Quill 4 by The Quill

Volume 1 Issue 3

The

Quill

Have yourself a Merry Mega Christmas The very first play written by the ICS faculty premieres. BY LEAH ROBINSON

November, 2013

LETTERFROMTHEEDITOR December 2013

Letter from the Editor Greetings readers, 2013 has been a dynamic year for The Quill, with modifications to our layouts and expansions to our publication crew in an effort to better serve you with the latest reports, ideas, and artworks from our school and around the world. Right now, with the approach of the mid-term exams and Christmas, The Quill is brimming with excitement for the upcoming festive period. With the twinkle of sparkling lights, we proudly present to you our tips for the upcoming exams, perspective on Christmas, and recaps of events that happened at school for the past month. With the best ideas and stories, you are sure to have a jolly time. Finally, I would like to offer you and all of our readers a very special thank you for your continued support and for making The Quill a part of your lives. From all The Quillâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s crew, I wish you and your loved ones the best of luck on your exams, happiness, and joy for the holiday.

Quill-fully yours, Will Leelamanthep

Inside... AROUNDICS The TWO-ONE-O-FOUR Carnival

ICS Christmas Musical

Senior Session: Mimi Tanapathong

Eagle Eye: World Scholars Cup Competitors

ATHLETICS #Title

School Spirit

LIFESTYLE 9

Siam Style Selebration Christmas Fashion

What Does the Fox Say?

Ten Tips to the Top

iPad Air

OUROPINIONS 15

Waikayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Corner: Spiderman vs. Batman

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

PHOTOGRAPHERS

WRITERS

Will Leelamanthep

Pann Sermchaiwong Time Chaiteerath Tommy Withayarukson

FayFay Prasutchai Gid Jiranuntarat Grace Hsieh Jericca Looi John Kim Keshav Garg Leah Robinson Poon Vorapanyasakul PanPan Supatchapichai Praise Kittipol Win Leelamanthep

ADVISOR Ms. Lissa Scott

SOCIAL MEDIA PERSONNEL LAYOUT DESIGNER Win Leelamanthep

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Poon Vorapanyasakul

Grace Hsieh

EDITORS Poom Sethabutr Prim Thientanakij Young Kwang Shin Khem Somsak

December 2013

AROUNDICS

It’s Payback Time!

The TWO-ONE-O-FOUR Carnival By Win Leelamanthep

With the class of 2014’s

stated that it was “Very fun, although

Going up one more year, we

graduation approaching moment-bymoment, a single day may provide quite a meaning, a story, or nostalgia

very tiring and at times, even a bit see the return of the glitter tattoos. menial.” However, it was a great ‘You cannot have too much glitter’, a experience for him and his class. poster at the front of the school said.

to remember for life. This year, the seniors organized the biggest

Adding to that, he also said that it It remained successful. as the activity was a very amazing day, to see the is both lucrative and fun. This year,

carnival ICS has seen, with the addition of the ginormous ARC that was recently opened. Activities

people in his class work together like the juniors created an even bigger that. spirit than ever, having almost every Moving up to the sophomores, single person in their year there.

during the day varied, as this year is the first in a long while that all four

to whom the carnival signifies a lot Undefeated in the tug-of-war, the of work. The sophomores held two juniors are probably one of the most

classes of the high school set up booths and fundraisers, aiming towards a memorable senior trip.

booths, one for decorating cup-cakes united classes our school has ever and the other for shaved-ice and pop seen. bananas. As the class rep said, “It was The host itself, the class of

Starting from the all-new addition, first-time freshmen set up

a great experience for all of the 2014 seniors, had another story to people who came to help. Although tell. Having a much bigger area that

an undoubtedly amazing photobooth. Considering the fact that last year’s booth was nowhere near as

the rotation of shifts were nowhere had potential to become a much near as successful as I originally greater carnival, the seniors took the planned it to be, I did not expect to maze and the prizing system to

successful, the class reveals its potential to perhaps have the best

generate that much money from just another level, and most likely, became two booths.” In addition to that, he more successful than any seniors ever

senior trip yet. One of the many people that made this possible, Tommy, was the photographer at the

would want to thank everyone who were. Their games varied and the fun came to help, as it was a great increased from last year. Expectedly, experience for all. the biggest prize of the raffle was the

booth. In a genial conversation, he

iPhone, and this year, it is the iPhone

AROUNDICS December 2013

5s. The supreme prize was won by a sophomore, Praise. The other huge prize was for winning the most games, which was won by a seventh grader. He received the Nintendo 3DS. Overall, this carnival was an

amazing carnival, an event that allowed bonding and sharing each wordless moment, not only with classmates, but also with upper/lowerclass men and former ICS students alike. It was a successful year for every grade; the booths that were set up were just amazing. However, all of this would not have been possible without the Class of 2014 seniors.

The hardworking freshmen working on their photo booth

ICS Christmas Musical By Leah Robinson

The ICS play this year was A ensemble, dance, jazz, strings and MERRY MEGA CHRISTMAS instrumental groups. Being a written by Mrs. Shelia and adapted Christian-themed play, one of the by Moriah. The musical main characters witnessed to her incorporated many aspects of ICS American friend who was very life. The story followed the lives of defiant against Christianity; the four characters who were girl who had personal issues at themselves ICS students; each home resolved the play by student had their own unique proclaiming her new-found joy characteristics that we saw develop after her friend had spoken to her throughout the production. about her new found happiness. As Another main well as these theme of this t h e m e s, T h a i musical was culture was also also the incorporated by performances, developing a as the musical story with a was based in community in M E G A pover ty that Bangna there were outreached w e r e by the church Something is up, but what is it? performances that the main from different actress went too. groups who The musical had come to MEGA to display brought many different ages of their talents which included: kids together in the ICS

Miriam and Kayla are two of the main actors.

community and was able to showcase many of the talents and activities of the school.

AROUNDICS December 2013

with Mimi

Tanapathong

By Poon Vorapanyasakul

Mimi Tanapathong, Senior Class President, gives us an inside look on her thoughts of one of ICS’s most awaited annual events – the Carnival. As the President of her class, it was her responsibility to play an important role in organizing the event and we must say she did a wonderful job doing so!

Q: How long did the planning process of the Carnival take? A: I think it took about two-and-a-half months to plan the Carnival because we started around midSeptember and went all the way till the day of the event. Q: What were some of the obstacles you had to overcome? A: Some of the obstacles we had to overcome were getting everyone to work together before, during, and after the event (but everyone did a great job in the end), getting enough ice coolers to accommodate all the ice we had, (thank you everyone who lent us theirs), and coming up with last-minute games.

Q: If there is one thing you could change, what would it be? A: If I could change something, I would probably want to change how I communicated the details of the Carnival to my class. I feel like there were some moments of confusion that were results of miscommunication mostly on my part. Q: Looking back, how do you feel about it? A: Looking back, I'm pretty happy with how everything turned out. I'm very proud of the great way everyone worked together to make the Carnival turn out the way that it did. I wouldn't be ashamed to tell anybody that this Carnival was organized by the Class of 2014. :)

Q: What were your expectations? A: I was so worried about everything that I didn’t really have any expectations about the Carnival. I really didn't know what to expect. I was worried that I would let my class down and that the Carnival would fail. Q: Would you say the Carnival was better than you expected it to be? Why? A: I would say that the Carnival turned out much better than my expectations. Everyone worked together really well and everything turned out great. Q: What's your best memory from the Carnival? A: I don't really have one specific memory that I would call my favorite, but the Carnival as an event, as a whole, will always be an unforgettable memory for me. As seniors, this is one of the last events we will be able to work together on as a class, and even though it was tiring, it was definitely worth it.

Mimi Tanapathong

AROUNDICS December 2013

World Scholars Cup Competitors with

Jo Jo, Khem Somsak, YoungKwag Shin By Poon Vorapanyasakul

In this issue of Eagle Eye, we sit down with some of ICS’s most intellectual students Jo, Khem, and Young Kwang to talk about their success at the World Scholar’s Cup Championship. After their recent competition during the summer break in Dubai, they were able to make it into the championship round where they represented ICS among forty-nine other teams. Taking home the fourteenth spot, they have certainly represented ICS well.

Q: How does it feel to represent the school at the World Scholar's Cup Championship? Khem: It’s a very interesting experience. Too much so, in fact. (Jo and Young Kwang nod in agreement.) Q: What were your expectations of the event? Khem: I hadn’t expected it to be so challenging. My ranking’s downward spiral from Bangkok round to the Yale tournament (2nd, then 10th, then 14th) reminded me that stacked against the world’s best (which invariably seems to turn out to be Chinese), I am still far from competent.

Q: Lastly, would you advise other ICS students to join World Scholar's? Khem: I’d love to see ICS’s involvement in World Scholar’s grow. It’s very helpful in developing your speaking skills, and a perfect opportunity to meet up with new friends the world over. (Once again, Jo and Young Kwang nod in agreement.)

Q: What did you have to do at the competition? Khem: It’s a four-part tournament if I remember correctly: essay, test, debate, and a bowl (it’s like a television show game). Q: What was the most difficult task you were given to do? Why? Khem: Dinner was provided after each competition and one of the evenings we had Mexican food. I hate Mexican food. I was forced to ingest them on pain of buying my own meal, and it was distinctly the most difficult experience I had in the whole trip. Q: In addition to writing essays, completing tests, etc., did you have time to explore the area or do anything fun? Khem: Because we arrived at Yale almost a full day ahead of schedule, we got to walk around the university town a bit. It’s really scenic, though I must confess that there are far too many Thai restaurants for it to feel that foreign. Q: What was the best part of the trip? Khem: The thirty-seven hour flight delay, of course. What more can I ask for?

The World Scholars Cup Competitors: Jo Jo, YoungKwang Shin, Khem Somsak.

December 2013

ATHLETICS

Girl’s Varsity Soccer Team Different skills, different nationalities, different personalities, one passion.

#Title By Praise Kittipol

T h e b a s ke t b a l l s e a s o n i s starting back up again, and our varsity basketball girls are on fire! On Friday the 15th of December, the girls played ISB in our first ever “Spirit Night” of ICS history. With the girls being back-toback BISAC champions and beating ISB in the finals, this was the game to watch. The ICS community showed great enthusiasm in supporting the girls, and filled the stands with an audience of over 300 people! The pep band, mascot, and MC created the perfect atmosphere for the excitement to fill the room as the girls entered the court to warm-up. Naturally, with all the noise and action going on, nerves can easily distract players from performing their best. This was not the case with our girls, however – they came out leading ISB by 4 points in just the first 5 minutes of the game. They’re strong defense and fast breaks earned them a well deserved and satisfying win of 44-37. After beating the school's arch-rival team once again, its safe to say that our ICS Varsity Girls Basketball team is up for a terrific season. Here are a few words from our captains, Sierra Sanchez: “Even though we're not the tallest, I think the thing that’s most unique about our team is that we focus on physical strength and therefore out muscle other teams. We're used to being

under high pressure therefore excel no matter what circumstance we're in, and I have tremendously high hopes for this season. I wouldn't ask for a different team for my senior year.” Bethany Groot: "If you didn't come to Spirit Night, you really missed out. The pep band was cranking out tunes, the crowds were going crazy, Mr. Zach was our awesome eagle mascot, and there was just so much wild out-of-control energy in the gym. This first game against ISB was such a great way to start off the season, not only because it was a test to see where our team is at, but also because I was proud to beat them on home court with peer s, teacher s, and family supporting us. We've still got some kinks to work out, but I'm excited to see where this season will take us." Other Players: Tassanee Sanchez: “Spirit night was an unforgettable memory. The fact that so many ICS students, teachers, alumni, and parents came out to support us was fantastic! I hope we can have another big event like this in the near future. Also, having a mascot was pretty cool – felt like I was back in America or Canada. My hopes are high for this season. Come support us some more peeps! Peace out!”

Tammy: I wasn't sure what basketball would be like this year, especially without Angel here, because she was such a big part of the team last year. I was so worried that I didn't feel like playing basketball after the first day of tryouts, but I definitely did not regret playing this year. I think we have a pretty strong team and with more practices and teamwork, I really think we could win Bisac again this year. I also hope that we would grow closer as a team and learn from each other. I'm really excited for the ACSC tournament and I can't wait to go to Taiwan. Yelly: Basketball season has finally started, and so far, we're undefeated!(: This year I'm going in as a starter, and there’s a lot more responsibilities now. It's tough when so many things can go wrong and constant doubts in my mind make me think that I might mess up. But that's what teammates are for. They will yell at you for messing up but at the same time encourage you to push harder. Three- peat champions is a title that has never been recorded ever in ICS history. Threes also doubt that all the teams will want to beat us. This year we will do whatever it takes and claim the title.

By Jerrica Looi

This basketball season started off with a big bang! If you weren’t one of the 300+ people who came to the pep rally, you sure missed out on a fun night. It was amazing to see all of ICS come

How did you prepare to be the mascot? Mr. Zach: My wife, Kelley, and I raided Daiso to acquire the necessary materials for my C+ costume. We put hours into that shabby outfit. Mr. Zach: What would you like to do at the next pep rally? A halftime show would be fun: something that involves the audience maybe a game. We also need to seriously work on perfecting "the wave." What was your favorite part of the pep rally / being the mascot? Mr. Zach: Watching the ICS girls varsity team hustle with great energy to earn their first win of the season! Also, the Sanchez family brought tons of candy to give away, which I gladly chucked into the clamoring crowd. Everyone did such a great job at executing Jack's master plan: the fans, the players, the band - I'll never forget it.

How was the pep rally for you basketball players? Isaac H.: It was nice, adrenaline was rushing as they cheered for us even though we didn’t do so well. It was nice The EAGLES are ready to play to have people supporting us! DEFENSE! Tammy S.: I was really nervous and I couldn't wait to get out of class because I was that excited. It turned out together; teachers, parents, students and awesome thanks to you guys who came even alumni provided a great buzz of and supported us! I really enjoyed it and I excitement to the air. Mr. Stephen announced every player by name, and we cheered as they lined up. Then out came Ernesto the Eagle! Our mascot made one fabulous debut with his pom-pom tail, leading us to chant “D”, “FENCE!” (defense!). Even Mr. Ste phen joined in, cheering vigorously; “LET’S GO EAGLES LET’S GO!” to the beat of the big bass drum.

hope you guys did too, and I wish ICS would have a spirit night again this school year! Amongst our dynamic crowd were Mr. B and the pep band members! Peter O., Erin S., Fayfay P., Dhvani S., Will L., Oscar H., Bright P., Esther H., So Jeong C., Khim K., Pack B., Tommy W. and Yiam M. and Tien K. at percussion, and Bethany G. who played the saxophone just barely after stepping off the basketball court.

ATHLETICS December 2013

School Spirit

How was your experience being in the pep band? Tommy W.: I liked it, and it was exciting even through the pressure, -this was like a new thing for me. I had never played in a pep band for the sports team before! I would like to do it again. Bethany G.: The pep band really did add an extra flare to the spirit night, I know it pumped me up while I was on the court and it was fun to jump in and be a part of it during the guys' game. I look forward to having them play for our games again. Pack B.: It was really cool because it was ICS’s first pep band. I felt proud and excited because normally in ICS there aren’t really a lot of people who watch the games and stuff, but this time a lot of people went! Yiam M.: It was just fun, just playing instruments and just enjoying myself !

In case you haven’t figured it out, Mr. Zach is Ernesto! How was it being the mascot? Mr. Zach: The crowd gave me the energy I needed to run around like a crazy person. Mr. Jason Bledsoe and the band really pumped everyone up and I felt real school spirit from the crowd. I thoroughly enjoyed my time as Ernesto the Eagle.

The PEP BAND is right beside all of us.

December 2013

LIFESTYLE

Gaysorn Plaza, a thoroughly lightened up mall, is just like any other malls.

Siam Style Selebration By Keshav Garg

Seasons greetings fellow readers! I hope this article is published at least a week before break, in order to bring the very special essence of Christmas. In Thailand, Christmas is a joyous celebration that begins at least a month before the actual date! With that said, if you do stare carefully at my title you will notice an error in the word “celebration”; it has been spelled “Selebration.” As a little hint, this does relate to the miscommunication of the timeliness of the festive season itself; the error also adds to the glamorous alliteration. Anyways, without any further ado, let’s move on to the actual brunt of this article. Christmas in Thailand starts exactly the same way it does in other nations (in which there is snow). It starts out with small amounts of white objects floating in the sky. The truth, however, is that these white objects are the flashes of smartphones. Of course, these exist in the minority: the real pictures are the front-camera-selfies. Applications like Instag ram, Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr thrive during this

period and are overflooded with images of many an indulgent Thai. Another funny thing about Thai Christmas is that more people choose to visit Thailand then to visit elsewhere in Southeast Asia. Let me f u r t h e r e x p l a i n . I h a ve s e e n MILLIONS literally MILLIONS of Russians invading areas such as Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Phuket, and even Bangkok during winter time. They seem to help themselves by escaping the harsh winters that freeze both the land of Russia and the economy. Now that you have understood the spirit of Christmas in Thailand, let us talk business. If you ever visit Central stores, or even Siam Paragon related stores, then you will see how shrewd the marketeers are. They begin putting up Christmas trees, presents, and lights almost 3 weeks before the holiday and place the GIGANTIC 50% off price throughout their stalls. Their efforts attract people like outdoor electricity does light-bugs and in the end puts them in a depressing situation in

which the cost of the item, contrary to promises, still remains overpriced. Also, during this season parents tend to have a more enchanted spirit. It is one that makes them want to be warm

A typical Bangkok outdoor Christmas tree set up at malls

Christmas Fashion By PanPan Supatchapichai

1. Disco pants 2. Red Balenciaga leather jacket 3. Isabel Marant for H&M knitted jacket 4. Ankle boots Christmas is coming up and you might be wondering how to get dressed to match the festive season without looking like a Christmas tree. Here are a few winter staple pieces that will help spice up your style. Disco pants can easily brighten up your look by making it more cheerful in a simplistic manner. The shine on the pants will turn ordinary outfits edgy. Leather jackets compliment every look by giving your winter clothing a pop of texture and style. A red leather jacket suits perfectly for Christmas without make it seem as if you are trying too hard. You can never go wrong with oversized knitted sweaters – just throw one on and you are trendy in just a second. It’s the perfect clothing that’s able to make you warm, comfortable, and of course fashionable, at the same time! Ankle boots can go with every outfit and their neutral colors will make you flattering. Have fun dressing up, but don’t forget that confidence is key! Goodluck!

abundance of makeup powder on Thai citizens that seems to ONLY target me as victim. Anyways, once again, it’s time to wrap this article up. Although I can’t put my article in stuffy stockings or under the Christmas tree, I hope this article will be a we l c o m e h o l i d ay surprise. God Bless!

LIFESTYLE December 2013

and gift their children with STUFF. I can personally testify: only yesterday do I remember my mother scolding me about my math grade, and today she asks me if I want a PS4 for Christmas! Quite a rapid change if you ask me. Thailand is a nation glowing with prosperity and heritage, and accompanied by the breezy winds and the soft sunlight, Christmas in Thailand is a pleasant variant of the holiday. You can go outside and breathe the fresh air of smog, and take relaxing, sanitary dips in the klongs. As for me, Christmas in Thailand brings my skin itchiness and allergies. My main suspect for now remains the

A sweet couple accompanied by bright lights.

What Does the Fox Say? By FayFafy Prasutchai

The question has been asked so many times that it became trite. Yet, it is also a question not being unanswered for most of us, as asking the question prompts listeners to give the asker a fist to their face because the song that has popularized it has become terribly annoying and redundant. The said song was made Norwegian band called Ylvis and became a viral sensation overnight on Youtube, topping 235 million views. This article seeks to answer the question and pacify all those unfortunate souls The common red fox, or known in the scientific circle as Vulpes vulpes, contrary to popular opinion, does not yelp ring-dingding-dingeringeding or any of those obnoxious onomatopoeias. The red-furred canids, surprisingly, make sounds similar to the screams of our neighbor’s baby that will never stop crying at 1 a.m. in morning. More clearly, they sound like fresh victims in a generic horror movie. This scream is emitted by female foxes in mating seasons to attract males. It is pretty

safe to say that at least the song had some close interpretations of the real sound. Little had known, the foxes also bark. They really do, and it sounds the same as a tiny and fluffy Pomeranian’s bark. However, the fox’s bark is not generally meant to attract humans’ attention to give them cuddles or food like the dog’s does. Adult foxes bark to call for young foxes in dangerous situations. Nonetheless, if you really want to track down and stalk the foxes, you will hardly hear any of the noises. Generally, foxes are stealthy beasts. One thing the song missed is that they aren’t really obnoxious. And that probably explains why we never include the sounds of the foxes in textbooks. Once the question is answered, do NOT ever ask againwhat the fox says. Let’s wait we start wondering what could be the sound of its friends. Maybe a giraffe.

LIFESTYLE December 2013

Ten Tips to the Top By Grace Hsieh

It is the general consensus that high school students, with exceptions for the sparse anomalies, have only two major concerns. The first, in order of importance, is socializing. Coming close in second place is academics. Because the Quill’s staff is short on writers with great acumen in the politics of popularity, this article will pertain to the educational aspect of a high schooler’s life. For instructions on how to reach the pinnacle of the social food chain, look elsewhere, perhaps in the next issue of The Quill. However, for tips to reaching top marks on an exam, one need not look any further than here. The first tip may seem fairly obvious, but many have come to realize the need to apply it in their daily habits. I suggest that students give themselves enough time to study. This does not mean a student must devote all of his or her time to memorizing their notes; rather, it simply implores all students to refrain from doing what is by far the most popular method of studying—cramming. Tip number two expands on tip one by emphasizing the need to study consistently. Review notes and slide shows before the exam date is even announced. The third tip goes hand in hand with the first and second. A sure way to study effectively is to create a study schedule that is easy to stick to. The well-liked Pomodoro Technique is one such schedule that comes highly recommended by esteemed psychologists. This time management technique allows one to effectively retain information without tiring out quickly. One would study for 25-30 minutes, then relax for five, and resume studying for another 25-30 minutes. Resume the cycle four times before taking a longer break, which should last 15-30 minutes. Pomodoro adherents are encouraged to reward themselves during the breaks, typically with food. Nutrition is another important part of studying. While it is impossible to instantly boost anyone’s IQ, sugar does increase blood flow in the brain. This increase of glucose leads to heightened alertness and a clear state of mind. Thus, the fourth tip is to chow down on dark chocolate when studying. For those allergic to chocolate or simply don’t have the appetite for the bitterness of the snack, berries and nuts like pecans and almonds are excellent alternatives. Treats like these enhance the student’s performance in studying and improve their comfort level, which is another major point in material retention. Remaining comfortable is imperative to effective studying, and the environment ultimately determines one’s ability to concentrate and relax. So understandably, the fifth tip is to find a good place to study. In order to find the perfect environment to study in, one must discover the conditions under which they personally thrive. Places where little distractions exist are preferable for all, but while some study better with music, others cannot concentrate with any sort of audible diversions. It is, however, proven that listening to music increases the brain’s alertness around 15 minutes afterwards, so this is a helpful way to make studying more enjoyable and beneficial. Many people turn to group studying to make studying less boring and help Eating healthy is an essential part to keep them on task. This is a technique that has proven itself to be a be successful in academics. genuinely successful study method. Everybody knows that misery loves to seek company. But more importantly, tip number six, group studying, accomplishes two important study requirements: staying focused and actually remembering what is being studied. The usage of mnemonics, tip seven, has been in practice since the ancient Greeks invented them. This ancient method utilizes imagery and imagination, as they ingrain memories by conjuring up vivid mental visual aides and creating acronyms of the information being studied. An example of picture mnemonics may be constructing an explicitly detailed depiction of a historical event, and one may employ acronymic mnemonics by remembering why Napoleon’s

The last three tips to excellent exam marks are probably the ones reiterated the most often: listen in class, sleep well prior to the big test, and have confidence when entering the exam room. The last tip may sound rather irrelevant, but studies have shown that confidence really does influence the outcome of the test. Following these ten tips will not guarantee prodigious scores on midterms, but they do ensure marks that will do the parents proud. So get to work kids—winter midterms are coming.

iPad Air By John Kim

The iPad Air is the fifth incarnation of the Apple’s full-sized 9.7 inch iPad, replacing its 4thgeneration predecessor which has been discontinued. It is 20 percent lighter and 20 percent thinner than its elder. The iPad Air is basically a bigger version of the retina iPad mini. They actually have an identical hardware spec – same proportions and same

In the performance department, the built-in A7 chip promises to be faster, more power-efficient, and more compatible with 64-bit applications. Although the iPad Air performs twice as fast as the previous model, it still retains the incredible 10 hour battery life. The compatibility with 64-bit apps opens the gate for robust and powerful apps. This device

internals. Nevertheless, the iPad Air is is definitely a beast. an extremely powerful, well-built, and When it comes to battery overall an efficient device. life, Apple's sweet spot appears to be 10 hours; this is the exact amount of runtime the company has claimed for In the size and build every full-sized iPad. In the case of the department, the iPad Air is merely 7.5 millimeters thin and only weighs a pound. That’s as thin as the iPhone 5S weighing way less than any other fullsized tablets out in the market. Despite its petite size and lightweight build, however, the iPad Air doesn't feel at all flimsy. The unibody aluminum chassis is just as solid as that on older iPads. The sides have blunter edges this time around, so you’ll get more of a grip than on the gradually sloping edges on previous models.

iPad Air, the battery size shrunk, but it has been proved to perform even b e t t e r t h a n t h at o f p r e v i o u s generation iPads. No joke: the battery i s ab s o l u t e ly s t u n n i n g. W h e n combined with the powerful performance, the impressive battery life makes iPad Air a beastly contender in the tablet market.

Wrapping up, the iPad Air is the most comfortable 10-inch tablet I've ever tested. Not ever y manufacturer can produce such a thin and light device without also making it feel cheap or flimsy, but Apple somehow did it. The design is neat, balanced, simple, yet simultaneously intricate – a paradox that has become Apple’s trademark over its impressive stay in the market. Performance and the battery life are marvelous. The last two iPads served up relatively few improvements, but the Air provides people with more of a reason to upgrade or even buy a tablet for the first time. Well done, Apple.

LIFESTYLE December 2013

Russian invasion failed by reciting People Like Doing Home Work, which stands for, poor logistics discipline health and weather.

December 2013

OUROPINIONS

When Christmas arrives, so does the load of snow and studying preparation for the finals.

Santas and Elves By Gid Jiranuntarat

It has come to my realization that exams are dawning upon the student body in the coming weeks, a n d f o r s o m e t h i s m ay b e terrifying. However for me, this event signifies a couple things. One, I’m getting ready to fail my Thai exams, because FSM knows how horrible I am at that. Secondly,

Merry Christmas!

it’s going to be a horribly, mundane week, considering the fact that I have exams on every single day. But the most important thing about the exams is that Christmas break is approaching.

presents. And presents mean Santa Claus is going to wake up in his lofty resting place of the North Po l e , a n d b r i n g a b o u t t h e fantastical moment of jolly cheer. Dropping his elf-made presents left and right, he chooses who’s It must also then be noted naughty and who’s nice. His List of that with Christmas, comes Names is the final decision, and those whose names are etched upon the Nice category receive their presents, while the unworthy receive a stocking full of coal. Imagine a fat bearded man, observing your children all day, throughout their lives. That sounds outright pedophilic and If that isn’t a red flag, then I don’t know what is. Who decided that Jolly Old St. Nicholas’s final verdict is the correct one? Are we simply supposed to accept that whatever

the masses…” (Monty Python and the and share it amongst ourselves. Holy Grail), not from some senile Why must we wait for things to man who rides around on reindeers. come to us? It’s much better to simply go out there, and do it. The And so to this I raise up a idea of a Santa Claus who proposition. What if instead of determines whether our behavior relying on our glorious Saint from was acceptable for the receipt of the North Pole to judge us based on present or not, is outdated and our deeds, we instead govern impr actical. No longer is it ourselves? Instead of waiting for necessary for us to rely on Santa presents from the chilly regions of Claus to give presents for our the North, we instead make our own children. Our abilities and our knowledge have enabled us to do what Santa does and more. Santa himself makes mistakes, because there are many kids who receive presents, but deserve coal and vice versa. But the worst sight is a child who receives neither. Which means that child was alone, and dejected. Not a single thought was given to that particular child, and nonacknowledgement is a worse pain than any other.

OUROPINIONS December 2013

he says is accurate? Do we sit meek and silent against this type of autocracy? No, we must take up arms, and revolt. This tyranny must stop. How can one being hold this much power without check? A bearded fart who writes names down on lists is no basis for a system of judgment. To quote Monty Python, “Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from

To counteract this problem, I propose that a new schema be established. Remove the petty judgment of Santa, and allow the people to decide the character of a child themselves. Outside, divine, or chilly intervention is no longer needed in his role. Mankind has advanced far enough that we no longer need the help of an absentee watcher, who positions himself in the North Pole. We can govern ourselves, and the violence inherent in the system will be phased out in time.

Elf was a movie released around a decade ago!

A proposal such as this should not require much effort. An organized opposition to Santa Claus can make a big enough change to allow us to break free from this dictatorship. And I would sleep better at night knowing that there no reclusive man spying on the children all over the world.