April 18, 2008

the broadview april 18, 2008

convent of the sacred heart high school | san francisco, california

vol. 12, is. 5

AP Art students win prizes, money

Theater director starts improv class Students play improvisation games and learn acting techniques during classes taught by Theater Director Pamela Rickard held every Monday and Thursday after-school.

The two-hour class includes improv scenes where students create characters and invent storylines.

“I think the warm-ups are the most fun because you get to express yourself and get to know each other better,” said sophomore Jessica Peterson.

In one game, two students act out an improv scene while another two follow their gestures and give dialogue to the scene.

“It helps me become more comfortable around my friends. I am not afraid to make a fool of myself or be a little silly sometimes,” said freshman Tori Balestrieri.

The drop-in class is open to all CSH and SHHS students.

— Anjali Shrestha

Makeup shakeup: Common chemicals in makeup may lead to cancer.

6-7

SF Film Festival: SF International Film Festival celebrates its 51st anniversary.

photo illustration RENA HUNT | the broadview

File sharing can cost users, artists rachel forbes a&e editor

The day before second semester began for 18-year-old Ricardo Vazquez started off as any other. But when Vazquez, a freshman at UC Berkeley, went to check his e-mail, he found only one e-mail, and it was one that he never expected to receive.

“There was only one message in my inbox, an e-mail with the words ‘FWD: Copyright Infringement’ on the subject line,” said

Vazquez. “My heart sank. I somehow automatically knew that music and the program Limewire would be connected to it.”

Software such as Limewire and Kazaa allow people to share music for free, however illegally because sharers do not own the copyrights to the songs, and are infact stealing they do not own.

Music-purchasing services such as iTunes, with each song priced 99 cents and each album averaging $9.99, allow music and accounts to be shared with a lim-

ited number of computers.

“The University was forwarding information from a representative of the Recording Industry Association of American (RIAA) informing me that activity on my IP (a computer’s Internet protocol) address infringed one or more of the RIAA members’ copyrights,” said Vasquez.

The link brought him to a message from the record companies’ representative and lawyer. see music p. 4

Popular plastics could be harmful lauren jung feature editor

From multi-colored Lexan Nalgene bottles to baby bottles to tin can linings, plastic is used in everyday products, but may cause potential health problems.

The chemical bisphenol A (BPA), an ingredient in polycarbonate plastic, is used in a variety of products including water bottles, food containers and dental sealants. From normal use

of these products, BPA leaches from the plastic and into the water or food. The leaching rates increase as the plastics undergo wear and tear and heat.

“Our main concern is for babies and fetuses because the BPA leaching has been shown to cause development and reproductive problems,” said Elizabeth Saunders, Massachusetts Environmental Health Legislative Director for Clean Water Action. “But

it also may have potential health effects on teenagers because their bodies are still developing and many will have babies when they grow up.”

Animal experiments have linked BPA to health problems including increased risks for breast and prostate cancer, diabetes, obesity and early onset of puberty.

Exposure to BPA is REI carries BPAfree bottles by see some common p. 4 Camelbak.

Future freshmen gather for tea, socialize

INA HERLIHY | the broadview

International Languages Department Chair Rachel Simpson chats with future CSH freshmen Lauren Choi and Caitlin Martin at the Freshman Tea for the Class of 2012. The Tea was held on April 9, allowing future students and parents to meet with faculty members.

The future freshman then took math, language and English placement tests.

RENA HUNT | the broadview

Three AP Art students won cash prizes in a citywide art competition hosted by Elks Lodge No. 3.

Senior Dominique Sheth placed second, winning $250, and senior Tracy Kuwantani placed seventh, winning $80, both in the Pen and Pencil category. Senior Allie Kruse placed fifth in the Figurative/Realism category, winning $100.

The school received a $450 for participating, which will go toward supplies for the art department.

“We were equal to School of the Arts in winning awards,” said art teacher Rachel McIntire. “We did very well.”

The 21st Annual Mort Ross Art Competition hosted over 20 schools in the San Francisco arena, handing out 30 awards.

— Zoe Newcomb

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the broadview Convent of the Sacred Heart HS 2222 Broadway San Francisco, CA 94115

8-9

Cars and Driving: An overview of prices for gas and insurance and new technologies.

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City Walks: SF residents walk, hike to exercise and see sights in city.

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit #90 Santa Clara, CA

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op-ed

staff editorial

april 18, 2008

Music piracy hurts workers, economy

E

veryone knows that downloading music without paying is illegal, but it continues to happen. The fact of the matter is that participating in music piracy hurts not only the record companies, but also the economy.

Global music piracy annually accounts for the loss of $12.5 billion, 71,060 jobs, $2.7 billion in workers’ earnings, $422 million in tax revenues, $291 million in personal income tax and $131 million in lost corporate income and the production of taxes, according to an analysis by the Institute for

Policy Innovation.

Every song that is illegally downloaded is stolen from the artists, and from everyone who works in the recording industry. Thousands of underappreciated technicians, sound engineers, warehouse workers, and record store clerks are losing income — and new artists

1. UK parliament may host Darfur peace talks.

2. Ivies offer more financial aid to middle class students.

3. SF was the only North American Olympic torch stop.

4. Juniors and seniors have few classes after AP exams.

5. “Idol Gives Back” raises $22 million.

don’t even have a chance due to lack of funding.

Illegal downloaders indirectly affect themselves and the economy by draining thousands of tax dollars. It also hurts intellectual property products, such as sound recordings, which are responsible for about 40 percent of economic growth and about 60 percent in U.S. export growth, according to the Institute for Policy Innovation.

If people really want to steal, they will find a way, no matter if they want to steal music or a sweater. It is less effective to target and punish individuals than to educate the general public on how

2. It’s harder than ever to get in.

3. Viewers were upset when the route was changed due to protesters.

4. AP exams are in less than a month.

5. It’s less than half the amount raised last year.

“But it was just the new Britney Spears song, I swear!”

DOMINIQUE SHETH | the broadview

on another note kelly cheung

convent of the sacred heart high school 2222 broadway san francisco, ca 94115 broadview@sacredsf.org

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kelly cheung editor in chief morgan kendall editor in chief rachel forbes a & e editor elizabeth gruber news editor gracie hayes columnist lauren jung feature editor rena hunt photography editor mary slattery sacred heart editor leslie wu sports editor ina herlihy asst. news editor rebecca kelliher asst. feature editor larkin grant layout and design sophie skinner senior reporter amanda james web editor reporters sophie gilchrist | sara kloepfer susie lee | zoe newcomb | jovel queirolo anjali shrestha

tracy anne sena, cje adviser

to three years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines, and P2P is only growing to be more popular than ever, other steps need to be taken in the mean time.

Too many people are hurt financially every time a song is stolen. The legal and conscience attacks seem to only affect those involved with the lawsuits, not the general public, resulting in more and more money and jobs being lost. In the meantime, the RIAA should shut down P2P and other sharing networks and make it impossible to steal music to help cut down the amount of time it is taking get music piracy under control.

1. Too many people have already died in Darfur genocide.

the broadview

dominique sheth illustrator

extreme the effects are of stealing music.

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) sued 261 Americans for sharing songs using peer-to-peer (P2P) on Sept 28, 2003. Since then, the RIAA has filed, sued, or threatened to sue over 20,000 students, professors, grandparents, children and other randomly chosen individuals.

The RIAA currently files lawsuits against about 400 people per month, mainly targeting college students.

Considering that there are thousands of people who are feeling the consequences of participating in music piracy with up

Unsigned pieces are the opinion of the editorial board. Reviews and personal columns are the opinions of the author. Letters to the broadview should be 400 words or less and are subject to editing for clarity and space.

y inability to make decisions has only recently become a problem in my life. As a child, I was bossy, headstrong, determined and knew what I wanted when I wanted it, and there was no talking me out of it. I knew it was that lollipop, that new pair of pink socks, and that stuffed bear, without even thinking of the other options.

Really, it didn’t matter which candy, clothing or toy I chose then, because their rewards were quite temporal. But now, the effects of each decision are becoming more permanent.

I feel my teenage life is full of choices that I’m not yet ready to handle. My decisions are starting to have more weight as I get older and start taking on more responsibilities. Each option I’m faced with has a different consequence, and one result may be good but the

Admissions decisions force tough choices

other could be better — and that’s what I’m feeling about my college choices right now.

As the May 1 enrollment deadline creeps closer every second, I hear the timer ticking down, pressuring me to make the decision that will determine the next four years of my life and beyond.

After not getting into my first choice school, I narrowed down my options between two schools on opposite coasts, with a stark difference of programs and focuses. I didn’t feel too badly about first-choice rejection, but it’s making me actually have to decide between the two universities. This is one of the biggest challenges I’ve faced, and I realize there are going to be many other decisions that will come later down the road, but right now, this is ground-shaking, heart-stopping business to me.

I try not to let the prestige,

selectivity or other superficial factors affect the school I choose, but sometimes I can’t help it. I think of these factors as the more “grownup” version of peer pressure, but they’re ones that I can’t just turn the other cheek to. People can be easy to ignore, but these intervening factors are stuck, popping up at College Board, U.S. News & Report, and other sites that just seem to be big fans of meaningless ranking.

Personal factors that I can’t even name are swaying me either way but I can’t decide. It’s hard to actually take a step back and actually identify what really matters to me, without thinking about those superficial things.

The biggest problem is that I can’t decide. On anything. Somehow, I’m going to have to learn how to actually be decisive … tick, tock, tick, tock.

3

op-ed

the broadview Stop Cultural Genocide Tibet + genocide = shame

rebecca kelliher asst. feature editor

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hina is anxiously preparing for its coming-out party as the host country for the 2008 Olympics. However, certain standards must be acknowledged before this country is deemed ready to fully step out onto the

FREE TIBET

One World One Dream Free Tibet

Protesters draw attention to human rights violations

cause it has become a good economic buddy to have by our country’s side.

The Dalai Lama himself, however, said he supports the Beijing Olympics, perJOVEL QUEIROLO |the broadview haps because it has raised awareness world arena, such as the interna- over the situation in Tibet, yet tional standards of human rights. he also supports nonviolent proChina may be an emerging tests. “Nonviolent” doesn’t imply superpower that many economists smashing into vans that carry the predict will someday surpass the eager torchbearers of the race and United States with its booming defacing it with smeared red spray economy, but that does not mean paint, as the recent protestors in that we should accept its violations San Francisco were quick to acagainst Tibetan citizens simply be- complish when the Olympic torch

passed through the city. It doesn’t mean protestors banging into each other like some sort of mosh pit, as if they’re protesting merely for the sake of protesting. It means gaining the respect of the international stage through organized, calm protests that cause viewers to sympathize, not to draw back, from the issues. As Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “at the center of nonviolence is the principle of love.”

As for China, perhaps the country isn’t ready to be handed the Olympic torch yet. The nation may be eager to show off its wealth and power to all the nations, as most proud countries are, but the Olympics is about more than just showcasing a country’s

strength. It’s about uniting our world through athletics. One may argue that it is also up to the host nation in particular to become united in the common rules of human rights, just like in those of a soccer or basketball game.

Although we’ll never know if or how China would have changed if it had to wait another four years to ascend the world stage, the 2008 Beijing Olympics have at least heightened sympathy toward the devastation faced by the people of Tibet. Hopefully, with more awareness, more progressive action will follow closely behind.

Lesser-known colleges do deliver sophie skinner senior reporter

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ith record numbers of students applying to the nation’s top colleges and universities, this year has been the most competitive year yet in college admissions. But ultimately where students get into college isn’t half as important as what they do there and afterwards.

This year Yale College accepted a record-low 8.3 percent of applicants, while Harvard College accepted only 7.1 percent of applicants. Columbia College, Brown University and Dartmouth College also reported record low acceptance rates.

But selectivity isn’t necessarily synonymous with excellence and there are many less selective — and non-Ivy League — schools which provide an excellent education and sometimes one more catered towards the individual student.

Schools like St. John’s College with campuses in Santa Fe and Annapolis and Colorado College — although they may not have the name recognition of Ivy League schools — offer excellent educations.

For students planning to go onto graduate school, the name recognition of their college is not so important. Graduate schools will recognize good colleges even if they are not as well known and

Celebrities should use fame to help charities

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h i l e re ce n t l y clicking around on Yahoo!, I was shocked by an article about the outlandish sums that magazines are willing to pay for pictures of the latest celebrity baby, including an alleged $6 million for shots of the twins of Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez.

While I understand the competitive need to sell more issues in newsstands full of many other glossy magazines, it is somewhat ridiculous to pay such enormous sums to an already-rich celebrity for just a few photos, when the money could be put to far better use elsewhere.

The one exception that I found to this disturbing trend is Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, who sold pictures of their newborn daughter Shiloh for a reported $4.1 million to People magazine but then donated this money to an African charity.

Reading about how such a powerful couple used its celebrity status to help others, I thought about the recent “Idol Gives Back” telethon, held again after the same event last year raised approximately $76 million for various charities.

“Idol Gives Back” was a completely star-studded event, featuring famous figures as varied as Miley Cyrus and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Gordon Brown, all gathered for the same purpose of helping others.

Watching clips of Hurricane Katrina survivors talking about their traumatic experiences or of Annie Lennox visiting a family of four African children orphaned

by AIDS was incredibly moving, inspiring people all over the United States to get out their credit cards and donate.

This embodies the potential of celebrities to use their fame for charitable purposes, something that is often lacking in today’s society.

Far more often, the media

employers will care more about the caliber of an applicant’s graduate school than her undergraduate school.

A diploma from the Ivy League doesn’t determine success and while this may help, it isn’t always necessary. A 1999 study by researchers Alan Krueger, a Princeton economist, and Stacey Berg Dale, who is connected with the Andrew Mellon Foundation, found that students talented enough to attend an Ivy League school, but who chose a less wellknown school instead, had on average a comparable income 20 years later to graduates of the more elite institutions, indicating

life as we know it morgan kendall

tracks what celebrities wear, eat and buy, not the causes they embrace or the money that they donate. Celebrity news is essentially a form of escapism, allowing the public to know everything about the purchases and pursuits of the famous.

But here at school, we focus on charity and giving back to the community on a daily basis, even through such simple means as donating the change left over after buying a latte at Tully’s.

It shouldn’t be that difficult for celebrities who have more money available or the media to focus on these same important causes.

Realistically though, with the recent boom in highly-publicized Hollywood pregnancies, from that of Jamie Lynn Spears to that of Jessica Alba, the trend of paying big bucks for a few baby photos is sure to continue.

I can only hope that it somehow takes a more charitable edge in the future.

the individual, rather than her school, determines her success.

Equally significant, out of the CEOs of the top 10 Fortune 500 corporations, four went to elite colleges. H. Lee Scott, CEO of Wal-Mart — the largest corporation in the world — graduated from Pittsburg State.

This year has been the most selective year for college admittances in history, but students disappointed that they didn’t get into their first choice schools should recognize that an elite college isn’t the only road to success.

Q:

DOMINIQUE SHETH | the broadview

Do chemicals in makeup concern you?

“I am not the kind of person who uses lots of makeup. I have sensitive skin, and break out depending on what is in makeup. If the makeup is going to clog your pores, then it is not worth using it.”

— Nora Wilkinson, freshman

“I don’t want to be putting harmful chemicals on my face. Who knows what it could do to me? In the future these chemicals could harm me.”

— Stepy Bittlingmeier, sophomore

“I wash my face at night and in the morning.

I try to be hygienic. I don’t pay tht much attention to [chemicals in makeup].”

— Alex Casserly, junior

“Usually when I buy my makeup, it has been recommended. I usually just trust what other people are using.”

— Brittney Fong, senior — Compiled by Ina Herlihy

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news

april 18, 2008

Beauty products, cosmetics linked to some cancers mary slattery

sacred heart editor

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tatistics suggest that one in nine women will have breast cancer, but that one woman could have possibly prevented it by changing her daily beauty regiment.

Chemicals such as formaldehyde, ethylene oxide, mercury and lead acetate — all present in many beauty products such as lipstick, perfume, shampoo and nail polish — can lead to cancer and problems in reproductive development.

“The average woman uses 10 or more [beauty] products a day containing up to 200 chemical ingredients,” said Stacy Malkan, co-founder of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, an organization that calls for the elimination of all harmful and threatening chemicals used in the cosmetics industry.

“Unfortunately, many of these products contain low levels of carcinogens or chemicals

that disrupt hormones, or are toxic to the brain or reproductive system.”

Malkan co-founded her coalition following the results of a 2002 Centers for Disease Control (CDC) test for harmful chemicals not listed on the labels of 72 name-brand beauty products. Nearly three-quarters of the products contained phthalates, toxic chemicals that affect the endocrine system, which links the brain to organs that control body growth and hormones according “Not Too Pretty: Phthalates, Beauty Products and the FDA.” Teenagers are more at risk for breast cancer and reproductive problems because they are exposed to these chemicals while they are in puberty, when breast tissue is rapidly developing.

“I think it’s important for teens and young women to start asking questions.

What’s in these products? What are these companies telling us? How can we edu-

Some common plastics are potentially harmful from popular p. 1 recycle bin. Most of the single-use plastic widespread, according to the U.S. Centers bottles fill our landfills and oceans. Plastic for Disease Control and Prevention, which was meant to be durable and long-lasting, found 95 percent of people tested have so they won’t break down, which poses endetectable amounts of the chemical in their vironmental threats to everyone.” bodies. Of those tested, the median level of Further studies are needed to comBPA was higher than the level that causes pletely determine whether or not the current adverse effects in animal studies.

BPA-leaching levels are dangerous to hu“Experimental studies using rat and mans. But in the meantime, many retailers mouse models have provided evidence that including REI Outdoor Gear & Clothing very small amounts — levels below those Store offer consumers safe alternatives to that the federal government currently con- polycarbonate bottles containing BPA. siders safe for daily human exposure — cause “In response to public demand and the significant effects,” said Patricia Hunt, Ph.D., media attention that BPA has been getting, a biosciences we are now professor at carrying BPAWashington free CamelBak State Univerwater bottles,” sity in Pullsaid Brian man who is Cline, Invenstudying the tory Specialeffects of BPA ist at REI in on lab animals.

San Francisco.

“This chemi“We also sell cal acts like Klean Kanteen a hormone stainless steel in the body bottles and and minute SIGG alumiRENA HUNT | the broadview amounts can num bottles Reusable polycarbonate water bottles may affect exert powerwith special developing teens. In addition to Lexan Nalgene ful effects on polymer linbottles, 95 percent of all baby bottles in the US contain cells.” ings. The bisphenol A. On the Camelbak other hand, BPA-free wathe U.S. Food and Drug Administration ter bottle is the recent plastic alternative.” states in a November 2005 report that curNalgene also makes water bottles from rent levels of BPA-leaching are too low to types of plastics that do not contain BPA, cause any harmful effects in humans. including polypropylene, high-density poly“It’s a big leap from lab rats to proven ethylene and low-density polyethylene. health risks for humans,” said AP EnvironSeveral state legislatures have also recmental Science teacher Marisa Kendall. “Just ognized the public concern of BPA leaching because it affects rats, doesn’t mean that it and are introducing bills on the regulation will affect humans in the same way. and banning of BPA in products.

“If people get scared of using the reusIn the California State Legislature, SB able bottles and strictly drink from plastic 1713, or the “Toxin-Free Toddlers & Babies single-use water bottles what people don’t Act,” sponsored by Sen. Carole Migden (Dconsider is the environmental impact that San Francisco) calls for the banning of BPA was the reason for reusable bottles in the first from all children’s products. place,” said Kendall. “I see plastic bottles all As of press time, the bill has passed the the time in the garbage can instead of the Senate Environmental Quality Committee.

RENA HUNT | the broadview

After Bare Escentuals’ began in 1976, Maybelline, Lancôme, Clinique and numerous other brands have developed their own line of mineral products. Even mineral makeup can have synthetic additives that may pose health risks. cate ourselves to make safer choices?” said Malkan.

Makeup made from minerals, such as Bare Escentuals’ Bare Minerals, Naked Minerals and Bellapierre, can be a healthy alternative according to Katie Tragni, Brand Development and Awareness Project Manager for Bare Escentuals.

“We use minerals that are extracted from the earth with no binders, preservatives or fillers,” said Tragni. “Even our foundation is only made from five ingredients, two of which are SPF 15.”

Bare Escentuals’ Bare Minerals foundation is made from five ingredients: titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, bismuth oxychloride, mica and iron oxides.

But Malkan has her doubts about mineral makeup as an alternative.

“In general, simpler is better. Products with fewer synthetic chemicals and no added fragrance are preferable,” said Malkan. “But you still have to check the label, even of mineral makeup, to see if they have any synthetic additives.”

However, senior Ari Bourdet who is a Beauty Ambassador at Bare Escentuals says she has experienced the difference Bare Minerals foundation can have on one’s skin.

“I had really bad acne and would use liquid foundation to cover it up,” said Bourdet. “But after I switched to Bare Escentuals foundation my skin completely cleared up.”

More information about chemicals in beauty products can be found at the Skin Deep database by Environmental Working Group at www.SafeCosmetics.org.

Music sharing raises issues from file p. 1 message from the record companies’ representative and lawyer.

“He alleged [he] had evidence that I held 1634 sound recordings shared by the peer-to-peer network, Limewire, and that a significant amount of these copyrights were held by the represented record companies,” said Vasquez.

The lawyers offered Vasquez an alternative to the typical punishment.

“He gave me 20 days to respond to these claims and settle outside of court for $3000. This hefty fine would avoid the $750 per song route that I would have to take constructed under the federal law,” said Vasquez. “My total financial damage would be over $1.2 million if I avoided the settlement.”

Unsigned recording artist Leena Culhane, a senior at St. Ignatius College Preparatory, says that paying for music is the only fair way to obtain it.

“Illegal downloading is a huge problem,” said Culhane, who has opened for such artists as Chuck Leavell of Rolling Stones and recently had a show at The Fillmore. “I understand that kids are often short on money and whatnot, but I think that what they don’t understand is that a lot of artists are short-changed as a consequence [for illegal downloading].”

As an artist Culhane realizes that she will not always be paid for her music, but she would be more concerned that if she were signed to a label.

“People often copy the CDs that I sell at shows and give them to friends,” she said. “At this point, I’m thankful that people do this because its actually helpful, but if I were on a label there would be a lot of people that wouldn’t be getting what they deserve; particularly other musicians who played on the recordings.”

Culhane has also been especially cautious with her Music Myspace. Because her songs were not copyrighted until recently, she didn’t allow her songs to be downloadable. However, on her main Web site, http://www.LeenaCulhane. com, she did.

The band Radiohead recently addressed the issue of illegal downloading.

For its latest album, In Rainbows, the band decided to not only sell it primarily as a digital download — not a standard CD — but they also allowed it to be downloaded for whatever price the customer saw fit. Consequently, many people purchased the music for free.

“I love that Radiohead did that,” said Culhane. “I don’t think their record company was so happy, but the main distinction between Radiohead and a smaller artist releasing a free album is that they can afford to do that.”

While some sites like Limewire also have a legal alternative, where songs are paid for, iTunes continues to be the most popular means of getting music digitally.

“I think iTunes is fabulous because it satisfies the instant gratification that illegal downloading gives but it does it in a fair way,” said Culhane.

Despite the convenience of iTunes, people still continue to download illegally. iTunes does not offer every single song or artist, and it can often be more convenient to download music for free from one of the illegal sites than to go out and physically buy a CD. “Yes, I was aware that downloading music illegally was, in fact, illegal but the mere force driving me to continue on this daily and seamlessly innocent activity was my belief that it could never happen to me,” said Vasquez.

While Vasquez knew his downloading was illegal, he expressed frustration about the fact that only a few individuals face consequences, when many other people also download music files without paying.

“I was confused and I was angry,” said Vasquez about his reaction to the settlement. “This should not have happened to me. Of all the countless users of Limewire and other programs used to illegally download files, why was I picked out as a representational figure of warning and consequence?”

sacred heart

the broadview

5

leslie wu

sports editor

O

n a sunny afternoon, the burgundy clad girls stroll across the street, safely navigating through the intersection as the crossing guard stops after-school traffic. “Thank you,” the girls call out. “You’re welcome, honey. See you tomorrow!” she replies.

“My job is to make sure the children cross all right,” said crossing guard Ruby Russell. “Many parents drop off their kids, who are about five or six, on the corner across the street. I make sure they get across.”

Russell works at the beginning and end of the school day, wearing her bright yellow crossing guard vest and orthopedic shoes.

“I get here between 7:15 and 7:25, and my shift lasts until 8:30,” said Russell. “Then I come back at 2:30 and stay here ’til 3:45.”

Russell is employed by the San Francisco Department of Traffic and Safety. She started patrolling the Fillmore and Broadway Streets intersection in 1998.

“I had a hip replacement, so I was walking all the time,” said Russell. “I had a friend tell me that I could get all that exercise if I was a crosswalk guard.”

During the previous 21 years, Russell worked with the United States Postal Service.

“I enjoy the walking, as long as I can keep coming up and exercising,” said Russell. “I enjoy the children and the little babies are so sweet.”

Senior Danielle Bates has

RENA HUNT | the broadview

Ruby Russell (with sign) assists CES fifth grader Caroline Lo (left to right), first grader Julia Lo, their mother Jean Houston and brother Henry Lo who will be entering Kindergarten at SHB next year, through the crosswalk. Russell said she wears Z-CoiLs, shoes built on a Z-orthotic which provides support for the foot’s arch, because they allow her to comfortably walk back and forth in the crosswalk. Below, Russell crosses pedestrians on the corner of Broadway and Fillmore Streets.

Crossing guard promotes safety been crossing the Fillmore and Broadway intersection with Russell as the crossing guard since Bates’ freshman year.

RENA HUNT | the broadview

“She is very friendly and re- to parent and Biology teacher Ray ally cares about the students,” Cinti. said Bates. “She always smiles. I “Ruby is such a good person look forward to seeing her every to have on the corner,” said Cinti. morning.”

“With two girls, I feel better about Rusthem crosssell always ing the inWith two girls, I wishes evtersection.” feel better er yone a After good day, 10 years about them accordon the corcrossing ing to stuner, Russell the intersection. dents who i s a l w ay s frequently present in – Ray Cinti, cross the inall types of parent and teacher tersection. weather.

“The young people all respect “It gets windy up here,” said me and the parents are nice,” said Russell. “When it’s hot, it’s too hot.

Russell.

When it’s cold, it’s too cold. But the Russell is a benefit, according view is always nice.”

Fast Facts Name: Ruby Russell Birthday: Sept. 24, 1939 Hometown: Houston Height: 5’6 Marital status: Widow Hobby: Bowling Favorite subject in school: History Favorite book: The Bible Biggest fear: Being hit by a car Favorite food: Seafood Favorite color: Blue Hero: My grandaughter Children: Four girls, one boy

Coed Supper Club celebrates 2nd anniversary ina herlihy

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asst. news editor

he upcoming dance at Bottom of the Hill on April 25 will mark the second year of Supper Club, a series of co-ed events that began as the inspiration of Dean of Students Celine Curran.

“I was making an invitation to the student body for a musical event at the Palace of Fine Arts,” said Curran. “I said, ‘I have tickets for anyone to come with me.’ At first I didn’t get people to raise their hands, but then I said, ‘Come on, I will throw in dinner and we can have a supper club.”’

Bottom of the Hill last year included student performances

by Anthony Torrano, and Wolfie Dieterich, Drew Parke and First

Amendment.

“Instead of having a DJ play songs, we got to listen to fellow students and friends play songs,” said sophomore Alfred Gruber.

“It is live music and more fun because we can actually cheer for bands.”

Pa s t S u p p e r C l u b events include a boat dance, San Francisco Giants games and interviews at the City Arts and Lectures with Ben Gibbard, Chris Matthews and Henry Rollins.

“Super Club is fun because you are able to interact with Stuart Hall [boys] in a non-awkward way,” said junior Ashley Eisenman. “[It] makes opportunities available that I wouldn’t be able to experience on my own.”

Students attended a performance of “Mamma Mia!” at the Orpheum Theater in early September.

“We knew all the lyrics and sang along,” said fresh[Supper Club] makes man Kelsey Green. “It was not just us, but evopportunities available eryone in the crowd was that I wouldn’t be able singing.” to experience on my Social events are inown. terspersed with educational events, such as at – Ashley Eisenman, Macy’s Passport Fashion junior Show, geared towards raising AIDS awareness.

Skating Center.

“Fashion is a topic that a lot of “There were a lot of different grades present so you would hang people relate to,” said junior Erica out with people who you wouldn’t Smolin of the November event. regularly, since you were literally “The speaker had AIDS so it was running into people on the ice,” a lot more personal than reading about the disease.” said Parsons.

Junior Charlotte Parsons agrees Supper Clubs are a way for students to meet in a more relaxed setting, such as at October’s ice skating event at the Yerba Buena

Ar iana Huffington, cofounder of the Huffington Post, interviewed Hearst Magazines President Cathie Black, at City Arts and Lectures in January. Black was promoting her newly released book Basic Black.

“The book would give you a lot of advice on life in general and it seems like it is for a larger audience of women young and old,” said sophomore Maggie Cummings.

Cummings has attended most of the Supper Club events this year, and credits Curran with the success of the program.

“The [Supper Club] is like wildfire,” said Cummings. “Mrs. Curran is the spark. She gives out the information, and it spreads.”

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San Francisco International Film Festiv celebrates its 51st year

Review Sc Gotta watch it

Lo

Umm…

photos permission of San Francisco International Film Festival

Two Bangladeshi girls run through a field in the British movie, Brick Lane. The film, directed by Sarah Gavron, is about a Muslim woman, Nazneem, who moves from Bangladesh to England in the 1980’s.

Reviews Bor are the combined opinion of Rachel Forbe Hays and Rebecca Kellih Synopses by Rachel For

DOMINIQUE SHETH |

Father’s death inspires twins’ first film gracie hays columnist

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win brothers Logan and Noah Miller dreamed of becoming professional baseball players, but when that dream didn’t pan out they turned to their second love, film.

Their first movie, Touching Home, an autobiographical film, will debut at the San Francisco Film Festival on April 26.

“We didn’t know how to do it,” said Noah Miller about writing screenplays.

“We didn’t go to film school and we’re both self-taught. One day we just bought a book on screenwriting and after we read it, it made sense so we started to write.”

The twins wrote, directed, produced and acted in their film.

“We collaborated on everything,” said Miller. “Sometimes we’d argue, going back and forth on certain ideas, but we were always trying to work together as a team.”

The twins created the film as a way to honor their father who died in January 2006 while he was incarcerated.

“When our father passed away in the Marin County jail, we decided that we needed to make Touching Home immediately,” said Miller.

The wheels for the project started turning in March 2006 when the brothers were awarded a $250,000 grant from Panavision. The brothers first used the grant money to travel to Tucson, Ariz. to make a short trailer of the film.

“We went down to Arizona to shoot with the Colorado Rockies [during spring training],” said Noah Miller.

“There weren’t any scenes, so it was more atmospheric focusing more on the images and the tone of Touching Home.”

The Miller brothers may not have known it at the time, but this trailer would later help them secure Golden Globe winner Ed Harris to play the role of their father in Touching Home.

“We heard that Ed Harris was going to be at the San Francisco International Film Festival,” said Noah Miller,

“so we went to the Castro Theatre to talk to him because he was the only guy that we thought would be able to pull off the role of our father. First he was interviewed on stage and then he did a Q and A, but we weren’t able to get to the mic. When they gave him a standing ovation no one was really paying attention, so my brother and I got out of our chairs and walked up the steps, past the cops, and through the curtain to get backstage.

“We found Ed, so we started to show him the trailer we had put together on our computer, but the stage light was messing up the image, so we went out a backdoor into this alleyway and we set the laptop on a greasy dumpster where he could watch it. When the trailer was over he said ‘Wow. This looks beautiful. Looks like you guys know what you’re doing,’ and then he grabbed the script off the dumpster and called us back nine days later telling us he was interested in the role.”

Shortly after the addition of Harris to the production, the twins hired Emmy-winning television composer Marty Davich.

“We knew we wanted a very simple guitar with light strings,” said Noah Miller. “We wanted the music to sound

Twin brothers Logan and Noah Miller star with Brad Dourif in a movie they wrote, directed and produced.

The Millers grew up in Marin County. The movie also stars Ed Harris as their father.

very American because American story. We di speak Marty’s language language of music has a its own. We weren’t alway what kind of music we wa a good idea of what we di we knew what didn’t wo to work with that in min Even though Touchin Miller brothers’ first pro already trying to develop hopes of pursuing a care “We have quite a f scripts lying around,” said “We want to be doing th 40 years or until they b now we’re just trying to dr Home] to its conclusion, it’ll get in a theatre ever the country.”

Noah Miller enco school students interest follow their passion.

“Just go out and do Miller. “Do what you’ve g want to be good in any s going to have to work at think it takes that same and compassion to just g it. As long as you’re doin such thing as failure. Ju there are only solutions don’t know, you’ll figure Touching Home scr the Sundance Kabuki on April 29.

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val

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es, Gracie her. rbes.

| the broadview

this is a very id the best to e because the vocabulary of ays sure exactly anted, but had idn’t want and ork so we tried nd.” ng Home is the oject they are p new ideas in eer in film. few stacks of d Noah Miller. his for the next bury us. Right rive [Touching , and hopefully rywhere across

ourages high ted in film to

it,” said Noah got to do. If you subject, you’re t it everyday. I type of focus go out and do ng it there’s no ust remember: and what you e out.” reenings are at n April 26 and

SF film festival partners with Kabuki rebecca kelliher asst. feature editor

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fter becoming the first festival in the Americas to turn 50 last year, the 51st Annual San Francisco International Film Festival (SFIFF) continues to expand its recognition by screening 177 new films.

Representing 49 countries in 38 different languages, SFIFF’s films will play April 24 through May 8.

“We’ve really tried to grow in size and credibility more and more each year,” said Director of Programming Linda Blackaby. “We’re proud to say that we have also increased membership to the Film Society by 66 percent and corporation support by 150 percent.”

This year SFIFF offers 27 documentaries, 83 short films and 67 narrative features, as well as a New Directors’ section. The festival will showcase eight world and six U.S. premieres, as well as

All Is Forgiven N ever before has heroin addiction been portrayed so hopefully. All Is Forgiven, directed by Mia HansenLøve, tells the story of French poet Victor (Paul Blain), depressed and addicted to dope, his young Austrian partner, Annette (Marie-Christine Freidrich), and their daughter, Pamela (Constance Rousseau).

Half of the movie shows Victor and Annette’s rocky marriage, with Pamela (Victoire Rousseau) at a young age.

For every dramatic conversation between the two lovers, the big-eyed, curly-haired daughter is there, never focusing on the hazardous relationship she witnesses. After Victor’s other lover, Giséle (Olivia Ross) overdoses; Victor enters rehab, and Annette and Pamela pack up and leave.

The second half of the movie shows Pamela as a young woman, 11 years later. With the same curls and big green eyes, she is sheltered by her mother, and curious about her past. With the help of Victor’s sister Martine (Carole Franck), Pamela forms a relationship with Victor.

With strong directing from Hansen-Løve, the movie smoothly transitions from scene

Victor, played by Paul Blain, clutches his young daughter, Pamela, played by Victoire Rousseau.

All Is Forgiven was released in France in September 2007.

Youth outreach programs have also become a clear focus of SFIFF as it struggles to get more teenagers and college students involved in independent films.

“We have attained a new partnership with the Sundance Kabuki in which they will be showing a limited distribution of our films from SFIFF in a reserved

Country: France Director: Mia Hansen-Løve Runtime: 105 minutes

to scene, year to year, first showing the distance growing between the lovers, and then it closing between the father and daughter.

Friedrich’s acting as the distressed but strong Annette is mind blowing. With her voice becoming raspy as she cries on the phone to Victor, it is no doubt that she is the star of the film.

Although Constance Rousseau’s acting is weaker, her youthful beauty is breathtaking and she accurately portrays the lost girl that Pamela is.

section of the theater throughout the year,” said Programming Associate Sean Uyehara. “We hope it will advance wider public interest, especially among those who usually don’t watch these kinds of movies.”

The San Francisco Film Society, which organizes SFIFF, will also be conducting a San Francisco International Animation Festival from November 8 to 11 as well as a New Italian Cinema event November 11 to 18.

Shadows in the Palace

Country: South Korea Director: Kim Meejeung Runtime: 113 minutes

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young Korean woman bound to a tree, with a piece of bark in her mouth, shrieks in pain. Her silk dress is covered in dirt and soaked in sweat. The opening scene to Kim The audience can’t help but pull for Victor, whose adMeejeung’s Shadows in the Palace, a supernatural diction never seems to get out of control, but whose depresmurder mystery set in Korea’s Chosun era is based sion keeps him trapped. The viewer feels sympathy for every around the royal court maids.

While this birth scene character. Though the plot is depressing all the way up until may seem heavy to watch, the scenes to follow only the last few minutes, the final shot of Pamela walking away get more intense. into a garden leaves the audience filled with hope.

The court maids of the Emperor’s palace take a vow when they enter, to forever remain chaste.

But with an ambitious concubine, Hee-bin (Se-ah Yujn), determined to win the emperor’s attention, maids will be pushed into a life of lies and betrayal.

From stabbing needles deep under a girl’s fingernails, to the stitching of gold thread into a bare thigh, this vividly filmed movie requires a strong stomach. Despite numerous gory scenes, this movie is hard to pull away from.

With a different, bone-chilling clue being revealed every few minutes about the mysterious death of court maid Wol-ryung (Yeong-hie Seo), the movie demands — and requires — full attention from the viewers.

The film, based almost completely on the female characters, reflects the extreme discipline and cruelty subjected to maids. Unexpectedly however, the movie also has a fantasy side, where Country: Spain/France eerie shadows, resembling the long black hair Director: José Luis of the ghosts in Japanese film The Grudge, creep through the palace, haunting everybody involved Guerín in the royal scandal.

Runtime: 84 minutes With an extremely strong plot, beautiful cinonly dialogue that occurs is completely a way the viewer wants him to find ematography, and rich acting, specifically from Jinanonymous and not essential to the Sylvia, but one also cannot help wish- Hie Park who plays the curious and strong-willed court medic, this film is definitely worth seeing, plot. Real conversation finally occurs ing he would just just expect to be clutching your throat during the when the suspicious Ella questions give up, or make a bloody execution scene. her follower. move, because the While the shots of the city are trailing can only lovely to see, the viewer cannot help but go on for so Sung-ryeong start to lose focus. Yes, the film is ro- long.

Kim stars in mantic, yes, both Él and Ella have ideal Shadows in Xavier Lafitte and Pilar French bone-structure, but the audithe Palace.

López de Ayala ence doesn’t know how to feel towards The film play strangers the characters, especially the young will show in the film, man. In at Kabuki In the City in May. of Sylvia.

Lafitte plays El, who confuses de Ayala for a longlost lover.

In the City of Sylvia T he first five minutes of José Louis Guerín’s In the City of Sylvia is pretty boy actor Xavier Lafitte, sitting on a bed, staring. The only way the viewer would know the movie didn’t freeze is the fact that he occasionally blinks. This sufficiently represents the pace of this ascetically pleasing, but practically silent film.

While the film beautifully shows the old, narrow and curving streets of Strasbourg, France with romantic French music playing throughout, it is hard to focus on the film and slowmoving plot. The story is of a young man (Lafitte), credited as Él, searching for his long lost lover Sylvia whom he met six years earlier. In the mean time Él sits at a café, drinking beer and sketching pretty women.

Then Él sees the stunning Ella (Pilar López de Ayala) whom he mistakes for Sylvia, and the stalking begins. He follows her for blocks and blocks, even losing her at one point. Throughout this time the

exhibit the work of 39 female directors in theaters across the city.

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features

april 18, 2008

for New cars serve as ‘green’ options kelly cheung editor in chief

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ybrid car sales increased by 49 percent in 2007, showing that more people are straying from the more conventional, less fuel-efficient vehicles and turning instead to alternative technologies. “[Our family] felt it was time to recognize that big gas guzzling SUVs were not the fair car to own, economically or politically,” said

Susan Lupica, who switched from a Toyota Land Cruiser to the hybrid Toyota Highlander and a Prius because she drives her two teens to many school and athletic events around the Bay Area.

Various new technologies are being developed to change the way consumers look at hybrids and alternate vehicles. The world’s 13th largest car manufacturer, Daimler AG developed BlueTEC, a nitrogen oxide reducing diesel engine for use in Mercedes-Benz, Jeep, Volkswagon and Audi vehicles.

Daimler AG’s other gas-saving alternative is the smart car,

whose Web site displays the slogan, “Open your mind to the car that challenges the status quo.” Smart car is an 8-foot-8 two-seater that averages 40 miles per gallon in the city, only 8 miles per gallon less than the Toyota Prius — but takes a year and a half to receive after placing an order.

“There are some people who are canceling [their orders] because they don’t understand that whenever there’s a new product launched in the United States, this is what happens,” said smart car Brand Specialist Loretta Greene.

“But there is an appeal, especially

I

nching along in her mom’s black Prius, she pulls into a gas station. $3.89 glares from the price board as she hands the cashier her mom’s credit card. With soaring prices, she would never consider paying for her own gas as a broke teenager.

“Thankfully, I don’t have to pay for my own gas,” said junior Jocelyn Friday. “I’ve heard a lot about rising gas prices. I don’t know much about gas prices, but $2.75 seems reasonable. What they charge today is ridiculous.”

California has the most expensive gas in the nation, averaging $3.59 this month according to the American Automobile Association (AAA), while some San Francisco gas stations charge $4 or more.

AAA reports the average annual cost of driving is up an estimated $300 over last year with higher gasoline prices largely to blame.

Driving and adapting to oil prices are the only options for most student drivers.

“I usually have to drive to do errands and drop off my sisters,” said sophomore Joumana Abdulmassih. “I have to drive for a lot of reasons but I can’t just stop driving because of gas prices. Driving for me is a lot easier than other options. I don’t have to depend on anyone else for transportation.”

Senior Stephanie Rotter said high gas prices have influenced her family’s driving habits.

“I drive the family car to work sometimes,” said Rotter. “I don’t

• Hybrid cars combine a gas engine with a rechargeable battery system in order to lower gas mileage.

• Smart cars are much smarller and compact. They were originally designed to make parking easier. Now, they are being offered in the U.S. and plans are underway to sell an electric version soon.

• E85 ethanol cars run on ethanol alcohol-containg fuel. They are becoming increasingly popular in the Midwest where corn is abundant.

•Electric cars are vehicles that run on rechargeable batter and electric motors instead of an internal combustion engine.

Source : http://www.howstuffworks.com

50

How far can your car go on one gallon of gas?

42

Miles per gallon (mpg)

reporter

have to pay for gas because it’s the family car, but we definitely use our more gas efficient car now to save money on gas.”

Some choose to reduce costs by shopping for lower gas prices, but many students and teachers have turned to a different way of saving money on gas.

“There are a lot of downsides to driving like [paying for] parking and paying for gas,” said history department chair Michael Stafford. “I take the bus.”

Commuters can still find ways to save money on gas.

“Drive less by coordinating lists of things to do and do them all in one trip,” said history teacher Michael Steinbrecher, who commutes to school from San Rafael in a Toyota Camry.

Steinbrecher recalled an oil crisis beginning in 1973 when the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) cut oil production and placed an embargo on shipments of crude oil to the West that created problems worse than what drivers face today.

“You had to wait two hours to get your gas, and if they ran out you were out of luck,” said Steinbrecher. “You were only allowed 10 gallons at a time and it’s no surprise the cars got smaller.”

But, currently, rising prices will continue to affect how much students will drive, according to sophomore Julia Papale.

“I just got my permit,” said Papale. “But when I start driving more I’m going to have to pay for my own gas. I will definitely have to think twice before I drive.”

trend’ caught on, the demand went really high,” said Mike La, Toyota of San Francisco Sales Representative. “People are looking to lower their emissions and it’s the next best thing to getting a fully electric vehicle.”

Despite the Green Revolution, the only car company that currently makes a mass-produced fully electric vehicle is Tesla Motors, with the 2008 Roadster starting at $98,000 with a $5,000 wait-list fee. General Motors unveiled the Chevrolet Volt Electric concept that won’t start selling until 2010 with a projected cost of $35,000.

Types of car technology

Consumers adapting to rising gas prices jovel queirolo

to Bay Area residents, because of the desire to be green. The car is 98 percent recyclable, built in a plant that’s built from recycled materials itself, and they reutilize most of the waste.”

Toyota proved in 1997 that hybrid vehicles can be cheap to manufacture, making the Prius the first mass-produced hybrid vehicle, according to the Rainforest Action Network — but like the smart car, Toyota faced challenges with consumer popularity when the Prius initially launched.

“The first Prius wasn’t fully accepted, but when the ‘green

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Toyota Camry

Toyota Camry Hybrid

Hummer (434WD)

2008 Car Models

Porsche (all-turbo)

Source : http://www.mpgbuddy.com

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Today’s drivers face changes with rising gas prices and hybrid car technology The green scene photos | RENA HUNT

Accidents affect insurance elizabeth gruber news editor

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Smart Car ForTwo Type: Smart car Price: $11,590 - $13,590

Toyota Prius Type: Hybrid Price: $21,100 - $23,700

Toyota Highlander SUV Type: Hybrid Price: $27,300 - $33,700

fter recently earning his driver’s license, 18-yearold Julian Labagh picked up three of his friends while driving his mother’s BMW and headed down 39th Avenue towards Sunset Boulevard. He didn’t have a stop sign but decided to let a couple cars go by before driving into the intersection. Suddenly a car, going twice the speed limit, sped through the intersection and hit the back tire of Labagh’s car, sending it into a spin.

“I was very lucky,” said Labagh, who pays for his own insurance. “Nobody got injured, and my accident did not affect my insurance because I was not held responsible.”

Teenagers have the highest rate of fatal crashes in relation to any other age group. This rate is three times greater than for any other age group, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

“The rates rise and fall depending on accident statistics,” said a State Farm broker who asked not to be named because he is not in press relations. “The rates gradually decrease until a person is 25years-old and the rates are based on the rates of accidents for that age. The most important issues

of a hybrid Gasoline engine - similar to those found in most cars, however, hybrid internal combustion engines are smaller and use more advanced technologies to reduce emissions and increase efficiency Electric motor - acts as a motor and generator - draws energy from batteries to accelerate and slow down the car Batteries - located towards the back of the car - are recharged when the driver steps on the brakes Source : http://auto.howstuffworks.com

are records and experience more so than age.”

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers in America. More than 5,000 teens, ages 16 to 20, are killed by motor vehicle accidents each year, according to the NHTSA. The lead causes for accidents among teens are inexperience and immaturity mixed with drinking, not wearing seat belts, distractions such as cell phones, music and friends, driving at night and drug use.

Driver’s insurance is primarily based on the driver’s age, gender, driving record — accidents, moving violations and how long the driver has had her license — annual mileage and the age and cost of the driver’s vehicle, according to the California Department of Insurance.

“I am not sure of everything that my insurance is based on since my company just gives me a quote and I write a check,” said Labagh.

“I do know it is more for guys and that my age and the age of my car affects the rates.”

For teenagers, being involved in an accident, even a minor one, can cause insurance rates to increase, sometimes costing more than the damage.

“I almost bought a Mustang, which is considered a sports car

and therefore my insurance would have been more expensive,” said Labagh. “However, my Mini is a compact car and so the insurance was less.”

The State of California requires drivers to take financial responsibility for their motor vehicles and one way to do this is by purchasing liability insurance.

A person driving without liability insurance can be fined for hundreds of dollars. Drivers without insurance who are involved in an accident may have her license suspended.

Many auto insurance agencies give discounts for grade point averages above a 3.0 or for taking the agency’s driver training program.

“If a person is fully enrolled in school and has a B average or greater, the rates are significantly less.

It is a proven fact that people with better grades get in less accidents,” said the State Farm broker.

Students realize that driving comes with responsibilities and that there are ways to save on insurance.

“Driving a car is a huge responsibility and I realize this completely,” said senior Meghan Helmberger. “I also realize that my insurance is a lot higher since I’m a teenager, so I completed an online driver’s program that lowered my insurance.”

10 city life

April 18, 2008

only in

roll over, beethoven gracie hays

Homeless man cheers people up with a smile

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ne day in seventh grade while I was walking downtown, all the pressures of school were really catching up with me. I was walking by a CD store, and I saw a homeless man in a wheelchair with no legs. I had seen him numerous times since third grade, and every time someone walked by him, he would hold up a sign saying “Hi,” and then flip it to the other side, which said “Smile.” Every time he would flip the sign to say “Smile,” he would smile at the person, like he was trying to make connections with people on a deeper

level instead of just trying to get money.

Lots of people overlooked him, and looked at him as just another homeless man. There is something about him that stands out to me, that many people find unimportant. When he flipped the sign, looked at me and smiled, for the first time that day I smiled.

Only in San Francisco would you find a homeless man who cares more about uplifting the spirits of others than making money.

— Katherine Mibelli, sophomore as told to Ina Herlihy

Tourists misinterpret phone call on city bus

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was riding the 45 bus line to my house which passes through Chinatown and Union Square, attracting lots of tourists. I was talking with my best friend on the phone, and we were using really casual terms such as “Hey hot stuff.”

Throughout the conversation, I alternated between calling her “Hun,” and “Sweet thing.”

Eventually I started noticing a group of people wearing San Francisco sweatshirts — brand-

ing them as tourists — looking nervously at each other. As I continued talking to my friend, they kept looking at each other after every term of endearment.

It was when I finally said goodbye to her that I realized they thought we were in a romantic relationship.

Only in San Francisco do tourists think of our terms of endearment as a relationship.

— Kat Eaneman, junior as told to Ina Herlihy

Celloists play heavy metal

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here are few people who would describe not know it, but they are rescuing dorky band heavy metal and cellos going together kids all around the world by redefining what it like peas in a pod. Surprisingly, Finland’s means to play a classical instrument. Playing the Apocalyptica has bridged the gap by melding violin or the trombone doesn’t necessarily mean its three-piece cello band with classical com- that a path to success will lead to performances posers such as Shostakovich and iconic metal with tucked in dress shirts and a receding hair band Metallica — and is now selling out venues line(not that there’s anything wrong with that). worldwide.

Donning long greasy hair and a vast array of Although each tattoos, Apocalyptica has member was classiproved this point.

There are few cally trained at FinWith the addition of a people who would land’s only musicdrummer in 2005, Apocadescribe heavy focused college, the lyptica has developed a more Sibelius Academy, layered sound that complimetal and cellos at times the band ments the cellos and drives going together like develops a tone in forth the more furiously their playing that dark emotions. peas in a pod. is untraceable to The band has started the classical cello. collaborating with a number Shredding a lightning speed guitar solo is hard of vocalists such as the frontman of the masked enough to play on the fretted, thin neck and light nu-metal band Slipknot, Corey Taylor. Mind strings of a guitar, yet Apocalyptica is able to nail you, when it comes to Slipknot I am a complete each note effortlessly, without any frets to guide music snob. I don’t think I can be in the same hands up the long and thick neck of the cello. room as a Slipknot fan without feeling the need The band’s flawless solos have gotten me into the to “save” the wearer from his musical disease. strange phenomenon of playing air cello while Nonetheless, while listening to “I’m Not Jesus” listening to Apocalyptica on my iPod, which I’m the song Apocalyptica performed with Taylor, sure has already confused plenty of pedestrians I found myself bobbing my head along with it, walking down the same sidewalks as me. still marveled by their cello playing.

Apocalyptica has also made it socially acIf you missed them play at Slim’s on ceptable for teenagers to openly listen to cham- Wednesday, check their Website http://www. ber music. These Finnish cello shredders may apocalyptica.com for future tour dates.

Postcards from San Francisco Was there something wrong with the chicken?

by Dominique Sheth

No, the restaurant is spinning ...

Prom 2008: Dinner at the Equinox

pulse retro boat shoes make a comeback sophie skinner senior reporter

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opsiders, the classic boat shoes made by Sperry, are becoming a trend both on and off the water.

“I think a lot of people wear the shoes in an effort to

RENA HUNT | the broadview

Topsiders offer versatilty and style for the wearer.

be retro and sort of shabbily and effortlessly chic,” said senior Hillary Lyons, “But I don’t like that hipster vibe. I wear the shoes because it’s fun to wear something from my parents’ generation.”

The shoes are good for walking around the city and can be worn as a more foot-friendly alternative to flats or tennis shoes, according to senior Katie Sobrepeña.

“They are comfortable, simple, sturdy and good for

everyday wear,” said Sobrepeña, “I’ve had them for four years and they still haven’t fallen apart.”

Sperry makes the shoes in the classic brown, tan and white.

“I have the shoes in the original brown, but I think the other colors are fun too,” said junior Grace Milligan.

The shoes were originally designed in 1935 as boat shoes, to be worn for sailing and motor boating.

“Because topsiders are traditionally worn as boat shoes they’re pretty ideal for that spring and summertime feel,” said Sobrepeña.

The shoes’ preppy versatility makes them a good look, according to Milligan.

“They have a preppy East Coast feel that reminds me of Nantucket,” said Milligan, “I can wear them with a lot of different looks, even the uniform.”

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Road work

end of the quarter leslie wu

Basketball tournament doesn’t limit productivity

Track team works on personal goals RENA HUNT | the broadview

Freshman Briana Davis, track coach Anna Challet and junior Claire Cannon take their warm-up run on Fillmore Street to the Julius Kahn Park in the Presidio. The track team has two more meets before BCL championships on May 10 at San Francisco City College. meets] can be very intense.” that the size, though small for a track sophie gilchrist reporter Instead of practicing together, the team, has not affected their performance rack team members said they girls work on their individual runs to in the meet.

“We have only one competitor in all hope to do well in the next two prepare for the meets.

“The practices are different for each of the events that we participate in, but meets after improving from their of the [members],” said freshman Tiana we have as good a chance as other teams first meet in San Jose.

Abdulmassih. “Sprinters run a series of who have dozens of girls running,” said “There are nine people on the track 200 meters and 400 meters to prepare for Abdulmassih. and they run multiple heats,” said Coach the meets while distance runners usually The Cubs’ next meet is April 22 at Anna Challet. “In any heat you are runrun a couple of timed miles.”

San Francisco City College. Check http:// ning against eight different people so [the The team of three said that they find sacredsf.org/chs for more information.

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Swim team prepares for championships sara kleopfer reporter

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he swim team is working to improve their record in the upcoming meets before the BCL championships on May 10.

“The girls have been working extremely hard at practice, and I’ve seen great improvement in everybody,” said assistant coach Renee Chow. “I think we have potential to do well in the championships.”

The team has had two meets as of press time, against Mercy Burlingame and Lick Wilmerding, both of which they lost.

“We did really well at our meet

against Lick, but their team is three times the size of ours,” said Chow.

“We have such a strong team, and I’m sure we would score better if only we had more swimmers.”

There are 15 swimmers on the team, and they work together as well as individually to make progress.

“Swimming is a very self-motivated sport, but I find inspiration in my teammates’ enthusiasm,” said freshman Natalie Garnett.

“Even though you’re swimming out there by yourself, it’s the team’s encouragement that helps push you to do your best.”

INA HERLIHY | the broadview

Sophomore Jovel Queirolo swims breaststroke at swim team practice at Garfield Pool in the Mission.

The swim team’s next meet is against Crystal Springs Uplands on April 23.

5 simple rules: badminton The server hits the shuttlecock (birdie) with the racket underhand from the serve line diagonally to the opposite end of the court.

The server scores a point and serves again if she wins a rally, but the receiver becomes the new server and receives a point if she wins a rally.

The birdie stays in play if it hits the net and goes over to the other side or strikes the other player, but it cannot rest on the racket or hit the ground.

Players switch sides of the court with their opponent at the end of each game, and the winner of the previous game serves first in the next game.

Two games that are 21 points each are played, but if the scores are tied, then a third game of 21 points determines the ultimate winner.

DOMINIQUE SHETH | the broadview

— compiled by Susie Lee Source: www.internationalbadminton.org

M

arch Madness has always seemed like “spring fever,” a term for common symptoms during a certain time period.

However, “madness” is probably an overstatement with the recent findings on decreased worker productivity in relation to the NCAA tournament.

People spend hours writing their brackets and watching college basketball teams compete across the country. Web sites are constantly updated with the latest tournament scores.

It’s understandable that people would want to spend time redoing their brackets in order to win the $5 million for having the best lineup.

It’s the perfect money making scheme combined with an interesting pastime.

However, there have been reports that March Madness contributes to decreased worker productivity. Businesses lose an estimated $3.8 billion during March, according to a press release

by John A. Challenger, CEO of Challenger, Gray, & Christmas.

The Challenger report doesn’t factor in the time that people waste at work on a daily basis with long lunches or talks around the coffee pot.

Workers understand that they have to finish their work or face the consequences. The tournament just rearranges the time they have.

Sports Illustrated even provided live video streaming online. People were able to watch game highlights or full games on their office computers. The site also had a “boss button,” which brings up a mock spreadsheet with statistics on snacks consumed and other random facts.

Sports Illustrated is just making a joke out of people who do spend time watching the game at work. Not all jobs require working with a spreadsheet. Besides, if a boss really cared about wasted time, he or she would have some sort of system in place that would report productivity.

On average, college basketball fans don’t even tune in to all the games. According to a study done by Nielson Media Research, 23.1 million viewers watched the 2005 championship while only 16.6 million saw the championships for the year before.

Overall, the relation to worker productivity seems blown out of proportion. People have enough common sense not to spend too much time at work doing other activities that could possibly jeopardize their job.

Even if people do spend time creating office pools for the tournament, workers can’t stand around all day just watching games. Besides, most games are played on weeknights or weekends.

Productivity estimates should look at the big picture. If productivity slumps, it could be due to “spring forward” or some other seasonal event. People are smart enough not to waste time at work focusing on something that is only a pastime.

12

sports

april 18, 2008

City walks provide exercise, views morgan kendall

A

editor in chief

den frequently walks and hikes in areas ranging from the Presidio to the Embarcadero.

“I’m actually getting rid of my car because I walk pretty much everywhere,” said Padden. “San Francisco is so accessible on foot.”

Padden prefers not to listen to music while walking.

“I don’t usually wear earphones because I like to actually hear the world around me,” said

s temperatures rise on clear spring days, San Francisco residents are hiking and walking as a means of exercising while also exploring the city in greater depth.

“Walking is really the only way to see things in a city,” said Sue Krumbein, guide and coordinator of school tours for San Francisco City Guides.

City hikes can be as “When you’re in a car or even a bus, you can just long and challenging zip through a neighboras you want them to be. hood. But when you They can be as beautiful walk, you can stop and investigate things. You and interesting as hikes can look up and see in the wilderness. the tops of buildings, which can often be the – Sylvia Allen most beautiful parts of buildings.”

Padden. “It’s exhilarating. It’s While people may prefer to meditative for me, where I get most hike in less populated areas, there of my thinking and planning done. are certainly opportunities for hik- It’s really easy to find nature in this ing within San Francisco. urban environment.”

“Many people, even enthusiEspecially in a city like San astic hikers, don’t even try city hik- Francisco that has a lot of hills, ing,” said Sylvia Allen, Hike Leader walking can be a good form of for San Francisco City Hikes. “I exercise. suppose they’re imagining little “Walking is aerobic and tonneighborhood strolls with stores, ing,” said Padden. “It’s probably cafes and historic places. There are the best exercise for me. It does plenty of those, but you can also do take up a chunk of time, but it’s real hiking in the city.” an invigorating whole-body and “City hikes can be as long and mind experience.” as challenging as you want them Individuals can also personto be,” said Allen. “They can be as alize walks by determining the beautiful and interesting as hikes pace. in the wilderness.”

“You can go as fast or slow as English teacher Theresa Pad- you want,” said Allen. “This kind

of exercise works for everybody, however fit or not the person is to begin with.”

Various organizations offer tours or hikes throughout different neighborhoods for tourists and San Francisco residents alike.

San Francisco City Hikes leads private hikes for groups that are all between four and 5.5 miles long, whereas San Francisco City Guides offers free walking tours that incorporate more of the history of the city.

“Our number one tour is the tour of Chinatown, because it’s so colorful and it’s a relatively big Chinatown,” said Krumbein.

“We also give a popular tour called City Scapes and Public Places, which takes people to out of the way places that they might not even known existed, like roof gardens or parks.”

But walkers or hikers often determine favorite routes that they frequent individually.

“My own favorite hike is one of our Presidio hikes,” said Allen.

“It starts at Baker Beach and wanders all over the Western Presidio.

It has gorgeous and unusual views and all kinds of interesting twists and turns.”

Hikers and walkers can also appreciate the picturesque views available throughout the city.

“People come from all over the world to see the views that we see everyday,” said Padden. “Walk-

Soccer team strengthens bonds mary slattery

T

sacred heart editor

he JV and varsity soccer teams have focused on learning each other’s strengths and coming together as a team, rather than winning games.

“The season turned out to not be so good in terms of our record,” said varsity captain Tracy Kuwatani. “However, I have seen the team grow from being a group of girls from different grades on a team to a group of friends in a family.”

Junior Grace Milligan steals the ball from an Urban player at a varsity game on April 8.

Varsity has two more games before the season ends.

Junior Gabby Tringali also noticed the importance of the game over the age of the players.

“There are girls from all grades on the team, but age doesn’t really matter,” said Tringali. “Everyone is on the same level on the field.”

Kuwatani and varsity captain Sasha Melendez-Goldman continued to read an inspirational quote to the team before each game and each girl puts the quote in her left shin guard, as they’ve done in past seasons.

“For difficult upcoming

INA HERLIHY | the broadview

games, Sasha and I picked quotes that stressed the importance of trying your hardest, because as long as you try your hardest there is nothing more you can do,” said Kuwatani.

Senior Meghan Helmberger said she enjoyed being able to actually go out on a field and play.

“We lost a lot of our season to the rain last year, so it was great to be outdoors and playing on the field,” said Helmberger.

Having three JV coaches, David Moreno, Christy Checovich and Sarah Garlinghouse allowed the girls to get personal attention during practice.

“There are a lot of people on the team, so having three coaches helps everyone to get the attention they need,” sophomore Qiyamah Hameed.

For many girls on the JV team, it was their first time playing for the school.

“As captains, Jess [Zablah], AnnMarie [Ide] and I try to encourage the less experienced players to learn more about the game,” said JV co-captain Kat Eaneman.

Varsity’s next game is against Marin Academy at Marin Academy on April 18 at 4 p.m. and JV’s next game is against Marin Academy on April 23 at 4 p.m. at the Polo Fields.

RENA HUNT | the broadview

City walks, such as the one leading up to Coit Tower, provide hikers with different views of San Francisco. Walking groups tour the city, showing people out-of-the-way places and historical landmarks. ing through Crissy Field or the Presidio, you have all of the elements: the wind, the birds, the sun and the bay. This city has so much to offer in the way of natural beauty, and the views are free.”

Overall, Allen views hiking in San Francisco as a testing form of exercise.

“City hiking is a hugely enjoyable way to challenge yourself,” said Allen. “If you aren’t normally that much of a walker and you find yourself looking out over the city from the very top of Twin Peaks, having hiked up there on your own two feet, you’ll be pretty proud of yourself.”

Badminton improves skills sara kleopfer

B

reporter

adminton is focusing on improving skills and enjoying the game this season rather than playing to win.

“I like playing badminton because it’s a relaxed sport that doesn’t require practicing for hours everyday at school,” said junior Emily Boschwitz.

The team has a record of 2-5 as of press time.

“I’m really glad I joined badminton because I’m part of a really supportive team,” said freshman Monica Rodriguez.

“We always encourage each other no matter what the score, and that positive attitude helps take the pressure off.”

Players say they are satisfied with how far the team has come since the season’s start.

“The team has definitely improved over the course of the season,” said Boschwitz. “In the beginning, no one was even making contact with the birdie, and now they’re slamming it over the net.”

The team’s next match is scheduled for Apr. 22 against University High School.

Upcoming games

Soccer v. Marin Academy 4.18: V at Marin Academy 4.23: JV at Polo Fields

Track 04.22.08: SF City College

Badminton 04.22.08: University v. University

Swimming 04.23.08: Marin Academy