2013 2014 issue 4 by Laurie Bender

VOLUME 38• ISSUE 4•FEBRUARY 28, 2014• KAMIAKIN HIGH SCHOOL • 600 N. ARTHUR ST. • KENNEWICK, WA 99336

Table of Contents

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014 The Tomatalk • Kamiakin High School

If you would like to comment, write a letter to the editor, or submit a guest article, contact us at The Tomatalk: Kamiakin High School, 600 North Arthur, Kennewick, WA, 99336, (509) 222-7015, Laurie.Bender@ksd.org, or go online at www.tomatalk.com and comment there or take a poll.

Chelin goes to superbowl!

Staff:

Adviser: Laurie Bender Editor-in-Chief: Zack Julian

News Feature Editor: Natalie Downard Sports Editor: Armando Antonio In-Depth Editor: Zack Julian Opinion Editor: Jordan Garner Entertainment Editor: Jacob Mclain Online E-I-C: Jordan Garner

Pg. 6

Does asthma stop you Staff Reporters: from being able to play Jackie Arnold, Madison Badgley, Oscar Bautista, Madeline Donley, Natalie Downard, Chloé Grundmeier, Andy Ha, Morgan Haberlack, Sabrina Heijmans, sports

Taylor Marshall, Isaak Penisten, Maksim Shabak, Haley Softich, Kaylee Zuhlke, Taylor Reavis, Sabryna Savage

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Retractions:

We have no retractions. We write too good.

The truth behind looks

Pg. 11

MISSION STATEMENT: The purpose of the Tomatalk to to inform, entertain, and further educate the students at KamiakinHigh School and the surrounding community. PUBLICATION POLICY: Content is determined by the staff. Students are protected and bound by the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States and other protections and limitations afforded by the Constitution and the various court decisions relative to student publications. The Tomatalk has been established as a forum for student expression and as a voice in the free and open discussion of issues. The staff of the Tomatalk is expected to be professional, objective, truthful and accurate. The staff will adhere to Washington State Law (WAC 180-40-215) which prohibits the following material to be published: 1. Potentially libelous material 2. Malicious attacks on an individual’s character 3. Material which is excessively vulgar or obscene 4. Material which encourages illegal activity

School days to get longer

EDITORIAL POLICY: Editorials are the opinions of the individual members of the Tomatalk staff and are not intended to express the opinions of the administration, staff, students of Kamiakin High School, nor the advertisers in this newspaper. As a forum for student expression, the Tomatalk will publish letters to the editor. All letters are due one week before the next publication date. The staff reserves the right to edit or omit submissions as necessary. All letters must be signed by the student submitting them, However, if a student prefers his/her name not appear in the publication, his/ her name may be withheld. All letters to the editor must be 300 words or less. In cases involving political or controversial issues, staff members are encouraged to solicit all points of view.

Pg. 14 Who’s that Pokémon?

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014 The Tomatalk Kamiakin High School

Around theNEWS Campfire & FEATURE

Teeth of a rooster, rage of a pygmy goat L By KAYLEE ZUHLKE STAFF REPORTER

ucid dreaming about shooting lightning out of your hands is definitely an achievement to cross off of your bucket list. Sophomore Zoran Djuric is one step ahead of the game in more than one way. “I like how handsome I am,” admitted Djuric. Facts state that this individual spends a good portion of his time daydreaming about his favorite animal, the adorable pygmy goat. Pygmies are a breed of miniature domestic goats and are typically kept as pets. “They’re very cute,” Djuric claims. Much like the constant depressingly-cold weather we have been experiencing lately, the skies did not always broadcast sunshine for Djuric. “I fell into a rosebush when I was 4-years-old and cried. I was riding my bike and not paying attention,” Djuric remembers. Thousands of days after the incident, Djuric stands tall. Literally. 6 ft. 3 in. isn’t necessarily considered the shortest shrimp in the sea. The future creeps up on us faster than toast burns. The best we can do to prepare is to establish a goal, get de

termined, and set up baby steps to accomplish before we walk. “In 10 years, I see myself working with computers. I’d love to work at Roosterteeth,” said Djuric. Roosterteeth is a production studio in Austin, Texas. They are well known for their YouTube channel of the same name that features live action shots, animated pieces, and machinima from computer and video games. They boast over 6 million subscribers and two more separate channels, Gamefails and Letsplay. Most speculate that Djuric made the journey from the European country of Serbia to Kennewick in his early youth. “I tell people that I’m Serbian because my family is from Serbia. I can speak the language nearly fluently, but I was born in Kennewick,” he admitted. Most of us wish to leave this Earth in a state of tranquility, for example, passing away in our sleep. Djuric insists otherwise. “I’d like to die by being rammed by a really big goat,” he stated. You know what they say. Mess with the bull, or a goat-get the horns.

When was the last time homeless teens crossed your mind? By MORGAN HABERLACK STAFF REPORTER

There are people between the ages of 13-17 who go to school here who don’t always know where they’re going to sleep at night. When they get hungry, they can’t just go home and grab a bite to eat. They don’t have “Mommy” or “Daddy” there for them when they need or want something. They have to figure out how to do everything on their own, much sooner than they should have to. Some never had a real childhood. They are all on their own and feel like they have no future. Most are mature far beyond their years. Some of these teens mentioned that one of their biggest problems is that when people find out about their situation, they make fun of them. Their peers treat them like they are dirty and gross when before, they were looked at like any other person in the school. Some of these individu

als stay at a teen shelter that is for people 13 through 17 and they now are allowing 18 and 19-year-olds. It is called My Friends Place, and it’s very close to Kamiakin. Shelter supervisor Daisy Vargas said My Friends Place “is averaging four to six teens a week.” The people who work at My Friends Place will do everything in their power to help teens get on their feet and become more independent. They provide teens with what they need to go to school and/or get a job; they will refer them to another place that can help if they can’t. Even if someone is over the age limit, they will do everything in their power to help. The people who live there did not choose it. A commonly asked question among students is “Why don’t they go home?” Vargas said, “They don’t have a home; there are open CPS cases; home’s not a safe place; home’s not stable; some

times the entire family is homeless and we get the individual teen that fits our criteria.” A tragedy has happened in their lives that prevents them from having a home. Out of 128 students, only 25 responded yes when asked, “Did you know that homeless teens go to your school?” So let’s put this into perspective; approximately 20 percent of our school knows that homeless people their age are passing them in the halls. So approximately 320 people know this out of our approximately 1,600 students. Open-mindedness should be encouraged by everyone at our school. Do not make assumptions about things so unknown. Even if all the homeless people here at Kamiakin don’t have the word homeless stamped on their forehead, the awareness should be there because today could be the day that the homeless person in class is affected by a single comment for the rest of their lives.

Long lasting couples of Kamiakin share special memories By HALEY SOFTICH STAFF REPORTER

Payton Holle & Sterling Farrah Relationship Length: 1 year, 5 months First Date: Sterling Farrah picked up Payton Holle and they enjoyed some frozen yogurt at Yoplicity. After chatting over some frozen treats, they drove to the Top of the World and had a long conversation while admiring the view. This is where they then shared their first kiss. After a perfect night, they parked in a church parking lot and had another nice conversation. The night went very well, and Sterling took Payton home.

Alexis Navarro & Brandon Whitehouse Relationship length: 3 years, 1 month First Date: Too young to officially date, Alexis Navarro asked Brandon Whitehouse to the freshman Sadie’s dance. They started off the night with pizza at their friend Bobbie Mason’s house. Alexis mentioned that the two of them were really awkward the entire time. Even awkward first dates can end up turning into something special.

Shoni Hess & Reilan Leaumont Relationship length: 1 year, 9 months First Date: Too young to drive, Shoni Hess and Reilan Leaumont met up at Regal in the mall. Reilin, being a gentleman, paid for two tickets for Chronicle. It wasn’t until their second date (another movie) that Reilan officially asked Shoni to be his girlfriend. The date came to an end when Reilan had to leave to go to a hockey game. All in all, it was a good first date.

Around theNEWS Campfire & FEATURE

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014 The Tomatalk • Kamiakin High School

Mr. Chelin witnesses history By JACOB MCLAIN ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

he 48th Superbowl between the Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos ended with the Seahawks winning by a landslide. With a score of 43-8, it was a landslide victory for the Seahawks. Not only was the 48th Superbowl a great game for the Seahawks, but we also had our very own principal, Chris Chelin, attend the game. Normally, a person has to pay $2,500+ to get into the game, but Mr. Chelin was able to get his tickets for free. Turns out his brother is an engineer and was able to get tickets for himself, Mr. Chelin and his other brother. When asked about his experience, Mr. Chelin replied, “I went with both my brothers, a great experience to have together, a once in a lifetime experience. The game was anti-climactic; it was just waiting for the end to come for the cel-

ebration. The coolest part was hanging out with my brothers at a Superbowl.” Going to the Superbowl is an amazing experience, and Mr. Chelin would enjoy going a second time. ”I would do it again. It was a lot of fun,” he said. What made the game even better for him and his family were the seats. “We were row 34 from the field, so the seats were outstanding,” Mr. Chelin stated. One thing about the Seahawks fans is that they currently hold the record for the loudest fans of any football team. “The Seahawks fans chant everywhere. At the game, both sides were very loud, but the Broncos side quickly quieted down,” said Mr. Chelin. The only other time the Seahawks have gone to the Superbowl was back in 2005 against the Stealers, and they lost 21-10. This past season has been great for the Seahawks, with 13 wins and only three losses. According to ESPN sports analysts, the game was predicted to be very

close, with either team winning by only a few points, but this was clearly not the case. The Seahawks played an amazing game, with multiple interceptions and a touchdown off of the kickoff. What Seahawks fan wouldn’t want to watch this game live? They were even able to score in the first 12 seconds of the game, which is a new record in Superbowl history.

Above: The sign after the victory. Right: Mr.Chelin outside of MetLife Stadium.

St. Patrick’s Day isn’t just about the leprechauns By KAYLEE ZUHLKE STAFF REPORTER

By CHLOE GRUNDMEIER STAFF REPORTER

Being taken from your home at the age of 16 to become a slave in a completely foreign country would be something only those who’ve experienced it could imagine. Being kept in that country for six years would be one of the most life-changing and horrible things to go through. But would having a holiday dedicated to you make everything all better? Saint Patrick is most commonly recognized as one of the primary patron saints of Ireland, heavenly advocated of a particular community in some Christian denominations. Patrick was called back to Ireland in his later years as a bishop to spread the Christian faith among the Irish. St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated on March 17 because Saint Patrick passed away on that date in 461. The color green that we associate with St. Patrick’s Day now wasn’t the original color everyone thought of when they heard the

name of the holiday. As recent as the 17th century, the color blue was replaced with green ribbons and shamrocks that were worn in celebration because St. Patrick was said to use the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity. For clarification, the Christian doctrine of the trinity defines God as three divine persons. This day in March is celebrated worldwide with festivities such as parades, music events, and sporting events such as the St. Patrick’s Day Test. In 1995, this international rugby league tournament was played between the U.S. and Ireland and has been an annual game that hundreds of thousands of Americans and Irishmen attend. Everyone loves the idea of the little green man who shells out gold coins to those who follow the rainbow, including those who profit from it. A few of the personal favorites include sugar cookies with green frosting, minty treats, and the ever loved McDonalds Shamrock Shake that many wish was available year round.

New classes help students rise to the challenge of our increasingly complex world By ALLIYAH TRYTHALL STAFF REPORTER

With our increasingly complex world, sometimes it is difficult for academics to keep up and adequately prepare its charges for the real world. Every year it seems that new classes are offered to challenge students and help prepare them for the future. Next year, here is a sampling of new classes students can take. Multimedia is being offered next year. For the first time, the newspaper’s print and online editions are being separated, and students have the opportunity to receive an occupational education credit if they take the class. Also, they have the

chance to receive valuable real-life experiences. In the class, they will learn a little bit about broadcast, doing podcasts, using social media for communication purposes, and starting and updating websites. “It should be an exciting opportunity for students and a fun class to teach,” said teacher Laurie Bender. Besides an occupational credit, students can receive an elective or arts credit. Mrs. Bender also wants students to know that Journalism, which will focus on the print newspaper next year, will still be available for English credit, but it also will offer occupational education credit next

year. “We need strong writers who are motivated self-starters and who will rise to the challenge of deadlines and making our print paper a quality product we can all be proud of,” she said. Also, a new AP macroeconomics class will be available next year. To sign up, you must have a junior or senior level status and the willingness to learn about business. This class offers AP macro and micro pre rec college credits, and you only get the credits if you pass the online AP exam. For more information, talk to teacher Olivia Clizbe or your counselor. Another interesting new option is a lead-

ership introduction class. All grade levels are eligible for this class. All they have to do is register and fill out the application. In the class, students will learn leadership skills through activities and challenges. If you are interested in this class, teacher Whitney Harmon has more information. These are just three examples of classes students can take to better prepare them for the future. To see a full listing of classes and opportunities our school offers, students should look at the Course of Study handbook. It is available on the Kamiakin homepage under “Useful Links”.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014 The Tomatalk • Kamiakin High School

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014 The Tomatalk • Kamiakin High School

A New Season, a New Start By JOSE ANGUIANO STAFF REPORTER

t’s the time all the soccer players have been waiting for, the time to go out on the field and show everyone what you’ve got. Spring sports brings to us golf, tennis, softball, baseball, track and…… well soccer. This year Kamiakin’s Coach Jeff Bennett and assistant coach Jordan Anderson are here to look for the best they can get for this year’s soccer team. These coaches are here to find out if you have what it takes to be on the team. This year’s soccer team is going to need to step it up and work twice as hard, especially since they lost 12 seniors. The coaches are not here to watch anyone mess around, so if you plan on messing around then you better plan on running around the field, too. They want to see determination, and they are going to push you and help you create that skill you might need. If you have skills, a good personality, and you are coachable, then you have what the coaches are looking for. Last year our boys’ soccer team was decent. They went

through some struggles at the beginning of their season but towards the end, they were at their best. Coach Jeff Bennett said, “We started out slow, but we became a strong team, probably one of the top.” The best games that Kamiakin played last year, where they had the crowd on its feet, were both times that they went against Kennewick High School. Since Kamiakin and Kennewick are rivals when it comes to soccer, this game is always important to both teams. In the end, Kamiakin-+ ended up beating Kennewick in a shoot-out, twice! Even though Kennewick High got the district tittle, they still didn’t have what it took to beat Kamiakin. With the loss of so many seniors, Kamiakin boys might struggle. The goal is to get stronger as a team, which means everyone has to work together in order to make it happen. All we have to do in order to win according to Coach Jordan Anderson is “score more goals than they do.”

Photo by Armando Antonio

Athlete Spotlight: Jessica Pieros By NATALIE DOWNARD STAFF REPORTER

Jessica Pieros started dancing at the age of 3. “I started ballet at 3, and I did a bit of jazz and stuff, and I didn’t start hip hop until fourth grade,” Pieros said. Pieros joined dance team last year and is the only sophomore on the team this year. “I love my team. We’re all super close,” she said. The dance team is as much of a team as any other sports team. “Dance is definitely a sport. We work just as hard as other athletes, and we have practice three to five times a week. It requires a lot of muscles and energy and we go to different competitions and compete for different titles,” Pieros explained. Pieros played soccer, basketball, volleyball, and ran track growing up, but now she just dances. “I was never good at the other sports,” she said. Pieros is a person of many interests, not just sports. “I love SpongeBob Mac ‘n’ Cheese. It’s the

best,” Pieros said. She claims that the cartoon shaped noodles make the dish so much better. Her other favorite food is enchiladas. She’s also a huge fan of Sour Patch Kids. When Pieros isn’t dancing, she usually spends her time watching Netflix. Her favorite movies are the Titanic and A Cinderella Story, and her favorite show is One Tree Hill. Pieros loves all different kinds of music. “I like The Cab, Boys Like Girls, and I like country music. I love Hunter Hayes, and I love Tyler Hilton. He’s my new obsession,” Pieros said. One day Pieros dreams of becoming a veterinarian. Her plan is to go to WSU and attend the veterinarian program there, but she wants to keep dance a part of her life. She obviously loves animals and adores her dog Rocky. She got him when she was 7, and he is now 9-yearsold. He’s as much a part of her family as her younger siblings, Brooke and Coby. Pieros plans on trying out for Dance Team again next year. If you want to support her and the team, their next competition is March 1 at Southridge.

Jessica bottom left with the dance team. Photo by: Miguel Guerreo

Does Asthma kill the chances of people to be active in sports? By ARMANDO ANTONIO SPORTS EDITOR

Playing a sport or even being involved with any physical activity can be pretty tiring. People with asthma use that as an excuse to not play a sport or do anything that involves physical activity. According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, asthma affects more than 20 percent of elite athletes and one in every six Olympic athlete. In reality, being active is the best thing you can do when you have asthma because it helps make your breathing muscle in your chest stronger. There are some sports out there that actually help asthma such as football, baseball, and gymnastics. Activities like golf, yoga and biking are not as likely to trigger asthma. Endurance sports, on the other hand, such as soccer, basketball, and long distance running do trigger asthma attacks often because they involve heavy breathing and short rest time. This is especially true in cold weather sports such as cross country skiing and ice hockey. The more exercise people do, the more they will work out their lungs and won’t have flare-ups as often.

Before they play a sport, athletes must have their asthma under control. The best way they can have their asthma under control is by following their action plan and taking all asthma medication as prescribed even if they are feeling okay. People with asthma must know when their flare-ups happen so they can prevent them before they actually happen. Skipping controller medication can make symptoms worse. Forgetting to take prescribed medications before exercise can cause severe flare-ups, and they can even end up going to the emergency room. It is important to carry a rescue medication just in case. Make sure your coach and teammates know about your asthma and understand when you need to stop working out and what steps to take if you have a flare-up. After a while, you’ll become good at listening to your body so you’ll know how to avoid or handle asthma problems at a game or practice. Just because people have asthma doesn’t mean they are incapable of playing a sport. In fact, they should try to do a sport to build up their breathing muscles and to stay in shape and have a healthy life.

Austin Guitierrez doing box jumps. Photo by Armando Antonio

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014 The Tomatalk • Kamiakin High School

Chief Legends In Depth

Embracing a deadly perspective By KAYLEE ZUHLKE STAFF REPORTER

Hurtful words

n the game of Jenga, an individual arranges a number of rectangular blocks into a balanced tower shape. As the game progresses, multiple players pull away a single block each round. Eventually, the tower will crumble and fall when too much of its structure has been picked away. Jenga is comparable to a person’s self-image. As hurtful words pull away fragments of self-assurance, a person’s self-esteem can crash to the floor. Self-image is defined by the way one looks at oneself. Some report that their self-image brought itself to their attention in early middle school. After and during puberty, preteens start to notice the people around them and how they fit into society. As some students’ relationships ignite and fizzle, others cannot manage to find a spark. Everyone faces the question: “Am I really good enough?” “I’ve definitely seen people struggle with self-image issues. Because each kid is their own individual, it manifests differently. Some kids really want to please, some want invisibility, girls seek attention in clothing, guys get loud,” explained physical education teacher Amy Whitemarsh.

Pain can come in both the forms of mental or physical. “Words are knives and often leave scars,” says the modern poprock song “This is Gospel” from the band Panic! At the Disco. Hearts carry invisible baggage. However, can poor self-image hurt you physically? “Absolutely. If you have poor self-image, you can get into unhealthy relationships, substance abuse, or even extreme fitness to gain affirmation from. For example, if I bake great cookies, I’m going to keep baking cookies to get a sense of acceptance from it,” explained Whitemarsh. In today’s society, it’s a sad fact that our attention is diverted to magazines with headlines of “weight loss troubles” more so than those of “weight loss success.” Consumers are fed words of negativity of spotlighted celebrities in the form of unflattering pictures and controversy. These celebrities are people, just as we are, with the fear of criticism. After all, we’re all in the human race, seemingly in a competition against each other for a superior, invisible crown with no real results. For ages, comparison after comparison, we’ve cut ourselves down by wanting physical traits of others that are personally theirs. “Can I have your face?” “I want to

be you.” “Why can’t my body look like yours?” “Why do I look like me when I could look as gorgeous as you?” These are just some examples that I’ve overheard of people wishing to be something that they aren’t. However, is a negative remark spoken to your ear any worse than hearing criticism over social media? “It’s probably pretty equal,” said Whitemarsh. “Peers have a pretty powerful influence.“ As stated previously, everyone has a different route to a solution directed by their heart’s desires. “Religion is very helpful. I try and gear my self-image to my personal faith and I surround myself with good people. No haters,” said Whitemarsh. Don’t have your doubts: even the strongest people have their insecurities. Nevertheless, those people never let their fears drown them. An individual is both their biggest critic and best person to turn to for help. If something about yourself drags you down, physically or emotionally, you are the only one who can revise yourself to who you want to happily be. In addition, there is no one stopping you from it!

“When I was younger, someone said to me, “No one will ever notice you.” I was always an outcast kid and it hung onto me for a while.”

“You’ll never be good enough.” The guy who I always thought was my father said that to me before he left. I never got any closure.”

“It might have been a joke, but someone called me fat and it stuck with me because I’m so insecure.”

“A guy has called me things that I’m not and spread rumors about me. It really lowered my self-esteem and selfconfidence.”

“In middle school, someone told me that I was fat. It made me feel like crap.”

-Chandler James (10)

-Brandon Matney (11)

-Ciara Romaine (11)

-Sydney Freitag (10)

-Destiny Bricker (10)

Chief IN-DEPTH Legends

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014 The Tomatalk • Kamiakin High School

Double standards Double standards Weight By HALEY SOFTICH STAFF REPORTER

There seems to be a double standard when it comes to fat women and thin women. It is completely okay in society to tell a thin woman that she needs to eat more, but if someone tells a fat woman she needs to eat less, all hell breaks loose. Shouldn’t it be frowned upon to point out any physical differences in a negative way to anyone, no matter what shape or size? Everyone has feelings and there is no way of telling how people feel about themselves or the way they look. It should never be okay to make fun of the size of someone. Even pointing out her size can hurt her on the inside. However, it is misunderstood that this can go both ways. Society makes it seem okay to be skinny but not fat. “Nobody can be chubby in this world apparently and that’s really stupid,” an anonymous source said. This is most likely the cause of why people point out the flaws of thin women. When someone wraps their hands around a thin

person’s thigh saying something like, “I can fit both hands around your thigh! You are so small!” This person may think they are complimenting the thin person because that person is jealous of her size. In the thin person’s mind, however, she may not think the same and instead become self-conscious about her size. This also affects anyone else around who is self-conscious about her weight. By bringing attention to someone’s size, someone larger might see this, and it may only make her feel worse about her size. So who is winning here? The thin person? The larger person? Or maybe it is the person wrapping her hands around her scrawny friend? No one is winning. Everyone is feeling bad about themselves. So why do this? We naturally cannot choose what we look like, or the size of our bodies, so keep the comments you have about everyone else’s appearances to yourself. If you wouldn’t call a fat woman fat, then do not call a skinny woman skinny. Instead, compliment someone in a way that could only be taken as a positive, self-esteem boosting comment. You never know what someone thinks about herself.

Gender By CHLOE GRUNDMEIER STAFF REPORTER

In all the movies, the “geeky” girl has to go through a transformation from the girl with the acne and the dorky sweaters to get the boy she so desperately desires to be with. She loses the glasses, the pony tail, and the characteristic “nerdy” sniffles. She drastically changes her style from sneakers and comfy tees to high heels and indecent tops. The boy “realizes” how beautiful the girl is and he almost instantly goes after her. But in the reverse movies where the “sweet and nerdy” boy gets the girl, he doesn’t change a bit. The blonde, blue eyed cheerleader is dumped by the head jock and realizes how sweet the nerdy boy is. She starts pursuing the nerdy boy and in some instances, she even changes her style throughout the movie. Why is it that girls change for boys, but the roles are almost never reversed? Society has convinced women that they need to be petite, quiet and tactful while boys are expected to “just be boys” and roughhouse with each other; they can shout,

they can wrestle, and they can break the rules. Sophomore Emily Aardahl has experienced this prejudice first hand. “I was standing in line for something and a few of my [guy] friends were roughhousing and they bumped into me, so I shouted something like, ‘Oh my God, would you knock that off!’ at them. Later my mom told me that all the other moms standing around us glared at me and then they glared at her because I’d shouted, but they completely disregarded my [guy] friends. It was like guys can do whatever they want and girls have to be quiet and accommodating so if someone bumps into you, you have to tell them ‘Oh, it’s okay, it’s fine’ and that’s just stupid,” Aardahl explained. Some believe that guys have less of a high expectation to be beautiful, to be quiet, and to be sweet because the way gender roles have taken their toll on society. Aardahl believes “Men have always treated women like property; it goes back to ancient times. If a man has a house, he wants a nice house. If he has a car, he wants a nice car. If he has a wife, he wants a pretty wife. And it’s really stupid.”

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014 The Tomatalk • Kamiakin High School

Chief Legends In Depth

Expectations vs Reality By MADISON BADGLEY STAFF REPORTER

n this generation, societal expectations have grown and shown us how we are “expected” to live, and the main group targeted is teens. Media, such as television, twitter, movies, and magazines bombard us every day with an unrealistic expectations on how we should look and live. This can be very hard for a teen because we feel as though we need to stay in tune with the world and do what other people are doing to try and fit in. “I think society expects us to be perfect,” said sophomore Jaylynn Johnson. But in reality, there is no perfect world, and obviously, nobody is perfect. Every day, there is a new tabloid out with a famous Hollywood star/model looking as “perfect” as ever. But did you ever stop to think about what it took them to look that way? How they do it? Most of the time they are caked with makeup to look the way they do, and they have a whole team of people to style them, not to mention the use of Photoshop and all the editing the picture goes through. Models we see in advertisements for different products and brands are touched up and edited to erase every little imperfection the photographer thinks he or she sees. In reality, looks can be deceiving and we tend to get self- conscious about who we are by looking at celebrities in a magazine. Society pressures young teenage girls to think they should all be a model size zero. This expectation hasn’t always been around but has slowly developed in the last century. A decade ago, plus-size models averaged between size 12 and size 18. Today, the majority of plus-size models are between size 6 and size 14. In reality, that just doesn’t work for most girls. “These expectations brings their self-esteem down and

makes them feel bad about themselves,” said Johnson. Even though they shouldn’t, girls tend to feel bad about themselves because of these expectations. Why is society like this? Why do we feel the need to look “perfect” and try to live and act like the people we see on TV and in magazines? “Most of our assumptions about the way women have always thought about “beauty” date from no earlier than the 30s when the cult of domesticity was first consolidated and the beauty index was invented,” said Naomi Wolf in her book The Beauty Myth: How Images of Beauty Are Used Against Women. And it may not just be because of the media, but could be your friends or others around you. Some teens may feel a lack of selfsatisfaction because of the people they surround themselves with. Maybe they feel as though they aren’t good enough, so they want to better themselves by hiding who they really are, trying and acting and looking like someone else. “You have to take a moment and just realize that you just have to be yourself and if people aren’t going to take you the way that you are then they aren’t worth being in your life,” said sophomore Kristen Bailey. This isn’t how it’s supposed to be, but somehow media has gotten into the minds of teens everywhere making them think that how they look and live isn’t how it’s really supposed to be. Living in your own reality may be the best way of living. More people should embrace who they are and not something society has set as the perfect example of a human being. Life would be so boring if everyone looked and acted the same instead of having individual personalities. Ignore the critics and express and love who you are as a person.

If Barbie were a real person, she would be 6 ft. 0 in., weigh 100 lbs. and wear a size 4. Her measurements would be 39”/21”/33”.

The average woman is 5 ft. 4 in., weighs 145 lbs., and wears between a size 11-14. Her measurements are approximately 36”/30”/41”.

Tribal Talk

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014 The Tomatalk Kamiakin High School

OPINION & EDITORIAL

Should guns be allowed in the classroom?

Pro

By JACOB MCLAIN ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Dec. 14, 2012--a day that will live in infamy. Many of us remember the elementary school shooting that claimed the lives of 20 children and six adult staff members, but what if there was a way the staff could better protect the students? When it comes to the matter of student safety, many would agree that the students should be kept safe from outside violence and have the ability to learn in a safe environment. This is why training should be provided to faculty members on handling a handgun and how to defend students from an attacker. I am not suggesting that we give training and a gun to every teacher and faculty member at school, but we should provide them for a few. With a big campus and five separate buildings, two security guards are not enough. If someone breaks in, they can kill a lot of people before the security guards would be able to respond fast enough. It is great that we have them, but if we were to train five or six faculty members on proper handgun use, then each person would only have to look after one building instead of half of the campus. And if we trained five or six people, then the larger buildings could receive an extra person. There is also the matter of cost. Schools do not have a whole lot of money to start out, and the cost of providing training and handguns to faculty members would cost the school, but not as much as hiring more security guards. The average cost for hiring a security guard is about $30,000 a year. Multiply that by five security guards and the school is spending an extra $150,000 a year. That is a lot of money, whereas if faculty were

trained to use handguns, the cost would be less. According to Precision Edge Shooting, a gun safety and shooting school, the cost of a course on proper shooting technique is $175. Add on a class that deals with moral, ethical and legal handgun issues and the cost of renting the gun and buying ammo, the cost comes to about $350. Faculty could also go through additional shooting and handgun practice, but it would not reach the 30,000 a year it takes to hire one security guard. The cost would be a lot cheaper to simply train a few faculty members and provide handguns than it would to hire the security guards. Also, there are already 18 states that allow teachers and faculty to carry handguns in school, including Oregon, Idaho, New York and Texas. So if having guns in school to protect students is a bad idea, why do onethird of the states already allow it? So you see, having a few faculty members carrying handguns on campus would dramatically increase security at school. The school would be better able to defend the students from a gunman and it would not be very expensive. There are other options such as hiring more security guards, bag checks, metal detectors, etc., but they would be expensive and there would be students who are against those measures who feel that metal detectors and bag checks invade their privacy. So you see, having a few faculty members wearing handguns would be good because it would increase security, it would be cheap and it would not invade the privacy of the students.

Con

By CHLOE GRUNDMEIER STAFF REPORTER

Everyone who is trapped in the seemingly small classroom fears for their lives as the 16-year-old grabs the gun from where it’d previously been hidden behind the teacher’s desk. The student waves the gun around like it’s a toy, drilling fear into the hearts of the others in the room, including the teacher. Bang, the gun goes off. An innocent teenager now lies motionless on the floor. The gun falls to the floor and another bang sounds through the room before the regretful teenager runs from the room, terrified. Security is called, the police are called, family members, other teachers, and anyone else who could possibly help is called to search for the boy who would now be sentenced with manslaughter. The sixteen year old boy whose life is now ruined because of what he’d done, which could’ve been so easily prevented. He ended a life, and now he must pay for the consequences. Such an unlikely circumstance, right? If guns were allowed in every classroom in America, stories of students being careless and shooting their fellow classmates with their teachers’ guns would be heard by everyone. Eighteen states, one-third of America, already allow and encourage teachers and other adults in schools to carry guns. Texas, Alabama, California, Idaho, Oregon, all allow guns on school property. Our closest neighbors allow guns in school-scary isn’t it? Having a gun in a classroom could go wrong in countless ways. The most likely would be a student wanting to play a joke on his or her classmates and taking out the gun while the teacher is out of the room or distracted. Someone could get seriously hurt or even killed. The only way to guarantee that students wouldn’t be able to get a hold of the gun would be to lock it in a safe behind or under the teacher’s desk, where it wouldn’t be quickly accessible if there really

was a circumstance where the gun was necessary. This may seem like a bit of a shock, but guns do scare people and these people, including teachers, may not want to handle them. Even with proper training, something could go wrong and the gun could backfire and more damage could be caused than prevented. There are so many ways to prevent the tragedy of a school shooting without arming the teachers and staff members. Some would instantly say, “Why don’t the school systems just get better security?” without thinking of the costs. There is one solution that most don’t even think about: fire extinguishers. If every classroom had an easily accessible fire extinguisher, guns in the classroom wouldn’t even be necessary. The gunman walks in, expecting to find a classroom full of students hiding in the corner with all the lights off. Instantly he is blasted with cold chemicals, foam, or water, surprising him. The chemicals or foam would render the gunman temporarily blinded while the high water pressure would shock him so much, shooting his assailant (most likely the teacher) would be much more difficult. The teacher, armed with the fire extinguisher, could then hit the gunman over the head to knock him out until the police arrived. So much less could go wrong with a simple fire hydrant, a weapon that most wouldn’t even believe to be a weapon, than with a .45 caliber Ruger P90 that could go off and end a life all because of one stupid teenager.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014 The Tomatalk • Kamiakin High School

Tribal Talk

OPINION & EDITORIAL

Should Justin Bieber be deported?

By ANDY HA STAFF REPORTER

“We the people of the United States feel that we are being wrongly represented in the world of pop culture. We would like to see the dangerous, reckless, destructive, and drug abusing, Justin Bieber deported and his green card revoked. He is not only threatening the safety of our people but he is also a terrible influence on our nation’s youth. We the people would like to remove Justin Bieber from our society.” This is on the official White House website, where on Jan. 23, a petition was started to deport troubled teen pop star, Justin Bieber. On the official White House website, people are allowed to create petitions, and the petition has to have 100,000 signatures before it can be sent to the White House. If it exceeds the amount needed, the Obama Administration has to then respond to the petition. Bieber’s petition reached the amount six days after it was created. As of Feb. 14, 258,594 people have signed this petition to get Bieber

deported. That is much greater than the 100,000 signature requirement needed. The reason the deportation petition was created was because of Bieber’s crazy, wild antics that has led him to being in trouble with the authorities. Bieber has already been arrested twice, once in the United States and once in his home country, Canada. He was arrested here in the U.S. because he was allegedly drag racing and was driving under the influence of alcohol. It was later proven he had been drinking and was under the influence of marijuana and Xanax. He was then later charged in Canada for assaulting his limo driver. He also was arrested after he egged his neighbor’s house in Calabasas, California, which is considered a felony because it caused $20,000 worth of damage. As you can tell, many want Bieber to be deported. Sophomore Lizbeth Maldonado believes that it could be a good thing for us. “He wanted the attention and he got what he wanted,” Maldonado said. She thinks that the deportation will not change anything, that Bieber won’t change his attitude anytime soon. She believes that it will do no help at all, that it will only be a way to get more

attention. It seems that Maldonado is not the only one here at Kamiakin who wants Bieber to be deported. Freshman Juan Herrera also thinks it would be fantastic but that Bieber won’t change if he does end up being deported. He thinks he will only get more attention from this just because he is Justin Bieber. Herrera, like others probably think, believes that this won’t help him. There are some who disagree. Music teacher Scott Wagnon is not really sure what to think about this debacle. “He should be treated how any other person should be treated,” he said. When asked about whether he wants Bieber to be deported or not, he says, “As a U.S. citizen, he should be. He should go home to his family.” Wagnon thinks this will not change anything because Bieber “doesn’t seem like he wants to learn.” It seems like some people no longer have faith or respect for Justin Bieber, myself included. It seems like Bieber needs help. He needs to go to rehab or jail so that he can learn his lesson and not be the idiot that he is acting like.

Editorial: Smell the roses By ZACK JULIAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

As teenagers in today’s technologically advanced world, we have access to an immense amount of technology. It makes life easier, faster and smarter. We use technology in almost every moment of our lives. From making breakfast to texting our friends, technology is everywhere. But are we too dependent on it? Does it have more influence on our lives than it should? There is no doubt that technology has an extensive amount of influence over our daily lives. We use technology from the minute we get up to the minute we go to bed. Our phone serves as our alarm clock, CD player, and telegram all at once. It’s also our gaming console, computer, radio, and more. Technology is only getting better and faster. Amazon is currently in development of Amazon Prime air shipping. This drone technology is prospected to be able to get packages to your house in 30 minutes or less. The drones will take your package directly from the Amazon shipping center and ship it directly to your house. Technology is a tool. It can also so engross us that we can lose track of reality. Many people have spent massive amounts of time playing video games. Some people have

become so engrossed with video games that their grades slipped to the point of failure. People have become so obsessed with technology that it affected them the same way that an obsession to drugs can. Technology should not rule our lives. We are the masters of technology and sometimes we need to pull our heads out of our phones and smell the roses. When was the last time you read a book, went for a run, or just sat outside and enjoyed nature? So we urge you. One day this week, spend an entire day without using ANY technology. Then come to room 314 or email us at Laurie.Bender@ksd.org and tell us how it went. You could be featured in the next Tomatalk!

School baloney By ARMANDO ANTONIO SPORTS EDITOR

Beginning next fall, middle school and high school students will be attending an extra 80 hours of school. That means that the Kennewick School District might be removing Early Release or adding 15 minutes to each school day. Currently, students in grades 7th through 12th grade are required to have a minimum of 1,000 hours of school time, or an average of five and a half hours a day spread into 180 days a year. The Kennewick, Richland and Pasco districts have different numbers of early release days each school year. The students are released so that teachers can attend training sessions and meetings or prepare lesson plans. “Well I do think that we need the extra time to teach.

4 out of 5 Editors agreed with this

It will be beneficial,” said teacher Joanne Kopriva when asked what she thought about longer school days. Some teachers need that extra time to instruct their students and to have time to help all their students and not just some. Although some teachers would like to have longer school days, students beg to differ. “No,” said Junior Rafael Gutierrez when asked what he thought about longer school days. Some students have to work and have activities outside of school, so they don’t have the time to stay in school longer. The Kennewick School District is also thinking of removing and or cutting early releases. The negative side of that solution is that teachers need that time to train or to collaborate with other teachers about lesson plans. “Half day releases give time to interact with other

teachers.” said Mrs. Kopriva when asked what she thought of the possibility of the Kennewick School District cutting and or reducing early releases. Having a longer school day is just not going to be as beneficial as the district thinks it will be and all that they’re going to end up doing is upsetting parents and students because it will change their whole schedule. Removing early releases is not going to be a good idea also because of the fact that teachers really need that planning time. Both teachers and students will not be happy with the changes.

Tribal Reviews ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014 The Tomatalk • Kamiakin High School

The Fault In Our Stars is faultless By NATALIE DOWNARD NEWS & FEATURE EDITOR

I’ve read many books in my life, but The Fault in Our Stars takes the cake. It is a flawless work of art by the uber talented and witty young adult novelist, John Green. He has won the 2006 Printz award for his debut novel, Looking for Alaska, and reached number one on The New York Times Best Sellers list with The Fault in Our Stars in January 2012. John Green lives in Indianapolis with his wife and their two children. The Fault In Our Stars is a tragic, epic romance about two teenagers who fall in love. Hazel Grace Lancaster is a typical, sarcastic 16-year-old girl - except for the fact that she has cancer, and the cancer is causing her lungs a lot of problems. She’s always hooked up to oxygen and has to pull a tank behind her wherever she goes. Much to Hazel’s disdain, her mother takes her to a Cancer Kid Support Group weekly. Hazel has one friend in the support group, Isaac, who lost an eye to cancer. Isaac brings a friend to support group with him, Augustus Waters. Augustus has a prosthetic leg, also thanks to cancer

— in his case, osteosarcoma. But he has been cancer free for years, and he comes to support group mostly to keep Isaac company. He and Hazel are both witty and clever, as well as quirky, so they hit it off quickly. They share their interests with each other, Augustus’s being videogames, Hazel’s being her favorite book in the world, An Imperial Affliction. They then continue into a flirty relationship that I will not go in to detail about because I don’t want to spoil this wonderful story for you. If you haven’t read The Fault in Our Stars, you should. It is a wonderful book that will make you laugh and will most likely tug your heart strings to tears. It is a tale of love, of pain, of grief, and of healing. The book is perfectly written and I can’t find anything to critique, other than the fact that the book ended and didn’t last forever. The Fault in Our Stars is a must-read, and you should definitely make reading it a priority. The movie adaption of The Fault in Our Stars premieres June 6, and while I know it won’t be as good as the book, it is sure to be a great film because of the story behind it.

Kamiakin’s classy mafia version of Macbeth was worth seeing By CHLOE GRUNDMEIER STAFF REPORTER

Macbeth. Who knew one of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies would make so much sense when placed in the glamorous 1920s? In this modernization of the great Scottish tragedy, King Duncan becomes a mob boss, the witches become gypsies who prophesy in favor of Macbeth, and the harsh struggle for power becomes a vicious turf war. Junior Britt Henderson chilled the crowd of play-goers to the bone in his role as Macbeth. He switched so easily from humble and happy with his title of Thane of Glamis to power thirsty Thane of Cawdor and prophesied future king. When Henderson sees the ghost of the man he’s responsible for the death of, Banquo (portrayed by junior Brandon Schwartz) sitting at the dinner table, Macbeth is all the audience sees. They see a truly daunting reaction when Macbeth shouts at the ghost with a look of pure ter-

ror on his face. The two ladies who split the role of Lady Macbeth, seniors Lauryn Meacham and Caeleigh Rieger, treat the role they share completely differently. While Rieger is more of the overbearing and controlling wife, Meacham takes the more insane side. Meacham’s take on Lady Macbeth is more proud with herself and the horrible deeds that she committed than Rieger’s. They both obviously intimidate Macbeth with their cruelty and power thirst. When together on stage, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth have such great body language. Lady Macbeth is firm and demanding. She’s in charge and in control of her husband. Macbeth himself is much shakier and he seems almost scared. He backs away from Lady Macbeth when she approaches him, he stumbles when he walks, and he wipes his palms on his pants. The other two dozen students who had roles in the play

– including junior Andrew Spurlock as Duncan, senior Justin Smith as Macduff, and senior Abby Tomlinson as the first terrifying witch – completely convinced the audience they were who they portrayed. Trying to authenticate the 1920s feel called for specific wardrobe and props. All the actors wore classic 1920s attire: three-piece suits, bright flapper dresses, and beautiful elaborate pearl jewelry. Most of the men carried old cigarette cases filled with false cigarettes that brought a reality to the scenes. The old-fashioned hand guns that were carried around held this realness as well. The fight scenes were also phenomenal, thanks to the professional fight choreographer Anna Newbury. When the three murderers (senior Jacob McLain and sophomores Kayla Roles and Emily Fiske) beat Banquo relentlessly with baseball bats, the audience gasped in shock. They believed he was really being hit in the face with the handle of the wooden bat. Kamiakin’s Bravehouse Production Company’s 1920s adaptation of the Scottish tragedy Macbeth was truly brilliant and completely deserved 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Macbeth cowers behind his guests in fear as the ghost of Banquo stares him down to provoke fear and guilt into Macbeth’s heart. Left to right: junior Britt Henderson as Macbeth, sophomore Mitch Treadway as Caithness, sophomore Blake Britten as Lennox, and junior Brandon Schwartz as Banquo. Photo by Chloe Grundmeier

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014 The Tomatalk • Kamiakin High School

Tribal Reviews ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Bridegroom: A Love Story, Unequaled By ANDY HA STAFF REPORTER

Bridegroom: A Love Story, Unequaled made its world premiere at the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival on April 23 and since then has attracted a lot of attention and press coverage. The film, introduced to the world by former president Bill Clinton, revolves around the story of Shane Bitney Crone and his partner Tom Bridegroom. The film is about Crone’s and Bridegroom’s struggles and relationship. It begins talking about both of their childhoods and their struggle with accepting their sexuality, whether it was being scared of being gay, which is what Crone struggled with throughout his younger years, or it was the fear of being accepted, which Bridegroom dealt with. The documentary continues with how they met in the beginning, and ultimately, the tragic end of their relationship. It documents the memories of their relationship

and how at the end of the day, they loved each other but were unable to get married due to proposition 8. It shows what their relationship was like and what they had to go through as a same-sex couple. The inspirational and heartfelt film shows that anything can happen and that nothing should ever be taken for granted, especially loved ones. The film also shows how you need to prepare ahead of time and talk about things that one would not want to talk about, such as what to do when a loved one has passed on. Crone especially struggled with this as he was not legally allowed to do anything with his partner’s belongings after his death. His partner’s family claimed all of their son’s personal belongings and left Crone alone and excluded from everything concerning their deceased son and his deceased lover. Then at the end, it shows how he never got to attend his partner’s funeral, was cut off from the Bridegroom family, deprived of legal protection due to

gay marriage being illegal at the time, and left with only memories of the last six years with Bridegroom. The film, available on Netflix and at Redbox, has attracted a lot of attention and controversy because of the documentary being on a same-sex couple. Redbox faced an anti-gay backlash for having the film. Redbox ignored the protest though allowing the film to still be rented at available Redboxes. Despite the backlash and hate due to the documentary being about a LGBT couple, the film is an important inspirational story that will make everyone grateful for the loved ones who surround them and possibly leave the viewer in tears. It conveys a strong and powerful message about love. It shows that love is love and nothing can change it. Watching it will change whoever is watching it and their perception on love and life. It is not something you want to miss. Score: 5 out of 5

Robocop: the action movie without action

By ZACK JULIAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Robocop was a reboot of the original franchise that first premiered in 1987. The movie takes place in the futuristic 2028 Detroit that is overrun by crime. The movie starts with a news broadcast telling us about how America doesn’t allow drones onto its soil when they are doing so much “good” in other countries. The company Omnicorp is the one who creates the drones, and in order to capitalize on America’s market they decide to place a human in a drone suit. After police officer Alex Murphy is blown up by a criminal in Detroit, he is chosen to be “Robocop.” This movie abandoned the original story of Robocop in favor of an all new one. After he becomes Robocop, his creators

remove his emotions. His brain is able to overcome this and take control by the end of the movie because of the power of the human spirit, a cliché used many times before in movies. This movie was rife with clichés about cop movies actually. Unlike the 1987 version, this movie focused on the relationship between Alex Murphy and his wife Clara. That was a mistake. This was advertised as an action movie and it focused so much on Clara that the action was minimized. Unlike the original, this movie focused too much on the emotional story line, and the lack of action lessened the entertainment value. The issues Robocop brought up are very relevant to today’s modern society. It fo-

cused on the ethical use of drones in foreign countries and in America. It made some great points about these topics too, but they were not as well received as they could have been because of the movie’s poorly written script and inconsistent physics. The only redeeming quality of this movie was Doctor Norton played by Gary Oldman who had the only truly convincing performance. The movie was all right. But it didn’t have that spark that makes a really good movie. It was just kind of there, and it suffered from a lack of action and was rife with clichés. This movie deserves a 2.5 out of 5.

Laugh out Loud with ‘Ride Along’ By JOSE ANGUIANO STAFF REPORTER

The movie Ride Along which premiered on Jan. 17 broke records and became the number one selling movie over the four day weekend. Out of 2,662 locations, Ride Along took off with about $37 million. Thanks to the famous comedian Kevin Hart and the well-known Ice Cube, the movie Ride Along created huge entertainment causing many laughs. The movie was based on how Ben, played by Kevin Hart, wanted to marry James’ sister Angela. James was the part that Ice Cube took, and he was an APD detective. Ben had to impress James in order to prove himself worthy of marrying Angela. This movie will make you laugh like no other. Not only is it the comedian but the way this movie was all put together made every scene funny. When I went to watch the movie, I was excited. I had heard it was a funny movie, but once I was there watching, it was twice what I expected. I love watching comedy movies and after watching Ride Along, I was laughing out loud. The jokes that were made in this movie had me cracking up.

After watching Ride Along, everything that happened made me want to actually go on a ride along with a police officer from my city. I mean, imagine how it would feel to help crack a big case, or to be able to be at a shooting. Maybe being at a shooting doesn’t sound safe, but the intensity that is felt would be unforgettable. If I ever got the chance to go on a ride along, I would try to make it really fun. One thing that I would really want to do is pull someone over and get the chance to turn the siren on. Ride Along’s ending was just perfect. I give the director lots of props. I really recommend this movie. Make sure that you watch for all the clues and keep them in mind until the end. Over all, I rate this movie with a 4 1/2 out of 5 stars. Even though it was hilarious, they should have added some more action, which is always exiting. The funniest part of the movie for me was when Ben was acting like the bad guy and everyone believed him. I think that more movies should start having comedians in them to make them extra funny.

Tribal Reviews ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014 The Tomatalk • Kamiakin High School

Pokemon of the Month Luvdisc type: water height: 2 ft. weight: 19.2 lbs.

pokedex entry: It is said that a couple finding this pokemon will be blessed with eternal love.

Celebrity style steals By MADISON BADGLEY STAFF REPORTER

Clothes seen on other people, maybe your favorite celeb, can often inspire outfit ideas and your own personal style. Lily Collins is always a fan favorite, and she has a very diverse and doable style. Although the clothes she buys are very high end and expensive, it’s very easy to find similar and way more affordable items in local shops. If you see something you like on a celeb that’s probably expensive, there is always a very similar cheaper item somewhere else. Collins is always seen in very casual clothing, but she always adds something here and there to dress it up. Crop tops, spandex or t-shirt style are great casual tops that can be dressed up or dressed down for any occasion. Collins dresses crop tops up with highwaisted skater skirts and jeans or a pair of leather pants. These items she then pairs with high heels or classy black or brown oxfords. One must-have clothing item is something leather. Anything leather is always very fashionable and will never go out of style. Though leather can be very pricey, there are always ways to buy something leather for less. Many clothing stores like Forever 21 and H&M have a lot of look-alike leather jackets for about $20 to $30. Instead of paying a couple hundred dollars for a jacket you might find on Lily Collins that you really like, you’ll pay less for a similar one at a local store. If you want the real deal, though, the best thing to do is wait for sales. Stores have sales all the time and if you look around, you can always find great deals. Leather pants are a great way to make any look edgier and

dressed up. Collins usually pairs her leather pants with a pair of stilettos, crop top, or button up sheer shirt. If you want to dress leather pants down, I suggest a pair of black Chelsea boots and a graphic t-shirt for an edgy, casual look. If you want any of Lily Collins’ items or any other clothing item you see on other celebs, but don’t know where to start, a good online store is Asos.com. Asos has anything and everything on their site. They carry a variety of different brands ranging in price. The site is easy to navigate, and you can even customize your search to make it easy to find a specific item. If you like something you see on Lily, you may not find the exact clothing item, but you’re bound to find something similar at Asos. H&M is very much like Lily Collins’ style and has basically every other style out there, too. What makes it even better is you can find so many Lilly Collins similars for a great affordable price. You can be dressing like your favorite celeb for a very affordable price. So don’t just like something you see on a celeb; go out and look for a similar item, and save a lot of money!

Flappy Bird flaps into everyone’s smartphone By OSCAR BAUTISTA STAFF REPORTER

“Why is this game so hard? It’s harder than opening a jar with lotion on your hand. Like at first I thought maybe I just suck at it, but nah... This game cost me my life. I’m doing time for throwing my phone at a lady. I’m over here questioning my entire existence.. Game difficulty on Lucifer. I want to delete it but refuse to lose”- Junior Angel Mendoza

“I got 282”- Senior Mohamed Ben Salem

Flappy Bird may be one of the most addictive and what some people are calling a rather “annoying” game that drives just about every smartphone owner into crazy mode. The fact that the whole concept of the game is so simple catapults game players on a mission to beat their high scores. Through the whole game, all you do is tap the screen and get the adorable bird through pipes that resemble the pipes used in Mario. Although the game didn’t start gaining huge popularity on its release day (May, 2013), it quickly became popular among teens, social media, and celebrities a few months later. Flappy Bird was developed by a Vietnam developer, Dong Nguyen, and published by .GEARS Studios (a small independent game developer based in Hanoi, Vietnam). One of their main goals as a video game maker was to recreate the retro Mario look

but with an increase of difficulty. I guess we can say they were successful because it has every player and even the creator wanting to throw their phones across the room. Since the release, they have seen huge success. It topped the free category of the American and Chinese iTunes App Stores and later on the UK App store. As of January it ended as the most downloaded app on the app store. Just this month, the game was removed from all app stores; there are no current leads as to exactly why the creator pulled it down other than some of his tweets: “But it also ruins my simple life. So now I hate it,” he said. Since the game has been removed from the app store, we can expect the popularity of Flappy Bird to slowly die soon. Even tough new players can no longer download it on their phones, the game still remains functional for those who already had it installed on their phone, and iPhone users get an upgraded Android version.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014 The Tomatalk • Kamiakin High School