January 2012

Volume 60, Issue 5

Arcadia High School 180 Campus Drive, Arcadia, CA

January y 2012

A New Chapter for Mr. Vannasdall

In this issue:

Photo courtesy of TOMSHARDWARE.COM

NEWS pg. 2 Review of 2011: A recap of the most exciting and newsworthy events of the past year.

Photo by ELLIOTT LEE

THANKS MR. VANNASDALL As Mr. Vannasdall prepares to take on his new position as Deputy Superintendent at the district office, the innumerable contributions he has made to AHS as our principal will never be forgotten.

By JEANNE KUANG Staff Writer Photo courtesy of APERFECTCEL.COM

OPINION pg. 5 Saying “I Do”: Has our society become a little obsessed with marriage and divorce?

Photo courtesy of PHOEBE SHEN

PERFORMING ARTS pg. 6 Rose Parade: Band and Colorguard represented AHS at their exciting New Year’s performance.

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.

Next year, AHS Principal Mr. David Vannasdall will be working in the AUSD district office. He will fill the vacant position of the new Deputy Superintendent after Dr. Robert Leri leaves the district in March. Mr. Vannasdall will continue to be the principal at AHS until the end of the 2011-2012 school year.

As the Deputy Superintendent, Mr. Vannasdall will supervise district-wide school programs, including special education, curricula, and school technology. He will also be in charge of supervising the principals in AUSD, including those of the elementary, middle, and private schools. When asked how he feels about the responsibilities to come, Mr. Vannasdall expressed both confidence and excitement, anticipating the opportunity to play a greater role in the school district.

“It’s a gift,” he said of the new job, “to be able to expand my leadership and have greater influence [in AUSD], while maintaining the relationships I have with the staff and the students at AHS.” Members of ASB, who meet with Mr. Vannasdall twice a month to discuss AHS activities and functions, are happy for him and excited about his new position. They cite his work ethic, optimism, and personal connections to the school as reasons for believing in his success as

Deputy Superintendent.

“He’s been a great principal and he is definitely qualified for the job,” said ASB President senior Clarence Irvin. Clarence spoke of getting to know Mr. Vannasdall through their bimonthly meetings and learning from him about “finding the balance between leadership and personal life.”

“I feel like I can relate to him,” Clarence said.

Student Representative to the Board Jonathan Kwok appreciates Mr. Vannasdall’s work at AHS and admires his dedication and involvement. Jonathan believes that Mr. Vannasdall will be well-suited for his new position.

“He’s done a lot for me and for the school— he has made a great impact at AHS,” Jonathan explained. “He really makes an effort to know what’s going on. He’s very on top of things and observant, which is pretty necessary for a leader.”

Senior Phillip Juarez also had praise to share about Mr. Vannasdall’s contributions to the school, saying that he “brings out the best in people.” Phillip had sought the help of the principal when applying for a nomination to the United States Naval Academy earlier this year.

“He turned something formal into a friendly conversation,” Phillip recalled, noting Mr. Vannasdall’s “charisma” and the ease with which they communicated. “I was just a student that wanted to meet with him concerning my application… [but] I found no problem whatsoever connecting with him.”

Phillip said that Mr. Vannasdall “strives to represent the values of an Arcadia Apache” and does so

well, making him see “the types of people that our school strives to create… and the personas and attitudes that go along with that.”

When asked about the principal’s new position as Deputy Superintendent, Phillip was eager to affirm his confidence in Mr. Vannasdall.

“I think he will do exceptionally well… I have no doubt that he will succeed at whatever needs to be done,” the senior said. “I can’t wait to see his impact.

The district is lucky, [because] he will always be willing to try his best and he cares so much.”

Ultimately, the students agree, that’s what has made Mr. Vannasdall stand out as a leader.

Being in such a position has been “challenging, with many responsibilities,” Mr. Vannasdall said, “but I love AHS. I have enjoyed every single day here.”

This is Mr. Vannasdall’s 7th year as AHS Principal. He was previously a high school principal in Cincinnati, Ohio for 5 years before making the move to Arcadia.

Search for a new principal will likely begin in March. Mr. Vannasdall related that the district will perform an “extensive search” and that he is “confident they will choose the right candidate.” He also emphasized that he will be staying at AHS for the remainder of the school year.

“I am happy to be transitioning to the district office,” he said, “but it’s important to me to finish the year at the high school, and cross the finish line.” jkuang@apachepowwow.com

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NEWS

news@apachepowwow.com

January 2012

2011: Looking Back On a TumultuousYear The world is in a constant state of flux, but last year has been especially marked by change.

Whether it’s economic structures collapsing, political revolutions across the globe, or natural disasters that ravage landscapes, there is always a massive challenge to be confronted. Through hardship and trial, disaster and catastrophe, not only do we see suffering and pain, but also the strength and virtue that all people carry with them. Here’s a run down of the biggest stories throughout 2011!

By NEWS STAFF

Tornados in Tuscaloosa Staff Writers

Severe wind gusts, thunderstorms and tornadoes toppled homes and flattened entire cities throughout the South as many massive storms and tornadoes ripped through four states, killing hundreds and leaving untold more homeless, chiefly in Alabama. The Apr. 27-28 barrage caused an estimated 327 deaths, making it the largest tornado outbreak in the U.S. Perhaps the hardest hit by this natural disaster was Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Tuscon Shooting

Occupy Wallstreet

On Jan. 8, 2011, tragedy struck when Arizona congresswoman, Gabrielle Giffords, as well as 17 other people were shot during a public speech outside a grocery store. Jared Laughner, the man behind this massacre-in-the-making, allegedly shot Giffords “point blank” in the head and attempted to flee after running out of ammunition. Over the past year, she made a miraculous recovery, even returning to her congresional seat, although she recently resigned.

When attention was drawn to the fact that the richest 1% of Americans owned nearly 40% of the nation’s total wealth, members of the other 99% took to camping out in places like Zuccotti Park, New York in protest, and the movement eventually spread all over the nation.

Opponents have claimed that the protests will amount to nothing due to their lack of political influence, but the movement has raised many issues about the status quo.

Tunisian Revolution

Protests Against Putin

People across Tunisia grew discontent with unemployment and their corrupt government, and took to demonstrating just a week before Christmas 2010. The protests led to President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali being ousted after 23 years in power, but also caused 223 deaths.

Tens of thousands of Russians poured into the streets of Moscow on Dec. 4 to protest against the allegations of vote-rigging in the reelection of current Prime Minister of Russia, Vladmir Putin. Most protesters were appalled at the government as believed that Putin’s re-election was an inside job, as he won by a landslide of over 50% of electoral votes. Putin has been involved in Russian politics since 2000, when he was initially elected as the President of Russia.

Bin Laden’s Demise After years of searching, Navy SEALS found Osama bin Laden’s hiding place in Pakistan and identified his body after an ensuing firefight.

Bin Laden was the founder of al-Qaeda, a Jihadist terrorist group responsible for the Sept.

11 attacks. His death marked the end of a search to secure justice for the deaths caused by his actions. The nature of our conflict with terrorism was drastically changed by this single man, and now it seems his death will do the same.

2011 IN REVIEW From the Tunisian Revolution to the Occupy Wallstreet

Movement, 2011 has been a very eventful year. This year was marked by war, revolution, massive social movements, natural disasters, and change.

Disaster in Japan On Mar. 11, a major death toll struck Japan due to the 8.9 magnitude earthquake that led to a 13 foot tsunami, leaving 4.4 million households in northeastern Japan without electricity and 1.5 million without water. Severe flooding swept away buildings and civilians in and around Toohoku. The enormous waves also destroyed diesel backup power systems at the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant, resulting in three large explosions and radioactive leakage. Relief efforts began immediately after the disaster, with the Japanese Red Cross alone raising $ 1 billion in aid. Today, Japan is recovering from this disaster and shows major signs of improvement.

Egyptian Revolution The Egyptian Revolution following a popular uprising started in January and is still relevant.

The uprising was mainly a campaign of non-violent civil resistance, which featured a series of demonstrations, acts of civil disobedience, and labor strikes. The conflict turned violent when President Hosni Mubarak struck back with violence and subversive tactics. When Mubarak was forced to resign, his opponents claimed both victory and predicted an uncertain future.

Eurozone Crisis Due to over-borrowing on the parts of smaller nations such as Greece, larger nations such as France and Germany were pulled into an economic black hole. Struggling to come up with a solution to the tough economic times, countless summits were held, none finding a viable solution. Eventually the question was posed whether the euro should simply be scrapped as a currency. Proponents of such measures claimed that they would solve the many debts being accumulated throughout the Eurozone while others adamantly stated that they would not solve the core of the economic problem and may even lead to absolute economic collapse. The debate rages on today.

Libya Revolution

Photos courtesy of: NEWS.NATIONALGEOGRAPHIC.COM HUFFINGTONPOST.COM PRESSTV.IR LATIMES.COM ECONOMIST.COM KWCDREW.EDUBLOGS.ORG FORBES.COM NYTIMES.COM AEI.ORG

The Arab Spring arrived at Libya, prompting the nation’s citizens to peacefully protest against the corruption of the Gaddafi regime. Illusions of peace quickly shattered as Gaddafi’s security forces responded with lethal force and sparked a terrifying war. The world gaped in astonishment months later as it realized that the the ragtag army of rebels had succeeded in toppling the Gaddafi regime.

History is written everyday, and indeed every day is marked by events that change lives, alter governments, and ultimately pave the way to a new future. Even as high school students, we are a part of this massive web, and the first step to changing the world is recognizing the power of our own voice and having the capacity to overcome apathy.

apachepowwow.com

January 2012

Damascus Bombing: The Conflict Continues

By ALISON FU Staff Writer

When Syrian President Bashar alAssad became leader of Syria in 2000, inheriting the position from his father, Hafez al-Assad, he promised political and economic reform. His reign began a hopeful period known as the Damascus Spring, in which Syrians were optimistic about achieving more freedom. In only a year, however, the Damascus Spring ended, leaving Syria more repressed than ever, and President al-Assad emerging as one of the most oppressive dictators in the world at the time.

Since last March, as the Arab Spring swept across the Middle East, the people of Syria have been rising up against President al-Assad, protesting for better conditions and urging him to resign from power. The Syrian government has replied with force, causing over 5,000 people to die over the course of the ten-month uprising, with tens of thousands more jailed or missing. Lately, the violence has only intensified, as recent bombings leave Syria, and the rest of the world, on edge.

On Jan. 6, a bomb exploded in Syria’s capital city, Damascus, killing at least 26 and injuring at least 60 more.

Interior Minister Ibrahim al-Shaar of the Syrian government has announced that this bomb, along with another that detonated in Damascus on Dec. 23, was set off by suicide bombers protesting against the Syrian government. Many of the protesters, however, claim that the government set off the bombs, framing opposition groups to prevent the revolutionaries from gaining momentum.

In the opinion of Maj Maher al-Naimi, a spokesman for an anti-government movement called the Free Syrian Army, the blast was “planned and systematic state terrorism by the security forces of President al-Assad.”

A few days later, President alAssad gave a speech at the University of Damascus. In his speech, President al-Assad remained confident about the strength and unity of Syria, blaming the attacks on outside influences. “We will not be lenient with those who work with outsiders against the country,” President al-Assad expressed. “Our priority now is to regain the security in which we basked...for decades, and this can only be achieved by hitting the terrorists with an iron fist.” He rejected the idea of Syrian “revolutionaries” and considered the local protesters as harmless. President al-Assad’s words, however, angered countries such as France and the U.S., who believe the Syrian leader is blaming everyone but himself for Syria’s current conflicts.

As protests continue to escalate, both the Syrian government and revolutionaries will continue to advance their causes at any cost. The violence in Syria is, unfortunately, most likely only a small part of what is to come. afu@apachepowwow.com

Kim Jong Un Assumes Power

By CHRISTOPHER CHO Executive Copy Editor

Tens of thousands of North Koreans gathered in the snowy streets of Pyongyang, clutching at their hearts as they tearfully watched the hearse carrying the late Kim Jong Il proceed to the capital. The world watched with mixed emotions as it saw Kim Jong Un, son and successor to the regime, walk alongside the procession with a solemn demeanor. Kim Jong Un, who was seen flanked by top party and military officials, caused many to question his capacity to lead a nation engaged in hostile negotiations and plagued by economic hardships.

Kim Jong Il died of a heart attack on Dec. 17, 2011, after having ruled North Korea with an iron fist for 17 years.

Once holding the positions of Chairman of the National Defense Commission, General Secretary of the Workers’ Party, and Supreme Commander of the Korean People’s Army, Kim Jong Il held absolute power over North Korean politics.

Deified by North Korea’s elaborate cult of personality, Kim Jong Il styled himself as the “Dear Leader”, which he was affectionately referred to as by citizens and military officials alike.

Kim Jong Un was recently named the successor to the Kim Dynasty by his late father. In comparison to the 20 years given to prepare Kim Jong Il, the process of training Kim Jong Un was hasty and left many skeptical about young Kim’s ability to lead the nation. As North Korea paid its final respects to its “Dear Leader”,

all attention turned to the “Great Successor,” Kim Jong Un. At the age of 28, Kim Jong Un is the world’s youngest Head of State. On the surface, Kim Jong Un is North Korea’s Supreme Leader and a four star general. In reality, however, Kim Jong Un has no military experience and has not yet fully assumed his father’s titles in the eyes of party officials.

Although labeled by the world as the “hermit nation”, the reverberations of North Korea’s actions are felt far beyond its borders. North Korean attacks on a South Korean naval ship and Yeonpyeong Island in 2010 stirred global controversy and worried peoples from around the world over the possibility of war. Despite North Korea’s increasingly bellicose tone, Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Kim Sunghwan announced on Jan. 6, 2012 South Korea’s intent on seeking dialogue with North Korea and raised the possibility of a summit, which the U.S. is expected to participate in.

With the end of Kim Jong Il’s era, the future of North Korea and his successor remains a topic of global curiosity. Whether or not he is ready for such responsibility, Kim Jong Un’s actions will have far-reaching consequences; his decisions can cause major disruptions in the international community.

For now, all eyes will lay on North Korea’s new, untested leader with a combination of anxiety and concern.

Executive Copy Editor

Tensions between the U.S. and Iran have skyrocketed once more as the Middle Eastern nation recently threatened to deny the U.S. Navy access to the Strait of Hormuz. The shift is a result of the U.S. and other nation’s threats to impose sanctions on Iran. The strait, which is considered to be one of the world’s most important oil transfer routes, ships one-fifth of the global oil supply or approximately 17 million barrels of oil a day. Sentiments between the two nations have been on rocky ground since Iran announced its plans to generate nuclear weapons, causing widespread opposition and dissent.

Amidst vague talks of the U.S.’ next moves regarding the strait, military officials have been clear that the possibility of contention, if not full-fledged war, is not out of the question. Many political analysts, however, believe that the U.S. is blowing the threat out of proportion, as Iranian politicians have threatened the U.S. in the past, albeit not to the strong degree of the current threat.

While the Obama Administration remains calm in lieu of the threats it is still paying heed to Iran’s talks of nuclear power. Fearing the emergence of a threat to its foreign interests, the U.S. explored ways to cut off Iran’s central bank from the global economy, which in turn would reduce the country’s oil revenues, decreasing its overall power. President Barack Obama signed such measures to

caused the Iranian currency, the rial, to slip far below the U.S. dollar. The effects of this threat, however, cannot be so easily brushed aside as the talks between the nations have contributed to a 4% peak in oil prices worldwide.

Iran is also facing severe consequences from other nations due to its decision to warn the U.S. Navy to steer clear of the strait. Japan’s finance minister, Jun Azumi, firmly cementing his opposition to Iran’s dangerous ambitions, and recently announced that the nation is ready to gradually reduce the amount of oil it imports from Iran in an apparent boycott of Iran’s nuclear program. This action stems from the U.S.’ attempt to try and rally international support to put strain on Iran regarding its nuclear weapons.

In a press conference with U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, Azumi announced that Iran’s “nuclear development issue is an issue that the international community cannot overlook, so we very much understand the U.S. action.” Geithner has made similar, if not smaller, deals with China.

Similarly, Germany, France, and Britain all hope to punish Iran for its lack of cooperation on its nuclear program.

Due to these international embargos, in mid-December, Iran threatened to block the strait if sanctions were placed on its oil imports. aarzani@apachepowwow.com

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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

ccho@apachepowwow.com

Tensions With Iran Escalate attack the central bank, which later

By ARIANA ARZANI

NEWS

Student Life Staff

Features Staff

Sports Staff Academics Staff

Center Spread Staff Calendar Staff Campus Focus Staff Advertisement Staff

Photo Staff Copy Editing Staff

Adviser

Ariana Arzani, Josh Bay, Christopher Cho, Alison Fu, Daniel Jenn, Shreya Maharana, Jonathan Matsumoto, Stanley Shaw, Lauren Trajano, Jing Wang Rena Chen, Helen Chou, Allan Gao, Mya Ho, Jeanne Kuang, Helen Lee, 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, Emilie Wang 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, Karina Laigo, Alice Lin, Josie Yang 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, Kenneth Vuong Vivian Chan, Leo Jiang, Tommy Liao Katrina Chao, Rena Chen, Kelly Ching, Helen Chou, Courtney Hang, Victoria Nakaganeku, 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

January 2012

A Love That Kindle Can Never Kindle

By MYA HO

By HELEN CHOU

Staff Writer

Staff Writer

Here’s your Sunday afternoon in an average American family: a fun afternoon tossing a ball around in the backyard, Mom calls “dinner!” and everyone rushes inside, Dad flips on ESPN for the latest football game between Team A and B, and everyone else crowds around to watch, placing bets on who’s going to win and what the final score is going to be. Sound familiar?

Sound American? That’s because it is.

Studies have shown that America is ranked almost embarrassingly low in math and science for one of the most developed nations in the world. The cause is debatable, but perhaps part of it can be attributed to our obsessive love for sports. Turn on the TV, for example, and most likely you’ll have run right into the middle of an NBA game. Almost never will you encounter an intense chess match or a stimulating math competition. Career-wise, same thing: as high a salary as doctors and lawyers receive, sports stars are paid many times over. Coincidence? I think not.

Likewise, in schools, the “popular kids” are generally the jocks. Those who are more academically-oriented (also known as nerds) are scorned, at least, it seems, in popular shows like 90210 and Pretty Little Liars. Sports are stressed so much that academics are often considered secondary in importance, its value diminished. And why shouldn’t it be?

I’ve known too many adult Americans who, upon taking in the daily newspaper, flip right to the sports section, tossing aside the rest for recycling. What kind of a message does that send—that the war overseas cannot measure up to who beat who in yesterday’s baseball game? We are influenced by those around us, and actions like those simply aren’t helping.

As an athlete myself, I cannot deny that participating in sports has its values. It builds teamwork and sportsmanship, instilling qualities in our youth that will prove to be invaluable in whatever one does, both on and off the playing field. Being an athlete isn’t wrong; it’s the obsession with sports that is troubling. Playing sports is fine as long as there is a balance, but education should not be belittled for sports’ sake.

It is common knowledge that people tend to brag about things they are good at, and hide their weaknesses. American media is no different. I have yet to see a single badminton match at the Olympics be aired on my TV screen, just because it’s not our strong suit. I know, a chemistry competition is probably not as interesting as the World Cup, but debates certainly can be. If the media is all about ratings, maybe all these academic events are lacking is a little publicity. There is no need to be rid of sports altogether, which is probably unrealistic anyway. But paying a little more attention to our education, even just reading the Times occasionally and staying on top of current events, can no doubt be helpful. Should we leave this problem be, it will only get worse. hchou@apachepowwow.com

Dear Books, I’m not quite sure where to begin, but I know that this needs to be said. I’m trying my hardest to put it all into words, but I suppose that lately, that is precisely what has been the problem. You see, you and I, we used to share so much together. Now though, we are being torn apart by the growing world of gizmos and gadgets, failing to spend enough quality time with one another. I remember the nights we spent under the covers, me with a flashlight in hand, reading your pages. The thrill we got every time, knowing that it was past my bedtime and that my parents might catch us together, and scold us. “Reading in the dark is bad for your eyes!” they would say, but who were we to care. I would be four-eyed just for you.

We both knew, though, that your house was so much better than mine. To tell you the truth, I loved it because of the smell. The aroma of sweet paper and ink would greet me every time I opened the doors. It didn’t take me long to find you after that. You would sit there, patiently, snuggled between the hard covers of your Mystery and Teen Fiction neighbors, waiting for me to take you down. Sometimes, I’d be so excited to read you that I would sink to the carpeted floor and read four, five, six chapters at a time before I realized that it was getting late and the librarian was looking at me funny for sitting in the aisle. Then I would either check you out or promise to come back for you, hiding you in a place that hopefully no one would find.

Now though, I must admit to you something I thought I never would. I have found another. Not to replace you, I swear, but for convenience purposes.

It was strange at first; he is so cold, so flat. His name is Kindle. We met on Christmas when my family introduced him to me for the first time. I tore off the wrapping paper that confined him, and there he was. Slick and black, and a touch-screen too. The hardest thing for me, though, was that he didn’t have your sweet smell. He smelled of technology, of metal, of money. I don’t know if I’ll ever get over that, but everyone has his or her flaws, right?

Trust me though, I will never, ever give up on you. We just won’t see each other as often because Kindle saves me the trip of going down to the used bookstore. Late at night when I’ve forgotten to go to The Book Rack to pick you up—because you know how forgetful I can be—Kindle will be there to lend me a hand. In other words, a screen and a search engine, but you know what I mean. Don’t think that Kindle will ever replace you though; he will just be another, more technological, addition to my ever-growing collection of literature. This world is a fast-moving place, and I’ve just got sucked into its pace. I hope you understand.

If it makes you feel any better, there are some things about you that Kindle will never be able to compete with. From the way I’m able to judge how much I’ve read by the feel of your pages, to creasing your edges as a placeholder. I can spill tears on your paper whereas I am afraid to on Kindle; you will just soak them up as if to say you think that the two lovers in the story should stay together too.

I wish it never had to come to this. Words cannot always describe how one feels, so that is why it is terribly difficult for me to explain myself. You’re so much better at choosing the right words than I am, and forever will be. Kindle will now be in my life, but don’t think that he has made me forget about what we share. You will always have a place on my shelf.

Yours always, mho@apachepowwow.com Photo courtesy of M-CROSSCARDS.COM

My Five-Mile Walk Down Memory Lane

By HELEN CHOU Staff Writer

An enormous, extravagantly garnished eagle soared in pplace overhead. Roses of every colorr covered every inch of the towering owering float. Festive band music sic accompanied the 100 palomino mino horses that clipclopped along behind. Craning my neck as I sat on his shoulder, I urged ed my dad to push into the crowd further to get a better tter glimpse of the bedazzling edazzling spectacle unfolding beforee my sixyear-old eyes.

The annual Tournament ent of Roses Parade arade held in Pasadena na every New Year’s r’s Day has been a part of my life fe for as long ass I can remember. r. As a child growing owing up, watching tching the parade de was one of two ttraditions my ffamily diti il always l held, the other being counting down as the ball dropped in Times Square at midnight on New Year’s Eve. As I grew older, we stopped

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going to watch in person, but upon rolling out of bed in the morning, the first thing we’d do would be to turn on the TV to watch it on the silver screen. It was the day that symbolized hope p anew, a second chance to better my life and mak make it the year I wanted it to be. To this day, the enormity of the entire event never fails tto amaze me; I never imagined that I would one day no longer be just a spectawou tor, but an actual participant.

When I first found out I was going to be a banner carrier in the parade, the impact hadn’t yet hit me. Of course, I kknew that it was an amazing honor to hav have been selected to be a part of the event—a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. But event— throug through all the practices and receptions, I

ONCE UPON A PARADE Childhood dreams come true with a little Tournament of Roses magic. still st til i l felt somewhat detached; I couldn’t comprehend the true value of what I was com doing. Not until the day of the parade. doin On the clear, sunny morning of Jan. 2, I held my banner and walked onto Colorado Ave., turning to see crowds of sizes I had never before even imagiined. ed Kn Knowing that hundreds of thousands of eyes were upon us was both nerve-wracking and exhilarating at the same time, but that wasn’t what really mattered. It wasn’t even

about being on TV—although I will admit that was exciting. What I suddenly realized at that moment was that I was becoming a part of some other little girl’s tradition. As I marched along Colorado, smiling and waving to the crowds, I imagined myself once again as a little girl sitting on my father’s shoulders, waving to the gorgeous princesses and laughing with glee at the surfing dogs. True, it was hot, my legs were cramped from walking five miles, my face muscles tired from grinning, but I couldn’t complain. We were all there to bring joy to millions of viewers as we came together to ring in the New Year. Mirroring the significance of the day of starting anew, being an active participant in the parade was an appropriate reflection of my desire to grab life by the reins.

The event has come and gone, and no doubt preparations for next year’s parade have already begun, at least for the float creators.

But the sights and sounds, even smells, of the 2012 Rose Parade will always remain with me. Who knows—maybe in 20 years or so, I might meet another girl like me who, once upon a time, sat on her father’s shoulders and ended up becoming a part of the tradition.

The Rose Parade is far more than just a pretty show; it has become a symbol of transition out of childhood and into the adult world. What a way to kick off the new year. hchou@apachepowwow.com Graphic by MICHELLE ZHANG

January 2012

opinion@apachepowwow.com

The Benefits of the Shade

By VANESSA YU Staff Writer

Ambling along the path of life, I find myself walking in the body of a shadow. Not of a building or the sun, but of my older sister. Eldest of four, she has always been the first, the unfortunate guinea pig. First to enter middle school, first to attend Chinese school, first to take the SAT, first to apply to college.

For that, I am forever grateful that I’m not the inexperienced one. Yet, being first comes with the upper-hand advantage of setting the bar. And Valerie has set it unbelievably high, so high that it seems beyond my reach. I feel compelled to reach it in order to sustain my pride as I’m the sister right behind her.

But with the more opportunities I encounter in high school, the more I discover ways to express myself in a way unique from Valerie, setting myself apart from her and the pressure I’ve felt my whole life. I’ve realized that reaching expectations and being different can actually exist together; we just need to find our own passions and pursue them with the same standards that our successful sibling has used.

Valerie has always been the perfect student, achieving A’s in AP Classes, receiving 5’s on AP exams, and accomplishing other notable feats. As a friend, I’ve always felt happy for her. However, as a sister, I fear my obligation to achieve those scores. I admire my sister in many ways, and embarrassingly, even dream about getting her SAT score. But I want

to be different, not just known as that other “somewhat smart sister”. At family gatherings, my relatives always compare me to her.

It always seems as if what I’ve accomplished is a mere speck to Valerie’s successes. For a long time, I was frustrated and angry, soon becoming ridiculously intent on emerging from my sister’s shadow, to the extent of attempting to not do what she had done. I wasn’t mad at Valerie, for how could I hate her? Because she was better than what I could ever be? No, but angry at the whole situation that seemed to have no real solution. How could I be different from Valerie while still reaching the same standards, the same work ethic? I was torn and conflicted between my own boiling emotions of jealousy and my traditional duty as a sister in a Chinese family to respectfully follow in Valerie’s footsteps.

Then I entered high school. Sports, classes, clubs, and new friends flooded into my life, and I received them with eager, open arms. Different from middle school, more than half of my teachers had never taught Valerie, enabling me to give them an impression that didn’t need a comparison to my sister. I realized then that Valerie has always set the standards for me because those are the standards I should reach, not as a sister but as a hardworking student. Before, I was in a cloud of jealousy and thought that I had to be a genius to achieve what Valerie had done. Growing up around a much more diverse environment in high school, I saw the differences between people like Valerie who work hard for what

OPINION

they want, and those who just don’t put effort in. And if I’m determined to get good grades, I need to invest beyond the effort that’s needed—like Valerie did. You can’t just define a person by academics, and that’s what makes high school so magnificent. With clubs in every room and a variety of sports around every corner, grab at every opportunity to simply do what you like!

Life truly gives us ways to stand out from everyone else—including your big sister. Ironically, I thought she would push me into her shadow, but instead, we’re now seen as different as can be. Valerie never did sports, yet I’ve found myself in Girl’s Cross Country and Swim, loving the sports and the people around me every second of the way.

Her achievements have become something that motivates me to do better and are an image of what I can be, instead of the other way around. There are still two of my younger sisters behind me and I can already feel the pressure building up for them like it did for me.

But I don’t worry, because I know that they’ll soon find their own ways through life. Down the road when we’re all grown up, I’m sure it will be fascinating to see just how far each and every one of us have grown, and how we are all different from each other. But for now, whenever somebody compares me to her, I smile. Because that means I’m doing things right. vanyu@apachepowwow.com Graphic courtesy of WIKIMEDIA.ORG

Weddings and divorces, a strangely popular trend

By JEANNE KUANG Staff Writer

BREAKING NEWS—Two people in the neighborhood are getting married, friends of the couple say.

Local man John Smith proposed to his girlfriend, Jane Doe, last week. Witnesses report seeing Smith in a tuxedo and Doe wearing an “elegant black dress.” At press time it is unclear what the ring looks like, but an official press release with photographs is expected soon.

Media outlets nationwide are already interviewing experts and sources close to the couple to predict the wedding venue, as well as potential guests and performers.

“We want to make sure this show is the experience of a lifetime for those watching at home,” said Mary Jane, a wedding planner who claims to be a potential decorator for the wedding. “People really base their life decisions on this crucial broadcast—we can’t let the viewers down.”

News of the proposal comes after a whirlwind year in which not just one, but two, couples got married—apparently an extremely rare and unforeseen event which occurs for a

mere 2.3 million couples per year in the United States. Readers will recall that in April of last year, Prince William of Wales wed Kate Middleton in a groundbreaking ceremony celebrated by old ladies, extreme Anglophiles, and late-night television viewers worldwide.

Spectators were stunned by Middleton’s dress, which, as it turned out, shockingly resembled a wedding dress. Then, in another record-shattering event last August, Kim Kardashian, inexplicably a public figure in America, married someone who is also famous for no apparent reason.

Though the latter couple’s marriage lasted a well-scrutinized 72 days, this peak in the unprecedented activity of weddings has become a noticeable trend in popular culture, experts say. Television networks have already begun bidding for the broadcasting rights of Smith’s wedding.

“People just love watching weddings,” said a television analyst who wished to remain unnamed. “They provide enjoyable distrac-

EVENING NEWS REPORT Recently, weddings have been capturing hearts all around the world—a newsworthy phenomenon indeed.

TCID:

tions from silly world issues such as the Arab Spring—which was the most ridiculous media event ever. Unlike the marriage of two people whom a viewer will never meet, demands for democracy worldwide just do not sell well in our market. I mean, who wants to watch that?”

Many magazines and broadcast news programs already anticipate having “countdowns” to the yet-to-be-determined big day.

“By talking about the upcoming wedding of Smith and Doe on a daily basis,” said a media executive, “we hope to snatch a few more viewers, maybe try to get them to watch some of our less-viewed programs—you know, the ones that talk about foreign affairs and stuff.”

Smith’s proposal is undoubtedly the bombshell at the end of a busy few months in national and world events. In other recent news, journalists are killed covering protests in Syria, the European Union is in a financial crisis, and primaries are sweeping across the United States for the 2012 presidential election, whatever that is. jkuang@apachepowwow.com Photos courtesy of DAILYMAIL.CO.UK, DESTINATION360.COM, and RUKKLE.COM

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By JEANNE KUANG Staff Writer

Football season, basketball season— I’ve never really been able to keep track. All I know about is the annual storm of attention that surrounds sports events, from the parties to the predictions to the post-game frenzy. America has built a culture around sports, a dedication that borders on obsession. But while critics complain that this is detrimental to society, I don’t think there’s much cause for alarm. In many ways, the culture surrounding sports is a valuable part of our society.

Sports are probably the earliest means by which we learn about cooperation and work ethic. Remember those elementary school games? Maybe you didn’t like your teammates, but if you worked together and put some effort in, you were likely to win.

It’s a pretty solid piece of philosophy— simple and time-tested, and guaranteed to come in handy in the future. Even just watching sports can teach us these lessons—that would explain why successful athletes are the classic childhood role models. It doesn’t matter who they are or what sport they play—the standard tale of training and hard work speaks to anyone growing up and inspires people to reach their goals by devoting themselves steadfastly.

The sports culture celebrates a unique skill, the skill of testing the limits. We’ve learned that as humans, our bodies can only do so much. They can only run so fast or possess so much strength. The very practice of sports challenges that. It forces people to push themselves, to know their limits and to try to break them. Watching a good game gives people a rush of excitement because it’s a testament to an athlete’s breaking of boundaries. It’s the kind of achievement that’s been celebrated since the beginning of civilization, the reason we have the Olympics or the NBA or high school football. People want to watch their fellow humans do the difficult and seemingly impossible. That’s the kind of attitude that, when transferred to all other parts of life, sings with achievement.

Sure, the popularity of sports may overshadow academic achievements. As a nerd myself, I’ve never found sports to enrich my specific interests. But while I don’t watch sports, I do watch movies and plenty of television, two forms of entertainment that are similarly glorified in American culture, and they’ve never interfered with my love for academics. It’s important to note that like movies and TV, sports are, for the vast majority of the population, entertainment. Academic events are not. As long as we keep that distinction in mind, there’s no reason we can’t excel in both. Learning math and watching football are not mutually exclusive.

America’s sports culture isn’t exactly my niche, but it’s nothing to fear. There’s something to learn from everything, and sports, the result of teamwork and dedication, has its place in our society. Just like any other culture, intellectual or not, the culture of sports is a celebration of human achievement, and that’s something to appreciate. jkuang@apachepowwow.com

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PERFORMING ARTS

performingarts@apachepowwow.com

Dinner and a Show: Spaghetti Dinner 2012

By VANESSA YU Staff Writer

A night filled with delicious spaghetti, music that soothed the ear, and entertainment provided by award-winning Performing Arts groups for a mere $8? Yes, folks! The 2012 Spaghetti Dinner has just made its famous annual round on Jan. 21, and it couldn’t have been at a better time after the fantastic season from Band and Colorguard.

In anticipation for the traditional event, preparation began in December by the Arcadia Music Club; tickets were passed out for students to sell and Music Club actively recruited volunteers.

Spaghetti Dinner Co-Chair Mr. Peter Wong explained how “approximately 130 volunteers [were] needed for the event.

Volunteer participation and support is a key part of the success of this event and for the success of the music program.”

Proving just how integral support is from the community, volunteers helped serve dinner on the night of the show from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m.

The meal consisted of the famous spaghetti,

salad, and a roll with a side of refreshing drinks.

In addition, homemade dessert was specially

The night was split into three shows at 5:00, 7:00, and 9:00 p.m., with Band performing musical compositions while Colorguard performed its condensed field show. In addition, there were freshmen, sophomore/junior, and senior drill downs respectively between each show.

Band member sophomore Julian Tsai explained “one of the main events in the Spaghetti Dinner is the drill down, [where] our drum major, Joel Chen, will call out commands for us to follow. Whoever can follow as many commands without messing up, wins!”

Already in its 45th annual year, the Spaghetti Dinhas SOUND AND SPAGHETTI The perfect accom- ner paniment to delicious spaghetti was an amazing show. a l w a y s played an prepared by Colorguard par- integral part of Band and Colorguard mement volunteers for the event. bers’ lives, officially calling an end to a beyond All the money raised memorable season. Anna remarked before the from the Spaghetti Dinner opening night on how “our field shows are usugoes to funds in Band, Color- ally far away from the audience, but during the guard, and Orchestra, further Spaghetti Dinner, it’s easier to connect to the enabling students to advance audience. I hope [Colorguard] takes advantage in music and succeed in up- of this, and I’m really excited to perform!” holding Arcadia’s tradition of With the enthusiastic reception it received, excellence. Colorguard Co-Captain junior Anna the Arcadia Music Club couldn’t have been Miyajima added that “it’s one of the only shows happier with the turnout this year! we have at home, so it [was] a great chance for our families and friends to come watch us. It’s a vanyu@apachepowwow.com really great opportunity to show off all our hard Photos by VANESSA YU and KELLY CHING Graphics courtesy of CLKER.COM work; a ton of alumni [came] too!”

January 2012

Upcoming Events

By KELLY CHING Staff Writer

Unlike seasonal sports, no Performing Arts (PA) group gets much of a break at the start of the new year—each one is continuing to strive for perfection and for its goals as a group. Here are what various PA members have to say about their excitement for the performances that follow the new year.

“I’m really excited for our show this year! Although we placed really well last year, we’ve still been working diligently to meet the bar that has been set. [I’ve heard] competitions are really fun to go to and that there is so much food.”

—Tommy Gadoury, 10, Percussion “I’m super excited for the April show that’s coming up. We just finished with our Charity Dance Show performance, there’s no resting for the company! I can’t wait for the intense 12-hour rehearsals, the lights, the costumes, but most of all, the people!”

—Tiffany Chandra, 11, Orchesis “For me, I really can’t wait for the Benefit Dinner. I like how [all levels] of Orchestra get to play as one big, mega orchestra during the [performance].”

—Patrice Tong, 9, Orchestra kching@apachepowwow.com

Marching to the Scent of Roses: Rose Parade 2012 throughout the entire parade, “because an alumni creating a documentary about the Staff Writers band asked [him] if he could 4:00 a.m.

Band arrives at AHS, dressed and ready to “Just imagine” the satisfaction that wear the hat cam throughplay in the 123rd Ro se Parade. comes from knowing that all those long out the whole parade,” a rehearsals and late night practices have fact that heightened his 5:20 a.m. Band arrive s in Pasadena, unloa paid off, or the prestige of being able to amazing experience since ds, and prepares for the grueling 5.5 -mile march through perform in the 123rd Annual Tournaa camera had never been the streets of Pasadena. ment of Roses Parade, which was teleused before. vised worldwide.

Band performed its 8:30 a.m. The 123rd Tournament of Roses These things have no longer been competitive march “Solid Parade begins. Band is the first musical act of the pa left to the imagination of the members Men to the Front” and the rade, and wows the crowd wi th its perfect music of our own Band and Colorguard, who march “America”, which and spotless marching. marched down Colorado Boulevard Flute Section Leader sewith scores of other bands and floats nior Karen Choi felt was 11:00 a.m. After 5.5 miles through the str on Jan. 2. Band’s last performance a good representation of eets of Pasadena, Band arrives at Vi ctory Park, exhausted in the Rose Parade was in 2008, and Band and “showcased but proud of how its done. Th e members are reward the 2012 Rose Parade, our rich brass sounds ed with a lunch provided by InN-Out. with the theme “Just mixed with our light Imagine...” marked its and melodic wood12:30 p.m. Band is ba ck at AHS, ready to go 15th appearance. wind sounds.” home and take a nap after its lon g morning.

When the big She described day arrived, Colorher favorite part off guard and Band arthe parade as “makrived at school early ing our turn onto Colorado [Bouin the morning. levard] and seeing the huge cameras hovering showcase our tradition of Band’s call over us with the towering bleachers and ener- excellence.” She stated that, “If [she] time was 4:00 a.m., getic crowd.” could, [she] would do it again.” but Colorguard CoAs a senior, Karen “felt really proud to Captain junior Anna be able to represent the city of Arcadia.” For pshen@apachepowwow.com Miyajima said that her, it was memorable to “have the Rose Parade ahu@apachepowwow.com Colorguard had to MARCHING MADNESS Members of Band marched performance be [her] last performance, and Photos courtesy of RONALD LEE “get to school as ear- a grueling 5. 5 miles total in Rose Parade 2012. [she] was really glad to be given the honor to Graphics courtesy of PCLIPART.COM

By PHOEBE SH SHEN & ALBERT H HU

ly as 2:00 a.m. to braid hair, which was pretty rough.” However, any difficulties our performing groups may have faced in the morning were ultimately overcome by the thrill of performing.

Despite the 5.5 mile march, Anna felt that the parade didn’t feel as long as she had been told it would be and that it was “over before [she] knew it!” For her, the parade itself was “definitely the best [because] performing in front of so many people was an exhilarating experience.”

Junior Randy Lee was privileged enough to have a GoPro camera attached to his hat

A Day in the Life

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January 2012

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STUDENT LIFE

studentlife@apachepowwow.com

January 2011

Return of the Comedy Shows

By COURTNEY HANG

Staff Writer

With the new year comes a slew of new and returning TV hits, with an abundance of series and season premieres and midseason returns. With so many fun and exciting shows to choose from, how can one person decide what to watch this season? Let’s take a look at popular and highly anticipated d shows making an appearance this winter.

NBC’s comedy series created by Tina Fey, 30 Rock, returned for a 6th season on Jan. 12. Loosely based on Fey’s experiences as a writer for Saturday Night Live, the show takes place behind-the-scenes of fictional live comedy sketches supposedly airing on NBC. It follows the life of Liz Lemon, the head writer of a sketch comedy show who must deal with an arrogant boss and an eccentric star while running the show.

Sophomore Dana Jee loves the series because “the characters are super hilarious, especially Tina Fey’s character, Liz Lemon. The show features funny predicaments, and it’s really witty and unique.” 30 Rock is on Thursdays at 8:00 p.m.; don’t miss out on all the laughs!

Fox’s new television show, New Girl, returned from a short holiday break receivveed mostly favorable on Jan. 17. The show debuted on Sept. 20, 2011 and received D ay, a 20-somethingresponses from critics. The show outlines the life of Jess Da Day, ieend cheated on her, year-old who moves into a new apartment after her boyfri boyfriend well-liik ked, bubbly woman as she works toward getting over her breakup. The well-liked, nd an ex-basketball moves in with three guys, including a bartender, a lawyer, aand n,, quirky characters” player. According to junior Victoria Ing, New Girll has “fun “fun, as “three boys open their home to a dorky, free-spirited gir rl, and they all form girl, a bond despite their differences.” In each episode, “the char raacters struggle with characters life, but because they have each other, life’s difficulties do o stand a chance. on’t don’t It’s a good message to send out.” So be tuned in for all thee fun every Tuesday at 9:00 p.m.!

ly returned to ABC on Jan. 4 to a Modern Family basse. The show is a mockumentary very excited fan base. f the lives of three unique, style comedy that follows families. Now into its third season, Modinteresting families. receeived great acclaim since its preern Family has received Junio or Randy Lee was excited for the mier in 2009. Junior b “it’s a hilarious show that return of the show because is cleverly plotted with its unique family relationships.” Appearing every Wednesday at 9:30 p.m., o watch with your family, friends this show is great to or just by yourself.

From hilarious comedies to shocking mysteries, the new and returning TV shows this winter are sure to be crowd-pleasers! You’re bound to find at least one that excites you and keeps you entertained. These are just a few of the many shows this winter, with more arriving every day of every month. Keep an eye out for more interesting debuts to come! chang@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of FANPOP.COM, IMPAWARDS.COM, AND THEVOICEOFTV.COM

Meh 2011

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STUDENT LIFE

13

January 2012

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STUDENT LIFE

2012 New Year’s Resolutions

By DANIEL JENN

The Other New Year

By STA STANLEY SHAW Staff Writer

Staff Writer

A thought is common among most AHS students: should I make a New Year’s resolution? To begin, different ideas are contemplated before making the initial “Outrageous, Never Going To Happen” resolution, involving foolish ideals like world peace, time machines, and pet dinosaurs. The consideration of the rightfully labelled “What-You-Are-Already-Supposed-to-Do” type of resolution occurs, a type of resolution that is made afterward, due to the laziness shared among students. The final type of resolution typically occurs after having an epiphany on what people need to improve their lives, called the “Just Right” resolution.

Because of the amount of wishful thinking and oddness in making the “Outrageous, Never-Going-to-Happen” type of resolution, they are usually created by more unique individuals.

Freshman Brian Tran wants what every freshman wants, but with a twist. “You know, I just want to study harder and get better grades.” He said, “But, I also have something else in mind.

Don’t laugh. Okay, this year I am going to try to look more like a Korean Pop star.”

The resolutions called the “What-You-

For many AHS students and communities worldwide, the year began again on Jan. 23 as the Year of the Dragon commenced with family reunions, sumptuous multi-course meals, and to top it all off, vibrant red envelopes packed with new bills. This and, of course, everything else has been splashed with a healthy amount of vivid red, a color long associated with success and good fortune.

Keeping true to the holiday spirit, senior Ingrid Jin and her family would “go out to eat at a Chinese restaurant around Chinese New Year. But on the actual day, [their] whole family would stay home and have homemade dumplings and sticky cake.” Freshman Brandon Sien went to his uncle’s house where all his family members were gathered. There, his relatives exchanged news and snippets of their lives over “pork and cooked seafood boiled in a hot bowl.” Some, like junior Kevin Kha, play games like “Fish, Shrimp, Crab” that bring the entire family together.

Some people are more hyped up for the red envelopes, which contain money, and are often given to the younger members of a family by the elders. Sophomore Josh Tran described the envelopes as being “red with various designs emblazoned on it, including dragons, Chinese characters, and

Are-Already-Supposed-to-Do” resolutions are the most common among students. This type is usually reserved for students like freshman Morven Sharp. He does not stand out from the crowd with his interesting perspective on what a true New Year’s resolution should be. Out of the concern that the lack of sleep has stunted his growth in previous years, he plans to “catch up on sleeping” for his New Year’s resolution.

In comparison to the other sorts of resolutions, the “Just Right” type of resolutions is considered a rarity. Seldom do people make a realistic resolution that they plan to follow through to the very end. Although many do not make the “Just Right” resolution, some still do.

Like many others, freshman Max Chen is an up and coming musician. For this year’s goal, Max wants to learn how to play the violin.

Whatever New Year’s resolution you’ve committed yourself to, whether it’s learning a new instrument or emulating a famous pop star, good luck! djenn@apachepowwow.com

NEW GOALS Freshman Brian Tran and freshman Max Chen (bottom).

Photos by DANIEL JENN Graphics coutesy of ALLKPOP.COM and IMGCLIPART.COM

9

sometimes even ancient drawings gs transcribed from China.” Sophomore ore Andrew Dang plans on saving thee money he receives in the red envelopes to “jump start his financial independency at age 18.”

Strip Chinese New Year of all the festivities and activities though, and one can see that family makes up the core of this holiday. As freshman Allison Limfat stated, “Chinese New Year is a time when you are always surrounded by people you love–-whether it’s watching fireworks [explode] in the starry night sky, or watching festivals with that outg oing cousin, you learn to enjoy every moment that you have with them and never take what you have for granted.” sshaw@apachepo wwow.com sshaw@apachepowwow.com

YEAR OF THE DRAGON: The text above tells of a dragon whose head holds the East Sea, while its tail rolls across the country.

Graphics courtesy of CHINESECALLIGRAPHY.COM, ASIANMOMMY.COM, and DRAGONARTWORKS.COM

Get Sweetened and Spirited Up for Sadies and Super Week

By KELLY CHING Staff Writer

Super creative costumes, super amounts of school spirit, and a super-themed Sadies dance combine to create a traditional AHS week, titled none other than “Super Week”. As we spring into a new semester, Super Week is an activity that reminds students to enjoy their high school days while it encourages school spirit, some of which may have lessened during the stress of finals.

Sophomore Class President Tina Zheng provided students with a bit of background for Super Week, and said it “is traditionally the week leading up to the Sadie Hawkins dance, where students from each grade level dress accordingly to their class theme.” From Feb. 6 to 10, each grade will be given a theme and a day of the week, in which all classes are able to show off their creativity by dressing up. Starting on Monday th through Thursday with ascend-

Graphics courtesy of NINTENDO.COM, IMGSOURCEFILE.COM, and FOODIEJUNKIE.COM.

ing order of classes, the Super Week themes are as following: freshmen dress up like Mario Bros., sophomores dress up like Disney characters. juniors dress as Pokemon and their trainers, and seniors will dress up as characters from Dr. Suess’ books! After themes were revealed, students have been busy brainstorming costume ideas, either individually or in groups.

Besides just the fun of dressing up, Super Week is essentially the week that involves each grade competing for the title of “Most Spirited Class”. During lunches of that week, each class council will host groups from their grade on the Rally Court. Monday will host duet singers, Tuesday will host group singers, Wednesday will host a group band, and Thursday will host a group dance. All events will culminate to the Winter Pep Assembly on Friday, when the class that wins the most points will be crowned the Super Week 2012 winner. As a member of Prom Committee—the group responsible for each year’s Sadie Hawkins and Prom prepara-

tions—junior Jessica Hsu gives some insight into the annual dance that will end Super Week on Feb. 11. “Usually called ‘Sadies’ for short, [it] is basically a dance in which the girls get the chance to ask the guys to accompany them.

Together, they dress up according to this year’s theme: ‘Sweet Factory’,” Jessica said. After the 26 members of Prom Committee, including Junior Council, each submitted a few ideas for this year’s “sweet” theme, the decision was then narrowed down to the top three in which Junior Council decided 2012’s Sadies theme. Although lots of people dressing up as their favorite candies is expected, Andrew is also looking forward to seeing his peers “get creative and venture into other types of sweets such as desserts and soft drinks.” Ticket sales start Feb. 1, so get busy on asking people, ladies!

Costumes, lunch activities, class competitions, and a dance all in one week? No wonder it’s called Super Week! Get your costumes started now and don’t forget to show off your

school spirit from Feb. 6 to 10! kching@aachepowwow,com

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FEATURES

apachepowwow.com

Why the World Won’t End in 2012

By JOSH BAY Staff Writer

Unlike Mars, which does go through wide excursions in its axial tilt, Earth’s tilt is kept

The year 2012 refers to the last year of the Long Count Mayan calendar. The current Great Cycle, as the Mayans call it, is set to end on the winter solstice of 2012—Dec. 21, 2012. Many people believe that on that date, the world will come to an end. From the release of the film 2012, “end of the world” chatter became the main topic from backyard cookouts to bars to wine and cheese parties. Although this conspiracy may appear true, are the proposed theories really possible? etic field 5. Changes in the Earth’s magnetic will lead to powerful flares So what else is new under the sun? Thee sun goes through a well-documented 11-year sunspot cycle that is driven by its mag-ngg netic field entangling, reforming, and flippin ipping i polarity. Yes, the peak of the next cyclee is in 2012 (or 2013) and some predictions sug-gest it might be 30 to 50% stronger than thee last peak. But experts say it will certainly not be the biggest peak ever recorded. The bottom line is that no dragon’s breath of flame will stretch across 100 million miles of space and blowtorch Earth. The largest solar flare recorded to date on Nov. 4, 2003, spewed several billions of tons of plasma in Earth’s direction. The flare’s X-ray radiation that impacted our protective atmosphere had the equivalent radiation of 5,000 suns. Newsflash, we’re still here.

4. Earth’s magnetic field will reverse This isn’t nearly as easy as tipping cows.

steady by the gravitational influence of the moon. An object the size of Mars would have to hit Earth to transfer enough momentum to knock us out of orbit. But Mars-sized protoplanets were kicked into interstellar space over 4 billion years ago. The solar system doesn’t make “planets-gone-wild” anymore.

3. A cloud of negative energy engulfs the solar system Wow! A dark cloud with a bad attitude!

This sounds somewhat like a Star Trek episode.

Dark energy is all around us already, but it is not k packaged into clouds. The same goes for dark matter.

2. Supernovae or hypernovae will irradi-ate Earth h There are no stars that are so close to Earth that radiation from their supernova demisee would seriously affect us. The nearest candi-o date, the red giant Betelgeuse, is predicted to explode in the next 1,000 years. The monsterr star Eta Carinae is also on a short fuse. Neitherr doome doomed star has a spin axis precisely aimed att Earth, so we don’t have to worry about being g fried by a narrow beam of gamma rays ejected from th the core’s implosion. In fact, the kinds of stars that shoot out these Death Star beams are un uncommon in the Milky Way. Earth has a 1% cchance of getting zapped over 10 billion years years. Scratch gamma ray bursts off of your home homeowner’s insurance policy.

11. The black hole in the galactic center will af w affect us The Milky Way’s black hole has no influence on the galactic disk. The black hole is 3 million solar masses. The Milky Way is several trillion solar masses when we add the tug of dark matter. Any gravitational influence of the black hole over the galaxy would be like the tail wagging the dog. The Milky Way’s collision with the Andromeda galaxy will dump gas into the black hole and it will blaze as a quasar. But that’s several billion years away. jbay@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of CEASEFIREMAGAZINE.CO.UK, and FORBES.COM

YouTube Artists Tube, only after the legendary Linkin Park.

Not only can Boyce Avenue sing, but they play Staff Writer guitar, piano, violin, bass guitar, and percussion to their soulful covers. So far, they have done Not only is it the realm of popular VEVO two European tours and two albums. And stickmusic videos, Youtube has been a major plating to their indie guns, Boyce form for self-made acts.

Avenue produces under their People can change their own label, 3 Peace Records. lives by uploading their 4) Cimorelli (cimorelvoices, and if they get litheband) lucky, rise to fame. The Six sisters, ranging from following are artists ages 11 to 21 harmonize in that have risen to fame Pop and R&B covers. Since through YouTube.

2006, they’ve released two EP 1) Sam Tsui and albums, signed with UniverKurt Schneider (Kursal Records, and worked with tHugoSchneider) Grammy-winning producKeyboardist Kurt ers on their single, “Million Schneider and vocalist Bucks”. Within 12 hours of its Sam Tsui create origilaunch, “Million Bucks” benal medleys by playing came number six on the U.S. multiple instruments and iTunes pop chart. They are singing separate vocals still uploading their monthly in their trademark screenvideos, usually of them singsectioned videos. Their ing in their living room.

YouTube channel, KurFilmed from a bedroom, tHugoSchneider, has over accompanied only by a guitar 350 million total views YOUTUBE STARS YouTube artists (clockwise from and piano, talented individuals can with their cover collaboration top right) Sam Tsui and Kurt Schneider, Christina Grimmie, gain quick recognition with an upof Nelly’s “Just a Dream” that has over 40 million views. Tsui Boyce Avenue, and Cimorelli rise to fame, one view at a time. loaded video. It’s strange how they can gain millions of hits with so released an album, The Covers, to iTunes, and is now signed to two recording and receives airplay on Radio Disney—without many other professional music videos. Perhaps it’s the pure simplicity and undisguised musical companies. being signed to a record label. talent of Sam, Kurt, Christina, Boyce Avenue, 2) Christina Grimmie (zeldaxlove64) 3) Boyce Avenue (boyceavenue) The first cover she uploaded at age 15 An acoustic rock band consisting of broth- and Cimorelli, that we viewers can relate with. granted her early YouTube recognition. This ers Alejandro, Daniel and Fabian Manzano, pop, rock, and techno singer is only 17 and is Boyce Avenue with over 22 million channel stang@apachepowwow.com the 5th most subscribed musician on YouTube, views is the 2nd most popular band on YouGraphics courtesy of YOUTUBE.COM

By SOPHIA TANG

only behind worldwide pop stars like Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber. She films her videos in her bedroom, where she accompanies her songs on the electric keyboard. Christina has toured with Selena Gomez, released her EP Find Me,

January 2012

2012: Year of the Dragon g

By EMILIE WANG B Staff Writer

Although 2011 is officially over, Monday, Jan. 23, brings an ancient celebration of the Chinese culture—Chinese New Year.

Instead of astrological signs representing each month of the horoscope, animals represent the months in the Chinese zodiac.

2012 is the year of the dragon, the only mythical creature in the Chinese zodiac.

But how did the lucky dragon get a place in the zodiac along with the rat, monkey, ox, snake, rooster, tiger, horse, dog, rabbit, sheep, and pig? It all began with a race.

A long time ago in China, the Jade Emperor decided that there should be a way for measuring time. On the day of his birthday, he told all of the animals that there was going to be a swimming race. The first 12 animals that would finish the race across the fast, flowing river would have a spot in the zodiac.

The rat and the cat had permission to ride on the kind ox’s back to the finish line since they couldn’t swim, but at the last minute, the rat pushed the cat off the ox and jumped ahead to the finish line, earning the first spot of the zodiac. After the ox got the second spot, the tiger broke free of the rocks and strong currents that were holding him in place, earning him the third spot.

Next to arrive was the rabbit who had journeyed across the river by jumping on rocks and floated on a log to the finish line.

Just then, a kind dragon swooped down to take the fifth spot. The emperor asked why the dragon had arrived so late, since dragons can swim and fly excellently. The majestic dragon replied that some animals and people were thirsty, so he had stopped to make rain for them. Then, on his way to the finish line, he had seen a rabbit struggling on a log in the water so he had blown a puff of wind so that the log would float in the direction of the finish line.

Next, the emperor saw the horse galloping toward the finish line. As he was approaching it, a snake wriggled out of the horse’s hooves and claimed the sixth spot while the horse had to be content with the seventh. Then a raft arrived with the goat, monkey and rooster, who had all worked together as a team claiming all spots except the last two. The eleventh spot was taken by the dog, who was late because he had stopped to take a bath in the sparkling clean waters, and the last place in the Chinese zodiac was taken by the boar, who was last because he stopped to eat and then fell asleep.

Thus, all spots of the Chinese zodiac were claimed, and that’s how the dragon became a symbol of the Chinese zodiac. ewang@apachepowwow.com Graphic courtesy of TQN.COM

January 2012

features@apachepowwow.com

2012 Movies: Watch Now! and Lucius Fox. Will our Byronic hero prevail?

Find out July 20 if The Dark Knight Rises!

Staff Writer A film that attracts mostly female viewWhether it is the year of your graduation ers, The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 or the apocalypse, 2012 is ringing in some will end the series based on Stephenie Meyers’ thrilling events. Cinephiles and die-hard lit- books about Edward Cullen and Bella Swan. erature fans alike are buzzing over this year’s Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart play a movie releases, many of which have been wait- vampire couple in the film, which features a ing since last year at least. Among 2012’s most hybrid baby, a steamy werewolf (courtesy of highly anticipated films are The Hunger Games, Taylor Lautner), and possibly impending doom in the form of the The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, The noble but cold Dark Knight Rises, and The Twilight Saga: Volturi. Followers Breaking Dawn - Part 2. of this series have Mar. 23 cannot possibly come any long been awaitslower for The Hunger Games fans. Suing its conclusion zanne Collins’ novel has been building a come to life on the loyal fan base since it was first published in silver screen, and 2008, and the movie looks as if it will not their wait will be disappoint. Katniss Everdeen, played by over on Nov. 16.

Jennifer Lawrence, Hailed by will set out with her some as the story love interest Peeta that started it all, Mellark, played by The Hobbit: An Josh Hutcherson, Unexpected Jouras Theseus-inspired ney tells the tale tributes to fight to of Bilbo Baggins the death with 22 in a Lord of the Rings prequel. While other adolescents a new cast will take center stage with in a dystopian, Martin Freeman at the helm as Bilbo, authoritarian nathe movie will still feature a few familtion. Produced by iar faces as well. (For instance, fangirls Lions Gate Enterwill be interested to know that Orlando tainment, the film Bloom is making an appearance as the will also star Liam fleet-footed, completely gorgeous LegoHemsworth as Gale las.) The film, to be released on Hawthorne and inEPIC MOVIES Look forDec. 14, will explain how Bilbo clude an exhilarating mix of life-or-death ward to these upcoming films. got the One Ring from Gollum during his own adventure. A sebattles, star-crossed lovers, and heart-breaking deaths. What else quel entitled The Hobbit: There and Back Again is also in production, so Lord of the Rings fans could a movie watcher ask for?

Another long-awaited film is The Dark can expect much more to come.

2012 is going to be a year of movie magic, Knight Rises, the last in a trilogy chronicling the journey of Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne and fans can barely wait for these premieres. and Batman. This time around, the superhero Whether one enjoys fantasy or science fiction, will have to face off against villains Catwoman these upcoming releases are sure to captivate and Bane—played by Anne Hathaway and Tom and enthrall. May the odds be ever in your favor Hardy, respectively—in a city that has mistak- that you find a good seat! enly blamed and ostracized him for the death of District Attorney Harvey Dent. Luckily, he still jyang@apachepowwow.com has Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman on his Graphics courtesy of ETSYSTATIC.COM and GILDEMAGAZINE.COM side, reprising their respective roles as Alfred

By JOSIE YANG

FEATURES

11

Return of the Disney Classics

was available, the Disney Vault marketing strategy was especially successful because copies of Staff Writer the film were so limited. Now, if you try searchOnce upon a time, in a decade long, long ing g for the oold classics, you may have some difago, Disney began the suspension of its moviee ficulties ulties findi nding a reasonably priced version, as ment forr some sales with the intent to create excitement me films ha have become more expensive due to year the re-release of its films afterr a few years their limite eed av limited availability. The price for a DVD sney Vault’s ult’s prachad passed. The Disney copy p off Mu Mulan nowadays may cost up to d, “moratorium”, “m tice of this method, $60—e even if purchased online. $60—even tinngly is disappointingly Th his hhysteria to preserve a rememThis arrmore of a marbrance oof Di Disney’s classics plays on conketing tactic sumer sen entim sentiment, escalating an urgency than of a fanto o “buy, y bu uuy, bbuy!” in order to “save, buy, tastical storage save avee, sav save!”” a cchildhood memory. What save, space of all of these ese cons nnssu sum victims often forget, consumer Disney’s greatthough, h is the he ccurrent widespread acest accomplishments.. cessibility y oof th these films online and on After Disney releases one in st stores, as well as paany of its classics, the company the prob probability robability that av advertises the limited availthese movi movies vies w will hen afterr ability of the movie and the then come ou out oonce any ny stop ops ppss the th a couple weeks, the company stops agai a n. How again.

However, emove emo ves es th the production of DVDs and remo removes Disn ney ey’ss Disney’s glitzy or a period riod odd of o time. film from shelves for adverti tisem advertisements and Usually the films are emphasiss on ““get it beut ten t stored for about fforee it’s gon gone” one” easily traps enn years, and then view werss unde er a spell of moviewers under Disney starts retion ppicture ictu ture r w onderm on wonderment and magic production of a buyers often as ofte ften fforge forget the alternatives the movie again to these t screening scree ng th hhesee flicks at home. But as soon as a new now, w Disney Disney isn’t iisnn’tt appealing ap to just the decade rolls by. The home theate heater e an er anym theater anymore —it’s targeting li success of this process lies publ b icc the h ater as well. After the success public theaters Di behind the hype that the Disooff T The Li L Lion King 3-D last year, Disney -hhard ney Vault draws in as die-hard ssoon so on launched a campaign to release more rgency Disney fans feel a sense of urg urgency of its movies on the big screen to increase revto purchase their faenue. Beauty and Beast 3-D recently EY VAULT VAUL Classic came out this month and other feaV vorite animations— DISNEY r rediscovered. before it’s too late. jewels are tures soon to be hitting theaters in Disney also 3-D include: Finding Nemo on Sept. banks on the idea that its previous generation of 14, 2012, Monsters Inc. on June 21, 2013, and viewers will feel the need to share a part of their The Little Mermaid on Sept. 13, 2013. But rechildhood with their kids through the enjoy- gardless of Disney’s subtle marketing strategies ment of these timeless classics. The company and over-exaggerated hype, Disney movies still claims that the movie releases are to expose a continue to hold value as a treasured memory new generation of children to Disney’s famous for those of all ages and thus, the legacy of Disfantasies. You may have seen the commercials ney movies lives on happily-ever-after. on television advertising such releases, like the Gold edition, Platinum edition, or even the Diavnakaganeku@apachepowwow.com mond edition, which include multiple discs and Graphics courtesy of BLOGSPOT.COM, DAN-DARE.COR, ETSYSTATIC.COM, special features for the Disney collector to exTVHUBSPOT.COM, and VIBEWIRE.ORG perience. In past generations, when only VHS

By VICTORIA NAKAGANEKU

Online Websites—Internet Hotspots to Feed Your Inner Nerd

By JEANNE KUANG Staff Writer

It’s rare, but sometimes, you may find that you’ve seen all the memes and cat videos the Internet has to offer. In that case, learn to explore your nerdy side with some of these entertaining websites.

Vlogbrothers It all started in 2007, when young adult novelist John Green and his brother Hank decided to start making video blogs on YouTube to maintain text-less communication. Now with over 600,000 subscribers, the Vlogbrothers’ channel is updated biweekly with videos about books, science, life observations, educational summaries of current events, and celebrating nerds. The online community of Nerdfighteria, which has sprung up around the videos, is dedicated to meaningful discourse and charitable causes—and bonding over Harry Potter love.

Think Geek This is where all the coolest nerds shop.

The site boasts fun gadgets for the technologDrawn by Kate Beaton, ically-inclined, as well as toys and tools that this collection of comics would make any geek squeal with happiness. primarily pokes fun at erary You can buy Light Saber chopsticks or Portal historical and literary companion cubes. Also available are plushies figures. Simultaneed of various kinds of bacteria and a variety of ously bizarre and home science experiments for the adventur- witty, the comics ously nerdy. range from the Sporcle imagined misadFull of self-proclaimed “mentally stimu- ventures of comlating diversions”, Sporcle is a trivia nerd’s posers Chopin and haven. The website specializes in timed quiz- Liszt to nonchalant, zes that test your knowledge in geography, en- modern interpretatertainment, literature, sports, or any number tions of Macbeth. Hark! rk! of specific categories. Race against a friend to A Vagrant is a refreshing ng and see who can name all the our countries of the world the FOOD FOR THOUGHT Satisfy your fastest, or, if you’re feel- nerdy cravings with these websites. ing creative, match logos to their companies or landmark photos to their amusing take on textbook names. Users can also create their own quizzes topics, and its various alluto fit their niche interests. sions will certainly entertain those in need of a Hark! A Vagrant study break.

jkuang@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of BLOGSPOT.COM, CASSREFLECTIONS.COM, COMICSALLIANCE.COM, and WORDPRESS.COM

12

apachepowwow.com a p “I usually study at home, but when I just can’t seem to get away from the rest of my family to concentrate on my work, I like to go to my little sister’s playhouse. It ggives me a chance to be alone and focus. I can cconcentrate because I just lock myself in the play house with a light and study without llittle li i interruption. What works for me might not work for others, but I would recommend it because when you’re inside you feel like a little kid again! Studying inside it helps me stay focused!”

- Nadia Pacheco, 12

Januaryy 2012

January 2012

13

centerspread@apachepowwow.com

“I choose to study at Panera because first, it has heavenly bread and soup (I am obsessed with bread). The restaurant is a very laid-back place and has a ‘homey’ environment. It is spacious and comfortable, perfect for grabbing a bite while you’re hitting the books or using your computer. I would definitely recommend Panera Bread to everyone (who likes bread) or to those who would just like a semiquiet place to study or do homework.”

-Victoria Lu, 12

“My favorite place to study is my dining room for the simple reason that there is a humongous table for all of the possible study materials to go (not like a desk, which is cramped). And it’s close to the food in my kitchen and far from the computer, so I can concentrate and do all my homework without the computer and its distractions first. I am the type who finds it impossible to study without some noise (hence near the kitchen, where my mom cooks). Something about the dining room just lets me concentrate fully on the task at hand.”

-Matthew Shum, 12

“I like to study in my backyard, and I even have a table and chair outside.

When I’m there, I like to study science because I don’t really like th subject. There are no distractions th that out there, so it helps me to focus even if it isn’t my favorite subject. I wouldn’t recommend my own backyard to others, but I still feel that studying outside is very helpful.”

-Corry Wang, 11

PHOEBE SHEN

By PH Staff Writer

“I prefer to study in the school library, where there are unlimited resources at your disposal! (Not to mention genius friends who happen to come tag along!).

It has computers, pretty comfy chairs and tables where you can study with friends. I would recommend the school library for a group of study buddies who want to get something done but still be able to talk at a non-whisper level.”

-Theodora Chan, 11 Photos by ELLIOTT LEE and courtesy of CORRY WANG, MATTHEW SHUM, NADIA PACHECO, FLICKR.COM, LEXANERROUSSEAU.COM, and OAKTREEVINTAGE.COM

“I needed somewhere to write my college applications, so I wrote them at the mall food court. Yes, it seems weird, but upon closer inspection, it’s perfect! There’s lots of background noise to block out, cushy chairs, nice lighting, no Internet to distract you, food, and bathrooms. You can go peoplee watching, but other than people watching, there’s not much to do, so you’re forced to work. No one kicks you out, too. I would recommend the mall as a study place if you like buzzy background noise to work in.”

-Willa Zhang, 12

What does your study nook say about you? Maybe you prefer the W peace peeac a e and quiet of the public library, showing that you are an introverted individual indi in divi di vi who likes to get things done. Or maybe you like to study music in tthe h comfort of your own room, revealing that you are a fast-paced he individual who enjoys a particular rhythm in your routine. Maybe you enjoy indi in divi vi the th he fo food and conversation of studying in a coffee shop, or with a big group of friends at a classmate’s house, demonstrating that you are a social and extroverted person who enjoys working with others.

Whatever you enjoy, our favorite “study spots” say a lot about who we are, and whether we are a nature lover or a caffeine addict, the places we turn to seek solitude reveal to us what makes us most comfortable. Because it is the place we go to learn and focus, it holds a degree of importance in our lives. This month, several students here at AHS name their favorite places to study and do homework. As many of these students can attest, these places are simply where they can work best. Your favorite study spot can range from your bed to Panera Bread, but no matter where you go, you can go with the knowledge that hundreds of other students are also retreating to their own favorite study spots to review and prepare for the next school day. pshen@apachepowwow.com

ACADEMICS

14 Approaching Upcoming Competitions Step-By-Step apachepowwow.com

Physics Team

Speech and Debate

By ARIANA ARZANI Executive Copy Editor

A new semester is home to renewed hopes, spirits, and grades for most AHS students, but for the Speech and Debate Team it means another opportunity to excel. Merely one month after winter break, members of Speech and Debate will suit up for the Spring Varsity Debate competition that will be held on Jan. 28 at La Puente High School. The competition invites members to participate in Parliamentary Debate, Lincoln-Douglas (LD), Public Forum, Policy Debate, and Congressional Debate, or Congress.

Preparations are under way as many members continuously refined the skills they have built up throughout the year. Adviser Ms. Ashley Novak detailed the team’s preparations: “Our officers planned various work ksh workshops which [tau ugh [taught] subjects such h aas philosophy an and environm mental justic tice.”

A popuular event is Con ngr Congress, which m od an actual models llegislative eg ses-

sion. In a Congress round, a dozen or more competitors speak on a variety of resolutions and bills. Senior Amit Akula finds that his past victory of 2nd place in Congress at Fall Varsity Debate has “inspired him to prepare ahead of time so that [he] can use the extra time to help the Novice members.”

Parliamentary Debate (Parli) is an event in which two teams of two debate on a resolution given 20 minutes before a round. In Parli, the topics can range from philosophical to current events. For junior Nathan Chi and his partner senior Emily Chow, their preparations for Parli include “reading up on articles and continuously practicing their skills, which is essential” to a successful round.

LD is another highly-pursued event centered on logic, ethical values, and philosophy.

Sophomore Albert Gianatan, who placed 2nd at Fall Varsity Debate in LD, believes that “in the end, it is actually our hard work and determination, not our past trophies and medals that make a positive difference.”

Amidst hectic schedules, members always find time to appreciate one another and the remarkable spirit of belonging throbs throughout the entire group. While most hope to trophy at Spring Varsity Debate, closeness to others who share a passion is enough to brag about. aarzani@apachepowwow.com

AMANDA HYUNH Staff Writer

The Physics Team (PT) is gaining speed as they prepare for the F=MA Physics Olympiad, a preliminary test for the Physics Olympiad issued by the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT). 25 questions on classical mechanics, such as Newton’s Law of Motion, Mechanical Energies, and Rotational Dynamics, will be implemented in this competition.

Each member of the team will take the test along with hundreds of other contestants, and from that about 400 will move on to semifinals, which is a test that takes about five hours to complete. The number is narrowed yet again to merely 20 people competing in the Physics Olympiad. The AAPT uses these results to determine the members of next year’s United States Physics Team. “Hopefully, we will be able to have a higher number of members successfully passing the first round,” said PT member junior Henry Zhang.

So what makes PT excel? Diligent studying from a college physics textbook, constant practice, and a genuine passion for physics.

“The team has been committing to weekly meetings after school in which we have been discussing problem sets that were assigned in the prior week,” said Henry. The PT captains have been meticulously preparing and helping their team members throughout the semester

Constitution Team

By VIVIAN CHAN Staff Writer

Rounding out the top competitors in the state competition in 2011, this year’s Constitution Team (Gov. Team) has raised the bar. With their recent 1st place victory at Regionals, Gov. Team has high expectations for this year at the state competition. The members have been hard at work, spending endless hours studying and practicing at chamber meetings every Monday night, not to mention the countless individual unit meetings throughout the week.

Two months in advance, each unit is given a set of questions that they must prepare responses for. For the state competition on Feb. 11, each unit is writing, editing, scrapping, and practicing its four minute responses to three different state questions. Questions could range from political philosophy and citizenship, to the Bill of Rights and federalism. After providing their responses in competition, they’re entered into a fast-paced open question session with the judges. Gov. Team practices Monday nights at the Arcadia City Hall, perfecting their techn niqu technique.

Senior Kim mbe Selinske Kimberly com mme commented at how it it’s always a “constant te team effort.

We all share no notes, tips, resourc sources, anything and everything we have to

help our team get better as a whole.” Kimberly elaborated that their main strategy is to practice getting ripped to shreds. She explained how it allows them to not only “delve deeper into a topic,” but also “reason quickly, and hold a lively debate.” Senior Caroline Young added, “We have to be experts on anything that pertains to the Constitution. Every day, we read, research, and debate.” With the limited amount of time Gov. Team has, it’s trying to cover as much ground as possible. Senior Jenny Wei is glad that they “utilize [their] time efficiently by reading cases, opinions, and events on [their] own.” Aside from self-studying, Gov. Team is being coached by numerous alumni from across the nation. The alumni have worked with the team via Skype and Facebook as early as September. Additionally, over winter break, former team members met with groups and came out and helped facilitate whole team practices. Advisor Mr. Kevin Fox noted how “it really makes [him] proud to see the alumni contribute so much to the development of this year’s team.”

However, Gov. Team won’t be heading to Sacramento as they have for the past 24 years since this year’s competition will be held in Bakersfield. That being said, Mr. Fox commented that he is “confident that the AHS Constitution Team will represent our school and community with distinction and make us all very proud. Regardless of the competition outcome, the experience will be a great one for the team members on many levels.” With Regionals under its belt, Gov. Team continues on its glorious road to victory. Next stop? State, and then Nationals. vchan@apachepowwow.com

January 2012

n. for this competition. nd “We’re kind of a new team so not many people know about us,” ber said PT member junior Bill Guo..

“We’ve had peoplee yson the national physars ics team two years in a row so hopefully we’ll continue that tradition.” Only about 15 of the 50 to 60 people who auditioned in October managed to qualify, which helps the members grow closer and help each other on another, deeper level. “It really makes you feel like you’re a part of something much greater than just a bundle of nerds,” PT member sophomore Frank Fan said.

PT members are feeling pretty good about this competition, as every year at least one of their members make it to the top 20. “The competition is very competitive, and it requires that one not only have commitment toward the team, but also a profound love of physics,” said Frank. Additionally, all of the AHS students who have made it into Harvard recently have been on the Physics Team. With many new and promising recruits, it seems like PT’s outstanding reputation will continue to be upheld. ahyunh@apachepowwow.com

Academic Decathlon

By LEO JIANG Staff Writer

While most academic teams cover a specific topic like ocean science or physics, Academic Decathlon (Acadeca) covers everything from art to math. Each year, Acadeca participates in a rigorous two day competition that tests the students’ knowledge in art, economics, language, literature, math, music and science. Along with that, the competition features a speech, an essay, interviews, a “super quiz” relay, and an oral relay.

“Students form teams of nine: three “honors” students with GPA’s of 3.75 and above, three “scholastic” students with GPA’s of 3.00 to 3.75, and three “varsity” students with GPA’s of below 3.00,” said Mr. Al Sylvia, advisor for Acadeca, “Arcadia has two teams: the A team consists mostly of experienced students who have competed in previous years and the B team consists of mostly novice members who have not competed before.”

Acadeca selects a different topic each year for study, along with a novel associated with the topic. This year’s topic is Age of Empires (1800’s and early 1900’s) when many countries were colonizing Africa, South America, and Asia, and the novel studied for this period is Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad.

To prepare for the competition, the team meets once or twice a week to review, take practice tests, and practice their speeches. Cocaptains write tests that mimic the questions that will be given in the actual competition.

re “Students are not allowed to nly specialize in only a few subjects; everyhe body learns the h same breadth and depth off nmaterial,” mentioned senior A d l practices i h Emily Liu. “Acadeca also speech and interview, two of three subjective categories…experienced members will judge fresh members on the team as they deliver prepared and impromptu speeches. Because of extensive preparation and colorful characters, we tend to do well in the subjective categories each year.” Other than that, most team members study on their own with pre-prepared material by Acadeca.

The top seven or eight teams qualify for the State Championships in Sacramento in March. This year’s competition will be held on Jan. 27 at El Rancho High School for the subjective categories such as speech and essay and Feb. 4 at the University of Southern California’s Galen Center for all objective categories including the super quiz and oral relay. Last year, Arcadia finished 12th overall competing in the toughest division. Let’s hope Arcadia will be just as great, if not better than last year. Good luck, Acadeca! ljiang@apachepowwow.com Graphics courtesy of WHITEHALLTOASTMASTERS.ORG, OBSIDIANPORTAL. COM, and CORRUPTEDDEVELOPMENT.

January 2012

academics@apachepowwow.com

ACADEMICS

Academic New Year’s Resolutions

By VIVIAN CHAN Staff Write Writer

15

College Profile: Swarthmore

By ASHLEY CHEOU Staff Writer

f all my ntents o o c e th r ome natu y maste ’s will c on’t A “1. Full t h ig a str . I d classes; Persevere rally. 2. ep; I’ll have all need sle p when I e day to sle .” ng, 11 ie d Willy Lia

“My Ne w to make resolutio Year ’s it into co n would I would l see th llege and becom be e a succ follow m is through by n essful s ever los y dream ing the d tudent. . The re r solutio re esire a s o n why I n is b chose th to portunit ecause college is y fo is a and a ch r a fresh begin n opan n experien ce to create th ing e best ce ever. ” Li-Xing

Chang,

12

“My aca d New Yea emic is to lea r ’s resolu rn more tion and to a This is bsorb m my reso ore kno lution b if you re wledge. ally hav ecause I believ e that e knowle derstand dge a the mate rial, the nd ungrades w n yo ill raise as well.” ur Andrew

Chau, 9

“This year, I want to try not ntt I’m given. every assignmen to procrastinate on thing last ry ery ev lem of doing I have a real prob lf miself se ys my g kin ally ma minute, and basic ademically, I just erable about it. Ac ntt meen anagem want better time-m skills.”

10 Langdon Sean Van,

vchan@apachepowwow.com Photos by VIVIAN CHAN Photo courtesy of WIKIPEDIA.COM Graphic courtesy of STARSNURSES.COM

Swarthmore is a prestigious private c college located in Swarthmore, Pennsylvvania. Swarthmore ranked 3rd in The Best Colleges of 2011-2012 ranking of the top 50 colleges and universities in America. This quaint liberal arts college is known for its rigorous honors program and intense academics. Both instructors and students have to go through extreme and unyielding competitions.

Swarthmore has superb academic programs such as social sciences, biological and biomedical sciences, visual and performing arts, foreign languages, literature, linguistics, and psychology. Swarthmore also has an honors program that is built on the idea of dialogue, where students are encouraged to be audacious about their opinions. Besides academics, Swarthmore has a variety of interesting clubs. The International Club (I-20) is a place to learn about global cultures on the campus. Around 100 students from 35 countries come to Swarthmore and learn from I-20. Another very popular club on campus is the Hip Hop Dance “Crew”.

Towards the end of the semester, club members would put on shows that include sketch comedies, radio shows, and music.

The student to teacher ratio is eight to one. Students here are very studious; a very sought-after hangout place is the library.

Only 16% of applicants were accepted into Swarthmore and they have to average an ACT score of 33 and an SAT score of about 2250. Students can apply for scholarships to help pay for the annual tuition rate of approximately $41,000. The school isn’t just selective on students, but also on its professors. Out of 700 PhD applicants who applied for one teaching post, only an average of one was selected.

A big part of the college experience is life in the dormitories. Swarthmore has 17 different dorms: smoking and non-smoking.

Some are strictly for upper classmen while others are coed. Most people pick dorms to get away from their folks at home, but there are also Residence Assistants (RA), counsel residents, and foster dynamic dorm communities. The RAs arrange dorm social events so students can get away from their books and relax a little. If students are medically disabled, then they can apply for Disability Housing Accommodations. Applicants will be checked by faculty members. Students must apply annually for accommodations.

Students who want to attend Swarthmore College should prepare themselves and put forth all efforts in preparing for SAT’s and ACT’s. It may be necessary to apply for scholarships, financial aid, or grants due to high tuition rates. At Swarthmore, students can experience small class sizes but they cannot be indecisive about their majors or classes. Students can expect a busy four years because of the school setting being very active and intense. While working hard, they could also have fun in getting to know students from various countries and backgrounds. acheou@apachepowwow.com

16

CALENDAR

calendar@apachepowwow.com

January 2012

Need advice?

Send your questions to katsadvicecolumn@gmail.com

Q: I want to celebrate Valentine’s Day, but I have nobody to spend it with. What should I do?

A: Celebrate it yourself! There’s some sort of belief that Valentine’s Day is meant to be spent with your significant other, but that’s baloney. If you’re single, there are still plenty of things you can do. For example, you can pamper yourself. Go buy some beauty products (facial masks, lotions, mani-pedi kits, etc), and spend some time on the fourteenth just relaxing and chilling out. There’s also Single Awareness Day (S.A.D.). It’s also on the fourteenth, and it is basically a day when— you guessed it—single people such as yourself celebrate or anguish over their relationship status. Most people who celebrate S.A.D. get together with their friends and sometimes have parties or give gifts. But no matter what you choose to do on Valentine’s Day, there’s bound to be something that’ll work out for you.

A Sweet Deal on a Japanese Treat

By GLUTTON GIRL Staff Writer

Located on 929 W. Huntington Drive, Oto-Oto Izakaya Japonaise, or simply Oto-Oto, serves delicious Japanese fusion food. It has definitely won its place in my heart as the best Japanese restaurant in town because it serves many dishes in small plates and bite-sized portions, allowing you to enjoy a vast number of dishes. It also has this fantastic happy hour, 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. every y day, when food is half-priced.

Picking up the menu, nu, I saw the extensive number er of choices offered. There were enough delicious options to make my head spin and my mouth water! And for those of you who do not enjoy raw fish, Oto-Oto has other dishes as well, such as the Shrimp and Vegetable Tempura, and its own unique take on thee classic Caesar salad.

I, however, enjoy my fair share of raw fish, so I decided d id d tto start off with the Spicy Trio Sushi Cones.

They were salmon, tuna, and a type of mystery fish stuffed into a crispy, taco shell-like cone.

I savored every crunch, and at $6, they were completely worth it.

Then I had a Monkfish Foie Gras with Ponzu Sauce, a fancy name for a type of fish served with liver and a citrus-based sauce commonly used in Japanese cooking. It was a flavorful, juicy, melt-in-your-mouth kind of dish, and it came at around just $5! I don’t think I could have dreamed of anything better.

A Japanese-American fusion dish came next: Spicy Tuna Rice Pizza. Creamy spicy tuna topped on thick, puffy slices of bread? Heck, yes! These were so good, I might have ordered two servings and hoarded every last slice for myself. I think I enjoyed these more than regular pizza!

I finished my meal off with a serving of Vanilla Tempura Ice Cream. It was fried with bread batter on the outside and filled with vanilla ice cream on the inside. The thick, crunchy shell was amazing against the sweet vanilla. I think it was a bit expensive at $5 for a scoopful, but it was worth it. Since when did they start frying ice cream?

I really need to learn the secret of this dessert!

With a unique menu and a variety of amazing dishes, I would definitely visit Oto-Oto again and again. I loved the bite-sized portions and how every dish looked and tasted fantastic. Another huge plus is that Oto-Oto is very affordable; most dishes fall within a $5 to $7 price range. I would give this restaurant a nine out of ten; everyone should pay this place a visit!

And who am I? That’s a secret I’ll never tell. You know you love me!

XOXO, Glutton Girl gluttongirl@apachepowwow.com Photo courtesy of YELP.COM

Q: Two of my good friends are having a fight, and they’re always arguing and insulting each other. I want to help them, but I don’t know if I should get involved since it’s very personal.

A: To avoid jeopardizing your relation-

ships, it would probably be a good idea to talk to your friends separately. Try to find out what they’re fighting about and get both sides of the story. Sometimes fights between friends require that someone else steps in. You could be the third person and help get them on the road to recovering their friendship. You may not be successful, but you should always give it a shot. Standing there and watching them go at each other definitely isn’t doing any good, and it’s your job as a friend to help them out when they’re in need.

Q: What comes first, my grades or my social life?

A: Both of them are equally important.

Your parents may try to convince you that school should be the biggest priority in your life, but it shouldn’t be. You should have a nice blend of both. If you put all of your effort into one or the other, you’ll end up finding yourself severely lacking in some way. Don’t be the person who spends all day studying, only to give up his or her friends and family and burn out down the road. But you shouldn’t party and go out with your friends every day either. Just try to find an equal amount of space in your life for both, and don’t worry about which is more important.

January 2012

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SPORTS

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January 2012

Boys Varsity Basketball Takes it to the Hoop

By ALICE LIN Staff Writer

Few basketball teams, such as last year’s Dallas Mavericks, can seem to appear out of now h e r e , stealing the championship trophy and knocking down top teams like the Miami Heat while gaining admiration and new fans with the sweep of a hand. As a current diamond in the rough, our Boys Varsity Basketball team is surely a prime example. Although so far this year it has had a slow start with a record of 9-9-0 overall and 2-4-0 in League, the team is quickly rising in rank and becoming an unstoppable f o r c e .

Recently, many changes have occurred to the team over the New Year. Some include actual modifications in plays and staff while others include new resolutions and transformed mindsets. Junior RJ Saunders noted some of the changes already present in the season such as a “new coach and staff, new faces, and a new offense” and Coach Ben Cordeiro fashioned new goals of “getting better at every game and every practice.”

With a “different group of guys, different team characteristics, and m o r e talent” this year, Co-captain junior Stephen Smith expects a good chance that the team will “have above 50% of [their] record.”

dora Summer League. These tournaments allowed the team to try its new offensive play that it created this year. Coach Cordeiro stated that so far “the offensive play is in its infant stages and is getting to the point where the offense becomes instinctual.” With all this preparation that included “a lot of drills with running to get in shape,” the boys are looking forward to the game against CV “to avenge last year’s losses,” according to Co-captain and senior Jeffrey Radzwill.

Aside from all the training, there is one final secret to winning games: team camaraderie. Although some claim it’s still developing, others like RJ believe that the basketball team is basically, a “brotherhood.” But like all other teams and relationships, at times, the boys fight and don’t want to see each other, but there are also times when they “laugh together and have a fun time,” RJ stated.

Through the brilliant examples Co-captains Stephen SINKING THE “J” Juniors Stephen set by Jeffrey, this year, next Smith and RJ Saunders and senior Mikey a n d the year after that, their Noriega each land a firm plant before rising year, and competitors “better for the jump shot. watch out for Arcadia’s Varsity ketball Team,” says RJ, Before the school year even started, B a s cause the team is ready the Boys Varsity Basketball team prepped in bevarious ways too. Over the summer, the team to steal the spotlight and the championships. participated together in many summer tournaalin@apachepowwow.com ments, such as the Santa Barbara Tournament, Photos by ELLIOTT LEE the Best of the West Tournament, and the GlenTo reach these goals, the Boys Varsity Basketball team has been practicing ten hours per week “elevating the level of intensity in practice on a daily basis,” ac- cording to Coach Cordeiro, and watching replays of games on film to improve its plays. With this dedication to basketball, the Boys Va r s i t y Basketball team has already beaten Hoover High School 704 8 , South Pasadena High School 71-68, Franklin High School 69-55, and Burroughs H i g h School 65-61.

These hardfought games included t w o overtime games as well as extra periods due to tied scores.

This Season: Viva La Lady Apaches Fútbol

By ARIANA ARZANI Executive Copy Editor

The girls have an undefeated record after four games against John Muir High School, Glendale High School, Hoover High School, and Pasadena High School. Although individual members are very strong, it is the amazing team spirit which guides these girls to

After only four games, Girls Varsity Soccer is already raising eyebrows and hopes as the girls aspire to maintain their undefeated record and hopefully win League and go very far in CIF. The season kicked off on Jan. 3 when the girls played John Muir High School and won with a remarkable score of 11-0. Their overall record is 9-4-2 and their League record is 6-01. The team is headed by four captains: seniors Sarah Rock, Mollie McGuire, Nailah Elmasri, and Hayley Greep. Its coach, Mr. Ryen Piszyk, believes that he “has the best team in its league” and anticipates a League victory, pinning the success on “a good group of very skilled players with a very good sense of team which definitely contributes to [its] success on the field.” TEAMWORK WORKS For inspira- Senior Mollie McGuire runs tion, the girls have a alongside teammate, sophomore pregame ritual that Rachel Schroeder. consists of huddling hopes the to chant “Hail Mary”, performing a cheer, and victory. Rachel tain [its] undetouching cleats. It is with this same strong sense team can “mainis sure the girls “can of unity that the girls play. For sophomore for- feated record” and ward Vienna Rousset, “the team is like a second go on to win League because the team is excepfamily and we are all sisters.” Similarly, sopho- tionally strong and united this year.”

For Sarah and Mollie, the team’s affecmore center midfielder Rachel Schroeder said, “Part of the fun we have together comes from tionately-chanted motto of “Win. Fight. Kill” the love and passion we share for soccer and is motivational on and off the field. The girls each other.” Mollie, a midfielder, believes that attribute their success to the “best coach ever,” whom they lovingly call “Pysiee.” Sarah hopes the entire team “is like a crazy family.”

that with hard work and dedication, the girls will end the season by “putting a CIF ring on it!” after winning League.

Mollie would “love to have even more support and have people come out and cheer the team on” at its games. Many of the girls are looking forward to CIF and League games with optimism as they hope to be crowned champs.

The trophies will not be the only thing that remains after the season is over. The memories and friendships that develop will thrive for a lifetime. For sophomore Rebecca Bobadilla, the experience of being on the team is “really great especially because this is [her] second year on the team and the entire group is like a family.” Rebecca believes that “when trust each other and know each other so well, we perform better as a team.” aarzani@apachepowwow.com Photos by ELLIOTT LEE

By KARINA LAIGO Staff Writer

During football season, you may hear the commentary echoing throughout the field and while you may think that it’s some deity far above your heads, it’s not, it’s Coach Chris Schultz. As an English teacher and track and field coach, he has learned a lot about life, the potential we have, and the strength we have within us. “Everyone has to do their part and it needs to work just like a machine in order for your team to be successful,” said Coach Schultz There isn’t much that Coach Schultz hasn’t been through; his life is filled with many momentous feats, whether it was becoming a teacher or coaching AHS students and bringing them to victory. He feels that this season’s team “will be amongst the best ever at” AHS. Unlike his high school days, the track team is filled with over 240 students all dedicated to the same ideals that the sport is made of. Interested in the belief that one’s life is all one needs to do what one wants, doing what one loves is the only way that Coach Schultz believes one should live.

Witnessing years of students who go through his English classes and try out for Varsity Track and Field, Coach Schultz can relate to all the insanities that accompany trying to balance schoolwork and sports. He “understand[s] that sometimes an athlete will resent [his or her] coach. This is often because a coach will keep telling [someone] that [he or she] can achieve a certain goal and oftentimes it seems impossible to the athlete,” but they just need to buckle down and double their effort, and understand “that [the workouts the] coach [gives their athletes are] meant to just make [them] tougher.”

Playing basketball and running track has given Coach Schultz many opportunities to learn his way around the track and the courts. “In basketball, I learned about teamwork...track taught me to work hard and to push myself,” and applying these life lessons is how he goes about teaching all the kids that come into his classroom or line up on the track line.

Lastly, Coach Schultz wants to connect the idea that the hard work coaches and teachers put you through is to help you see what you are “truly are capable of.” klaigo@apachepowwow.com Photo by VIVIAN CHAN

January 2012

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CAMPUS FOCUS

“This ““T Thi hiss ye year ear I ddid id a sself-portrait elf el lf-po port rtra tra raiit it ppaper aper ap er ccollage. oll ol lla lage It lage It w was as pretty tedious because to make the collage, I cut squares (each smaller than my pinky nail!) out of magazines.”

- Jenny Earnest, 12

“The medium was construction paper. I used an exactoblade and an exacto-board. In Art Honors, we have the freedom to use whatever medium we want to, so I remember how fun it was to do the reverse pattern.”

- Suyee Win, 11

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January 2012

““My “M M favorite f i project j so ffar iis a watercolor l painting i i off a mock k Hellboy comic cover. I have a fondness for legends and the supernatural, so naturally I was drawn to Mike Mignola’s contributions to the comic industry. ” - Andy Chen, 12

“My favorite piece of work would be a painting of an anorexic girl playing with a fat doll. In Women’s Literature, we discussed the effects that the media has on society, and one of them was the idolization of thinness.”

- Victoria Orolfo, 12

Photos courtesy of ANDY CHEN, JENNY EARNEST, VICTORIA OROLFO, and SUYEE WIN and graphics by KATHERINE BAY