Issue 4, 2018-2019 by The Lancer

the

LANCER

Volume LVII, Issue 4 » January 15, 2019 » Thousand Oaks High School » 2323 N. Moorpark Rd, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 » www.tohsthelancer.org » thelancer.tohs@gmail.com » Circulation 2,099

CAN WE GO THRIFT SHOPPING? Junior Samuel Snow and Senior Katie O’Shea explain their passion for thrift shopping and its influence in the development of their own personal style. pg. 9

GRAPHIC » NATALIE DULANSKY » THE LANCER PHOTO » MATTHEW WALDMAN » WITH PERMISSION

FORGOTTEN PROMISES

ROBOT TAKEOVER

AROUND THE WORLD

Between finals and family, New Year’s sets no one up for successful resolutions

Smart speaker sales have skyrocketed over the past year and are opening more doors for automation than ever. pgs. 10-11

Senior Malena Valenote travels the world training animals for use in the film industry.

pg. 7

pg. 14

EDITORIAL

Hits and Misses

STAFF EDITORIAL

Under Pressure Art History Studio Art Biology Chemistry Film Nursing Nutrition Accounting Earth Sciences English Graphic Design Geosciences Sociology Architecture Photography Computer Science Environmental Sciences Marketing Film and Video Mathematics Advertising Geography Business Dance Marine Biology Economics Theater Political Science

What’s Up and Down with The Lancer Hit: Hoops they did it again... TOHS Boys Basketball has won two league games this year!

Miss: A moose marched into a hospital in Alaska. That’s pretty amoosing.

Hit: @world_record_egg surpassed Kylie Jenner for the most liked Instagram post. How egg-cellent!

GRAPHIC » NATALIE DULANSKY » THE LANCER

Do parental pressures play a role in student career choices? EDITORIAL BOARD

yes

abstain

It happens more often than one may think: a student applies to a college they don’t like for a major they aren’t interested in even though it’s their future. So why don’t they get to choose what they want to do? As it comes time for seniors at Thousand Oaks High School to finish applying to colleges, one of the hardest decisions is choosing their major. It is common for teenagers to look to their parents for guidance, but at what point do they start choosing what they want and stop letting their parents make decisions for them? We know most parents only want what’s best for their children. For instance, they want their kids to be financially successful, so they feel the need to tell their children what career path to take. While there are many parents who are encouraging and supporting of their children’s dreams, there are also many that push their child into a career they don’t like because it is more likely to get them a well paying job. It isn’t difficult to imagine a scenario where a student wants to be an artist or a photographer but is pressured into law school by their parents. Sure, this is bound to give them a successful future, but will it give them a happy one? We’ve all heard the saying “when you’re doing a job you love, it doesn’t feel like work at all.” The years between college and retirement can be long and dark if one isn’t passionate about their career, no matter how much money they make. This is the sad truth for many surgeons who enjoy writing, accountants who would rather sing, and lawyers with a dream of being a chef. While there are many parents who purposefully push their kids to a certain career path, many can influence

their children without even knowing it. According to the Washington Post, if a child is born into a family of scientists, it is likely they will become a scientist too, whether they really enjoy their career or not. Parents imprint their values onto their children as they grow up, and unknowingly affect what career they will choose later in life. High school is an important time of self-discovery, allowing students to explore their passions and figure out what they want to do with their lives. However, when kids fear disappointing their parents, their passions are pushed aside in favor of comfort. No one likes the shadow of disapproval that comes across their mom or dad’s face when they go against their wishes. Not to mention, children look up to their parents and often want to follow in their footsteps. There’s a reason so many students choose to go to the same college their family has gone to for generations, even if it doesn’t necessarily fit their needs. It’s so much better for a student to go to a college they like, study something they’re interested in and start a career in a field they are passionate about. That route may come with ups and downs, but it is worth it in the long run to be on a fulfilling career path. Breaking away from the norm is hard, especially when it could disappoint a loved one. We know our Lancers love and their parents, but they aren’t the ones sending in college applications soon. In a time where depression and suicide rates are higher than ever, it is important to make sure people follow their passion, but teens are all too often influenced by their parents when making life decisions.

Miss: A huge bronze hippopotamus has gone missing in England. Let’s not be too hippo-critical of them.

Hit: The heaters here at TOHS finally work. Heaters gonna heat!

Miss: A freeway sign fell on a driving car in Australia. He must have not got the warning signs.

Hit: PewDiePie remains the most subscribed to YouTube Channel. Let’s bust out the lasagna.

THE LANCER STAFF 2018-2019 STAFF WRITERS

BUSINESS MANAGER Abbey Austin-Wood

Cooper Goyette Sophie Crivier

Elle Taylor Tallula Auman Maya Johnson

FEATURES

COPY EDITOR

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

IN-FOCUS

Natalie Dulansky Blake Saari

ADVERTISING MANAGER Anna Norton

NEWS Ann Portereiko Cameron Smith

OPINION Natalie Venable

ENTERTAINMENT Ryan Hong Dylan Yoon

Rebecca Tarbett

Abbey Austin-Wood

SPORTS

WEBSITE EDITORS

Tanner Patterson Sierra Smith

ARTIST Natalie Dulansky

Tommy Kackert Emma Tunnell

PHOTOGRAPHER Brandon Cupples

The Lancer is the official school publication of Thousand Oaks High School, created and produced by students in Advanced Journalism. This publication as well as additional stories can be found online at tohsthelancer. org. The Lancer reserves the right to refuse advertising deemed inappropriate for high school publication. Guest editorials and “Letters to the Editor” are welcome, but must be signed and are subject to editing for length, libel, obscenity and grammar. They can be sent to thelancer.tohs@gmail.com. The Lancer is a member of the Journalism Education Association (JEA), National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA), Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA) and NSPA All-American Hall of Fame.

ADVISER Tasha Beaudoin VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT: www.tohsthelancer.org

NEWS

80 percent of Americans believe the International Space Station is a good investment

68 percent of Americans expressed a favorable view of NASA

53 percent

NASA’s budget is

$20.736 billion NASA’s space shuttle cost

$450 million per launch in 2011

believe that ordinary people would be able to travel in space by 2050

SPACE EXPLORATION As the new year begins, government agencies such as NASA is working with private companies such as SpaceX and Blue Origin to create larger rockets to carrry astronaunts into deep space.

23 percent of Americans said the U.S. spends too little on space exploration

63 percent of Americans expect astronauts to land on Mars

Traveling to Mars takes about

300 days

SpaceX is currently evaluated at

SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy costs

$21 billion

$80 million per launch

Blue Origin plans to send civilians into space for

$200,000

68 percent

of members of the American Association for the Advancement of Science aid the space station was a good investment.

SOURCE » WWW.PEWRESEARCH.ORG

SpaceX’s BFR has a larger payload than any other rocket, but is

SOURCE » WWW.NASA.GOV

completely reusable

SOURCE » WWW.BLUEORIGIN.COM SOURCE » WWW.SPACEX.COM

BY » BLAKE SAARI PHOTO » CREATIVE COMMONS » WITH PERMISSION

72 percent of Americans say it is essential that the U.S. be a world leader in space exploration.

NEWS

Government Shutdown What’s happening Trending in USA

The National Park Service has furloughed nearly 16,000 of its employees and suspended most maintenance and visitor services during the #governmentshutdown Jan 14

PHOTO » PNS » OFFICIAL TWITTER

Security

FBI agents collected evidence at the home of the suspected nightclub shooter Ian David Long in Thousand Oaks, Calif. In November. The head of an FBI agents group said the federal government’s partial shutdown is threatening their ability to investigate crimes. Jan 10

PHOTO » BYRON TAU » WSJ

Food Safety

Health concerns arise as FDA says government shutdown has reduced routine inspections of domestic food processing. The Agency, which oversees 80% of the food supply, has suspended all routine inspections of domestic facilities. Jan 9

PHOTO » THEHILL » OFFICIAL TWITTER

National Parks

Trump’s newest exec. order seeks to curb wildfires by cutting much more forest timber. But the partial gov’t shutdown has affected firefighter hiring, training and led to cancellation of a fire conference. http://wildfiretoday. com/tag/shutdown/ @wildfiretoday Jan 14

PHOTO » DARRYL FEARS » OFFICIAL TWITTER

National Security

Air traffic controllers are suing the Trump administration because many are working without pay during the partial govt. Shutdown. More than 24,000 FAA employees are working without pay and 17,000+ have been furloughed. Jan 14

PHOTO » AJPLUS » OFFICIAL TWITTER

NEWS

Outdoor School Burns The beloved outdoor school campsite burned in the Woolsey fire. The district rushes to find alternatives but many still won’t get the opportunity to go. ANN PORTEREIKO

News Editor

Many TOHS students have fond memories of going to outdoor school in middle school, but the camp has sadly burned down due to the effects of the Woolsey fire a couple of months ago. The camp, formally known as Camp Bloomfield, was completely destroyed by the fires. Mike Bloomfield, the camp director, and his family were the only people on the property and they were evacuated from their house before it escalated too far. The current goal of Bloomfield and staff is to be ready to host a camp this summer, but at this point, it doesn’t look likely. Senior Emma Crivier first heard about the fire from her brother who is in sixth-grade and was looking forward to attending outdoor school. Crivier, who previously volunteered at the camp, shared her thoughts on the recent tragedy. “I was just sad to hear because my brother’s in sixth grade this year so he was going to go and now he can’t, ” Crivier said. She talked about her desire to volunteer there again and the other students whose plans were abruptly put to a halt. “I was still wanting to [volunteer] but hopefully they find something to do in addition to or different than outdoor school,” Crivier said. She also commented on alternative plans at Redwood. Rather than cancel the trip completely, they plan on holding an overnight campout on their field. “I really enjoyed going to dinners there every day because everyone just talked and it was crazy and loud,” Crivier said “The beach hike was super fun.” Sixth graders aren’t guaranteed a chance to enjoy these activities this year.

TOHS’s old principal and current superintendent at the district Lou Lichtl, commented on the current plans for the future of outdoor school at a school board meeting on Jan. 9. He brought up two alternative options to substitute the Camp Bloomfield location. The first option was a 3-day excursion activity at three possible locations: Sapwi Trails, Malibu Lagoon and Castaic Lake. The school will provide meals for students as well as transportation. Castaic Lake is farther away than they would like, but it offers the best experience. Field trip forms are already out and Los Cerritos Middle School is set to go in February. They are waiting for permission and a final decision on the location. At the board meeting, Lichtl said that they would prefer the second option. The district is considering an alternative option that would relocate outdoor school to Camp Ramah. Camp Ramah has many activities available for use, including sports fields, adventure courses and hiking trails. It replicates the experience as close as possible and is close enough for day campers to come and go (about 45 miles). There are some setbacks, however, there is still need for about 15-20 staff members including naturalist staffing, nurses and busing. After the outdoor school campsite burned, all but one of the staff left to find other work. Another downside mentioned at the meeting is the possibility of the middle schoolers being there at the same time as other kid groups and even adult groups. This is a cause for additional security. Once Camp Ramah has been approved for use for outdoor school, plans will immediately switch from the 3-day excursion plan. Lichtl and other members of the school board want to replicate the experience as closely as possible. Although many are disappointed that outdoor school is gone, there are plans in place to recreate and rebuild.

SCORCHED—(Top) Charred plants surround the Camp Bloomfield sign. (Middle) Burned trees surround many camp landmarks. (Bottom) A Camp Bloomfield sign points toward acres of burnt land.

“I really enjoyed going to dinners there every day because everyone talked and it was crazy and loud.” —senior EMMA CRIVIER

ALL PHOTOS » ANN PORTEREIKO » THE LANCER

OPINION

... That’s Debatable Is Generation Z under more pressure than older generations?

YES

With Generation Z, kids born between 1995 and 2015, being exposed to new pressures such as elevated politics and social media, some argue our generation is under more pressure — but is this the case?

Social media brings pressure to Gen Z others didn’t worry about

Every generation has dealt with their own pressures and struggles

TALLULA AUMAN

ELLE TAYLOR

Staff Writer

Our phones are constantly with us. Buzzing, vibrating, ringing with notifications. People know younger generations for being obsessed with their devices; in fact, it practically defines our generation. But the apps on our smartphones may be hurting us more than we care to admit. Our generation, Generation Z, born from 1995 to 2015, grew up during tons of technological advances. We have watched flip phones become Blackberries, turn into iPods and then to smart phones. Almost every kid in our generation has a cell phone full of apps that include games, apps to help with exercise, track sleep, and share our lives with the world. When Instagram came out in 2010, it created a way for people to connect from all corners of the world. Through the years Instagram has become an app for business and self-promotion. These days, image is everything. How we present ourselves can influence others opinion about us and whether we are “cool.” This puts outstanding pressure on teens to conform to others like them. To some this can even mean changing their entire identity. While the pressure of appearance has weaved itself throughout each generation, the addition of social media has increased pressure on young people immensely. Our whole lives are on display, our peers watch every move we make, judging each other with every post and comment. Virtually, nothing goes unseen. The pressure to conform to a certain body type is a huge source of stress on teens. Youtube fills our brains with workout videos to get the “ideal” body, and Instagram shows pictures of “perfect” people. In some cases, this turns into harmful disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. Every generation has faced outside influences, but there is no denying how social media has caused lasting damage. The media fills young people’s heads with images of how we should act and look in order to earn acceptance. The pressure we face from our peers on social media has overwhelmed Gen Z.

35% of U.S. teens use Snapchat more often than any other social media.

24% of U.S. teens believe social media negatively impacts lives.

72% of U.S. teens use Instagram.

By 2020, Generation Z will account for 40% of all consumers.

The average Gen Zer uses 5 screens: a smartphone, TV, a laptop, desktop and an iPod or iPad.

75% of Gen Z reports the possibility of a mass shooting is a source of stress.

76% of Gen Z is concerned the impact of humanity on the planet.

SOURCE » CMO.COM SOURCE » PEWINTERNET.ORG GRAPHICS » NATALIE DULANSKY » THE LANCER

53% of young adults say issues around sexual harrasment and assault are causes of stress.

Staff Writer

Bethany Black, an English Teacher at Grandview Heights High School, came up with an interesting assignment for her students to teach them to write about topics that matter to the public. She had her freshman English 9 and Honors English 9 students write essays answering a question that seemed to be quite controversial. The prompt was, “Is Generation Z under more pressure than other generations?” The answer to that question is no. A lot of Gen Z’s pressures are similar to other generations’. For example, Gen Z has financial woes, but so do Baby Boomers. According to Staffbase by Sina Kaye Lockley, 46 percent of Gen Z say their biggest financial concern is student debt. Once they graduate college, all they can get is a low paying job, making it so they can’t pay of college loans. Similarly, for Baby Boomers, having their retirement pensions frozen is a huge concern. Steve Helber on NPR said “Roger Merriman, 65, [who] worked in the coal industry for 28 years. Merriman’s employer, Patriot Coal, filed for bankruptcy in 2012, then again in 2015. He is now slated to lose his pension and benefits.” Another issue shared by Gen Z and the other generations is drugs. According to Rooster Magazine, the number of 16 to 24-year olds (Gen Z) using cocaine has doubled, from 3 percent to 6 percent between 2017-18. Although, according to Drugabuse.com, all the other generations used marijuana, stimulants, sedatives, psychotherapeutics and painkillers. Plus, there was a huge drug epidemic in the 60s involving overdoses of Opioids, effecting prior generations. Saying that Generation Z is under more pressure is inaccurate, but saying the other generations are under more pressure is also wrong. Every generation has its fair share of struggles and is under an equal amount of pressure. Generation Z is not that unique when it comes to its problems. Turns out we’re just like all the rest.

NEW YEAR, SAME YOU

OPINION

3... 2... 1... Happy New Year! New Year’s brings pressure to have fun, unrealistic resolutions and the struggle to built new habits. Between finals and holiday obligations, New Year’s resolutions are set to fail. NATALIE VENABLE

Opinion Editor

Through growing up, I have come to realize the magic in the air on Holidays has dissipated. Am I the only one who has noticed Christmas felt almost like any other day with some extra festivities? Maybe it’s just me, but ever since about age twelve, holidays haven’t felt much different than a regular day. Particularly when it comes to New Year’s Eve; it isn’t exciting. All that happens is the ball drops in Time Square, the calendar year starts over and we all write the wrong date on our papers for a few weeks. From year to year, my feelings towards New Year’s tend to vary. As a little kid I would always fall asleep before midnight, a skill I wish I still had, and it the whole night felt special in a way. Now, the only special thing about New Year’s is there is always this pressure looming over the night to do something eventful. Whether it’s partying way too hard, kissing someone at midnight or whatever other ritual, there is this obligation to do something. Then, the next morning we are supposed to wake up as new people? Personally, I woke up at 1 p.m. on Jan. 1 sick, tired and the exact same person I was the night before. The issue with New Year’s resolutions is the pressure coming with them. I firmly believe people change but it does not happen overnight. It takes time to build new habits; it doesn’t magically happen on January 1st. The notion it takes “21 days to make a habit” is a myth. According to Forbes, forming a habit comes in three phases, the first one being the easiest during which the task seamlessly blends into life because motivation is fresh and prevalent. Then, comes the hard part: Phase two. During phase two the task is not so effortless anymore because reality sets in, and then old habits

AT A

SK Y

come knocking. However, in order to successfully form the habit, one must fight through phase two to get to phase three. During phase three, the habit becomes second nature, but phase three isn’t the end. Life happens and gets in the way, making new habits easy to break, so phase two and phase three tend to cycle around for a while until a habit is formed. With this in mind, when people expect themselves to start meditating and going to the gym everyday starting Jan 1, it is simply unrealistic. It isn’t easy to go from never doing something to doing it everyday, and then what happens if they miss a day? The resolution is already broken, so why continue? It’s just too much pressure! In order to avoid this predicament last year, my sole 2018 resolution was to procrastinate less. I knew I wouldn’t stop procrastinating completely, but I wanted break the habit, which is as hard as forming a new one. The only reason I kept my resolution was because it was sustainable. All I needed to do in order to “keep” my resolution was procrastinate less, so even if I spent two less minutes procrastinating throughout the entire year, I still would’ve been abiding to my resolution. In that, I allowed room for phases one, two and three to come and go. When it comes to resolutions of any kind, the most important thing is setting oneself up for success. Our finals schedule in high school makes New Year’s resolutions even more awkward because when we’re all ready to start fresh until we go back to school, and it isn’t even a new semester. The absolute whirlwind of stress greeting us when we get back is the perfect condition to break any and all of our New Year’s resolutions. Nobody is going be eating healthy and meditating while we’re trying to remember what we learned back in August. I’m all for goal setting and personal growth, but New Year’s is not the appropriate time for it. Personally, I set goals for the new school year. For high school it makes it easier because I have had all summer to grow and recuperate and then I can start a new grade with new goals in mind. Winter break, in contrast to summer, is hardly a break. It’s more of a familial obligation, Christmas shopping, studying for finals cyclone, but yeah, let’s add reinventing ourselves to the storm.

175 million Americans watch the ball drop on New Year’s Eve.

80% of New Year’s resolutions fail by February.

37% of New Year’s Resolutions are to eat healthier, 37% are to exercise more and 24% are to focus on self care. 1 in 10 11th and

1.5 tons of

12th graders admit to ringing in the New Year by drunk driving.

confetti is dropped in Time Square on New Year’s Eve.

About 54% of Americans plan on kissing someone at midnight on New Year’s Eve.

3% of Americans don’t celebrate NYE. SOURCE » WALLETHUB.COM

12% of Americans fall asleep before midnight.

ENTERTAINMENT

Dance for the Culture Over the years, the use of social media has spread new viral dances from artists and entertainers.

HARLEM SHAKE This dance move consists of lifting the opposite knee of whatever arm you are using, then dropping your knee and arm at the same time. It was created by music artist, Real Hasani in 2014. However, Hasani doesn’t receive all the credit due to artist Silento and his song “Watch Me.”

JUJU ON THAT BEAT New York City rapper, 2 Milly, or Terrence Ferguson, came up with the dance “Milly Rock” in 2014. He came up with the dance so that it would match his song “Milly Rock.” It initially didn’t go viral but after rapper Playboi Carti released “Magnolia,” a lot of attention was brought back onto the dance.

DAB This dance originated from Atlanta by dancers Meechie and Toosi. It became well known and viral when New York Giants wide receiver, Odell Beckham Jr. “Hit Dem Folks” after getting a touchdown similar to how he would “whip” or “Nae Nae” after a touchdown when the dance first came out.

SHOOT

The “Harlem Shake,” characterized as a jerky arm and shoulder movement was created in 2013 by youtube comedian Filthy Frank, also known as hip-hop rapper Joji. Filthy Frank took the original “Harlem Shake” by Baauer, a latino producer based in Brooklyn, and added a dubstep drop about fifteen seconds into the beginning of the song.

WHIP “Juju on that Beat” is a dance challenge to the song “Juju on that Beat” by American hip-hop duo Zay Hilfigerr and Zayion McCall which was released in 2016. The song itself is a freestyle over the beat of the song “Knuck if you Buck” by Atlanta hip-hop group “Crime Mob” that reached number eleven on the “Billboard Hot 100” after three weeks.

MILLY ROCK The “Dab” is a dance move where you drop your head into your arm that is bent while the other arm is stretched out in the same direction as your other arm. It was created in 2014 by rap group, Migos and widely spread by Cam Newton, quarterback for the Carolina Panthers, when he first used the dance as a touchdown celebration in 2015.

HIT DEM FOLKS The “Shoot,” a dance where you kick your leg and move your arm simultaneously, was created by rapper, Blocboy JB in his song “Shoot” in 2017. However, the dance went viral after the music video for “Look Alive,” a song that reached up to number five on the Billboard Hot 100 with Drake. Soon after the release of “Look Alive,” the dance blew up the internet and eventually known by all social media users. ALL PHOTOS » NATALIE DULANSKY » THE LANCER

ENTERTAINMENT

Sensible Shopping Senior Katie O’Shea and Junior Sam Snow explain why they prefer shopping at thrift stores and how it has helped develop their personal style of fashion. RYAN HONG

Entertainment Editor

As the Millennial’s influence on hipster culture on the West coast continues to spread, the effects can be seen in the clothing style Generation Z individuals today. When children begin maturing in high school, one of the results is the development of their own style of fashion. In combination with the currently trending urban and vintage style, thrift stores have become increasingly popular for those looking for an economic, ethical and environmentally friendly alternative to retail stores. “I think that shopping at thrift stores is more ethical than shopping at retail stores. Oftentimes clothing from retail stores is very expensive and the store makes up to four hundred percent or more than what they pay their employees and the people who make their clothing,”senior Katie O’Shea said. Because of the abundance of collections and styles when browsing thrift stores, finding the desired shirt or jacket can be thrilling. Junior Sam Snow shared his thoughts. “I usually look for polos or jackets, but finding a pair of pants that I’ve been wanting is really exciting because they’re the least likely to find,” Snow said. With a whole store containing attire from almost any era imaginable, select styles are usually what shoppers look to find and wear. From shoes to jackets, almost every garment possesses unique features that would otherwise not be available at your traditional retail store. “Personally, my style is late 80s-early 90s. I’m really inspired by bold silhouettes and textures, but my all time favorite thing to find are really weird and specific t-shirts. When I thrift, I mainly look for high quality fabrics and fits of clothing that will best suit my body,” O’Shea said. When asked about which thrift stores they like to shop at, both Katie and Sam said Goodwill was the first to come to mind. “I routinely shop at Goodwill, specifically because I think they’re the most responsible in practice and have the lowest prices,” O’Shea said. Outside of Thousand Oaks, Sam says that the Melrose Flea Market is also one of his favorite places to shop. “If I go [there] I’ll spend forty dollars and get a couple jackets, couple shirts and maybe some pants. They even have shoes there for like ten dollars, it’s crazy.”

POPPIN’ TAGS—(Left) Senior Katie O’Shea poses in her flannel and jean outfit. (Right) Junior Sam Snow shows off his recently bought sweatshirt from the Melrose Flea Market.

Diﬀerent from shopping at retail stores, coming out of thrift stores with multiple articles of clothing is an common occurrence, and generally more guilt free. “Maximum I’ll spend like twenty bucks, and depending on where I go, like if I go to Goodwill I can get like three shirts and pants,” Snow said. Similarly, O’Shea also regularly buys multiple items. “On average I spend around twenty dollars at Goodwill, which will get me anything from a couple pairs of jeans, a bunch of T-shirts, a couple jackets long sleeve shirts, or a combination of items.”

PHOTO » RYAN HONG » THE LANCER

“I don’t really look for brands when I go thrifting, more than brands I look for styles I like and what will look good on me personally.” —senior Katie O’Shea

PHOTO » MATTHEW WALDMAN » WITH PERMISSION

IN-FOCUS

Hey Alexa? As the sales of smart speakers like the Amazon Echo skyrocket, people enjoy the conviniences that come with them, but also express lots of doubt. COOPER GOYETTE

In-Focus Editor

As technology in our country improves and the cost decreases, new forms of smart in home devices and entertainment called smart speakers have become available. This comes in the forms of Google Home, Amazon Echo, Apple Homepod, and even smart vacuums like the Roomba. The main goal of the Home and the Alexa is to aid in the everyday lives of people in their households. They allow for lights to be brightened, dimmed, and turned on or off, give voice control over the AC and the heat, and even allow to be connected to speakers and play music. These devices can give for peace of mind for people who are working away from home or traveling often, as accompanying apps permit for control over ovens and cooking tops. Home devices have the ability to control your sprinklers and even your dog’s food dispenser. They can take another step toward safety by allowing the user to monitor security systems and watch cameras from their phone. For people taking care of younger or elderly people, this can be a huge help if they are needed elsewhere. However, home technology goes beyond just smart devices. Energy and water efficiency is another benefit to using these devices. Users can make the stove heat to exact temperatures and boil water perfectly, which saves energy. Certain smart shower heads monitor the amount of water being used and even shape water droplets to maximize the usefulness of water being used. Another thing that is changed with a smart home is cost effectiveness. It is estimated that a house that uses smart technology for its thermostat can save between 10% and 30% on energy costs every year. This, combined with the water savings and the time saved by controlling everything from your phone, begins to add up over a year. In the world we live in today, everything is sped up and people are constantly on the go, and smart technology is developed to cater to individuals who require the ease and quickness of the technology. It seems as though there is no limit to the benefits and positives of in-home devices, however there’s a side to them that can be considered undesirable. For example, it requires time and money to install these home appliances, and if you decide to take on the task yourself, that could take more time than you are willing to put out. This technology is complicated, and for some people it may not make

things easier. It would also require time to learn it and maximize the use you get out of it. There are different levels of automation for your household, and people must find a balance that works the best for their lifestyle and needs. Another issue that users may run into is system compatibility. With many different brands creating many different kinds of smart home devices, they all run off of different apps and certain devices may not be compatible. This could cause confusion and more time and money spent by the user. To continue, these speakers can be very expensive. The price varies for turning a house into a smart home, with Google Home and Alexa running between $75 and $450. To completely outfit your house will cost in the thousands of dollars, as you can make pretty much anything into a smart device. From the lighting to the windows, and the showers and the speakers there’s no limit to what you can do. Finally, many people worry about the implications of having a device constantly listening to their conversations. In 2017, there was a murder case that used recordings from an Amazon Echo as evidence in the trial. However, because this was an invasion of privacy, the suspect had to give their permission to Amazon before they could give the recordings to authorities. Also, in May 2018, a couple’s conversation was accidentally recorded and sent to a coworker. Amazon says that it was due to their conversation sounding like a series of Alexa commands, and was a result of chance. They assured the public that it is very unlikely to happen again and they are working to fix the problem altogether. Despite Amazon’s claims that all information is kept private, many skeptics continue to theorize what smart speakers’ true purposes are. Some people think their conversations are sold to companies so they can market their products better, while others think it is sent to the government to spy on everyone. Overall, reviews for in-home smart speakers range from very satisfied to very unsatisfied. These stem from the issues that plague many smart homes, such as cost and ease of use. Also, many people worry that their privacy is being invaded when smart speakers listen to them. However, in-home devices make everyday tasks more convenient and are being constantly improved. No matter what their opinion on them is, no one can deny that they open doors for even greater technology in the future.

IN-FOCUS

44% of Lancers use a smart speaker in their household. About 18% of Americans own at least one smart speaker. Amazon Prime members are twice as likely to own a smart speaker 54% of people who own smart speakers are women

84% of owners mostly use their smart speakers for listening to music. There are more than 70,000 Alexa skills. Smart speakers are used the most in the United States. 500 million devices have access to different types of voice assistants.

Between 2017 and 2018, the number of smart speakers in households increased by 78% The most amazon smart speakers are sold on Prime Day 69% of smart speaker owners use a Amazon device, 25% use Google Home, and 6% use other devices.

Most Valued Smart Speaker Skills

United States Smart Speaker Users from 2017-2020

Make Lists Other 2.2% Order Products Online 3.3% Interact with 1.1% Other Devices 7.7%

News Updates 1.1% Set Alarms 6.6%

Weather Updates 4.4% Answering Questions 6.6%

0 2017

2018

Year

2019

2020

Playing Music 67%

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SPORTS

Down the Court, Up the Score Lancers Girls Basketball takes on Marmonte as they attempt to finish the season strong and carry momentum into the postseason. TANNER PATTERSON

Sports Editor

Two years removed from their CIF title run, Lancers girls basketball is under new leadership with first year head coach and 2010 Lancer alumna Jenna Bandy leading the program. With a standing record of 10-10, 1-1 in league, the team is looking for a successful final six games in the competitive Marmonte league, contested by returning powerhouse programs Calabasas and Newbury Park. Although not a physically dominant team, with no players on the team listed over 6 feet, the Lancers are confident they may have the upper hand in other aspects of the sport. “The main strength of our team is our speed and endurance,” junior guard Katie Messer said. “The team is mostly guards, so we’re pretty quick and [like] to press a lot.” With an early first round exit in last season’s playoffs, Coach Jenna Bandy brings a fresh mentality to the program, attempting to lead them further in the title fight. “As far as playing style goes, I think we’re a lot more aggressive defensively,” senior guard Diana Suarez said. “We’re pressing, trapping, getting steals more often.” Although this is her first season with the Lancers as a coach, Bandy has represented the Lancers on the court before, having led them to success in previous years as a player, showing her experience in the Lancers’ system. “Jenna brings a lot of energy and we have all new plays this year that help us push the ball more in transition,” Messer said.

One of the program’s main focuses this season is building team chemistry on the young team, with only four seniors on the team. “We’re playing a lot better together and trusting each other more. We’re learning what our roles are and doing the best we possibly can to help the team,” Messer said, “All of us have had to adjust to a new coach, but we’ve gotten better and closer as a team through that.” Furthermore, the four seniors on the team have focused on bringing leadership to this young program on and off the court. “[The seniors] bring experience,” Bandy said. “They know what it takes to win. The seniors and one junior [on our team] were part of the team that clenched a CIF title back in 2017.” The standout player for the Lancers this year has been senior guard Lizzy Benton, leading the team in every per-game statistical category, with the exception of turnovers. Benton has scored over double-digits in seventeen out of the twenty games this season. She has showed that she can be a leader on both sides of the floor, not only putting up high offensive numbers, but also bringing an aggressive mentality to the defensive parts of a game. With four seniors at the helm, a young Lancers girls basketball team has their sights set on a CIF run this postseason. The program looks to close out the Marmonte season strong in the 6 remaining games in the year, and turn that momentum into a successful playoff run. They believe they could add a banner to the rafter of the gym if they perform at their best. Their next game is an away game on January 18th as they take on Oaks Christian.

TEAM STATS POINTS PER GAME

49.2

REBOUNDS PER GAME

35.6

BLOCKS PER GAME

6.6

PUSH THE PACE - (Right) Junior guard Katie Messer brings up the ball. (Left) Senior forward Mackenzie Walton pulls up for a midrange jumpshot in their game agianst Newbury Park. ALL PHOTOS » NATALIE DULANSKY » THE LANCER

SPORTS

Boys Wrestling provides insight on their sport, as they explain the tough circumstances wrestlers face on a regular basis in order to stay in a healthy and competative state.

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PHOTO » BLAKE SAARI » THE LANCER

Sports Editor

By securing a victory over Calabasas on Thursday Jan. 10 in the Marmonte League opener, varsity wrestling increases their chances of making CIF as they look toward fierce competitors such as Newbury Park. “We had a tough match against Calabasas last [Thursday] night so just like last year, whoever wins our match against Newbury Park will win Marmonte League,” Coach Kerry Lyne said. Lyne originally began coaching when he became a teacher because he hoped to meet more students. The sport has always been close to the heart since he wrestled in high school and college and he wanted to pass on his knowledge. “I coached football as well, but wrestling is a sport that not as many people coach, so I knew it was an area of need,” Lyne said. “It’s easier to find a basketball or football coach so since I like the sport and I want to keep passing it down I became a coach.” Wrestling is made up of much more that just technique and strength, challenges can also be presented through the various rules, some commonly used moves are double leg takedowns and half nelsons. Double leg takedowns are a move that offsets the opponents balance, so the opposing wrestler can lift or slam the opponent into the mat. Half nelson are accomplished by using only hand, by passing it under the arm of the opponent and locking the hand on the ON THE opponent’s neck. MAT—(Top) “The rules are not too hard to follow or learn,” SeSenior Blake nior Blake Sanders said. “But for someone who is unSanders attempts familiar with wrestling, I would imagine that the rules to break his oppoabout awarding takedowns, locking hands and nearfall nent down. (Above) points would be the first thing misunderstood.” Sanders mat returns These are just a few examples of rules that contribopponent. (Left) Junior ute to the points given during a match. Joey Escobar looks up a Points can also be awarded through reversals in cradle. (Bottom) Senior which your opponent has you down on the mat and Gordon Horwitz com- you regain control by going underneath, and escapes pletes cross body by once again achieving a neutral position. Several ride bonnet. other rules apply as well. “The hardest rules to follow are the locking hands rule where if the opponent has their knees in the mat you can not lock hands,” Junior Nick Brady said. There are several components that contribute to becoming a successful wrestler, the ability to follow rules is one, and putting in the effort in practices and matches is another. “The hardest part of matches and practice is being able to stay mentally tough the entire time, so you can push yourself to go 100 percent even when you’re tired,” Brady said. Each individual wrestler has their own specific challenges that contribute to how they prepare for personal matches and that lead to overall readiness. “The hardest part of my matches is when I am wrestling

someone who I know has more experience or strength than me,” Sanders said. “I have to keep a good mental game, wrestle smarter, faster, and stronger than them.” Depending on the location and set up of the competitions one or more wrestlers can be competing at once. In a duel only one match is taking place at a time, but in tournaments anywhere from 4-8 matches might be taking place. “The dynamics of a match are pretty simple, there’s three periods, all two minutes long,” Sanders said. “The first period is neutral, and the second and third [periods] are chosen by each wrestler, they can chose top, bottom, or neutral [starting positions] depending on what their best strategy is.” Sometimes wrestlers are required to lose or gain weight in a short period of time in order to move up or down a weight class, every wrestler takes a hydration test to determine how much weight they can lose in a safe manner. “Making weight is a very common thing, it’s very important to do it safely and not drop more than a few pounds or try and gain too much weight too quickly,” Brady said. “As long as it’s done with enough time it’s an okay process. Sometimes it’s best to just cut a couple days in advance by sweating a lot.” The varsity team is made up of 14 tightly knit dedicated wrestlers who take part in duels and tournaments as they continuously put their body’s on the line for the benefit of the team. Each wrestler is not only struggling to compete and pin their opponents for the individual win, but also have to focus on the overall score that contributes to their team victories. “During a match pain is inevitable but the adrenaline from working so hard usually masks it till after,” Brady said. “Pain is common and I have become accustomed to it so it fuels me to work even harder.” Recovery after a match is challenging but due to the 45 minute break in between matches and possible longer breaks during tournaments, wrestlers are given plenty of time to recuperate. “Recovering from a match is very challenging, it’s like recovering from a full body sprint with an equal amount of resistance as you weigh,” Brady said. “You focus on slowing your breathing, stretching, and sitting down to let your legs recover.” Due to the inability to substitute wrestlers continuously give everything they have. Wrestling meets can last anywhere from 5-8 hours and two team duels can last about two to two and a half hours. “One weight class wrestles at a time and it progresses from the lightest weight of 106 pounds to the heaviest weight of 285 pounds,” Brady said. Each wrestler dedicates hours of practice and participation weekly. Through all this pain and commitment, some wrestlers come out learning more than just technique. “Wrestling has taught me personally how to be mentally tough and persevere through adversity and loss,” Brady said. In hopes of continuing their success through winning matches, the possibility of making CIF and competing against more experienced wrestlers appears to be in the teams locked hands. The teams next match is on Thursday Jan. 17 against Marmonte League opponent Westlake at home. The varsity match will begin at 6:30 pm.

SPORTS

ATHLETES OF THE Ju sti y nA e s l ISSUE e nd K e y rso

l e Ke

“Justin very fun to be around and a very good leader, so in terms of the whole chemistry aspect he brings us together.” - Sophomore Michael Welikala

“Keely Kelsey is [our] team captain and a sophomore standout. [Her year] is highlighted by a standout performance.” -Head Coach Antonio Pereles

“Justin is not the type to get upset or rattled, he’s calm and cool. He’s the type of player to calm the whole team down.” - Head Coach Richard Endres

“She is a great player on offense in games. She shoots a lot and scores for us often.” -Senior Sam Katz

PHOTO » BLAKE SAARI » THE LANCER

PHOTO » NATALIE VENABLE » THE LANCER

MARCHING BAND

WHEN IN ROME The Lancer band recently took a trip to Rome, among other famous sites in Italy. They performed in the New Year’s Day Parade on a two and a half hour tour through the city.

PHOTO » CRAIG CORLEY » WITH PERMISSION

“It was unforgettable! One song that we played called Volare is a popular Italian song so whenever we played it all of the Italians sang along! That was really cool.” -Rachel Corley

PHOTO » CRAIG CORLEY » WITH PERMISSION

“My favorite part of the trip was the New Years Day Parade because of how receptive the Roman people were to our band and the interactive atmosphere that created with them wanting to shake our hands, take pictures, or greet us Happy New Year or ‘Buon Anno’” -Eadan Dury PHOTO » ANDREA SIMMONS » WITH PERMISSION

PHOTO » ANDREA SIMMONS » WITH PERMISSION

PHOTO » CRAIG CORLEY » WITH PERMISSION