The Smoke Signal Vol. XLIV No. 6

Friday, February 20, 2009

The Smoke Signal

New gas standards help environment

ucdavis.edu

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger plans to lower California’s gas emissions with The Low Carbon Fuel Standard.

By Megan Bernstein Staff Writer On Jan. 9, 2009 Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger released statements issuing a new Low Carbon Fuel Standard directive for the state of California. The Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) aims to reduce the carbon emissions of California and as a result lower the state’s impact on worldwide global warming.

Schwarzenegger announced that the LCFS will call for all state fuel providers and car manufacturers to modify their products to achieve lower carbon intensity, thus reducing the states total output. California currently relies on petroleum-based fuels for 96 percent of its transportation needs, and adjusting the carbon intensity of those fuels is forecasted to make a major impact on state’s total carbon emissions. Estimations predict that by the year 2020 the LCFS will reduce 10 percent of total vehicle fuel based carbon emissions and replace 20 percent of all fuels used for transportation needs with more environmentally friendly sources. In addition, the legislation intends to replace more cars on California roads with greener, hybrid vehicles.

Aside from directly reducing emissions from passenger vehicle fuel consumption, the LCFS is expected to help expand scientific efforts and create thousands of jobs in the regulation and research of new standards and technologies. The governor stated that the LCFS legislation will be a major improvement in California’s attempts at lowering dependence on foreign oil.

Schwarzenegger took the directive a step further by writing to President Obama requesting a waiver allowing California to be exempt from the Clean Air Act. The goal was to permit California rights to set stricter automobile and fuel standards for the state than currently specified.

Obama’s action to allow the Environmental Protection Agency to review California’s request is expected to help Governor Schwarzenegger to move forward and push for more aggressive environmental regulation in the state. With the new Low Carbon Fuel Standard and upcoming regulations supported by the Obama administration, state residents can expect a large movement toward environmentally friendly transportation industries over the next decade. ▪

MSJ goes cyber

By Henna Jethani Staff Writer MSJ Talk for Parents MSJ Talk, a Yahoo group, is a reference blog targeted towards MSJ parents. General school announcements as well as student bulletins are updated on a daily basis.

Mission Possible established the Yahoo group in 2004, but it was hardly used until MSJ Parent Robert Hou promoted its use.

During parent–teacher conferences this past November, Mission Possible members handed out flyers to raise awareness about the existence of the online tool. Currently, the active group has 166 members, the majority being parents; membership is expected to gradually expand. Other local high schools also have Yahoo groups; MSJ Talk is relatively smaller in comparison.

The group is open to discussions, comments and questions about the district and the school in an effort to aide all MSJ parents.

Mission Possible President Lee Ann Williamson said, “It’s a great community tool and we hope it keeps going. Each new president of Mission Possible will understand that this is a responsibility of ours.”

Missionpedia for Students Missionpedia is an online survival guide for Mission students. The URL to access the

site is http://missionpedia.co.cc. The site was created in December 2008, by Sophomore Roger Chen. Even though it was created relatively recently, it has already received several thousand hits.

The high response rate shows that Missionpedia is popular amongst all students who need helpful tips to earn A’s from their respective teachers. The site includes an online directory, from which the students can read a descriptive summary about each teacher, his or her grading system, and class difficulty.

It is a source of information to clear up any misconceptions about classes or any other issues regarding the school. All students are welcome to post helpful information about teachers and classes on the wiki.

In addition, Missionpedia has a team of moderators prepared to terminate impertinent comments within the 24 hours they were posted. The site does not tolerate any “ratings” given to teachers, and anyone who posts offensive information about teachers is subject to an IP or username ban.

The wiki is expected to expand to include club information as well. There is a club directory, ready for posts from all MSJ viewers.

Chen aims to prepare MSJ students for the next school year.

He said, “We encourage more people to write on the wiki before registrations.” ▪

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News 3

UCs modify admissions policy

By Raymond Chou & Gina Liu Web Editor & Staff Writer The University of California (UC) Board of Regents, the 26 member board who oversees the UC system, recently voted to change the undergraduate admissions to give students from all racial groups as well as those from low-performing schools a better chance of admission. These changes will begin with current high school freshmen who will attend UCs in the fall of 2012.

Under the new policy, the number of “ag” courses required will stay the same, as well as the minimum GPA of 3.0 (weighted). The SAT Reasoning or ACT with writing tests also continue to be mandatory, but the two SAT Subject Tests will no longer be required.

This is due to the extensive faculty research that indicated that SAT Subject Tests contribute very little to the overall application process after GPA and SAT or ACT scores are considered. However, students can still take the tests and submit their scores in their application.

The change is predicted to make UC admission test requirements more similar to that of other public universities. UC is the only public university in the nation to require two SAT Subject Tests.

In addition, the number of students guaranteed admissions to at least one UC campus through the Eligibility in Local Context (ELC) program, based on class rank at their high school, will grow from 4 percent to 9 percent. The top 9 percent of high school graduates statewide will also be guaranteed admission, reduced from the current 12.5 percent.

In conjunction with last month’s announcement of a reduction of 2,300 students admitted this fall, and possible continued

cuts, this easing of admission requirements is likely to increase the competition for each slot of the freshman class. UC officials, though, say that the changes in admission policy will not affect the number of spots available at the campuses or the number of students who enroll but are intended to increase the number of students who are eligible to apply. Based on 2007 data from the California Postsecondary Education Commission, the total California high school graduates to be eligible are estimated to increase from 13.4 percent to 21.7 percent.

These changes are said to help move the UC admission process away from being purely mechanical. With the admission requiring less standardized testing, which backers of the new policy say can be coached, UC hopes to be able to reflect the state’s population in its own.

“The new admissions policy will increase opportunity for students by expanding the number of applications our campuses review, while continuing to produce a freshman class that is just as qualified as in years past, including by the traditional measures of high school grades and test scores,” said UC President Mark G. Yudof.

Critics, though, view the changes as a way to get around the state affirmative action ban in public university admissions.

Because the new policy will allow more low-income students, particularly AfricanAmericans and Latinos, to become eligible for admittance, early projections have showed that the number of Asian Americans admitted may decrease. Yudof said on Thursday, however, that the projections may prove inaccurate as Asian American students will shift their focus from the SAT Subject tests to the SAT Reasoning and ACT exams. ▪

4 Opinion

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Smoke Signal

Mission San Jose High School Est. 1964 Vol. 44, No. 6 | February 20, 2009

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41717 Palm Ave. Fremont, CA 94539 (510) 657-3600 Editors-in-Chief Sophie Diao, Mala Neti News Vidya Mahavadi, Amy Mao Opinion Julia Harrell, Marianna Mao Feature Lena Liu, Hannah Scobel Centerspread Amanda Kwan, Natalie Yang A&E Vicraj Gill, Eric Sun Sports Ryan Tanakit, Audrey Tseng Graphics Cici Cao, Jerry Ting Web Raymond Chou, Lucy Liu Tech Abhay Malik, Albert Yuan Ads Rebecca Gao, Sargunjot Kaur Business Victoria Gu Circulation Derek Yueh Events Megan Bernstein, Clara Ma Writers & Photographers Andre

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Friday, February 20, 2009

The Smoke Signal

Jules of Wisdom

MAOTH off!

Hard Times

Generation X

By Julia Harrell Opinion Editor

It’s news to no one that middle- and lower-class citizens are bearing the brunt of the current economic trauma being played out in the United States and around the world. I knew that things were changing with regards to money in my personal economic world, and certainly not for the better, but I have only recently begun to understand how harsh the situation is.

Thousands of Silicon Valley engineers have been told to clean out their desks and leave their offices as a result of companies trying to drastically cut costs. Layoffs in the high-tech world are steadily increasing and my dad was one of the unlucky ones to get a pink slip.

To make matters worse, the company my mom freelances for halted all work and shut its doors to try and avoid bankruptcy, leaving my mom and dozens of others who worked for the company unpaid.

My happy-go-lucky middle class bubble has burst, and instead of using my bank account solely for movies tickets and shoes, I will now be facing the unhappy reality that most Americans are accustomed to when it comes to finances.

I am now responsible for paying for all of my extra expenses, such as car insurance, gas, my cell phone with its unlimited texting plan, clothes, and pretty much anything else that isn’t specifically required to sustain life.

I figured that wasn’t such a bad break, that I would just go out and pick up a part-time job to cover my once automatically covered ex-

By Marianna Mao penses. It’s not as though I’m the 21st century Oliver Twist trying to earn a financial a break in the tough streets of Fremont…right?

Little did I realize how hard finding a job would actually be. After all, if the vast majority of unemployed adults in this country can’t find work, how am I, a relatively workforce-naïve 17 year-old, expected to?

Instead of pitying myself and crying about my situation through Facebook status updates, I continued my job search, but to no avail.

Almost no one is hiring, mainly because they either can’t afford to hire any new employees or are overwhelmed with applications far more qualified than mine for a single job opening.

Alas, my vision of the humming capitalistic machine that America once was has been reduced to nothing more a stack of depressing bank statements and announcements of dismal financial aid offerings. I once hoped that my days after high school would be filled with frolicking and freedom, not serious concerns about paying for college and finding a job.

I know that the economy will probably get worse before it gets better, and while that news may seem rather depressing, I take comfort in knowing that generations of young people like myself have managed to get through economic troubles such as this relatively unscathed. If they were able to get through it, I sure as hell can, too. ▪ Send letters to the editor to opinion@thesmokesignal.org

Opinion Editor

When was the last time you spent an afternoon alone, with no cell phone, iPod, or Internet? You probably can’t remember, and it’s little surprise. We are the children of the 21st century, and we grew up alongside fledgling broadband and cell phone companies. Immediacy is second nature to us—but our dependency on being plugged in makes it easy to forget that sometimes, we end up missing out.

Picture this: you’re standing by yourself at the movies waiting for your friends to show up. You whip out your phone and pretend to be occupied with a text, call, or email.

You’re not bored; you just don’t want the strangers around you to think that you’re a loser. Fingers tapping away at a keyboard sends the people around you a message: I’m connected. I’m talking to real people. I’m not a loner.

In a world where relationships seem to thrive on networking and maintaining connections, being connected to the “grid” is an important social lifeline. Our lives are plastered all over sites like Facebook—photos from sleepovers and parties (how come I didn’t get an invitation?), reminders for student activities, personal lists detailing 25 useless facts about you that I really didn’t want to know in the first place. The ability to remain in contact through such social networks creates a self-feeding anxiety that when we disconnect, we get left behind.

But in the end, the urge to stay in touch through convenient means

like Internet and texting only devalues our relationships. “Friendships” defined by buddy lists and friend requests on Facebook are nothing but bits of data stored in a computer chip. Forming more connections with larger numbers of people becomes easier by the day, but that comes at a cost— wholesale social links are flimsy and so easy to maintain that they are virtually meaningless. Furthermore, online chatting and texting are artificial means of communication, passing over the dynamics involved in developing real relationships. Pushing a few buttons and pressing send is much easier than learning to deal with people faceto-face but fails to develop social skills and important non-verbal aspects of communication.

Technology has rendered solitude a foreign concept, practically anathema, to our generation, and we have firmly pushed it away only because we are afraid of it. We would rather stay within our comfort zones, reinforced by familiar contacts and buffered in a protective zone of security, than face the things that disturb us the most: uncertainty, a lack of control, and the unknown. Though I can hardly picture my life without my phone and computer, I neither want nor need to live with technology as a crutch. Try it. Deactivate your Facebooks, sign off AIM, and stop checking your phone 24/7.

You might just discover that you like what’s left behind. ▪ Send letters to the editor to opinion@thesmokesignal.org

Sex-Ed Progresses

New curriculum will be effective

By Hannah Scobel Feature Editor

For the ’09-’10 school year, Hopkins Junior High School is planning on adopting the FLASH curriculum for teaching sex education. The reason for this switch is that the district is long overdue for a change; what was once strictly abstinence-based is now leaning more toward providing alternatives, such as birth control. This new curriculum is finally in step with the current times, focusing on the success rate rather than the failure rate of birth control and informing students on how to protect themselves from unwanted pregnancies and STDs. This newly adopted FLASH sex education is highly controversial, as it is branching away from the traditional abstinence-only method that many districts still insist on using. It is argued that when teaching about drugs, schools do not say to use a clean needle if one wishes to take the risk and shoot up. They do not teach to put on a seatbelt if planning to drink and drive. So why should they teach the use of contraceptives when it is believed that teens should not be partaking in sexual activity anyway? Because unlike drugs and driving under the influence, sex is a basic human act that is not directly detrimental to one’s health.

Hopkins Junior High is not the first to make the switch. According to reports from the Guttmacher Institute, 66 percent of schools in the United States have strayed from the abstinence only education and are now providing information about safe sex. As

the teen birth rates keep rising, the new approach has taken into account that six in ten women and five in ten men have had sex by their eighteenth birthday. Obviously the abstinence-only method has not been working, and it is time to start protecting teens instead of failing to deter them. It is harmful to keep young adults ignorant about the methods of preventing STDs and unwanted pregnancies since many are choosing to ignore the warnings of the risks of sex.

Studies held at the Guttmacher Institute revealed that between 1995 and 2002, 14 percent of the decline in teen pregnancy was due to teens refraining from having sex. 86 percent of the decrease, however, resulted from contraceptive use. Since 75 percent of sexually active teens had been instructed about abstinence before the first time they had sex, this means that the majority of the teenage population simply was not listening and went ahead and did as they pleased. Since the implementation of the safe sex curriculum, the number of teens using contraceptives has increased, therefore decreasing the number of STDs spread and unwanted pregnancies in the sexually active teen population.

The Fremont Unified School District’s decision to switch from an abstinence-based curriculum to one that encompasses alternatives is in step with the changing times and policies of schools nation-wide. Adolescents now will receive the education they need to make important decisions for themselves. ▪

Friday, February 20, 2009 The Smoke Signal

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Opinion 5

Marquee Purchase Highlights Communication Gap

By Sonya John & Tanu Patel

Staff Writers Just recently, MSJ ASB raised funds for the installation of a brand new marquee which displays high definition messages on Mission Blvd. However, had we gone through the halls of MSJ a month earlier and asked any student if he or she knew about plans to install a new marquee, we would most probably be met with confused looks of bewilderment and an occasional

quee was proposed and approved by the student council which consists of club officials. Unfortunately, due to the difficulty of accurately representing over 2000 students, council is not a pure democracy.

As a result, many students were uninformed about the marquee, and thus unhappy that funds were used in such a “frivolous” manner.

Many students only learned that a new marquee was being built when ASB officers sent parents a note in

“ Shouldn’t the marquee...have required a greater consensus than what council has to offer?

“no.”

Why wouldn’t students have been aware of plans for a new marquee? While the proposal for a new marquee was entirely in accordance with ASB procedures as dictated by ASB’s Constitution, it, at best, did not involve more than one-twentieth of MSJ’s student population.

The plan, devised by MSJ administrators, was pitched to the ASB officers who agreed upon it. Later, the plan to purchase a new mar-

”

the mail requesting donations for the marquee.

Shouldn’t the decision to install a new marquee, a fairly large and expensive structure that would cost $44,000, have required a greater consensus? Shouldn’t the students of MSJ have been more informed about the installation of a marquee?

The root of this problem lies in the communication gap created by both ASB officials and students.

Student council, held weekly in C120, is a nominal open forum for club officials to voice their opinions regarding school issues. However, this “officiating” system instituted in student council is hardly effective.

Although club officers are expected to represent the entire student body, they don’t know what they will be voting for ahead of time, so they can’t ask the students they are supposed to represent for input. As far as they are concerned, voting as fast as possible allows them to get back to lunch.

Only two motions stand between passing and rejecting expenditures, and with kids scrambling to get their names written on checks and receive attention, this requirement is easily met. There is rarely an open debate of the passage of funds, which is essential to determining the utility of a fund. In the case of the funds for the marquee, there was no deliberation on the usefulness and necessity of the new structure.

Instead of simply asking if there are any objections, ASB officers should lead student council members in a mandatory debate by explaining each important proposition and asking for two arguments for and against it. At the same time, club officials should realize their

staff writer jordan zhang

job is to represent the members of their club.

However, club officials in the student council are not only to blame.

When elected, ASB officers may approve of proposals without fully considering the people they were chosen to represent. One thing hampering ASB officers is the difficulty of remaining in contact with those who voted for them.

In effect, the only way to ensure complete student compliance with school expenditures is to increase student awareness; there are many ways the system can be corrected.

Student council procedures should be cleaned up to maximize partici-

pation and discussion. Though many students may feel intimidated by the close-knit Leadership II commmunity, they should feel a sense of solidarity. In order to foster that sense of camaraderie, ASB officers should continue using their Facebook groups after election time to run ideas by the students, or create other methods to keep in touch. In turn, students should get involved whenever possible; for example, they should actually attend and pay attention in student council. After all, students who don’t at least attempt to get involved have no reason to complain about the passage of unfavorable propositions. ▪

The school just raised $44,000 for a new marquee. Tell us what you think.

“I think the marquee is a waste of money. Since we might have closed campus next year, we should have used the money for the cafeteria. We should have also used the money to improve our facilities, like the pool.

Not a lot of people even look at the marquee.” -Ginger Werner, 10

“The marquee should be in the horseshoe rather than in the front of the corner of the school because it would be more effective. Most of the students gather in the horseshoe and parents drop off their kids there, so the marquee would be viewed more.”

-Ryan Lee, 12

“We could have used the money for other projects. Sure it looks nice, and it’s good for advertisements, but most people don’t do anything with it. My parents and I look at the new marquee when we pass the school, and then we drive away. The money should go to things more important to students, like keeping counselors and limiting class sizes.” -Susan Kang, 11

“It’s ridiculous. Don’t you think the money could be put to better things, like equipment for classrooms, Scantron machines, or a heater for the chemistry building? It looks good, but $44,000 can be used for much better things than a board with flashing lights.” -Stephanie Ge, 11

“It’s definitely noticeable and everyone can see the events because of the bright colors. It attracts people’s attention and I like how we can acknowledge friends’ birthdays and make them feel special. The old marquee was so plain and the new one looks a lot better.” -Jeanette Lau, 12

“I thought it was pretty decent. It’s better looking than before. It’s more noticeable too, and a lot of people have said it looks really good. Even though it’s kind of a waste of money especially in an economic slow-down, it’s still really nice looking.” -Sabrina Yeh, 12

“I think that it’s a waste that the school is spending this money on the marquee when the money could be used on other subjects like sports, classrooms, or a better gym. Maybe this is why we’re so poor; because all of the money goes to useless projects like this one.” -Paul Chen, 11

“The money was used well. Other things, such as textbooks, school supplies, and teacher payments, don’t go through ASB. ASB raised the money by itself for several years, so ASB has the right to decide where the money goes.” –Kevin Hoang, 12

6 Opinion

The Smoke Signal Friday, February 20, 2009

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The Debate on Secularism:

Stick with Tradition

versus

God’s Gotta Go

By Niku Jafarnia Staff Writer

Secularism is a timeless controversy that has plagued kingdoms, empires, and governments all over the world. Shall government be its own entity, separate from the guidance of religious values, or should a government be one with religion, dictated strictly by the words of a particular faith?

The United States of America was founded as a secular state, government ruled by law with people free to practice the religion of their choice. As much as our country remains secular, it is undeniable that though religious beliefs are not the governing law, they are very much a part of the United States and its history, and should continue to be. To deny that would be a mistake.

Though some push for the US government to become completely separate from any religious belief, such actions are ignorant of the history of this country. The early United States of America was first colonized by the Puritans, a strictly religious group of separatist Christians whose core values and beliefs still echo in our laws today. Basic ideals teaching people not to harm, cheat, or steal are reflected by the government system still used today; murder, fraud, and robbery are all punishable by law. These core ideals are found in not only Christianity but in numerous faiths prominent in this country; ideas don’t have to be followed verbatim but are arguably a reasonable basis for our system of law.

Aside from our country’s roots, many American traditions are said to be too strongly tied to religion, Christianity in particular.

Though Christianity does not represent every diverse individual in a country as large as the US, it has been the primary religion for the majority of our history. References to God in American traditions such as the Pledge of

staff writer peter gao

Allegiance, the inauguration of the President, and the aphorism “In God we Trust” on the dollar bill, are historic, purely the result of tradition over time.

Although there is no reason for our secular government to suddenly become unified with religion, it doesn’t necessarily need to become any more distant. Though the US is traditionally and historically most closely tied with the Christian faith, every American in this country still has the right to practice whatever religion fits their fancy and not be judged for it.

By severing all ties that our country still has with religious beliefs, we would be erasing a very important part of our history and losing many aspects of tradition and law that we rely on heavily today. ▪

By Megan Bernstein Staff Writer

One of the US’s greatest attributes is its strong stance separating church and state. It is the fundamental idea of secularism that distinguishes this country from many others, allowing its millions of citizens to practice whatever religion they wish, or simply not practice a religion at all.

Nonetheless, regardless of the law, the presence of religion can be found impressing upon our everyday lives. We stand to recite the “Pledge of Allegiance” every Monday morning at school and are expected to recite the phrase “one nation, under God.” We go to lunch and pay in dollar bills, the phrase “In God we trust” sprawled across each one.

School vacation days and breaks are generally based upon religious traditions. It’s no coincidence that we have the week of Christmas and Hanukah off every year, or that our spring break just happens to be adjusted so that it includes the week of Good Friday and Easter.

The strongest reminder that religion is a part of our government, regardless of the law, is the use of a bible to swear the presidentelect into office during each inauguration.

Many would argue that if the president were Jewish or Muslim, they would instead use a Torah or Quran for the ceremony. However, is it necessary for any religious script to be present in the first place? The president is not swearing to be a good leader for God, but rather a good leader to the populace of the country he has been elected to lead.

This lack of secularism can be found in numerous laws that our country is run by. The various laws restricting, or that have restricted in the past, the practice of homosexual marriage, abortion, and stem cell research all pertain to our country’s unyielding religious beliefs. Should former President George W. Bush have had the jurisdiction to end stem cell research when the prominent reason to disagree with this practical scientific research is a religious association?

Though the majority of our population is not only monotheistic and Christian, our country is based not purely off of the needs and preferences of the majority, but of the underdog: the minorities. It is disrespectful to those with differing beliefs to be forced into conformity because a government decides it wants to base certain controversial laws around a personal belief. Therefore, it is necessary that our government changes its policies and tighten the loose grip on the principle of secularism. ▪

Barack Obama: His First 30 Days A review of the changes he’s brought to America

By Christine Cheng & Jordan Zhang Staff Writers

Since taking office on January 20, how effectively has President Barack Obama has managed to fulfill his campaign promises?

Poor Nominations Among Obama’s cabinet nominees who have had tax problems, Tom Daschle is the new President’s most impressive mistake. Daschle, nominated for health and human services secretary, failed to fully pay his taxes from 2005 through 2007, keeping over $130,000 by overlooking parts of income tax and deducting more in charitable contributions than he should have. Daschle announced in a brief letter to Obama that he would step down as a nominee in order to prevent detracting from Obama’s health care reformer image. The President appeared in many television interviews saying that he was angry with himself for making such self-destructive mistakes, admitting that he “screwed up.”

Though making such mistakes is hardly excusable, the Daschle incident demonstrated well that Obama is ready to acknowledge his blunders and quick to fix them, qualities that seem to be incredibly hard to come by in today’s politics.

Middle Eastern Diplomacy Promising “genuine progress” in the Middle East, Obama has already sent a special envoy, George Mitchell, to head a diplomatic initiative. Among other things, the US has promised to withdraw troops from Iraq and focus military efforts on Afghanistan. Obama acknowledged that America cannot win the war in Afghanistan solely on brute military power; it needs a clear mission,

the lack of which is a chief danger for American forces. The president also said that Afghanistan could not become a “safe haven” for terrorists, and plans to increase troop levels in Afghanistan to the highest they have been since the initial invasion in 2001.

Obama’s efforts to establish diplomacy in the Middle East are certainly commendable, as this will facilitate other peace-making efforts in the area. However, with the currently abysmal economy, the immediate costs of keeping peace and protecting interests abroad may prove to be too much.

Abortion & Midnight Regulations Ever since President Reagan, the tradition for departing presidents has been to enact a set of last minute policy changes known as “midnight regulations”. Bush has been the most successful so far in leaving behind a footprint that Obama had to quickly cover up. Among Bush’s last orders were regulations that allowed concealed handguns in national parks and removed gray wolves from the endangered species list.

Obama has done a good job clearing up the mess, but one of his actions was questionable. The president lifted a ban on funds to abortion programs in other nations. He is doing well to stand behind his word, which was to give women the choice on abortion promised by the FOCA (Freedom of Choice Act), but the money to pay for such funds comes from reluctant tax payers. But considering the state America is in, nobody wants to pay to help the president funnel money out of the country in order to keep his word.

The Stimulus Package On February 4, Obama pushed lawmakers to complete a $900 billion stimulus package in order

to jump start the economy. The American economy is based on consumer spending. The money then becomes the salaries of company employees.

The employees then spend the money, creating a constantly flowing cycle. Right now, Americans who have recently suffered salary cuts caused by poor management on Wall Street and a housing market crash are pulling back on spending, halting the cycle. By creating jobs with government money, the cycle will be revitalized and the government can recoup losses from tax money afterwards. Legislature and the general public are panicking because of the monstrous price tag. However, as Obama pointed out, “A failure to act now will turn crisis into catastrophe.” A dead economy is impossible to revive, so the help must come now. The only thing to worry about is where the money goes. Rural waste-disposal is not the best thing to put $1.4 billion in when hundreds of thousand of jobs are about to vanish. ▪

staff writer michael feuerman

Friday, February 20, 2009 The Smoke Signal

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Opinion 7

clubs gone wild: anything goes

By Jane Wang Staff Writer

From September to early February of the present school year, MSJ’s club count rose from 55 to 65.

While our school has always played host to 50 or so student organizations, recent months have seen increasingly unbridled club passage.

To be fair, four of the 10 new entities existed previously and failed to apply for renewal, but the numbers still conclude a curious trend—that it’s becoming easier and easier to pass a club.

To form a club, students are re-

to be the case. Now newly drawn constitutions pour in weekly, generating little discussion and a good majority receiving the stamp of approval. To date, only six clubs have been rejected. As Junior Jeff Chang remarked, “It’s getting harder and harder not to pass a club.”

ASB pledged to stymie the club influx just last year, but little to no change has been seen so far. Nonetheless, ASB cannot be asked to shoulder all the blame in this case, as the power to pass a club ultimately rests in the hands of Council.

Council, comprised of club

numbers... conclude a curious “ The trend—that it’s becoming easier and easier to pass a club.

quired to fill out a 100-signature petition, compose a constitution, and schedule an audience with Council, which would then vote to either pass or fail the club. In past years, Council used the club presentation to weed out the unprepared and unqualified, but that no longer seems

”

representatives and Leadership II students, is asked to impartially evaluate whether or not an aspiring club has sound purpose and sufficient preparation to form another student-run association. Yet Council members may not take their responsibility as seriously as

we would hope. More often than not, members vote on the basis of friendship and mutual camaraderie rather than merit and solid qualifications. In doing so, they overlook the fact that many recently passed clubs, in spite of well-intentioned promises, fail to make substantial contributions to the school or otherwise genuinely serve the student body. How are we to preserve the legitimacy of a tribunal like Council when we allow personal loyalties to color our judgment?

The old sympathy maxim poses another compromise to the system.

“Let’s give them a chance. We’ll never know until we do. Why not?”

But just where and when do we draw the line? Because as our national—and global—economy has recently taught us, there is no such thing as unlimited growth. Therefore, a single school campus can only accommodate so many clubs before one club’s goals and activities sound suspiciously like the next one’s, as we have begun to see.

Of course, that’s not to say that unique hobbies and activities have no place at our school. Individual pastimes should by all means be encouraged, and students should be given liberty to engage in any

staff writer monica chen

leisurely pursuit of their choosing.

However, it’s hardly appropriate to elevate every common interest gathering, regardless how limited its appeal, to the status of a schoolsanctioned club.

It’s high time we looked into adopting stricter requirements for club passage, and perhaps improved regulations for existing clubs as well. Stricter enforcement of measures such as a minimum member

count, ASB club inspections, and the revival of quarterly minute reports should be adopted. Most importantly, Council needs to take a less partisan and more proactive stance when it comes to passing these clubs. With any luck, these provisions will be able to rein in the current situation. ▪ Disclaimer: Jane Wang is a member of Council as a representative of LEO Club.

The Mayan calendar predicts the end of the world in 2012...

staff writer monica chen

8 Feature

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The Smoke Signal Friday, February 20, 2009

MSJ’s Biggest and Brightest MSJ: Home to some of the smartest students around.

But what about the other talents? The ones that blow us away...who are they? The Smoke Signal has spotlighted some of MSJ’s finest, bringing to you students who can flip and write, fence, twirl, and play music.

By Amanda Kwan & Hannie Dong Centerspread Editor & Staff Writer

Matt Perez

Senior Matt Perez performs a stunt.

courtesy matt perez

The students of MSJ have witnessed Senior Matt Perez “b-boying” in an assortment of activities throughout his high school career. Perez is a talented breakdancer and participates in a variation of events, from a casual Gravel Pit (break dancing club at MSJ) meeting to an intense international battle.

Perez started breakdancing when he was in eighth grade. “When I saw John Shay, Arnold Hwa, Ben Yan, and Jason Wong on the Hopkins field,” Perez said, “I became interested in breakdancing as I watched them doing cool tricks.” Perez grew a fervor for breakdancing and attended his first class at Ohlone College

Natasha Parikh

staff writer victor chen

Junior Natasha Parikh poses with the music book she helped create.

A girl sporting a bindi and a short kurta dances next to a boy in a T-shirt and jeans on the cover of Gànà Bajànà, a music book written

by Junior Natasha Parikh and her mother, Nikita Parikh. This book was written for IndianAmerican children ages four to eight. The cover is just one of the many bicultural aspects of the book, which features ten Hindi children’s songs

Betty Liu

courtesy betty liu

Senior Betty Liu is one of the few people who plays the harp.

when he was a sophomore. PowerSerge, his teacher and mentor, took Perez under his wing and decided to recruit him to the world famous crew Beatz N Pieces.

When Perez joined this crew, opportunities sprung. He was able to book Supreme Soul for the senior homecoming because RJ, one of the members, was a member of the Beatz N Pieces crew. Perez has traveled to Canada to participate in a battle that offered a $5000 prize. “Others compete for fun, but I compete to win,” Perez said. He has won All-the-Way Live. Perez also enjoys performing in local outings. He participated in an Adobe corporate show, shows for his friends’ “Sweet 16’s”, and a performance in Hooters, receiving free cheesecake from the waitresses afterwards.

“When I breakdance, I kind of let myself go,” Perez said, “It’s like drawing. Your mind wanders when you have a pencil and paper and you’re able to express yourself.”

Perez is committed to b-boying and attends his Beatz N Pieces practices every Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:30 pm- 12:00 am. “I’m pretty tired the next morning during school,” said Perez.

Perez often ignites the MSJ crowd with his assortment of “power” moves such as his headspins and flares. With his zeal and talent, maybe MSJ will see him dancing on America’s Best Dance Crew someday. ▪

Melissa Brandle Ever since the spirited homecoming assembly, MSJ students have wondered, “Who is that gifted baton twirler performing with the marching band?” Freshman Melissa Brandle is yet another one of MSJ’s specially talented people and is exposing the school to an elite level of baton twirling.

Most performers today have been enthused by others to participate in their profession, and Brandle is no exception. Brandle said, “When I was a kindergartener, a boy performed a baton twirling routine for my class, and because of him, I started to take lessons.”

Last year, Brandle traveled up to Sacramento every month to train with Machelle Steihl, the coach for the world baton twirling team.

Besides this formal training, she practices in the park for about two hours every weekend.

In addition to baton twirling for MSJ’s marching band, Brandle competes in state, regional, and national level competitions. A couple of her accomplishments include winning the prestigious title National Twirl Juvenile Champion and winning first place for three consecutive years with her team, Encore.

Also, because of her phenomenal baton twirling abilities, Brandle was on the verge of trying out for the television show, America’s

staff writer sargun kaur

Freshman Melissa Brandle can be seen twirling her baton at school assemblies.

Got Talent, but said, “I had an audition set up for last April, but it interfered with school.

Also, I just came back from the world team tryouts in Tennessee the day before I was supposed to fly to L.A., so I felt too hassled and busy.” In her world team tryouts in Tennessee, Brandle won second, missing the prominent position on the team by one place.

Now, Brandle amazes MSJ with elegance and grace, mesmerizing her audience with her specialties, including the walkover and illusion. Even when she throws her baton before leaping into the air or flipping head first, she still manages to catch it, demonstrating downright flair while pleasing the crowd. ▪

Leland Bernstein and Brian Wang

with lyrics in both Hindi and English, accompanied by piano sheet music and Hindustani musical notations.

Both Parikhs have been teaching Indian music to children for four years. When their students expressed a desire to play the songs they were learning on piano, the Parikhs began searching for existing books with sheet music of those songs. Finding none, they decided to make the book themselves.

The songs chosen for the book are short and simple, so children can easily learn to play and sing them. The inside pages are, like the cover, covered in bright illustrations that exhibit a blend of Indian and western cultures.

The Parikhs provided lyrics and musical notation from both India and the western world with the hope of showing that music is universal. Their wish is that both teachers and students will use their book to appreciate the similarities and differences between the musical cultures.

The book can be purchased at the Parikhs’ website, www.niknatmusic.com for $15.99, plus tax and shipping and handling. ▪

Freshmen Leland Bernstein and Brian Wang have each been fencing for over four years. For Wang, it was one sport that caught his fancy when his parents insisted he take part in one. Bernstein joined in after picking up Wang’s foil at a Halloween party. The weapon piqued his interest, and the two be-

gan carpooling to lessons.

They fence as part of the Massialas Foundation, also known as “the M Team,” and train four times a week, for two to three hours at a time. Both have been nationally ranked near the top of their age groups numerous times. Currently, Wang is ranked 4th in the nation in Y14 Men’s Foil, while Bernstein is ranked 13th.

Bernstein says he enjoys the physical activity and quick thinking required in fencing.

Wang is drawn to it by the fast movement and the adrenaline rush. But both fencers agree that fencing is a vigorous and immensely enjoyable activity that stands out from other sports.

Wang named national competitions as a highlight of his fencing career. “Every time I go to nationals, it’s really memorable. I have a great time, and it’s a fun experience.”

“I wish more people would do it,” Bernstein said. “It’s easier than you might think.”▪

At MSJ, there are plenty of students who practice the piano or violin after an arduous day at school. However, is there anyone who plays a special instrument, such as the harp? The harp may seem like a intricate instrument to play, but we have our very own harpist at MSJ. Senior Betty Liu is currently studying how to play the harp and is certainly showing a knack for it.

In the beginning of her sophomore year, Liu achieved the highest level of guzheng, a traditional Chinese musical instrument that belongs to the zither family. Having mastered this unique instrument, Liu decided to learn how to play the harp.

Liu said, “When I was younger, I always thought that the harp was cool, but there

wasn’t a teacher in the Bay Area.” However, by the time Liu became a sophomore, she found Dominique Piana in Livermore.

Liu drives to class once every week, and at home, she practices for about two hours each day.

Even though Liu has studied the harp for only two years, she advanced rapidly and was capable of executing challenging songs because of her previous music experience in guzheng and piano. A few pieces that Liu mastered are “Fantasie on a theme of Haydn” by Marcel Grandjany, “Arabesque” by Debussy, and “Waltz of the Flower” by Tchaichovsky. “I like the sound of the harp,” Liu said. “It’s different from other instruments.”

Recently, in December, Liu took part

in the Livermore Amador Symphony, which collaborated with the Valley Dance Theater to bring about the production of The Nutcracker. This wasn’t the first of her concerts; she has also participated in concerts such as Magic of the Harp, Natalie Chatelain recital, and Charity Fashion Show. Liu said, “I found Magic of the Harp in Pleasanton the most memorable and special. People cried as I was playing the harp, and it was surprising that my music was touching enough to stir such an emotion.”

When Liu plays the harp, she often moves the audience with her instrument’s romantic and exquisite sounds. With her spectacular musicality, it will be interesting to see what instrument she’ll learn to play after she excels at the harp. ▪

courtesy megan bernstein

Freshmen Brian Wang and Leland Bernstein show off their medals after a competition.

10 Feature

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The Smoke Signal Friday, February 20, 2009

How to tie a toga

YouTube Interactive

By Michelle Chu Staff Writer

There is only one hour before Sadie’s starts and you don’t know what you’re going to wear! You look around your room frantically searching for that one jaw-dropping outfit. Nope. That pumpkin outfit from last Halloween won’t work. Fear no more because with just a bed sheet and a hand full of safety pins, I’ll have you ready for Sadie’s in Athens!

Materials: - one queen- or king-sized bed sheet or a 48 in. x 3 yd. fabric (don’t even think about using your parents’ bed sheet) - safety pins - shorts or other undergarments to wear under your toga (mandatory!)

Steps 1. Spend some time thinking about your choice of fabric. Girls can pull off cute patterns like hearts and unicorns, but this is not an option for men. Guys, if your date tries to persuade you to match her with some clouds and rainbows, don’t do it. You will not look macho.

2. Once you have selected your fabric, drape it over your left shoulder. Make sure the fabric drapes over your back by eight to 10 inches so you’ll be able to tie a knot.

Then, wrap the rest of the fabric across your chest and tuck it under your right arm.

3. At this point, it is important to adjust the length of your toga. If your piece of fabric is too long, then lay it out, fold the top down, and pin it to make it shorter. Notice that I said fold, not cut. Fold especially if you ignored my earlier advice and are using your parents’ bed sheet. After, repeat step one and go directly to step three.

4. Continue wrapping the fabric across your back and under your left arm. Girls, be sure to wrap it as tight as possible and secure it with safety pins. If you are trying to purposely leave skin exposed to attract that

By Anthony Wu Staff Writer

special someone, it won’t work. All you’ll get is an awkward kid in the bushes spying on you through binoculars.

5. Wrap the remaining corner back around, under your right arm, and bring it to the corner that you first draped over your shoulder in step one. Tie the two corners together with a double knot.

6. Now, adjust the toga so it fits nicely and pin the cloth so that there are no unwanted areas of skin exposed. You are now ready to go rock it out on the dance floor!

Back in February 2005, three former PayPal employees banded together and created the video sharing site known as YouTube. Now, just four years later, YouTube has grown into one of the most visited sites on the Internet.

Its number of visitors and amount of revenue have increased so much that Google bought the site for $1.65 billion in November 2006.

But the site’s value is not the only thing that has changed. Even the videos themselves are evolving, especially after YouTube introduced its annotation feature. Through this feature, uploaders have inserted links within their videos to give viewers various options and make the videos interactive.

If you ever find yourself bored and in the possession of some spare time, take a moment to visit YouTube and try out some interactive videos. The following is a list of videos that deserve a try; just enter their titles into the search bar and enjoy.

Interactive Shell Game

howtomakeatoga.info

This is one of the toga styles that can be created using simple materials.

Tips: Girls: Make sure to tie your toga tightly and use many safety pins. We don’t want your toga slipping off during the dance.

Heed this advice, or you may attract creepers.

Boys: Guys usually don’t use as much fabric as girls, but be sure to use the appropriate amount. For example, leaves are not enough to cover your privates.

For all: Practice at home to test out the toga’s endurance. Your awesome dance moves may be too much for the toga to handle. ▪

One of YouTube’s earliest interactive videos, this upload is a typical shell game in which you have to guess which cup the object is under. After passing the first difficulty, viewers have the option of moving onto the harder difficulty, where they will encounter a surprise.

But I won’t spoil it here.

youtube.com

Can you spot the difference between the two photographs?

2009 Oscars Interactive Photo Hunt A video series that can keep one’s attention for a long time, the 2009 Oscars Interactive Photo Hunt shows viewers two versions of pictures related to this year’s Oscars and asks them to find the difference between the photos. The differences become harder to find as viewers progress through the photo hunt; add this to nice music and some humorous text in between levels and you have a fun game that is destined to please.

The Time Machine: Start Here This interactive video series follows three men as they follow the decisions of the viewer and progress through time using a time machine. Many regard this series as one of the best examples of YouTube interactivity, and the action and power that viewers experience is sure to leave them wanting more.

Interactive Fortune Teller

youtube.com

Pay close attention to see which cup the object is under.

True to its name, the Interactive Fortune Teller video includes a fortune teller who allows viewers to rub his crystal ball and learn about their fortunes. Prepare to laugh at the fortune teller’s entertaining acting and amusing predictions. ▪

Top 10 ways to get to school on time

By Monica Chen Staff Writer

“RING-RING-RIIIIIIIIING!” It’s 7. Don’t use the toilet. Get rid of whatever already 7:25! You’re running REALLY you need to get rid of during class. It’s betlate, and you just can’t be late for that first ter to have a bathroom break than being period class. Here is some advice that will late. Plus, teachers definitely wouldn’t like speed you on your way to school. to have any smelly accidents in the classroom.

10. Don’t bother dressing up. Leave your 6. Don’t brush your teeth. Rinse your mouth pajamas on and wear a warm sweater. with mouthwash, or even quicker, water.

9. Forget the socks. Nobody stares at No one would know you didn’t brush your your feet so don’t bother. If you hate teeth. Just make sure to chew a piece of having cold feet, then wear Uggs or gum when talking to people; you wouldn’t keep your slippers on. want to open your mouth and have people 8. Don’t shower. If you’re running really faint. late, you definitely don’t have time to 5. Don’t brush or gel your hair. Don’t you shower and blow-dry your hair. You know? Messy hair is “in.”

can take your bath in the pool in PE 4. Don’t bother with the contacts. Looking

during swim unit. nerdy in your glasses once in a while is all right. Plus, occasional nerdy looks accentuate your beautiful features.

3. Forget the books. Leave your textbooks and English books at home. You don’t want to run to your class with books weighing you down. (Also, this is the perfect chance to share a book with the hottie sitting next to you.)

2. Have a breakfast-on-the-go. Munch on your food when you’re walking or in the car. If you don’t finish, you can always eat the rest in class.

1. Forget the lunch. Breakfast is essential, but who says you need to bring your own appletreeblog.com lunch? Your friend’s lunch is your lunch. ▪ There’s no need to look stylish when time is rushed.

Friday, February 20, 2009

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photos by graphics editor jerry ting and from www.nelliesbouncehouse.com, ap.testing.stafford.forge.schoolfusion.us, www.geocities.com/mrsjacksonsclass, www.huntingtonchamber.com, slis.cua.edu, www.free-clipart-pictures.net, api.ning.com, conben.typepad.com, img.quamut.com, www.freefever.

com, nursingpad.blogspot.com, sheelyfarmsschool.org, www.sfmusicbox.com, brianpaster.com, wikimedia.org, shoretrips.coastalliving.com, www.csplan.com, msv.typepad.com, www.peacebuttons.info, www.oakbay.sd61.bc.ca

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F E B R U A R Y in P H O T O S

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Battle of the Bands 1.30.09

A. Sophomore Jaren Feeley pours out his soul playing the piano.

B. Orange Sparks CEO, Senior Andrew Taber, introduces the contenders of the Battle of the Bands.

C.Senior Trevor Sollitt of Social Stereo, captivates the crowd with a song.

D. Sophomore Ramsey Fisher closes his eyes for moment as he keeps the beat.

E. Senior Anchit Dixit jams to the music.

Variety Show 2.7.09

A. The spotlight shines on Sophomore Karthik Raman as he sings “Stars” from Les

Miserables.

B. Sophomore Thomas Feng ‘s fingers fly over the piano keys while Junior Susan Kang flips the sheet music.

C. Sophomores Stephenie Yuan and Theodore Ma perform “Officially Missing You”.

Japanese Matsuri 2.2.09

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A. Junior Shannon Rosete tries to market her dango, a steamed ball of rice flour glazed with soy sauce.

B. Ramune bottles line the table waiting to be sold.

C.Senior Kathy Zhong fishes for imaginary fish inside the makeshift pool.

D. Juniors Mrudula Vemuri and Anne Liu compete for the title of Mission’s Fastest Eater.

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2c photos by graphics editor jerry ting, sports editor audrey tseng, staff writers sonya john, karen lin

Friday, February 20, 2009

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UNDER THE RADAR

The Pierces Bring ‘Love and Revenge’ to the Industry

By Cynthia Kang

Staff Writer

In a time when Mileys and Lil Waynes dominate the music industry, the seemingly simple task of finding a worthwhile album may be thought unattainable. Before giving up, however, let The Pierces and its 13 Tales of Love and Revenge try to renew your faith.

The Pierces, an indie, folk and pop group with gypsy influences, begins its third release with “Secret,” an acoustic waltz based on a Benjamin Franklin aphorism. The song laces ominous lyrics with carnival themes to pose the warning that “two can keep a secret / if one of them is dead.” The tune symbolically speeds up near the end, paralleling the frenzy brought on by trying to keep one’s mouth shut. The album continues with “Boring,” a dark and edgy track that syncs Egyptian harmonies with biting verses. Lamenting that “nothing thrills us anymore / no one kills us anymore,” The Pierces gives its sarcastic interpretation that boredom stems from overindulgence.

For fans of fairy tales, “Three Wishes” is a melancholy but whimsical piece that would be a perfect soundtrack to any medieval tale.

Heartbreak is a topic all too overused in music, but The Pierces provides a unique take by spinning it into a fable with the iconic three

wishes, the last “[saved] for a rainy day / if your lover ever takes her love away.” The classical instrumentals are also hauntingly beautiful—the violin solo in the last 20 seconds is absolutely heart-wrenching.

The breezy “Kill! Kill! Kill!” is another hit that describes the agony of forgetting an old flame. Singer Catherine Pierce croons, “well you can wash my brain / tear out my heart / but I will never forget you,” and epitomizes The Pierces’ knack for spinning clichéd situations into unique listening experiences.

“Go to Heaven” is perhaps the only song that fails to click, though the sweet lullaby-like accompaniment compensates for the somewhat lackluster lyrics and juvenile rhymes.

13 Tales closes with “Boy in a Rock and Roll Band.” Inspired by the music of the 20s, the ukulele-

laden track opens with a swingy intro that rivals the appeal of Rihanna’s infamous “bum bum be-dum,” and the Pierce sisters let their Alabama roots peek out, singing with Southern twangs on the chorus.

With distinctive tunes and surprising, lyrical twists, 13 Tales can restore hope to even the most jaded of listeners. It deviates from convention, as evident in its use of archaic and obscure instruments such as the banjo, calliope and sitar. Unlike many singers who consistently sing in their “normal” voice, the Pierce girls throw themselves into their songs, assuming roles from lovesick victims (“Go to Heaven”) to haughty socialites (“Boring”).

Relying heavily on appeal to pathos, each song tells a different tale and this album can be just as cherished as a favorite storybook.

Rating: A ▪

normanrecords.com

No reason for Dan Auerbach to ‘Keep It Hid’

By Vicraj Gill

A&E Editor

Dan Auerbach, best known as half of the indie duo the Black Keys, recently released his first solo effort, Keep It Hid, on Nonesuch Records. The label, with its earthy, somewhat unorthodox collection of sounds, proved the perfect venue for Auerbach to pay homage to the most obscure of his influences in ways that only working with the Black Keys—and the more mainstream rock leanings of his bandmate Patrick Carney—could never have allowed.

Keep It Hid is a medley of Auerbach’s interests in blues, country, and psychedelia; the tracks are tastefully arranged, without threatening to alienate or overwhelm staunch fans of

delawareonline.com

Auerbach’s other band. Mournful opener “Trouble Weighs a Ton” neatly establishes the strippeddown, more intimate sound of the album, and its slow start is well-balanced by the jangling

buzz of “I Want Some More” and the reverberating guitar of “Heartbroken, In Disrepair.”

Another high point is “Whispered Words (Pretty Lies),” written by Auerbach’s father—an especially sentimental collaboration, as it was Charles Auerbach’s collection of old blues records inspired his son’s forays into music. “The Prowl” is another stand-out track, reminiscent of the Black Keys at their sludgiest and most raw. Title track “Keep It Hid” features Auerbach singing as a criminal cautioning a lover, and in doing so, molding to the parameters of a true bluesman. “If they ask you, darling, oh, about what I did,” he sings, “Baby, you gotta keep it hid.”

Auerbach, throughout his sevenodd years in the industry, has shown a profound genius in terms of navigating its waters. He’s managed to enjoy success without sacrificing any of the the trademarks of his sound, opened his own studio, Akron Analog—in which the album was recorded—and started his own label.

And Keep It Hid, with its rotating cast of Auerbach’s family (uncle James Quine) and friends (protégé Jessica Lea Mayfield) reflects that degree of success, talent, and professionalism. It’s definitely an album to look out for.

Rating: A- ▪

Arts & Entertainment 17

Coraline charms viewers

oregonlive.com

By Ankur Dhar

Staff Writer

When I first heard Coraline was going to be made into a animated movie, I thought “Oh, great.

Another poorly made animated adaptation of a good book.” But the few trailers I saw beforehand convinced me that the producers took the book somewhat seriously and had avoided the same pitfalls of most of the cheesy animated movies that studios pump out by the hundreds.

The film begins with an unknown pair of metallic hands stitching and designing a doll that eventually becomes a copy of the titular character (voiced by Dakota Fanning). The most astounding part is how all of this was done with stop-motion puppets, providing an aesthetic style reminiscent of that of The Nightmare Before Christmas.

These features give the film a more storyboard-like feel and works well with the doll-like nature of the antagonist, Other Mother (Teri Hatcher), and her world.

As for the plot, the film keeps most of the key events the same as the book. The introduction of Wybie Lovat (Robert Bailey Jr.), an

entirely new character, is surprising at first. Luckily his character is woven so well into the plot it is almost as if he has been in the book as well. The film expands into the world surrounding the novella’s plot with scenes that are never even alluded to, which are annoying and a tad confusing but thankfully short.

The movie remains focused on Coraline’s adventures between the two parallel worlds, accompanied by the mysterious cat (Keith David) who offers advice in the Other world and uses seemingly intelligent gestures in the real world.

More importantly, the film preserves Coraline’s unique personality and spunk as well as the mysterious cat’s wittiness and wisdom that make the book so enjoyable. What makes this film so fun, despite the dark and chilling material, is the confident character in Coraline. Most scary movies featuring little girls often cast them as either eerie villains or helpless victims. Coraline is neither of these and keeps the audience hopeful even in the darkest of situations.

This makes it an encouraging movie for younger audiences and equally entertaining for older ones.

Rating: A- ▪

Smokies Anticipate: Watchmen

collider.com

By Julia Harrell

Opinion Editor The only graphic novel to earn a spot on the New York Times 100 Best English-Language Novels list, Watchmen has broken all the boundaries that previously defined the comic book genre. The unique vision of writer Alan Moore, artist Dave Gibbons, and colorist John Higgins, Watchmen tells the unconventional story of a group of masked vigilantes in a warped, fictional United States on the brink of nuclear war with the Soviet Union.

At the beginning of the novel, the Watchmen are disbanded, shunned and hated by the public for the extreme crime fighting tactics they displayed in their heyday forty years before. When one of their own is murdered, they come together to

uncover the mystery surrounding his death, and confront something much more complex and dangerous than they originally expected.

The storyline of Watchmen is much deeper than would be expected from a comic series, dealing with themes that reflect paranoia concerning global warfare and the plagues of urban society.

Stunning nine-panel graphics coupled with a meaningful, psychologically-thrilling plot have gained the novel a cult following ever since its publication by DC Comics in 1986.

Excitement surrounding the story has heightened over the past year after Warner Bros. announced the production of a full-length Watchmen film, set to release on March 6. The film, directed by Zack Snyder on a $150 million budget, is expected to reap millions at the box office. Snyder’s past works are rumored to have had some influence on the cinematic tone of Watchmen, but the movie is promised to be different from any of his other projects, a relief to those fearing that the film would too closely mimic the video game-like graphics of 300. ▪

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The International goes nowhere

By Jerry Ting

Graphics Editor

In The International, director Tom Tykwer wastes no time in throwing his audience into the complicated twist and turns of the film’s plot. In the very beginning of the movie, a murder jumpstarts an investigation that lasts the entire grueling two hours of the actionthriller’s span. The International, as the name suggests, skips from New York to Berlin, to Istanbul, with brief transitions and jump-cuts that demands the entire attention-span of the viewer to simply not get confused.

The movie centers around Interpol agent Louis Salinger, who tries to reveal the truth behind the schemes of the IBBC, one of the largest banks in the world. The power-hungry

The Fray falls flat

never-ending, giving twists after turn until viewers simply stop caring. After the slaying of the assassin who had killed and Italian politician and who was the main lead to the crimes of the IBBC. Louis Salinger then loses his composure and goes on a compulsive chase after the bank’s chairman that seems too fabricated and unconvincing. He is even willing to sacrifice his job and run from the very government he works for to find justice, in a world where the government itself is working in association with the IBBC. The heads of the villainous bank are also a little too reminiscent of other, less serious greedy Hollywood villains, killing not for money and profits but to rule the world.

The conclusion of the movie is also insufwordpress.com

By Niku Jafarnia

Staff Writer

collider.com

IBBC is allegedly using its depositors’ money to invest in the illegal trade of arms between the Chinese government and the Middle East in order to regulate war debts, and thus regulate the governments involved in such wars. Salinger doggedly persists on his quest to bring the IBBC to justice, but to little avail, considering that every source he encounters is almost immediately assassinated.

After two hours, the movie seemed to be

ficient in that it relates poorly to Louis Salinger, and is ultimately unsatisfying for the viewer who was most likely drawn to the movie’s action-packed ads.

The International has an interesting concept with the control that corporations have over society today but its exploration of such an idea is insufficient and is lost in its runand-gun plot.

Rating: C- ▪

Friday, February 20, 2009

Fans of The Fray who have been waiting for new material since the release of their 2005 debut, How To Save A Life, are sure to be disappointed with the band’s new selftitled album, The Fray, released on February 3. The album could win a Grammy for “most bland” with its ten tracks of repetitive and dreary tempos. On the other hand, if plain and boring is your thing, you can try downloading the album off of iTunes for even more flavorless songs than those on the CD. Overall, the entire album sounds like a

watered-down version of some of Coldplay’s past releases. The best track off the album, the single “You Found Me,” provides slightly more substance than the others with lyrics like “I found God / on the corner of First and Amistad.” Another track that breaks through the pervading lethargy is “We Build Then We Break,” which provides a louder and more engaging harmony with more earnest piano than many of the other tracks along with techno beats incorporated into the background.

For the rest of the album, however, it is difficult to even identify which song is playing due to the endless monotony. The Fray is, at best, a decent ensemble of elevator music.

Ironically enough, the closing track was named “Happiness,” which is exactly what I felt when it was finally over. If the Fray thought that making its music as quintessential as possible would earn them more money, it certainly did nothing to leave a lasting memory in listeners’ minds. The rhythm, beat, and tone of the many of the songs had no uniqueness to distinguish The Fray from the many bands making similar music today. In “Never Say Never,” lead singer Isaac Slade sings “don’t let me go,” but that’s just what I’m going to have to do with The Fray.

The only place to go when you hit the bottom is up, so at the very least, The Fray’s latest offering has provided them the opportunity for a great amount of improvement.

Rating: D ▪

Lily Allen bounces back

Shopaholic’s not too smart not my girlfriend; she’s not you.” Obviously, something went wrong with the screenwriters’ Staff Writer Based on the best-selling novel by Sophie rendition of the Shopaholic series. Outrageous Kinsella, Confessions of a Shopaholic revolves at best, Confessions frequently left viewers around Rebecca Bloomwood (Isla Fisher), asking “Wait, how did that happen?”

Despite the clichéd plot, the one bright a journalist with an obsession for shopping and thousands of dollars of debt. Ironically, light in the film was Isla Fisher’s performance. she somehow winds up writing for a financial With amazing sequences of physical comedy, magazine, giving sturdy advice about the one Fisher was the only aspect of the film that delivered laughs. However, her ridiculous subject she knows least.

Since we are in a recession, Confessions of character was too similar to her role as the a Shopaholic’s story of a woman who ruins sex-crazed sister in Wedding Crashers.

Infused with name brands, a doting her life because of over-spending may seem pertinent to the lives of many in financial boss and boyfriend, a villainous coworker, crisis. However, this romantic comedy paints and a vicious debt collector, Confessions of a an unrealistic portrait of how life really is. Shopaholic is a cute, optimistic movie, but not As with all happy-go-lucky Disney-esque a very sound investment of your time. movies, Confessions of a Shopaholic is both Rating: C ▪ impractical and corny.

As expected, Bloomwood winds up falling head over heels for her editor, Luke Brandon (Hugh Dancy). Brandon just happens to be absurdly wealthy. Confessions of a Shopaholic is an insult to womankind, contradictory to almost all feminist ideals of independence from men. Not only does the film promote the practice of gold-digging, but it also shows women as materialistic, selfish, manipulative, and willing to start a cat-fight to obtain Gucci boots.

In terms of the actual script, the lines were trite and downright perturbing. At one point, Hugh Dancy’s character actually says, “She’s

By Victoria Gu

monstersandcritics.com

exclaim.ca

By Marianna Mao

Opinion Editor

2008 was a tumultuous year for 23-yearold Lily Allen, who struggled through a miscarriage, a break-up, and depression. But the February 10 release of her sophomore album It’s Not Me, It’s You is proof that, despite everything, Lily’s back and better than before.

A little older and a little wiser, It’s Not Me, It’s You is a successful transition from Allen’s debut Alright, Still, and abandons none of her signature cheekiness, wit, and cynically upbeat style.

It’s Not Me, It’s You is big in every sense of the word; the album showcases Allen’s true talent as an artist, with a blend of songs on topics ranging from relationships to politics to religion. Her emotional versatility is praiseworthy, swinging from vulnerability and uncertainty in “The Fear” (“I don’t know what’s right and what’s real anymore”) to a charming declaration of love in “Chinese” (“I don’t want anything more than to see your

face when you open the door”) to chipper snarkiness in “F**k You” (“f**k you very, very much”) and self-deprecating humor in “Not Fair.”

The best part of the album, besides the same lyrical honesty that helped propel Allen to the top of the charts two years ago, is the instrumentals. It’s Not Me, It’s You is her first venture into electronic pop, and it does not disappoint. The beats are fearlessly experimental and produced with careful attention to detail, with each complementing her cool, smooth vocals. From the darkly mischievous tones in “Everyone’s At It” to the snappy jazz rhythm of “22,” Allen explores a diverse range of sounds that are all distinctively modern and wonderfully infectious.

Overall, Allen has created a praiseworthy blend of songs that reflect her personal and artistic maturation. Bold, candid, and catchy, It’s Not Me, It’s You sets the bar high for future pop artists.

Rating: B+ ▪

Friday, February 20, 2009

www.thesmokesignal.org

My Life With

jerry Springer

By Eric Sun

A&E Editor

Let’s exchange pleasantries later, life is but brief and time’s a-wastin’.

In Chinese culture, it is admirable for one to remain reserved and introverted. In American culture, reticence can indicate vulnerability, and making a scene can often be admirable (In China we had that one Tiananmen Square guy, but look what happened to him).

Such differences between eastern and western social customs affect every aspect of their respective regions, pervading through their laws, their speech, and, most noticeably, their media.

If only someone had told me all this before I came over to America from China, and became, to say the least, flabbergasted by the likes of The Jerry Springer Show.

My first encounter with The Jerry Springer Show occurred on one of the days when my parents were attending school, in hopes of becoming software engineers. I was 9 years old and shocked to the core by what I had seen.

On that particular episode, a man was trying to leave his wife so that he could marry a cow.

A cow! I had been in America for just three years, and my discovery of such a vile show in my new homeland, the “land of opportunities,” was akin to a newlywed discovering that his new bride was a man all along (actually, this too happened once on Jerry Springer).

I rapidly changed the channel, just as the man was about to kiss the cow. However, once I settled my TV upon PBS—which was airing a nature documentary that at least showed animal-on-animal rather than dudeon-animal—I began becoming curious about the horror I had just witnessed. How did the guy become attracted to the cow? I mean, where did they even meet? What did the guy’s wife think of this whole ordeal? What did the cow think?

A few moments later I found my eyes glued to my screen as the wife lunged at the cow, threatening to take her to a slaughter-

house, while the husband wept for his “mistress.”

For a while, the program became irresistible, providing conflicts that were more engaging than those of any daytime soap (not that I watched them or anything…). I didn’t even understand half of the stuff the show was talking about, thinking, “Wow, that couple must play a lot of board games for the guy to cheat on the girl so much!” Or, “I know about the Chicken Dance and the Square Dance, but what’s a Lap Dance?” But it nevertheless hooked my interest for some time.

I did later on discover that most Americans were not like the people I had seen on Springer. But the more valuable thing I got out of the show was the message that no matter who we are, we are all human, all susceptible to the same weaknesses of greed, lust, and envy, and all want to be loved.

No, seriously.

Jerry Springer had on his show all types of people—homosexuals, little people, the obese, the paraplegic, the quadriplegic, the list never ends—but they all had alike responses to alike situations. All were crestfallen and furious when told that their spouses were unfaithful to them, all tried to quell their rage through violence, and all sought just one relationship to work out for them. It’s irrelevant how conservative or unorthodox a lifestyle we lead, love makes everybody do stupid things.

I continued to watch The Jerry Springer Show until I got bored with seeing the same scenarios over and over, and annoyed at some of their clearly scripted segments—including one where a Ku Klux Klan member was having an affair behind his wife’s back with a black man. However, I honestly believe that being exposed to such eccentricity at a young age is one of the main reasons that I am such a tolerant and open-minded person today.

Now, I don’t recommend you or your younger siblings try to become open-minded in the same way, because Springer is also what I blame my demented nature on. ▪

The Smoke Signal

Arts & Entertainment 19

Is there a point to the poet laureate?

By Vicraj Gill

A&E Editor

In the States, the job of poet laureate isn’t too big of a deal, but in Britain, it’s pretty serious. The concept—a poet paid to write verses in celebration of national events— emerged in the late 1600s as a royal office, held for life.

Now, over three hundred years later, poet

One of the main arguments in favor of the post is that laureates draw national attention and appreciation to the art of poetry; which is true, to an extent. Motion himself founded a massive online poetry archive, and campaigned aggressively for the preservation of his art; and Cope is one of Britain’s most well-known and celebrated poets.

But Motion also complained of the

telegraph.co.uk

Andrew Motion, Britain’s poet laureate since 1999, says he’s loathed the job almost since he started; his opinions have sparked a flurry of debate as to the purpose of “public poetry.”

laureates themselves are seriously considering doing away with the title altogether. And looking at their arguments, I have to wonder: is the position of poet laureate, in this day and age, really necessary?

England’s current poet laureate, Andrew Motion, would probably say no. He announced his intention to step down in March 2009 after holding the post for ten years, making him the first poet laureate in British history to resign. And he doesn’t seem to have enjoyed his ten-year run much; he described the salary as too low and his duties as “thankless” and “very damaging,” and he complained to BBC News of his present inability to write anything at all unless commissioned to do so first.

I don’t necessarily agree with this—the concept of this sort of writer’s block seems a little ridiculous, as if you have to wait for the words you want to come to you rather than putting them together yourself—but if the job’s as bad as he and his potential successor, Wendy Cope, say it is, getting rid of it might be a good idea.

traveling and “touring” involved with the post, telling BBC News that the pressures of this duty often stood in the way of his writing poetry.

A more relevant example of this seeming worthlessness of commemorative poetry is poet Elizabeth Alexander, who’s “Praise Song for the Day” was read as part of Barack Obama’s inauguration ceremony. The piece itself was praised; but Alexander’s tribute was somewhat telltale in style, and her flat, uninspired presentation of her own poem, which should have been passionate, didn’t do much for critics of the kind of “poetry on demand” involved with these kinds of public poets.

Can we find a balance between the need for national appreciation of poetry and the counterproductive nature of the title of poet laureate?

Cope has an answer to the question: let everyday poets write poems to celebrate national events—if they want to, and as they please.

It makes perfect sense to me. ▪

DocFest| MSJ student makes semifinals

Courtesy Mahita Penke

Above: A scene from Mahita Penke’s DocFest Social Issues Semi-Finalist-winning entry, Service Above Self: Interact 5170.

continued from page 1 one mile and you would hit the slums. Seeing that kind of discrepancy between the rich and the poor takes me out of my little bubble in high school, and it makes me think about people other than myself; it makes me think about things from a global perspective.

SS: Are you doing anything else film-related?

MP: I’m working on a couple short films right now. I’ve entered a couple of competitions, but other than that, most of my time is dedicated to Interact, which, by the way, everyone should join (laughs).

SS: What advice would you give to someone who wants to start doing film?

MP: What I had trouble with initially was actually going out and creating a film itself. It’s one thing to sit at home and discuss and think about the films that you may possibly create, but I think it’s really valuable to actually go out and shoot a lot of film. Just get a lot of hands-

on experience and training as opposed to just studying. It’s important to know about the filmmaking process, but it’s equally important to have a hands-on opportunity to create and work on films. You can look for local production companies and offer your services or intern for them for free to get a good handle on equipment and see how the entire process works. I did that for 1.5 years, at Red Wolf Productions, where I learned a lot about the entire process, which made it easier for me to take those things and apply them to what I do now. Another thing you could do is try and create opportunities for yourself to go out and shoot things—make a music video for a local band or come up with short stories, gather some friends, and make a film. Just be sure to keep in contact with people that you think will be able to help you in the future; it’s really important that you maintain good relationships with them.

Mahita’s film can be viewed at Interact5170. com. ▪

20

Arts & Entertainment

www.thesmokesignal.org

MISSION’S Magellan

By Sophie Diao & Victoria Gu

Editor-in-Chief & Staff Writer

Contrary to what our school dances would have you believe, getting stupid, dumb, and hyphy is not the extent of Bay Area culture.

Beyond the liberalism and marijuana smoke lay destinations big and small, waiting to be discovered. In this five-part series, the Smoke Signal will travel all around the Bay visiting and reporting on both the world-famous and the indie. Welcome to Mission’s Magellan.

Destination 1: The Church of Scientology Heading to City of Lights Books from the Embarcadero BART Station, we came across the Church of Scientology. We walked in, expecting only a brief detour, but were roped into staying for a 45-minute film interview of L. Ron Hubbard. The film was interesting,

our arrival we discovered the famous Cartoon Art Museum of San Francisco is closed on Monday. Our hopes for seeing the exhibit “The Art of Coraline” (see page 18) have been dashed!

Address: 655 Mission Street Destination 6: Haight-Ashbury Union Square and Powell Street’s Forever 21 are not the only shopping destinations in San Francisco. The renowned HaightAshbury area is home to a wide variety of small boutiques and thrift stores. The district serves not only as a shopping center, but a cultural one as well. Home to the 1960’s counterculture movement, Haight-Ashbury has remained a symbol of hippie culture, as evidenced by the abundance of bohemian cafés, smoke shops, and colorful murals.

Address: Haight-Ashbury Destination 7: Costumes on Haight Costumes on Haight has accessories for all your Halloween needs. This year-round costume store stocks costumes in every shape and size. Most costumes are for rent, but you can permanently increase your collection with

The Smoke Signal

Friday, February 20, 2009

Fantastic Fiber Art

By Derek Yueh

Staff Writer

On display through April 26, Changing Landscapes: Contemporary Chinese Fiber Art will be exhibited at the San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles. This exhibition is the first of its kind, featuring 45 works by 48 artists from Tsinghua University in China, and range from small tapestries to majestic threedimensional sculptures. The pieces make a cohesive statement about China’s ever-changing modern society, in part by utilizing traditional textiles and fibers to merge Eastern aesthetics with Western modernism.

The piece that anchors the entire collection is Floating House by Ni Yue-Hong, which depicts a house askew from its foundation, and floating on a sea of saturated yellows and reds, symbolizing the uncertainty that Chinese people have to face day-to-day.

Upon closer inspection, the house is layered with intersecting fiber lines to create a geometric contrast against the sea. In a country experiencing its growth spurt after years of suppression, it seems as if its only constant is the changing landscape.

to a time of innocence and nature. Shi WenLi’s View of the Sky is a 79” by 75” strip of wool that incorporates repeating patterns of flames and is slashed across in various places, symbolizing industrialization’s impact on the environment.

On the other side of the spectrum, Cui Yan-Wei’s silk tapestry, named A Woman Walking, focuses on the positive aspects of China’s evolution. He uses silk to weave a portrait of a woman walking with force and determination, while shadows of extra sets of

sjquiltmuseum.org

A Woman Walking by Cui Yanwei.

staff writer victoria gu

but we were running short of time, and were glad when it ended. After filling out a short survey and politely refusing to purchase a $16 Scientology manual, we left the Church.

Address: 701 Montgomery Street Destination 2: City of Lights Bookstore and North Beach After our excursion to the Church of Scientology, we ventured to our original destination, the landmark City of Lights Bookstore in the North Beach district. A bookstore may not seem exciting, but City of

editor-in-cheif sophie diao

Lights is one of a kind. Featuring two stories worth of independent, mainstream, domestic, international, and counter-culture books and magazines, City of Lights is not your average bookstore.

Address: 261 Columbus Avenue at Broadway Destination 3: Caffe Umbria Hidden in the streets surrounding the Montgomery BART Station is a real gem: Caffe Umbria, a sandwich shop so tiny it doesn’t even have a page on yelp.com. If you happen to find it, we recommend getting the roast beef sandwich with plenty of bean sprouts.

Address: It’s a mystery.

Destination 4: John Windle Antiquarian Bookseller While searching for a used bookseller in the vein of Half-Price Books, we came across a pseudo-museum of first editions and rare manuscripts. This tiny one-room shop, which feels more like a comfy home office than a bookstore, is lined with ceiling-to-floor bookshelves chockfull of everything your English teacher ever dreamed of.

Address: 49 Geary St., #233 Destination 5: Cartoon Art Museum Lesson learned: always plan ahead and look up location hours. Unfortunately, upon

sjquiltmuseum.org

Ni Yue-Hong’s Floating House.

staff writer victoria gu

their snazzy $3 sunglasses.

Address: 735 Haight St. Destination 8: Crossroads Trading Co. Crossroads Recycled Fashion offers designer and brand-name clothing at prices to die for. We found a $50 Abercrombie & Fitch sweater for merely $6. If you’re seeking a preppy look without burning a hole in your wallet, Crossroads is the way to go.

Address: 1519 Haight St. Destination 9: Positively Haight Positively Haight is only one of countless hippie stores in Haight-Ashbury. It sells band paraphernelia, incense, glass pipes, and jewelry – nothing you can’t find anywhere else on the Haight, but still good if you’re looking for a souvenir.

Address: 1400 Haight Street Destination 9: Goodwill Industries We took a quick tour through the Haight Street Goodwill, which sells vintage clothing and second-hand goods. VHS tapes sold for $0.99 each; we bought Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and Ready Steady Go: The Beatles Live.

Address: 1700 Haight St. Destination 10: Amoeba Music Forget Virgin “Megastore.” Go to Amoeba Music for the widest selection of music and movies. The phrase “quality versus quantity” need not apply; Amoeba stocks high-quality vinyls, LPs, CDs, and more at relatively

staff writer victoria gu

cheap prices. The store also holds live shows on a frequent basis, bringing in local and mainstream bands. Simply put, Amoeba is a music lover’s heaven.

Address: 1855 Haight Street Franchise count: Starbucks: 8 Subway: 7 House of Donuts: 6 Peet’s Coffee and Tea: 4 ▪

Branching off the theme of modernization and its societal effects is the work Choice by Qiu Wei-Li. Consisting of the most natural textiles, hemp and vine, Choice is the largest sculptural piece, standing at a staggering 118” by 157” by 59”. The vines and hemp intertwine to create an illusion of a cellular organism on steroids suspended beneath the ceiling. Although its size is boastful, much like the rapid industrialization of China, the structure is transparent and fragile, as if the slightest touch could make it collapse upon itself.

Another sculptural piece is Baixin’s Balminess, which consists of three wooden cubes suspended from the ceiling, packed with multi-colored corn fibers and bamboo shoots.

It’s a whimsical take on an aerial view of China’s untouched landscapes, referring back

arms and legs protrude from her body. The piece represents the modern Chinese woman who has found her own voice in society and is no longer bound by the roles of her gender.

Other works of art in the collection depict images of birds and butterflies, representing the newfound freedom Chinese citizens have experienced since the Cultural Revolution.

When viewing this comprehensive collection, it is too easy to forget that these pieces aren’t merely brushstrokes on a canvas, but are actually orchestrated symphonies of fibers and textiles that weave across each other to tell a story. Wang Lin’s The Colorful Poem of the Blind is actually a cotton quilt with sequins sewn on in a Braille pattern, literally weaving a story between the quilt’s fibers.

After closely viewing these pieces, it is evident that each thread is carefully placed with purpose and meaning.

Changing Landscapes takes a completely modern approach to traditional weaving while commenting on China’s ascent to the top. For anyone of Chinese heritage, or just has an appreciation for skilled masterpieces, Changing Landscapes is a must-see. ▪

Friday, February, 2009

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22 Sports

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Passionate Prima Donnas

By Victor Chen Staff Writer

With the rise of multi-million sports contracts, many players can be easily picked out to be “drama queens.” These players are usually the ones who receive excessive attention from media, mostly for the wrong reasons. They exist in almost every sport - football, basketball, and baseball alike.

In football, drama queens exist on almost every team; the numerous end zone dances and celebrations reveal this fact. However, the two most notorious drama queens may be the best in the business: Randy Moss and Terrell Owens.

The outspoken Moss and Owens are oft-known as “team-wreckers.”

Along with their cocky touchdown celebrations, Moss and Owens have been known to destroy team chemistry with their selfish play. Though one of these players (Moss) lies

dormant in New England, happy to be with a winning team, the other has created conflicts with his club, the Dallas Cowboys, after a disappointing season. Some of their antics may be funny (Owens’s popcorn-eating celebration), but these stars serve as bad examples for aspiring athletes. We already see rookies like DeSean Jackson trying to emulate such stars, only to almost cost his team a game after dropping the ball one yard short of the goalline in celebration.

Basketball drama queens have died down with numerous rules geared to eliminate poor sportsmanship. However, their presence is clear in stars Allen Iverson and Shaquille O’neal. Iverson, after be-

Allen Iverson, a habitual drama queen, delivers his famous “Practice!?!?” speech.

pennlive.com

ing traded to the Pistons, promised to be dedicated to chasing a championship. But just a couple weeks after joining his new team, he missed practice to spend Thanksgiving with his family, taking a fine and benching for one game.

Shaq posted himself on the internet with a video of his antiKobe rap: “Kobe, tell me how my @** tastes.” Even worse is Stephon Marbury of the New York Knicks. “Starbury” was not only benched for his detrimental actions toward the team but also for his refusal to play in a game that his team nearly had to forfeit from lack of players.

Surprisingly, though baseball seems calmer than these aforementioned sports, one name still stands out: Milton Bradley. An above-average player, Bradley has been traded from team to team after quickly wearing out his welcome. Bradley recently broke his ankle attempting to fight a pitcher after getting tackled by his manager, who was trying to restrain him. Such a pathetic accident is truly karma, a sad twist for the Padres’ playoff fate but fitting for a drama queen like Bradley.

One assumes that star athletes will set an example for the younger ones who look up to them, but these drama queens certainly do not measure up to their peers in this category. ▪

The Smoke Signal

Good Looks

By Ryan Tanakit & Audrey Tseng Sports Editors

Many athletes these days have the latest gear with the best technology or the most appealing designs. These uniforms provide many things, from pride to high performance to just plain good looking athletes competing in eye-catching apparel. Here, we spotlight just a few of these updates in the wardrobe of the sports world as we wonder if the man makes the clothes or if the clothes make the man.

Nike Swift Track Suits Making its debut in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the Nike Swift line of apparel helped the 2008 USA Track and Field team to succeed. Nike Swift “System of Dress” features materials that reduce drag and can shave off two tenths of a second in a 100 meter race. The uniforms also include socks, gloves, and arm coverings that present aerodynamic advantages in comparison to bare skin. Not only are the uniforms specialized to give athletes an edge, but they provide a sleek design worthy of an Olympic caliber athlete.

GIRLS’ SOCCER | Just short of league title continued from page 1

to breakaway and center the ball to Paige Diamond; however, Junior goalkeeper, Allison Day, was able to quickly block the shot and push the ball upfield. At the end of the half, the score was still tied, both teams scoreless.

As the second half opened, it seemed as if the players got their second wind. Within the first 40 seconds, Paige Diamond of Washington, sped past MSJ defenders off a breakaway steal. Day was unable to block Diamond’s shot into the

asia.cnet.com

Junior Shelley Wenzel plays aggressive offense.

staff writer victor chen

Senior Kelly Cannon fights for a steal.

top corner of the goal. MSJ was quick to respond. Just four minutes later, Junior Amrun Singh was able to assist Senior Christine Nam off a 40 yard free kick. The Warriors would then score again in the 48th minute of the game after the Washington goalie fumbled the ball after a save. Freshman Madison Hirsh would corral the loose ball and pass it to Senior Kelly Cannon to put the Warriors up 2-1. Diamond would respond three minutes later off an assist by the Huskies’ Hailey Fields on a breakaway from MSJ defenders. At the end of the

Friday, February 20, 2009

2009 NBA All-Star Game Uniform

In an effort to right the ship after 2008’s mardi-gras inspired horrors, Adidas really pulled through. The futuristic lettering looks great as does the fading stripes on the sides.

Since All-Star weekend was held in Phoenix, the jerseys are also incredibly appropriate, as the colors remind us of Arizona’s brilliant rock formations. It was a pleasure to watch the NBA stars take to the court in such a nice uniform.

Maybe it was just a great contrast from last year, or maybe the jersey was just magnificent.

nikeblog.com

Michigan Wolverines Football A classic. No matter how badly this program has done over the past couple seasons their winged helmets will remain one of the best looks in Division I. It doesn’t quite remind us of a wolverine, but the front of the helmet has set a trend and has been copied a number of times (mostly by high schools). Although it may not have been noticed, Michigan played in an updated uniform this season with new shoulder stripes that run down the back of the jersey forming “tails”. These stripes are really only noticeable on the away jerseys. Go Blue.

staff writer victor chen

half, the score was 2-2, and overtime was right around the corner.

Still tied 2-2 after regulation and overtime, the game would come down to a five player shoot out. Day was able to block only one of the five shots attempted in the shootout. After Ariel Brown, Washington’s fourth kicker, scored to give the Huskies a 5-3 lead, the Warriors could only hope for a tie. Nam, MSJ’s fourth kicker, was able to drive one past Elizabeth Garcia, Washington goalkeeper, to cut the lead to only one goal.

Garcia would watch from the sideline as Washington’s Lauren Floro kicked the final shot into the net, cutting MSJ’s NCS goal short.

As the Huskies celebrated their automatic NCS berth, the Warriors were left to congratulate the other team and simply hope for an even better season next year. For graduating seniors, Nam, Cannon, Chelsea Kitta, and Brigitte Ngo, their final year playing for MSJ would be marked by an incredible way to finish the season, in a shootout that came down to the final kickers. ▪

photobucket.com

Army’s Nike Enforcer Uniform Army’s newest look debuted in the 109th Army vs. Navy football game. Without a doubt, Nike’s design was awesome. In fact, for some viewers, the uniforms were the sole reason for watching the game, which was terrible and ended in Navy’s favor 34-0. The helmet, numbers and pants display the same digital camouflage that is used in combat. Army’s slogan “Boots on the Ground” runs down the left side of the pants while “West Point” runs down the right. Perhaps the most different aspect of the uniform is the name plate which reads “Duty, Honor, Country” on every jersey. (These players don’t represent themselves, they represent America) Army got pounded, but they looked cool while doing it. ▪

scout.com

Friday, February 20, 2009

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Sports 23

Athlete of the Month: Parsa Kafi

By Lena Liu Feature Editor

staff writer anthony wu

2009 MSJ Invitational

By Tanu Patel Staff Writer

The increased number of cars in the parking lot and terrible traffic surrounding the school were only the first of many signs that something was taking place at MSJ. As a matter of fact, on Friday Feb. 6 and Saturday Feb. 7, MSJ hosted its annual MSJ Wrestling Invitational.

Wrestlers from all over California and their families crammed into the gym quad and gym, creating a rich medley of colors. The overall aura of the event was friendly yet competitive as wrestlers from 65 different schools ate food from booths specifically set up for the Invitational and mingled with each other while waiting for their individual events.

As the rain poured outside, inside the gym, girls and boys alike wrestled each other on the mats set up on the floor. Although they were under a great deal of pressure to succeed in front of their entire school, nerves didn’t seem to affect MSJ Wrestlers. Junior David Wilson, when asked if he was nervous about his upcoming matches, said, “No. I’ve been training hard and I think I’m ready.”

Overall, a significant handful of MSJ Wrestlers made it to the second day of this rigorous tournament. Senior Captain Arnold Hwa was the only MSJ Wrestler to place in his weight class; he placed fourth. ▪

staff writer anthony wu

Senior Captain Arnold Hwa attempts to pin his opponent.

staff writer anthony wu

Hwa keeps light on his feet and prepares to take his opponent down.

Senior Parsa Kafi is undoubtedly one of MSJ’s star athletes, having played for Varsity Soccer and Basketball a total of four years.

This year, as one of the captains of the Varsity Boys’ Soccer team, he has helped lead the team to numerous victories. The Smoke Signal asked him to share some thoughts on his many accomplishments.

Smoke Signal: When did you start playing soccer? What position do you play?

Parsa Kafi: I started playing at [age] three in the park. I started league play at [age] eight.

I play forward.

SS: Describe a typical day at practice.

PK: We warm up for 20 minutes and run four laps around the track. We run drills, practice free kicks, and play possession.

SS: How do you prepare yourself for each game? Any rituals?

PK: I usually pray.The team runs drills, and I’m usually the one who gives the pre-game speech before each game to get everyone pumped.

SS: What was your most memorable meet this season?

PK:The game against Washington on Jan. 23rd.

I scored on a diving header from Chris Mayer.

SS: You’re also a basketball player and played on the Varsity Basketball team your junior year. Why did you choose soccer this year and not basketball?

PK: I was on Varsity Soccer as a freshman and a sophomore. For school, I prefer soccer, but I still practice basketball. I

staff writer victor chen

play basketball in league during off-season.

SS: Any interesting or funny stories that you have to share?

PK: After we played Acalanes [from Concord] and beat them, we danced in the parking lot. The other team got really mad.

SS: What do you like best about soccer?

PK: It’s a really good outlet for everyone on the team. It solves stress and is a lot of fun.

SS: Who’s your favorite soccer player/team?

PK: I like Kaka. He plays for AC Milan.

SS: Do you plan on playing soccer in college?

PK: I will definitely try out and maybe do a walk-on.

SS: What plans do you have for the rest of the season?

PK: Get a seeding at NCS. ▪

24 Sports

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The Smoke Signal

Friday, February 20, 2009

Winter Sports wrap up

By Anthony Wu & Jane Wang Staff Writers

Boys’ Soccer

Girls’ Soccer

Moreau W 2-0 Livermore L 1-2 Liberty L 0-4 Antioch W 1-0 Girls’ Soccer Granada L 0-6 MoreauValley W 2-0W 3-0 Dougherty Livermore Mount DiabloL 1-2 W 3-0 Liberty L 0-4 Kennedy W/W 5-0, 2-1 Antioch W 1-0 Irvington W/WL 0-6 4-0, 3-1 Granada Washington W/W 2-1 Dougherty Valley W 3-04-1 Mount L/W Diablo1-0, W 3-0 Logan 3-2 Kennedy W/W 5-0, 2-1 American T/T 3-3,1-1 Irvington W/W 4-0, 3-1 Newark T 1-1 Washington W/W 2-1 4-1 Freedom L 4-1 James Logan L/W 1-0, 3-2 American T/T 3-3,1-1 Newark T 1-1 Freedom L 4-1

Boys’ Soccer Boys’W/W Soccer American 6-0, 4-2

American W/W 6-0, 4-2 Kennedy W/L 1-0, 0-2 Kennedy W/L 1-0, 0-2 Irvington 3-0,1-0 1-0 Irvington W/W W/W 3-0, James Logan L/T 2-3, 0-0 James Logan L/T 2-3, 0-0 Newark L/W L/W 0-2, Newark 0-2,0-3 0-3 Washington L/W 0-4, Washington L/W 0-4,1-01-0

Wrestling

This year, the Boys’ Soccer team went through a season of both highs and lows. The team dominated preseason and the start of league play but suffered commitment issues, key injuries, and tough losses began to plague the team. Refusing to give up in the face of adversity, the athletes regrouped and reestablished their motto “Ubuntu,” which stands for unity and team over individual.

After that meeting, the Warriors nearly won all thier remaining games and are now competing for the top spot in the MVAL tournament. “We still have room to grow,” said Senior Captain Parsa Kafi. “And when we reach our peak, we’ll be able to beat any team in the league.”

Girls’ Basketball

The Girls’ Basketball team played hard this season to maintain its league standing and ended up with a regular season record of 6-6. With no seniors on the roster, the Lady Warriors were a relatively young team but took advantage of the opportunity to forge strong relationships that would carry over to next season. The Warriors started rough with three consecutive losses but fought back with three strong wins. The girls hope to continue this success as the season progresses into MVALs. Junior Captain Rachel Chang said, “We are plugging away and taking one game at a time until we can reach our goal of making it to the finals. We are determined to get there.”

Wrestling

Under the guidance of Coach Tom Thomsen, the Wrestling team had another successful year. Senior Captain Arnold Hwa said, “The biggest reason why we get better and do so well is because Coach works us extremely hard. Just smell the inside of the mini-gym and you’ll know what I’m talking about.” Even though the team graduated several top-ranked wrestlers last year, the Warriors did not miss a beat, doing well in league and in tournaments. The MVAL and NCS Championships take place near the end of February, and Hwa has high hopes for the team. “I have been extremely proud of us this season, and I’m expecting our team to finish things off on a high note,” said Hwa. ▪

Spring Sports Preview

By Audrey Tseng & Jerry Ting

Irvington W Washington W American W L James Logan Newark L W Washington Kennedy W

The Girls’ Swim team is perhaps the strongest that MSJ has witnessed. The team only has a handful of seniors, and is mostly composed of underclassmen. The swimmers are looking to break many relays, with the league records previously held by MSJ and rival Irvington. Individually, the girls are talented swimmers looking out swim the rest of the league and to do unprecedentedly well in NCS.

Kennedy W/w Washington W/w American L/L Girls’ Basketball James Logan L/L Irvington W/W Newark L/L

Although the Boys’ Basketball team did not end up with the record it had hoped for, the team progressed a great deal. But buzzer beaters hurt the Warriors all season. “We often held leads during the fourth quarter, but we just had trouble closing games,” said Senior Captain Ryan Mahuron. Nevertheless, the team was able to compete with league powerhouses Newark and Logan, proving that the Warriors were more formidable than most believed. In response to a friendly jab made by fellow Senior Captain Eric Gwynn in a previous article, Mahuron joked, “For the record, we would’ve won all our games if Eric had played better.”

staff writer anthony wu, archives

Sports Editor & Graphics Editor

American W L Girls’Newark Basketball KennedyW/w W Irvington

Boys’ Basketball

(From left to right) Junior David Roche, Freshman Ilene Tsao, Junior Amrun Singh, Senior Arnold Hwa, and Senior Eric Gwynn.

Irvington W

Wrestling James Logan L

Girls’ Soccer

Despite the season beginning with a poor preseason and low expectations, the Girls’ Soccer team enjoyed tremendous success this year.

The team was primarily composed of new players but was still able to boast a record of seven wins, one loss, and four ties. Highlights of the season included two wins against rival school Washington and team bonding through pasta feeds. Under the leadership of Senior Captains Kelly Cannon, Christine Nam, and Chelsea Kitta, and with the help of star players such as Junior Amrun Singh, the team is primed to win MVALs and continue its success in NCS. Said Nam, “This was the best year we’ve had so far.”

Girls’ Swimming

Kennedy W/W Washington W/W American L/L Boys’ Basketball James Logan L/L El Camino L 49-71 Livermore W 55-47 Newark L/L

Boys’ Tennis

“This is probably the best team we’ve had in a while,” said Boys’ Tennis Senior Captain Stephen Yu. Losing only a few seniors last season, the boys are stacked and getting ready for league with preseason games as well as the California High School Boys’ Tennis Classic. Led

by Head Coach Bill Patton, the team is looking to dominate MVALs. They hope to improve on their impressive third place finish last year at NCS and are in contention to take home first place this season.

Softball

After graduating five seniors at the end of last season, the Softball team is starting with a young team. However, “This season has a good amount of talent […] I see that there is a good season in front of us,” said Junior Emmeline Wang. The Lady Warriors are preparing for league with preseason games against Tennyson, California High, Hayward, and San Lorenzo, led by Coaches Wayne Hanano and Jeff Evans.

Badminton

This season, the Badminton team is looking strong as usual. Although the team graduated a number of seniors last year, Senior Julia Wu said, “There are a lot of returning Varsity this season, [so] I think we will have a strong team.”

Already, many of the returning Varsity have competed and placed in the Winter Polar Bear Tournament. This preseason tournament along with conditioning are sure to get the team in shape to dominate in league as well as NCS.

Baseball

The Baseball team is starting young but hopes to be in contention for the league title with their new and experienced coaching staff.

In addition to their yearly Milpitas Tournament, the team is learning all they can from their coaches who have played college level baseball.

“With the changes in coaching staff and revived enthusiasm among us players, I am excited to see how we contend and look forward to a great season,” said Junior Caleb Scherer.

The team is sure to fight hard in league play and hopes to make NCS.

Track & Field

Last season, the Track and Field team graduated key seniors in both track and field events, but many of the JV athletes from last year are moving up to ensure this year’s Varsity team is loaded with talent. Optional preseason meets such as the Skyline Invitational are preparing the team for league competition. Said Junior Anjana Bala, “It’s a great chance for new runners to go out there and see what they’ve got.” Although the team will face tough competition from schools like Newark, Logan, and Washington, the athletes are sure to fight hard this 2009 season.

Galena L 44-45 Spanish Springs L 40-58 McQueen W 63-40 Boys’ North ValleyBasketball Baptist W 72-22 Emery WL 56-52 El Camino 49-71 Valley Christian 64-32 Livermore W W55-47 California L 42-46 Fremont Arroyo WChristian 47-46 43-37 JohnW Swett L 36-52 Kennedy Yerba BuenaL W49-57 81-32 Concord W 63-52 Yerba Buena W 81-32 James Logan L/L Concord W55-57, 63-5251-53 Newark L/L 48-63, 47-62 Logan L/L 55-57, American W/L 52-37,51-53 54-56 Newark L/L 48-63, 47-62 Irvington L/W 51-53, 46-30 American Washington W/L 57-49, 50-61

Boys’ Golf

Last season, the Boys’ Golf team placed second at MVALs, and this year they plan to match or better their success. Said Senior Alan Ngo, “I’m confident enough to say that we will take first in MVALs this year.” Although the team graduated two strong players, there are many underclassmen coming out for the team who will help make the team’s goal a reality.

Boys’ Swimming

The Boys’ Swim team is looking to continue its success by repeating to win league and rank multiple talented individual swimmers in NCS. The team is composed of many solid Senior long distant swimmers along with a talented pool of returning Juniors and Sophomores that were largely successful last season when the team won their meets with large margins of victory and with relative ease. The swimmers are aiming to defeat rival Irvington again this year and remain a swimming powerhouse in MVAL.

W/L 52-37, 54-56 Irvington L/W 51-53, 46-30 Washington W/L 57-49, 50-61

Boys’ Volleyball

(From top to bottom) Freshman Shiwen Chen, Senior Cartney Dzoan, Senior Aaida Samad, Senior Sean Zhang, Senior Elias Lee.

The Boys’ Volleyball team graduated three seniors last year and has a starting lineup built upon the talents of juniors and sophomores. The team is the most experienced MSJ has had largely due in part to the players’ diligence in playing club volleyball in the offseason. This year, the team is looking to capture the league title, push deep into NCS, and to make MSJ history by being the first Boys’ Volleyball team to put up a banner in the gym. ▪

(From top to bottom) Sophomore Matt Imhof, Senior Alan Ngo, Senior Jeff Tsui, Senior Daniel Yang.

photos by staff writers elisa ting, joseph teng, alissa gwynn, karen lin, graphics editor cici cao

& courtesy preston lam