Volume 60, Issue 3
Arcadia High School 180 Campus Drive, Arcadia, CA
November 2011
Mr. Jones: Teacher of the Year
In this issue:
Photo courtesy of INHABITOTS.COM
NEWS pg.3 Babies Everywhere! Baby #7 billion makes headlines around the world.
Photo courtesy of SITE.AUSD.NET
AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT Mr. Talmage Jones proudly poses with Superintendent Joel Shawn (left) and Board President Janet Chew (right). By JEANNE KUANG Staff Writer Photo courtesy of CS.DARTMOUTH.EDU
OPINION pg.5 College Confidential: Is the college application process something worth being grateful for?
Photo courtesy of TOMMY LIAO
PERFORMING ARTS pg.6 ADD’s The 39 Steps: Check out their new play, a hilarious rendition of an Alfred Hitchcock comedy. Have a question, comment, or concern about the Pow Wow? E-mail the Editors-in-Chief at editorsinchief@apachepowwow.com or find us online at apachepowwow.com.
Earlier this year, science teacher and Link Crew adviser Mr. Talmage Jones was named AUSD’s Teacher of the Year. Mr. Jones has been teaching in Arcadia for a total of 27 years, 6 years at Foothills Middle School and 21 years at AHS. Mr. Jones’ students are thrilled for him, describing his energetic classroom presence and engaging activities as reasons for his success as a teacher. “He shows us a cool experiment once every couple of weeks and it’s up to us to relate it to the functions of the human body,” said junior Matt Ormseth, a student in Mr. Jones’ Human Physiology class, referring to the science teacher’s “Think Tanks”. Past “Think Tanks” have included holding a paper cup full of water over a flame to demonstrate water’s cooling properties, and placing a ping pong ball over a hair dryer to observe the effects of high and low air pressure. Senior Sara Noji was also eager to comment on how Mr. Jones makes human physiology “fun and relatable.” She recalled that while teaching the class about skin pigments, Mr. Jones told a story about his grandson, who drank a lot of pumpkin juice before Halloween, turning his skin orange from the carotene pigment in the juice.
“When I took the quiz about skin, I was easily able to remember his funny story and the answer to the question,” said Sara. Mr. Jones’ classes are often peppered with entertaining stories and ways to relate class material to students, whether through mnemonics or amusing experiences with his extended family. Class with Mr. Jones has an undoubtedly friendly feel. The teacher has been known to start off the school year with quirky introductions about himself, including self-deprecating humor about his difficult-to-pronounce first name and his lifelong ambition to become a tour guide for Disneyland’s Jungle Cruise ride, after he retires from teaching. Students in his class are encouraged to embrace a wide range of interesting knowledge, and they can receive extra credit on quizzes for answering “bonus” questions of various categories. Senior Tian Chen said that his teacher “enriches his lessons with personal anecdotes and interesting trivia as well as clever jokes.” Aside from teaching science, Mr. Jones is, as Matt said, “the most interesting man in the world.” He has indeed lived in a village in Wales with the longest name in the world, his family has won an episode of Family Feud, and he has held a number of odd jobs, including owning a Baskin Robbins store in Utah. Occasionally sharing tidbits of his life “keeps the class light and gives it a personal, friendly touch,” Matt said. But according to Matt, Mr. Jones is “by no means what people call a ‘chill’ teacher—his tests are difficult and he moves through [the] curriculum
quickly.” Tian jokingly added, “I’ve learned to be terrified of him.” Tian described Mr. Jones’ classes as interesting but challenging, noting that “there is never a day [he] can go on autopilot, nor is there any day [he wants] to.” Senior Seattle Cano, who took the class last year, agreed, saying that even when the subject matter may not have been easy or fascinating, “Mr. Jones made class fun, and he was always encouraging and upbeat.” It is this lively attitude, this “evident love for teaching,” that his students mention most when asked about him. “He conveys the sense that he truly wants to be in the classroom every day,” Matt observed. Outside of class, Mr. Jones is very involved in AHS activities. He serves as the adviser for Link Crew, a campus program dedicated to helping freshmen and new students become accommodated in AHS, and every December he is the emcee for Orchesis Dance Company’s Charity Dance Show. Mr. Jones was recognized as Teacher of the Year at an Arcadia Board of Education meeting on Sept. 13, and attended a County Office of Education luncheon for other Teachers of the Year throughout the county. He will continue to be recognized during the year by various Arcadia organizations, including AEF in the coming spring. “Mr. Jones is a master of education,” said Tian, “and I think he definitely deserves the accolade.” jkuang@apachepowwow.com
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November 2011
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November 2011
Death of Gaddafi, Rise of Libya
By CHRISTOPHER CHO
Executive Copy Editor
The Arab Spring began in Libya, initially, in which demonstrators peacefully protested against the corruption of the Gaddafi regime. In a stunning turn of events, however, all illusions of peace were permanently shattered as Muammar Gaddafi responded with military aggression. The world cringed as it watched a seemingly hopeless war spark between rebels seeking liberty and Libya’s once unquestioned ruler. As the dust of the civil war settled, the world watched with astonishment as it realized that the rebels had succeeded in toppling a tyrant that had reigned for nearly 42 years. Although the Gaddafi regime lay in ruins, the whereabouts of Gaddafi himself remained a mystery until Oct. 20, when rebels reportedly captured and killed the former dictator in his hometown of Sirte, Libya. The violent circumstances surrounding his death have become a source of controversy around the world. Regardless, Gaddafi’s death marks the dawn of a new era in the Arab Spring while its repercussions will be watched closely across the Middle East by revolutionaries and despots alike. The final hunt for Gaddafi began with the rebels’ capture of Sirte, Libya, one of the last loyalist strongholds of the former regime. Gaddafi was said to have fled the city in an 80-vehicle convoy, which was targeted by French fighter jets that responded with an air strike. Despite
being wounded, Gaddafi survived the attack and reportedly took refuge in a drainage pipe underneath a road several miles west of the city. Around noon, the rebels discovered Gaddafi’s place of escape and forcibly dragged him out. The former dictator’s grisly last moments were captured on grainy cell phone videos in which he is seen surrounded by a frenzied mob. Revolutionaries can be witnessed grabbing at, propping up, and pummeling a bloodspattered Gaddafi to the ground. Shortly afterward, Gaddafi was killed by fatal shots to his head and chest. Echoing an almost ominous revelation, Gaddafi was repeatedly heard to have said the phrase “Haram Aleiko,” which roughly translated, means “This is a sin for you”. Gaddafi’s body was flown to Misrata, Libya, where it was placed on a mattress in the freezer of a local market. Widespread revulsion outside of Libya led to harsh criticism of the revolutionary government, the National Transitional Council (NTC), by people from around the world. On Oct. 25, the NTC announced that Gaddafi’s body would be placed in an unmarked grave “somewhere in the desert.” Officials have disclosed that the location will be kept secret in order to prevent the grave from becoming a pilgrimage site for loyalists or being destroyed by anti-Gaddafi rebels. According to Salem Ghaith, a principal at a Libyan language school, there was a constant uncertainty of life under Gaddafi. When asked whether he was concerned about the treatment of the former dictator, he voiced the opinion
of the nation as he affirmed, “I don’t think so. Because what he did to [his] people was worse.” The Arab Spring succeeded not only in unseating Ben Ali of Tunisia and Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, but also compelled the monarchs of Jordan and Morocco to appease their people. Many predict that Gaddafi’s death will likely promise even greater conciliatory gestures among Arab nations. Gaddafi’s removal from the world stage has already inspired Syrians to protest against President Bashar Assad. In addition, alarm from Gaddafi’s death has driven Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to begin pressing President Assad to halt his harsh crackdown on dissent. Although not directly affected by Gaddafi’s death, high school students share strong opinions regarding the issue. Sophomore Michelle Kim expressed that although Gaddafi committed unforgivable crimes against his people, “the manner in which he was killed was barbaric” and that she was “horrified at the fact that his body was publicly displayed.” Sophomore Brian Wada admitted “it may cause positive consequences across the Islamic world.” Gaddafi’s death will inevitably have a significant impact on the world as it marks not only the conclusion of Libya’s civil war, but embodies hope for liberation across the Middle East. ccho@apachepowwow.com Photo courtesy of USNEWS.COM
World Welcomes Its Seven Billionth Baby By JING WANG Staff Writer
On Oct. 30, two minutes before midnight, the arrival of the world’s seven billionth occupant was marked in the Philippines. Danica May Camacho was born amid cheers and a shower of gifts in a crowded public hospital. Although it was impossible to pinpoint the exact arrival of the globe’s seven billionth occupant, the United Nations (UN) chose to mark Oct. 31 with a series of festivities in celebration of the symbolic seven billionth babies. Camacho was first, however, arriving in Manila’s Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital. She was born to parents Camille Galura and Florante Camacho, a driver who struggles to support his family on a tiny salary. Although they are generally considered cause for celebration, the births call attention to a growing world population that could entail many challenges for the future. Seven billion people is something “that we should think about deeply”, said Dr. Eric Tayag of Philippines’ Department of Health. “We should really focus on the question of whether there will be food, clean water, shelter, education, and a decent life for every child,” he said. The UN notes that in the twentieth century, the population experienced substantial growth: three billion in 1959, four billion in 1974, five billion in 1987, and six billion in 1998. In less than half a century, the global population increased by four billion people, showing an ex-
ponential growth. The UN estimated that the global population will continue to increase drastically; we are expected to arrive at eight billion by 2025, and ten billion by 2083. With at least seven billion populating the globe, Earth’s limited resources are under tremendous strain as that number continues to grow. Today, nearly one billion people do not have access to a steady food supply, over
one billion lack clean drinking water, and two billion live without adequate sanitation. The projected future population calls for an increase in efforts to meet demands for basic necessities such as food and water. Long-term effects of overpopulation can lead to increased conflict between nations over dwindling resources. Overpopulation also has an adverse environmental effect. Studies show that problems such as increased water levels, air pollution, and
soil contamination are all significantly exacerbated by human overpopulation. In an attempt to suppress the growing numbers, some countries around the world have enacted birth control policies. Most notably, China, the world’s most populous nation with approximately one billion people, employed a one-child policy, which it implemented three decades ago. In support of the policy, Li Bin, director of the State Population and Family Planning Commission, stated that the problems of overpopulation remain “one of the major challenges to social and economic development”. Demographer Joel Cohen agreed with Li’s viewpoint, as he issued a warning that the population explosion “makes almost every other problem more difficult to solve. If we could slow our growth rate, we have an easier job in dealing with all the other things like education, health, employment, housing, food, the environment, and so on.” Countless problems follow the arrival of the world’s seven billionth occupant, as limited resources make it impossible to fully support every human being and give them decent lives. The world needs to develop solutions that ease this population expansion, or else face catastrophic consequences. jwang@apachepowwow.com Graphic by BELLE ZHENG Photo courtesy of SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
NEWS
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s t a f f Editors Editors-in-Chief Kaitlyn Jeong and Rhiannon Yee Managing Editor Nancy Xiao News Editors Evan Delgado and Utthara Rameshbabu Opinion Editors Victoria Tran and Valerie Yu Performing Arts Editors Yejean Kim and Christine Sun Student Life Editors Edward Chao and Ashley Chi Features Editors Eileen Chow and Grace Song Sports Editors Stacey Ng and Andy Qin Academics Editors Regina Liu and Melissa Song Center Spread Editor Alwyna Lau Calendar Editor Michelle Zhang Campus Focus Editor Katherine Bay Advertisement Editors Becca Lu, Laureen Ma and Brandon Pang Photography Editor Elliott Lee Executive Copy Editors Ariana Arzani and Christopher Cho Webmaster Emily Zheng Fundraising Chairs Belle Chuang, Lena Kalemkiarian and Anna Naran
Writers News Staff
Opinion Staff
Performing Arts Staff
Student Life Staff
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Sports Staff Academics Staff
Center Spread Staff Calendar Staff Campus Focus Staff Advertisement Staff
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Ariana Arzani, Josh Bay, Christopher Cho, Alison Fu, Daniel Jenn, Shreya Maharana, Jonathon Matsumoto, Stanley Shaw, Lauren Trajano, Jing Wang Rena Chen, Helen Chou, Allan Gao, Mya Ho, Ivy Jenn, Jeanne Kuang, Helen Lee, Sophia Tang, Vanessa Yu Kelly Ching, Albert Hu, Amanda Huynh, Phoebe Shen, Emilie Wang, Vanessa Yu Niki Chi, Kelly Ching, Allan Gao, Courtney Hang, Daniel Jenn, Ivy Jenn, Helen Lee, Stanley Shaw, Kristie Sun, Lauren Trajano Josh Bay, Courtney Hang, Daniel Jenn, Jeanne Kuang, Jonathan Matsumoto, Victoria Nakaganeku, Sarah Quon, Sophia Tang, Emily Wang, Josie Yang, Belle Zheng Ariana Arzani, Josh Bay, Stephen Chu, Karina Laigo, Alice Lin Ariana Arzani, Vivian Chan, Ashley Cheou, Amanda Huynh, Leo Jiang, Belle Zheng Phoebe Shen Josh Bay, Katrina Chao , Rena Chen, Niki Chi, Alison Fu, Jing Wang Courtney Hang Stephen Chu, Hazel Chuang, Courtney Hang, Albert Hu, Anna Naran, Kristie Sun, Kenneth Vuong Vivian Chan, Leo Jiang, Tommy Liao Katrina Chao, Helen Chou, Courtney Hang, Stanley Shaw, Lauren Trajano Mr. Johnny Lee
Publication Information: The Apache Pow Wow is a student publication distributed monthly throughout the school year. The paper has been continuously published since Arcadia High School opened in 1952. Unsigned articles appearing on the opinion page reflect the opinion of The Apache Pow Wow editorial board. A student’s work does not represent the views of Arcadia High School or the Arcadia Unified School District. Address letters to the editor to: The Apache Pow Wow, 180 W. Campus Drive, Arcadia, CA 91007. To place an advertisement in the newspaper, email ads.powwow@gmail.com. Advertisement rates vary from $30 for a business card advertisement to $250 for a full-page black and white advertisement, with quarter-page, half-page, and advertisement insert options available. Graphic courtesy of LEEOPHANSEN.COM
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OPINION
apachepowwow.com
November 2011
Being Thankful That We Can Buy, Buy, Buy
By JEANNE KUANG Staff Writer
The holidays are coming around again with all their warm, cheery spirit. Students are looking forward to some much-needed breaks, holiday songs are beginning to jingle their way onto the radio, and everyone is planning his or her shopping lists. And that’s where the picture goes wrong. I love the winter holidays—it’s difficult not to—and buying and receiving gifts is a tradition I cherish. Who doesn’t like gifts? But it seems that more and more often, we’re celebrating the money, the materialism, of the holidays. I hear so much about Christmas shopping, and not much about Christmas celebrating. Sure, we can go on and on about the “holiday spirit”, but if one takes a look at all the preliminary sales ads and storefronts getting ready to burst with consumer manipulation, it’s pretty clear where we’re placing all our value. Just think about what comes right after Thanksgiving. It’s easy to say that we’re simply being drawn in by the stores, by the greedy moneymakers and their eagerness to feed off our kind, gift-giving intentions. That’s probably true to some extent. But aren’t we encouraging them? We’re the ones who decide that they’re right,
that we do need to spend d our Thanksgiving plannning out what early hour ur of the morning we’ll ll arrive the next day to wait for Wal-Mart or Best Buy to open. We’re the ones succumbing to the he notion that in order to feel whole, we need to givee our friends and d families things, gs, and we need to o receive things gs in return. We’re the ones furthering the he idea that if we don’t cirirculate toys, X-Boxes, s, and sweaters in the next xt month, if we don’t drape ape our houses in lights orr decorate everything we have ave with th cartoon turkeys, we lack ack somee kind of generous holiday ay spirit.. Whatever happened ned to the basics? As a coununtry, we celebrate Thanksksgiving because the Native ve Americans saved the
Pilgrims g s from o sta starvation v and destitution. We Thanksgiving because we recognize celebrate Thanksgiv the harrowing di difficulty of growing food out of the cold New En England ground, because the reason we ex re eexist ist as a country is the life-saving ccharity ch arity of stranger strangers. Isn’t that why we have big feasts with our families—to remember to appreciate them? Isn’t that why the holiday spirit is all about helping the community and those in need? comm Yet somehow, Christmas shopping and Black Friday have become permanently attached m tto Thanksgiving. Somehow, a part of our celebration of this holiday is camping out at midnight to fight stranger strangers for the chance to pay mon money, to pour out in masses and crowds so that we can place mate material values on our relationships with other people. (That friend who only wro wrote you a card and gave you a piece of candy? She clearly doesn’t care ab bout your friends about friendship as much as the person who bo w bought ought you eearrings, right?) Somehow,
Lessons from Aliens and Wizards tions. It’s like how there’s a unique ambience at different restaurants—it’s diffused through Staff Writer the waiters, fellow diners, and your own party. We have people who kiss their parents Arguably, an intangible relationship is goodbye every morning. We have classmates stronger and more self-sufficient, as the peothat hug to greet each other. We have people ple have no daily kiss and hug to miss. Even who are not afraid to touch an arm or give a if their other half is miles away, they always hearty clap on the back of someone they’ve have a sense of him or her in their heart. Takjust met. While some people are comforting great lengths to keep someone in your soul able doing this, others don’t appreciate this rather than through fingertips and lips builds same touchy-feely business. the lasting physiological However, these people can essence that is stronger still keep an equal connecthan anything else. tion with others and a more But the best part resilient relationship. of having a nonphysical Yes, a personal touch relationship can be the is always symbolized as moments when people breaking a barrier. Elliott do kiss and hug, because realized what E.T. was that touch is more treafeeling when they touched sured than if they did it fingertips. Harry Potter’s every day. These people mother shielded him from don’t shun physical conVoldemort. Whenever a nection, but put those couple kisses or hold hands LOUDER THAN ACTION moments on a pedestal. at the end of a movie, the au- The bond of love is greater The acquaintance, dience knows that they have the impersonal, the nonthan any personal touch. finally fallen in love. But existent relationship, or this is debatable. Isn’t there supposed to be an whatever critics would like to call it, exists not acquaintance between people before they crebecause people do not like having contact, but ate physical bonds? Catching someone’s eye because they choose to cherish a more resilfrom across the room, thinking about a loved ient, eternal bond. one every few moments, and connecting with Elliott would never forget E.T. after the a foreigner from a different galaxy—these alien left for his hometown light-years away. moments lodge the existing bonds. Harry Potter always felt his mother’s love And being able to hug and kiss doesn’t for him, as it coursed through the blood she necessarily mean that people have reached had sacrificed herself for. And couples, even the “final step” in a relationship. It can be a across a room or without each other, rememstereotypical symbol of absolute acquainber the first time they locked eyes. We don’t tance, like in movies where people can only ask ourselves: “How many people have I made see what is going on between characters. The physical contact with today?” but rather, the audience can’t grasp the concept from the palinvisible yet emotional connections we make pable presence, like how we can in real life. each day. For example, that awkward silence situation, the quiet contentment on beautiful mornings, stang@apachepowwow.com Graphic by RENA CHEN and the over-joyous atmosphere at celebra-
By SOPHIA TANG
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our inexplicable fascination with owning things has turned a holiday of gratitude into one of frenzied desire for more. I hate to be one of those cynics who complain about the commercialization of our society, but do we really need to submit ourselves to a day of stampeding and spending? Does buying a plastic turkey or a light-up candy cane really boost our holiday spirit? But to each his own. I certainly don’t think any of those things contribute to Thanksgiving, but I suppose they don’t entirely detract from the notion of giving thanks. Perhaps it is possible to take part in all the buying but keep in mind how lucky we are, and maybe buying gifts really is the best way to show appreciation. But really, the holiday spirit of being thankful, kind, and helpful survives without any of those things. This Thanksgiving, I’m thankful for the fundamentals. I am thankful for food and water, for life in a free society. And I’m thankful for being privileged enough that I can buy onsale gadgets and plastic goods to my heart’s content. Isn’t that what the holidays are about? jkuang@apachepowwow.com Photos courtesy of HM.COM and SPECKYBOYS .COM Graphic courtesy of BEVERLY CHEN
The Destructive Nature of Science By RENA CHEN Staff Writer
That flower over there is a system of cells going through the same cycles over and over again. Music is actually only sound waves— pleasant, but nothing magical. Every object is simply a compilation of the right molecules in the right ratios and structures. After applying science, many things around us, especially in nature, lose their mysterious quality, plunging us into a new world of dreary realism. However much we appreciate science, we are decomposing our world as we try to explain it, ripping the simple wonder and beauty out. It’s like tearing the flight feathers off a parrot to examine how they work, leaving a crippled bird behind, and then revealing that their beautiful colors are only for reproductive reasons and not something more mysterious. Yes, science gives people an insight to how things work—and that may be beautiful—but once you know how they work, that explanation becomes the only one (until someone discovers something controversial). Remember the times when people thought the sun was a god? Well, the sun is only a star now—a ball of fire. It gets worse when we look into our own bodies. Technically, we are only organ systems. We dissect ourselves, producing grotesque tissues from our bodies and giving them names. True, it has enhanced our understanding of ourselves and enabled us to advance in many fields, but there is something unsettling about thinking of humans as molds of individual living things called “cells”. I, for one, feel that I am inside something I cannot escape: skin, a wrapper of dead cells; hair, dead cells sprouting out of my head; the brain, a simply disgusting lump in the skull. In fact,
the brain is the most unaesthetic part of the body, next to the intestines. Unfortunately, it is also what I imagine other organs—kidneys, stomach, liver, lungs, etc.—look like, which may cause explicit reverse peristalsis someday if I think too much about it. On the other hand, looking at humans as a whole, without breaking them into little parts, is simpler and thus makes them possible to actually tolerate. Try thinking of the interior workings of those flawless, smiling models in magazines. After imagining their interior processes, I couldn’t think of them the same way again. On a morbid note, when a person’s life ends, the body will simply decompose. If thoughts are only impulses and feelings are only hormones, we may very well simply cease to exist. After all, it’s only our abnormally huge brains that make us so special, and when that disappears… The breakdown of the environment takes the romance out of nature. Humans are no longer the wonderful beings they were once thought to be because now, we are only animals. Looking at things without constantly trying to explain how they work lets you enjoy their existence. After satisfying the curiosity, try turning back to the simple approach. When you look at clouds, don’t think, “it’s just water vapor”; use your imagination, and the world becomes much more interesting. It’s like bringing magic into the world. Yes, there’s still Disney, but it’s really only lights on a screen. So even if science is vital to modern civilization, it should never replace the simple beauty of nature. Confine biological explanations to work; don’t think about them when you’re eating. rchen@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
November 2011
OPINION
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FML: Food, Meds, Love By MYA HO Staff Writer
Sometimes, it wouldn’t hurt to think about what we have—think about what we say. Think for a moment and realize that hey, not everything can always go our way. No matter our struggles, the difficulties we face, collectively the world is a much more difficult place. Take the time to say thanks. FML, I got an iPod Touch when I wanted an iPhone 4S.—And who has neither? Firstworld problem alert! Be grateful for the luxury items that you do hasis have, with an extra emphasis on “luxury”. FML, I have essays, a math test, Spanish home-work, and an AP Biol-ogy pre-lab to do over thee h weekend!—Even though sthe very real, very stressful pressure all students face reis no lie, this workload prepares us for the future. The only thing we must do iss to iven utilize the opportunities given. FML, my family and I just moved to a new city. My new bedroom is half the size of my last one, and I had to leave my Tempur-Pedic bedset behind.—It may not be the most exciting thing to go through a change that causes you to step out of your comfort zone, but keep in mind that you have a roof over your head. FML, I didn’t eat lunch today since I had to retake a test during the lunch break. I’m so hungry!—Hunger is a funny word; it is used by
the rich when one meal is missed, and used by the poor when one week’s worth of meals are missed. What a funny word indeed, if it is used in such a broad spectrum. FML, I missed the bus today and had to walk home. To top it off, it rained and I didn’t bring an umbrella.—Must we be reminded of the people halfway across the world, working in the fields, walking several miles a day whilst doing manual labor to keep a small flow of money for their families? FML, I got my flu vaccine today and the nurse missed my vein twice. Man, I hate shot shots!—A vaccination may seem like a commodity that we d dislike, but the truth is that the majority of people don’t exp expect or receive them. Th Thousands of people die b because they have never h had the shots that we can cconveniently get at Rite Aid every year. Too often we forget that every cloud has a silver lining—one sure surely should be proud. Food, clothes, shelter and meds. A Tempur-Pedic bed. Windows opened wide, ungrateful selves praised on high—this is exactly what FML’s provide. “Love all that you have!” scolds your red-faced, polite mother. “Thank you, thank you,” cries the girl who eats bread for the first time this week…and yet we try to complain about last night’s bad sleep. mho@apachepowwow.com Graphic by NIKI CHI
Population Potential was a person, one person. He came from a humble beginning and an ordinary life. Like all Staff Writer the rest of us, he was an organism who needed Seven billion. There are seven billion food, water, and shelter. He was just a person, people in the world. It is nothing short of yet undoubtedly, he changed the world. daunting. Seven billion people who, just like Every one of us has that power. We’re not me, need clean air and clean water, clothing all going to be headlines-grabbing famous, but and shelter, three meals a we’re all going to contribday, healthcare, education, ute somehow. Everyday a job, a voice in their govheroes like teachers and ernments. family members inspire Seven billion people and nurture; students like makes me tiny. I’m nothing us think and come up but a speck of dust in the giwith new ideas for our ant scheme of the universe. futures. If we all play our From a population studies’ parts, then combined, we point of view, you and I are are a society that is desjust two more organisms tined for success. We can that need resources for a learn and achieve, work period of time, and then one to better our lives and day, we’ll be replaced by ONE IN A BILLION We are help those in need, admore organisms that need more than mere numbers; we vance the human species resources. are individuals with the power to in unprecedented ways. But feeling this way The only reason change the world. is the most passive and rewe’re not using that powsigned approach we could possibly take to life er is because we’re scared. We’re scared that as one of seven billion. It diminishes all our it’s useless, that we’re insignificant. But that value as people in this world. We can’t forget isn’t even true. And if we keep subscribing to that though we are seven billion human beings that self-pitying fear, we will become insignifiinhabiting Earth, we are also seven billion incant. “I think, therefore I am,” right? dividuals. Each and every one of us is a perSo let’s not think of ourselves as just one son—a living, breathing person with thoughts out of seven billion. Let us think of ourselves and feelings, friends and family, joys and tragas seven billion ones, seven billion members edies, plans for the future. of a community, seven billion powerhouses And each and every one of us has the that can achieve whatever they want. potential to be great, to make an impact on There are seven billion people in the the world. Don’t laugh at my grandiose stateworld, and I am proud to be one of them. ments—millions mourned when Steve Jobs died because he made an impact, yet Jobs jkuang@apachepowwow.com Graphic by MICHELLE ZHANG wasn’t some god or supernatural creature. He
By JEANNE KUANG
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Nemesis on the Net By VANESSA YU Staff Writer
Daniel Lee, commonly known as Tablo, had everything he could have wanted in 2010. A beautiful actress as his wife, a baby girl on the way, plus an explosive career as a Korean hip-hop rapper with chart topping albums. But it was all brutally ripped away from him for no fair reason—by netizens. Many you have never heard of the word netizen, yet it describes possibly a third of the world’s population. A netizen is a regular Internet user. That’s you, right? Wait! Don’t be so quick to label yourself; this word comes with a bad reputation. Netizens are known to be obsessed fans who create most of the rumors on the Internet. But “fans” is not the right word. Most netizens are harsh, narrow-minded critics who set “standards” they believe every star must meet. But what’s terrifying about these cyber bullies is that they hold (and aren’t afraid to use) the power to elevate stars...or to destroy them, as they did to the Korean rapper Tablo. We must realize that with the Internet comes responsibilities that we must learn to handle. Born in Korea, but raised in Canada, Tablo graduated from Stanford University with a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature and a Master’s Degree in Creative Writing—in just three and a half years. South Korean Internet users grew skeptical of how he had achieved those degrees in only a few years. With their doubts and anger over recent scandals concerning fake diplomas, these Internet users transformed quickly from fans to
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dangerous netizens with the deceitfully “just” motive of unveiling the truth behind Tablo’s education. When I first read about Tablo in Stanford Magazine online, I was shocked and angry beyond words. Though a major TV channel MBC had broadcasted a twopart special of Tablo going back to Stanford, reuniting with his former classmates, and reprinting his transcripts, netizens still refused to believe him. Instead, they proceeded to spread slander and blasphemy, escalating the Tablo situation into a nationwide scandal. The freedom of the Internet allows for easy cyber bullying. Hiding behind a screen made it effortless for 57-year-old Korean-American Eung Kim to begin the notorious site We Demand the Truth from Tablo. The netizens of the site continued to mob Tablo’s family, stirring up death threats and menacing phone calls even after police proclaimed his innocence. Just because we have the freedom to criticize doesn’t mean we should take advantage of it. We need to know when to restrain ourselves. Now in the technological age, it’s no longer think before you speak. Instead, we all need to think before we type. The worst combination of an Internet user is one word— netizen, a crazed, ignorant user. Daniel Lee, Demi Lovato, Rebecca Black—these are just a few names among an innumerable number of celebrity victims of cyber bullying. So, the next time you comment on a post, think twice about the responsibilities you have as Internet users and as fellow human beings. vanyu@apachepowwow.com
Every Senior’s Best Friend Dear Miscellaneous University, It’s that time of year again to say out loud what we’re thankful for, and I thought that I would just dedicate this letter to the miracle that is the college application process. Aside from the stress and anxiety, it’s given me a chance to really take a look at myself and reflect on my own strengths and weaknesses. More importantly, it has made me realize how well I can function on three hours of sleep. I honestly don’t understand why others complain so much. Sure, we may have to complete a separate supplement for each individual college, but I say the more work the merrier! After all, what else could I possibly have to do on a Friday night than to slave away at my personal statement? Thank you for understanding that I need something to do on top of my homework and extracurricular activities. Plus, I need the daily reminder that the rest of my future lies in my hands at this very moment, and if I mess it up, I may not get a second chance. To express my gratitude, I’m going to make the most out of this process and let you know how I plan on mastering the art of promising-Ivy-League-student-worthy essay writing. I will make myself sound as polished as possible, but still express who I am. I will make myself stand out and make your admissions officers fall in love with me in under 500 words.There are simply not enough words to describe your impact on me. You have truly changed my life for the better. Many thanks, hchou@apachepowwow.com Graphic courtesy of WIKIPEDIA.COM
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PERFORMING ARTS
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October 2011
arcadiaperformingarts@apachepowwow.com
November 2011
The World on a String By ALBERT HU Staff Writer
Just like the changing colors of the leaves, there is something else the members of Orchestra have come to expect in November: the annual Fall String Concert. Over 600 musicians fill the auditorium from grades seven through twelve, with skill levels ranging from beginners to seasoned performers. Not to be forgotten of course, is the music itself, with musical selections ranging from Tchaikovsky and Mozart to Metallica. As always, the groups commanded the crowd’s attention with each piece, drawing wild applause after every song. “I love the variety at the Fall String Concert,” said sophomore Tina Zheng, “the orchestras each bring a different style to the table.” The concert is a favorite for many the performers. Senior Fannie Chiang remarked, “The concert never loses its magic. I still get goosebumps every time I walk onto the stage.” Those goosebumps are senior Ivana Ro’s favorite part of the show as “those are the moments that I live for. There’s nothing much like it.” ahu@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of CLIPARTS101.COM
PERFORMING ARTS
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The 39 Steps Toward ADD’s Success a colorful array of characters ranging from the eccentric Mr. Memory to the soft-spoken PameStaff Writer la Edwards. It was a success to say the least, as Audience members stream out of the Little the Little Theater had a full house opening night Theater, chatting about the play they just saw: with people of all ages. Advanced Drama Department’s (ADD) proAfter a much deserved week-long break, duction of Alfred HitchADD will continue on with cock’s The 39 Steps. its next play, Oklahoma!, Many don’t realize that which will premiere in ADD members have March 2012. This musical been working hard on will also be shortened into this play since the first a 12-minute rendition that week of school, when will be performed in the auditions began. Musical Theater of Amer“This play is honica (MTOA) competition estly one of ADD’s finat Disneyland in February est,” ADD Historian 2012. “The MTOA comsenior Jasmine Falatoonpetition is a new addition zadeh said. “I’m unbewe are trying this year and lievably proud of everywe hope for the best,” said 39 SHENANIGANS Although the original Alfred Hitch- ADD Secretary one associated with this play.” And senior Gwen Vahey. with good reason. The humor was cock thriller is serious in tone, ADD put a humorous spin “We’re looking forward to a very witty and the characters’ on-spot on its interpretation. successful season [since] we have such accents added an extra touch to the a strong, talented cast this year,” said masterpiece. “This is my senior year so I’m re- leaking. However, she is mysteriously mur- ADD President senior Ariana Raygoza. With ally excited and glad to be able to have such dered that same night, leaving Hannay as the that said, be sure to look forward to more amaza great role for my last time being on stage,” prime suspect and the only one who can stop the ing performances by ADD in the future. said ADD member senior Patrick Harbicht, who secrets from being leaked. Despite its serious played the lead role. Both Patrick’s and the rest plotline, the play was humorous and sprinkled ahuynh@apachepowwow.com of the cast’s tone of voice and facial expressions with bits of suspense and romance. There were Graphics courtesy of CLKER.COM matched what their characters were feeling, quite a few plot twists and surprises, along with Photos by TOMMY LIAO
By AMANDA HUYNH
so much that the people they were portraying seemed real. The 39 Steps follows Richard Hannay, a gentleman who is bored with his mediocre life. This all changes when he meets Annabella, a secret agent aiming to stop national secrets from
Tradition of Excellence: AFOB
Performing Artists Give Thanks
By PHOEBE SHEN
member sophomore Rayna Tian. For Orchesis Dance Company (ODC) Treasurer senior NataStaff Writer sha Hamilton, it’s all about what being in a PA Most consider November as a time to group has to provide. “Being in ODC offers me transition into the winter or as a time when not only the chance to be with friends, but to be anticipation starts to build for the upcomwith friends who share a common interest. I am ing holiday season. Few realize the value grateful that everyone in [ODC] is as passionof this 30-day month that ends with an imate about dance as I am,” she declared. portant festivity: Thanksgiving. No matter how demanding directors To remember the occasionally ignored may be, PA members always feel appreciative meaning of Thanksgiving, various Perof their teachers. Chanteurs member sophoforming Arts (PA) members explain more Alana Deblase stated, “I thank Mr. what they are appreciative for, from [Rick] England for being such a the support of their families to great vocal teacher and for putthe opportunities to do what ting in a lot of dedication and they love. time into the choir program. Students in PA groups It’s a privilege to have him at rarely realize how much AHS!” Sophomore Johnson their parents sacrifice so they Hui expressed his gratitude can be part of their activifor Director Mr. Tom Landes ties. Grateful for everything especially as it is his last seaher family provides so she son directing Band. “No one can participate in Colorguard, in this program will ever be freshman Madison Sira said, “I able to fully thank [Mr. Lancan’t even bedes] for the gin to explain GIVING THANKS A simple thank-you card is d e d i c a t i o n how grateful not enough to express the gratitude of these PA he’s put into I am to my group members toward their supporters. these past deparents! They cades. Thank support me unconditionally, give me a milyou for everything you’ve done to make us the lion rides weekly, and are so enthusiastic great program we are,” Johnson said. On behalf that I’m part of a group.” of the entire group, Orchestra President senior Advanced Drama Department memJessica Namkoong applauded Orchestra Direcber junior Gordon Chang added that “it tors Mr. Tom Forbes and Ms. Pin Chen, and really shows that they care [about] and supsaid, “Thank you for being so eager to teach us port my hobby,” when his parents allow with patience and getting us to realize the true him to participate countless hours put into meaning of teamwork. We love you!” it outside of school. No matter what team activity you’re part Being given the opportunity to perof, don’t forget to be especially thankful in this form is something to give thanks for too. festive and appreciative month. “It is an opportunity to show others how hard we worked and how much we imkching@apachepowwow.com Graphic courtesy of ROSIEPITER.COM proved as a whole,” expressed Orchestra 2
corporated songs from Swan Lake and Firebird.” Staff Writer Trumpet Section Leader junior MiThe 58th Annual Arcadia Festival of chael Chu said that his best memories from Bands (AFOB) hosted by AHS and the three AFOB “were just spending time with the middle schools started off with a bang. Because seniors that have graduated,” and that his AFOB is the last for“greatest joy was mal performance for making AFOB as Band, Band Direcmemorable for tor Mr. Tom Landes them as could be.” explained that their This year performance was “a proved to be a culmination of what special year for we have been doing the band, beall marching season.” cause not only From the opening did Band earn parade to the follow“some of [the] ing festivities, AFOB highest scores proved to be a mem[they’ve] had at orable event for its [the] festival,” participants and audibut “this year Mr. ence. David VannasAccording to dall stood in front Flute Section Leader of the audience senior Jasmine Chen, with Mr. Landes on Nov. 19 the day to announce Mr. began “in the mornLandes’ retireing, when band, along ment. Thousands with percussion and of people in the Pep Squad, stands gave marched down MAINTAINING THE TRADITION OF EX- a touching Baldwin Av- CELLENCE Marching Band continues to excel s t a n d i n g enue to kick ovation for as it wraps up the marching season. off the band his dedicareview,” performing their march “Solid Men to tion.” the Front”. Jasmine explained that “after the paOverall, AFOB, according to Jasmine, rade ended around noon, we headed on over to “was a great conclusion to our competitive Citrus College for the field show competition.” season and the performance on Saturday Colorguard Squad Leader junior Jessica was definitely one that I, the band, and sureHsu stated that at the field show “Colorguard, along with the marching band, performed the pshen@apachepowwow.com Photos by VIVIAN CHAN show entitled “Power and Grace”, which in-
By KELLY CHING
November 2011
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By UTTHARA RAMESHBABU News Editor
By VALERIE YU Opinion Editor
Though gray storms brewed and biting winds howled, upon the high seas, our little ship sailed. Riding the waves, swift and steady, our APUSH class, Captain Moore at the helm, was ready. Steering us well through the drama of U.S. History and junior year’s rain and shine with cheer, Mrs. Heather Moore is an amazing teacher, one of the best we’ve ever had. She is, as senior Julia Wang gushed, “bubbly and fun, loving and understanding, jubilant, comical,” and most of all, as senior Amit Akula said, “like a mother to us all.” A storyteller who makes history come alive, Mrs. Moore not only puts a human face on history, but also genuinely cares for her students, each and every one, and greatly inspires a love for the subject. With Mrs. Moore, lectures are laugh-outloud engaging, chapters of text are exciting, and history itself is extraordinary. A tight-knit family, Mrs. Moore’s APUSH class of last year would feel like a “small liberal arts co ccollege llege
on slavery. H He eexplained, “It taught me history not as a lifeless tale to look at hhist out of thee pas past, but as a collection of all the lives livves that precede us.” Besides Besides humanizing history, Moore Mrs. M oore also truly cares about her students, a characteristic stuude that hhas touched many hearts. Seenio Natasha Hamilton Senior recalls that “Mrs. Moore rreca was wa always willing to fu further explain anything w [didn’t] understand.” we C Classmates Amit and senior Marissa Xing also said the same. During junior year, Amit felt that Mrs. Moore really “helped [him] through rough times.” He added,, “She
class”, admitted senior Yejean ej ejean Kim. For Yejean, Mrs. Moore is “an “ amazing teacher” because “she makes m U.S. History vibrant…it wasn’tt a repeat of the same things we’ve been en n learning for years and not in the same m banal me way—we were learning g about all the nuances and dramaa that d ds.” U.S. history really holds.” Mrs. Moore definitely y takes her students beyond the text to the beating, breathing h e a r t o f h i s t o r y. Senior Jaki Liu loved this emotional aspect the most. Looking back, he will always remember the time when she burst into tears during g a lecture
truly is an inspiration as a passionate educator who cares and never stops believing in any student, no matter how unorganized.” Marissa also views Mrs. Moore as “an inspiration who has taught [her] that there are no ‘extensions’ in life.” So many things taught, so many things learned, both in history and in life alike. Every year, when the final bell of the year resonates, students of Mrs. Moore—a few from last year sporting violet shirts with the words “Don’t Mess With Our Boat, Savvy?”, an inside joke from a lesson on the Embargo of 1807—saunter out of D-12 as more than just experts on “dear” Henry Clay, monstrous mind maps, decade parties, and ten-foot-long timelines. They are one-of-a-kind, sea-hardened characters with eyes open to how history lives around us and in us even today, all thanks to the amazing Mrs. Moore—or should I say, Captain Moore? valyu@apapchepowwow.com
By ANDY QIN Academics Editor
As the Eng English glish proverb goes, “Give “G Give a man a fish, h, and you feed him m for f a day; teach a ma man an to fish and you fee feed ed him for a lifetime.”” To T me, this quote te sufficiently describes Mr.. Kevin Fox’s teaching style. In sophomore year, I remember enrolling in his Development o f We s t e r n Civilization Honors class. s.
History was wasn’t sn’t necessarily my biggest interest. Yet, I remember remeemb how Mr. Fox made the tales of Mesopotamia Mesopottam and ancient Greece a thriller. Suddenly I followed fo the curriculum like the plot of a m mov movie. Finding out what happened next certainly certtain wasn’t easy though—retracing thought thoughht pprocesses of history was done only throuugh extensive questioning. But it was through w he sparked a passion by not merely how giving givving answers that I personally, am thaank for Mr. Fox. thankful B I’m not alone. Others have also But reecal fervently about how they have recalled grrow from his teachings. It seems that grown ddesp a hefty teaching schedule, Mr. despite F never ceases to inspire his students Fox and co-workers. One such co-worker is fellow h history teacher Mr. John Panza, who h to admire Mr. Fox’s dedication had
to his commitments. “Mr. Fox I think is so unique in the so many years he’s taken [Constitution] Team and taken…different personalities and molded them together,” said Mr. Panza. As such, Mr. Panza added that Mr. Fox has the ability to get students to “work together, understand the issues together, and to realize what each other’s strengths are, so that they work together as a cohesive unit.” Members of the Constitution Team always seem to have something to say about their beloved coach. Senior Jenny Wei observed, “What I learned when I first met Mr. Fox was that he’s kind of a hands-off teacher. He gives you the tools to succeed but he doesn’t pave the road out for you.” Alumnus Jimmy Tsouvalas of the 2010-2011 Constitution Team also added, “I think W.B. Yeats summed it up best when he said that ‘Education is not the filling of a bucket, but the lighting of a fire.’ Mr. Fox really exemplifies that notion with his unparalleled ability to get students engaged
Photos by ELLIOTT LEE, VIVIAN CHAN, TOMMY LIAO, and MELISSA SONG and graphics by ALWYNA LAU
in the course material…he taught me to take the initiative to go out and learn things…to become an expert myself.” Finally, students whom have not known Mr. Fox as long already find things to be grateful for. For sophomore Abel De Castro it was “the way [Mr. Fox] asked questions and certain questions that he asks really made students have to think and really pay attention to every single detail.” Junior Evan Delgado, who was also in Mr. Fox’s Development of Western Civilization Honors class, agreed when he noted, “Mr. Fox taught me how to ask questions. Not in the literal sense, but he taught me to take nothing at face value and always continue learning more about the world around me.” So as Mr. Fox famously concludes his lectures, “Any questions? Comments? Concerns?” aqin@apapchepowwow.com
Kiritsu. Rei. Chakuseki. Any student taking Japanesee at our school would recognize these words that hat start off the class period every day. For two years of my personal journey in Japane Japanese, se, Ms. Hiroko Arndt, or Arndt Sensei as she is called c by her students, has stood at the front off the m, leadingg us classroom, nced knowle edge to advanced knowledge panese lang guage of the Japanese language and culture. Ms. Arndt’ss unique teaching style and silent wisdom have left an ion on impression many of her students, past and present, kindling erests in their interests modern Japanese culture and ging manyy encouraging of them to bridgee it with Americann culture.
We all know the dreadful feeling of dragging ourselve ourselves from class to class after all-nighters—our brains barely functional and mouths agape. agape It can be a disappointing sight for m teachers, but not for Ms. Arndt. many tea She is always “very polite and smiles a lot”, alw ways “ve commented Senior Isabelle Evangelista. commennted Sen Ms. Arndt’s demeanor creates an Arndt’s peaceful peac environm ment extre environment extremely conducive of learning, disppels all the frustration that arises as it dispels ing a ne in learni learning new and difficult language. patieent and m Her patient meticulous mannerisms are ed in her teaching style and then onto reflecte ected udents. her stu students. refreshi quality about Ms. Arndt’s A refreshing teach hing is th teaching that, even in her AP class, she aims to introdu introduce her students to an entirely new culture, c rrather than simply teach for an up pcoming ttest. Every grammar pattern upcoming is ann insight into Japanese customs, and everyy variati variation of vocabulary words a displ lay of in display intricate Japanese etiquette in c Ms. Arndt’s class. Isabelle commented that h way of explaining things, she “liked her beccause it w because was in a roundabout manner so metimes Senior Raymond Tran sometimes.” c Ms Arndt “steadfast, because called Ms. sh was unwavering in her adherence she
to her own principles and classroom rules.” In addition to teaching several sections off Japanese 2 and AP Japanese, she helps organize trips to Japan every year with AHS’ other Japanese teacher, Ms. Jessica Summers. Alumnus Joey Wu, who was in Ms. Arndt’s Japanese 2 class recounted how “after taking [Ms. Arndt’s] class, [he] felt so much more comfortable traveling to Japan and conversing with the locals there.” Ms. Arndt is truly committed to extending the Japanese learning experience beyond the walls of the classroom—always encouraging her students to explore the culture on their own through food, anime, or cultural presentations. Ms. Arndt’s commitment to Japanese culture, teaching and her students is truly commendable and appreciated by all her students. On behalf of all her students, I would like to extend one big Doumo Arigato Gozaimasu, or “thank you very much” for all her hard work to cultivate a love of Japanese in all of us.
Features Editor
manages to create a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere in his class. This is due to his lenient teaching style and his open attitude toward receiving comments from his students. Senior Alison Chen said that Mr. Pasqua “always had witty comebacks and loved to joke around, which made his class fun and exciting.” He frequently incorporates jokes into his lectures which, commented senior Jasmine Li, “added flavor to his discussions” and made “even government class interesting.” Even though Mr. Pasqua’s style of teaching seems unconventional, senior Lynn Huang remarked that she really liked “Mr. Pasqua’s hands-off style” because “it forced us to be m o r e
“He is friendly and easy to approach, which adds to his coolness factor”. - Sarah Chau, 12
“Señor Brown tries to make learning Spanish a journey beyond the four walls of the classroom.” - Helen Chou,12 “It was incredible how he helped students immerse themselves in Spanish culture.” - Jessica Tong, 12
urameshbabu@apapchepowwow.com
By EILEEN N CHOW At first glance, Mr. Mike Pasqua looks like a strict, intimidating type of teacher. But if you know him personally, you’ll recognize that Mr. Pasqua completely blows this first impression out of the water—the words “deadpan snarker”, “witty humor”, or in sophomore Nicole Wei’s words: “fusion of a funny five-year-old and a seventy-year-old man with all the knowledge in the world” come to mind. Mr. Pasqua is an exceptional Development of Western Civilization, Economics, and AP Comparative Government teacher who has left a lasting impression on his students through his unique blend of witty humor and hands-off teaching. Once students get pass the he snarky comments, they quickly come to re realize ealize that Mr. Pasqua is a teacher truly dedicated d dicated to his students. Senior Li-Xing Chang ng g saw Mr. Pasqua as someone who was “always y there for ys the students if they ever needed hhelp”—Mr. elp”—Mr. Pasqua’s classroom, D-11, is usually y open and he always welcomes students to drop p by during the morning, lunch, or afterschool iff they have any questions or if they merely want an nt to chat. He is also willing to work with his students s to make up any missed quizzes or tests, s allowing s, them flexible times during lunch h or after school to make them up. Senior Amit A Akula said that you’ll “realize thatt he cares so much about helping others r rs and is ready to be there for you no o matter the difficulty.” Even with his rigorous coursework, Mr. Pasqua always
“Mr. Johnson teaches in a way that really makes us appreciate art and different cultures around the world.” - Greg Chang, 12
responsible and also allowed us to study in the way that suits us best.” More than just a hardworking teacher, Mr. Pasqua is also the committed advisor of Leo Club. Alumna Winnie Hui and former Leo Club President said that he was “an amazing Leo Club advisor” who “received the Best Advisor Award presented by the Lions’ Club International.” Every Monday lunch, Mr. Pasqua would offer up his room to his Leo Club officers so that they can discuss and prepare the materials for Tuesday’s Leo Club meeting. He demonstrates his involvement with the club by showing up and helping at the Leo Club vo volunteer events. Winnie also admired M Pasqua Mr. P Pasqqua for his supportiveness, saying that “when L Leo Club needed his guidance, he was more tha an w than willing to sacrifice his time and help us out.” The imp impact that Mr. Pasqua leaves on his studentss is not something that can be fully describe ed in one article. However, here is an described attempt to ccharacterize him, in Amit’s words: “Althoug gh uunique is the worst word to describe “Although it, nothi ng can really capture the innovative nothing enthusia asm that he carries himself with. It is enthusiasm his amaz zing opinions, his referencing of crazy amazing factss tha that somehow come together to always make a coherent logical argument, and m his awesome personality that make hi him different than any person I have m met.” echow@apachepowow.com
“Ms. Galloway has a special talent in engaging all of her students, by making learning fun and history simple when it gets complicated.” - Erika Olofson, 9 “I love how she makes historical figures seem more human by telling us about their personal quirks.” -Ingrid Jin, 12
“My favorite thing about Ms. Young is that she is always there at lunch for students, and during class she’s always available to help with chemistry problems.” -Rita Wang, 11 “Ms. Young’s sense of humor is my favorite thing about her, because it creates a relaxed atmosphere in the classroom.” -Rochelle Lai, 11
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SPORTS
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What Our Lady Apaches Are Thankful For...
November 2011
The Lagace Legacy
By ALICE LIN Staff Writer
I’m I thankful for the teammates I have and annd their th constant words of encouragement. I’m for the coaches I’ve had, I’ thankful th d, as I have learned so much from them.
Thanksgiving. The very word evokes memories of holiday shopping, endless amounts of stuffed turkey, and for some, a heavily anticipated week-long holiday. But despite the emphasis on these slightly materialistic ideas, Thanksgiving is about something more than just sleeping in and relaxing. Thanksgiving is about giving thanks to America, our friends, our family, and of course, AHS, our staff members, classmates, remarkable sports teams, and those who make our lives at AHS so wonderful.
Catherine Su, 11, Girls Varsity Volleyball ybaalll By VICTORIA NAKAGANEKU Staff Writer
I thankful for my teammates I’m and they have taught me annd everything ev over tthe past four years, and I’m also thankful for the bonds we have created ated that will stay with me long past highh school. Helen Chou, 12, Girls Cross Country try
I’m thankful that I know what I’m doing, and [that] I can do what I can do.
Through this sport, I have made many new T friends friend and we play together so much and just practice a ti all the time. We can joke around und nd and a have fun. I’m thankful for my teammates. tes. Michelle Lai, 12, Girls Varsity Basketball ball
Hazel Tan, 12, Girls Varsity Water Polo
alin@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of BUYCOSTUMES.COM and DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM Photos by ELLIOTT LEE, LEO JIANG, and VIVIAN CHAN
Water Polo is Going Against the Current By ARIANA ARZANI Executive Copy Editor
consisted of a swim set or 1,000 to 2,000 yards of conditioning. Next, they built up their ball passing skills and finished strong with scrimmages. In the weight room, the players exercised with sit-ups, weight-training, and stadium and Speedo runs. In addition to strengthening their physiques, the boys attempted to maintain a diet rich in protein and vegetables and “low in carbohydrates, which weigh them down,” according to sophomore Kevin Fry. The boys “carbload” three days prior to big games to build up their energy to function at their highest perfor-
After enduring a challenging season full of talent and motivated resilience, the Boys Varsity Water Polo team looked back on its season with bittersweet feelings and pride, while looking ahead to a fresh start next year. The team, which is 17 members strong, is headed by cocaptains seniors Amit Akula, Tom Beckley, and Anthony Kuo. This year, the team focused more on strengthening its players for the upcoming years, as ten members were seniors. Tom also hoped that the stricter emphasis put on the underclassman “will help improve the team for RIPTIDES Senior Jonah Ruberry keeps a steady eye on an opportunity to score. next year.” Everyday after mance rate. school, the boys pracBefore each game, the team members ticed for two hours, pumped up their spirits by cheering “Apaches” usually from 2:00 and “Arcadia” to rile themselves up. The boys to 4:00 p.m. They have played a total of six League games, winalso had weight ning two and losing four. Due to the room workouts to lockdown drill, they had build their muscles in to forfeit a game and outside the pool up against Pasadena to three days a week. High School on Their daily workouts
Nov. 1. Another instance of chance caused disappointment, as they lost a coin toss against Burbank High School and Pasadena High School to break a three-way tie to qualify for CIF. For the members of the team, the strong bond is a large motivating factor. Kevin believes the “strong team spirit motivates” him and he enjoys how the older members act as mentors to the underclassman. Sophomore Jack Heer loves being on the team because of the “active involvement of the parents and the encouragement they have” for the team. For juniors Connor Lee and Spencer Norconk, the fun times help them bond with each other. Amit believes that this year, they worked “on building the lower Varsity team so that they can blossom into an excellent team next year.” After a year filled with “growth in numbers and strength,” Head Coach Nicole Comacho anticipates “becoming CIF champions next year as well as having a stronger team.” With the older boys taking on roles as mentors, the underclassmen improved their skills but also learned to rely and relate to the upperclassmen. aarzani@apachepowwow.com
Senior Taylor Lagace is more than just a number on the field. He’s more than jersey number 28, more than number 2 in division, more than number 1 in co-league—he’s an Apache we can certainly count on in the game. Playing wide receiver and safety on the Varsity Football team, Taylor’s nevergive-up-never-back-down drive on the field and toward his goals makes him a force to be reckoned with. Though Taylor described that “growing up [he] was a basketball player,” he still “always liked playing football in the neighborhood.” Taylor continued to play tackle football as a freshman and his natural talent for the sport earned him a spo spot on the Varsity team, playing as a starter since his freshman year. Smiling, Taylor sin said that the “intensity of the game—and the hitting” are what he enjoys most about football, as well as how close the team gets foo dur during the season. Listing Taylor’s role on the team as “receiver and safety and returner of punts and kickoffs,” Head Coach Jon Dimalante proudly called Taylor a “team captain [who] does it all,” as well as a “superstar” out on the field. But Taylor’s superstar status isn’t strictly limited to the game. “Taylor is a first-class young man,” Coach Dimalante remarked. “He has a good heart and is a good leader.” Aside from football though, Taylor, a senior, must also consider his plans after high school. Committing early to the University of Washington, though players don’t have to sign a letter of intention until February 2012, Taylor made it clear that he will continue to pursue a path in football. Even though he’s received interest from a wide range of colleges, Taylor chose Washington because he liked “Seattle and the coaches there.” When asked about the reason behind his early commitment, Taylor replied that he “just wanted to focus on the season.” Supporting his choice, Coach Dimalante affirmed that he is “real excited to get to see [Taylor] on TV” and to also watch him at future games. When asked about the CIF strategy this year, Taylor, with a relaxed attitude, simply stated that this year the team is “going to take it week by week and hopefully win CIF.” Before a game starts, Taylor listens to music and says a quick prayer for safety. “I usually don’t think about the football game until like maybe an hour before the game,” Taylor laughed. He continued, “Not the night before, or even the day [of], because I usually get too hyped up.” vnakaganeku@apachepowwow.com Photo by TOMMY LIAO
November 2011
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STUDENT LIFE
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Thanksgiving Mishaps By KRISTIE SUN Staff Writer
Ever experienced a Thanksgiving gone wrong? Maybe you experienced disastrous food. Perhaps your plans didn’t work out as anticipated. Well, these students have been through it all. “My friends decided to play a joke involving the turkey during Thanksgiving. They stuffed fireworks inside the turkey. It was pretty dangerous but funny at the same time. It was weird; the turkey was making these popping noises, and then it exploded! Everyone got dirty and covered in turkey.” —Alvin Kuo, 11 “One time during Thanksgiving, we ordered a turkey. The turkey ended up not being delivered to my house! That was a big disaster—a Thanksgiving without turkey.”—Leo Li, 12 “On the day of Thanksgiving, my aunt decided to host a Thanksgiving party. The only problem was she never had a Thanksgiving party, so we ended up having to eat Chinese food, but my cousin saved the day by going to the market to buy turkey and mashed potatoes.”—Edward Chai, 9 At the end, all that matters is spending and enjoying the Thanksgiving weekend with your family! ksun@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of CLKR.COM and UXPRESS.COM
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Fashion for a Winter Wonderland By KELLY CHING Staff Writer
If you’ve noticed your days are starting to include chillier temperatures, more layers of clothing, and maybe even some rain, it’s probably a sign that summer and fall are miles behind and winter is well on its way. Besides the more frequent breezes and fewer appearances from the sun, the most apparent change of season for students is their wardrobe. For some, wearing summer clothes while winter trends are in feels like a crime. With different styles circling around for each season, it’s difficult to keep up, but many students are able to apply them to their own closets. Senior Fannie Chiang described her wardrobe choices when she said, “Personally, I don’t like Uggs anymore, so I would say some nice brown or black leather boots with dark jeans and a nice coat with a thick woven scarf. Oh, and beanies!” For those not completely focused on the y styles, y , comfort is the way. Sophomost trendy more Robynn Singer-Bae Singer-Baefsky tends “to wear longlong-sleeve shirts and swea sweaters” and accessorizes w with “scarves because they’re comfortable andd can be worn in di ifffe different ways.” Some students enjoyy the extra layers of clothing more tthan tthe shorts and heat-s soakin tops worn heat-soaking during the su summer. “I definitely prefer winter to summer clothes because I’m constantly co cold, and I need
warmth,” expressed Robynn. Although many would agree with her approach, what about those who prefer summer clothes to winter outfits? Like freshman Maggie Do, some don’t particularly enjoy the heavy layers. “I like summer clothes because they aren’t as thick, and I like the breeze I get,” she explained. Sophomore Jacqueline Yang also brought up a good point that it’s easier to find clothes for the sunnier days than in the colder seasons. “A simple tank top works in the summer, but in winter you have to layer and layer,” she stated. Jacqueline makes a decent point, yet it’s a good balance between the temperature transitions. The summer-loving kids get the tank tops and shorts for half a year while the scarf and boot lovers enjoy the second half. Either way, wardrobe is only a small percentage of what winter should be all about. Don’t forget about the festive cheer, and holiday breaks coming up. kching@apachepowwow.com Photos by ASHLEY CHI Graphics courtesy of BVSD.ORG, PSDGRAPHICS.COM, and WHATAJOB.COM
DRESSED FOR WINTER
Sophomore Kelly Ching models the latest winter fashions.
Unique and Unorthodox h d Thanksgiving h Traditions By LAUREN TRAJANO Staff Writer
diate family member. Later on, Claire and her family have a cake competition to see which family member wins with the best-tasting cake. The best part is left for last, because after all the cake judging is over, the whole family gets to feast on the yummy desserts. “It’s a really fun experience, and I’m looking forward to it this Thanksgiving,” Claire commented. Beyond exciting desserts, certain cultures are also celebrated. For freshman Bryant Jung, spending his Thanksgiving break with his family while eating his favorite Asian cuisine is the best way to celebrate. “We celebrate Thanksgiving with rice and a bunch of Asian food,” Bryant stated. Although he and his family do celebrate the holiday with food that pertains to their own culture, they still manage to get
turkey involved. However, Bryant doesn’t feel alone with his family’s different but special combination of food because many AHS students are in the same boat as him. For freshman Antonio Uriarte and his family, they find a great way to burn off the calories consumed from their Thanksgiving feast. Football, soccer, and baseball are played throughout the Thanksgiving break in order to bring about family time and a great workout. “It gets very competitive,” Antonio added proudly. Antonio’s excitement builds up every year as he hopes to shine at every one of family’s Thanksgiving games. Baking cakes, eating rice, playing sports, and many other activities are the ways AHS students celebrate the well-appreciated holiday ay of Thanksgiving. Even with the differences in Thanksgiving activities, students nts and their families share one ne thing in common: getting ng together and thanking each ch other for the blessings gs they have come across ss the past year. And nd that’s what Thanksgivving is all about: love and nd thanks.
Thanksgiving is here. That means turkey, cranberries, pumpkin pie, and all that good stuff, right? Well, maybe. The truth is that people are different in their own ways. Some may be fashionable, others sporty, others a bit nerdy, but everyone has his or her own talents, likes, and dislikes. The same goes for Thanksgiving. Sure, most people may celebrate the holiday with a turkey or two, but it all comes down to what you and your family love doing. This is how a few AHS students say their thanks. Cakes have been a part of holidays and special occasions ever since they originated. However, people rarely ever bake their own cake for a birthday party, wedding or anniversary. Nowadays, people tend to buy their cakes from a bakery instead of eating a selfbaked dessert. Despite the lack of cake spirit, freshman Claire Jones-Lock and her family still find a special way to keep the spirit alive. They don’t spend the holiday with just one cake, but Graphics courtesy of UEXPRESS.COM, ISTOCKPHOTO.COM, with several homemade BLOGSPOT.COM, CLKER.COM, WHATAJOB.COM, and cakes, one for each immeFAMILYARTSANDCRAFTS.COM
ltrajano@apachepowwow.com
November 2011
Saving for the Holidays By DANIEL JENN Staff Writer
As Christmas creeps closer and closer, the idea of giving the most accommodating gift enters the minds of students at AHS. The selection of the gift is always the hardest, but finding the cash to purchase the gift comes at a close second. Students strive in their search, anxiously checking their purses and man purses every free moment. When the desired item finally presents itself in gleaming brilliance, however, the dream is shattered by the prices. For students of any age, the ideal gift extends just beyond their reach. To resolve this perpetual conflict between man and a hefty price tag, students have shared their trade secrets for saving during the merry season. Amidst presents of materialistic value, black sheep of Christmas time magic rarely stick to the status quo. Born for creative action, freshman Izzy Dou tries to add her own spunk to an overused tradition while still remaining under the radar. She said, “Well, I just usually opt for making homemade presents, like baking chocolate chip cookies for friends.” After a select group of friends tasted her cookies, a subtle peppermint-like aftertaste was all that was left. Sophomore David Lin offers his advice on ways to save for the perfect gift. He said, “Just don’t waste money on things you don’t really need. It’s much better to drink water than to drink boba. It’s healthier and will save money for the Christmas present.” His advice may come as an ignorant retort to the addicts who cannot live without the sweet, herbal sensation of boba milk tea, but it is still useful. Junior Bianca Picasso offers a greener outlook on the monetary setback. She described, “I usually save my family’s old cans and recycle them. When I feel I have enough to get a good amount of profit, I go and cash them in. It helps the environment and helps me!” Although recycling is ecofriendly, a person can only hope for a more effective option that can accommodate the average low-on-money student. Money is a curious thing. It aids us in purchasing objects of our desire, yet it mocks us when these objects are clearly out of our reach. Whether an individual chooses one method or every method humanly possible, Christmas is the season to be saving. djenn@apachepowwow.com
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FEATURES
Preview Review P By JONATHAN MATSUMOTO
jmatsumoto@apachepowwow.com
Graphics courtesy of YTTIKLAM.COM
November 2011
The Appeal of Contemporary Art
By JEANNE KUANG Staff Writer
Staff Writer
Think about the movies you’ve heard oof this year. How many of them were seqquels? Chances are, quite a few. Studios hhave taken no time in developing the next cchapter; sequels this year have been exttremely successful with titles like Harry Potter and Transformers making up nine P oof the top ten films of the year. As the holiiday season approaches, even more will rreceive screen time. Here’s what you can eexpect to see in theaters: Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadoows (Warner Bros, Dec. 16) The original Sherlock Holmes, relleased Christmas Day 2009, received high aacclaim but played second fiddle at the b box office to James Cameron’s recordb breaking Avatar. This time, the famous d detective will have the big screen to hims as he takes on longtime enemy Proself f fessor James Moriarty—the “Napoleon o Crime”. Robert Downey, Jr. (Holmes) of a Jude Law (Dr. Watson) reprise their and r roles and will be joined by Swedish act tress Noomi Rapace (Sim) and Bones g guest star Stephen Fry (Mycroft Holmes) i Guy Ritchie’s latest work. Mad Men acin t Jared Harris has also been cast to play tor P Professor Moriarty. Expect two and a half h hours filled with action, mystery, and exccitement. Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipw wrecked (Fox, Dec. 16) Opening alongside Sherlock Holmes iis the memorable trio of Alvin, Simon, aand Theodore and their female counterpparts, the Chipettes. While on a cruise w with their owner and manager David ““Dave” Seville, they cause chaos on the sship, which gets wrecked on the Isles oof Sicily. Dave must now find the Chipm munks, while the Chipmunks must deal w with another castaway. Viewers watching tthe third installment of this wildly popullar series can expect the same elements as tthe last two—plenty of humor and highppitched renditions of pop songs, includiing LMFAO’s “Party Rock Anthem” and L Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance”. Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protoccol (Paramount, Dec. 21) “No Plan. No Backup. No Choice.” T These six words, plastered upon promottional posters across the country, are the eessence of Mission: Impossible – Ghost P Protocol, the fourth film in the popular acttion series. Tom Cruise returns as Ethan H Hunt, agent of the Impossible Missions F Force (IMF). After a bombing destroys tthe Kremlin, the IMF is disavowed. Hunt aand three others go rogue to locate the inttelligence source connected to the Kremllin bombing and clear the IMF’s name. E Entering theaters just before Christmas, tthis movie is the ultimate dose of explossions, fighting, and the impossible. This holiday will feature many films, w with quite a few of them being sequels. T There’s going to be plenty of laughs and aaction, so get that popcorn ready for these m movies!
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An overturned toilet affixed on a wall, statues made out of feces, a dead shark preserved in formaldehyde—these aren’t even the strangest or most intriguing forms of contemporary art in our society today. Gone are the days of discussing paint-splattered canvases; much of contemporary art is now focused on a full “visitor experience”. Now, art can simply be about participating in human experiments. The only thing that remains constant is the debate over what constitutes art and the question is as confusing as ever. Contemporary art is seeing trends in the environment and community. Last year the Indianapolis Museum of Art (IMA) opened an outdoor art and nature park called 100 Acres that includes a forest, a lake, and plenty of walking trails. Combining art pieces with environmental and botanical studies, IMA seeks to create “experiences in one arena that inform and stimulate appreciation in the other.” Featured art includes “Bench Around the Lake”, a series of scattered bright yellow benches looping in and out of the lakeshore, beckoning visitors to explore and find the next bench, and “Eden II”,
a steel refugee ship decorated with evidence of humans living in environmental disaster. Visitors on the lakeshore can watch video clips from the ship that imply some kind of apocalypse. 100 Acres’ centerpiece is “Indianapolis Island”, a 20-foot-diameter igloo-like structure in the middle of the lake that is inhabited yearly by two local art students who study daily human needs. The little home is outfitted with a floating garden and a boat for visitors,
sure-to-be-controversial that visitors sign a legal waiver before entering, the experiences are designed to force visitors to see the world, quite literally, in an entirely different fashion. The exhibit invites museumgoers to walk around wearing goggles that turn the world upside-down. Höller hopes to engage all human senses; one can float around in “The Psycho Tank”, which is filled with heavily salinized water that mimics the buoyant effects of the Dead Sea, or watch mind-jerking action videos that separate different movements for each eye. Another feature, “The Pinocchio Effect”, makes people feel like their noses are growing. Höller, a former scientist, is focused on this bizarre combination of experiments that challenge the human experience. But such pieces that stretch the boundaries of conventional art are often under fire for whether or not it is meaningful at all. “Really good art,” said ART FORMS Modern art is making Andrea Zitter, designer of a breakthrough with unconventional Indianapolis Island, “brings up complicated questions forms of sculptures and paitings. rather than proposing smug who are encouraged to step answers.” There’s no doubt that watching a oon the island and inter- fake refugee ship or hurtling down a metal slide aact with nature. brings up some strange questions—but are they But that level of necessarily good art? Perhaps, like beauty, art is iinteraction is minimal in the eye of the beholder. ccompared to what is aasked by Belgian-born jkuang@apachepowwow.com art Carsten Höller at artist Graphics courtesy of ROCHESTERARTCENTER.ORG and WORDPRESS.COM tl titl d “E i the aptly-titled “Experience” in New York. So
Black Friday: A Guide to Deals, Shopping, and More! By COURTNEY HANG and SARAH QUON Staff Writers
As Thanksgiving break came along, there were two days that shoppers were looking forward to all year: Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Black Friday, the day immediately following Thanksgiving, is known as the busiest shopping day of the year, with stores everywhere offering mind-blowing sales. As the first day after the last major holiday before Christmas, it ushers in the Christmas season. To take advantage of this, retailers all over the country offered various sales, some opening in the wee hours of the morning to maintain an edge over the competition. Cyber Monday, the Monday immediately following Black Friday, has the same concept as Black Friday but is centered around online shopping for those people who were too lazy to get up before dawn to shop for Christmas and holiday gifts. To be successful this Black Friday, you need to know the best sales and have the best battle plan to take down all those stores and their amazing deals! Here are some tips for making this Black Friday the best you’ve
ever had. 1. Do your research: Start researching sales and when stores will be opening to ensure that you have a chance at getting what you want before it is gone. If you do not have time to look at all the ads the night before Black Friday, then start searching online–-many of the big name stores leak their Black Friday deals on their websites. 2. Make a game plan: Decide what you want to buy and where you will go to get it. Make an itinerary mapping out which stores you will hit in order of opening times. Many stores will try to lure you into buying things that you really do not want. They will appeal to you with eye-catching deals, but you should focus on what you really want or you will be purchasing items that you will never use. When recording items that you want, list them in the order of importance, and then next to the item, write
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down the name of the store it is at and its price. Writing down the prices will help you make sure that you are getting the deals that the stores guaranteed you in the advertisements. 3. Visualize: Before you go out, visualize where the item is in the store so you can head straight there and beat the hordes of people looking for the same item. 4. Go with a team: With a larger number of people, you can tackle several stores or sections of a store at the same time, getting what you want faster and more easily. If you plan to skip the hassle of waking up early on Black Friday, you can instead shop until your fingers drop on Cyber Monday. Many websites have lists of the deals you can find on Cyber Monday, but overall, there is no strategic way to shop. Deals vary from free shipping to a high percentage off clearance items. Just like Black Friday, sales start early and items can run out of stock. So have your laptop out beside your bed, set the alarm, and be ready to search all shopping websites across the internet for deals to die for! Undoubtedly, you would have found innumerable deals this Thanksgiving weekend, so hopefully you got a head start on Christmas Hope gifts. Ho you had a happy and an safe Black Bla Friday!
cha ang@apachepowwow.com chang@apachepowwow.com squ uon@apachepowwow.com squon@apachepowwow.com
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ACADEMICS
academics@apachepowwow.com
November 2011
What Your Backpack Says About You
By VIVIAN CHAN
Staff Writer
Gum, iPods, tissues, wallets, and pencils. These are all everyday items that we can find in many backpacks, but what does your backpack really say about you? Check ec out these unordinary charms that make these student students’ lives go round. Senior Samantha Tang is always prepared for any type of disaster with her handy-dandy, heavy-duty electrical tape. “I alwayss chave a roll of electrical tape in my backpack because in Colorguard, we use it to tape ourr flag silks onto the poles.” She has learned that it’s
not only useful for flag taping, but also for everyday use. “Once, my glasses broke and I used electrical tape to tape them back together. Additionally, I love animal prints, and I carry around a zebra print mirror just so I can check if my face is presentable throughout the day.” Freshman Helen Lee is always ready for any incident life throws at her. “You would be surprised at how often people don’t even know how many little cuts they have,” said Helen. “I always find it really handy if I have an extra band-aid or two, just in case there is an outof-the-blue aaccident.” Seni Senior Ivana Ro is ready for those aawkward my-mom-forgot-to -pack-pack-me-a-spoon situ-
ations. “I always happen to have a Yogurtland spoon in the front pocket of my backpack, probably for good luck, but there are many times when it has come in handy! And because I am a ridiculously obsessive fan girl, my Super Junior sticky notes are always there with me too!” These Yogurtland spoons are definitely a fashion statement compared to those boring, white, plastic, non bio-degradable spoons. For sophomore Isabel Jin, anything handmade is definitely a keeper. “I always keep a bracelet that my friend made for me in fourth grade. We made it together. Ever since she moved away after fourth grade, we decided to hang each others’ bracelets on our backpacks.” Sometimes, she considers it a “good luck” charm. Ever since Who Wants to Be a Milliondo aire offered anyone who had a two-dollar bill at at Ca a chance to get up on the hot seat Califorhas nia Adventures, senior Sheilaa Lo
always kept one with her. “From that day on, I decided I really should keep one on me, just in case.” Furthermore, ever since her “friend paid [her] back in eighth grade with a two dollar bill, [she has] kept it with [her] ever since.” Senior Bryan Mak plans out his daily activities with his “black ASB calendar on [him], which [he] whips out quite often.” His calendar has the school year’s events, from fundraisers to performances and competitions. “It’s just basically our schedules since things are always planned in advance. It’s crucial for an ASB member to have a good calendar so no conflicts arise.” On the outside, backpacks are commonly used to hold our notebooks, binders, and stationary, but on the inside, they subtly hint at who we are. Even seemingly insignifcant things can reveal a lot about your personality. So next time you’re having an identity crisis, open up your backpack, rummage around, and ask yourself, “What does my backpack say about me?” vchan@apachepowwow.com Graphic by BELLE ZHENG Photos courtesy of FOODBEAST. COM, PEARLSOFNONSENSE,COM, GARYFOODSALEINC.COM, and CLEANSWEEPSUPPLY.COM
Video Games That Make You Think
By AMANDA HYUNH
Staff Writer
With the holidays coming up, students are anxious to get out of the classroom and spend some time at home with family or hang out with friends at the mall. But a week of lazing around does nothing to keep our brains sharp. What could we possibly do over the break to help our brains stay in “thinking mode”? We can play video games. They may seem absurd, but here are a number of video games you can play over the break to keep your brain thinking.
Portal 2 The main goal of Portal 2 is to solve a series of puzzles by using a handheld portal device which creates portals between two flat surfaces. You play as Chell, who is challenged by an artificial intelligence called GLaDOS to complete all the puzzles in the game. The reward? Cake. What more could you want? The game’s physics allows momentum to be maintained while going through portals, so you have to place your portals strategically. This first-person point of view puzzle game is available for Windows, Nintendo DS, Mac, Xbox 360, and d PlayStation 3.
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective This Nintendo DS game is like a huge Rube Goldberg machine, where the movement of one object affects the path of another. You play as Sissel, who starts the game off dead. He discovers that his soul has the ability to “possess” objects and make them move, but he only has these powers until the next morning. He must solve the mystery of his own death and save others from dying as well before his soul loses its “ghost tricks”. The wrong move could result in the death of your ally, so think carefully. Full of surprising plot twists and amazing animation, this game will definitely keep you entertained and thinking over the break.
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Planning to be a lawyer? Just love logic puzzles in general? Then this game is perfect for you! You play as greenhorn defense attorney Phoenix Wright and attempt to prove that your clients are innocent of either murder or theft, depending on the case. While it may not be the perfect court simulation, what with the absent-minded judges and over-the-top prosecutors, it does enforce the use of evidence to back up your case and logic to discover contradictions in the witnesses’ testimonies. This game is available for Nintendo DS, Wii, and iPod Touch.
Professor Layton and the Curious Village The first of what is currently a four-game series, this Nintendo DS game involves over 150 brain teasers and a captivating storyline. Taking on the role of archaeologist and puzzle enthusiast Professor Layton, you are called to the town of St. Mystere to solve the mystery of the “Golden Apple” left in the will of the late Baron Reinhold. However, as soon as you arrive, unexplainable deaths and kidnappings start occurring all over the town, and it’s up to you and your trusty apprentice, Luke Triton, to find the murderer and kidnapper before there are any more victims. You’ll have to solve brainteasers to move the story along and unlock a number of enjoyable bonuses and minigames.
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CALENDAR
calendar@apachepowwow.com
November vember 2011
Reasons for Thanks By: Rena Chen
15 The Perfect Holiday Cafe leaves was topped onto a tangy spread of tomato pesto. The eggs were in-between softboiled and hard-boiled, making for a soft, Although located in a lackluster build- light, yolky feeling. They were then mixed ing, Euro Pane Bakery has some of the best in with a light seasoning (perhaps garlic) and sandwiches in town! Euro Pane Bakery is a mayonnaise. It was absolutely delicious. small, quaint shop situated in the midst of The macaroon, however, was just decent. Pasadena at 950 East Colorado Blvd. While it wasn’t awful, the flavor was just soThe bakery is somewhat hard to spot, so and not very memorable at all. It was a tad as it’s sandwiched between large buildings too sweet, and while I understand that macain the middle of a plaza. Parking is terrible, roons are supposed to be dessert pastries, Euro as the store sits on a one-way street. Don’t Pane seems to have gone overboard with the be demoralized sugar. It was also though; the food expensive, at $1.85 here is totally for a tiny bite-sized worth the trip. macaroon. They do When I first carry a large selecwalked in, I was tion of macaroons, surprised by the so maybe it was rather modern just the raspberry decorations, quite macaroon that was the opposite of lacking. what the exterior Overall, Euro suggested. TanPane has some detalizing aromas licious sandwichfilled the air, and es. The egg salad my mouth wa- EGGY DELIGHT: If there is anything that makes sandwich deserves tered as I gazed at my mouth water, it’s Euro Pane Bakery’s signature a 10/10 alone, but everyone’s plates. egg salad sandwich. the macaroon reI decided to ceives only a 6/10. grab an egg salad sandwich and a raspberry Overall, I would give the food an 8/10. Until macaroon. Being their specialty, the egg salad next time! And who am I? That’s a secret I’ll sandwich was absolutely heavenly, and this is never tell. coming from someone who doesn’t like eggs. The egg salad sandwich came openXOXO, faced in a plastic box. Euro Pane has many Glutton Girl different kinds of breads to choose from for gluttongirl@apachepowwow.com sandwiches, and I had the rosemary currant Photo by GLUTTON GIRL bread. A generous amount of egg and spinach
By GLUTTON GIRL
Staff Writer
Frustration of Preparation By: Niki Chi
Need advice? Send your questions to katsadvicecolumn@gmail.com
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The Reel Deal: November Movies By JOSH BAY Staff Writer
Breaking Dawn - Part 1 Genre: Romance, Young-Adult, Drama PG-13 Nov. 16, 2011 Love them or hate them, the sparkly vampires are back. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1, based on the book by Stephenie Meyer, is a fantasy drama that revolves around the story of newlyweds Bella Swan and Edward Cullen. The many betrayals and Bella’s surprising pregnancy cause both Bella and Edward to cut their honeymoon short and face a brutal battle with the Volturi, a fearsome council of vampire leaders. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 is really not like the others in The Twilight Saga. The soundtrack was amazing, the acting was really good, and there was real action and suspense—unlike Twilight, New
Moon, and Eclipse. Although I wasn’t a diehard Twilight fan, after watching this, I now am. Jack and Jill Genre: Comedy PG Nov. 11, 2011 Jack and Jill, distributed by Sony Pictures, revolves around the story of Jack Sadelstein, a man on top of his game. He has a beautiful wife, nice kids, a house in LA, and a successful job as an advertising executive. However, Jack’s splendid life comes crashing down every Thanksgiving due to the visit of his annoying, needy, passive-aggressive twin sister Jill. I was laughing so hard I had to stop and breathe every now and then. If you like laughing nonstop, this is the movie for you. jbay@apachepowwow.com Graphic courtesy of INETGIANT.COM
Q: My friend is always following me around like a lost puppy, and it’s starting to annoy me. How do I tell her to stop bothering me so often without hurting her? A: If the two of you are close, you can pull her over to a private spot when both of you have time and talk to her about it. Sometimes it’s better to confront people rather than to try and avoid any sort of conflict whatsoever. Tell your friend that you need some space and are uncomfortable with the way she follows you around. Make sure to reassure her if she seems to be getting worried. If you two aren’t really at the BFF stage, try distancing yourself every once in a while. Don’t avoid her completely, but don’t spend as much time with her as you did before. For example, you can let her cling to you for one day, and you can spend the next day with your other friends. Your friend needs to learn how to be more independent, so don’t feel too bad if she gets a little hurt at first. As an alternative, you can always introduce her to someone else with whom you think she would get along.
Q: My friends always want me to go out on the weekends with them, but I don’t feel like leaving my house. Can you tell me how to keep them from wanting me to spend my whole weekend doing nothing at the mall? A: It’s always hard to tell friends you don’t want to hang out with them. Try telling them that you’re busy over the weekend. If they are your friends they should understand. Homework (or just work in general) is always a good excuse, and if you feel guilty about stretching the truth a little bit, you can always make some work for yourself. There are a lot of other things you can use as excuses, like family, other friends, or even going out of town. But no matter what you do, you’ll still need to spend some time with your friends. Friendships need commitment, and going to the mall or wherever with them once or twice a month sounds reasonable. You can’t expect not to spend any time with them outside of school. But as long as they’re your real friends, they should understand and not be too disappointed, even if you flat-out reject their offer.
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campusfocus@apachepowwow.com campusfocus@apachepoww p @ p p wow.com
November 2011
“She ““S Shee hhas as a hheart as e rt ea rt ooff go gold ldd w with itth ma m maternal teern rnal al iinstincts, al nsti ns sti tinc ncts ts, an andd moral within group iss the the he m oral or al ccompass om mpa pass ss w ss ithi it thi hin he hherr gr grou ouup ooff ffriends.” riiends rien ends en ds.” ds.” . -M Mr. Gerry G Wang W “She’s always so kind and she’s also really funny. Jenny reminds me of a bird sometimes; lighthearted and happy.” - Ivy Jenn, 12
“Mary ““M Mar Mar aryy iiss tthe hee P Patrick aattriick k tto o my my S Spongebob pongeb pong po nggeb bobb and the my Without an nd tth he pe ppeanut ean ea anut ut bbutter uuttte tter teer to to m y je jjelly. ell lly. y W itho it hout ho uutt Mary, sentence without Ma M ary ry, my llife ifee is if is llike ik ike ke a se sent entteen nce c w iittho hout uutt spaces, without sp spac pac aces cess, a la llawyer w eerr w wy ittho houtt ccases.” ases ases as es.”” - Johnny Perliss, 10 “She’s dedicated, she’s a natural leader, and she has her mind set on whatever she does.” - Ryan Liu, 11
It iiss ex eextremely extr xtrremel ely ly rare ree tto o findd ssuch uchh ssincerity uc inc nccerrit ity in tthis hiss wo hi worl world. r d. R rl Rare aree in ar iin-find ndd som omeb eb body so ttrue rue to hhimself imself im lf aand nd tto o ot theerss th tthat hat upo pon deed it iss to fi somebody others, upon finding someone like this, you may marvel at how much better the world would be if everyone could reflect this type of attitude. Edwin Yin, a 15-year-old sophomore at AHS, emanates such a profoundly caring and optimistic manner that the people he surrounds himself wi w ith th aare re ne with never less than amazed at how he is able to carry himself soo happily. hap pppiily ly. “E Edw w “Edwin’s cheerful smile and heartfelt greetings really light up my dday. ay. Hi ay His memory is amazing as well—he remembers everyone’s nname!” na me!” me !” eexclaimed x sophomore Ariana Arzani. Edwin is most well know kn ow wn for for his remarkable ability to remember the names of everyone known he m he eeeettss. IIt is because of how much he values others, though, that meets. ggives gi v s hi ve him m tthis ability—not because he has some magical superpower. He is one of those people who is just everyone’s friend. Every once in a while, Edwin will stop by the spot where my friends and I eat lunch just because he wants to catch up on how we are doing. This quality about him makes him so unique in knowing that the reason as to why, “he’s always super nice and says hello,” said sophomore Abby Rees, is because for Edwin, there is really no alternative. What would you be other than happy…sad? What would you be other than friendly… withdrawn? Not for Edwin—not in a million years. We have all learned a great deal from Edwin. From him, we have learned that there are two types of people in this world: the kind that keep to themselves, and the kind that, as sophomore Alyssa Mazer puts it, “only wants one thing from you. And that’s a smile.” - Mya Ho, 10
With the stressful hustle stle an and nd bu bustlee ooff hhi high igh gh sschool, choo ch ool, l w l, wee all all nneed al eed d ssomeone omeone om n to ch cheer heeer uuss uup. p. p. For many fellow Apaches,, thi this his hi is so ssomeone om meeon onee is i nnone o e ot on othe other herr th than a ssenior an enior Am en Amy Wen. Amy n Im myself ysel ys elff ha hhave ave ful aand nndd ssincere ince in cere re ppersonality eerso er rso sonna nali lity ty ym ak kes hher er a pperson errso erso s n ot oothers hheerss tturn urrn to to ffor orr learned how Amy’s cheerful makes pport. t help, advice, and moral support. Amy’s genuine zeal and compassion for others have touched the hearts of students at AHS. Junior Joseph Chang admitted that he had “never seen anyone as helpful and not afraid to be herself.” Grinning, he also added that although Amy “was a bit eccentric at times, [he] admire[s] how she always looks at the bright side of things.” Junior Bianca Picasso fondly recalled how she met Amy in her freshman year. “I was really nervous starting high school like most freshmen,” Bianca stated. She continued, “Amy, who was a sophomore at the time, came up to me and struck up a conversation with me in the most casual way possible. The anxiety I felt that day just seemed to evaporate—Amy’s words were so genuinely caring.” A friend of Amy’s for seven years, senior Garrick Kwan stated, “If I have any problems in general, I go talk to Amy for advice. She’s always thoughtful and honest.” After a thought, he laughed and declared that he “couldn’t have asked for a better friend.” Amy is an individual who simply takes pleasure in helping others. According to Garrick, “She’s the kind of person who’s always cheerful and never sad. She refuses to burden anyone with her own predicaments.” Through her words and actions, Amy continues to encourage her fellow Apaches. We should look to such role models and learn how we too can contribute to AHS. - Christopher Cho, 10
““K Keellly y iiss oon ne ooff tthe hee m o t do os ddown own wn tto wn o “Kelly one most ea arrtth th an aand nd ho hhonest oneest st ppeople eo opplle yo yyou ou co ould uld ul earth could eveerr m ev ever eeeett.” .” meet.” - Andie Andi An ddiie Bi B ian ian a co onnee, 9 Biancone, “Kelly is always upbeat, happy, and ready to dive in head first into whatever task she is given.” - Valerie Gasparini, 9
ccho@apachepowwow.com andd mho@apachepowwow.com Photos by VIVIAN CHAN CHAN, TOMMY LIAO LIAO, and courtesy of FLICKR FLICKR.COM COM