Laguna Blanca School - 4125 Paloma Drive - Santa Barbara - California - 93110- thefourthestate@lagunablanca.org
Volume XVI
HEIGHT LIMITS ON BUILDINGS VOTED DOWN
November 2009
LEARNING ON LOCATION By OLIVIA BERCI
Issue 2
Medical Marijuana Booming in S.B. CONCERNS ON REGULATION
By ZOE SERBIN By ERIN STONE slow-growth advocates are worried
Although proponents of Measure B built a firm support crew as well as a fervent team of opposition, the Santa Barbara’s initiative that proposed a 45 foot height limit on buildings, failed. YES votes: 10, 343, or 46.3 percent, NO votes: 12, 009, or 53.7 percent. The initiative proposed a change in the height limit of buildings from 60 feet to 45 feet, and 40 feet in the El Pueblo Viejo area. Mr. Dave Davis, the executive director of the Environmental Community Council, opposed Measure B. In an interview with the Santa Barbara News Press, he said his beliefs were that older buildings above the height limit would not be able to rebuild in the case of a disaster. “Buildings which are over the new height limit and receive a loss of 75 percent of their value from a catastrophic event, such as fire or earthquake, would not be allowed to be rebuilt.” Others countered this argument with the concept that city council can change regulation, so that large buildings can be rebuilt in the case of any of these catastrophes. Some famous buildings in Santa Barbara would not be able to be rebuilt with the passing of the law, granted city council does not alter it, including the Lobero, Masonic Temple, Marjorie Luke Theatre, Our Lady of Sorrows Church, Nordstrom, Cottage Hospital, Arlington Theatre, Santa Barbara Mission, Santa Barbara Courthouse, News-Press buildings, Trinity Church, the Canary Hotel, and Santa Barbara Museum of Art. Those in favor of Measure B felt it would make Santa Barbara more environmentally friendly by limiting heat, air conditioning, ventilation, and light necessities. They also thought the new restrictions would keep Santa Barbara from bringing in unwanted and unneeded growth. “Downtown should be for parks and retail,” said Lanny Ebenstein, a former member of the Santa Barbara Board of Education and current president of the Santa Barbara County Taxpayer’s association. Those opposed disagree with Ebenstein, saying instead of expanding upward with taller buildings, Santa Barbara would be forced to move outward in urban sprawl. Often buildings are used as both retail and living complexes, a combination the height restrictions would make difficult if they’d been approved. In contrast, many argued that the Santa Barbara community would continue to expand upward, ruining our ‘small town’ feel that attracts tourism. They worried if many of the things locals have taken for granted were altered, the industry that pulls in almost 50 percent of Santa Barbara’s income would be ruined. Others felt that the height limit would force architects to be more creative in their design aesthetics. Architects opposed it because is very difficult to successfully design a unique building under 40 feet.
PHOTO: ARABELLA WATERS
Stepping into antiquity: Students visit the Getty Villa in Malibu in a cross-curricular program between English, Greek, and Latin classes to study Greek and Roman art and architecture. Experimental learning opportunities enrich Laguna students’ educations by breathing air into their text and fascinating them with unforgettable academic experiences that take place out of the classroom. One off-campus venture found English and Greek classes traveling to the Getty Museum for a cross-curricular learning experience. Ms. Bojana Hill and Magistra Hollie Haycock paired up to take the English 10 honors class, AP Virgil class, and Greek class to the Getty Villa. “It was beautiful. It inspired me to learn more about Greek culture,” said sophomore Justin Shand. The three classes (AP Virgil, Greek, and English 10 honors), all of which are either studying the language or culture of the ancient Greeks or Romans, had the opportunity to experience art of great antiquity, as well as a replication of an ancient Roman Villa. They admired gods, goddesses, and muses made of alabaster and bronze, such as those in a room entirely devoted to Trojan War Stories. Something of particular enthrallment to English students was an image depicting Helen of Troy illustrated on a vase, which directly related to the poem they had read called “Leda and the Saw.” “The trip was prompted by the desire to offer instruction out of the classroom setting for experimental learning,”
explains Ms. Hill, “We wanted to link the common curriculum goals to what the students were experiencing.” Students were transported to a different time and place, strolling through the gardens blanketed by the herbs and agriculture of ancient Rome, including pomegranate, fig, and mint. Students also visited the ancient Greek Theater, on the grounds of the Villa, at which ancient Greek plays are performed. “It was enchanting,” adds Ms. Hill. The ancient times which the students were studying exuberantly came to life. Increasingly, LBS teachers have been including more off campus learning experiences in their curriculums. English instructor Ms. Ashley Tidey says in light of her recent English 11 trip to Hope Ranch Beach, “When Ms. Alethea Paradis and I went to a CAIS ‘Service Learning’ workshop at the Urban School two Augusts ago, we talked to headmaster Mark Salkind about the way that Urban incorporates ‘experiential learning’ into every aspect of its curriculum. Urban was really founded on the idea of ‘learning on location’… If one can find the time, it’s a great way to help connect students to course material in a way that they will, at least one hopes, remember!” Ms. Tidey said, “We discussed the writers out in the
‘natural world.’ We sat in a sweet little circle, nibbled on food, and discussed the fact that the Transcendentalists celebrated the simple life, and that they celebrated not just nature but the individual’s relation to nature.” And what’s more, extra credit was offered to those students who dressed like a Transcendentalist for the day. This opportunity was taken advantage of by juniors Carolina Beltran, who was adorned in 60s hippie attire, and Austin Danson, who wore a black suit and top hat, as Ralph Waldo Emerson once did. The day came to a close as Peter Sorensen explored his own relation to nature by jumping into the ocean at the end of class. In addition to Ms. Tidey’s class trip, Ms. Paradis and Mr. Landon Neustadt teamed up to take AP Human Geography and AP Environmental Studies students to UCSB. Ms. Hill, said, “We should absolutely include more experimental learning experiences in our curriculums,” suggesting theater and art galleries as wonderful, culturally rich adventures. A third on-location learning experience was the journey to UCSB to the geography department computer lab. AP Human Geography and AP Environmental Studies students worked alongside graduate students on a lab, in Continued on page 3
Students Sign Up for Clubs at Club Fair By ABBY REUTZEL
Photo: Crosby Harbison
Breast Cancer Club members Kelsey Douglas and Carolina Beltran invite students to stop by and to check out their club at the recent club fair held on campus.
So many clubs so little time. The Upper School recently held the annual club fair to introduce students to new and existing clubs. Represented were Amnesty International, Interact, Teddy Bears for Cancer Foundation, JSA, Mountain Biking Club, Environment Club, Anime Club, Art Club, Breast Cancer Club, Photography Club, Rock Climbing Club, and the Cure Finders for Cystic Fibrosis Club. Clubs claimed tables and set up posters advertising themselves. Treats were also available at some tables. New clubs include Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation and the CureFinders for Cystic Fibrosis Club. “I didn’t know that there were so many clubs at Laguna this year,” said junior Stewart Green when asked about all of the new clubs. Students mulled around the quad walking from table to table deciding which club would suit them best and signed up for the clubs that caught their eye. “The club fair really opened my eyes to all of the organizations trying to progress the world,” said junior Peter Sorensen.
Welcome to Santa Barbara’s version of reefer madness, where thousands of citizens are legally lighting up, with their doc’s recommendation, to get that famous marijuana high, now known for its painkilling powers. Just like any other prescription medicine, it’s likely the purple kush will soon come in its own pill bottle, complete with daily dosage instructions and expiration dates. Law enforcement agencies are left scratching their heads on how to regulate this upand-coming industry. They are left to decipher the unclear legal haze blurring the line of what’s acceptable and what’s criminal. Senate Bill 420 states that with a doctor’s approval Californians can carry as much as eight ounces of marijuana and grow as many as six mature plants. However, it hazes over the role of those assigned by patients to grow and provide their medicine. The unregulated nature of all this leaves the police, dispensary owners, and patients unsure of what they should be doing.
PHOTO: ERIN STONE
In 2008, the city of Santa Barbara adopted a Medical Marijuana Dispensary Ordinance to regulate locations of the dispensaries. Under the ordinance, dispensaries can be located in specific zones— Milpas Street, downtown, and the Upper State area. The ordinance prohibits dispensaries from being within 500 feet of a school, park, or other dispensary. In the 2008-2009 school year, there were 178 suspensions in the Santa Barbara school district for illegal substances, the majority of which were for marijuana. According to Dr. J. Brian Sarvis, superintendent of the Santa Barbara school districts, based on interviews with student users and sellers going through suspension or expulsion, their marijuana originates either directly or indirectly from medical marijuana dispensaries. Dr. Sarvis also noted that there are 17 dispensary locations throughout the 93101 zip code, several of which are located in neighborhoods and near schools. Though many are against the dispensaries because of the effect they may have on underage marijuana use, there’s no question that the industry makes money. In a study released by public policy analyst Jon Gettman, the annual domestic marijuana harvest was estimated to be about $35.8 billion, making it hands-down the number-one cash crop in America. With around $13.8 billion of that believed to be grown on California soil, it’s an industry that’s rooted and fully blooming in the Golden State.
GRAPHIC: IZZY GREER
Letter From the Editor Hello again! This issue, our double-page feature spread is about the future, so I thought I’d offer a few additional thoughts. Being high school students, the future is a thing hovering around us every day. We’re preparing for it every moment with each experience we have—the good, the bad, and the just plain random. Unfortunately, with our futures strutting before us, with our goals, hopes, and dreams being created, we are distracted from our lives in the present. It’s hard not to look ahead and to anticipate what is to come. Because of this, we often forget to take a step back, look around, and absorb the subtleties of our present surroundings—the fluttering shadows of leaves across the ground, the smell of dewdrops and crunching leaves, or the tears blurring sight after a hearty laugh with a good friend. So, though the thought of our futures can be exhilarating, let’s not forget that the individual moments are what make our lives rich. Sincerely,
Erin Stone Editor-in-Chief
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Community Trend pg. Service Spotting Corner Interview pg. with This Whole Foods pg. Providence Mania The Getting Importancepg. of Family to Know pg. Dinners Our New The Droid: Headmaster A New pg. Phone Is from Obsessive Verizon Fall Healthy pg. Sports pg. Eating Wrap up Killing Us? Concussions In High pg. School & Sports pg SAT Survival pg. Welcome To Guide Our Future
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he Fourth Estate is a public forum for student expression. It is written and produced solely by the journalism students. The Fourth Estate welcomes guest articles and letters to the editor. Letters must be signed and be no longer than 300 words. Drop letters off in the main office or e-mail them to thefourthestate@ lagunablanca.org. Editors reserve the right to edit for length, clarity, and/or taste. Anonymous letters will not be published. The Fourth Estate accepts advertising. Contact Trish McHale, MJE. at thefourthestate@lagunablanca.org for more information. Subscriptions are also available.
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Editor-in-Chief Erin Stone News & Health Editor Jordan Shannon Op/Ed Editor Arabella Watters Feature Editor Lillie Hodges Style Editor Carolina Beltran Arts & Entertainment Editor Abby Reutzel Photo Editor Elliot Serbin Graphics Editor Bryson Alef
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Copy Editors Erin Stone Lillie Hodges Arabella Watters Business Manager Devin Nigro Artists Jessie Ditmore Izzy Greer Staff Brandon Bickett, Olivia Berci, Patrick Ferroni, Ashlyn Kaufman, Jeffrey Nelson, Troy Ritter, Zoe Serbin, Fletcher Sipple, Faculty Advisor Patricia McHale, MJE
News Briefs By BRANDON BICKETT Santa Barbara Literary Society: After reading Rogues’ Gallery: The Secret History of the Moguls and the Money that Made the Metropolitan Museum by Michael Gross, the following students (nominated by English and History teachers) Seth Judson, Devin Nigro, Alex Marshall, Kelly Furukawa, Lillie Hodges, Olivia Liebman, Arabella Watters-Grubstein, and Lauren Alef attended a Santa Barbara Literary Society event at the Biltmore. Students met privately with author Michael Gross to discuss the book. They also attended a luncheon where he spoke. Ms. Meredith Brace and Ms. Trish McHale chaperoned the trip. Art Shows: Senior Izzy Greer and art teacher Mr. Dug Uyesaka had their art selected by the Ventura County Arts Council Visual Arts Committee for an exhibition called RECYCLED RE-PURPOSED: Art from a Disposable Society. The exhibit runs through December 2 at the Atrium Lobby, Hall of Administration Ventura County Government Center 800 S. Victoria Avenue, Ventura. LBS Faculty Art Exhibit: Opens Nov. 17 from 4:30-6pm at Mikles Gallery in the Emmons Arts Center. This year’s special exhibit includes a collection of paintings, photographs, assemblages, and ceramic pieces by LBS faculty members Chris J. Johnson. Delphine Louie, Amber O’Neill, and Dug Uyesaka. Debate Club: LBS formed a Debate Club. Members include sophomore boys who initiated the club’s launch. The club is lead by Mr. Joe Beck and Ms. Trish McHale. Members meet weekly during lunch in Kalfas to learn and practice debate techniques while focusing on public speaking. Although they will not be competing this year, next year they hope to enter competitions and to join a debate league. Membership is open and all students are invited to attend a club meeting. Young Republicans Club: Students with a passion for politics started a political club at LBS. The focal point of the club is to discuss the political ideology of republicanism and democracy, while also being considerate of other political parties. Club leader junior Spencer Dusebout said, “I just thought it was necessary to show the views and feelings that the students have about our government.” The club is looking for new members and is seeking out other clubs in Santa Barbara. Ninth Grade Election Results: LBS freshmen Benjamin Sorensen and Brian Miguel were elected President and Vice President of the freshman class. They will contribute ideas and thoughts to Student Council. National Leadership Conference: Senior Austin Patrick attended the National Global Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. He won an all-expense paid scholarship to attend as a result of his participation and performance in a local Global Leadership Conference held at UCSB that is based on academics, leadership skills, and athletics. This award is only given to 9 people in the country.
Learning on Location Classrooms go off-campus to study.
PHOTO: ABBY REUTZEL
Transcendentalism: Ms. Ashley Tidey teaches her junior English students at Hope Ranch beach.
Students Complete Inaugural Sophomore Service Day By TROY RITTER Despite the fact that Laguna sophomores had an essay due, three books to read, sports practice, and various other activities, students still managed to find time to give back to a school and community that has given them so much. This year, Laguna tested a new type of class trip in place of previous overnight adventures to San Diego to introduce the Sophomore Day of Service, in which the entire sophomore class took a day to learn about service, to complete service, and to reflect. Opening events took place inside of Spaulding Auditorium where students listened to two speakers discuss the importance of giving back to your community. The first speaker was Mr. Doug Hangensen, director of Backyard Harvest who also welcomed a group of students along with English teachers Mr. David Barndollar and Ms. Bojana Hill to assist in harvesting over 1,000 pounds of lemons from a Hope Ranch property. The second speaker, a former Peace Core volunteer, was Middle School science teacher Mr. Zachary Moore. “His speech was very moving and really intense. It seems that his experience really changed him a lot,” said sophomore Brianna Neese. Later in the day, students dispersed to several different organizations that were handpicked to accompany this day of service. Following the service, students enjoyed a beach side lunch and down time at East Beach to bond with classmates. Students were given several organizations to choose from, including: Santa Barbara Boys and Girls Club, Harding School, Laguna Blanca Lower School, Animal Shelter Assistance Program, and Backyard Harvest.
“I felt really good about it,” said dean of students Mr. Tyler Hodges, cocreator along with director of community service Ms. Trish McHale of the inaugural service day. “We wanted to set up something that would be good for the students, but also something they would enjoy.” Ms. McHale added, “When you match the interest of a student with a service opportunity, you have a greater chance of the student continuing to do service.” The idea for the Sophomore Service Day actually came from Upper School head Mr. John Berry. Students in groups of 9 accompanied by a participating faculty member spanned out across Santa Barbara following the morning activities and completed two and a half hours of service before meeting back as a class for lunch at the East Beach Grill. The students enjoyed a beach side lunch and down time in which to bond with classmates. Some played football or volleyball, while others braved a swim in the ocean. This trip was not only about the students giving back to their community, but it was also a chance to bond with fellow classmates and allow teachers to see students outside of the classroom on a different level. When asked about plans he has for next year’s sophomore class trip, Mr. Hodges said that while the faculty and staff are still looking into other style trips that reach out to places outside the greater Santa Barbara area, in the short term, the idea of the service day worked very well. “When you allow students to have input into a project like this, it gives them ownership, and they are then more willing to participate because they feel more important,” said Mr. Hodges.
A Howling Good Time for Student Volunteers at Boo at the Zoo By TROY RITTER
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which they learned how to use Geography Information Systems technology, following a lecture regarding GIS. The students then applied what they had learned about the “principles of spatial analysis to social and environmental problems,” explains Ms. Paradis, “their assignment was to act as a consultant for an environmental firm that wanted a professional recommendation about which five cities in the world would be the best to install solar power plants.” LBS students took into account data including population, Gross Domestic Product, cloudcover, and hours of sunlight. In addition the students utilized computer programs that are not available to us on our campus to reach extremely advanced, and professional conclusions. In the afternoon, students visited the Marine Sciences Laboratory, where they were able to come in direct contact
PHOTO: MS. BOJANA HILL
Harvesting Lemons in Hope Ranch: Sophomore Brandon Bickett gets busy harvesting lemons while participating in local Backyard Harvest in Hope Ranch. At the end of their volunteering, students harvested a total of 1,016 pounds of lemons.
with sea life, and gain knowledge regarding the environmental factors affecting our local aquatic organisms. Ms. Paradis said, “The day of experiential learning was quite valuable for a variety of reasons: Visiting a university campus is educational in itself. Most of our students had not spent that much time on a university campus before, so they had a chance to visualize college life for themselves in the future. [Secondly] The graduate students provided cutting-edge expertise in a specialized area of study. UCSB has expensive software programs that we do not have here on our campus, so our students were lucky to learn a new technology tool. [Thirdly] We took the public bus there and back. It’s important to empower kids in choosing public transportation as an alternative to our car culture.” The students learned that it is more cost and time effective to take the bus to UCSB: no traffic, no parking hassles.”
When thinking about community service, wearing a costume and handing out candy isn’t necessarily the first thing that comes to mind. But for Laguna students Alex Greer, Justin Shand, Angelina Romasanta, and Dawson Ingersoll that is exactly what they did at this year’s Boo at the Zoo at the Santa Barbara Zoo. Every year the Santa Barbara Zoo lines their entrance walk way with booths and tables set up by various organizations and corporations that sponsor the event, allowing a safe venue for children to trick or treat. “In the beginning it was just treat tables and a spooky walk for older kids,” said Ms. Tara Broucqsault, Director of Communications at Laguna and coordinator of Laguna’s involvement at Boo at the Zoo. “But each year they add something new… like an entire festival at the crest of the hill with game booths, more treat tables, a DJ, stage and dancing, and a maze walk. Boo at the Zoo gives Laguna students a fun community service opportunity as well as allows them to not only give back to the Santa Barbara community, but also gives them the ability to give back to their school by being its most valuable ambassadors.” Since 2005, Laguna has sponsored Boo at the Zoo by purchasing a treat table lining the main walk way and equipping it with all the candy and decorations necessary to make it a fun time for the event’s trickor-treaters, both children and parents. “Boo at the Zoo not only provides an affordable and safe venue for trick-or-treating, but it also provides a fun venue for Laguna to connect with Santa Barbara families at one of the most popular holiday events in town and share with them the benefits of Laguna Blanca School,” said Ms. Broucqsault. Laguna students dressed in their finest cowboy
PHOTO: TARA BROUCQSAULT
Spooky Service: Swoop the Owl makes an appearance at the annual Boo at the Zoo Event at the Santa Barbara Zoo with senior Angelina Romasanta. boots and headed down to the Santa Barbara Zoo, bringing with them Swoop, “who was a huge hit” Ms. Broucqsault added. Both Dawson Ingersoll and Alex Greer took two-hour shifts wearing the costume, providing ample hugs and photo opportunities to adoring children. If students would like to participate in next year’s festivities, they can drop by Ms. Broucqsault’s office and receive information about the event. All you need to do, is enjoy children, dress in costume, and represent Laguna well in the community. “You’ll find this an easy and super fun way to earn some community service hours” Ms. Broucqsault added. Hopefully, we’ll see you there next year!
W
atch out Lazy Acres, Trader Joes, and Gelsons--Whole Foods opened in Santa Barbara and it’s causing a stir. Opening day was an event in itself with lines stretching out the door. The store featured free giveaways, taste testing, fun activities for children, and important community event information. Whole Foods, the nation’s top retailer of organic and natural foods and products, opened on Oct. 10 and is located at 3761 State Street. Whole Foods has long been the leader in natural and organic foods, with more than 270 stores in North America and the United Kingdom. Upon entering the Santa Barbara Whole Foods, one immediately becomes absorbed in the upbeat and energetic vibe that the store offers. With its friendly staff and commitment to seek the finest natural and organic foods, why would you consider shopping at any other market? Whole Foods is a company greatly committed to environmental issues and helps raise money towards several non-profit organizations across the world. Whole Foods active support of organic farming and sustainable agriculture also helps protect the planet. The store’s Whole Planet Foundation’s mi-
Whole Foods: Santa Barbara’s Newest Natural Food Sensation By JORDAN SHANNON
PHOTO: ELLIOT SERBIN Natural Food, Friendly Atmosphere: Whole Foods offers a plethora of natural and organic foods. The popular food market has become a favorite among locals and will continue to provide top quality products
cro-lending operations help support food banks, sponsor neighborhood events, and donate to local non-profit groups. Locally for example, they offer the eScrip program, which gives local non-profit groups and schools the opportunity to purchase gift cards at a discount. One of the company’s core values is to give back five percent of its net proceeds to the community. Santa Barbara’s gen-
eral manager Mr. Jonathan A. Siefer says that they are “pleased to offer this program as a service to our local nonprofit organizations and schools.” Not only is the food exceptional at Whole Foods, but Whole Foods’ staff truly makes your shopping experience that much more enjoyable. They are extremely passionate about healthy food and a healthy planet. They take full advantage
Sleep Deprivation in Our Generation By OLIVIA BERCI A study performed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration showed that more than 100,000 traffic accidents involving teenage drivers occur yearly as a direct result of exhaustion. United States Representative Zoe Lofgren affirms, “[an increase in sleep among high school students] could do more to improve education and reduce teen accidents and crime than many more expensive initiatives.” According to Dr. Mary A. Carskadon of Brown University Medical School, there is a significant association between lack of sleep and poor grades. Out of 3,000 highschool students those who were getting C’s, D’s and F’s in school went to bed on average about forty minutes later, and overall attained twenty five minutes less sleep than students who stated they received A’s and B’s. Sleep deprivation also has numerous ramifications on both the physical and mental state of one’s body. Without a sufficient amount of rest, the brain’s aptitude to operate is decreased. The denial of sleep causes the brain to abate into uncompromising, and incredibly destructive thought sequences which take a dramatic toll on the one’s ability to make decisions, and problemsolve. As reported by OneHealthyLifeStyle.com, Sleep deprivation leads to depression, hypertension, irritability and inability to moderate emotion, disciplinary issues, slower reaction, memory impairments, hallucina-
tions, tremors, a weakened immune system, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), inability to handle stress, and poor concentration. In addition, sleep deficiency has proven to cause weight gain due to the body’s decreased production of leptin, is a hormone that regulates appetite. Heart disease has also been linked to sleep deprivation due to the increased levels of Creactive protein, which is a substance that puts one at a greater risk for inflammation. What contributes to this detrimental sleep deprivation which is running rampant among our generation? Normal teenage activities such as: Facebook, texting, caffeine, snooze buttons, YouTube, television programs, MySpace, Twitter, and instant messaging easily cause lack of sleep. There are steps one can take to gain more sleep. First, ban the snooze button. Dr. Zee, M.D., the director of the Sleep Disorders Center at
Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, says “Continuing to fall back asleep after each alarm buzz makes you feel groggier in the end.” Establish a bedtime. By establishing a bedtime one consequently achieves more productive evenings and reduces procrastination. However, plausibly the most prominent action one can take is limiting the time he or she spends exhausting the media. Admittedly, this is easier said than done. Freshman Anastasia Antonova said, “I am exhausted by the end of the week. I think we don’t have enough time to accomplish all that is expected of us. The peer pressure put on us to use Facebook and other media don’t help either.” A lack of sufficient sleep has become an epidemic among adolescents, and puts us at risk for uncountable cerebral and emotional difficulties, psychopathology, poor performance in school, and accidents related to fatigue.
of the decentralized, selfdirected team culture and create a respectful workplace where people are treated fairly and are highly motivated to succeed. Whole Foods convenient location in Santa Barbara is also easy to access for Laguna students. With students’ hectic and busy schedules, Whole Foods array of healthy foods are great options for overall well being.
Students have greatly appreciated the store’s wide variety of healthy and organic foods and are very excited that the Whole Foods has chosen Santa Barbara as its newest location. Students will be able to find a wide variety of organic foods and will enjoy discovering the many exotic kinds of food Whole Foods offers. Arabella WestonSmith, a junior, describes Whole Foods as “The
best grocery store!’ I am so happy that Santa Barbara has a Whole Foods. I really like its great variety of foods but it can sometimes be a little overpriced. But, I appreciate that they support local growers no matter how expensive it is. I also really love their pumpkin pie-- a must for fall!” Olivia Liebman, also a junior, agrees by saying, “I love Whole Foods! There is a lot of assistance and the workers are very nice. I also love how there is a wide selection of food that is reasonably priced for the quality.” Although Whole Foods offers the finest quality organic and natural foods around, shoppers may notice that their receipts are quite high. But, Whole Foods Santa Barbara always offers daily specials booklets which feature lists of many products that are currently on sale. Overall, Whole Foods Market Santa Barbara is a wonderful place to fulfill your needs for purchasing organic foods while supporting a good cause. Although the store has only been open for a few weeks, the public’s favorable reception suggests that this natural foods market is here to stay. Now is the time to prioritize your health and discover the truly beneficial products Whole Foods has to offer. And, you will find, the change is worth investing in.
Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes Thanksgiving is all about abundance or, often, overabundance. But it doesn’t have to be that way. With healthy updates to classic dishes, the recipes showcased here use high-impact flavors like fresh herbs, spices and seasonal fruits and vegetables to minimize the need for gobs of butter, cream and salt. By JORDAN SHANNON
Maple Roasted Pumpkin Salad
Herb Roasted Turkey
Ingredients: 1 sugar pumpkin (3 1/2 to 4 pounds), peeled, seeded, and cut in 1 1/2inch chunks 5 tablespoons olive oil 6 garlic cloves, unpeeled 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes 2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon pure maple syrup feta cheese 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 1 1/2 pounds arugula (2 to 3 bunches
Ingredients: turkey (about 12 pounds), thawed if frozen, rinsed and patted dry 1/2 cup chopped parsley 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary 1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage leaves 1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme leaves 8 cloves garlic, finely chopped (3 tablespoons) 5 tablespoons olive oil salt and ground pepper
Roasted Vegetables
Low-Fat Mashed Potatoes
6 ounces feta cheese
Ingredients
1 butternut squash (1 1/2 pounds), pared, halved, seeded, cut into 1/2-inch wedges 1 pd carrots, cut into 2-inch lengths 1 pd parsnips, cut into 2-inch lengths 1 rutabaga (1 pound), pared, halved, and cut into 1/2-inch wedges 1 pd shallots, peeled, halved 3 rosemary sprigs 3 tablespoons olive oil
Ingredients 2 lb. potatoes, peeled & cut into pieces 1 c. non-fat plain yogurt 1/4 c. green onion, minced 1 tbsp. butter 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
Cranberry-Pear Sauce
Ingredients: 1 bag (12 ounces) fresh cranberries, picked over 3 ripe Bartlett pears, (about 1 1/2 pounds), peeled, quartered, cored, and cut into 1/2-inch chunks 2/3 cup sugar 1/2 cup dried cherries Optional: Pecans, orange peel, raisins, currants, blueberries, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice.
Low-Fat Pumpkin Pie
Ingredients: 3 egg whites, beaten 1 (16 oz.) can pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix) 1 1/2 c. sugar (or 3/4 c. brown & 3/4 c. granulated sugar) 1/4 c. butter 3/4 tsp. cinnamon 3/4 tsp. nutmeg Dash salt 1/8 c. skim evaporated milk
Laguna Welcomes Its Eighth Headmaster By BRANDON BICKETT
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aguna Blanca School has a new headmaster, Mr. Paul Slocombe. The decision to offer Mr. Slocombe the position came as the result of a culmination of an extremely long and detailed process and with assistance from an educational search and consulting firm called Educators’ Collaborative. The firm is a consortium of former independent school heads from around the country. Beginning in early June 2009, members of the LBS board of trustees formed two search committees to review the resumes and credentials of a series of prestigious candidates who could potentially become the school’s interim headmaster and the next permanent headmaster. The search group ultimately narrowed the selection to three individuals, who were invited to the school for further review. The board of trustees also formed an advisory group composed of LBS faculty, parents, and other related consultants, to help facilitate the decision making process. After serving as interim head for the opening months of this school year, the committee interviewed two candidates for the permanent head position before offering it to Mr. Slocombe. Our new headmaster was born, raised, and educated in the United Kingdom. He earned his BS in education, specializing in chemistry and psychology. He also received an MS in Chemistry and Science Education from the University Of Warwick, England. Mr. Slocombe, has more than 30 years of teaching and administrative experience under his belt from public and private high schools both in England and
the US. He has been recognized in the UK for his excellence in educational services, and has served six years as the assistant headmaster for academic programs at one of San Diego’s top academic schools: Bishop. Mr. Slocombe has also served as an assistant headmaster at Northgate School and Director of Student Studies. Prior to that, he worked as the Chair of the Science Department at Windward School. These experiences prepared Mr. Slocombe to become a headmaster at a private school. Mr. Slocombe has a strong background not only in administrative positions, but also in science education, and, if he has his way, he may have the opportunity to teach a chemistry class, at LBS. It was not unusual for headmasters to teach in the early years of LBS. However, more recently, it is less common for an administrator to teach students. Mr. Slocombe, who at Cranford Community School in England served as the Dean of Faculty and was involved with the science department, feels that a headmaster teaching chemistry would be a wonderful opportunity for the students and for him as well. “I am particularly passionate about teaching chemistry. I have taught regular and AP Chemistry for 30 years, so I would love to teach a section in the future should there be the availability of a section in the science department,” said Mr. Slocombe. Students weighed in about the matter. “I believe that it would provide a great environment for the headmaster to work with students because he would be able to bond with the them, and the students
would in turn have a better understanding of who he is as person,” said sophomore Kai Gamble. Overall, it would be a great asset to the school for Mr. Slocombe to teach a course at LBS because it would provide him with a better understanding of school life, which could potentially make him perform his job even better. Both the students and faculty are extremely fortunate to have found a new headmaster as intelligent, pleasant, and hard working as Mr. Paul Slocombe.
Niall Platt: Named a HewlettPackard All-American Senior Niall Platt has found success on and off the golf course. Recently, he was named a Hewlett-Packard All-American, an award given to twenty-four athletes who have excelled in both golf and academics. Niall has also landed himself a spot on the Notre Dame golf team. I had a chance to shoot some questions at Niall about his golf career.
PHOTO: ALEF FAMILY
Bryson Alef: Is Invited to Join the All-American Swimming Team By ZOE SERBIN When did you start swimming? I learned how to swim when I was three or four years old, and I started swimming competitively when I was 11. Why did you start swimming?
PHOTO: PLATT FAMILY
By FLETCHER SIPPLE When did you start playing golf? Did you like it then as much as you do now? I started putting when I was 2, but didn’t start really playing until I was 7. I have always loved golf though the competitive aspect of it now adds some extra excitement. At what point did you realize you wanted to take golf seriously and compete? I started competing when I was 10 and decided that I wanted to continue competing. What was your biggest win or greatest accomplishment in your career so far? My greatest accomplishment so far was this September when I shot 8 under for three rounds and came in 5th in a major amateur tournament. Almost the entire field of 148 was made up of the best college golfers on the West Coast. Was your goal always to play in college, or did that just come about as a result of your success? I never really considered playing college golf until I had a good finish in my first really big event in eighth grade. At this tournament, I realized that I could really compete with the best junior golfers. What has the college recruiting experience been like for you? It has been really fun. It put more pressure on my performance in the tournaments. Also, visiting the different colleges and learning about all of their academic and athletic programs was very interesting. What made you choose Notre Dame? Notre Dame seemed to have the best mix of everything I wanted. It has a competitive Division 1 golf program, great academics, and lots of school spirit. Now that you have chosen Notre Dame, what are your goals for golf continuing into college, and do you want to go pro? My main goal in college will be to help my team win a national championship. If I improve enough during college, I would definitely consider going pro.
I actually started swimming because my parents made me. It took me two or three years after that before I actually started liking the sport. How often do you swim? During the school year, I swim six days a week for about two to two and a half hours a day. Every Tuesday and Thursday, I have morning practice in addition to afternoon practice where we work on core strength out of the water. During breaks and the summer, we have ‘doubles’ almost every day. There ends up being about 10-11 practices a week. During those weeks, we can swim anywhere from two to four hours a day. Where do you swim? I swim at Los Baños pool - the pool right next to the harbor. Who is your coach? Our club coach is John Dussliere. We don’t have an “official” high school coach because our team is too small. Why do you like swimming? I like swimming mostly because it’s so challenging. As a result of our practices being really tough, it creates a really close knit group of friends, which I really like. What events do you swim? I am definitely a sprinter. I can’t do much else other than the 50 free, 100 free, and the 100 breast. What is the All-American team? It’s a group of swimmers in the nation who have obtained certain qualifying times determined by USA Swimming. You also must have a GPA of 3.5 or higher. What went through your head when you found out you were on it? Um? Thank god. Who is your greatest role model? Tim Tebow, quarterback for the Florida Gators. Do you plan to become a “professional” swimmer? No. Definitely not. But I do plan on swimming through college.
Confirm or Deny?
Question:
The Paradox of Parents on Facebook
Can Healthy Living Become an Obsession? By CAROLINA BELTRAN
Between calorie counting and excessive exercise, where is the limit when it comes to a healthy lifestyle?
PHOTO: ELLIOT SERBIN
Weigh In: In order to find your healthy weight, calculate Body Mass Index or BMI. BMI is based on a percentage of body fat in both men and women. A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered a healthy weight while anywhere over is considered overweight.
PHOTO: ELLIOT SERBIN
A fresh start: For teenagers ages 12-18 consuming a 2,000 calorie diet the recommended serving of vegetables a day is 4-5 servings. Sample servings could be one cup of raw lettuce, one half a cup of cooked vegetables or one half a cup of vegetable juice. Here’s the thing: it’s important to take care of yourself. So many, particularly teens, overlook their health. In fact, obesity rates for teens in the United States have almost doubled in recent years, raising the margin to about 13 percent. While many suffer from lack of exercise and adequate nutrition, others can develop a damaging obsession with physical health. Recently, concern with health has heightened; the focus on eating organic foods, avoiding meat products, shopping at health food stores, and including exercise in your daily routine has become increasingly popular, even trendy, especially in Santa Barbara. Stores like Lulu Lemon and Whole Foods are considered stylish in their own sense. Eating well and staying fit, have become a symbol of achievement in society. Maintaining a healthy diet and exercise routine are a method of displaying ones success. It’s part of human nature to judge others on their appearance; therefore, one can instantly pick up on whether or not a person takes care of their body. These judgments can only lead to one thing: an emphasized effort in trying to meet unrealistic expectations. Although being healthy is important and something people should strive for, an effort for self-improvement can evolve into an obsession with obtaining perfection. It’s a common case, especially among young women and adolescents, to develop unhealthy habits that are perceived as healthy, ironically. What can start as eliminating junk food from your diet and taking a jog everyday after school can end up as removing all foods which have high caloric value, and over exercising.
Vigorous activity requires fuel—like a car, if you don’t fuel your body and over exert yourself, you’ll crash, or stop running properly. In an attempt to fit societies standards of excellence and physical perfection, people over work themselves, literally becoming addicted to exercise and self-restriction. Eliminating healthy fats and carbohydrates, like olive oil and whole grains, can often lead to what some refer to as a “raw diet,” or only eating raw vegetables and fruits. While in theory, vegetables and fruits are extremely beneficial to your body, the lack of protein and complex carbohydrates can leave your without the proper nutrients. But with such a restrictive diet, any exercise can lead to muscle deterioration because your body no longer has fat or energy burn. Not only do such restrictions cause energy to wane, but they make it nearly impossible for muscle mass to be gained. Between the endorphins and reaping the results of an obsessive lifestyle, people get caught up in the whim of being “healthy”. In desperate cases, someone may eat to their fulfillment or eat something unhealthy, and feel an addictive need to do exercise, they crave it. And if they cannot burn off that food, they feel guilty or upset with themselves As time advances, and technology and media progress, so will our expectations for what ‘successful’ looks like, and our desperation to meet these standards. However, the lengths people are willing to go to achieve an unrealistic perfection can be fatal. The United States in particular is at both ends of the spectrum, an obese country is also a deteriorating one.
Take a Peek: The Truth About Cheating By ARABELLA WATTERS In the middle of a test, the horrific catastrophe often occurs when a student’s mind goes completely blank. The hours of tedious studying and cramming the night before to memorize dates and places and facts goes to waste as the information flies out of their head, leaving a blank slate in its place. The possibility of a large red “zero” printed on top of the page is looming. With the teacher preoccupied at his or her desk, grading papers or tests, obviously not paying attention, the temptation to quickly glance over at a classmate’s desk for a little additional help is strong. Although simply taking a look at another student’s test or quiz seems harmless, the repercussions can be drastic. Laguna Blanca has a three strike policy on cheating with the third strike resulting in permanent expulsion, the first of the strikes resulting in detention, the second in
suspension, and the third in ultimate dismissal. Not only are the consequence dire, but the stigma which also follows those who have cheated is like wearing a large red “A” on your chest. Although cheating both devalues your work and the work that has been stolen or copied, it is often accepted with nonchalance among peer groups and friends. One reason for this might possibly be the large amount of stress that all students share throughout the year. With over six classes, many AP’s and honors, extracurriculars, and sports the anxiety and pressure of a heavy schedule can easily get to many students. The empathy which students feel for each other under the immense pressure of coursework leads to a general feeling of indifference when it comes to cheating or sharing notes. What these students don’t
PHOTO: ELLIOT SERBIN
Without consequences: In 2008, students in Los Angeles were caught cheating on the ACT. Although their scores were invalidated for credit, colleges will most likely never know why. A lack of consequences for cheating essentially condones the behavior. understand however, are the consequences of passing notes or texting answers from across the room. An incident of cheating not only puts a permanent black tarnish on your record for college applications, but also can promote an attitude of academic laziness. Along with these issues, cheating also discredits those individuals who work hard for their grades without sneaking a peak at their neighbor’s tests. In general, the repercussions are harmful.
Imagine the annoyance and frustration a student would feel if they only gained a “B+” while a cheating friend nearby earned an “A”? The hours poured into studying and actually learning the facts instead of taking the easy way out when test time comes are literally worth nothing if there are people doing just as well without trying at all. It is hard to compete in the academic world when there is no one to compete against but yourself.
Although there is no age limit on Facebook, frustration and tension rises in high school students as more and more adults invade their cyber community. By ASHLYN KAUFMAN After taking a break from homework, I decided to log into my Facebook to chat with my friends and see what everyone was up to. When I logged in I noticed in the top left hand corner it read, “One New Friend Request.” To my surprise, next to the request was a picture of my mother. Next to her picture stated, “Wendy Kaufman Added You as a Friend on Facebook.” I was shocked and walked into the kitchen asking her, “Since when did you get a Facebook?” She replied with, “Oh, I just got one. All of my friends have one now.” I went back into my room and clicked the deny button. Facebook is supposed to be a way to communicate with my friends, and a way to get away from my parents. More adults are joining Facebook bringing up discussion about whether it will cause students to leave. According to Lori Aratani a Washington Post Staff Writer the fastest-growing segment of Facebook’s estimated 66 million users are people 25 and older. More than half of the site’s users are out of college. Whether that will have an impact on Facebook’s coolness quotient remains to be seen. When Facebook was launched by Mark Zuckerberg in 2004, it was designed as a way for college students to connect with each other. Users created a personal page and were able to accept or send out electronic “friend” requests for people to be included in their networks. People who were “friends” were able to keep tabs on people in their network, send messages and even connect with friends of friends. It was like an exclusive private club, since it was open only to those with certain e-mail addresses. Spanish teacher Mr. Gregg Luna when asked if there have been more adults joining said, “Yes, but to my knowledge Facebook was created for an adult audience-sort of what students were getting from MySpace. Facebook was created for the twenty-five and older group, but then there was an influx of students. I think that interaction between teachers and students is good. With MySpace there was child abuse, but Facebook is more contained. I think people learned from MySpace.” However, another issue arises: whether or not teachers should be able to comment on certain info posted by students on the internet. Sophomore Briana Neese says, “No, I don’t think that teachers should be able to see what I post. I don’t think students should add teachers in the first place, because if they see certain info, they can become biased towards you and begin to think differently of who you are as a person.”
Yes, Yes LBS! Fight, Win, Go Laguna! GRAPHIC: IZZY GREER
In for the fight: Although Laguna’s mascot has long been a “fighting owl” decked out in navy and white, a poll was recently conducted in advisory groups to discover whether “Swoop the Owl” evokes enough school spirit within the student body.
bonded senior class. One way to increase the senior pride (and from this increase overall school pride) is to give the seniors special privileges or some kind of event they get for themselves. By JEFF NELSON Until 2004, seniors what they The fact is: school spirit all time high. Dances had “dunkings.” is down and needs to be such as Winter Formal, called Whenever an brought back. When and games would often this spirit is high, be filled with people and underclassmen stepped everyone comes to each the homecoming events on the Senior Lawn other’s games and events, were always packed. (there used to be grass in the main supports their friends, During courtyard), makes lots of noise, and this time, the they would just has a good time. senior class We, as a be put on When this happens, had copious community, need to-beit makes school a amounts of to come to all of the a dunked list. friendlier and more spirit which One day fun environment. rubbed off on games, yell, chant, School spirit is the rest of the paint each other’s the seniors strongly dependent on entire school. faces, and help our would have all of the the bond and the pride Whether teams out. people on of the senior class. this spirit the list If the leaders of the was due to lie down school go to all the success in events, then it will seem a sport, or other times on the lawn, and the would pour “cool” for the younger simply due to a strong seniors students, and it will senior class, there is water on them. It was result in huge crowds. no denying that with a fun event where the This goes in waves: school spirit comes whole school would some years the senior class vitality on campus. gather around, have will be very into it and Success in sports cannot lots of fun, and feel the other years they will not. always be guaranteed, bond of the senior class. Dunkings would be In previous years, spirit but we should be able has been, at times, at an to keep a strongly hard to recreate because
Over the past few years, school spirit around campus has been on a decline, fueling the question: How much spirit is enough?
A Legacy of Hope: President Obama Takes Nobel Peace Prize
Peace Prize. The committee said the award honors Obama for his “extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.” Obama’s courage, spirit, and leadership are something
Although President Barack Obama has succeeded in making history as the first African America president, a maelstrom of controversy surrounds his recent win of the Nobel Peace Prize By LILLIE HODGES AND DEVIN NIGRO
Since 1901, the Nobel Prize has been honoring men and women from all corners of the globe for outstanding achievements in physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and for work in peace. The foundations for the prize were laid in 1895 when Alfred Nobel wrote his last will, leaving much of his wealth to the establishment of the Nobel Prize. President Obama said that he was “surprised and deeply humbled” by the resolution of the Norwegian Committee to award him the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. The committee said the award honors Obama for his “extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.” Nominations for the prize were posted early February, less than two weeks into Obama’s tenure as President. Some were appalled by this fact, saying Obama was barely in office two weeks and he was unable to enact any major changes in this time. The Committee counters this argument saying, “only very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world’s attention and given its people hope for a better future.” Obama’s election in November stirred people across the world inspiring hope. Obama, the first African-American to win the White House, is the
fourth U.S. president to win the prestigious prize and the third sitting president to do so. The previous winners Kofi Annan and Desmond Tutu voiced praise towards Obama’s win, the latter admiring the Nobel Committee’s “surprising but imaginative choice.” In his 1895 will, Alfred Nobel stipulated that the peace prize should go “to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between the nations and the abolition or reduction of standing armies and the formation and spreading of peace congresses.” President Obama said that he was “surprised and deeply humbled” by the resolution of the Norwegian Committee to award him the 2 0 0 9 Nobel
PHOTO: ELLIOT SERBIN
A crusader for peace?
The hope engendered by Obama has calmed the nerves of oppressed people worldwide and begun to rekindle feelings of friendship between nations. The planet is abuzz with the possibility of international cooperation. The world cannot measure today the effect his gift has on tomorrow. The Nobel Peace Prize Council awarded Obama the incredibly honorable prize to solidify the importance of his peaceful ideals. His plan to decrease nuclear weapons depicts the importance of ending the possibility of worldwide nuclear war. As Obama said, “Nuclear weapons are the most dangerous legacies of the Cold War. The U.S. will take concrete steps. ... We will begin the work of reducing our arsenals and stockpiles.”
Or a political lobbyist?
recommendable for such an award. His leadership skills dealing with both domestic and foreign issues affect the world. He is a leader who not only moves our nation as a whole, but also recognizes the individuals core values and dreams. Obama’s rhetoric has inspired an entire generation, stimulating previously diminishing hopes for world peace and global acceptance. Hope is an incredibly powerful tool in achieving peace.
“When you look at my record, it is very clear what I have done so far, and that is…nothing,” said the Saturday Night Live impersonator of Barack Obama on a recent episode. Although it is merely a comedic show, there is some truth to this statement. After all, Obama has been in office for less than a year; most of his plans and hopes for the future have not yet come to fruition, and yet on October 9, it was announced that President Obama would be this year’s recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. The Nobel Committee said that he was being honored for his “extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between people.” He is the fourth U.S. president to have received this honor, after Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and Jimmy Carter. The only difference is that President Obama has not been in office long enough for the long-term effects of his administration to set in. While Obama’s
of the worry of hazing or embarrassment, but if a similar event like this could be found, it would help promote the school spirit. Laguna’s sports teams can be very good. There is nothing that can help the teams more than the support of their peers. We, as a community, need to come to all of the games, yell, chant, paint each other’s faces, and help our teams out. Junior Amanda Schulenberg believes that it takes at least one or two enthusiastic seniors to pump everyone up and make them excited about the games. She said, “When we had seniors such as Sam Kent or Freddy WestonSmith, everyone would get super excited. They would lead chants and make everyone join in.” It would help to have seniors who can excite everyone. If upperclassmen attended all of the events, it would completely boost spirit and provide for a much more fun environment. philosophy and political efforts are clearly more effective than those of former President George W. Bush, the timing of the Nobel Committee’s decision is inappropriate. Obama said, “I do not view it as a recognition of my own accomplishments but rather an affirmation of American leadership on behalf of aspirations held by people in all nations.” The first president to be presented the Nobel Peace Prize, Theodore Roosevelt, received it in 1906, halfway through his second term, after he had fathered numerous peace treaties, including the Treaty of Portsmouth, which ended the RussoJapanese War. Woodrow Wilson received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1919, after he had helped develop the League of Nations, the predecessor to the United Nations. Finally, Jimmy Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for “his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts.” Carter, like Roosevelt and Wilson before him, had not only been a proponent for peace, but he carried out his beliefs as well, as seen by his hosting of the Camp David Accords, which was a major success in furthering peace in the Middle East. President Obama has not even been in office for a full year, so it would be unreasonable to expect that he would have accomplished what Roosevelt, Wilson, or Carter accomplished by the time they became laureates. Strong opinions have been expressed in the Laguna community as well. Senior Cooper Thomas, an ardent supporter of Obama’s policies, said, “He hasn’t done anything substantial yet. This decision seems highly political.” Within the next three to seven years, the Obama administration will accomplish a great deal in regards to peace efforts; however, it is quite clear that he has not yet accomplished enough to qualify him for this prize. To say that he was rewarded based on his aspirations would undermine the main premise of the Nobel Foundation, which awards substantial accomplishments that have, in some way, changed the world.
Our Waltzing World Over four decades ago, the crew of Apollo 8 traveled to the moon, and beamed two images of the Earth as viewed from the vast heavens. The ima g e s showed the world as it truly is—small, blue, and beautiful, spiraling in the eternal silence of the universe, a radiant drop amidst the boundless black. On that Christmas Eve those 41 years ago, the astronauts of Apollo 8—Frank Borman, James A. Lovel Jr., and William A. Anders—read the first verses of Genesis on a live broadcast for their fellow man back home, then signed off. “Goodbye. Goodnight,” Colonel Borman said. “Merry Christmas. God bless all of you, all of you on the good Earth.”
The view of “the good Earth” is changing, however, as tectonic plates across its surface slide, shift,
and smash into each other. Today, geologists are able to measure such changes in the earth’s surface with great precision thanks to global positioning satellites (GPS) and small base stations that are scattered across remote areas of the planet. These instruments are able to track the general movement of the plates. For the past 200 million years, the earth has been evolving from its embryonic supercontinent Pangea—meaning “all the land” in Greek—
By ERIN STONE to become what it is to- above the movement of day. It doesn’t stop here. the dense crust of the Geologists predict our plates. planet will look very difDr. Christopher Scoferent in the future. tese, a geologist at the In 50 million years University of Texas, prethe San Andreas fault, dicts that in 250 million the deep gash beneath years the next superconCalifornia that marks the tinent will form, which edges of two enormous he has dubbed Pangea tectonic plates, one Ultima. spanning to Japan and To realize this distant the other to the middle of time, Dr. Scothe Atlantic Ocean, will t e s e carry Los Angeles north, ramming it beside San Francisco. In a further 250 million years, California will form the western most mountain range in North America and Los Angeles will be wedged within Alaska. Though our cities will be crushed or broken, our continents will en- d e dure. Their sizes and picts our world shapes may change, but performing a violent they will not disappear dance with many jarring altogether because their collisions. In the first bedrock literally floats movement, the Mediter-
ranean will close. Then 25 to 75 million years later, Australia will sashay north, smashing into Indonesia and Malaysia before sidestepping into the Philippines and Asia. The next movement in this slow waltz will happen 100 million years from now when Antarctica glides north, shedding its icy
cloak, and drifts into the Indian Ocean. It will come to rest fifty million years later, bonding Mada-
gascar with Indonesia. At this point, the Indian Ocean will be surrounded by land, in essence becoming a very large lake. As these land masses continue to circle towards and into each other, the Atlantic Ocean will begin to vanish until, in 250 million years, they will have merged into the supercontinent Pangea Ultima. Like a twirling mobile, the continents have separated and joined in an infinitesimally slow dance for billions of years. Studying how the land looked in ages past as well as its likely configurations millions of years from now, it seems the story of our world is a circular one—a reassuring thought.
photo: ERIN STONE
Our Disappearing World: A Prediction of Our Unstable Future As our powerful generation matures, we must remember how our actions will affect the world of our descendents and deplete our resources. By LILLIE HODGES
Imagine the 21st century Earth, covered with patches of lush forest, roaring rivers, vast lakes, immense icebergs, giant mountains, and a multitude of diverse ecosystems. Now imagine the world centuries in the future. Does one hide behind optimism and expect the ultimate survival of these precious aspects of Earth? Sadly, if current resource consumption trends continue, the next generations will live on a dying Earth. In the last few decades, scientists have debated whether Earth is reaching its “Peak” limits for many resources. In recent months, a concept called “Peak Food” has received a lot of attention in the scientific world. “Peak Food” means that the ability to produce food will fall behind the needs of the growing human population. This phenomenon is likely to result in another culminating event: “Peak Population.” “Peak
Population” predicts that human population will grow for another generation, reaching around 10 billion humans by the middle of this century, and then remain stable into the far future. Another human necessity, water, is running out in many forms. Not only are underground aquifers being pumped dry to irrigate crops and provide water to expanding metropolises, but also rivers themselves may be drying up. It has long been the case that the Colorado River never reaches the sea, because every last drop is used up before it gets there. The same is rapidly becoming true of major Asian and European rivers as well, and not only because humans are using so much of the water but also because the winter snow and glacial melt in the mountains is diminishing. A depleting resource, not normally considered limited, is land. The entire agricultural base of human civilization rests on a very limited amount of farmable land. As the population grows, the importance of arable land rises because of the increase in people
dependent on the food and plants produced on it. The quantifiable amount of arable land is also shrinking as a result of human development (houses, roads, parking lots), desertification, erosion, and soil depletion. This is where a final theory called “Peak Land” may become a reality, and we will start to see land as a limited resource. The global supply of many important metals is also peaking, or has already peaked and is in the decline phase. This includes copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver, and platinum, all of which are substantially depleted and could become virtually unavailable in the next few decades. Metals are needed in almost every area of life, for example, metal compounds affect chemical reactions in almost any organism. Multiple “Peak Metal” events are approaching and all of these resources are non-renewable – when they’re gone, they’re gone. Covering nearly 142 million square miles, or 72% of the Earth’s surface, the oceans are vital for all life on the planet. The world’s oceans are in
the final stages of being mined as a source of protein. Giant fishing fleets dragging drift nets up to 50 miles long are straining every living thing out of the oceans, leaving behind a watery wasteland. Recent news of the precipitous decline of penguin populations blamed the die-off in large part on competition by fishermen for the aquatic birds’ key food source. The once vast cod population of the North Atlantic is long gone and may never recover. Everywhere there are fish remaining, you can count on the fishing fleets to be there soon. “Peak Fish” has long ago been passed. Fish stocks are being depleted beyond the chance of recovery in most cases, and thus even many major species of fish must be considered as a limited and non-renewable resource. The future of the Earth is largely prediction based; however the science is sound. The world of the future lies in the many hands of our generation. While borders, politics, and religion may separate people, it is important to remember the universal human tie: our earth.
By CAROLINA BELTRAN
S
ince the beginning of time, people have tried to reverse the effects of aging. Even in Ancient Egypt, women used olive leaves to enhance beauty and longevity. Today, it isn’t as simple as a little olive oil to the cheek bones. Teens scrub their faces raw with every product on the market in an attempt to fight acne, and adults get collagen pumped into their faces through a syringe to “fill in the laugh lines”. As time consuming and painful as it may be, we all follow a rigorous beauty routine to maintain are youthful glow. Here are the new tricks of the trade: Acne: For those of you who have bounced from Proactive to Clean and Clear and back again, here’s the scoop—the future holds clear skin. Say goodbye to irritating and drying Accutane and never ending steps that come with Proactive, the upcoming star
of acne solutions is antibacterial laser treatment. The goal is that the laser will help by injecting a green light laser directly to the area which helps reduce inflammation. The laser itself can also kill all the surface bacteria that causes acne. Wrinkles: When Retina-A hit the market in the 1980s, customers noticed its anti-aging benefits—since then, Retina-A has been at the top of the line for wrinkle treatment. However, it can be very drying and irritating. Although these products are somewhat beneficial, doctors suggest topical gels that contain silicone and mica particles to fill in thin lines. Down the line, doctors predict a treatment similar to Botox that combine silicone topical ingredients and lidocaine or novocaine, in order to remove the pain factor from the picture.
Finding the Fountain of Youth
PHOTOS:: ELLIOT SERBIN
Cellulite: We’ve all tried the lotions and the creams, that claim to make unattractive dimples disappear, and we all know that they aren’t very ground breaking. Turns out, scientists
have found that treatments such as VelaShape and Thermage produce a tightening of the skin—so there is a cellulite-specific version in the works that will deliver incredible results.
Age Spots: Hydroquinone has been the skin pigment smoothing topical cream for years, but without adequate results. However, laser treatments that target spots have the capability to fo-
cus on spot that will turn it into a scab and make it disappear. In the further future, doctors are trying to find a laser that works instantaneously, so that the scabbing step is skipped.
Replanting Eden: The New Generation of GMOs By JORDAN SHANNON photo: JORDAN SHANNON
Imagine purchasing tomatoes from your local grocery store not realizing that the “tomatoes” have been genetically altered and are filled with chemical additives to enhance flavor and provide a longer shelf-life. GMOs have been an ongoing problem in the United States and have caused a wide variety of health issues. GMO stands for genetically modified organism. The acronym can apply to plants, animals, or microorganisms. This term refers to living organisms that have been genetically altered using molecular genetics techniques and are causing many controversial issues concerning public health and could potentially pose a threat for the future.
GMOs can be produced by gene cloning methods in which a non-native
gene is introduced and expressed in a new organism. Generally, the new protein has also been engineered for proper expression in the new host. In particular, differences between microorganisms and eukaryotic cells must be overcome, such as the presence or absence of introns, occurrence of DNA and certain p o s t translational
modifications to the protein itself for proper
transport t within cells. The introduction of bacterial genes into cash crops, to enhance their growth, nutritional value or resistance to pest, is becoming rather commonplace in plant technology. One example that has made headlines is the intro-
in order to eliminate the need for chemical pesticide use. The drawback to this technology is public concern over the consequences of injecting these natural pesticides. Problems such as this might be alleviated by site-specific expression of the gene
duction of bacterial genes for natural pesticides into plants,
i n t h e leaves of young plants. This technique could be used to prevent foliage from being destroyed early on. There has been growing concern circulat-
ing around the issue of whether GMOs cause harmful health effects. There has been a series of incidents con-
cerning G M O ’ s around the world, primarily in the United States. For example, people have experienced kidney and blood abnormalities as a result of eating genetically modified produce. Also, people have fallen ill from over- consummation of GMOs. This resulted in several lawsuits against major seed corporations. With these incidents, the public has been left to question what really is wrong with genetically modified foods. For one, these new genes and combinations of genes made in the laboratory have never existed in billions of years of evolution and are being introduced into our food
chain. Also, allergies and other toxicities come to mind. In fact, 22 out of 33 proteins incorporated into GMO crops were found to have similarities to known allergens, and are therefore suspected allergens according to the FDA. The synthetic genetic materials that are introduced into the cells of organisms with persistent methods are uncontrollable, unreliable, and unpredictable. This leads to fear among consumers. In summation, the public needs to be aware of the health implications genetically modified foods pose. If our nation continues to overlook the constant production of GMOs and persist to go down the wrong path, the future of the health of humanity will, all too soon, certainly be bleak.
The New Claim to Fame By CAROLINA BELTRAN
PHOTO: FASHIONTOAST.COM
Street-Style blogs turn average fashionista’s into the industry’s next big stars
Style Profile: Helena Davila Freshman Helena Davila stands out of the crowd with her modern twists on cool classics and sophisticated personal style. PHOTO: ELLIOT SERBIN
By ARABELLA WATTERS and CAROLINA BELTRAN
L
ooking for a way into the fashion industry? Follow the footsteps of Julia Frakes of Paper magazine or Susie Bubble of Stylebubble and start blogging. These up-and-coming stylista’s are creating a new kind of celebrity—fashion bloggers. For example, take Rumi Neely (pictured at the top of the page) of Fashion Toast. Her acclaimed blog has landed her second row seats at shows like Hervé Léger and has allowed her to design a new line with RVCA, and to style photo shoots. Today, teens can turn to the internet for everything, including fashion inspiration. “I love looking at blogs and style.com; I shop online a lot too. The
computer just gives me easy access to a lot of different things, and fashion and clothing is one of them,” says junior Amanda Schulenberg. And she’s right, the internet creates a huge audience for anyone who can set up a website, or has a friend who can. In fact, it’s become even easier than that, websites like blogspot.com and blogger.com allow users to create a blog for free. Fashion blogs in particular have gained quite a bit of recognition because, unlike celebrities and models, these are regular people. There’s no stylist or hair and makeup studio or free “gifts” from Dior and Marchesa. These girls are living, breathing people that have jobs and school and laundry.
It’s particularly interesting to witness in the recession. They don’t have endless budgets and personal shoppers, they utilize the same stores we do: Forever 21, Angle, Urban Outfitters, Thrift stores. These are real people. The impact of these bloggers is renowned, because stores like H&M and Topshop follow blogs to get an idea of what they should be selling in their stores. This gives bloggers the opportunity to make changes in the fashion world; it no longer needs to be predominantly influenced by celebrities and expensive designers—we can do it ourselves from the comfort of our own homes. PHOTOS: SARTORIALIST.COM
WHAT SHE’S WEARING: “Seven jeans tucked into my Born boots, a turquoise long sleeve t-shirt from Wendy Foster, and a necklace from Claire’s.” LABELS TO LOVE: “My favorite designs are generally by Diane Von Furstenberg, Alexander Wang, and Chanel, but I don’t like to be super trendy.” OUT OF THIN AIR: “I get my inspiration from a lot of stuff, whatever strikes my fancy.” TRICKS OF HER TRADE: “The trends I’m looking forward to wearing this winter are my boyfriend sweaters and textured tights under skirts.” BLACK IS BACK: “My favorite piece of clothing I own is a simple, black cashmere sweater. I wear it all the time.” CLASSIC GIRL: “If I could own any accessory, it would be a pair of classic Chanel flats in tan and black.” MODEL BEHAVIOR: “My style icons are Kate Moss and Diane Von Furstenberg, very clean but modern. I also love Chanel Iman, she has great personal style.” THE BIBLE: “I read InStyle Magazine religiously! I’ve read every issue since, like, the fourth grade!” EQUESTRIAN CHIC: “My favorite recent purchase is a pair of Born brown leather boots. They’re just classic brown riding boots with a little heel.” DARE TO BE DIFFERENT: “I’ve always had my hair short. I had the classic bob forever, but then I got sick of it and cut it this year. The longest I’ve ever had my hair was to my shoulders, but I like to be different. I don’t want it to be the same as everyone else.” FUTURE IN FASHION: “I’d love to work in the fashion industry one day. It’s just such a great creative outlet. I’d love to design, and then eventually move into design and fashion merchandising.”
Trendspotting at Laguna Fashion on Campus By CAROLINA BELTRAN and ELLIOT SERBIN
1. Sophomore,
3. Sophomore
4. LBS Alumni,
5. Freshman Olivia
6. Junior Amanda
7. Junior Kayla
Shannon’s black, Campbell’s powder zippered, high blue zip-up waisted skirt by
McKenzie
Kendall Hall’s
Berci’s dark wash
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Scarborough’s
amethyst necklace
skinny Jeans by
gold, chain-link
brown riding
white, heathered and purple,
True Religion and
bracelet by J.
boots by , which
sweatshirt by Free Ever with a simple City paired with white blouse
burnout Tee by
heathered tank
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Crew, paired
she paired with a
BDG paired with
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with bright red
high waisted skirt.
skinny jeans.
flair jeans.
Apparel.
2. Junior Jordan
Mackenzie
tucked in.
fingernail polish.
A Bright Future for This Providence By ABBY REUTZEL At the last Warped Tour date I was able to sit down with three of the members of the band This Providence. Although they have been active for a few years, and signed to a major record label, Fueled by Ramen, they have yet to experience the mainstream success that many of their label mates have. However, after the release of their most recent album “Who Are You Now?” the future is looking bright for this group of four young men. Co-interviewer: J. Ryan Ondriezek from the website withthebandtv.com Ryan: You guys have a new album called “Who Are You Now?” It’s a great album. What has been your inspiration for this album as opposed to your previous selftitled albums? Dan: Well, you know, it’s our third album so we’ve been doing it for a while. I think we really wanted to make an album that we were all happy with. We went to record and on our past two records we had a few songs that translated well live, but not all. So we really wanted to make a record that sounded good live. That was a big goal we had. Andy: This was mine and David’s first record with the band and I feel like we brought a lot of our own musical influences to it and a different dynamic to the band. David: A lot of bands we were looking to at the time were Oasis, The Killers, and Jimmy Eat World. Bands that are pop-rock with synth, but more on the rock side. Abby: So this is your third album and the first two, were they put out on the same label? You guys are signed to Fueled by Ramen at the moment. Dan: The first record was put out on an indie label from Seattle called Rocketstar Recordings, they put out a band called Gatsby’s American Dream. They also put out our first EP. They were just a small indie label and then the last two records were put out on Fueled by Ramen. Abby: Do you guys like being on Fueled by Ramen? Is it a label you can see yourself on for the next couple of records or would you like to switch? Dan: Yeah, well it’s not really our choice because we signed a contract. Kind of hard to do, but I think we’re in pretty good hands. Andy: Not really any other labels out there I’d rather to be on. David: Right, it’s like a family. All of the bands are great to each other. Ryan: I caught the first part of your set and I noticed in not seeing you guys for the past two years that the band dynamic has changed, I didn’t see you playing guitar at all and I didn’t know if you picked it up at all during the end part of the set. Explain the changes that the band has gone through in the past two years. Dan: Like I said earlier, I think it’s been from doing so much touring. We want to be a good live band and for me that meant that if I wanted my vocals better then I wouldn’t play guitar. Usually I might play guitar for a couple of songs, but at Warped Tour the sound is usually pretty bad. Andy: Yeah especially at Warped. There are like seven other stages playing music too at the same time. Dan: But yeah we just wanted to have our live shows be nice and energetic and now I’m not stuck behind a microphone stand.
Ryan: First time I talked to you we were talking about what you thought about the American response to the band and everything and you hadn’t gotten a chance to experience too much of it at that point. What are your thoughts now being from Australia and coming to America and being on tour for a long time? Dan: Well I’ve never toured Australia so I have nothing to compare it to. I suppose we did tour the UK and that’s a very different dynamic over there. The kids are just – over here the kids are very spoiled. I think now in this genre of music when people come see us they want to meet everyone in the band and have a five minute conversation with them. David: And they get upset if they don’t have it. I’ve found that a lot of kids here in America, at least from what we’ve seen so far, they kind of have ADD. They like a band for a good record and then they’re old and not relevant anymore. You’ve got to always catch up. Andy: You’ve got to prove yourself. Dan: Yeah, it’s good though. American people have that competition and you’re not only competing against other bands, but you’re also competing against yourself. You’re maintaining your abilities. Abby: Do you guys think you will go to Australia soon? In 2010? Or when? Dan: If we had it our way we’d be there right now. Andy: Tomorrow. David: Yeah, it’s really up in the air. If a band wants to take us out, I don’t think we could really support our tour over there. Yeah, we couldn’t do that yet. Andy: Actually we have really have no idea. David: Yeah, we really have no idea. Maybe we’re huge over there. We don’t know. But, yeah right now the record’s going to be focused in America. Ryan: So you guys have finished the album and done Warped Tour, what are you moving onto next? Dan: Well we’re going briefly to New York to perform on a live TV show called “It’s On With Alexa Chung” on MTV. Then we’re doing a tour with The Almost and a band called Anarbor which is a short tour across the southern states. After that tour we will be going out with Cartel and The Summer Set for about a month and a half. Abby: You guys were on Warped, was this everybody’s first year on it or have you gone with other bands? Dan: Well This Providence did it, I think three years ago. But we only did three dates. Even this summer we only did seven or eight dates. So we’ve never had the full Warped tour experience. Andy: But David has definitely experienced the Warped Tour sunburn. David: Yeah I got it rough. This is bad, this is the second burn. Abby: Next summer do you guys think you might try to play the entire Warped tour, get the experience? David: Yeah, if things go as planned, hopefully. Andy: Hopefully in a bus. David: Yeah it all depends on how many tours we get offered, if not the whole tour then at least a week. But yeah, we’d like to do it in a bus. We’ve been roughing it in the van and it’s been getting the best of us.
PHOTO: FUELED BY RAMEN This Providence: Just chillin’. From left to right: Andy Horst, David Blaise, Dan Young, and Gavin Phillips.
Spirit Fingers: Glee’s promotional photo for season one.
Glee-fully Taking Over By LILLIE HODGES “Glee” is a musical, comedy-drama television series whose pilot aired last spring and took over television sets worldwide. News was buzzing about the show, leaving new fans wanting more “Glee.” The season began Sept. 16, and was received with equal or increased enthusiasm from fans of all ages. Envisioned primarily as a film, producers Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Ian Brennan adapted the story line into a television series last year. Murphy chooses the show’s music, and has been trying to maintain a mix of show tune classics and current chart hits. “Glee” mashes together fabulous re-makes of songs, deals with controversial issues, and shows the star potential inside everyone. The optimistic high school teacher goes up against “McKinley High’s” brutal hierarchy of students, faces ruthless criticism from his peers, all to challenge a group of social outcasts to realize their star potential. Rumors are swirling that the stars of “Glee” may be headed for a live tour once filming wraps in the spring. The
tour would most likely be scheduled around spring 2010. With new songs becoming available on iTunes every week, it’s obvious that the world can’t get enough of the show’s music. The first soundtrack from the hitshow is set to hit stores November 3. This week Madonna gave the green light for the show to use her music throughout the rest of the season. The first 13 episodes of the season will be available on DVD in stores come December. The show stars Matthew Morrison, Jessalyn Gilsig, Jane Lynch, Jayma Mays, Chris Colfer, Amber Riley, Kevin McHale, Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Dianna Argon, and Mark Salling, who all portray teenage stars of McKinley High’s Glee Club. Laguna’s former Theater Arts Director, Peter McCorkle said, “Dante de Loreto got his start at Santa Barbara Junior High’s Performing arts under the direction of Marjorie Luke. He went on to Santa Barbara High School and graduated from there in the class of 1976.”
Where the Wild Things Are By ABBY REUTZEL quite an impact on What started out American culture. as a simple chilMost children’s dren’s book that books, especially most second graders those with only learn to read with, ten sentences and has turned into a filled with colorHollywood blockful pictures, tend buster and pop culto not make quite ture phenomenon. an impact on a “Where the Wild person once he or Things Are” was she moves onto first published in the harder chapter 1963 as a children’s books. picture book. This movie, Written by Maumostly aimed at rice Sendak, the children, but with a book had great sucsoundtrack aimed cess in the US, and at teenagers, and has been translated 20 year olds, has into a multitude of become over the languages, and sold past few months over 19 million a staple in a scene copies worldwide. Roar: Where the Wild Things Are movie no one could have This classic poster seen coming. children’s book The hipsters, emos, indie kids, and has been adapted into many different forms. Over the past 46 years, the book everyone else has laid their claim onto has been turned into an opera, a short this movie and franchise, and it doesn’t look like they’ll be letting go any time animated movie, and a video game. The most recent adaptation, and the soon. This can probably be attributed to most popular, is its feature length film which was released in the US on Octo- their scene’s love for the obscure and ber 16. During the opening weekend, weird. After all, “Where the Wild Things Are” isn’t your average chilthe movie grossed over 32 million. Adapting a ten sentence picture book dren’s book thanks to its unique story into a feature length film is a hard thing line and dark illustrations. The movie to do, but acclaimed writers Spike has increased their love for the classic. Taking an obscure beloved children’s Jonze and Dave Eggers were up for the challenge. Even though the odds were book and giving it to Spike Jonze, bestacked against them, they created a loved by all who call themselves indie, heartwarming movie fit for people of and you have a movie that will fill the theatre with six year olds and 20 year all ages with a PG rating. Although heartwarming, the movie old guys and girls wearing wide rimmed is extremely depressing and sad. In glasses with no actual lenses. Whoever this movie attracts in the fact, usually aren’t any dry eyes in the upcoming months, and however it will theatre after the showing. Writer and director Spike Jonze was be known in the future, doesn’t really somehow able to convey a sense of matter. What we should focus on is that this overwhelming sadness and depression throughout the whole movie. Even in movie is a wonderful touching piece of the somewhat happier scenes it is still cinema with a simple yet complex message that will melt the heart of even the sad. Since it has been around for so coldest person. long it has created quite an impact on American literature and surprisingly, PHOTO: WARNER BROTHERS
PHOTO: LILLIE HODGES
For many Laguna Blanca students, a six am wake up call is not out of the norm. Getting up easily before the crack of dawn to eat breakfast, catch up on homework, or get an early start on the morning commute is a daily ritual for many students. As a result, it is not an understatement to say that by the time the end of school, sports, and extracurricular activities rolls around twelve hours later at about 6pm, a normal high school student is completely exhausted. With what seems like literally a ton of homework, it is easy to write off such a small thing like a sit down family dinner
as unimportant. However, recent research at the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University shows that teenagers who eat with their families less than three times a week are far more likely to have substance abuse problems with drugs, tobacco, and alcohol. The reason behind this idea, as shown in the CASA study along with numerous others is the thought that spending time with family, however short or long it may be, promotes healthy nutrition, verbal and conversation skills, and mental health. Even though it is seemingly obvious, the
impact of maintaining a daily healthy and positive family interaction between teens and their parents is huge. Although some may question the many variables and factors present in such a sweeping statistic, it is not hard to see that family is quickly slipping down on the priority list of many teens. Caught up in the maelstrom of school, homework, sports, and extracurricular, juggling family at the same time can be extremely hard work, and it is often put on the back burner for many teens. Krysta Brown, an ambitious junior, not only takes two AP courses, but is also on the girls
varsity volleyball team, leaving her with hours of work nightly, and not a minute to spare. Unfortunately, this predicament forces Krysta and other teens to leave family dinners as an afterthought on frantic weekday nights. “I don’t really have time to eat dinner with my family every night. We eat dinner probably three times a week together, but we get home at different times. I’m really busy with homework and volleyball,” said Brown when describing her family eating habits. Another study done at the NPD’s 24th annual “Eating Patterns in America” showed that 71 percent of 250 house-
holds with at least one teenager ate five dinners together a week. This is a brightening statistic; in 2008 only about 65 percent of families ate together five times a week. The data from the CASA study also showed that in an interview conducted with 1,000 families, 50 percent of teenagers said they ate dinner with their families five times a week as well. While sit down family dinners are associated with positive behaviors, both studies also show that having any kind of encouraging family bonding time throughout the week to either supplement or substitute for family dinners is beneficial to teens as well.
Junior Lauren McAlister eats dinner with her family nearly every day of the week, although sometimes her busy schedule gets in the way. “We probably have dinner together four days a week. It’s good because we usually don’t get to see each other during the rest of the day.” Overall, the impact of spending time with one’s family has proven to be a positive one. While skipping out on having dinner with the family once a week is acceptable, no matter how exhausted students may feel after a killer soccer practice or a day of grueling tests, the simple act of sitting down and chewing can make all the difference.
Almost, Maine: Vignettes of Love Amanda Longstreth
Austin Rusack
Cameron Platt
Patrick Ferroni
Ari Rodriguez
Dante Bozzini
Allie Laffitte
PHOTOS: ELLIOT SERBIN
The Cast
A starlit stage, vignettes of love, and a couple “uh buds” offers entertainment for all ages. The romantic mash-up is a comedy, but is also full of heart-felt insight on imperfect and quirky relationships. By PATRICK FERRONI “Vignettes of Love” is how Laguna Blanca Drama Instructor Mr. Joseph Beck describes Almost, Maine, this year’s fall play. After a successful opening weekend, the cast resolves to practice their parts even harder for the final few shows. The cast also performed excerpted scenes from the play during an Upper School assembly shortly before opening weekend. When asked about the difference between performing for his peers or an unknown audience, junior Dante Bozzini, said, “Ironically, it was more fun to perform in front of the school because I knew everyone who was there.”
The play takes the audience to the small town of Almost, Maine where the lives of Almost townsfolk cross in 9 short scenes where epiphanies of love, relationships, and friends come clashing together, providing moments of awkwardness, ignorance, stupidity, and romantic impulses throughout. It’s guaranteed to inspire laughter! Sophomore actress Cameron Platt was drawn mostly to this play for its “imaginative, classic, and romantic humor.” Having had only experience with musicals, she found the charm and almost harmonious dialogue in many of the love scenes enticing. John Cariani, writer of
Almost, Maine, describes it as “a play about real people who are really, truly, honestly dealing with the toughest thing there is to deal with in life: love.” Cameron explained, “The score is not what you would expect but it’s really good. The music fits well with the story.” The cast: Amanda Longstreth, Dante Bozzini, Patrick Ferroni, Cameron Platt, Austin Rusack, Allie Lafitte, and Ari Rodriguez will each portray about three to four different characters ranging from obsessive boyfriends to impractical marriage thirsty women. Mr. Beck purposely chose this play for its casting flexibility not
knowing how many students would be auditioning. Having more roles than actors, Almost, Maine allows the students to develop and play more than one character for each vignette. “It has self-contained scenes, so there could be four to nineteen people either way. The language is also very accessible. This play is worth seeing because everyone can identify with these vignettes all about love,” said Mr. Beck. The starlit stage needs few props; the audience will be attracted to the personal interactions among the characters instead. However, there will be the occasional
snow falling, ice-skating, snowmobiling, and a couple “uh buds.” Sophomore Allie Lafitte, who has always had a passion for acting, found a scene with her real life boyfriend rather challenging. She said, “We’ve never fought before, especially about marriage, so at first it was a little difficult.” Perhaps there is another level of humor added for the adults in the audience watching young teenagers take on marital arguments or the grief associated with the death of an ex-husband. The cast is most excited about showcasing their performance and sharing the laughs
they’ve had with the rest of audience. The cast only had a few short weeks to put the show together, coming in every night of the week— even Fridays, a major sacrifice for most high school students. Any laughs seen throughout the performance are most likely to be natural and not “acted.” Almost, Maine is innately sweet, the lines can carry themselves, and the humor within them brings out instinctive reactions among the cast. Performance Dates: Nov. 6-7 at 7:0 0 p.m., Nov. 8 at 2:00 p.m., and Nov. 13-14 at 7:00 p.m.
Finally competition for the world-famous iPhone? By BRYSON ALEF The Motorola Droid, now known by the world thanks to those “iDont” commercials slandering the iPhone, is to be considered the first true competitor from Verizon to Apple’s powerhouse device. The Droid is the first phone to run Google’s new Android 2.0 OS as well as Google’s new GPS navigation system which, to put it lightly, is to die for. Coupled with an impressive battery life (6.5 hours of talk time and about 270 hours of standby time), the Droid will give the iPhone a run for its money. Released with the Droid is the new Google Navigation system. A complete revolution in GPS systems, it comes free with the Droid. The new Google Navigation offers the regular GPS view with lines as streets, but it also gives the option to mesh Google’s Street View and Satellite View so that, when using the GPS, the user can visually see landmarks and streets instead of just the lines usually present on other GPS maps. On top of this new feature, Google Navigation also offers “Search by voice.” Instead of typing your destination, you speak it: “Navigate to the Santa Barbara Museum of Art,” for
Google Navigation: The incorporation of Street View into Google Navigation takes the world of GPS to a new, unprecedented level.
DROID GRAPHICS: VERIZON WIRELESS
example. Even if you cannot remember exactly the name of your destination, you can describe it. Instead of saying “Santa Barbara Museum of Art,” you might say, “Navigate to Noble Tombs at Mawangdui exhibition in Santa Barbara,” and Google Navigation, by means of cloud searching and web searching, will run a search and attempt to find the address of your destination and navigate there. The Droid’s most brilliant feature, however, is not even remotely mentioned in the commercials. In countless reviews, users of the Droid have been most impressed with the 3.7” screen. The Droid’s screen supports up to 16 million hues compared to the BlackBerry Storm2’s mere 65,000. Easily the most common word when describing the phone is “brilliant.” The Droid also boasts an actual physical keyboard. Although it is something users anticipated and wanted, the keyboard is not all that impressive compared to the rest of the phone. The keys are flat and feel slightly awkward to type on at first. After some getting used to, however, the keyboard becomes easy to use. The new Android operating system, Android 2.0, brings huge improvements to the phone as a whole. Web surfing is faster and the Droid, unlike the iPhone, offers multitasking. Users can surf the web while listening to Pandora radio and checking email and text messages simultaneously. The feature of being able to run multiple “widgets” at once is a big plus in favor of the Droid. With the Droid also comes a Verizon version of the iPhone App Store: the Android Market. Being new, the Android Market does not have the same amount of apps as the App Store, but it does have all the main apps at
Getting High: Rx Style By DEVIN NIGRO “How high can I get off this?” is what many teenagers today are thinking to themselves while they gaze into the dark abyss that is their medicine cabinet. Teens have access to more drugs than they might realize in their own homes. Many argue that this trend is born out of the increasing pressure that many teenagers face. Due to the prevalence of prescription drugs in today’s world in combination with the rising stress levels, one cannot help but ask the question, “Who do I know who abuses drugs?” In order to know how to prevent drug abuse in GRAPHIC: IZZY GREER
the household, one must first understand exactly which drugs are the most popular ones to abuse. Most prescription drugs fall into one of three categories: opioids, central nervous system (CNS) depressants, and stimulants. Some common examples of opioids that are abused are OxyContin, Vicodin, and Demoral. These drugs are mostly used to relieve pain. Examples of CNS depressants include Nembutal, Valium, and Xanax, and these are used to treat anxiety and sleep disorders. Finally, examples of stimulants include Ritalin and Adderall, these drugs increase brain activity, particularly alertness, attention, and energy. In fact, a study by the Partnership for a Drug Free America published in 2007 stated that 20 percent of teenagers have abused prescription pain relievers. In recent years, there has been an explosion in the number of teens being diagnosed with ADD or ADHD; a report from the Center for Disease Control found that the num-
ber of children of age 4-17 who are diagnosed with ADD/ADHD has increased from 4.3 percent to 16 percent since 2003. This has resulted in an increase in the use of prescription drugs used to treat these disorders, such as Adderall or Ritalin. These drugs can be highly effective, but many believe that they are being overprescribed. The most important thing that people must realize when it comes to medicine is that any kind of drug, legal or illegal, has the potential to harm someone. Addiction to a drug only increases the chances of developing major health problems. Furthermore, drug addiction itself is a disease and must be dealt with just like any condition. If someone is abusing prescription drugs (or any drug, for that matter), he/she must seek help in order to quit dependence on the drug and, if push comes to shove, enter a rehabilitation facility. Any short-term “inconvenience” in trying to quit drugs is worth it because drug addiction can and will ruin a relationships, performance, and overall lifestyle.
the moment (e.g. instant messaging, games, weather, etc.) and both the quality and quantity of the apps in the Android Market are increasing daily. Another impressive feature of the Droid is the 5-megapixel camera. The camera has a plethora of settings such as white balance settings, “scene” modes (such as night, landscape, sunset, and more), autofocus, dualLED flash, macro settings, and various color effects. More impressive than the pictures is the video. The video now records at a 740x480 resolution at 24 frames per second. This results in videos and video playback absolutely devoid of pixilation. On the whole, the Motorola Droid without a doubt matches or even surpasses Apple’s iPhone in many respects. The quality of the phone is just what Verizon customers have been dreaming for and the only quibble many have with the phone is the flatness of the physical keyboard. Priced at $199 for an upgrade or new contract, the Droid is a definite competitor to its Smartphone rivals.
MAP GRAPHICS: GOOGLE
Thirsty for a Breakthrough: Football Team Rebuilds Much is to be said about a team that plays football with only three substitutes. This season, the Laguna Blanca 8-man football team did just that. “Against teams of 25 players or more, on days where it’s 85 degrees, numbers are a key factor in what separates us from the competition. It’s not necessarily skill but numbers that bring us down,” said Troy Ritter, the sophomore quarterback. Regardless of numbers, the team has shown great heart no matter the score. The season started out slow with disappointing losses at home and away against much deeper and much older teams. This year’s squad had only one senior Owl, captain Hans Streenstrup. However, the team was anchored by up-and-coming sophomore receiver Logan Elder and junior lineman Chase McAdams. The highlight of the season came during a huge 36-20 win over Ojai Valley School. It was a game that came as a welcome victory for a team in the throws of a rebuilding year. “Getting a win this year was a big help in bringing the team together and showing everyone that we have the potential to be a great team” said junior Jeff Nelson on the victory. There is no doubt that the adversity this year’s team has faced will only pay off next season as Laguna will loose only one player from the roster and surely gain more. It looks like the boys’ hard work will certainly pay off in the coming years
PHOTO: WARD RITTER
Fighting Spirit: The Owls hold off the attacking Cate Rams as sophomore quarterback Troy Ritter completes a play.
Girls Tennis Has a Swinging Season
The Laguna Blanca Girls Tennis team did extremely well this fall season. They made it to CIF and to second place in the Condor League. Seniors Liza Fletcher and Kelsey Chesterfield led the team throughout their successful season. Junior star Arabella Watters and senior Kelsey Chesterfield both won three straight matches against Dunn School. The Owls went on to beat the Earwigs 16-2. On Nov. 10, the Owls made the most of their first trip to the playoffs since 2006 by whipping Lancaster 16-2 in a Division IV wild-card match at the Santa Barbara Municipal courts. Fletcher and Watters both won their two sets 6-0, 6-0 and Chesterfield was victorious, 6-0, 6-1. Kayla Schwartz won her lone set, 6-3. Caitlin Connor and Olivia Liebman went 2-0 and Lauren Conk and Julia Grienitz went 3-0, while Helena Davila and Elise Scheurermann went 2-1. Daria Etazadi and Monica Watson, filling in for Connor and Liebman, won the final set 6-4.
PHOTO: LEA HAMILTON
In Full Swing: Sophomore Becca Braly (left) and freshman Caitlin Connor are poised, ready for the match.
Fall Sports Wrap Up PHOTO: ELLIOT SERBIN
Deadly Aim: Senior captain Jessie Ditmore strikes the ball in a threatening spike.
Varsity Volleyball Shines The Laguna Blanca Girls Volleyball team is consistently at the top of its game, but this season they were phenomenal. Led by Senior captains Jackie Harvey, Heidi van den Oever, and Jessie Ditmore, this year’s varsity volleyball team went soaring. Laguna came out firing, going undefeated in the early part of the season. However, a disappointing loss to Viewpoint ended the 3rd ranked Owls’ undefeated streak. Within a week the Owls bounced back, winning a huge game against rival Cate. Senior Jackie Harvey comments on the rebounding win saying “it was a great win for our team, to bounce back against a rival like that really boosted our team.” The team then went on to beat Ojai rival Thatcher at the Laguna Founder’s Day homecoming weekend game. The highlight of the season came during a three to zero sweep of San Marcos. It was Laguna Blanca’s first time ever beating San Marcos. It was a game for the record books, considering a win over a much larger public high school isn’t something that happens very often. Coach Jim Alzina told Blake Dorfmann of Presidio Sports, and a former sports reporter for The Fourth Estate, “We talked about it this week… We said that this might be the one chance we get to beat a Channel League team, and the girls came out and really proved themselves.” Laguna went on to more wins, finishing the regular season at 17-1, riding the excitement of a great win over San Marcos.
Bright Future for LBS Cross Country Team The success of the Laguna Blanca Cross Country team was up in the air this season after the loss of state ranked and now a Yale Men’s Cross Country Division One runner Kevin Lunn who held down the fort for the Owls last season. Laguna junior Parker Lilly, has risen as the new leader this year as a standout runner who has soared past expectations. He has consistently placed in the top 5 if not winning every meet he has attended. Recently, Lilly defeated a rival runner from Thatcher
in a nail biter at Cate. For the majority of the race the two stayed in close contention but Lilly pulled through to snatch the win. With a large showing of both girls and guys coming out for the team this year, the future for the Cross Country program is indeed bright. Freshman runner Marla Bonser who has proven to be the next big talent on the team. She has been placing well in her latest meets. A lot of upcoming talent is rising to the occasion following in the footsteps of both Kevin Lunn and Parker Lilly who was recently crowned as Condor League champion.
PHOTO: ELLIOT SERBIN
Power Runners: (from left) Sophomore Patrick Gainey, junior Connor Lynch, junior Parker Lilly, and senior Elliott Cheresh at the Santa Clarita Invitational meet.
Featured Athletes By BRANDON BICKETT
Parker Lilly
PHOTOS: ELLIOT SERBIN
Kelsey Chesterfield
Sport: Cross Country, Junior Proudest Sports Moment: Qualifying for state after being out for almost the entire season last year. It was truly a great moment for me.
PHOTO: SANTA BARBARA PIX
Crash Course: In a recent game, Troy Ritter takes Cate’s Randy Person down.
Concussions Ravage High School Sports By JEFF NELSON
H
igh school sports are a rite of passage and a part of American life, however, without proper precautions, injuries can occur. On such injury is a concussion. Concussions and related head trauma can be very dangerous. A concussion, the most common type of brain injury, also known as a mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI), is caused by some kind of blow or hit to the head, resulting in quick movement of the brain inside of the skull. According to the Annual Survey of Football Injury Research, 14 high school football players died in 2008 from head related injuries. Concussions can come in many different forms: from a minor headache and "seeing stars" to blacking out or even going into a coma. There are about 3 million sportsrelated concussions per year. Senior Ben Abrams has had four concussions throughout his high school sports career. He got one from bike racing, two from football, and one from wake boarding. Because of this, he was told he could no longer play contact sports, such as football or lacrosse. When asked about losing contact sports, he said, “I have come to terms with not playing contact sports anymore, being that I value my well being a lot more than one last year of contact sports.” The American College of Sports Medicine reported in January that approximately 85 percent of concussions are not even diagnosed. They can occur in basically any contact sport: soccer, lacrosse, or basketball. Going back to play a sport
prematurely can be very dangerous. Almost half of high school players who suffer a concussion return to play prematurely. Studies are finding that returning too soon can result in serious health risks later in life including depression and dementia. According to USA Today, two football players from South Carolina died last year from a second impact only days after their original concussions. This is most likely due to Second Impact Syndrome—a rare occasion when the brain swells very quickly after a person gets a concussion before the symptoms of the previous one diminish. Professional players take the hardest hits and many of them will not do anything about a concussion either because they don’t want to risk losing their jobs. What can be done? Football and other contact sports are, by nature, brutal. Fans are attracted to this. The problem is that people do not understand how intense hits can be. Neurosurgeon Dr. Robert Cantu claims that a pro football player making a tackle is the equivalent of a car driving 40-45 miles an hour into a brick wall. If treated immediately, a single concussion will typically not be a large ordeal. But, if repeatedly concussed, one may see lasting effects. Abrams said, “Short term I experienced really bad short term memory loss, dizziness, confusion, fatigue, sensitivity to sound and light… long term was mainly the extremely painful headaches.” Abrams is lucky. He has had some minor problems from his concussions, but he really hasn’t had to have any serious worries other than making sure that it doesn’t happen again. Not all players are this fortunate.
Biggest Role Model: Kevin Lunn—he pushed me for my first two years of school and set a high standard for me to beat.
Sport: Tennis, Senior Proudest Sports Moment: I think my proudest sports moment was when I made my first soccer goal when I was little.
Biggest Role Model: My biggest role model is anyone who can teach me something new, like a coach or my Post High School Plan: To go to a teammates prestigious college with a good cross country team and compete at the top Post High School Plan: I want to play tennis in college. level of competition. Favorite Moment in Sports: Going to Cross Country meets, which are really fun, and always placing well. Especially Mt. Sac, it is a very fun event. Hobbies: Running, watching TV, and reading. Advice: To run with good posture, and to always go for your dreams. Team Camaraderie: Well, we have a big cross country team this year, so we have all bonded through practice and mainly just talking when we run.
Favorite Moment in Sports: My favorite moments are when the team bonds and we just have a lot of fun together. Hobbies: I love to paint, go to the beach, roller blade, and horseback ride. Advice: I would say to play a sport you really love and to do it because you want to. Team Camaraderie: I think the team has bonded more this season and we are all really supportive of each other and enjoy playing tennis.
PHOTO: ELLIOT SERBIN
S A T
S U R V I V A L
Test-Taking Tips for the SAT By BRYSON ALEF
THE USUAL TIPS: * Know the directions for each section before going into the test.
G U I D E
SAT Insights “To prepare for the SATs I have a tutor. I am going to take the SATs this year sort of like a practice test, and see how well I score. Then, I am going to continue to prepare over the summer with the help of my tutor, and then take them again next year.”
* Easy questions usually precede hard ones in series of at most around seven questions—answer the easy ones first!
Marlene Gama Junior
* If you skip any questions make sure to mark it in your book so you can easily find it later. Valuable time can be wasted searching for a question you skipped and forgot to mark.
“Taking the SAT is like a bagel without cream cheese. It’s depressing and scary. It’s daunting like climbing Mt. Everest. You don’t know if you’re going to come back alive, but once you have succeeded you don’t have to go back.”
* Do scratch work in the test booklet and cross out wrong answers when you find them. DO NOT make any marks other than filling in the bubbles on your answer sheet—a machine can’t tell the difference between an accidental stray mark and an answer. * Make sure you are always filling in the right bubble, and make sure you are answering the correctly numbered question every three to four questions.
* If you have no idea about an answer do NOT guess! However, if you can eliminate one or more answers then the odds of guessing become stacked in your favor.
Ian Carradine Junior
* Keep track of time. Know how many questions you have and how much time you have to do them. If you start spending too much time on any one question, skip it and come back to it later. When you start inching on 1-2 minutes on a single question you know you have spent too long on it. * If your mind starts wandering and you can’t focus on the question in front of you, take a 15-30 second breathing break. Keep your eye on the clock. * If checking your answers, do NOT change an answer unless you are completely sure your edit is correct. Your first guess is usually the best one.
“I personally think the SATs are really unfair. I was fortunate enough to afford a tutor, but not everyone is. Also, I don’t think they reflect your intellect very well. I find them very frustrating.”
THE IMPORTANT TIPS: * Get a very solid amount of sleep (eight to nine hours) for at least two nights before the test.
Angelina Romasanta Senior
* Take more practice tests than you want to. The more you take the more you will be accustomed to the test and you will have an indescribably huge advantage.
“I’m one of the few people who didn’t have a tutor. In all honesty, I think the whole point of the SAT is seeing what you already know, and studying for it is against the whole idea of that. So I did not study, and I am actually happy with how I did.”
* Get everything (calculator, No. 2 pencils, registration ticket, clothes, etc.) ready the night before. Make sure there is nothing that could potentially stress you out in the morning. * Eat breakfast. Rumbling stomachs are no fun during a five hour test. * Bring a water (I always brought Gatorade) to quench your thirst during the test. * Read questions carefully! Make sure you know exactly what the question is asking before answering it.
Jessie Ditmore Senior