee and all of a sudden I’ll think of something, so I’ll jot it down on a napkin, a quick vision. Usually most of my paintings start out that way. I’ll put it on my table at my studio and eventually it’ll start making sense to me and I’ll pick it up and I’ll get my sketch book out and I’ll take it to the next level.

palette but the whole series is going to have a little more freedom. [For curtains] I said “I’m using three colors that’s it.”

And I’m just keeping a limited palette on all my pieces but I’m going to move around with the colors quite a bit from piece to piece. Part of being an artist is kind of finishing the piece your working on in the next piece. I’ll finish a piece and I’ll look at it and I’ll think I should have done this that way, or that this way.

You take that to the next piece.

You’re always working on your craft and hopefully your art is evolving positively over time. And -Scott Saw part of that is just learning from what you’ve done. If we could start off with the perfect piece it wouldn’t be interesting I guess, because everybody could just do it. It’s the struggle that people are intrigued by... to some degree.

[“ ”] It’s the struggle that people are intrigued by

TM: Your earlier work was extremely bright and colorful, but your latest pieces really only use a combination of red, blue, and black. What led to this change?

SS: I’m back to using a muted

TM: Why have you always been interested in life and death?

SS: Ever since I was a teenager I was drawn to that kind of idea.

I grew up listening to Goth bands, to Bauhaus, you know. I used to listen to that stuff every night before I went to sleep…

I’ve always just felt a deep connection to that kind of thing.

Growing up, as a teenager, I was very depressed and I kind of connected with the darker sides of my mind and felt closer to my soul when I was in those kinds of moods. When I’m feeling emotional, I feel closer to my soul, and that’s the kind of time when I feel like making art. Everything feels a little bit rawer.

TM: What are your plans for the future? Are you working on anything new?

SS: I have started a new series of paintings. It’s going to be a big one. It’s going to be the biggest series I’ve done yet. I’m really getting caught up in the detail and taking my time because I don’t have to worry about the money.

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Beyond Jay-Z Through the sun and sweat, don’t forget to check out these talented artists at the Coachella Valley Music Festival.

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oachella, Coachella…yes, it’s that time again. From April 16 through the 18, piles of music lovers will pack into Indio’s Empire Polo Fields to experience the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival’s 11th year. This year features a younger lineup including Jay-Z, Gorillaz, Muse, Thom Yorke, MGMT, Spoon, and Vampire Weekend. If none of these performers interest you, do not fret, for there are tons of other bands scheduled to play, catering to indie-rock fans and electronic enthusiasts alike.

With last year’s attendance at a whopping 160,000 festival-goers, Coachella may experience a downturn in ticket sales due to the doing-away of the single-day ticket and presenting only a $269 three-day ticket. This ticket will encourage the attendees to go to all three days.

Nevertheless, Coachella is one-of-a-kind experience: hot days, cool tents, and outstanding music.

Here are some bands you won’t want to miss.

-Kate Murphy and Shelby Meyers

Kate Murphy kate murphy

Desert Entertainment Festival-goers at Coachella’s main stage will soon enjoy a variety of musicians such as Jay-Z and Thom York.

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Deer Tick

Beach House

Sly and the Family Stone

How did you get that voice? This is a common question that fans may ask John McCauley, the lead singer of indie-folk, blues, country band Deer Tick. He has a distinct, gruff sound that is greatly recognizable and the key to the success of the Rhode Island group.

Like many other American country groups, Deer Tick has great American pride, maybe to even an excessive amount. They have been known to set up an American flag in the middle of the stage while putting on exaggerated southern accents.

Their most recent album, “Born on Flag Day,” is a dead give-away of their pride, mixed in with ideas of misery in this country. From the outside, they are just another band with an animal name in the title, but after listening to the crisp sound that begs you to sing along, you will be taking your “old shoes to get to [Coachella.]”

-S.M.

In the tradition of dreampop artists such as Mazzy Star and Air, Baltimore band Beach House is rising to fame. From the sound of their tracks, it is often hard to imagine such music coming from solely a duo, but vocalist Victoria Legrand and multi-instrumentalist Alex Scally thrive in their humble sound.

While Legrand sings breathy vocals and plays melody on organ, Scally plays synth in the background, coming together to create the band’s waltz-like tracks. This past January, Beach House released their third album, “Teen Dream,” which is more uptempo and takes on a new feel for the band.

In previous performances, Beach House is said to lean more towards a simple sound than an upbeat performance. Nevertheless, you shouldn’t miss them.

-K.M.

Coachella’s initial goal of creating a modern Woodstock can now literally reflect the famous music festival with Sly and the Family Stone, who played there in 1969. Their hit singles of “Everyday People,” “Dance to the Music,” and “Thank You” will hit the stage Sunday, and can hopefully display the band’s talent that changed American music forever.

This performance will not only exhibit the band that was placed into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for influencing funk, soul, and psychedelic music, but will also be their first full performance since 1987. Coachella is known for reuniting groups and Sly and the Family Stone will definitely be a commemorative occasion.

Sly Stone went out of the music business when he was arrested for cocaine use and a full set has not been seen since.

The unforgettable music will certainly make crowds young and old “Get up and dance to the music.”

-S.M.

Little Dragon

The XX

Continuing the trend of emerging Northern European bands, Swedish quartet Little Dragon is becoming increasingly popular. The mix of an electronic soundtrack with singer Yukimi Nagano’s heartfelt vocals help to create Little Dragon’s somewhat eerie yet peaceful sound.

Since the band’s debut in 2007 with the release of its eponymous album, Little Dragon has continued to produce several singles and a second album, “Machine Dreams,” in 2009.

Previously compared to singers Bjork and Fever Ray, Little Dragon succeeds in pulling off their deep bass undertones and synthesized melodies to create a completely unique sound.

-K.M.

No longer does ‘xx’ just signify the genetic code of a female, Mexican beer, or kisses, but now also a Pop, R&B, Electronic, and Indie band. Based in London, the trio The XX has already made itself to #9 on Rolling Stone Magazine’s “Best of the Year” list.

Guitarist Romy Croft and bassist Oliver Sim pair together to finish each other’s lyrics in an intentionally quiet manner, while Jamie Smith toys with a drum machine in the background.

Although The XX has only released one 11-track album, it has made appearances at several intimate shows, in which they have comfortably yet modestly covered R&B tracks done by artists such as Aaliyah. So I guess be ready for some of that.

-K.M.

Yann Tiersen No other artist is as hip and classy as the French musician and composer Yann Tiersen. Most famous for his soundtrack to “Amélie,” the classically trained artist with influences from post-punk music has a blended sound that is cool enough for the indie kids, but sophisticated enough for the classicists. With his accordion, Tiersen sounds similar to Beirut, yet his music swoons more than teenage girls with the beautiful sounds of piano, accordion, violin and often additional obscure instruments.

Tiersen’s shows vary from being accompanied by an orchestra to simply playing with a bassist and drummer.

He may play the lighter songs he’s famous for, or louder pieces with electric guitar. Despite not knowing what to expect, this artist will undoubtedly prove his excellence.

-S.M.

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Up & Coming: Yeasayer This talented new band has burst from the Baltimore indie scene to the big time. erika mazza

I

t seems that all new-age greats of the independent music scene reel out of Baltimore. The legendary psychedelic twist of Animal Collective and the upcoming Yeasayer, came from this city. Not only this, but the same high school: Park School of Baltimore. However, Animal Collective members such as Josh Dibb and David Portner were already celebrating their five year reunion when the members of Yeasayer graduated. As the older band burrowed further into the music scene, Yeasayer idolized the story of such ‘deprived artists’.

Yeasayer has grown in popularity throughout the same music scene as their former icons.

The band has appeared in music promotion magazines such as Pitchfork and Spin. They’ve even been covered in the “New York Times” arts section.

Although their first big appearance was at the SXSW festival

in 2007, they had not become popular until their second album “Odd Blood” was leaked to the general public on December 10, 2009. The album was later officially released by the label Secretly Canadian this month.

The lyrics of “Odd Blood” are much more straight-forward than the first album “All Hour Cymbal” and the music is less eclectic. Although it may seem more traditional than songs like “Wait for the Summer” the band explains that they are attempting something more approachable for the listeners. Lyrics have turned from acid-trip speeches of weather descriptions and a growing apocalypse to synthdriven 90’s-esque love songs. In the beginning, the band wrote the slightly satirical song “2080” from the debut LP, which enforced the idea of ending Bush’s presidency. With their second album, “Love Me Girl” talks about how the lead singer’s wife should give him a chance.

Despite similar upbringings,

yeasayer.net

Say my name People will soon be recognizing this up and coming indie group for their orignal lyrics and synth beats.

Animal Collective and Yeasayer do not have the same sound. To say “Purple Bottle” is similar to “Strange Reunions” is like saying an ostrich is the same as a penguin because the two cannot fly. However, one must take

into account that the habits and lifestyles of such creatures are nearly opposite. Although the bands are considered obscure they branch off in fairly different directions. Animal Collective has more of a sporadic, jungle-

like sound while Yeasayer could be categorized as psychedelic or even electronic.

The band will be touring for their latest album throughout the springtime, eventually finding their way to Coachella.

It’s heavenly The “Jesus Christ Superstar” musical is simply above the rest. hayley baker

“J

thejcstour.com

Could we start again please? Mary and the apostles are left unready after Jesus’ awesome departure.

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esus Christ Superstar” is the best musical. Ever. I’ve been listening to the soundtrack for a week now. I think the song count for “Heaven on Their Minds” alone is somewhere around 50,000 on my laptop. In fact, it’s one of the only two albums I’ve uploaded to my laptop since getting it a couple months ago. (The other is Between the Buried and Me, but that’s just for easy listening.)

I don’t really know much else about music or musicals or Andrew Lloyd Webber’s work, besides that he also birthed the strange and awful idea that is “Cats.”

But felines aside, Jesus Christ is just way awesome. I can absolutely guarantee that “Jesus Christ Superstar” is a timeless classic that any person of any religion can appreciate: Jew, Buddhist, Atheist, Anabaptist, whatever.

Even the rebellious teenagers

who reject God and worship Invader Zim (not that there’s anything wrong with that) will love “Jesus Christ Superstar.” And if not, it’s just an issue of bad taste and an inability to identify the coolest thing ever written and composed.

So when I was presented with front row seats to the January performance at the San Diego Civic starring Ted Neeley, the man who originally played Jesus in the movie filmed in the 1970s, I screamed and rolled around on the ground humming “Hosanna” to myself in absolute joy.

The performance was excellent. It is so kick-ass to see one of the most significant influences on Western culture performed before one’s very eyes. Ted Neeley is getting on in years, but his voice was still just as kickass as it has ever been. I urge everyone in the whole world to see it performed live at least once and I also urge them to watch the film.

Not only will it help with AP

Language essays about “Grapes of Wrath” or “The Crucible,” it will invoke deep emotional reactions. The scene where Judas hangs himself in his despair as he realizes he was used by God to deliver his son to him —my God, I was almost crying.

I do suggest that you have some basic biblical knowledge before you can really appreciate the mastery that is this musical. I recommend bringing along your Catholic boyfriend in case there are any emergency allusions you need to understand.

So please, righteous 15-to18 year-old atheists, when you hear “Jesus Christ Superstar” is playing, don’t discuss the idiocy of the belief in God. Just watch the damn thing and appreciate the story.

It is a story after all; it doesn’t have to carry the heavy connotation of “if you do not believe in this you will suffer eternal damnation.” And nothing is quite as catchy as scripture-influenced rock opera songs.

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Shore-ly MTV’s finest creation

02.26.10

With MTV’s new form of uncensored reality TV, viewers can’t keep their eyes off of these wild young adults.

T

here’s something to be said for a group of seven strangers who can act completely themselves in the presence of two dozen boomsticks and an audience of thousands. Though many claim “Jersey Shore” to be a shameful depiction of Italians, the East Coast, and even those prone to tanning, there is something undeniably admirable about Sammi “Sweetheart,” Jenny “J Woww”, Nicole “Snookie,” Vinny, DJ Pauly D, Ronnie, and Mike “The Situation.” Even Angelina, who left early because she was too hungover to work her first day, proved that not all reality shows have to be construed versions of what viewers want to see.

With shows like “The Real World” being constantly commercialized by MTV, Jersey Shore seemed like a hopeful venture to captivate viewers by bringing opposites together to watch the religious buff clash with the gay and the bisexual clash with the anorexic. Jersey Shore was instead a perfect combination of confident and wild twenty-something-year-olds who had nothing to prove.

Rather than wasting time lamenting over their sorrowful pasts, the cast focused simply on their love for drinking, fistpumping, and killing the beat on “the battlefield.” Watching these animals in their natural habitat, what was once a guilty pleasure, is now the most humbling form of entertainment.

The society that once frowned upon a lack of inhibition was exposed to a form of partying that revolved around shameless adults drinking, cussing, and making out with anything their faces met. Because they made no apologies, viewers learned to appreciate the single

mtv.com

Fist pumping and a healthy dose of gym, tanning, and laundry has the cast of “Jersey Shore” ready for their close up. track minds each of each of the characters.

Though their thoughts barely exceeded the realm of parties, clubs, and hooking up, no one spent the night with their head in the toilet or stumbled pathetically out of a bar. Instead, they were controlled. Though sometimes they fought with each other (it was mostly with other “kids” on the boardwalk) they never held grudges or alienated each other. Despite indulging, they weren’t the typical group of reality show stars in that their appeal didn’t orbit their inebriated antics.

By putting together a group of seven confident young adults

S Broken Bells Broken Bells Breaking your shins

7/10

ince the beginning of the 2000s The Shins have been floating in and out of the airwaves. Not only did they manage to capture the hearts of hundreds of middle schoolers in “Garden State,” but they found a home in middle-aged women as well.

And then came the infamous “Phantom Limb” featuring a simple five chord progression that infiltrated any other impervious skeptic. The Shins made

with no ambitions or motivations aside from complete debauchery, MTV found the perfect tale of uncensored absurdity not brought on by alcohol but simply by the personalities we were forced to meet.

Thus MTV created a cultural phenomenon. The hunters in Alaska, the surfers in California, and the mall-rats in Tennessee were all subjected to the unfathomable subculture of the clubobsessed Jersey Shore. For the first time viewers experienced a way of life they couldn’t relate to: Snookie got punched in the face by a man, The Situation tried to have sex with every girl within arms’ reach, and Ronnie

and Sammi’s erratic relationship, this group of people represented a crowd that no one in their right mind would care to emulate, but because of their ability to entertain, we learned to love them regardless.

“Jersey Shore” created a breed of reality TV that was not meant to teach about conflicts between types of people, or to show how good it feels to volunteer, or even the importance of following dreams. They never asked for viewer’s acceptance, rather they acted under the impression that they were the sexiest group to reach primetime. Though these people were strange to each other, the idea

behind the show was to pick a cast that was strange to us.

In fact MTV created a masterpiece with their atypical reality stars; they formed sorts of heroes for American society.

No cast could recreate such a genuine and appealing mess and for that reason MTV is bringing the seven roommates to the Hamptons, the most prized vacation spot for rich and famous New Yorkers. Sammi “Sweetheart,” Jenny “J Woww,” Nicole “Snookie,” Vinny, DJ Pauly D, Ronnie, Mike “The Situation,” and Angelina will be fist pumping their way into New York’s elite society in Summer 2010.

-Bailey Mezan

their mark, shaping the future of the “indie-music” scene. For fans, however, lead singer James Mercer may have frightening plans.

In late 2009 Mercer announced that a new project, Broken Bells, would be interrupting The Shins legacy. Broken Bells was conceived originally in 2004 during a Danish music festival after Mercer met British music producer Danger Mouse. They began recording in late 2008,

and finally on March 9 their collaboration will be released to the general public.

Following the theme of Animal Collective’s “Merriweather Post Pavilion,” Yeasayer’s “Odd Blood,” and Phoenix’s “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix,” Broken Bells combines groovy 80s pop with modern technology.

Mercer’s voice flows up and down through songs in his Shins style, over a hyped-up synth. The album is not the best

to come out so far this year, featuring a sort of generic sound.

However, just because the album is not the best does not mean it is bad.

Broken Bells may not be here for the long run. Mercer says the band is simply a side project and that the Shins will be releasing an album later this year. So if you are looking for a fun upbeat listen, Broken Bells is here for you.

-Thea Brown

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Kerry’s Cooking Corner “It sounds really good.” - Dimitri Fautsch

Chocolate Lava Cake 1 package instant chocolate pudding 3 cups milk 1 package chocolate fudge cake mix (plus ingredients to prepare mix) Toppings like whipped cream, crushed peppermint, orange sherbet or peppermint ice cream Spray the crock pot with nonstick spray. In a separate dish, whisk milk into the pudding package. Pour into crock pot. Prepare cake mix separately. Pour into crock pot on top of the pudding.

DON’T STIR. Cook on high for 1 ½ hours.

Talent Show

Make a reservation for belly dancing on Friday and Saturday nights!

Student Discount

10% Off Monday-Thursday with ID

March 11

Open Monday-Saturday 11:30-9:00 250 N. Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas, Ca 92024 760.944. 2882

Warning!

Receiving salon services from Detour Salon triggers acute episodes of vanity and happiness.

Symptoms include continual smiling, confidence in your look, head tossing, hair flipping and unexpected compliments.

Spinach and Feta Stuffed Chicken Breasts 3 cups baby spinach 1 garlic clove, minced 2 tsp olive oil 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese 1 tsp lemon pepper ½ tsp oregano Chopped fresh parsley and additional feta cheese for topping.

Preheat oven to 400° F. In saucepan, cook spinach and garlic until spinach is tender, set aside. Place chicken breasts between two pieces of plastic wrap. Pound to ¼ inch thickness. Remove plastic wrap. Spoon ¼ of the cooked spinach down the center of each breast half and top with 1 tbsp of the feta. Fold long sides in, and roll up from the short end. Secure with wooden toothpicks.

Brush chicken with olive oil and sprinkle with lemon pepper and oregano. Transfer chicken to a shallow baking dish. Bake 20 minutes. Top with chopped parsley and additional crumbled feta if desired and serve.

Reinforcement of conditions occurs by shopping the hip selection of clothing, jewelry and accessories.

HIP URBAN HAIR

$10 off any hair service with valid San Dieguito High School student ID card (Excludes waxing. Cannot be transferred or combined with any offer.)

Yuko & Bio-Ionic Hair Straightening

FOR A GOOD TIME CALL We volunteer for

594 south coast hwy. 101

encinitas, ca 92024 visit us on the web at www.detoursalon.com

Photos and recipes by Kerry Roberson

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For men, women and everyone in between

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steeze 02.26.10

Score without the store These websites offer trendy alternatives to your local stores, without having to leave the comforts of your home. By Bailey Mezan

1 shopnastygal.com

2 asos.com

3 topshop.com

4 thecobrasnake.com

5 modcloth.com

This website features angelic outfits both vintage and new.

If you are not looking to spend $145 on a vintage sequined frock, and don’t need to drop hundreds of dollars to be one of a kind, wander over to the New Shop and you can probably find something appealing for a much more affordable price. With many Gaga-inspired pieces, from the slashed black tights to the jagged winged tops, almost everything on this site is different and stylish. They are all items that would look good on almost any buyer; unfortunately not all of it comes cheap.

Photo: shopnastygal.com

Because ASOS is a clothing company from Europe, it has some of the most original modern styles.

Though it’s not cheap, it is a guarantee that you’ll be the only one in a group of thousands with a piece from ASOS. Everything is inspired

by European fashion icons like Lily Allen and Peaches. This website pushes the fashion medium by adding intricate details to the simplest of styles. Laces at the bottom of a lace dress, and wired ruffled off the shoulder dresses, make these items incomparable to any American clothing site.

Photo: asos.com

Top Shop is another European company with a collection of items for every style. From preppy cardigans to sleek coats and heels, this website allows the fashion hunter a huge selection for whatever their style is. These items are not cheap, but they are unseen to the American eye.

They also focus on illuminating specific details in their pieces, so that something as simple as a $30 bathing suit looks like a vintage pin stripe bikini.

They fail only when they try to emulate the typical “American Style” as it ruins what makes this website so perfectly original.

Photo: topshop.com

The notorious “Cobra Snake,” also known as Mark Hunter, is known by the indie grunge crowd as the ultimate thriftier.

His website contains pictures from parties across the world.

The tiny bodies of doe-eyed, fair-skinned 22-year-old girls flood the site’s pages.

While skimming, if you find yourself thinking “where did she get that outfit,” simply scroll over to the Cobra Snake shop page and you will find one of a kind pieces. Be it a simple red dress or an 80’s rock band shirt, Cobra Snake ventures the world to find the best apparel.

Photo: thecobrasnake.com

This website offers an array of 50’s and 60’s inspired dresses ranging from $25 long cinnamon gowns, to $425 Betsey Johnson teacup attires appropriate for more formal occasions.

After sifting through all the graphic tees and simple white shirts, the website provides modern, indie inspired faux fur coats and beautiful, white eyelet cardigans. Everything from the swimsuits to the gold owl necklaces and crisscross heels are original vintageinspired apparel unique to this website.

Photo: modcloth.com

Ultimate steeze Nicole Kalwick, sophomore, and Angelo Pelonero, senior show off their personal styles.

By Maddie Lyon and Tatiana Skomski headband: 99 cent store sweater: Urban Outfitters jacket: mom’s shirt: a gift from Paris dress: Target belt: thrift store

pants: Buffalo Exchange

rings: thrift store shoes: Urban Outfitters

shoes: Rite Aid

Estimated cost: $25 Style icons: Breakfast Club Personal style: thrifty chic

Estimated cost: $35 Style icons: guys from the 20’s Personal style: vintage maddie lyon

nina moussaavi

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features

Familiar strangers 02.26.10

Throughout the month of February, book groups in San Diego have been reading John Steinbeck’s “The Grapes of Wrath” as part of the annual Big Read program hosted by the San Diego Library System.

The novel was chosen because some of the stuggles faced by the Okies are now being faced by many families during these economic times. People are having trouble securing jobs, supporting their families, and finding homes they can afford.

Although this phenomenon seems new to our generation, just below the US border the story of fathers, mothers and even whole families leaving behind their homes for better futures is a common one. Story and photos by Ana Reyes with contributions from Florian Termin.

“P

eople call me crazy or brave because of how often I cross the border, but I am not crazy. I don’t choose to cross the border. I have to cross the border to have a better future and help my family,” said a man named Luis, a day worker who looks for work at the parking lot exit of Home Depot in Encinitas.

There are normally two groups of between 10 and 20 day workers waiting at opposite ends of Home Depot. The majority of the men are from Mexico, but there are a few from Guatemala.

According to several people in the group, about half of the men are here legally.

The men spoke about how the recession has hurt their ability to maintain a steady income in Encinitas. Many of them had worked for construction companies where they were able to make about $100 a day on different projects, but once the economy made its downturn, the companies were no longer able to afford their service. Now some can only find one or two days of work a week.

Opportunity

Although many feel that it is just as hard to find work in San Diego as it is in Mexico, none of the men who were interviewed plan to return to Mexico where the majority of their families live.

A man named Geronimo said, “Here in the States, you can live with little money. You can buy cheap clothes that are still good.

In Mexico, it is hard to buy clothes with the money one earns.”

Geronimo added that what keeps him in the States during these times is the fact that in America, there are opportunities to change. “If someone [in the US] wants to change or move up, they can. Here, I think to myself ‘my life is going to change,’ but in Mexico it is difficult. You feel stuck.”

Why does he feel like the US has more opportunities than Mexico? “Because there is more freedom,” he said.

Border Patrol

Waiting for work. A group of day workers look for jobs at the north end of the Home Depot parking lot in Encinitas.

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Although the majority of the day workers who were interviewed at Home Depot said that the people who hire them are normally very nice, they do have their run-ins with border patrol.

According to the group of day workers, the border patrol comes at least once a week at around noon, so they know when to walk away from their corner and avoid border patrol. But every once in a while, about once a month, the border patrol makes what many of the day workers call a “surprise attack.”

One time a cop pulled over and ordered all of the day workers to sit in a line and show him their papers. Those who did not have papers were deported back to Mexico, said an anonymous day worker.

On Jan 23 at 11 a.m., just an hour after an interview, the border patrol showed up with three cars and took in two men, an anonymous Home Depot security guard said.

According to Jerry Conlin, an agent of the United States Border Patrol San Diego Sector Headquarters, border patrol officials can go up to anyone and make a consensual encounter in a public place. Conlin also said that border patrol officers can ask anyone for documents for proof of legal residence regardless of whether there were any suspicious or illegal activities.

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features 02.26.10 “The Grapes of Wrath” around town From movies, to lectures, to parties, libraries around San Diego are recognizing “The Grapes of Wrath.”

Encinitas Library Film Festival Saturday Feb 27, 2pm The movie “Of Mice and Men” will be played in honor of John Steinbeck’s birthday.

Party Like It’s 1939!

Saturday March 6, 1-3pm Enjoy 1930’s style entertainment, including a Three Stooges marathon, free refreshments, and puzzles, board games, and prizes.

“The Grapes of Wrath” Book Discussion Wednesday March 10, 6-7:30pm Tom Joad’s Legacy: Why “The Grapes of Wrath” Endures.

Saturday Marcg 13, 1pm Steinback expert and English professor Dr. Susan Shillinglaw talks about the message of “Grapes of Wrath” and why it has continued to be read for over 70 years.

Del Mar Library Meet the Author: Rick Wartzman and “Obscene in the Extreme” Friday Feb 26, 3 PM The Business Week columnist will discuss his book concerning the burning, banning, and censorship of “Grapes of Wrath.” Copies of book will be available for purchase and signing.

Be an Armchair Photojournalist.

Saturday March 13, 10 AM Learn to compile your photos, share them online, and display them creatively, with professional photographer Lisa Huber.

For more info go to www.sdcl.org Only for now. Before the recession many of these men had jobs with landscape companies. Many hope to find more steady jobs.

“It is a bad thing that people try to catch others for not being legal. They aren’t stealing or bothering anyone,” said a day worker who is an American citizen. “All we want is work. Nothing else.”

A day worker who stands at the corner of the Wendy’s shopping center on Encinitas Boulevard west of the I-5 overpass discussed a white line painted on the sidewalk-entrance of the shopping center to distinguish public property from private property. According to the day workers, they are told not to cross the line when waiting for work because the manager of the Shell Gas station says it deters costumers.

“It’s not just a line, it’s symbolic,” he said. “You’d think you’d see it only on the Mexican-American border, but we have our own border right here. On the one side is Mexico and on the other it’s the U.S.” The manager of the Shell Gas station, Wayne Godfrey, said he painted the white line himself because he did not want people loitering on Shell Gas station’s property.

Another day worker added to the conversation and said, “We don’t do anyone any harm! Look at this place; there’s no trash here. We keep it clean. No one gets drunk. We don’t bother anyone.”

Strangers

The day workers who wait at Home Depot say that they have a healthy relationship with Home Depot’s security.

“When [security] asks us to stand closer to the side walk, we don’t take it personally because we know he is just

doing his job. He is nice to us, really,” said a day worker named Luis.

According to the anonymous Home Depot security guard however, there have been several cases of disrespect towards the day workers from people driving by in cars. “Sometimes, when the school buses come down the street, kids yell out racist things to them,” he said.

Another time, someone threw firecrackers at the group of day workers from their car. “Home Depot didn’t know about it until [the workers] told us. But we couldn’t do anything unless we had the license plate number,” he said.

This incident happened a second time the following week.

A sense of community

From the groups of day workers that were interviewed at Home Depot, the majority of those who are here illegally are here without any family. “Of course it is hard for us to be so far away from our families. I am lucky because my family lives in Mexico City, so I talk to them about once a week,” said Luis.

“But it is harder for those whose families live in remote areas where there are no phone lines. They might talk once a month or so,” said Luis.

One day worker who lives in Oceanside decides to commute to Home Depot because there is a higher demand for work and because he likes the company of the other men who wait at Home Depot. “We all are like brothers. We share the same language and culture. We

make jokes and we talk. If anyone needs help, we try to do what we can to help,” he said.

Despite the hardship that comes with moving away from one’s home and family to find better work and wages in another place, it all seems to pay off in certain aspects.

According to the Home Depot security guard, although some still spend their nights in the canyons around Leucadia Boulevard, many of the day workers are able to own cars and rent rooms and apartments.

Dreams and inspiration

Geronimo does not plan on being a day worker for the rest of his life: “There are some guys here who are twice my age and are doing the same thing I do. I don’t want to be like that. I want to be someone.”

He continued saying that it is important to always have a goal, something to work towards. When Geronimo is not working or looking for work, he tries to study English.

He also reads the biographies of what he describes as successful people. He has read about Obama, Walt Disney, and Henry Ford in the hopes of learning how he too can be successful.

“Your day is what you make of it,” said Geronimo.

“It is important for those who are in school to continue studying and focusing because many of us were never able to finish school. With school comes so many opportunities; students should just try to look ahead with a goal always in mind.”

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features

02.26.10

If you think your life is average, you are not alone. SDA students share some of their daily pedestrian, yet funny, anecdotes. Stories collected by Nicole Greene, Lindsey Agnow, and Domenica Berman.

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HLC-1424

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features 02.26.10

Surf it, scroll it, pause it, click it K

eyboard, tapping; phone, buzzing; remote, clicking: why turn on music? Technology is creating its own song.

With all the different devices available to teens, it is no surprise that the majority of their time is spent connected to media. When a study by the Kaiser Family Foundation was compiled in 2004, scientists predicted that the hours teens spend with media could not rise, there is just not enough time in the day. A survey released this year has proven them wrong.

Due to the advances in technology over the past five years, the number of hours teens spend using media has risen to more than seven and a half hours. The survey also stated that in reality, due to multitasking skills, teens really pack a total of 11 hours a day with media within those seven and a half hours. Media multitasking is using more than one device at a time (like listening to music and surfing the internet).

The study also revealed that heavy media use impacts school, leading to lower grades, but the study found no direct cause and effect relationship between lower grades and media use. The only correlation found was half of the heavy users (those who spend more than 16 hours a day using media) tend to earn lower grades compared to a quarter of the light users.

One possible speculation about the connection between media and lower grades is that about half of teens admit to using media while doing homework, according to the findings of this study.

At SDA, students affirm the findings of the study.

Freshman Kayla McEldowney uses about two and a half hours a day of online, watching television, and listening to music or texting. McEldowney has seen her school work suffer due to media use. “I’ll be going to work on stuff, but then get distracted and spend unnecessary hours online and lose track of time,” she said.

McEldowney feels that access to media can offer some useful skills as well. “I feel it strengthens your ability to multitask,” she said.

Other students feel like media does not have a huge impact on their school work. Junior Eila Miller spends about two hours a day with media. Most of her time is spent online as well, but she also uses her cell phone and watches television. Miller realizes that media can sometimes distract her. “The media does cause me to procrastinate sometimes,” she said. “If I lose focus and get distracted for like fifteen minutes at a time, I get all stressed out that I’m not doing work and get back to it.”

Freshman Elizabeth Chapman, who spends about an hour a day texting, watching television,

and using the computer, feels like Miller. “I might get sidetracked, but it gets done at the same quality as if I didn’t [get sidetracked],” Chapman said.

The study also found that media can cause feelings of isolation. Junior Erica May spends 12 hours a day using media and feels like it isolates her. “I would rather be out doing something with [friends] than on the computer talking to them,” she said.

Freshman Logan Phillippe agrees with May. “You don’t have the same experience as a oneon-one conversation [when using media],” said Phillippe.

Parents’ role in limiting media use was another contribution to how much media teens consume.

The Kaiser Family Foundation discovered 3 in 10 teens have regulations to their media use in their homes. While this may seem low, in those households teens spend nearly three hours less with media than teens who don’t have limits.

Freshman Kerri Dobson has to be done with her homework and chores before she can go online.

“The rules are reasonable,” she said.

Yet many teens who don’t have rules feel they regulate themselves well.

“I have so many other things going on that I don’t have that much time to use the media very much, so I don’t really need any rules about media use,” said Miller.

Mass media has always affected socialization, but these days teens are using it even more. Story by Nicole Fisher and drawing by Rieko Michelle Whitfield.

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02.26.10

Learn More. Pay Less. at MiraCosta College

Get a world-class education at just $20 per unit.

MiraCosta College offers: Academic Achievement

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;Because of the small class size you know your professors and the staff is really supportive. I love MiraCosta so much I even talked my little sister out of going to Stateâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s at MiraCosta instead!â&#x20AC;?

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graduate who transferred to UCSD

Pinkard, MiraCosta chemistry graduate who transferred to UC Berkeley

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Placek, MiraCosta sociology

â&#x20AC;&#x153;MiraCosta gave me the opportunity to figure out where I want to transfer.

One thing I learned at MiraCosta is that once I transfer, I get enrollment priority over incoming freshmen.â&#x20AC;?

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Neal, MiraCosta graduate

who transferred to CSU Fullerton

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circus animal02.26.10 fun

Team Paradox 2102 “Robotics is a combination of dedication, passion and love. That's how we succeed, and we succeed HARD.” – Amy Kuo & Suki Berry 2010 Robotics Schedule 3/1- Lunch Party @SDA Library, for all SDA 3/5&3/6- Regional “FIRST” @San Diego Sports Arena

Speech and Debate

Mustang Minds

“Faster than track. Dramatic-er than theatre. Don’t understand, come see.”

– Mr. Santos 2010 Mustang Minds Local Matches 3/4 – SDA v. Torrey Pines @SDA 3/11 – Scrimmage @SDA 3/18 – SDA v. La Costa Canyon @LCC

The Football Teams of SDA

“We are a family of quirky people who enjoy intellectual smack downs” – Todd Newkirk

Tales from a barista

Some customers just don’t know their limits. “Next, please!” Story by Paige Ely.

2010 Speech and Debate Schedule 2/26&2/27- State Quals @Helix HS 3/5&3/6- State Quals @Carlsbad HS

All matches in library. (Freshmen- 6:30, Junior Varsity- 7:15, Varsity- 8:00.)

Academic Council This ad brought to you by the Academic Council ,supporting Speech and Debate, Mustang Minds, Robotics and HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America).

We meet on the 4th Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. in the Conference Center.

Students are invited/welcome to attend.

A tall man approached the counter, wearing stylish glasses and bowler-type hat that seemed a bit too hip for his generation.

“Hi, how are you?” I asked genuinely. Yes, Starbucks’s management recommends I ask, but I do enjoy having a conversation with customers, rather than just taking their orders. And this man seemed particularly interesting.

“Hey,” he said slowly, taking time to perch his folded arms and head atop the pastry case. He winked and smiled slyly.

“How you doing?”

“Pretty darn good.” I nod. “What can I get for you today?”

“Oh you know, just a grande latte.”

“All right sounds good. Can I get your name?”

“Flash.”

“Oh that’s a cool name.” I thought about the superhero running around in red tights.

“You know like in photography. Yeah I take photos all over the world-- New York City, Chicago, New Orleans….”

“Wow! That’s got to be a cool job.”

He shrugged and attempted to smile modestly. “Well you know I got it.”

“Very cool. Well, your total is…..”

He reached into wallet, keeping his head on the pastry case and his eyes on me.

“You Italian girl?”

“Why yes I am.” I was surprised.

“Yeah, yeah. Girl you got those long beautiful curls and that tan beautiful skin. All you girls get the guys going out the door. Get them to do whatever you want ‘em to do.”

Okay I was done. Yes, this guy and his job seemed interesting, but so is my dad.

While I can’t really distinguish age all that well, I saw some patches of this guy’s grey hair.

He had to be at least 35. What was this guy thinking?

“Thank you Flash.” And thank goodness for the line behind him. “Your drink will be right over there.”

I smiled, and pointed him away from the counter.

He opened his mouth to speak. I beat him to the punch.

“I can help the next person in line.”

*careful, the story you are about to enjoy is extremly steamy

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circus animal02.26.10 fun

The

Mustang Messenger Edgy News for EDgy People

Self-Loathing Poetry Slam ruined by good weather

By Dimitri Fautsch SDA’s annual Self-Loathing Poetry Slam (clothing optional) which took place Feb. 20 was ruined by sun and calm weather.

The slam was scheduled specifically on that date because of predictions of wind and clouds, but the gods of self-pity did not come through.

The day was practically perfect, just enough wind to enjoy the salty ocean breeze, but not enough to make you cold.

The day ended with a beautiful sunset, red and yellow colors permeated the horizon, and a green flash was seen as the sun fell into the sea.

It was as if Jah himself was watching over the event, spread-

ing good vibes to all.

Most at the Poetry Slam thought the day was a complete waste, and went back to their decrepit apartments and pretended to appreciate wine and contemporary art.

“I was just so excited to perform at the slam. I even bought a new vintage leather jacket for the reading” lamented Mel N. Collie.

Discussions on how lame parties are, and on how great Chuck Klosterman is were postponed until further notice.

The viewer of the event was angry that he did not get to see some of his favorite poets, but after later realizing he was angry, was satisfied with the final outcome.

Rieko Michelle Whitfield

Trindie I am a nothingness; I am alone. My hands are dead; nothing is felt. My feet cease to be alive — my body is limp with pain. My computer is also dead. Blue-screened beyond repair; my parents won’t pay for Geek Squad.

Seriously suspicious package placed near police station

Twitter feeds scrutinized by law enforcement

By Josh Drilling

By Eleanore Hendrickson

A suspicious package addressed to former President George W. Bush and dropped off Wednesday Feb. 17 at the Western Division police station did not contain explosives, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

The station at 1337 St. was evacuated really fast when the package was discovered about 3:30 p.m., our serious eyewitness police Sgt. Oliver Kloezoff said.

Traffic was blocked and trolley service was halted. Barricades ‘n shit.

An Ultra Metro Arson Mega Strike Team Bomb Technician Badass approached the object about 5:30 p.m., Jennings said.

When asked about the really high-stress situation, the UMAMSTBTB was like “it was sick I guess.” Authorities declared it chill about a half-hour later.

A blond hottie in a Jetta who wanted to keep her anonymity and her phone number added,

The constant “tweets,” or status updates created every few minutes by Twitter users are starting to consume so much of the users’ attention that many are neglecting to call 911 for help should the situation arise.

Instead, they are choosing to post news of these events on social networking websites.

Taking note of this, many fire and police chiefs have appointed several emergency workers to monitor these updates, sounding an alarm once they stumble upon news of a critical situation.

“It’s actually helped save a lot of lives,” said Encinitas Police Chief Dan Starnum. “I mean, just yesterday we read a tweet from an SDA student that said, ‘omg just broke my leg tripping. im so clumsy, lol. kinda hurts. Are you supposed to see the bone?’ We came in and found her on the floor next to the computer, texting while her right leg was bent at almost a ninety degree angle.” Added

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U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Conga Line The police department sent more dudes to check out San Diego’s package.

“being a bomb technician or whatever seems cool.”

There was no information about the size of the package or what it contained except that it was not explosives Detective Harry Butte said the Secret Service was notified because of the reference on the package to ‘George Bush and Laura,’ police public and other affairs (mainly-with-your-mom).

The object was found somewhere near the station’s back

door, Butte said.

It was later revealed to have contained (among other things) a bundled-up t-shirt with the enigmatic phrase ‘U SUCK’ spray-painted on it, and a VHS of XXX: State of the Union.

Butte speculated that it is probably an acronym for some mean terrorist group. “We’ll have our guys take a look at it,” he said. The lettering was obviously Iraqi or something really Taliban like that.

Starnum, “I mean, what would have happened if we hadn’t read her post? She could have been there for days, still tweeting.”

The people most aided from this new supervision have been teenagers and college students.

“Actually, the older generations have kind of slipped under the radar with this monitoring,” Starnum said. “Nobody reads old people tweets.”

Starnum says it has been difficult to find willing people to take the job, as there are very few who are eager to sift through the bulk of tweets, which describe the most mundane of daily activities. “This job is so boring,” Jimmy Gardner, chief Twitter monitor said.

“Who tweets when they poop?

Who does that?”

While tremendously beneficial to saving lives, this monitoring does have its obstacles as fire and police crews have limited information to work with due to Twitter’s 140-character limit.

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circus animal02.26.10 fun

The

Mustang Messenger Arms are for fatties Oh no, you’ve gained weight again and you’re not at least 20 pounds under the healthy weight. You must look fat and disgusting. Don’t have enough self control to stick to a diet?

Does exercising make you feel too sweaty and detract from your femininity?

Well then, have I got a solution for every high school girl’s weight predicament!

It requires absolutely no portion control, or control of any kind for that matter, and you won’t even have to break a sweat. But you may have to break a few bones.

It’s simple, easy and fast.

Simply cut off one of your limbs!

If you REALLY need to drop the weight, then I suggest removing a leg, at least from the knee down. Don’t need to lose that much?

No worries, then an arm or a hand would be sufficient to get you back in the weight range you feel comfortable in. Need

an even faster and easier fix? No one would ever miss a couple of fingers, and they’re also the easiest to find on the black market for body limbs if you ever really need to un-do that boo boo.

I know it seems a bit extreme ladies, but look at it this way. Those appendages just sit around all day, mostly inactive and doing nothing. Besides the two hours you spend applying makeup in the morning, what else are your hands going to be doing all day?

Nothing besides adding to your overall body mass. So just lop them off. Really, you won’t even notice it, and you’ll be 10 pounds lighter!

So next time you need to drop a few pounds to look good in a dress the week before prom, no longer will you be forced to eat only a week-long diet of vegetable soup.

Plastic limbs can be made to look any way your heart desires, and are pounds and pounds lighter than most fleshy appendages are any day.

the official announcement came out last week that, starting next year, SDA will be reviving the long-lost football team of San Dieguito High School.

The school board has decided that, with a large influx of freshmen next year giving us the opportunity to actually field a full team, it could be the perfect time for the starting of the first football team in SDA’s history.

The reasons behind this decision, we were assured, are numerous. However, one major factor seems to be the results of the recent Happy Kids Survey, given out to all schools in the district. “The statistics clearly showed that students at La Costa Canyon and Torrey Pines are significantly happier than students from San Dieguito,” said Trustee Shirley Mason of the SDUHSD school board. (This survey, as we all remember, consisted of various questions targeted towards pinpointing the

these results, trying to figure out why it is that SDA students are so miserable,” Mason continued.

The answer, when it hit them, was obvious: football.

Or, in our case, lack thereof.

“Football teams lead to school spirit,” Mason explained. “And, as has been proven time and time again, school spirit leads to happiness.”

The decision, despite some resistance from a few bitter traditionalists, has been, for the most part, met with wild enthusiasm. “I’m amped,” said sophomore Brandon Cole. “I mean, SDA is pretty sick, but I think we can all agree it would get a whole lot sicker if we had a football team. And, like, hot cheerleaders? I’m amped. “ Those interested in trying out for the team should contact the sdafootball@sduhsd.net.

Tryouts are tentatively scheduled to be held the first week of August.

By Hayley Baker

EDGY News for edgy People

Tate Dannemiller

AUGHHHH Although extreme, some students have considered enlisting the woodshoppers to aid in their weight-loss.

New football team at SDA Everyone glad formal on Midway a specific happiness level of the

By Cara Reichard success in wake of 1941 Honolulu formal student body as a whole). “We Although it may shock some, put a lot of time into analyzing

By Dimitri Fautsch

SDA learned their lesson from the class of ’41’s formal that took place on the USS Arizona Dec. 7, 1941. The dance whose motto was “Fun Under the Sea” was ruined after what became known as the attack at Pearl Harbor interfered with the festivities.

Everybody at the dance came home bummed after numerous Japanese airplanes strafed the dance floor and the punch bar, resulting in seriously thrashed suits and bailed drinks. Coconut shell bras lay deboobied on the ground, and fake grass skirts remained aflame long after the bombers peaced out.

The scene was described as “not mahalo” and “the surf will no longer be up” by many of the locals.

“I’m just glad what happened to them, didn’t happen to us,” said Principal Omi Gosh with

U.S. Naval Historical Center

Boats n’Bitties Unfortunately the planes outnumbered the girls on this boat.

not even a hint of irony. To prepare for a possible attack the Formal Planning Committee was considering a smorgasbord of defensive tactics, but concluded that the best defense is a good offense and decided to bomb every Benihana’s, Boba

Tea store, and Hello Kitty factory within a 1337 mile radius instead. The move was criticized by many in the media as racist (before realizing most shoppers at those locations were upper class Caucasians, trendy teens, and weirdoes anyways.)

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sports 02.26.10

Eagles shot down

It was another textbook game for the varsity girls basketball team as Tri-City Christian loses once again. pauline disch

I

t was a tearful start for the varsity girls’ basketball team because it was the senior game of 2010. On Feb. 12 seniors, Kalyn McMackin, Kim-Ashleigh Mostert, Christine Jacobson, and Morgan Prest were honored by their coach, Jim Segovia, along with friends and family for their time and dedication to the Mustang basketball program.

The players formed a tunnel at the opening of the gym while the seniors ran through and smiled. Their names and numbers were decorated on posters all around and balloons were displayed in their honor.

These four and sophomore Harper Crickmore started the game with a heavily favored San Dieguito audience cheering them the whole way. Many of the players’ fellow seniors were there to hold up signs and root for the home team, and at the same time “boo” the referees.

The game began with a Mus-

tang lead of 12-0. The Tri-City Christian Eagles were already getting red in the face, not because they were tired, but because they were furious with the Mustang’s superiority. The lead got bigger with 3-pointers made by junior Delaney Sztraicher and several by McMackin.

It seemed like every time the Eagles were about to start the momentum of a comeback, the Mustangs stole the ball. The girls would steal the ball from TriCity’s unsuspecting hands and bolt to their end of the court for an easy lay-up.

By halftime the girls were winning with a score of 31-8 and no signs of giving it up. The second half was almost identical to the first because, once again, Mustangs were sinking 3-pointers while the Eagles were drying their tears of defeat. It was their senior game as well, but their skills were no match for SDA. San Dieguito ended up winning with a final score of 64-25.

“This was our best team game

Coastal League North:

Game Results:

pauline disch

Kobe! Senior Morgan Prest avoids three Tri-City Eagles for a beautiful shot.

Providence 43-30 W Horizon 40-72 L La Jolla Country Day 16-91 L Canyon Crest Academy 31-53 L Parker 33-58 L Brawley 42-50 L Santa Fe Christian 64-30 W

yet because we tried to focus tonight,” said junior Delaney Sztraicher. “We wanted to focus so much because of the seniors and to give them one last hoo-rah.”

The team finished the season first in their league and were scheduled to compete in the first round of CIF playoffs Wed. against Brawley.

The varsity team has done well this year, according to Segovia, who plans on continuing this success into next year.

“We did extremely well this season because we have a league title and are on our way to CIF for the eleventh year in a row,” Segovia said. “Next year should be good because we’ve got four sophomores and a lot of juniors that practice often and who are ready to step-in to replace the graduating seniors.”

As for the highlight of the year, Segovia said defeating Santa Fe Christian not once, but twice this year was a stand out moment. This is because they are always a challenge to defeat.

Calvin Christian 34-21 W Tri-City Christian 54-26 W Lincoln 48-42 W Calvin Christian 33-39 L San Marcos 42-47 L Santa Fe Christian 54-42 W Tri-City Christian 64-25 W

San Dieguito Academy 5-1-0 Calvin Christian 3-2-0 Santa Fe Christian 2-4-0 Tri-City Christian 1-4-0 League Champions: CIF game vs. Brawley Feb. 24 courtesy of the north county times Feb. 18

Transportation situation All sports at SDA will be required to take district buses to games, but students and coaches have mixed opinions. pauline disch

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tarting this spring, sports teams at SDA will begin a new transportation policy of riding buses to away games due to safety reasons and consistency, according to Athletic Director John Labeta.

“The district is going to provide buses for the school’s teams which will cost each player $100 to use,” said Labeta. “If students cannot afford this, there will be funds available for them. No students are allowed to drive to games.”

The school board created this new rule because two of the four San Dieguito district schools currently use bus transportation for

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their sports, Torrey Pines and La Costa Canyon. Therefore, the remaining two schools, SDA and Canyon Crest Academy, should also be a part of it. This program was not caused by a specific incident, Labeta said. He felt though, there was an accident waiting to happen with teenage drivers and their restricted licenses, he said.

“Having all the teams use the same type of transportation will relieve the stress of disorganized students from both parents and coaches because they won’t be concerned about miscommunication,” he said.

“Another benefit is for the parents because they won’t have to get off of work early in order

to pick up and drive their kids to games,” said Labeta.

Students have a range of opinions regarding the transportation subject because some enjoy the team bonding on buses, but others are concerned about the cost.

“We had to stop using the district buses because our parents didn’t want to pay for them anymore,” said junior volleyball player Chandler Carlson.

At the same time, Carlson said that it was fun to ride together because the team could bond and, instead of riding in parent-organized carpools, they danced and played boom boxes.

Senior Eric Holakiewicz said that individual transportation

was becoming a problem for his soccer team because they wouldn’t find out until the last minute if students would show up or not, so the buses make a huge difference.

Some athletes, however, disagree and believe this system is going to be more difficult.

“I prefer carpooling because it’s easier and more accessible for upper classmen that drive and have the ability to drive others.

Buses cost more and are more time consuming for players with a busy schedule,” said senior basketball player Kim-Ashleigh Mostert.

Labeta said, as the girls basketball coach at LCC, the district buses are a great system

because coaches don’t worry about people getting lost and it’s much more organized to get to far away locations He and the district members are aware that parents travel to away games, so if players gives 24 hour notice to their coach signed by their parents, they do not have to ride back with their teammates.

The athletic director also said that this program will allow teams to bond more because now they can pull over at rest stops or all stop for a bite to eat as a team.

“Nobody is going to like change, but this new policy is going to be easier for parents and coaches,” he said.

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sports 02.26.10

2010 wins again

After celebrating the memory of the graduating seniors, the varsity boys basketball team defeated Tri-City 50-35.

Two seniors were missing from the Tri-City Christian game. Tom Tumosa was out for he SDA gym was full of the season with a broken foot. fans, tearful mothers, proud He cheered his team on from the fathers, and the Mustangs boys’ sidelines. Brian Peck was out of basketball team on February 12, the game due to his health, but 2010 for the boys’ basketball sehis parents were there to reprenior game. Coach Luke Stuckey sent him for the coach honored honored the senior boys for him during the senior ceremony. their commitment to the SDA The basketball game team, and was a one by one, conplayers Tom stant Tumosa, strugBrian Peck, gle, Rob Good-Varsity Coach Luke Stuckey which man, Kevin symGinn and bolized Tanner Huff the past season. rose from the bench to give their Coach Luke Stuckey said, mothers flowers.

“We haven’t always been winAs the game began, Tri-City Christian kept the Mustangs to a ning, but the team is getting more competitive, and we are low score. It was neck and neck moving in the right direction.” as the game continued, with the The Mustangs triumphed score at half time only SDA 17 over the Eagles with the final to TCC 13. score SDA 50 to Tri-City 35 for The tension that filled the their first win to end a fifteen air in the gym was unreal. Fans game losing streak. from both schools were on their Another highlight of the feet cheering, booing, and holdseason for Stuckey was their San ing their breath for the referee’s Marcos game because they were final calls. As the men in black one of the top ten teams in the and white ran up and down county. the court and tried to defend “The best we played all year their decisions from the many was when we went against San students who saw the plays difMarcos and took them into overferently, they found themselves time. We started that game well getting more exercise than they with a 5-2 score.” had gotten in a long time. Sweat The Mustangs will miss their beads formed on one of the five graduating seniors, but referee’s heads while the other Stuckey has confidence in next referee was flat-out panting like year’s team. a dog. anna sheridan

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[“ ”] With a lot of hard work we will do fine.

Our goal is to improve every year.

pauline disch

Down the court Senior Tanner Huff sets up a play as he is chased and guarded by two Tri-City Christian players.

Coastal League North:

Game Results: Otay Ranch 49-56 L La Jolla Country Day 43-62 L Canyon Crest Academy 38-60 L Brawley 50-59 L Santa Fe Christian 43-54 L Tri-City Christian 65-69 L Clairemont 59-74 L

Calvin Christian 47-52 L San Marcos 58-62 L Army-Navy 25-67 L Santa Fe Christian 45-63 L Tri-City Christian 50-35 W Calvin Christian 51-40 W Army-Navy 42-76 L

Army-Navy Academy 7-1-0 Santa Fe Christian 6-1-0 Calvin Christian 3-5-0 San Dieguito Academy 2-5-0 Tri-City Christian 1-7-0 courtesy of the north county times Feb. 22

Saved by the waivers If paying for sports is becoming a struggle, a waiver is available to help students who are having trouble. pauline disch

I

f a student is involved in sports at San Dieguito Academy, then he or she knows that there is usually a request for $200 or so to cover team expenses. Whether this sum includes the transportation fee, which is now a $100 requirement for all athletes, depends on the sport. But with the recent struggling economy, coming up with this amount of money can be a challenge for some.

The transportation fee is the only required money for playing

sports because the rest of the requested sum is completely voluntary according to Principal Michael Grove. Grove also said anything more than $100 is a donation to the parent foundation and athletic council to raise money for sports.

“The donation is completely voluntary and the money raised goes towards items for the teams like new uniforms, extra coaches, etc,” he said.

The donation of however much your family is willing to give is not a requirement, but what needs to be paid for are the

transportation fees. If a student does not have the money set aside for these fees, then are they not allowed to play? Are they stuck until they can come up with the money? The answer to these questions is “no.”

Students can apply for a waiver if help is needed to pay for transportation. The waiver is paperwork that players can fill out to demonstrate financial struggle and request a cheaper option.

“If a student cannot pay for the transportation fee then they can fill out the waiver and it can

either be reduced or be waived completely,” said Grove.

He also said that the district looks at the school’s history in order to predict how much money they may need to set aside to cover the transportation fees that students cannot cover.

Megan Thompson said, “The process is completely confidential and the only people who need to know are the students and their family and the athletic director’s secretary.” Therefore students will not be penalized athletically for not paying and the coaches will not have to be

informed of the waivers, according to Grove.

Waivers can apply to more than just sports. The school offers this kind of aid for AP tests which can add up at $96 apiece.

However, if a student plays multiple sports then he or she is only required to pay up to $200.

The criteria to qualify for waivers are set by the district and are used for athletics, lunch programs, and tests. They are federal guidelines that are given to the district based on family income and the amount of people living in that family.

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Try again Tri-City

The eagle did not land for Tri-City Christian as the Mustangs destroyed their girls soccer team with a 3-0 win. pauline disch

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he varsity girls soccer team lost to University City in their CIF first-round playoff game on Wednesday and were eliminated with a score of 1-2.

Overall the team was strong this year due to their determination and perseverance.

That persistence was demonstrated in game against Tri-City.

They played errorless and with nearly perfect fundamentals, but scoring goals was a difficult task in the Jan. 29 match.

The nonstop attempts of earning points began with a shot by junior Katey Ford in the beginning of the first half. She launched the soccer ball into the air, it was about to skim into the top of the goal, but the six foot Tri-City goalie punched it over and prevented the destined point. This momentum continued with shot after shot and block after block. The Mustangs were able to remain downfield the majority of the game, but they could not get past the op-

posing monster of a keeper.

Finally, Ford knocked in a goal with an assist from sophomore Alyssa Espinoza and the Mustangs were winning by halftime with a lead of 1-0.

There wasn’t much room for criticism of the players because it seemed as though they weren’t doing anything wrong. According to head coach Anna Gerber the Mustangs were just making the Tri-City Christian goalie look good.

“We need to make decisions quicker and to play into space,” Gerber said to the girls in a group discussion.

The Mustangs went back at it, and once again struggled to make it past the enormous TriCity Christian goalie.

Sophomore Mikayla Siegel was able to bring back some SDA momentum with a drive down the field and a goal in the corner of the net. Soon afterwards, senior Ariel Chao used her head, literally, and executed a flawless goal.

“I think we ended up doing

Game Results:

alex grinberg

Thats an elbow mr. referee! Senior Livy Piraino isn’t afraid to fight back.

Fallbrook 3-1 W El Camino 1-2 L Christian 0-0 T Valley Center 3-3 T SD Jewish Academy 4-0 W Parker 1-1 T Santana 2-0 W Our Lady of Peace 2-3 L Cathedral 0-3 L

really well and had good communication. We talked to each other a lot and finished a corner (kick) which was super dope,” said sophomore Isabel Morales.

Also during the game, the student announcer, sophomore Sam Cody, cheered for the girls after they scored a goal, but later corrected himself because the goal was made due to off sides.

“Is that a space ball? Because that goal was out of this world.

Oops, never mind,” he said.

The girls ended up winning the game 3-0 and showed Tri-City Christian what they’re made of. This was a perfect example of what Gerber said in a recent interview about the struggles involved in each game.

“We had no easy gimmies or lay downs this season and had to work for every win and tie,” she said.

She also said that the team was challenged with a very difficult preseason and non-league schedule because they competed against three of the Top 10 ranked teams in the county.

Coastal League North: Canyon Crest Academy 2-3 L Calvin Christian 5-0 W San Marcos 2-1 W Santa Fe Christian 4-2 W Tri-City Christian 3-0 W Calvin Christian 4-0 W Tri-City Christian 7-0 W Bishop’s 0-6 L Santa Fe Christian 3-1 W

Escondido Charter 5-1-1 San Dieguito Academy 5-1-0 Santa Fe Christian 4-1-2 Tri-City Christian 1-5-1 Calvin Christian 0-7-0 League Champions: CIF game vs. University City Feb. 23 1-2 L courtesy of the north county times Feb. 24

Snap, wrestle, pop

San Dieguito Academy’s wrestling team tackles Coastal Conference Finals and is looking forward to next year. kaylin greene

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he wrestling team went to Canyon Crest Academy for Coastal Conference finals on Feb. 11 to compete against Guajome Park, Santa Fe Christian, and Army Navy Academy.

Short on numbers, SDA’s team looked small next to teams with 20 members or more.

The Mustangs, however, proved that size doesn’t matter.

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“Individuals did well in their weight classes. They can stand and compete well against the rest of the league,” head coach Eric Wilson said. Wrestler Keith Critchlow, junior, came home with third place in his weight class, with all other wrestlers placing fourth and fifth in their respective weight classes.

“You’ll never meet a better, more competitive group of kids,” said Tanner Curtiss, senior.

“That one’s always a hard tournament. We all tried our best, but there’re a lot of good wrestlers out there,” said Sam Caras, junior.

According Wilson, the team had to forfeit several matches throughout the season because the team wasn’t large enough. “I wasn’t happy with the number of people who quit during the season because of issues with their parents and with jobs. Next

year we’re going to try not to make it easy for people to quit by doing team contracts with wrestlers who want to join. It’s a bummer when people quit, because it messes it up for everybody else,” he said.

There were many first-year wrestlers, all of whom Wilson was able to see improvement from and plan on returning next year.

Overall, the wrestlers have

had a “fun season,” despite some setbacks, such as when DJ Swan, sophomore, was injured.

Curtiss will be the only graduating senior this year. The team members enjoy wrestling and are very close with one another, according to Caras. “It’s a great group of kids, and we have some very talented individuals. They are hardworking and strive for educational and athletic excellence,” Wilson said.

the

Mustang

Mud on your face

sports 02.26.10

Wind and rain didn’t stop the varsity boys soccer team as they conquered mud and puddles for another victory. kaylin greene

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oys soccer came into a rainy, muddy homestretch at the end of their winter season.

Many games had already been cancelled due to weather, but as raindrops started to fall Feb. 9, the Mustangs suited up against Tri-City Christian. Three beach umbrellas were set up on the sideline as a paltry shelter for the team to take refuge from the downpour.

By halftime, the Mustangs were leading 1-0. In the second half, SDA scored an additional three goals, one each by seniors Eric Holakiewicz and Andrew Kasslemann, and by sophomore, Pablo Gomez.

Overall, the rain made the game extremely frustrating for the team. Boys were sliding and falling everywhere, and passing the ball became difficult as huge puddles of mud developed on the field. “Whenever you would try to dribble through one of them, the ball would basically just stop,” team captain, Holakiewicz said.

The team finished first in the league with ten wins, no losses, and one tie and were scheduled to play CCA in the first round of CIF playoffs on Feb. 24.

The boys have progressed tremendously since the beginning of the season. Despite the presence of a lot of talented players, the team had a little bit of a wobbly start at the beginning of the season, giving up a couple of games to teams that they could have easily won, varsity soccer coach Craig Dean said.

The Mustangs quickly turned this around to become a team that made schools such as La Jolla Country Day and Bishop’s shake in their pants.

“I give our senior leaders a lot of credit for this. They are always getting the guys ready and leading by example,” Craig Dean said.

According Dean, this season has been very successful for the varsity boys soccer team overall. An early season highlight was when the boys participated in the Grossmont Tournament mid-December. After defeating three teams in pool play, the team destroyed El Cajon in semifinals and went on to snatch the victory away from El Capitan to win the entire Tournament.

However, Holakiewicz said, “I don’t think the highlight of the season can be claimed yet.

We still have CIF to prove ourselves and I believe that highlight has yet to come.”

“This team’s strengths are evident all over the field, but our biggest one is our defense. Kasselmann, Terry Travers, Travis Norton, and Roberto Martinez, all seniors, make up a very talented, experienced, and cohesive defensive group that will be difficult to replace. Our center midfielders have dominated almost every team we have faced this year thanks to the extremely talented Alan Gallardo, senior, and Gomez. These two work together in the midfield like few others I’ve seen. They are our go-to guys and when these two are playing well, our whole team picks up their game too,” said Dean.

nina moussavi

Use your head Senior Captain Eric Holakiewicz headers the ball to put it back into play for a possible Mustang goal.

Coastal League North:

Game Results: Cathedral 0-4 L El Capitan 2-0 W Borrego Springs 4-0 W Steele Canyon 2-1 W Coronado 1-2 L Canyon Crest Academy 1-3 L Mount Miguel 2-1 W El Cajon Valley 3-0 W El Capitan 2-0 W Bishop’s 1-1 T Mission Bay 1-1 T

Next year will hold more challenges for boys soccer, because SDA’s sports program is moving up a division. The team will also be graduating 11 seniors, giving the remaining players a huge opportunity to carry

Wild seahorses

Calvin Christian 4-0 W La Jolla Country Day 1-0 W Army-Navy 4-0 W Santa Fe Christian 3-0 W Escondido Charter 5-1 W Calvin Christian 4-0 W Tri-City Christian 4-1 W Army-Navy 7-0 W Santa Fe Christian 3-0 W Tri-City Christian 4-0 W Escondido Charter 6-1 W

on the Mustang Soccer legacy.

When the whistle blew on Feb. 9 to signal the end of the rain-drenched game against Tri-City Christian, SDA walked away with a 4-1 win, and every player from both sides was

San Diegiuto Academy 10-0-1 Tri-City Christian 4-4-1 Calvin Christian 2-6-3 Santa Fe Christian 1-3-3 Escondido Charter 1-5-1 League Champions: CIF game vs. Canyon Crest Academy Feb. 24 courtesy of the north county times Feb. 22

covered in mud from head to cleat. Over the next two weeks, the boys smashed through Army Navy Academy, Santa Fe Christian, Tri-City Christian a second time, and finally Escondido Charter.

The first ever girls water polo season ended with a lot of progress, and the team is ready to compete next year. kate radcliffe

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ncharted waters were treaded this year at SDA. Due to the efforts of several students and parents, the first girls’ water polo team was formed, and they made a big splash. Around 30 girls came out to show their interest initially, and the larger group was separated into JV and lower level novice teams.

Not surprisingly, while a handful of girls had some swim-

ming experience, the majority had no previous experience with water sports, much less with water polo which combines the challenge of staying up in the water with the concepts of a sport like handball or basketball.

For weeks the girls had to work to perfect the technique of treading water in which players “egg-beater” to keep their torsos above the surface. For junior Sarah Heath the hardest part of the sport was, “building the

stamina that it took to play well during the games.” Water polo also requires the physical toughness that it takes to withstand all

[“ ”] From my perspective, the girls really bonded and made some lasting friendships.

-Coach Amber Prestegard

the scratching and stomach-kicking that goes on under the water

as well as competitors’ attempts to drown each other.

By the end of the season, the girls had improved in all areas of the sport, including ballhandling, swimming abilities, understanding of the game, and confidence, according to Coach Amber Prestegard. The novice team even won their first game at the Rancho Buena Vista High School tournament, a season highlight for the coach.

Despite the players’ lack

of experience with the sport, Prestegard is proud to say that the season was, “…outstanding for a first year program. I am very proud of the hard work and commitment that many girls gave.” Though the teams were not part of a league this year, next year there will be a varsity team governed by CIF, with the return of experienced players. The coach also plans to up the practice schedule and add another tournament.

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sports 02.26.10

Timeout with: Ben Brin

He dances, he’s hilarious, and he does karate! The Mustang interviews this karate kid to see where it all began. pauline disch

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any students may have heard of Ben Brin or have seen him busting smooth moves on the dance floor, but did you know he does karate? The Mustang interviewes him to discover his source of inpiration.

Mustang: Why do you do karate?

Ben Brin: I do it for fun and to learn self defense, but I enjoy doing weird moves like spinning jump kicks. Free fighting is my favorite because it’s when you kick each other for points.

M: How long have you been doing karate?

BB: At least 12 years. I am now a double black belt, but my friends in my class, such as Henry Sweat, Kevin Shaw, and Isaac Spiegel are all more advanced than me because they are triple black belts and about to become instructors. I started doing it first though.

M: What is the most painful incident you’ve had?

BB: I was trying to break a board with my foot and I almost stubbed my toe or something,

doing that really hurts.

M: Have you ever used karate in real life? Have you ever hurt someone on purpose, maybe for revenge?

BB: Well, I was messing around with a kid in my PE class one year. He was so small, I don’t know how but I flipped him over. But no, I’ve never gotten robbed or anything because I keep my wallet in my pocket.

M: Do you chop blocks on a daily basis or practice on your own?

BB: No, but I imagine I’m making up my own type of karate sometimes. One type is speeder-axe where you flip your arms around really fast.

M: Who would you want to fight karate with the most?

BB: I would want to take out rampant CIA agents in combat.

M: Have you ever won any karate tournaments or competitions?

BB: A year ago I won one, but there aren’t a lot during the year. I would like to go to college at one of the UC schools and play for their teams because they have more competitions,

but if that doesn’t work out, I’d like to try fencing.

M: Do you ever get annoyed with someone and want to use karate on them?

BB: No, karate teaches you to be a peaceful person, but in middle school PE I would’ve liked to take out a couple of students that were really annoying.

But not anymore because my life is pretty peaceful right now.

M: Can you describe “elbow fighting?”

BB: That is something that I invented. It’s like a more manly way of fighting even though I practice it with my sister, but you take your elbow and try to get past your opponent and sometimes hit them in the armpit. It’s a good way of defending yourself because your arms are close to your body.

M: Who would you say is your greatest influence?

BB: Ben Franklin because he was a good inventor and I like to invent karate. It’s also like you’re like a lightning kite.

M: How would you describe your unorthodox style?

BB: I do really cool spinning

courtesy of ben brin

Hiyah! In his good old days, senior Ben Brin focuses on executing his kick.

tricks where I don’t’ need to look where I’m going. One time, I was with Henry free fight-

ing and I did a spin trick, but he didn’t know how to defend himself or what to do.

Pop culture What do the winter sports athletes think about drinks and animals? The Mustang finds out: Interviews and photos by Kaylin Greene

favorite soda combo:

favorite pro athlete:

brian peck senior it’s from the bond -cypress hill basketball

otter and dog

lemonade and sprite

steve nash -basketball

first place

isabel morales sophomore blame it on the pop -dj earworm soccer

lion and dog

dr. pepper, cherry coke, and sprite

messi -soccer

third place

eagle and fox

every flavor on the machine except diet.... i hate diet

OJ -football

second place

current song on ipod:

tanner curtiss senior wrestling page

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who would win in a rolly chair race?

if you could be a mix of two animals, what would you be?

rock you like a hurricane - the scorpions

Mustang

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sports 02.26.10

Surfer v. Skater

Sophomore surfer Louis Peiser gets to use algebra and sophomore skater Mycah Williams shows his sensitive side in an issue that covers politics, philosophy, parks and, most importantly, ‘Jersey Shore.’ By Henry Sweat.

If 7-Eleven is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, why does it have locks on the door?

Surfer: I don’t know. That is like a mystery.

Skater: Is it locked? I don’t know. Is it locked?

Me: Gulp, I’m going to need a big one to prepare for this.

Surfer, for the rest of the population, the question is either a mystery or not a mystery. It certainly is not like a mystery.

I’m subtracting X amount of points which you will discover at the end of the article. That’s like a mystery, because I’m sure you could figure it out if you had a calculator. Skater, the store is obviously not locked since you can enter and leave a 7-Eleven without unlocking the door each time 24-7. Minus 711 points.

Can a hearse carrying a corpse drive in the carpool lane?

Why or why not?

Surfer: Um… I don’t know… these questions are weird.

Skater: Yeah, probably cause… Actually, no because

they’re dead. They don’t count as people. They are like chairs.

Me: Surfer, a profound statement! You managed to say what everyone else already knew, but the way you phrased it really showed how much you thought you put into it. I’m proud of you kid. Ten points for the effort.

Harsh Skater, so utilitarian. You should be a philosopher, as long as you benefit society. I’ll take a rain check here on points, until I see whether you turn out to be brilliant.

Why is the Department of the Interior responsible for everything outdoors?

Surfer: I don’t know, because the rest of the government doesn’t do anything.

Skater: Does that mean they are responsible for the parks? It’s because it is the interior of the U.S. Me: Surfer, that’s not true.

The Obama Administration recently thrust the health care bill deep through Congress.

It almost passed too and their

thinking of closing Guantanamo Bay. Minus seven points for your lack of knowledge of current events. Skater, obviously if they are responsible for everything outside, they are responsible for the parks. Way to use the brain.

Minus five points.

If the bride is pregnant, should you throw puffed rice?

Why or why not?

Surfer: No, you’d just throw tomatoes, I guess.

Skater: No, that’d be mean.

That would be kind of messed up.

Me: Tomatoes, Surfer? You do realize that throwing tomatoes would ruin her white dress.

Smart thinking Tex. Minus seven points, for each bullet in your six shooter. Skater, you are correct. That would be extremely mean, but life is cruel. Suck it up, minus 12 points.

You’re at a party and you see a hottie but you don’t have the chance to rig her. What do you do to let her know you’re down?

Surfer: Send her secret mes-

henry sweat

Interpretative art Skater Mycah Williams, left, hangs his skateboard on his chest while surfer, right, Louis Peiser holds his board up for the world to see.

sages.

Skater: You flex; that should work.

Me: Surfer by sending her secret messages, she has no idea who they are coming from.

Three points from our little Pauly D. Minus 15 points Skater, one for each pound you could actually bench press.

Surfer: -39 Skater: -745

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nicole fisher

ariel chao

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ariel chao

Spirited Away at SDA With the end of a semester and a start of a new year, the campus has been busy with activities. Students showcased their work at the dance show, recruit for next year with an elective fair, and supported the teams at games.

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nicole fisher

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1. Junior Cameron Crowe stands at the photo exhibit during the elective fair in January. 2. Junior Kendall Wood, freshman Emily Nathan, and sophomore Marissa Strull perform during the dance choreography performance at the end of first semester. 3. Sophomore Marissa Strull demonstrates a Tahitian dance during the dance choreography performance. 4.

Students interested in taking Japanese as an elective, crowd around a table durin g the elective fair. 5. Fans show their support at a girls basketball senior game on Feb. 12. pauline disch