The Smoke Signal Vol. XLV No.5

Friday, January 22, 2010

the

The Smoke Signal

Just B

Smoke Signal

Mission San Jose High School Est. 1964 Vol. 45, No. 5 | January 22, 2010

Editors-in-Chief Hannah Scobel, Jerry Ting

News Megan Bernstein, Sargunjot Kaur Opinion Rebecca Gao, Jane Wang Feature Alissa Gwynn, Sonya John Centerspread Karen Lin, Tina Tseng A&E Niku Jafarnia, Cynthia Kang Sports Joseph Teng, Anthony Wu Graphics Elisa Ting, Albert Yuan Web Christine Cheng, Tanu Patel Tech Roger Chen, Raymond Zhong Ads Gurleen Chadha, Jamie Lin Business Henna Jethani Circulation Anastassia Tselikova Events Michelle Chu, Hannie Dong with Michael Feuerman

Writers & Photographers Rishi Das,

Chelsea Dass, Sonia Dhawan, Rebecca Dutta, Matt Farberov, Amisha Gandhi, Matthew Gosen, Sloka Gundala, Grace Han, Arthur Jeng, Ravneet Kaur, Mary Lan, Sarah Li, Aileen Lu, Megan McLaughlin, Mekala Neelakantan, Amit Patankar, Diya Roy, Justin Sha, Ginger Werner, Audrey Wu, Joy Xu, Vishal Yadav, Stephenie Yuan, Cassie Zhang, Jordan Zhang

Adviser Sandra Cohen Send letters to the editor to opinion@the smokesignal.org. Letters under 300 words may be considered for publication and must include a full name and school affiliation. The Smoke Signal reserves the right to edit for clarity and length.

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The Smoke Signal’s right to freedom of speech and press is protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution.

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Opinion 5

InJanenious

The MSJ Bubble - Part I

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41717 Palm Ave. Fremont, CA 94539 (510) 657-3600

By Rebecca Gao & Jane Wang Opinion Editors

Rebecca: Hm. Hey Jane? What do you think about me getting a blond-haired, blue-eyed boyfriend?

Jane: Well, if you’re wondering what I think about interracial relationships, I don’t have a problem with them. Does he go to MSJ? Rebecca: Of course not. Irvington. What did you think? We’re 85 percent Asian, and it shows.

Jane: That’s not always a bad thing. I mean, we have very little inclination towards relationships, but at least we have our noses buried too deep in textbooks to have time to go around joining gangs and vandalizing school property.

Rebecca: Not that we don’t have graffiti plastered about sometimes, but compared to Irvington, and by extent other high schools, we actually have one of the lowest crime rates around.

Jane: Not to mention that MSJ isn’t organized into the traditional, Glee-style cliques. I mean, the sports teams that usually place in NCS are also regular recipients of the Athlete Scholar awards.

Rebecca: Plus, if you look at the housing prices in our district, it would seem that we’re pretty well off, especially since we fork over hundreds of dollars on AP tests, SAT prep classes, and the likes.

Jane: It’s just what we do.

Rebecca: What an interesting culture shock we’ll get once we leave the MSJ Bubble.

Jane: At least we won’t remain wrapped up in our own little world,

separated from reality.

Rebecca: Speaking of which, did you notice an increase in vandalism at school this year?

Jane: Yes, but I’m sure that other schools have it as well, if not more frequently.

Rebecca: Really. As Irvington ASB Officer Wilson Tsai said, “Crime groups and gang members pass through our campus every single day….During my freshman year of high school, homicide had occurred about 30 yards away from our campus. A man bled out and died, students scrambled in terror, and a vehicle sped off…If MSJ students believe that their campus is excessively ghetto, they are trapped in a disillusioned world, caved in by ignorant tunnel-vision.”

Jane: Interesting how we never hear about this.

Rebecca: In other schools, gangrelated violence can be commonplace, even. The news reports some truly horrifying events, such as gang rapes and people being clubbed to death for wearing a gang-affiliated brand of shoes.

Jane: And it’s not only gang activity. Drugs and alcohol are entrenched in quite a number of high schools. PeaceHealth approximated the percentage of high school seniors who use illegal drugs and drink alcohol as 50 percent.

Rebecca: And although we do have crime on campus, such as theft, we actually have a very safe, even nurturing, environment, though we may not realize this.

Jane: The so-called nurturing environment doesn’t just apply to

crime rates; MSJ’s social hierarchy softens the typical high school experience.

Rebecca: Have you been watching too much High School Musical?

Jane: For the record, I hate that trilogy. My friend from the University of Michigan Ann Arbor once compared her high school to a watered-down version of Mean Girls. Dumb jocks, ditzy cheerleaders, you know, the works.

Rebecca: Fascinating. Not that we would really understand that at MSJ, I mean, I thought that those stereotyped cliques only existed in Hollywood.

Jane: That was my thought, too.

Rebecca: Here, we actually admire our nerds.

Jane: According to Logan High School Senior Clarissa Yeh, any student following the honors track or anyone deemed “smart” becomes part of the “honors crowd”, which tends to keep to itself.

Rebecca: They sound elitist.

Kind of like us. People from other schools definitely do have the impression that MSJ students are rather arrogant.

Jane: Well, aren’t we? Other students also have the impression that we have no social or personal lives, which may not be entirely unwarranted.

Rebecca: I do see some couples around, though. But I guess it’s few in comparison to the percentages of relationships in other schools.

Jane: Remember what [Senior] Max [Dornfest] said after he returned to MSJ from a year at Calabasas High School? “...people

would laugh when I said most students at MSJ had never had their first kiss [nor] been in a relationship or had sex...MSJ is this social bubble; nowhere else do you have a majority of kids not having their first kiss by 16 or 17.”

Rebecca: That’s just one person, and Calabasas is in SoCal. Jane: Well, at Walmart, I overheard a girl telling her friend how everyone thought she was a lesbian until she got a boyfriend. Relationships aren’t just the norm; they’re almost an expectation. And this girl was in Fremont, too.

Rebecca: It’s not that we object to relationships here, it’s just that we have to factor in parental intervention, academic pressure, and time constraints more than others do.

Jane: Which leaves us under the rock when it comes to dating.

Rebecca: We’re like small town girls going to the big city for the first time. Hope the sins of the city don’t devour us.

Jane: You’re referring to drugs and sex?

Rebecca: Yeah, consider the teen pregnancy and related dropout rates in other regions. How many of us have had to finish school while working to support an infant? We can hardly even imagine it.

Jane: To speak of imagination, we aren’t even aware of these things, reiterating our MSJ bubble.

Rebecca: We seem to be as sterilized as the “Boy in the Bubble.”

Jane: And just think, in six months, the plastic comes off. ▪ Send letters to the editor to opinion@thesmokesignal.org

MSJ: A Bird’s-Eye View Nihal Ruparel, 12, Saratoga High School “From all the rumors, MSJ is a very academically oriented school, everyone has 4.0 and pretty much have no social life. There are select few who do other things besides academics but overall the reputation of the school has been that of one that shows no mercy.”

Justin Lee, 11, Irvington High School “MSJ students are seen to be very spirited and proud, where homecoming events in MSJ are pumped with Aaron Boussina, 12, Carlmont High School school spirit and excite“I hear the badminton team is bigger [as in number of people] than the football team.” ment. Also, the students Meghna Chaterjee, 11, The Harker School are seen to be extremely Claire Yang, 12, Irvington High School “Generally, I hear relatively little about public schools. However, a few always manage to pop dedicated to meeting the “....I like this quotation by my friend Jiaao Chen, an out, and MSJ is definitely at the top of that list….We often discuss how other schools are farhigh academic standards...

MSJ alumnus: ‘MSJ is very diverse. There are many ing in the path to college. MSJ has always received praise…”

However, this dedication kinds of Chinese people.’” gives off an aura of arAlka Shingal, Parent of Irvington Sophomore Janelle Ludwig, 11, Irvington High School, “The parents and teachers are motivated just as much as rogance to some students transferred from MSJ in ‘09 Parent of Irvington Student from other campuses. Nevthe kids are.

But at the same time, I think that both kids and “My view of MSJ has changed significantly ertheless, those who catch “My sense was that…if you since starting at Irvington. MSJ is so competi- parents are very stressed out.” a chance to meet some lag behind, you’re lost; if you tive at academics. The work load between MSJ Lee Hong Ki, 12, American High School and Irvington is very similar, but the competidon’t have the motivation “While MSJ is generally stereotyped as a school full of students from MSJ are tion between students doesn’t even compare. It’s genius social introverts, they are actually just a com- generally surprised by their you get lost in the shuffle. a huge difference.” munity of students as diverse and very much like our openness and friendliness.”

Supriya Reddy, Parent of MSJ Alumnae “My daughter went to MSJ and now goes to UCSD. Even though she felt stressed out and miserable during high school, she thinks its was worth it, because after MSJ, college is a lot easier.”

own in terms of intelligence and social skills.”

Reet & Amrita Moitra; 11, 10; Gunn High School “MSJ, is seen as…nerdy...Academics, extracurriculars, and student life, seems to revolve around getting the best grades or best test scores. At Gunn, we know a little about competition, but from what we’ve heard about MSJ, competition is not as friendly as it is at Gunn. Extracurriculars are seen mostly as a way to beef up a student’s resume, not because it’s something that is enjoyed. [The] cut-throat-ness of MSJ seems to emphasize it more. As for sports, it’s pretty much non-existing. But…no offense to you guys, it’s not personal.

It’s just what we hear.”

Pat Liu, Parent of MSJ student “I’ve never seen so many gray-haired students in my life. And I’m not sure if MSJ is part of the rest of the planet.”

Adi Sanghani, ‘09 Alumnus, Irvington High School “I think that MSJ is a competitive school, with this sort of competitive spirit built on it. Its reputation for academic excellence has painted this very grim and dark image of the school which belies the school. [But] I know quite a few people at MSJ, and I think they are all very friendly.”

Nicole Gronski, 11, Irvington High School “MSJ is tough competition.

My first thought, Asians!”

quotes compiled by staff writers; background by graphics editors elisa ting & albert yuan

6 Opinion

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The Smoke Signal

Friday, January 22, 2010

Editorial: A Reminder of the Humanities Disparity

The Opinion of the Smoke Signal Editorial Board

A majority of MSJ students who wish to pursue future careers outside of the sciences, such as in business or law, are implicitly discouraged by a scarcity of related classes.

Opponents of increasing the number of humanities APs will argue that finding available, qualified, and interested teachers proves difficult or that the curriculum is foreign to MSJ. However, MSJ is actually the odd man out when it comes to humanities in general.

MSJ and Washington High School are the only schools in the entire FUSD which do not offer an AP Language and Composition class, which is typically taken junior year, with AP Literature following in senior year.

Currently, MSJ juniors only have the option between honors and college prep English.

Compared to similarly ranked schools such as Monta Vista, Gunn, and Lowell, MSJ proffers but a meager slice of advanced humanities courses. We have neither AP Government or AP Economics - which many students have

expressed clear and definite interest in.

The curriculum basis is already in place, as Irvington has AP US Government and Politics, American and Gunn have AP Economics (Macro and/or Micro), and Washington and Monta Vista have both.

And although the other new class, CP History of China, is indeed a step in the right direction, for most students, the addition of the class has been unexpected.

Hardly anyone will debate MSJ’s multiculturalism, especially regarding Asian cultures, but we hope for more of this humanities representation in our AP class catalogs as well.

We have no objections to AP Environmental Science, but are reminded of MSJ’s emphasis on math and science, perhaps at the cost of the humanities. We appreciate the efforts to create a well-rounded curriculum; we just wish the available courses better reflected that goal. ▪

Graphic Opinion

Next year, MSJ will add AP Environmental Science (see News page 1) to its repertoire of classes, a decision which underscores and reaffirms the common stereotypes associated with MSJ. Funding and scheduling constraints clearly limit the number of classes, but the noticeable lack of humanities-related courses and APs highlights MSJ’s bias towards math and science, inadvertently sending the message that we are only qualified to pursue math and science majors and limiting opportunities for advanced studies in the humanities.

With the addition of AP Environmental Science, MSJ will be only one

class (AP Physics C) away from offering every available AP science course. A third of the humanities classes - the English, social science, and history courses - are offered as APs. Excluding art, music, and language APs, MSJ provides but four out of the 11 available humanities APs (36 percent), yet seven out of nine possible math and science APs (78 percent).

Admittedly, students mostly register for the math and science courses come springtime, but student interest is by no means confined to those alone. The new AP World History class has been praised by students and teachers alike and enjoys a steady interest, while the possibility of AP Government or AP Economics classes prompts hopeful speculations annually.

Entire fields of potential majors and careers have been drastically shortchanged and under recognized at MSJ, and the new AP course merely reminds us of this incongruity.

staff writer cassie zhang

staff writer jamie lin

Friendly Competition

By Sonia Dhawan Staff Writer

By Christine Cheng & Arthur Jeng Web Editor and Staff Writer

My love affair with Google began the evening before my research paper was due. I remember missing a piece of information and frantically searching Yahoo!’s front page for their obscure search bar. As I battled through Yahoo!’s maze of News, Popular Searches, and Personals in order to obtain my data, I saw a Google homepage request beckoning from another browser tab. I was feeling lucky, and, as soon as I entered the untainted, white web space with its gloriously accessible search bar, I knew that this was the one.

Whatever I want to know, I have only to ask, and Google answers. Before Google, I was so lost. Thankfully, with Google Maps, I was found again. Once, in an attempt to dupe this all-knowing map, I typed in Honolulu, Hawaii as my destination from Fremont. I should have known better; Google immediately gave me a list of highways to traverse before commanding me to “Kayak across the Pacific Ocean - 2756 miles.”

But even the Map seems inconsequential next to Gmail. The moment it came out, my destiny was clear. Hotmail and MSN were immediately cleared from my Favorites list.

Google gave me unlimited storage, and in return, I gave Google my soul as well as the souls of my friends. Yes, I did it. I sent them all Gmail invites like Santa at Christmas.

And for my hard work and sacrifice of my

searchenginewatch.com, web editor christine cheng

limited number of invites, I was rewarded.

Soon the world had Google Books, Google Blogger, Google Translator, Google Documents, and so much more. The rest of the nation could no longer pretend that Google was unimportant, not even the government. US state governments, too, have gone Google, hosting data in Google’s own data centers. Neither is the iPhone safe any longer. The day I laid eyes on the first design for the Nexus One, my iPhone was no more; I couldn’t resist those smooth curves and that wide, attractive screen.

If something exists, there will be a Google in front it. I will relish the day there is Google Pizza. I will put relish on Google Hot Dogs.

There are so many possibilities, and I am certain that Google will ride each of those waves. The human population clearly desires - no, needs - Google Socks and Google Underwear. I wait impatiently for the day that they Googolopolize the world.

You fancy me mad, obsessed, even addicted. But Google Dictionary tells me that that means I can’t stop taking harmful drugs, and Google Health declares that I am sober.

I have a dream that Google will be more than our people’s homepage. I long for that special day when Google Earth will be our home. I admit Google can be a little overwhelming at times. But don’t worry - relax; there will always be more and more Google.

Remember, Google loves you. ▪

What is the meaning of the word “friend”?

The dictionary defines a “friend” as “one that is not hostile,” but here at MSJ, that definition doesn’t always apply. In a school where fierce competition is inevitable, it’s logical to think that students would want to escape the tense atmosphere when with their friends.

However, it seems that friendships make rivalry even worse - everything turns into an unspoken competition in which one person constantly tries to outdo the other.

Inexplicably, best friends usually compete with each other more than they do with friends whom they don’t know as well.

“If other people get a better grade than me, I don’t really care, but if it’s my best friend, that makes me feel worse,” says one junior.

It seems that the closer two people are, the more intense the resentment becomes. The main reason it is harder to accept the success of someone close to us is that it is easier to compare ourselves to someone we know well than to someone we don’t know at all. Our best friends are a constant, nagging reminder of all the things we lack.

However, no matter how tempting it is to compare ourselves to our friends, this “phenomenon” completely defeats the purpose of friendship. Normally, friends support each other and enjoy each other’s company; it’s abnormal for an unspoken hostility to underlie their relationship, evident when students try to hide their competitive natures. It’s not uncommon to hear people feigning remorse when their friends fail a test or don’t make sports teams. “That’s all right,” they say, with a smile half pitying and half triumphant, “you’ll do better next time, for sure!” This shows the superficiality of our friendships—an inner

struggle between our competitiveness and our loyalty, and when competitiveness wins, we don’t want our friends to realize it.

This is ironic because, although we feel pressure to do better than our friends, we still want to maintain our relationships. Real

graphics editor elisa ting

Senior Matthew Gosen proudly shows off his 100 percent on the math test to his envious friends.

friendships can be hard to find. “Especially at MSJ, people have a different view of friendship...There are some true friends, but most people use their friends as a standard for themselves, academically,” said Junior Vivian Zhang. In other words, some students are not forming friendships because they like each other but to fuel a need for competition and give a sense of victory.

The fact that some students value competition over friendship shows just how selfish we have become. Someone else’s accomplishment becomes our failure, and vice versa - we always find a way to make it about ourselves.

Of course, it’s normal to be envious when we are outdone by someone, but we form friendships with people because we like and support them, not because we want to see who is better. Not everything needs to be turned into “friendly” competition. ▪

8 Opinion

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The Smoke Signal

Friday, January 22, 2010

“Open Doors” Honors Policy Equal Opportunity for All

By Sargun Kaur News Editor

The phrase “equal opportunity for all” is finally getting the attention from the education sector it needs through the “Open Door Policy”. The district has finally taken the initiative to loosen the over stringent prerequisite requirements placed to keep “underachieving” people out of the classes for the “intellectually-gifted”.

The gifted are chosen at the age of seven.

The psychological community has concluded that by second grade, the intellectually gifted students can be picked out. Those eight yearolds who cannot sit through a two and half hour test without bathroom or snack breaks obviously will not be able to handle the challenge and rigor of the honors classes they will take as high schoolers at age 15. High school seniors can barely sit through a two and half hour class period without having the urge to go to the bathroom or sneak a snack in.

The aptitude test second-graders take, similar to an IQ test, is supposed to measure the intelligence of students for placement in honors classes. However, many parents prep their students for this IQ test as if it was the Elementary SAT. So does that really make the kids gifted? The students who failed are weeded out.

Many of those who failed the second grade test have the capabilities to succeed in rigorous courses later on. These students do not get the motivation to try above and beyond or push themselves because their minimal efforts are enough to succeed the class.

Having personally been in this situation, I know the immense difference I experienced from jumping from a CP English class to

an Honors level class. I was no longer to sole class participator or the “over-achieving” student who read the assigned books weeks before the deadline.

For many years, the districts only cure was reevaluating these students based on their Standardized Testing scores, better known by the acronyms of “CAT 6” and “STAR”.

However, the benchmark for these un-gifted students was put unreachably high.

Students, not the Honors and GATE committee, should be able to take it upon themselves to decide whether or not they can handle the rigor of an honors level course. It is also a decision in how hard they are willing to work in their future classes.

It’s a wonder how students who had passed their second grade aptitude test, but are now receiving poor grades in their honors classes, can remain in honors whereas truly achieving students may not enter. The notion of testing students on their “intellectual potential” when they have barely learned how to read is preposterous.

The “Open Door policy” will finally bring the long overdue solution to this unbalanced system. ▪

Careful What You Wish For

By Jerry Ting Editor-in-Chief

The school district is currently considering adopting an “Open Door Policy” to allow more students to take honors-level classes. If the new policy is adopted, students would only need to maintain a “B” in their college-prep course and score in the advanced category of the STAR test to receive placement in an honors course for the next school year.

Along with these changes, students no longer need to submit a letter of recommendation from their teachers.

The new requirements for taking honors courses are shockingly low, and it is worrying that the policy is being considered.

Many students who take nonstaff writer aileen lu honors courses in one academic subject and take honors courses in another notice a huge difference in the expectations placed upon them by their teachers.

Senior Leslie Liu said, “It’s a totally different level. The expectations are very different. In nonhonors [English] you’re expected to just do the homework and listen to the teacher, but in AP English, the teacher’s expecting you to think outside of the box and figure out things yourself.”

Although proponents of the policy might argue that loosening restrictions would grant equal opportunity, not all students are suitable for such advanced courses, and it would be a mistake to thrust these individuals , who might not have the skills or work ethic required, into honors classes. As one honors English teacher said, “Students should be required to maintain at least an “A” in their college-prep courses to show that they have some mastery of the English language and have the potential of being successful in an honors class.”

It is undeniable that some MSJ parents are overbearing and push their children beyond their limits, which psychologically damages their kids in the process. Some parents will see the open-door policy as an opportunity to thrust their child into taking demanding classes, regardless of whether or not their child is ready or wishes to follow through.

These teenagers, as young as 14 years-old, will be victims of the new policy.

Adolescence should be a time of development—well-rounded development. Teenagers should be encouraged to experiment and become involved in extracurricular activities like clubs and sports, not forced into an academic cave. When students become overwhelmed by their school work, their passions outside of the classroom will be shoved to the back-burner.

If the Open-Door policy is adopted, it would undermine the efforts of ASB and SOS to create a healthier environment for students to develop in. High school only happens once and to sacrifice it all for an overburdening and inappropriate course load is a tragedy we cannot afford. ▪

Friday, January 22, 2010 The Smoke Signal

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Feature 9

Up in Smoke Tobacco Presentations

By Karen Lin Centerspread Editor

The transition from junior high to high school is one fraught with changes – new surroundings, new classes, new teachers, and possibly most impactful, new social influences. Such social influences can range from innocuous to life-threatening, from buying a new wardrobe, to smoking in the parking lot after school. For this reason, MSJ’s Peer Resource held tobacco presentations for Health teachers Carolyn Lincoln and Cate Ruebling’s freshmen classes on January 15. The goal was to remind students about the dangers and consequences of tobacco, alcohol and, other substance

experiences and to provide a more personal and real-life perspective on the devastating effects of drugs and alcohol. As a junior high school student, Pastore began drinking regularly, and in his freshman year in Washington High School, he was introduced to marijuana, which soon became his new addiction. After falling further and further to new lows he himself never thought capable of, from stealing to dropping out of high school to getting fired from work, Pastore sought and got the help he needed to get clean. Not only did he turn his life around and receive his high school diploma

staff writer ravneet kaur

abuse, while they’re still relatively “new” to high school. For those who have never engaged in substance abuse, Peer Counseling hopes their presentations made the impressions necessary to deter the freshmen from experimenting. But for those who are already using drugs or alcohol, Peer Counseling wants to provide the support and guidance needed to start anew and clean.

“As upperclassmen and as their peers, we can relate to them the most, especially since we’ve already gone through many of the pressures and challenges they’re going through right now. But we don’t want to lecture them; that’s not the point,” said Peer Counseling President Sonya John.

This year’s presentations featured guest speaker John Pastore, a Robertson High School graduate, who came to share his

& sports editor joseph teng

along with numerous awards and honors, but also Pastore will be heading off to the US Navy SEALs come June of this year.

While students tend to let presentations and lectures flow through one ear and out the other, hopefully Pastore’s raw and earnest life story, along with the rather graphic but powerful video, “Every 15 Minutes,” made by Piedmont High School students, helped put the issue of tobacco, alcohol and drug abuse into perspective for the students. At the end of his story, Pastore said, “The message I’m trying to get to you guys is it’s not the person that has the problem. It’s the drug. It doesn’t matter who you are. You might say you won’t ever let yourself go down to that level, but it’s not you that brings you down, it’s the drug.

No matter what kind of person you are.” ▪

What Seniors Wish They’d Known (P t. 2)

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Who said MSJ was all academics?

With various clubs, organizations, and events there is something that appeals to all of us. We’ve learned that your experience at high school is as good as you make it.

Getting Involved

1. Find your niche early on, whatever it may be: Leadership II, Smoke Signal, Yearbook, Peer Resource, (all of which require an application and interview) or any one of the many organizations at school. A sense of purpose and solidarity will definitely ease the stresses of junior and senior year. If you get involved, it’s amazing how many new people you’ll meet, even as a senior.

2. Homecoming. This word can either engender feelings of ultimate joy or intense distress. It takes months to plan, so help out and don’t let your class officers run around with all the work! You will definitely miss it once it’s over. Don’t forgo Homecoming events because you think you’re too busy. The lost sleep is worth the fun and excitement.

3. Multicultural Week is hands down the second best week of school after Homecoming. The gyros, Hawaiian barbeque, pho, and various scrumptious desserts…

Underclassmen, stray away from the cafeteria food and try something new. Don’t use the hour long lunch to study for a test or to walk to Taco Bell.

4. One event that every high school student looks forward to is Prom. You’ve probably heard from some people that Prom is overrated, or maybe you heard staff writer aileen lu

By Hannie Dong Staff Writer

that it’s the most amazing night of high school. Take my advice, PLAN AHEAD if you want to have fun at Prom. Start talking to potential dates a couple months ahead, so you don’t have to run into the problem of having no one to go with. Going with a friend, someone you have a spark with, or a boyfriend will certainly make prom more magical. Also, communicate with your date and decide who pays for the limo, pictures, tickets, and corsages/boutonnieres. Don’t forget to organize who’s in your limo group to evade some drama.

5. Leadership II hosts the blood drive at MSJ two times a year, and what’s a better reason to get out of class? Sign up for the same time slot as your friend and save a life.

Social Arena

Sure, as students of MSJ, we are classified as nerds who are consumed with getting a perfect 2400 on the SAT. However, despite living up to this stereotype, we still manage to have a social life and have a few tips for you.

1. Rewind to lunch time in junior high school. Remember the “super cool” clique you had, whom you giggled and underwent all your changes of life with? Well fast forward to noon at MSJ. Don’t be surprised if the friends you were eating lunch with in junior high aren’t exactly the ones you are going out to lunch with now. Social bubbles change, people change, things happen. It’s a part of life. Things happen for the best, and that’s not just a cliché.

2. Drama. Every teenager goes through it.

The best way to avoid it is to keep your secrets and thoughts to yourself, but who can do that? If you hear a rumor about you or if you get into a fight with your friend, don’t let yourself worry too much over it. Your life isn’t over. Confront the people causing the issue and sort things out. Things will lighten up.

3. All the fun events during senior year come with an exorbitant bill. It is quite a bank breaker with expensive senior portraits, Panoramic pictures, Waterworld trip, Grad Night, senior dedication pages, Senior Ball, and Senior Trip. If you want to feel less guilty when spending money, you should probably get a job and start saving up now.

4. Do you become envious when you see seniors coming on campus with Panera Bread or Chipotle? Here’s a good piece of advice: start drivers ed early. Don’t wait to take your permit test or to get the behind the wheel lessons done either. You’ll have less time to get your license in your junior year than in your sophomore year, so get ahead of the game. The freedom of driving is worth it, and you won’t have to ask your mom for rides. Driving yourself around is so convenient, and plus, you’ll actually be able to go off campus during lunch.

5. Even though you may roll your eyes whenever you hear someone say “time flies,” it really does. The past three years of high school have zipped by so quickly, and second semester is already approaching! Don’t let your years of high school go to waste. Make some new friends, join a few clubs, participate in school events, and make some new memories. ▪

10 Centerspread

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Friday, January 22, 2010

Friday, January 22, 2010

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Centerspread 11

Resolution: Everyone wants to make time for those who matter the most to them in life.

Problem: The year begins with plans of reuniting with long lost friends and reviving family time. You are determined to hang out with friends at the mall or catch up with your parents at the dinner table. The next thing you know, you find yourself immersed in school, work, and other activities. The time set aside for family and friends is replaced with catching up on work or taking a break from all the chaos.

Diagnosis: It is necessary to create quality time for family and friends by making plans ahead of time and refusing to bail on them at the last minute. Build your schedule around your outing to hang out with friends and family. Refrain from rescheduling; instead, make it a point to finish all your work before that time.

Keep in mind, quality family time does not necessarily require going out every time. Simply find the time to come down to eat with your family instead of chatting on AIM, or offer to help your sibling with homework. Small moments like these, when added up, constitute as valued “catching up” time. Ask your friends to drop by for a casual movie night with popcorn instead of planning an elaborate get-together. This way, you are surrounded by friends and family while maintaining a productive schedule. However, every once in a while take time out to spend a whole day with your family and friends to build memories and to thank them for their support.

Resolution: Admit it, one of your New Year’s resolutions is to lose X number of pounds. However, rather than going through a series of unhealthy dieting and binging, you should focus more on staying fit and exercising.

Problem: MSJ students are often too busy to allocate time each day to exercise, unless they already participate in a sport. It is even more difficult to stay on track with stress and lack of sleep, which causes some students to look to food for immediate comfort. Others munch on snacks to stay awake while studying, which unfortunately may lead to compulsive eating habits.

Diagnosis: Even if you overeat or ignore your exercise regimen, don’t let these setbacks discourage you. During study breaks, try going out for a quick jog. This not only wakes you up, it releases endorphins to combat stress. Avoid snacking while doing homework, for it will only distract you and promote unhealthy habits. Instead, try chewing gum to keep your mouth busy and your mind focused. Embrace the outdoors to get some fresh air and vitamin D every day: walk your dog, bike with a friend, or spend some time with your family at the beach. Do not focus on losing weight but rather on eating healthily and exercising, and the expected weight loss will soon follow.

Resolution: First quarter — you still thought you had plenty of time to pull up unsatisfactory grades by the semester. By the end of the semester, you find yourself cramming for finals that will determine whether you receive an A or a B because you were unable to bring your grades up high enough to stay in the “safe zone.”

Problem: Falling asleep in class, zoning out during lectures, copying homework, and failing to study effectively for tests all lead to your worst nightmare when your grade reports arrive. It’s so tempting to slack off in your studies when there are so many other more interesting things in life. But reality soon hits when you realize and regret how you could have gotten better grades as you pitifully watch that dream college fading from view. Before you allow yourself to fall back into the same trap for second semester, make a few changes to your lifestyle to guarantee a higher GPA.

Problem: Students usually find something more worthwhile than what they actually need to do, and “fun” becomes more important to them than “work.”

Diagnosis: A new semester means a clean slate — no more unsightly grades; it’s a chance to pick yourself up and strive for those As you deserve.

Force yourself to concentrate in class and even participate from time to time to show your teachers you understand the material. Do not be afraid to ask questions; remember participation is calculated into your cumulative grade percentage. When free time is allotted, actually use it to work on homework instead of chatting with friends. Even if your teacher collects all the homework on the day of the test, it is important to complete your assignments daily instead of scrambling to finish everything the day before the exam.

Diagnosis: The key to working effectively is to set solid priorities – usually procrastination occurs when priorities are unclear. List your tasks in order from the most urgent and important to the least urgent and important. Finish them off starting from the top. Next, avoid all possible distractions. This can include: your computer, Facebook, friends (sorry, social life), games, TV, etc. Anything that looks more fun than what is on your to-do list should be removed.

This year, go green to restore Mother Nature and to create a healthier environment.

the lug nuts that keep the wheel in MSJ prepares its students place. Use a jack to lift the body to triumph in the academic of the vehicle. To do this, place challenges of the future. the jack under the frame near the However, it’s the students’ flat tire. Once the tire is just a responsibility to learn the little off the ground, remove the essential skills necessary to lug nuts and the flat. Replace the overcome the non-academic flat tire, screw back the lug nuts obstacles with ease. Get started using the lug wrench and remove on becoming familiar with the the jack and the bricks. following skills this year: Use a fire extinguisher: Stand Sew a button: To sew a button, 10 feet away from the fire and create two perpendicular stitches on use the PASS rule. Pull the pin the underside of the fabric. Pull the that is on top of the extinguisher. needle with the thread out of one hole of Aim the extinguisher at the the button. Make sure to draw out several fire. Squeeze both of the levers inches of thread. Then guide the needle, together. Sweep the nozzle side to through two diagonal holes at least three side to exhaust the fire. Make sure times. Now repeat this step for the other you have completely extinguished two holes. Wrap the thread around the the fire before putting down the bottom of the button three to four times. extinguisher.

Push the needle through this wrapping and then through the fabric. Finish off Apply first aid: Familiarize with a knot. yourself with the components of your first aid kit. Learn what each of Change a flat tire: Encountering a flat the different ointments, bandages, tire may be rare, but it doesn’t hurt to tapes, and medicines are for. be prepared. To start, park on a flat Accomplishing this task will result surface away from traffic and use the in lightning-fast reflexes when an emergency brake. Then place rocks accident hits. Being confident with behind the wheels that are not flat to first aid will also prevent panic in prevent the car from rolling away. dangerous situations.

Use a lug wrench to begin loosening

Resolution: Many people set creative goals for themselves that are always put off until “next week” or “next month.” That great American novel, the watercolor masterpiece, those heartbreaking poems-- you just don’t have time to make these dream creations reality.

Resolution: Students have been battling procrastination since they first stepped into school. It’s one of the hardest resolutions to stay loyal to.

15,000 hours compared to their incandescent counterparts, which last a mere 1,000 hours.

Donate or recycle your electronics through special e-waste disposals. Ewaste contains mercury and other toxic materials that destroy the environment.

Recycle paper products in your home.

Each ton of recycled paper can save 17 trees, 380 gallons of oil, and three cubic yards of landfill space.

Download free e-books from websites such as www.fictionwise.com or www. gutenberg.org. Save paper and carry classic literature texts portably on your Kindle or iPhone.

Install compact fluorescent light bulbs which last

Make 2010 your year to get rich. Refer to the following list for help: Apply for scholarships, jobs, and internships.

Jobs and most internships not only pay but also offer an environment to gain skills that give you a competitive edge when you apply for

Problem: The most common reason Reward why people fail to follow through is not yourself after because they slack off. Surprisingly, it’s completing your largely due to perfectionism, which is work. Treat yourself, the main cause of “writer’s” block or by going shopping or any creative impediment. arranging more leisure time for yourself. Challenge yourself Diagnosis: The best way to to finish more errands every overcome such blocks is to push week, and gradually complete yourself to produce results everything you plan to do. Try no matter how well or practicing self-afflicted (or friendterrible it turns out to afflicted) punishment if productivity is be. Set goals to not up to par. Pulling a friend into the equation can keep you motivated. When all else fails, cramming may become essential. For tests, determine which parts are crucial and will probably be on your exam. Pull out the essential notes and review at least the most important points covered in class. If Resolution: Between school Inveterate procrastinators return to possible, teach a friend the material, and extracurricular activities, their mismanaged schedules and can as teaching can improve not only sleep tends to move lower and be seen catching up on sleep in class. your own understanding, but also lower on the priority list for Students fail to enforce sleeping your peer’s as well. Be sure to use MSJ students. It is quite common early each night and lose the rhythm every minute of your time and for students to vow to quit their of their sleeping patterns. constantly quiz yourself. bad habit and to start going to sleep earlier. However, “early” has a Diagnosis: Designate a bedtime debatable definition, ranging from 9 for yourself. Going to sleep at the pm to 2 am. same time each night will train your body to become tired around this Problem: Students tell themselves time. Such a sleeping schedule will that they will follow through with allow the body to adjust to a regular their goal to go to sleep early, but pattern according to the amount of that usually lasts about a week and sleep necessary. Those who simply is broken on the weekends with the manage to procrastinate until the excuse that it is time to relax or party. last minute should employ the use

By Henna Jethani, Ravneet Kaur, Audrey Wu & Cassie Zhang Staff Writers

Cut your shower by five Unplug devices that are “off” minutes and, in turn, save fifteen but are actually in standby mode. gallons of water.

They are still consuming up to 250 watts of energy.

Walk or bike to school. This will reduce gas emissions and also Buy fresh food from local farmers improve your health. at the farmers’ markets located in Newpark Mall and Irvington on the Skip buying plastic water bottles. weekends. Food sold at grocery stores Instead, use refillable steel water travels hundreds of miles, resulting in bottles. greenhouse emissions.

colleges or seek out other more professional opportunities.

Participate in contests. You write countless essays a year for your English and social studies classes. Writing one every month for a contest is not painful. Contests such as the one sponsored by Creative Communication can expose you to a pool of cash prizes if you compose a powerful essay.

Spend no more than four dollars at lunch. If you eat

spend specified amounts of time on your art, much like you would do for sports or homework. Also, enter competitions to gain both publicity and scholarship opportunities. Cash flow can also come through selling artwork. Try doing commissions for clients and set a price on your work. Even if you don’t make much money, it will be good practice.

One of the most worthwhile ways to work is to collaborate with friends. Not only does it expose you to different styles, it also offers the unique perspectives of other artists. Don’t forget to publish your work often, especially for feedback. Submit your publications to MSJ’s Phoenix magazine. Phoenix is an art and literary club that works to publish an annual magazine composed entirely of works by MSJ students.

It’s finally 2010 - what will you accomplish? Have you made several noble resolutions only to find yourself breaking them a week into the school year?

Are you still not sure how to change yourself for this decade? Don’t fret - here are some tips to get you back on track with your resolutions and to create a new you for 2010.

The massive earthquakes in Haiti as well as the recent tremors in the Bay Area are a constant reminder of the upcoming full-size earthquake yet to hit. Although the expected quake is long overdue, many of us are lazy and unprepared, believing it won’t happen any time soon. Before this disaster strikes, make sure you: Have disaster supplies packed and ready: 24-pack of bottled water and about 20 cans of emergency food to last at least a week Small radio, flashlights, glow sticks, and extra batteries Pocket knife, can opener, essential medicines, and first aid kit Check for potential hazards inside your house: Secure shelves to walls with wall anchors.

Make sure heavy pictures or mirrors are not hung within close vicinity of beds and couches.

Repair or reinforce any damaged areas.

Large, heavy items should be placed on the floor or in lower shelves, and fragile items such as glass should be stored in latched cabinets.

Create a family emergency plan: Identify safe places to stay during the earthquake such as under sturdy furniture.

Contrary to popular belief, the doorway is not the safest place to stand during an earthquake because you may be hurt by a swinging door.

Designate an emergency meeting spot and agree on contact numbers.

Know how to turn off the gas, water, and electricity.

Many jobs, internships and college applications require that the applicant go through an interview. Here are some tips to be a more confident and prepared interviewee: Brainstorm a list of questions that the interviewer is likely to ask. If you can’t come up with any, visit the Career Center for a list of general interview questions.

Practice responses to these questions, but don’t memorize them. Memorized answers can cause confusion when a variation of the same question is asked.

You want to sound relaxed and natural.

out, t h e n you know that spending more adds up to a hefty loss.

Dress appropriately. Usually, you should dress formally or at least, semi-formally. If wearing jeans, choose a dark pair with no holes or tears. Go for a more conservative Do extra chores. If look, but if you are still unsure, you don’t have time or it’s perfectly all right to ask your energy to search for a job, then help out interviewer about the dress code. around the house. Not Prepare a portfolio of your work. only will you get Include a one-page resume that outlines paid, your parents any honors, awards, extracurricular will appreciate activities, and leadership experiences. you more.

Support your resume with letters of recommendation from previous mentors or employers.

Teachers make a huge impact on our lives, and they deserve nothing less than greatness from their students. Show your appreciation and:

of a time management schedule that effectively organizes the day’s workload. Use your agenda to allocate certain time periods for doing homework assignments, projects, and activities. Cross out assignments as they are completed, which, in turn, will help you feel accomplished as the list grows smaller and smaller. Shut down your computer a half-hour before sleeping because exposure to bright lights can stymie the body’s ability to relax and rest. Also, avoid distractions such as AIM, texting, and gaming late at night.

any, do what you can to find some, since it helps to keep you focused in class and on homework.

Say “hello” and “goodbye” when you enter and leave the classroom. Also, don’t forget to smile.

Make small talk or casual conversation occasionally.

Get to know your teacher as a person, but be respectful and courteous.

Fully participate in class.

Show your interest in the subject. If you don’t have

Be organized and make it show. Organized students are more efficient in their work

and tend to turn in assignments on time, which teachers also love.

Request additional help outside of class, if necessary.

Committed and active students make time to learn more outside of class.

Be punctual. Don’t be late to class. Make sure you follow all instructions and work diligently. This makes teachers’ lives so much easier.

ehow.com

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The Smoke Signal

Friday, January 22, 2010

Gurleen Chadha, Megan McLaughlin & Hannah Scobel Staff Writers and Editor-in-chief

s n e “Oh, gd

u you want me to S tell you how he proposed! well, it was my senior year The in Okay, college and I had gone on an in-

Every day we go to class to be greeted by the many teachers we know and love...or at least, we THINK we know them. To uncover the truth about the staff members, the Smoke Signal went on a mission to get the low-down on some of MSJ’s teachers.

ternship in New York, across the country. And Mr. Sugden was flying up for the weekend, and I had everything planned. We’d go on a bus tour of the city, see Les Mis [Les Misérables], go to Cooperstown, do all the tourist things. We did the bus tour first, and Mr. Sugden was absolutely adamant: he wanted to go to the Empire State Building. So we went up, and it was just absolutely cooking up there, the middle of New York in August, and I was ready to go and suddenly he got on one knee and asked. I was so shocked; I don’t even remember if I said yes! He had planned it all beforehand and had told my parents and all of our friends (and nobody had emailed or called me the week before because they were afraid they were going to blow it)! It was just like the proposal in the movie Sleepless in Seattle, a movie that was really popular at the time and one that I loved. It was so funny, because I always said that he could never surprise me, but I was completely blown away by his proposal!”

-Evangeline Sugden

Claudia

Fort

Teacher Claud ia Fort of the a life that leav math departm es the rest of ent here at M us trailing in SJ lives in the world w her wake, won e could ever be dering how even slightly Ms. Fort was as cool as she a star from th is.

Morey Amster e very beginn ing. Back whe dam Show was n The still a show, yo ing little two u could count or three year on seeold Fort danc popular kids ing around on program. “I st the then ill had the ch thing. W hat w ubby baby legs ere my parent an d ever ys th in king?” recalls It seems as th Fort. guitar in a colle ough Fort has always been a go-getter, pl ge Folk band and then later aying become an or converting he iginal membe r skills to r of Fremont’s This rock band own “F leeting is notorious on Legacy”. teachers who campus becaus started it. Lin e it was three da MSJ K Fort were the adis, Monica Kraft, and, of founders of th course, e band, gettin time to jam. g together in “One time w their free e played at an thought we w assembly and ere lip syncin ever ybody g.” I’d say that good. means they w ere pretty We all know the stor y of F life, he just de orrest Gump. cided to start At one point running, and in his the countr y m ended up runn ultiple times. ing across Well, here at small-scale F MSJ we have orrest Gump, our own except her m a bike. Ms. For od e of transportati t once made th on was e 3,200 mile biking for six trek weeks straight to complete he across the countr y, a child TV st ar, a guitar m aster, and an ex r journey. As if being she has also w treme biker is orked for the n’t enough, Pentagon, trav Civilian Lieut eling here and enant. there as a

Jack Marden Strangest phase: “Here at Mission in the mid-70s, a cowboy theme beca me very popular. All of the cool kids, probably about 100 kids, wo re cowboy hats.

It was kind of a m ore rural community then.”

Cherylle Lindsey Most shocking fact: Received a cinch notice during her freshman year of English.

Bill Jeffers

Most daring moment: “Something daring that I’ve done?

Isn’t being in the Navy enough?

Well, I completed the Iron Man triathlon.”

Tony Bellotti

l Barbara Carrostlmo ment

Carroll’s scarie History Teacher Barbara e Jos State University. came as a student at San t t government and Huber “I was a part of the studen a s wa re the ak. That same day Humphrey came to spe SDS, on building, arranged by ati str sit-in at the admini on up gro l ica rad a tic Society, Students for a Democra mHu and r Wa m tna t the Vie campus. It was to protes phrey. on the rally, which was held I had to introduce him at inadm the buildings and had a long wide street lined by ing . I could see students lin end e on istration building at I en wh wn do flew s. Tomatoes the top of the building arm his t pu and , too got up, went to introduce him. He s O.K. Keep going.’

‘It’ d, sai and ers on my should . the barrage got even worse W hen he got up to speak, rm sto e lik see police dressed up As he spoke, you could all of a ded for the sit-in, and troopers. They were hea everywhere. sudden there was tear gas beg, especially in the 1960’s nin hte frig It was really or go uld wo lice po the w far cause you didn’t know ho ow kn uld go. It was difficult to how far the students wo uld rise up to.” what level the violence wo

Julia Madsen Most embarrassing moment: “In high school I was dropping off my date (who I married 9 years later) and right in the middle of a kiss goodnight on the driveway, his dad drove up and my date ran off.”

History Teacher Tony Bellotti may stick to US History, his subject, but he has his own stor y even more fascinating than that of our country.

As a young man, Bellotti hitchhiked from San Francisco to Los Angeles on Route 1 with a group of friends. They were picked up by a male nurse who worked with AIDS patients. The man had brain cancer, and recently had an operation to remove his tumor. He was under stress from his job and disease, so Bellotti and his friends directed the man to the Tassajara Zen Buddhist Monastary.

For a few days, they stayed with him at the monaste ry, a gorgeous retreat near Carmel famed for the rigo r of its practices. Despite the incredible experien ce, Bellotti says, “I don’t know that I would recommend hitchhiking to ever ybody,” especially not his stud ents.

Bellotti’s resumè shows that he is also a former member of the movie industry. As Dire ctor of Operations for a small company, he wor ked on Starship Troopers and What Dreams May Com e, among others.

Ever heard of The Matrix? Bellotti’ s company was awarded the Oscar for Best Special Effects for their work on the movie. He wasn’t able to attend the ceremony, but he “got to hold the statue.”

photos by staff writers megan mclaughlin and cassie zhang, courtesy of evangeline sugden, myspace.com, identinet.files.wordpress.com, flickr.com

Friday, January 22, 2010 The Smoke Signal

www.thesmokesignal.org

Attention Seniors

Student Spotlight

By Chelsea Dass Staff Writer

By Michael Feuerman Staff Writer

It’s that wonderful time of year again for Seniors. College applications are over and all that’s left are a few nerve-wracking months of waiting for a reply. But while we are (relatively) relaxed during that time, we must discuss a serious ailment that is spreading throughout our student body, and causing grievous distress to the surrounding people.

Senioritis. It is a disease that infects over 90 percent of the Senior population every year, with a ten percent spill over into underclassmen. At other schools, it is even worse. Many people would have you believe that MSJ students are safe from Senioritis, but they’re wrong. The truth is, no one is safe. Anyone can be infected at any time, anywhere.

Causes: Senioritis is caused by the retro virus Apathectis seniorus. The virus travels through the air, and enters your brain, often through your ears. Senioritis attacks your disciplinogens and promotes an excess of procrastinatose. This creates an environment in which the virus is permitted to thrive.

Symptoms: How do you know if you or a friend has been infected? Common symptoms include apathy, missing homework assignments, and unnecessarily belittling comments about

teachers. If the disease progresses, it can lead to more serious symptoms, such as skipping classes and poor test grades. In the final stage, the patient flunks all of his/her classes, is not permitted to walk at graduation, and is forced to repeat Senior year, where the virus can spread even more effectively to other students.

Treatments: No cure has yet been invented for this catastrophic disease, but there are methods of treatment and prevention. If someone you know has the disease, it may be a good idea to start a group study session with them so they don’t fall behind. Suggest they get organized and form a plan to reach graduation without dropping more than a few grades. If nothing works, avoid the person. You don’t want to catch the disease yourself. Also, avoid wearing your iPod for too long. Excessive exposure to earphones can ruin your concentration and make you more susceptible to the virus. If you happen to catch Senioritis, remember to utter any belittling comments into your hands or elbow to prevent the spread.

Senioritis is a terrible disease that affects us all every year. Although the race for the cure may never come to an end, there are many things we can do to prevent its spread. Always be on the alert: constant vigilance is key. You never know where it may strike, even in the middle of a sent ▪

Although there are no vaccines for this disease yet, researchers have proven that studying and showing up to class are successful methods for preventing senioritis. alfaida.files.wordpress.com

Don’t be crabby; support MSJ Boosters

By Aileen Lu & Mekala Neelakantan Staff Writers

It’s that time of year again: people are recovering from the fleeting holiday cheer, semester finals are looming right around the corner, and the Sadie Hawkins’ Dance is approaching rapidly (girls, start thinking about your dates!). However, people tend to forget one exciting event that occurs early every year, the MSJ Crab and Pasta Feed.

Without a doubt, the MSJ Crab and Pasta Feed is the most stomach-satisfying fundraiser of the school year. For only $42 per ticket, diners can feast upon endless dishes of garlic bread, salad, vegetarian pasta, and, of course, crab.

Older customers can enjoy a no-host bar for alcoholic drinks to complement their dinners, while everyone can indulge in dessert to top off his or her meal.

Funds generated by the Crab and Pasta Feed will support the MSJ Warriors’ Booster Club, which sponsors the Athletics department, the Spirit Squad, and the Performing and Visual Arts department. While filling out order forms for the event, participants can check off which sport or performing arts section they wish to donate to, and a percentage of the ticket sales will be given to that division.

However, food will not be the only thing to be offered at the Crab and Pasta Feed;

Feature 13

Monisha Malek

Not many students take life-changing journeys, but for Junior Monisha Malek; her 2009 winter trip to Bangladesh was eyeopening and unforgettable. With the help of nonprofit charity organizations, Agami and SpaandanB, she was able to visit schools and hospitals where she then donated handmade quilts and more than one hundred toys to the underprivileged kids.

working by trying to scrub the floor, trying to sell magazines, popcorn, and everything— just so that they can get a little meal at the end of the day. It’s sad.

SS: Was the trip in any way emotional?

MM: I think I cried at the hospital. They took me to a room where I met this little boy, and when we walked out the doctor told me that he was going to die either today or toSmoke Signal: What inspired you to volun- morrow. The saddest thing is that they didn’t teer? want to tell the dad. All the Monisha Malek: nurses knew, everybody knew, I’ve always gone it was just like a big game. to Bangladesh, but this time I didn’t SS: How do the schools you want to go empty visited compare to an average -handed. It’s such a school here? poor country with MM: It doesn’t. Well, first of so many people, but all, they don’t have electricno one to help them. ity, so when we’re complainLike, the first thing ing about how it’s too cold in you see when you get the classroom, they don’t have out of the airport is anything. people grabbing your shirt, begging. The SS: What was the hardest things that you hear, part of the whole trip?

I think that’s what MM: The hardest part was I motivated me. think, the day I had to leave.

You just hope that maybe courtesy monisha malek SS: How old were you made a difference to five, the kids you visited? six, seven of them, but I realMM: Especially with the poorer schools, ize that’s not a reality. After you go to these it’s basically preschool to eighth grade. By places, you think maybe I should have tried eighth grade, parents say that their kids don’t harder, maybe I could have squeezed in anhave time to go to school every day, because other quilt, maybe I could have squeezed in they need to start working. A lot of 10 and a few more things into my luggage.

11 year old girls get married off, too, and to 40-year-old men. I don’t think anyone de- SS: What are your plans in the future? serves that.

MM: I want to continue this, I don’t want to just stop. Because there’s always somebody SS: When you mean work, what kind of who’s going to Bangladesh, so if I could jobs? make 20 or so quilts every single time and MM: It’s not a pretty picture. I’d love to say send them to the schools, maybe I could that there’s no child labor, but it’s not like give one to everybody. Maybe we can make that. There are young kids out there that are a club, then we could get more support. ▪

DEAR DIARY...

My Final Daze

By Ginger Werner Staff Writer

berkeleychamber.com

raffles and a silent auction will take place as well. Individual programs will benefit from the money made from the charity lottery and bidding during the event.

“100 percent of the profits from the basket raffle and the silent auction will go back to these programs,” says Crab and Pasta Feed Coordinator Susie Renteria.

Items being auctioned include Oakland A’s baseball game tickets, San Jose Sharks hockey game tickets, game systems, sports memorabilia, and even vacation opportunities. As for the baskets, archives each one is themed. For example, a winner could receive a “Movie Night” basket, complete with popcorn and DVDs, or an “iPod” basket, featuring an iPod and several iTunes gift cards, among other coordinated baskets.

The MSJ Crab and Pasta Feed will be held on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010 from 6 to 10 pm at the Newark Pavilion at 6430 Thorton Ave., Newark, CA 94560. For additional information about tickets and high school volunteer opportunities at the event, please call Susie Renteria at (510) 657-2542 or Cindy Oliveira at (510) 656-8467. ▪

Friday, Jan. 21 8:45 am Dear Diary, First semester is nearing its end. Which means one thing: it is time to start studying for finals. I’ll write more later, because I literally just felt my soul shrivel up inside me.

Monday, Jan. 22 4:46 pm Dear Diary, Today, the iParent server was down due to the hundreds of students checking their grades. When I was finally able to log in I saw a pop up saying, “Seriously…you again?”

Wondering what it was referring to, I pulled out my six-inch personal binder of every single paper that has been returned to me in AP Biology this year and compared it to the small, evil numbers on my computer screen. I wasn’t able to find any mistakes. FML. Thursday, Jan. 24 3:12 pm Dear Diary, My studying schedule goes as follows: study in my every waking hour and give up my social life. In doing so, I have begun to neglect my personal appearance. When I returned home today and took off my t-shirt that had molded to the shape of my body, I saw a post-it note on the back of it saying “PLEASE SHOWER!! YOU REEK!!” I wonder if “reek” will be a word on my English final. I think I will put my shower on hold and look into it.

Friday, Jan. 25 6:32 pm Dear Diary, Needing to recharge from my latest allnighter studying session, I went to Starbucks to relax. Sitting down with my green tea, my mind felt idle and my hands felt empty and lost. Fortunately, I had my calculator in my purse and began calculating the score I would need to receive on my final to maintain my GPA. Looking about my surroundings, I discovered dozens of my classmates doing the same. We gave each other a slight nod of recognition and went back to our calculations.

Wednesday, Jan. 27 7:52 am Dear Diary, First day of finals! I organized my four sharpened pencils, eraser, and bottle of Smart Water (it could help me, you never know) on my desk. I adjusted my lucky sweater, took out my rabbit’s foot, apologized to my classmates for grossing them out, and started on my final. After completing it, I fell asleep and dreamed about stoichiometry, so I don’t consider it any studying time wasted.

Wednesday, Jan. 29 2:29 pm Dear Diary, After completing my last question on my last final, I put my pencil down and sat at my desk, feeling liberated. Until next semester—a whole weekend away! I currently plan on showering, and actually associating with human beings for the rest of the day if I haven’t forgotten how. ▪

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The Smoke Signal

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Friday, January 22, 2010

The New Decade

Phoenix Poetry Slam

a. Senior Jesse Ng awes the crowd with his powerful poetry. b. Always a crowd favorite, Senior Abhishek Chowdhury once again provides an entertaining performance. c. Senior Emmeline Wang beautifully delivers her pieces.

Winterball: The Best Gift of All

a. Sophomores Sydney Ha and Stuart Rosete sway to the music. b. Junior Jasmine Thottungal and friends dance the night away. c. MSJ students have fun rocking to the beat of the song. d. Junior Jeffrey Kanemitsu and Freshman Alexa Iwatani share a happy moment.

Friday Activity: Newlyweds

1c

2a

2b

a. Seniors Rachel Chang and Michael Liou dash away in the three-legged race. b. Seniors Anthony Wu and Megan Bernstein fight for the finish in the last challenge. c. The remaining boys practice their culinary skills in making cakes for their signiificant others. d. The boys anxiously await the answers of their partners. e. Senior Natasha Parikh answers a question.

2c 2d

3a

3b

3c 3d

3e

photos by staff writers

: sloka gondala, rishi das, & matt gosen

Friday, January 22, 2010

The Smoke Signal

Why Chick Flicks?

By Niku Jafarnia A&E Editor

I pass around the tissue box to my friends, tears streaming down their faces as they watch Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams embrace one final time. I sit there, annoyed, thinking sarcastically “Woah, definitely didn’t see that one coming.”

The Notebook, the classic “chick flick,” is a movie that I am supposed to like, by means of my gender I am a girl, and I do not like chick flicks. Shocker, right? There is, in fact a reason for this other than me wanting to go against the status quo, rebelling against the

energy on paying attention to every tiny detail in the movie.

Award winning films like The Departed or Crash require audiences to be completely engaged, not only for entertainment but with their thoughts and depth. On the contrary, people watch chick flicks to just take a break from reality and relax with a smile on their face.

It provides a sunny little escape, whereas the [better] films play on deeper emotions and may not leave viewers feeling happier and lighthearted, but more introspective and thoughtful.

There’s also the obvious reason for why many feel the need to

allmoviephoto.com, aceshowbiz.com

norms set by the movie industry. I find these films exasperating, and rather than focusing on the loveydovey, all I can focus on is the predictability and unoriginality. I sit in front of popular movies like The Notebook and How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and blatantly say the entire plot of the movie five minutes in, because of course, they always end in the same fashion. (Happily ever after, of course!) However, on my 16 hour flight back from Italy, I watched not one, not two, not even three, but four chick flicks straight in a row. Do I enjoy torturing myself with movie genres I hate, just for the heck of it? No. I watched these endless chick flicks because I was tired, and honestly did not want to think about the deeper meaning of the film or have to focus all of my

watch these “romantic-comedies”: their desire to escape the imperfections of their problematic romantic lives and fall into the arms of Mr. Perfect for a full two hours. Since we all know by now that there’s no such thing as that perfect relationship with Mr. Right, instead of moving on and dealing with the real world of love, we instead choose to live vicariously through impractical couples for a night to escape the fierce reality that we don’t want to believe in.

So the next time you’ve had a long week and need to take a load off and pretend you’re someone else for a night, pop in a chick flick. Just don’t make a habit of it, or the world will be filled with teary-eyed hopeless romantics, and really, the world has enough problems as it is. ▪

By Mary Lan

and its members?

DW: There are twelve of us: seven seniors, two juniors, and a whole bunch of sophomores. [Senior] Otis [Lee] is the life of the group; he’s always all over the place. [ Senior] Amy [Lam] brings the group up, and I keep the group together.

Everyone has potential to be really great, and all the individuals are very talented.

www.thesmokesignal.org

Arts & Entertainment 15

A World of Vampires

By Anastassia Tselikova

Staff Writer

Daybreakers. Twilight. Even I Am Legend, to an extent. Vampires have infiltrated them all. How have they crept into the most secure and unbiased industry in America: entertainment? Simple. They have always been here. Slowly, they have been taking over the world, subverting the unsuspecting mortals.

If they have lived incognito for so long, and only recently has the news of them begun to spread, then why?

What happened to spark the sudden revelation of a new and dangerous species un-living among us?

It all began with an autobiographical novel, Twilight. This book, written by a vampire under an assumed name, was targeted at the most vulnerable populations: females and teenagers. The obvious appeal of the characters, as well as the simplistic writing and compatibility with the filming made the Twilight series a great success, and interests people from second graders to seniors. It cast the vampires in a good light, and people fell in love with them. Literally. After all, a googly-eyed meal is simple to subdue and devour, whereas a resisting victim would raise a ruckus.

Vampires’ meals are divided into three main subcategories: voluntary, involuntary, and undecided. These are tracked by the presence of vampire merchandise: Edward Cullen T-shirts, Dracula notebooks, vampire Halloween costumes. Whoever has such a mark of honor shall be killed in the most humane way, then drained of blood. Those who vehemently oppose the vampires will die a slow and painful death.

Neutral people who do not care are imprisoned in a movie theatre that

And that’s how it’s done, kids.

staff writer michael feurman

shows 24/7 vampire movies. They are forced to choose sides, and are consumed accordingly.

The increasingly frequent appearance of blood in video games and movies is not surprising, either.

The vampires, being a humane and gentle race, decided to lower the ratings of many films from R to PG, so a wider spectrum of ages can be exposed to blood. No vampire left behind, right?

The average high school seems most affected by the nocturnal hunters. A large majority of the students wish to become doctors, lawyers, or politicians. Those are the most cutthroat, bloodthirsty professions known to mankind, existing for centuries. It is only reasonable that vampires, not sensible people, would be out for blood on a daily

basis as part of their profession.

Finally, 2012 was all a ploy made up by our favorite resident parasites. On that night, millions of people will be gathered outside their houses, sitting targets for the night hunters. Their blood will be harvested and used to help survive the real apocalypse in 2013.

If there are any humans left alive to read this, I warn you all now: resistance is futile! Do what they say, subject your every will to them, buy their merchandise and send gushy love letters to your favorite vampires. They will make your lives easier, and you may get a chance of becoming immortal! Quick, get transformed before supplies run out! Limited time offer on human blood. Valid January 2010 – December 2013. ▪

Artist Spotlight: Syncopasians

Staff Writer

Take a break from all that exhaustive studying for finals. Why not listen to MSJ’s hottest new A cappella group, the Syncopasians?

Their leader, David Wu, a stateranked piano player who can sing (in perfect pitch), arrange music, and beat box, sat down with the Smoke Signal to tell us what makes this star-quality-impressive club so relatable to us Mission students.

Smoke Signal: What does “Syncopasians” mean?

David Wu: An alumnae, Zoe Lu, actually came up with the name. It’s a word play on ‘syncopation’. We changed it to Syncopasians, as in Asians, because we were all Asian at the time, but we’re not just going to have Asians from now on! We wanted to change the name a few months ago, but everyone already knew us by that name so we’re keeping it.

SS: What is the greatest challenge of A cappella?

DW: It’s hard to get everyone coordinated and balanced. We’re all unique and we somehow have to create one group instead of sounding like twelve separate people.

SS: What types of songs do you guys generally sing?

DW: We’re doing covers of Taylor Swift, Boys Like Girls, and Elton John.

SS: What do you represent as an artistic movement that differentiates this group from other A cappella groups?

DW: We just sing. We’re just singers and beat boxers. It was just for fun at first, but we’re taking it more seriously this year. I start yelling at people if they don’t come to rehearsal.

SS: So how did this group get started?

DW: I’m good friends with [Senior] Geoffrey Chen, who is the co-director of this group, and we were in an acapella group called the Ritards. We sang in choir together, so we thought, why not start an A cappella group at school?

SS: How do you guys rehearse and learn songs?

DW: Generally I arrange the songs along with [Sophomore] Merry [Mou], and we sing and practice through rehearsals. I send their parts to them and then teach them.

We all have different musical backgrounds. Geoffrey and I have been reading music for a long time, and we can read it like a book. But for some people who haven’t had training, we have to play it on the piano and have members sing the tune back.

SS: Can you describe this group

SS: What do you like best about

SS: Have you guys entered any competitions or performed anywhere recently?

DW: This is only our second year, so we haven’t entered any competitions. We just recently performed at the Poetry Slam, and we performed at the Charity Fashion show last year which was bad. We were unprepared, and it created a downer performance. It wasn’t energetic.

We’ll do the show again this year.

staff writer joy xu

(From the top down, left to right) Otis Lee, Tien Lu, Amy Lam, Cathy Chen, David Wu, Thu Tran, Elaine Kuo, Merry Mou, Brandon Chen, Geoffrey Chen, Sterling Tarng, Sam Ji

Syncopasians?

DW: I like being able to sing SATB, which is soprano alto tenor base. It’s a different genre from the Ritards because the guys and girls sing together.

SS: What has been the most interesting performance Syncopasians has pulled off?

DW: We sang in the pouring rain at Santana Row with the Ritards in December.

SS: How is the Charity Fashion Show performance going to differ from last year’s? And what are some other upcoming performances?

DW: We have new members, better coordination, and more experience in performing. We’re rehearsing for this mini concert we are planning to hold at school. This year we have a lot of gigs; we’re going to do Multicultural week and Variety Show.

And then we have to audition new people for next year. ▪

16 Arts & Entertainment

www.thesmokesignal.org

The Smoke Signal

Friday, January 22, 2010

Vampire Weekend’s ‘Contra’ imaginarium| a psychedelic joy ride continued from page 1

discovering new things about himself within the Imaginarium. With Ledger’s untimely demise, Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell stepped up to take the role of Tony as he travels through the Imaginarium, allowing all of Ledger’s completed work to be incorporated into the film. Each of the three actors manages to channel Ledger’s charm

Music Picks from the Editorial Board

This Month: Oldies but goodies Albert if you leave by omd Alissa lately by stevie wonder anthony my girl by the temptations christine hellogoodbye by the beatles cynthia tainted love by soft cell elisa I’ve got my mind set on you by george harrison hannah hallelujah by jeff buckley jane eleanor rigby by the beatles jerry Backstreet’s Back by Backstreet boys joseph bohemian rhapsody by queen karen sukiyaki by kyu sakomoto megan boys of summer by don henley niku shine on you crazy diamond by pink floyd rebecca forever young by alphaville sargun jesse’s girl by rick springfield sonya the sounds of silence by simon & garfunkel tanu every breath you take by the police tina criminal by fiona apple Mrs. cohen The rose by bette midler graphics editor albert yuan

into the unique role, revealing new aspects of his very last character.

However, the film is definitely not only about a wager gone awry, which does build up the excitement factor towards the center. The crux lies in the moral quandary that every person faces of how easily people can be swayed by temptation of all sorts.

Tony sees this time and again as he travels into the imagination of the various people he lures there. His change in appearance shows us that he is viewed differently by every person, including himself, which is a rather disconcerting feeling. But even Tony realizes that this is better than being trapped by the labels that exist in present society, too rigid and narrow.

The truth is that people have forgotten how to dream, how to unleash their creativity. For all intents and purposes, people have forgotten how to imagine, which Terry Gilliam, an esteemed former member of the pioneering comedy troupe Monty Python, illustrates to us time and again throughout the film. It is confusing; no doubt, the film didn’t make sense unless one was willing to accept the message it displayed.

The world has lost its magic, and that is indeed not a happy ending.

But who says we still can’t change that? ▪ Rating: B+

Ke$ha’s No P. Diddy

By Michelle Chu

Staff Writer

“I wake up in the morning feeling like P. Diddy. Grab my glasses, I’m out the door, I’m gonna hit this city.” Only Ke$ha can turn these words into a hit single with her “not a care in the world” attitude. With strong beats and catchy tunes, Ke$ha’s new album Animal will find you blasting it from your car at maximum volume.

An overarching theme throughout Animal is plain fun. All her songs are party songs and have no thought process incorporated into them as she sings, “ain’t got no cares in the world, but got plenty of beer.” Song after song is about frivolous topics such as partying at a rich guy’s house, old men hitting on her, or her crush on a taken guy who won’t call her.

Ke$ha’s trademark is her upbeat music and her frank lyrics. Her silly lyrics make her songs fun to sing along to and just that much catchier. Ke$ha’s crazy personality is reflected in her music and her impulsive thoughts are the source of her inspiration.

Songs l i k e “Dancing With Tears in My Eyes” and “Hungover” are slower and show that Ke$ha does

have a more emotional side that comes out when the party is over.

Although these songs are slower and exhibit pain and regret, Ke$ha still incorporates heavy beats into them that convey more a sense of energy than a breakdown.

It’s true that mostly all of Ke$ha’s lyrics have no depth to them, but that’s the kind of music she aims to produce. According to Ke$ha, she wants to “give people something that brings them joy. There are artists who do more serious acoustic stuff, and I really admire them, but what I want to bring to the table is just fun.” With this in mind, Ke$ha has definitely reached her goal.

However, making an album with absolutely no meaning to it is not exactly a worthy objective to work towards. Ke$ha’s album had received poor ratings due to the poor image she gives to American teenagers. Ke$ha’s songs give voices to the trainwreck party girls across America and show just how apathetic they are.

Although Ke$ha’s music will definitel y make you turn up your radio, it is not the type that will m a k e you drive to the store and buy her album. ▪ Rating: C+ images.sugarscape.com

Kicks Edward Cullen’s Sparkly Butt

(From left to right) Rostam Batmanglij, Ezra Koenig, Chris Tomson, and Chris Baio

By Cynthia Kang A&E Editor

What comes to mind when you hear the word “vampire”? A certain sparkling member of the living dead, no doubt. However, I’m referring to the Polo-wearing, Ivy League-bred, indie It boys of Vampire Weekend.

After garnering both popular and critical acclaim with their self-titled debut, they are back with the release of the highly-anticipated Contra.

Vampire Weekend’s debut still remains the gold standard. But with Contra, the group doesn’t even try to mimic their previous style. Electronic rhythms are present throughout the entire album, thanks to fellow band member Batmanglij’s work in Discovery, along with traces of reggae, calypso, and even ska. Sure, they’re still lashing

last.fm

out against rich snobs but it’s in a style that effortlessly blends modern with traditional.

There are glimpses of the old Vampire Weekend, especially in the vibrant, falsetto-filled “White Sky” (not to be confused with version on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon released a year ago) and the summery “Horchata,” with its whimsical keyboard notes and playful lyrics.

However, the fast-paced “Cousins” is what marks the band’s transition. With irregular bursts of bass and an energetic guitar line, it could be the next “A-punk” except for the punk vibe it gives off. And although “California English” might seem like another “Oxford Comma,” from the moment the auto-tune kicks in, it is clear this is a new Vampire Weekend.

The intriguing new sound con-

tinues in the reggae “Diplomat’s Son,” which features a sample from M.I.A. looping in the background that compliments the Caribbean mood.

Vampire Weekend also casts away their happy-go-lucky image with the introduction of two ballads. The heartfelt “Taxi Cab” is a beautiful apology, filled with delicate keyboard lines and orchestral crescendos. This melancholy mood shows up again in the album’s closer, “I think Ur a Contra.” Though the song sounds more like the Dirty Projectors than Vampire Weekend, lead singer Ezra Koenig’s mournful vocals is what stops you from pressing the “skip” button. A contra is a neutral word—it suggests conflict but does not define one side or another as good or bad. This is reflected in the song as the mood shifts between hopeful and dejected.

Vampire Weekend is one of the music industry’s most unique bands. They have a style that is undeniably theirs—no other band has dared to imitate it because they just can’t pull it off. What ultimately endears them to fans is that they are willing to experiment and try out new styles instead of just churning out variations of their old hits. In Contra, Vampire Weekend gives us what we want and more. The hooks are catchier, the rhymes are crazier and combined with synth loops and dancehall beats, Contra proves that the dorky, prep-school boys of Vampire Weekend will continue to charm listeners for years to come. ▪ Rating: B+

Cera Makes ‘Revolt’ Look Good

By Tina Tseng Centerspread Editor

Ladies, admit it: there is just something about a rebellious, confident bad boy that leaves your heart pounding. And gentlemen, face it: at some point in your life, you’ve wanted to be this boy. So, how does one become the suave daredevil of feminine fantasies? The quirky and witty movie, Youth in Revolt, is a coming-of-age story that follows a wistful teenage boy’s attempts to achieve just that.

Predictably, it is the king of all awkward teenage roles, Michael Cera, who plays the gawky and whimsical Nick Twist. Nick is 16 years old—full of hormonal desires, and in love with the enigmatic, sophisticated Sheeni Saunders (Portia Doubleday). Sheeni appreciates Nick’s sincere approach to life, but she’s really looking for someone fearless, adventurous, and French.

Nick, desperate to become Sheeni’s dream man, creates a mustached alter-ego named François who concocts schemes to win Sheeni’s heart.

Unfortunately, these plans eventually lead to the destruction of both his parents’ cars, a five million dollar fire in Berkeley, a stint in drag costume, and other antics that land Nick on the police’s wanted list.

Though humorous, Nick’s ridiculous, one-minded attempts to get the girl are at times too awkward, even with the understanding

Nick (Michael Cera) and Sheeni (Portia Doubleday) share a special moment.

that this is a comedy that involves a teenager’s coming-of-age antics.

Scene after scene of Cera abashedly walking around town wearing only boxers, for whatever reason, leaves the audience jaded, while others are absurdly random; for example, Sheeni’s brother pops out of nowhere and somehow persuades everyone into taking mushrooms. On the whole, however, the dramatic escapades are entertaining, if not sensible, and provide Nick/Francois with ample opportunities to spout subtly clever lines.

Cera, although overused as the awkward teenage boy, fits the character of Nick perfectly. He does branch out slightly in this movie with his role of François, who is

allmoviephoto.com

much more evil and polished than the typical Cera role. Doubleday also pulls off her role; she is believable as the unreachable and dreamy Sheeni. However, her protrayal seems at times one-dimensional and flat rather than mysterious.

Faults and funny stunts aside, the true poignancy of Youth in Revolt lies in its relatability. Anyone who has ever been tired of expectations and conformity will appreciate Nick’s violent attempts to break out of his docile mold. He carries out rebellious fantasies that many of us would never have the guts to enact. Ultimately, it is not Nick’s eccentricity but his courage that wins the audience over.▪ Rating: B

Friday, January 22, 2010

The Smoke Signal

www.thesmokesignal.org

Arts & Entertainment 17

SALANG PASS PASSES THE TEST

By Sonya John & Cynthia Kang

Feature Editor and A&E Editor

feature editor sonya john

Hidden away in the American district, a neighborhood characterized by dingy restaurants and shoddy shops, lies a sanctuary—Salang Pass. This Afghani restaurant stands out from its mundane neighbors with its ornate décor, authentic cuisine, and friendly service.

Cynthia Kang: What struck me as I first walked into the restaurant were the elaborate decorations.

The room accommodates two dining styles. One is modern, with the typical tables and chairs while the other is a traditionally MiddleEastern setting, complete with a sit-down area consisting of low

couches and patterned pillows.

Sonya John: That’s exactly how I felt! I expected the restaurant to reflect its drab exterior. Instead I saw a draped area off to the side, and as we walked through the curtained entrances we saw cultural artifacts such as vases, tea sets, and Hookah pipes adorned on the wall, giving it a museum feel. As we chose a cushion in the corner, we had some trouble getting comfortable.

CK: Even though the sitting area made me feel as if I were in a scene right off of Aladdin, it is slightly impractical. Due to the low tables, we had some difficulty sitting down and accidentally knocked over several delicate tea-sets.

SJ: (laughs) The waiter immediately came over and proceeded to tell us the specials. He was very helpful

and answered all of our questions regarding the cuisine.

CK: After we received our complimentary serving of bread and salad, we decided on the Aushak for the appetizer, which was just Afghani ravioli topped with ground beef in a yogurt sauce.

SJ: This dish tasted unexpectedly Asian, as the ravioli seemed to be wrapped in wonton skins. The leek was fresh and the beef was soft and tangy.

CK: I ordered the Afghani Korma Challow as my entrée. It sounds simple as it is only pieces of grilled chicken smothered in a tomato sauce and served over rice. The sauce, however, blended spices such as cumin and coriander that made the dish flavorful.

SJ: Lost among the plethora of kabob choices, I finally decided on the Combination Kabob with Teka

Beef and Chicken. The entrée was absolutely amazing; the aroma of the dish as the server placed it in front of me heightened my appetite. As I tried the Teka beef and chicken I noticed that it was the perfect combination of soft and crispy with charcoal edges. I was surprised because the spices were not just on the surface; they had seeped in giving the whole piece flavor. The rice that accompanied my dish was rich in masala, which made it perfect just to eat alone.

Even Cynthia loved it—she kept stealing from my dish!

CK: I wasn’t the one that became too “chili-happy” and smothered the kabobs with red chili sauce.

Remember when you couldn’t stop crying?

SJ: OK, let’s not go there! To bring down the heat, we tried the Afghani ice cream, which unfortunately, sounded better

feature editor sonya john

We ordered two entrees, Chicken and Teka Beef Kabob (left) and Korma Challow (right). Both came with generous servings of rice.

Idle Idol Winners, Easily Forgotten

By Diya Roy

Staff Writer

“This is American Idol!” These words have become a familiar sound in over 28 million households in the U.S. and mark the start of the number one rated reality show in the country. American Idol has produced 15 gold, platinum and multi-platinum artists as well as numerous other well-known artists. But out of these 15 “certified” albums, how many come from the actual American Idol winners themselves? How many of these Idols are still well-known in the music world today?

Only seven of these albums come from actual winners, while the other eight artists ranged in place from seventh to runner up. Sure, many people have heard of Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood, but many don’t remember Season Two winner Ruben Studdard or Season Three winner Fantasia Barrino. In contrast, many people are now fans of artists that didn’t win, such as Chris Daughtry and David Archuleta. Sure, some of the winners have found success and shine in the music industry, but what happened to the others who were popular for a short time after Idol but had no success since?

American audiences want music that’s new, fresh and unique. Artists like Lady Gaga and Kanye West appeal to the public because of their originality and their ability

to express themselves in unconventional ways. Not many people would have actually voted for someone like the infamous Kanye West, who is known for his rude remarks and somewhat cocky personality, if he was placed on American Idol.

The contestants have to come with the complete package. They have to have the likeable attitude, the voice in the perfect pitch, the look, the whole “it” factor. But, as we have found out, the perfect pitch has become the norm in the music industry, to the point where it has become boring. In the real world, what matters are the types of music they make, not how much the American public feels like they can relate to them.

Take season eight winner Kris Allen, for example. He was well-mannered, sweet, amiable, but what about his voice? There are countless number of other artists with the same clichéd voice, the same narrow range, the same type of music. Not many people are going to remember him in five to ten years because of his unoriginality.

Winning the prestigious first place prize on American Idol doesn’t necessarily mean instant success. Many of these artists soon fade off the radar due to their generic voices and songs that sound like they’ve been sung a hundred times already. Hopefully, season nine contestants have more of the spark that music audiences across the nation love. ▪

reuters.com, tvovermind.com

Though Kris Allen was the winner of Season Eight, he is relatively unkown compared to the runner-up, Adam Lambert.

feature editor sonya john

For dessert, we had the Afghani ice cream

than it tasted. Though the portion seemed generous, the two scoops of ice cream were swimming in a sea of ice.

CK: The ice cream itself was also flavored with a large amount of rose water and while roses make great fragrances, the lingering taste made me feel as if I were eating soap.

SJ: Overall, this restaurant was truly amazing. For a three-course meal, the bill; only came to around $39.50 With generous portions, personal service, and authentic decorations we left this restaurant fully satisfied.

CK: I agree. We’d recommend this restaurant to anyone with an adventurous appetite. ▪

18 Sports

www.thesmokesignal.org

The Smoke Signal

Friday, January 22, 2010

TEAM SPOTLIGHT: BOYS’ SOCCER

By Albert Yuan

Graphics Editor After losing many of last year’s seniors, the Boy’s Soccer team hopes to continue and expand upon their previous season’s success at MVALs. Led by Senior Captains David Roche, Otis Lee and Ashwin Khurana, the current team consists of eight new freshmen, one new sophomore and two new juniors.

There are six returning juniors and six returning seniors.

Although the coach expected the team to spend much of the season rebuilding, they started out the year with an extremely satisfying positive preseason record proving that they were ready to take on the challenges of the regular season. “We are having another stellar team and we’re expected to make MVAL playoffs again for the second year. In addition we are also expected to qualify for NCS which we haven’t done in a long time,” said Senior Teddy Fong.

With practices that last from right after school until sunset and training that started immediately after tryouts, their skill and hard work are worthy of high expectations.

“Normal practices involve us meeting on the blacktop at 2:45 pm. We always warm up by stretching as a team and running. We used to run four laps around the track or four laps

staff writer mekala neelakantan

Top: Freshman Noah Yang, Juniors Jake Seubert, Neil Marion, Kevin Roche, Zaki Sarwary, and Jonathan Irribarren, Freshman Brandon Facha, Juniors Josh Garrison and Chris Gaines, Senior Ryan Dang, Sophomore Forrest Mortlock, Freshman Michael Lindsay Bottom: Senior Ronak Gajjar, Junior Ethan Plaza, Freshman Kyle Quan, Seniors Teddy Fong and Otis Lee, Freshmen Scott Havard, Mizan Rahman, and Adam Peavey Not Pictured: Seniors David Roche and Ashwin Khurana, Freshman Matt Dynin

around the soccer field, but now we don’t run that much. We then proceed to drills that usually involve passing. From there we divide into teams and fight for possession of the ball or play a live game of soccer,” said Fong.

The team started off MVALs with an unprecedented 4-0 win over Irvington. Even though they aren’t undefeated, they have continued to compete in league. At this rate, the team expects to qualify for MVAL playoffs,

an accomplishment that, until last year, had not been achieved in a long time. With seven more games remaining in the MVAL season, the young team hopes to overshadow their predecessors by making it to NCS. Unfortunately, their season hasn’t gone without bumps. Aside from assimilating the newer members who have less experience, the team has also had to work around injuries. Returning starting goalie Senior Ronak Gajjar was injured during the Winter Classic Tournament. Ronak’s replacement Freshman Brandon Facha was also injured, leaving the team with two new goalies. However, injuries didn’t deter the team from competing and playing at their highest standard.

Overall, their team motto “Ubuntu,” the prioritization of relationships with others and the community rather than the individual, is clearly exhibited in their performance both on and off the field. “We are really close as a team and we play with amazing chemistry.

Even when we’re losing, we still play hard … we have great morale, a great coach, a great team, and great talent,” Fong said.

The Boys’ Soccer team had their last game on Jan. 20, 2010 against the Washington Huskies. Their next game will be tonight at TAK Stadium against James Logan. Come out and cheer the team to victory. ▪

ANKITA AGHARKAR: HARVARD’S JEREMY LIN CHAMPION OF THE SNOW RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT RACE

By Jordan Zhang

Staff Writer Junior Ankita Agharkar is a skiing and snowboarding prodigy, hitting the slopes almost every weekend in the winter to train for competitions. She has won several awards, including a gold medal at the Junior Olympics.

SS: What is your favorite trick?

AA: My favorite trick that I can do is an inverted aerial, but more specifically it’s called a wildcat. Honestly, it’s my favorite because I can do it for sure without falling. I just love doing tricks in general because I can’t do any of that stuff (even a back flip) on the ground.

SS: What is the best food/drink to have after snowboarding?

AA: Everything tastes good because I’m really hungry afterwards, especially after competitions. I’m usually too nervous to eat before a competition.

staff writer mekala neelakantan

Smoke Signal: How did you get involved in skiing and snowboarding? Which one do you like more?

Ankita Agharkar: My parents got me into skiing when I was four, because they’ve been doing it forever.. My brother actually got me into snowboarding when I was ten. He switched over, and it looked fun so I did too. I like skiing more because I don’t fall as much. I do slalom for skiing. It’s for speed and you go straight down. For snowboard I do half pipes and aerials. I fall most of the time when I’m practicing a trick, but I make sure I don’t fall when I’m performing.

SS: How many snowboards/skis do you own?

Do you name them?

AA: I have three or four snowboards and two sets of skis. My favorite one is a blue Burton snowboard because I’ve used it a lot for tricks and it doesn’t scratch. I don’t name them because then I would get attached to them and if they scratched it would be terrible!

SS: What is training like for skiing and snowboarding?

AA: There’s tons of conditioning, but skiing and snowboarding both emphasize movement over actual muscle tone so a lot of the conditioning focuses on your balance and coordination. For snowboarding, we practice aerials on a trampoline to make sure we can actually do them before we go on the slopes.

Ski training, especially for slalom, is just a lot of repetitions, kind of like what people do for swimming I guess. You go down the same courses hundreds of times and just keep improving your technique and speed.

SS: What is your most memorable ski/snowboard incident?

AA: I remember my accidents more than anything. One time I did a jump and I didn’t check around. I landed on somebody. I was fine but they weren’t. You should always check in front before doing a trick because people fall a lot on the half pipe.

courtesy ankita agharkar

Snow sprays up as Junior Ankita Agharkar explosively carves her way downhill on her snowboard.

SS: How do you balance school, ski/snowboard, and any other extracurricular activities you have?

AA: I had to drop out of some honors classes.

I also do choral, flute, and dance, but I’m not involved in them as much as I am with snowboarding.

SS: What are your future plans for skiing and snowboarding?

AA: I’d love to keep skiing and boarding, and hopefully I’ll go to an East Coast college where that will be easier. Even if I stop competing, I’ll definitely keep going with my family just for the fun of it! I never want to stop. I’ll find a guy who’s a snow bunny too! ▪

By Tanu Patel

Web Editor It was just another Saturday night of basketball at Leavey Center, home of the Santa Clara University Broncos—or was it? For the first time of the season, Leavey Center had a sell-out crowd, but not because the home team was particularly good; the majority of the crowd was there to see phenomenon Jeremy Lin. For Lin, a senior on the Harvard University basketball team, that game was a “coming home” event of sorts. Because he graduated from Palo Alto High School, Lin has a large fan base in the Bay Area, all of which, it seemed, was in the stands wearing black T-shirts (Harvard’s alternate jersey color is black) that said, “We Believe” on the front and “Jeremy Lin Show” on the back.

But it isn’t just the Bay Area that is abuzz with Lin fever; he’s talked about everywhere he goes. Which leaves us to ask, what’s all of the hype about? Who is Jeremy Lin? Some say he is the up-and-coming Steve Nash: unknown, underestimated, and brilliant. He has put Harvard basketball on the map, by giving the school its first opportunity to compete in a NCAA conference in 64 years.

With his average 17 points, 4.7 assists and rebounds, 1.3 blocks, and 3 steals per game, and a field goal percentage of 33 percent, the 6’3” point guard stands out. His stats perfectly match those of many NBA players. And simply searching his name on Google brings up pages upon pages of blogs and news articles expounding on the nature of his ethnicity: Asian-American. With less than 0.5 percent of Division I Men’s Basketball players being of Asian-American descent, his background is destined to bring up controversy and debate. And the fact that he’s good just adds to the mix. But should we even be having such a discussion? Aren’t we a progressive enough society that we don’t look at race as a defining factor, even in sports?

Maybe not. There are people who believe that supporting Lin and thus shining light on his abilities, is the only way he will get drafted to play in the NBA. Their opinion is that simply playing as well as he does won’t get him noticed because of his ethnicity. To back up their case, they point to his high school recruitment experience.

When he was at Palo Alto High School, Lin led his team to a state championship game victory over nationally ranked Mater Dei High School. Therefore, it’s surprising that he wasn’t offered a single Division I scholarship to play basketball. Many claim

this overlook by recruiters was a slight on the Asian American race, which is entirely possible.

However, Asian-Americans aren’t the only people being discriminated against by the NBA: there is an overall lack of diversity. This horrific oversight could have pertained to any player that doesn’t fit the normal basketball player mold. It’s widely known that the typical NBA player is (usually) African American or (maybe) Caucasian.

But Lin’s recruitment experience was four whole years ago. And one can just as easily argue that the reason there aren’t many Asian-Americans, or people of other ethnicities in the NBA and college basketball, is be-

slamonline.com

Point guard Jeremy Lin is a college hoops star, and no one should be surprised for the wrong reasons.

cause there is a lack of interest in basketball in those communities. After all, most parents aren’t like Lin’s parents, who would take him to the YMCA after homework every single day just to play basketball and shape his raw potential into polished talent.

In any case, the argument can go both ways. The only way we’ll truly find out what forces are at work behind the lack of diversity in professional basketball (and all sports in general) is when Lin does or does not get drafted. But whatever the case, his ethnicity should not be a part of the question. Ideally, we should all be looking beyond race as a defining factor. After all, his race didn’t help him become the only player to rank in the top ten in his conference in points, rebounds, blocks, assists, field goal percentage, free throw percentage, and 3-point percentage last year. Just watching Lin play proves that anyone can be great - and it’s time that everyone realized it. ▪

20 Sports

www.thesmokesignal.org

The Smoke Signal

Friday, January 22, 2010

WINTER SPORTS STANDOUTS

By Grace Han, Elisa Ting, Joseph Teng & Anthony Wu Staff Writer, Graphics Editor and Sports Editors

BOYS’ BASKETBALL: EUGENE CHEN

BOYS’ BASKETBALL: SHERMAN SANDHU

Plain statistics don’t show Junior Eugene Chen’s significant role as the point guard of the Boys’ Basketball team. However, Chen wasn’t always a playmaker since he began in second grade; he primarily played as a power forward up until junior high. Now a very efficient ballhandler, Chen focuses on creating plays and making passes. For Chen, there is no offseason. After the regular season is over, he competes in Asian leagues and plays on MSJ’s summer league team. A key to his success is his familiarity with the plays and his ability to adapt to the defense. When asked about the team’s current injuries, Chen said, “We may look banged up right now, but when we heal, we’ll compete for a spot in MVAL.”

Scoring 21 points, sinking three threepoint shots, and grabbing numerous boards against Irvington, Senior Captain Sherman Sandhu is a force to be reckoned with. A versatile power forward, Sandhu relies on his jumping and shooting skills. He began playing competitively freshman year, working hard to reach the level he is at today by training and competing year round. During the offseason, he attended open gym, summer league, team camps, and conditioning sessions. He also spent a lot of time playing pick-up games at Cancer Park. Sandhu said, “Our team has the potential to qualify for the playoffs and from there we hope to make a run against the league’s top teams.”

Point guard and Senior Captain Rachel Chang was recognized with December of 2009 West Coast Jamboree’s Tournament All-Stars award for her outstanding performance. Chang began playing in third grade, but was always interested in basketball because of her dad’s passion for the game. Years later, Chang continues to develop her fundamentals by playing for many traveling teams and other leagues. As the “Most Improved Player” on JV, Chang was awarded the 2008 All-Tournament award at a tournament in Merced. Receiving the Captain’s Award as a sophomore on Varsity, Chang plays her best every game and currently has single-game season highs of 13 points and five rebounds.

Junior power forward Jessica Woo has been a Varsity Girls’ Basketball starter since freshman year. Woo started playing basketball in elementary school when her friends convinced her that she had much potential due to her height advantage. Beginning in fourth grade, Woo polished her explosive skills every year, competing in multiple leagues. Seven years later, Woo’s love for the game shines every time she steps on the court. Her hard work has been recognized with various honors, including the MVAL Defensive Player of the Year award she received during her sophomore year. Her season highs of 18 points and 11 rebounds were accumulated in a game against Arroyo.

Strongly committed to becoming an excellent wrestler, Senior Captain Nathan Ellebracht has dedicated all of his high school years to wrestling. Competing at 140 pounds, Ellebracht isn’t one of those bulky athletes who rely on brute strength; instead, he focuses on using his weight effectively and on shifting to advantageous body positions.

Recently at the Healdsburg Tournament, he attained a record of three wins and no losses, pinning all three of his opponents.

Feeling that the team is at its peak this year, Ellebracht said, “I expect a lot from us this year, as do the coaches, and even more in the next few years when our strong juniors and sophomores become experienced seniors.”

Junior Leo Yang was recently named Wrestler of the Week by the MSJ Wrestling staff for his exceptional leadership skills and dedication to practice. Yang practices two hours daily in the mini-gym and spends his Sundays running twice around Lake Elizabeth. After claiming his first championship at the 2009 Granada Mat Classic, he continues to amaze in MVAL. Having already pinned nine opponents, Yang’s season is off to a great start, and he’s placed in all four tournaments.

His other performances include seventh place in the Bay Area Invitational, second at the Headsburg Dual, and third place in the Newark Iron Man tournament. Yang is strongly motivated to keep up his success.

Senior Captain Otis Lee started playing soccer at the age of four. Practices and traveling became routine as Lee gained success, including a league title with the FC Fremont Sonics. But Lee’s soccer career hit a speed bump at the beginning of high school when he was cut from the JV team and opted to play freshman basketball instead. A year later, Lee made the Varsity squad as a sophomore, skipping JV entirely. Since then, Lee has anchored the team defensively from the sweeper position. Lee isn’t without offensive highlights, however. “In one of the final games last year, I pushed up and scored from the corner of the penalty box,” said Lee. “It was cool because defensemen aren’t expected to do that.”

A soccer player’s success is often increased by an early career launch, and Senior Captain David Roche is no exception. Roche picked up soccer before he started elementary school and went on to play for many teams as he grew older, including indoor soccer and six years of Select soccer. Roche has been on the Varsity team since his freshman days and is a team captain for the second straight year. Roche said, “I hope to use my second season of captain experience to not only lead our team to victory but to also help our players become better people.” Expect Roche, with his leadership qualities and well-known scoring prowess feared throughout the league, to do all that and more.

For Freshman Kristin Moyer, soccer runs in her blood. Following the footsteps of her older sister and leading the way for her younger one, Moyer has been playing since she was five years old. In her first year at MSJ, Moyer is the starting sweeper for the Varsity team and has played a huge part in its success. The past five years, Moyer has been on a Division 1 club called Mission Valley United. In 2009, the team had a superb season, winning tournaments in LA and Las Vegas. Moyer was invited to participate in the Olympic Development Program and is on the U-15 team. “I hope to help MSJ dominate league and make NCS,” said Moyer. With her talent, there is no limit to where Moyer could go next.

Fourth-year Varsity athlete and Senior Captain Amrun Singh has been a force since she arrived. Singh discovered her love for soccer after joining a team at age six. Currently, she plays for the California Northstars and also the California North State Team, which is a part of the Olympic Development Program. With the latter team, Singh traveled to Idaho, where she battled other squads from around the state for a spot on the Regional team. Singh said, “It was a wonderful and rewarding experience.” At MSJ, she has had an impressive career. Since being named Rookie of the Year in 2007, Singh has made First Team All-League and received the Scholar Athlete award in both her sophomore and junior years.

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL: RACHEL CHANG

WRESTLING: NATHAN ELLEBRACHT

BOYS’ SOCCER: OTIS LEE

GIRLS’ SOCCER: KRISTIN MOYER

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL: JESSICA WOO

WRESTLING: LEO YANG

BOYS’ SOCCER: DAVID ROCHE

GIRLS’ SOCCER: AMRUN SINGH

photos by staff writers mekala neelakantan and vishal yadav