Trident November 2013

Corona del Mar High School v Volume 52 v Issue 2 v November 2013

Awkward Silence pg. 1 2

Sammy C

pg. 1 4

ObamaCare pg. 28

Fireside

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Hey CdM! So, it is finally second quarter, so hopefully everyone has adapted to the CdM groove. Trident Online certainly has; we are hitting the web with new articles, videos, recipes, photos, and reviews. If you like what you see in the magazine, then you should definitely check out Trident online on the daily basis for updates on student life and current events from a student’s perspective. We a question...

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From the Staff Editors’ Note Dear Trident Reader, As the holiday season rapidly approaches, many students spend lots of quality time with their friends and family, whether it’s at the dinner table or sitting beside a cozy fire. To the Trident staff, this holiday season symbolizes the importance of time with loved ones, especially with Thanksgiving right around the corner.

The Fireside issue focuses on moments and memories shared during this season. We explored many different conversation topics in this issue, such as insecurities, gossip, or even those occasional moments of awkward silence.

But in the end, even though there might be an awkward silence after Grandma tells you how much weight you’ve gained, and although your cousins may annoy you, family is family, and we have them to be thankful for.

Have fun eating turkey! Check out the Turkey Trivia on page 30 and Happy Thanksgivukkah.

Gobble gobble,

Rafah & Amanda

Staff Adviser

Contact Us

Rafah Ali

tridentonline@gmail.com

Laura Holk Editor-in-Chief

Amanda Penna Editor-in-Chief

Elizabeth Greenberg Online Editor

Emma Sung Online Editor

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Krista Schildwachter Section Editor

Hannah Schoenbaum Section Editor

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Sophia Cianfrani Reporter

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Trident is a student forum used to inform and entertain the students and community of Corona del Mar High School. Opinion articles reflect the views of the writer; they do not represent the beliefs of Corona del Mar High School staff, administrators, or the Newport-Mesa Board of Trustees. Letters to the editor may be submitted to room 224 or e-mailed to the address listed. Trident reserves the right to edit letters based on consideration of accuracy, length, clarity, obscenity, and libel. 2012-2013 ©

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Hannah Schoenbaum

Finals Review Sessions

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Finals Review Schedule Saturdays: Jan. 11th, 18th, & 25th 9:30-11:30 AP Calc 9:30-11:30 Trig/Pre-Calc 12:30-2:30 Geometry 2:30-4:30 Physics

Sundays: Jan. 12th, 19th, & 26th 9:30-11:30 Algebra 2 6:30-8:30 Chemistry * Times subject to change * Additional subjects and times will be added if necessary

We recommend you choose one day and time and come once each weekend to review the entire semester

Sessions are limited to 5 people so sign up early!

FEATURE 06 07 08 10 11 12

Discussions Insecurities Different Thanksgivings Fireside Stories Decorations Delight Awkward Silence

14 16 17 18 20

Sammy C Bob 1 Fire Pits College Community Service

ATHLETICS

22 23

Matt Sherburne Soccer

ENTERTAINMENT

24 25

Makin’ It S’mores

TECHNOLOGY

26 27

Gather Around ASB App

GLOBAL

Pg. 30

28 30

ObamaCare Thanksgivukkah

CONTENTS

November

2013

Fireside Issue

CAMPUS LIFE

FEATURE

T

hanksgiving is coming up this month, and that most likely means relatives are coming into town to celebrate together.

Although family time is comforting, most people respond differently depending on who they’re talking to, specifically relatives. Even students around campus tend to avoid certain subjects with their family that they are open about with friends. But why?

What causes us to do this?

When loved ones visit and ask the usual question, “how’s school?” the response to a friend compared to a family member is drastic. The usual answer to a friend would be something along the lines of who the cutest guys and girls in class are or all the latest school gossip. To a family member, the response would probably be something that mentions grades, teachers, or what they’re learning about in each subject.

These automatic remarks are told this way because, let’s face it, after spending

Thanksgiving Discussions

Rambling With Relatives

eight hours at school five days a week almost all year long, a majority of students find a group of friends that they feel they can say anything to. It’s different when talking to family about things that go on around campus because life at school and life at home are very diverse, including the people there.

Peers around school share similar experiences on campus, from cliques to crushes, these are topics that relatives do not experience like their schoolmates do.

Not only do friends live by the same bell schedule and academic events, but they also share similar teachers that can be uncomfortable to explain to cousins and grandparents.

According to yahoo.com, an example that proves when students are holding back on what they say is when a high-pitched voice is used after every question. When people reply to questions with a voice higher than usual, it is a sign that they are anxious or are trying to be extra polite. In front of friends however, most middle and high schoolers will sound less tense and

more honest. Not all teens have a problem speaking honestly to family though.

However, if you are having trouble talking casually with relatives, remember that you do not have to tell them every detail about your life. When students react specifically around certain people, it does not always mean that they are being secretive about something. Some people act differently around family simply because they want to be respectful and not accidentally say something that sounds too rambunctious.

Usually around friends, people tend to feel more relaxed which can result in silliness, mainly around lunch when students are given a longer break to talk and chill out.

When explaining something to a family member, try not to sound bored. When someone is nervous about something, it’s typical for them to sound a certain way without even meaning it. Family time is an occasion thousands of families worldwide will be sharing this month, so try making the best of it, and whatever is discussed, whether it’s with a friend or a relative, just be relaxed.

Sometimes, kids would rather discuss things they have in common with friends.

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November 2013

article & photos by Victoria Hill

FEATURE

Insecurities A

Peek Into

Girly

Self-Doubt

F

rom the classic chic flick movie Mean Girls, one of the memorable scenes is when the girls gather around the mirror in one of the main character’s bedroom and discuss their flaws. From their hips or facial pores being to big, this just shows how normal it is for teenagers to make fun of themselves.

All people go through a period of time when they are insecure about themselves. One of the biggest insecurities girls feel is about their physical appearance. From makeup, to trendy clothes, girls are always trying to fit in. “In elementary school I was always made fun of. All the girls didn’t like my clothes. I am now really conscious about what I wear,” said an anonymous student.

Insecurities hold you back from being unique. When you are insecure, you are not confident or assured about being yourself.

“Being yourself ” is such an overly used phrase. Teachers, counselors, and parents always say, “Just be yourself!” Teenagers want to stand out but they don’t want to stand out too much.

“We are afraid to be judged. No one wants to be that ‘weird’ kid that no one talks to. We just want to fit in,” said an anonymous student.

Friends are amazing to have when you are insecure. Friends support you and cheer you up. “Nothing is better than having a friend cheer me up when I am upset about myself. They are always there for me and it is nice to have that support,” said an

anonymous student.

Now it is time to get over these petty insecurities. The first thing you have to do is to realize what you are insecure about.

For example, in sixth grade I got knee surgery and I was really insecure about my scars. I was worried that everyone was going to stare at them and make fun of me, so I would place band aides on top of them every day before school so that no one could see them.

Next, it is time to accept it. This insecurity you have is not a flaw, it is what makes you unique and different. I realized that a scar is just a scar and that everyone gets them.

Lastly, you need to let go of your insecurity. This may be hard to realize, but it probably isn’t as bad as you think. So after a while of debating, I made a decision to stop covering up my knee scars.

That day, no one even commented on them. The whole problem was in my head.

If you still are super worried about just letting go, then be like freshman Venice Loar. “A lot of times when you are insecure about yourself, other people really don’t notice. You are the only one putting yourself down. My advice is to stop looking at the flaws and look at the things you like. I personally love my eyes, and I focus on that. Flaws make us unique, embrace it,” said Loar.

Insecurities are just hurdles that eventually need to be overcome.

Everyone has them, everyone has gone through what you are going through, and you are not alone.

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article & photo by Elizabeth B. Greenberg

TRIDENT

November 2013

FEATURE

Tied Together

with

C

Thanks

Thanksgiving Celebrations Around the World

ontrary to popular belief, Thanksgiving is not solely an American tradition. Although other nations do not celebrate the monumental Plymouth colonial feast, everyone finds their own ways to show appreciation.

In the United States, Thanksgiving is celebrated in honor of a successful harvest and the joint feast shared between Native Americans and European settlers. Since 1621, this tradition has been immensely modernized.

Ducks and geese have been replaced by the turkey, and cranberry sauce is now an essential element added to the festive mix. However, besides the improvement of food selection, American citizens have also broadened their list of blessings for which to be thankful.

Now, not only is a good meal celebrated, but the companionship of truly great friends, a loving family, and everything that people usually take for granted can be showcased as well.

People take part in the holidays by volunteering at places such as the soup kitchen, spending time baking pumpkin pie with their friends, and visiting relatives they don’t often see. Thanksgiving reminds families everywhere of what they have and gives them an opportunity to stop and appreciate the little things that make life so special.

United State’s neighbor to the North also partakes in a Thanksgiving festivity. Indulging in the same stuffing and gravy, as the United States, Canadian Thanksgiving seems very similar. However, the Canadian Thanksgiving has a different history. In Canada, this holiday is celebrated to give thanks to God for the safe arrival of Canada’s founder. This event predated the Pilgrim’s Thanksgiving by 43 years, and takes place a month before the United States.

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November 2013

article by Krista Schildwachter

FEATURE Even people from the past knew to appreciate the things that they enjoyed in life. Many different ancient groups held festivals that symbolized a fruitful harvest, including those of the Jewish faith. This eight day long harvest festival is known as Sukkot and is celebrated to remind people of the hardships and suffering of Moses and the Israelites during their forty year wandering of the desert. Other cultures such as Ancient Greece and Rome gave thanks to their gods as well.

In Korea, their Thanksgiving and harvest festival is called Ch’usok.

During Ch’usok, relatives place tributes upon the graves of their ancestors and give sacrifices of food and many thanks. Similar to American tradition, family feasts then follow. However, unlike the United States, Korean families feast on sweet rice cakes and other traditional foods. Also, as opposed to the American habit of watching a football game or talking over full bellies, Koreans take to the streets for public celebrations of games and dancing.

Another regional demonstration of thanks that features dancing is that of Ghana and Nigeria. In these areas, residents celebrate one simple thing: yams. Yams are the earliest crop of harvest and an essential part of the native food. In the Yam Festival, residents give thanks to earth and sky spirits for a bountiful yam harvest. As opposed to the US, this thanksgiving is celebrated in August or September, after the rainfall. In Nigeria, the celebration starts off with thank you prayers and sacrifices to ancestors. In Ghana, many families prepare yams and other dishes for a large community feast, while young adolescents parade and celebrate behind a boy who is chosen to carry the best yams harvested. Both are followed by public feasting, dancing, and music.

Even though different cultures demonstrate their gratitude for life in unique ways, most find a way to celebrate something special. This Thanksgiving, citizens should truly ponder what or who makes them happy and be sure to demonstrate gratitude to them. Whether it’s petting their dog, telling a best friend how grateful one is for their loyalty, participating in family game night, or not taking for granted technology, clothes, and personal items, appreciation is a much needed act. Every little thank you can make a difference, so people should not be afraid to demonstrate that they really care. Despite the differences around the world, everybody tries to show their gratitude in whatever way they can.

There are many different ways to celebrate thanks around the world.

Different countries incorporate unique traditions into culture.

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photos by Time and Date & Inhabitant

TRIDENT

November 2013

FEATURE

Scary Fireside Stories (For best effect, tell the following stories in the dark, and put emphasis on the story twists)

A

woman woke up from a deep sleep.

She had felt very tired earlier and had clearly succumbed to the irresistible call of slumber while sitting in her favorite chair. As she blinked away the watery dots in her vision she sensed something was wrong. A cold feeling ran up her spine as she thought, “Someone just walked over my grave.” She eased herself out of the chair and rose sensing again that feeling that something was amiss, almost as though something familiar was simply not present. But, try as she might, she could not place her finger on what it was. The house seemed strangely quiet because it should have been buzzing with the festive mood that comes with a family gathering. The woman proceeded to walk about the house attempting to find what

The statue now,smiling, had a disturbingly human demeanor.

was amiss. She went pale when she saw everyone gathered outside around a fresh mound of dirt, all faces solemn. “Oh no”, she thought, “Someone has passed away.”

She fervently hoped it wasn’t someone she was close to. She hurried outside,

She went pale when she saw everyone gathered outside around a fresh mound of dirt, all faces solemn. and overheard her sister sob, “ She had the heart of an ox.” The sister’s husband replied. “So strange, no one could have seen this coming…” Frantically the woman attempted to get a glimpse of the name

on the brilliant white cross. She suddenly realized what was wrong; she couldn’t feel her heart beat.

As Erich walked across the living room he could not escape the feeling that something was watching him. He turned and saw a creepy statue of a clown. He shrugged it off, surprised by his wife’s lack of taste in art. After a few days the statue had him running across the living room to avoid its regard. But he was too embarrassed to admit this to his wife. One day he caught his wife running across the living room in a similar fashion. He asked her what the matter was, embarrassed, she admitted the statue he had bought scared her. Surprised, he exclaimed he felt exactly the same. But confused he stated,” I didn’t buy the statue, in fact I thought you had bought it.” They both turned their heads towards the statue which now, smiling, had a disturbingly human demeanor to it.

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TRIDENT

November 2013

article & photos by Rourke Funke

FEATURE

Decorating Delights of Autumn

I

Fall Décor

Fall Favorite for the Whole Family

t is that time of year again; Dad goes into the attic, happy to find all the cardboard boxes full of holiday decorations.

Thanksgiving is considered the first holiday of the season; so why not start off strong with jawdropping decorations?

As family and friends search to find parking in the busy allies of the Port Streets, make your front door the best on the block.

Beautiful autumn wreaths are Simple and beautiful. Go around the neighborhood searching for small twigs and sticks, and dead leaves in colors of reds, oranges, and some browns. Then, with some neutral colored ribbon, wind the sticks together in a circle, making a base for the wreath. Next, with the help of a hot glue gun, weave the leaves into the base, leaving some small spots open. Once the leaves have dried, take a decorative bow and wrap it to the top of the wreath, and add either acorns or dried flowers to any openings left. Finally, hang it on your front door to greet whole family.

Some consider the table as the most important “centerpiece” of Thanksgiving.

It all starts with the right tablecloth. If you choose a plain color, then what goes on top can be patterned, but if you prefer a printed tablecloth, then the dishware should be more plain and closer to the overall color scheme. Napkins and plates should have a balance between size and style. You don’t want your guests piling up food on a plate the size of a dime, but, then again, the bigger the plate means less elbow-room at the table. By having too many items on the table, spills are bound to happen, so keep it clean and simple. Stick to low centerpieces so conversation can flow through the table,

not stop in the center. Fill a fishbowl vase with an arrangement of neon orange, pale purple, and light green flowers. Then, clean out a flatter pumpkin and place the bouquet inside the pumpkin, and now you’ve created the perfect centerpiece.

Fun décor around the house adds a personal touch to the Thanksgiving scene.

The classic fall favorites are pumpkins.

A new popular twist on these timeless outdoor ornaments, are “Cinderella pumpkins,” “Sugar Pie pumpkins,” and Rouge Vif d’Etampes pumpkins. Baby pumpkins (found at a local supermarket) filled with little candles can be great custom candleholders.

If you’re spending Thanksgiving by the lake or at the cabin, pick up some flat rocks and label family member’s names by gluing colorful corn kernels on the rocks, for creative name cards. Are you trying to keep your baby cousins company before Grandma spills the gravy? No worries! The only things you need to make are some turkey inspired headwear is a paper grocery bag, paper lunch bags, tape, scissors, scrap paper, white paper napkins, and a stapler.

Then, staple a piece of long paper together as a headpiece. Next, wrinkle two grocery bags together and tape a balled-up napkin on each opening. Finally, staple the two “turkey legs” to each side of the headgear, then repeat so all the family can match.

After the dishes are done, everyone is stuffed, and the refrigerator is overflowing with leftovers; hopefully, you can look-back on your Thanksgiving extravaganza with a smile. Nothing is more rewarding than having pleased guests (and an extra slice of pumpkin pie), and knowing that it turned out to be an extraordinary evening.

Mini Pumpkin Candle-Holders are perfect to light up your outdoor patio or countertop.

A bright orange pumpkin vase is a beautiful centerpiece for a crowded table.

11

article & photos by Sophie Ganion

TRIDENT

November 2013

FEATURE

Great...

W hat Do I Say Now? When Words Fail Awkward Silences Become Present

J

ust imagine yourself talking in a conversation. While conversing with others, you’re able to produce words and become social, but then all of a sudden, the last question you asked was answered, and your brain flowing with discussion ideas suddenly disappears. Then the moment you dreaded the most becomes acknowledged-awkward silence. For you lucky people that have not experienced any form of the awkward silence, it is an uncomfortable pause in a conversation. Awkward silence tends to cause anxiety, as some people feel almost pressured to affix unnecessary comments to continue on the dying conversation.

Continuing conversations for a long period of time can be considered a skill, but to some it almost breaks the ice to share the silence.

“Of course I have experienced awkward silence, I believe a majority of people have. For me, it happens more with friends but I do try to prevent it as much as possible. Therefore, I usually result to dancing around or changing the subject completely. Sometimes I am automatically programmed to go on Instagram, I don’t know why, I just do,” said senior Kori Burton.

Due to our obsession with technology, today’s society experiences more and more awkward silences while in interactions with others. Think about it. When was the last time you went out to dinner with a group of people and not one person’s eyes were hypnotized by their phone’s screen? Consuming yourself in your own

little world, looking preoccupied prevents awkward silences because you end up not talking at all. Additionally, with the use of technology, awkward silences are not being interpreted into polite conversations.

Instead, some may look into their screen, scared out of their mind to say anything, hiding behind their phone to protect them from certain uncomfortable moments.

“I have been in conversations before where awkward silences would sadly occur, but I think that being aware and laughing about it does break the ice as long as the other person laughs along with you.

When people don’t laugh along with you, that’s when you know the awkward silence has become bad and just puts you in an even worse spot than before,” said junior Andrew Thompson.

Since the holidays are right around the corner, some may or may not be thrilled to spend time with family. Not all family members get along and at times there is tension or subjects that are sensitive and usually are avoided in conversation.

Even discussions with family members can become unwieldy. Some relatives can push one another’s buttons and create tension that the whole family can feel, and the atmosphere can easily become silent. Awkward silences can happen with everybody, not only friends, but even family members.

“Awkward silences are even more awkward when they occur between family members at the dinner table because there is no escape. If family members are not getting along, family mealtime can become unpleasant. This happens more around

the holidays when people spend time with relatives that they do not get along with or just do not know that well,” said senior Liliana Dawidoff.

Awkward silence can be easily avoided. To evade such a conclusion, try summarizing what was said in the conversation and end by saying either “well, I must go” or “thanks for the help.”

By using certain phrases it will give the other person in the conversation a hint that it is time to part. Awkward silences cannot always be avoided, but sometimes it can be easily broken. It creates laughter and brings humor into uneasy conversations. As uncomfortable awkward silences may be, it is never a bad thing to feel awkward. Sometimes people may regret talking too much and saying things that were unnecessary, but it is those certain experiences that help build character. It is a normal emotion that teenagers feel quite often. Being true to who you are is the best person that one could ever be.

“Awkward silences are even more awkward when they occur between family members at the dinner table because there is no escape.”

— Liliana Dawidoff

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article & photo by Amanda Penna

TRIDENT

November 2013

Sammy C The CdM Singer’s Rise to Fame

F

or his first performance in front of a crowd, Sammy C sang the Black Eyed Peas song “Where Is the Love” on the American reality TV show singing competition “The Voice” as his fans and peers at Corona Del Mar High School watched.

Sammy C, as he likes to be called, is your not-sotypical CdM junior; he’s progressing in his singing career, going through high school with Alopecia, and working to fulfill his dream to become “the greatest entertainer the world has ever witnessed”.

Sammy C has been creating music since the fifth grade, but his career began to boom after his performance on the American reality TV show singing competition “The Voice.”

After being selected from thousands of auditionees, Sammy C performed three songs at SIR Studios in Los Angeles, followed by a performance in front of “The Voice’s” executive producers, then on television. “Only a small percentage of people (who auditioned) are shown on TV, and I was blessed enough to be able to go on,” said Sammy C. “I think that he’s a very talented singer and is very gifted. I’ve listened to him and I think he’s just waiting to be discovered,” said senior Daniel Wolski.

Not only is Sammy C recognized by students on campus, especially girls, he also has fan bases from YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook. “It’s cool to have fans, ‘cause I feel like my fans are

different than other people’s fans because…my fans are broken, and when they message me on Facebook or whatever, I’m always there to just like help them through life,” said Sammy C. Other rappers and Sammy C’s personal hero strongly affect his music and success. Sammy C considers Usher and Justin Bieber his main inspirations. “Bieber just got famous so fast. I’m not too proud of the stuff that he’s [doing] now, but I know he’s [going to]

“Your greatest strengths are your greatest weaknesses.”

—Sammy C.

come back. He [started singing] so young. I feel like that’s a great thing in this industry,” said Sammy C. Chris Picou, a former Christian rapper and Sammy C’s father, strongly influences Sammy C’s life and music. “My dad [is my hero] because he’s messed up and he’s not afraid to admit it. If you’re going to become a man, you [have to] be able to face your problems and struggle with them. Your greatest strengths are always your greatest weaknesses. He’s helped me work through

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November 2013

article by Lauren Lamm

STUDENT LIFE my life,” said Sammy. Picou is someone Sammy C looks up to and is “always there for him” when he needs help on song lyrics or any struggles in Sammy C’s life.

According to WebMd.com, alopecia is a type of hair loss that occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles.

Sometimes the disease is permanent, while in other cases some people have episodes of alopecia and then have hair grow back.

“Alopecia gives me the inspiration that I [need]. People would say mean comments, and that would just fuel me to write more music,” said Sammy C. Sammy C considers himself different than other rappers because he does not use cuss words, he’s respectful towards others, and his goal to be an inspiration, not just another ordinary rapper.

Through his music, Sammy C pushes his anger and frustration from alopecia and other problematic occurrences in his life into songs. “Music is just a great way to get my emotions out.

Sometimes I’m headstrong with my emotions, which I shouldn’t be, but it’s good for writing songs,” said Sammy C. Music affects Sammy C’s attitude, the way that he dresses, and how he treats others. “My favorite song out of the one’s I’ve written is ‘Anything You Say’ which is mostly about how people tell you to be normal, or you [have to] dress a certain way, basically saying you can’t be yourself. We’ve all got our own perceptions of normal, right? What if I want to dress to my perception of normal? What if I [want to] be me? Let me be me.

And so that song is really about, like, anything you say doesn’t mean a thing,” said Sammy C. To other teens who want to become rappers and singers, Sammy C advised, “I would say just go for it. Set your priorities straight (and) don’t get involved in relationships. It’s ok on the side but it’s kind of a distraction. Chase after your dreams with everything you have, hold onto yourself and know who you are, just kill it.”

The young rapper’s constant work in the studio and publicity

“Music is just a great way to get my emotions out.”

—Sammy C. from “The Voice” are paying off. Sammy C’s s new album “Let It Go” is available to purchase on iTunes, but money isn’t his motivation to rap. “It’s awesome (to perform). Just [getting] up there and [being] able to shine my light is a great opportunity. I don’t care about the money, I’m just here to make music,” said Sammy C.

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photos by Lauren Lamm

TRIDENT

November 2013

STUDENT LIFE

Mobbin n’ Bobbin

Youth & Government Delegates Attend Their First Conference

O

ne, we’re NCDM 2.

A little bit louder 3. I still can’t hear you; we are # 1. This is one of NCDM’s most famous cheers, echoing throughout

each conference.

All throughout November, the halls of CdM are filled with chatter of “Bob I”. This buzzword isn’t the name of a person, but is the fond nickname of the first Youth & Government conference, more formally known as T&E I (Training & Elections I).

This year, delegates were particularly excited for Bob I because they didn’t have the opportunity to experience it last year.

Due to construction on the grounds, the conference was temporarily relocated to the International Agri-center in Tulare, CA. Though it had primarily the same schedule and goals, this adapted conference was a condensed version of Bob, lasting just under a day. This conference was fondly—or, for some, not so fondly—known as “Larry,” a play off of the city’s name.

“I thought Larry was a challenge because of the cold weather and the last-minute scramble to make the conference work. In the end, though, it was probably the best way it could’ve been,” said Lara Alptekin.

Though “Larry” was a nice change of pace, many delegates felt homesick for Bob. “Bob is like our sanctuary; it’s just meant to be where the memories are created. I’m so thankful we went back to Bob this year,” added junior Brooke Taylor.

NCDM Delegates arrived at CdM at 3am to board school buses and embark on their five-hour journey to the military base, Camp Roberts, in San Luis Obispo. Upon arrival, they were ushered into a large hall of three thousand delegates, each exploding with enthusiasm. Though puffy-eyed and sleepy-voiced from the tiresome bus

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November 2013

ride, NCDM quickly took the floor and dominated with their cheers.

Sophomore Austin Baxter said, “Only one delegation can stand a chance against us: SPPY [San Pedro & Peninsula and Wilmington’s delegation]. They are a powerhouse of spirit with 139 people, but with our numbers at 180, I feel like this is our year.”

At assemblies during Bob I, the delegates hear speeches for various statewide positions, which are voted on and determined by the end of the conference.

Overall, this conference is centered around the delegates’ learning and is designed so delegates can experience as many program areas as possible before committing to an area at Bob 2. Program areas include Legislature, NIC (National Issues Committee), Court, and many other intriguing departments.

When the delegates weren’t split up into their program areas, they could be found at various nighttime activities such as a square dance and the infamous Club Bob dance, which is a favorite of many students.

NCDM considers Bob I a success, especially because of the numerous leadership positions acquired. The next conference, Bob 2, takes place from January 18-20 in Paso Robles. Until then, keep that pirate sense of pride, NCDM.

No Shave November Stow your razors, everyone. No Shave November, a cherished holiday at CdM (home to the NCDM pirates) is here.

NCDM is easily recognizable at Bob I’s dance, “Club Bob,” because they dress up as pirates every year, regardless of the theme.

And what’s the absolute necessity of a pirate costume? Facial hair.

NCDM delegates sport all kinds of facial hair for this dance— moustaches, goatees, beards, sideburns—anything goes at Club Bob. But the pirates aren’t alone in their facial hair quest, for the rest of the world is simultaneously participating in No Shave November.

No Shave November, also known as “Movember” (Moustache November), is practically an internationally renowned holiday.

Countless students show their support for this month by growing out their facial hair, and, for the brave ones, not shaving for the whole month.

Movember originated with the intent of raising awareness and money for prostate and testicular cancer by appreciating our hair and letting it grow naturally.

Contributors can go to noshavenovember.com or movember. com to learn more and donate to the cause.

On average, men spend six months of their life shaving, so Movember will surely save them some time. If nothing else, this month is an excuse for individuals to try out new styles of facial hair.

articles by Rafah Ali photos by Suhaa Dada

STUDENT LIFE

Bonfires & Beach Fun

A

Will The Fire Pits Remain in the O.C.? lthough fire pits are fun for cookouts and bonfires, they have recently been found to pose a threat to the quality of air in neighboring residential areas. Controversy about this subject has been going on for months and a decision has finally been reached.

“It’s always fun to have friends come to the beach and roast s’mores. It’s the closest thing to a campfire but at the beach it’s more fun,” said freshman Molly Morrison.

Nearby fire pits tend to be large, cement rings built in the sand where you can prepare your own bonfire with family or friends. Although these are loved by many, there has been recent talk about demolishing all fire pits located in Corona

del Mar and along the Balboa Pier.

Together, Corona del Mar and Balboa contain 60 fire pits. This may not sound like a lot, but when all of the fire pits in every City of Orange County are added together, they come to a total of over 686.

People in beachside houses and families who enjoy frequent visits to the beach have begun to complain about the high-level of smoke in the air. This has discouraged many people from spending time at the beach. Other beach lovers enjoy the fire pits and would be disappointed if they were removed. “I say we should keep our fire pits because it’s part of the whole beach experience and its super fun,” said freshman Jazmin Claro.

In February 2013, the Newport Beach Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission voted that the City Council

Many CdM students enjoy the fire pits at our local beach, Big Corona. These fire pits are common places for parties, bonfires, and beach days!

remove all fire pits due to health concerns.

When this was brought to the Council, it was voted that the necessary steps should be taken to rid Newport Beach of all fire pits.

Other students, such as freshman Derrick Korraa, are not as worried about the smoke, but other dangerous aspects about the fire pits. “I think they should stay because when people get hurt it’s because they are being careless. However, they should probably up the safety regulations,” Korraa said.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) came to a decision in June, 2013. They decided that fire pits and beach bonfires will continue to be permitted in Newport Beach with a few regulations. This is said to only affect around ten percent of fire pits, but if ruled, it could put an end to all fire pits in the Newport Beach area.

Don’t worry, as of now the only rule that has changed is that starting March 2014, fire pits must be located at least 700 hundred yards away from all residential areas. They must be 100 feet apart, if not more. An exception being, if a city has 15 or less fire pits, they are permitted to be as close as 50 feet together. Also included are restrictions of fire pit use on high pollution days. These are rare in our area but can surely happen. These rules are put in place to maintain air quality control of public beaches and nearby homes.

“We should keep them because they’ve been here for a while and they’re part of the beach that everybody loves,” said freshman Keely Paris. It’s safe to say that Corona del Mar High School students love the fire pits and would be sad to see them go.

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article & photo by Sophia Cianfrani

TRIDENT

November 2013

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November 2013

The Crux of

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STUDENT LIFE

Senior Year

Seniors Submit Early Applications for College

ollege, college, college.

Seniors have heard this word so much they’re up to their ears in it. At social gatherings, seniors are often pestered with questions regarding college applications.

“What’s your number one school?” “What’s your essay about?” “Where are you applying early?” Relatives, friends, parents, counselors, and the like asked seniors these questions throughout first semester.

Deadlines for early applications approached rapidly, and students had to juggle their schoolwork and extracurricular activities while completing college applications. CdM seniors lived in “panic mode,” as senior Ellen Naruse calls it. “‘Panic mode’ is a term my mom and I use; it’s basically that moment you realize all your deadlines are coming up, and apps become your first priority. Everything else comes second until the apps are submitted,” Naruse said.

Early application deadlines varied from school to school. Unfortunately, during the early application season, seniors were met with another source of stress: the CommonApp’s technical difficulties.

The CommonApp is an online undergraduate application that allows students to apply to multiple schools using one universal application, which is extremely convenient for applicants applying to many schools. However, the CommonApp was experiencing technical difficulties throughout first semester, which resulted in trouble uploading essays and letters of recommendation, as well as issues logging into the applicant’s account.

Thankfully, many schools extended their early deadlines due to these technical difficulties, though most deadlines

remained in early November.

In addition to different deadlines, schools had different types of early applications, namely “Early Action” and “Early Decision.”

Early Action is a non-binding application, which means that if the applicant is admitted, they can wait until the usual May 1 date to commit to a school. This option is best for students who want to finish their applications and receive results as early as possible, but do not wish to commit to one school.

Some schools also offer an application called “Single-Choice Early Action.” This application is basically the same as Early Action, except that students cannot apply early to any other school. If admitted, they are not bound to that school, and can still hold off until May to make a decision.

Early Decision, on the other hand, is a binding application; if the applicant is accepted, he/she must withdraw all other applications and must attend that institution. Therefore, students can only apply Early Decision to one school, typically their first choice. Clearly, this application shows the highest level of interest possible, and many admissions officers take this into consideration.

Statistically, many schools accept more students that apply early, which entices some students towards this option. On the other hand, many students consider the “early applicant pool” to be a stronger pool of applicants and attribute the higher acceptance rate to this.

Though early applications seem stressful, many CdM students find the stress to be worth it, and most seniors submitted at least one early application. Senior Allen Chen said, “The best part about applying early is getting in and having a college secured so that you have something to look forward to for the rest of the year.”

Throughout the application season, CdM seniors learned some valuable lessons to share with future applicants. “Start your essays early, preferably during the summer so you don’t have to worry during the first semester of senior year,” said senior Sam Younesi.

Many other seniors agreed. Senior Blake Henson added, “Brainstorm your ideas in the summer so you (at least) know what you’re going to write about.” Seniors found that planning essay topics in advance relieved much of the stress associated with writing essays, because it prevented ‘senioritis’ from hindering their essay writing.

In addition to starting essays early, many seniors requested a ‘letter of recommendation’ from teachers as early as possible. Many schools require one (or even multiple) letters of recommendation, typically from a junior or senior year teacher, so most teachers reach their capacity early on in the school year.

Requesting a letter from a teacher at the end of junior year will allow both the teacher and the student to plan ahead, so it’s never too early to begin thinking about which teacher to ask.

Students who aren’t applying to college this year sympathize with the seniors, and many are nervous for their application process as well. “I think the application process looks really stressful, even for the kids who have it all together. I’m nervous for getting my heart set on one school, and having it not work out,” said junior Megan Rieden.

Early applicants typically receive a response around mid-December. Most regular applications are due around the end of the year, and receive a response anywhere from February though April.

Good luck on college applications, Sea Kings, and stay positive.

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article & photos by Rafah Ali

TRIDENT

November 2013

STUDENT LIFE

Community Service

Volunteering For More Than Just The Hours

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All high school students must complete forty hours of approved community service as a requirement for graduation.” This phrase is bluntly stated on the announcements, on the CdM webpage, and is often used by teachers and college counselors.

This statement doesn’t answer how or why or where, and it doesn’t really need to. Community service should be something different for each student. Some students tutor their peers, while others travel abroad and build wells in Cambodia.

Community service should not only help others, but also help the participant. The best part of community service is sometimes the self reflection and realization. Community service should give students that warm and fuzzy feeling that is captured by the essence of November, and this time of year. “[Community service] really helps me put things into perspective. I might be worrying about a test that I have to take, but then I see so many family members hoping for their loved one to wake up the next day. It helps me realize what really is important,” said senior Natalya Buchwald who works as a candy striper in the Intensive Care Unit of Hoag Hospital.

Community service has become a necessity at high schools, and a large factor in college acceptances. College admission officers

claim persistence in one cause or organization is better than random acts of community service.

“I think [community service] should be required [in order to graduate high school]. Sometimes students need an extra push to become involved in the community, and afterwards you realize what you’re passionate about. I think it should also affect college acceptance because it accurately reflects how much the student is not only working for him/herself but also giving back to his/her community,” continued Buchwald.

Although he still thinks community service is important, junior Ben Kashanchi doesn’t completely agree with Buchwald. “ To be honest, I don’t really believe helping the community should play a huge factor [in getting into college] because it isn’t representative of how you will perform in a certain school. I think all the factors that are taken into account during college acceptance should rather be representative of how someone will potentially perform in the school,” said Kashanchi.

Whether they are doing it to get in to college or not, many CdM students have their own unique way of giving back to the community.

For the past two years, junior Brandon Huang has been working for the Child Abuse Prevention Center. He specifically works with the “Well Program” which provides free resources to families

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November 2013

article by Maddie Tenebaum

STUDENT LIFE

Juniors Jessica Ongweiseth, Jake Carlis, Rachel Kamran, Connor Greenwood, and Cameron Klien work at an event for the Child Abuse Prevention Center. They attend events like theses every month.

throughout Orange County.

“I’m making a difference and breaking a cycle of child abuse by preventing the circumstance,” said Huang.

Senior Katherine Webb performs a completely different form of community service. She tutors senior citizens at the Oasis Senior Center on how to use electronics. She has now been working at the center for three years about 1-2 hours a week.

“In general community service makes me feel good about myself. It’s a chance to contribute to the community around us in ways that we otherwise probably would not,” said Webb.

Community service has become an extremely large part of my life. It started as a desire to fill my required hours for graduation, and has become so much more. Over the past few summers I’ve volunteered at a variety of summer camps for younger children.

Putting smiles on the faces of children has developed from a small pastime into my passion. Living in such an affluent area can be shielding, but community service breaks the bubble of seclusion.

I’ve never felt as accomplished as I did when I first got home after working at a sleep away camp this summer. All the campers that had the opportunity to attend the camp lived in shelters, or poverty struck areas in Los Angeles. The campers in my cabin were grateful and mature beyond their years. My whole life I had attended camp over the summer, and had never thought of it as such an honor.

The last day of camp each and every one of my campers was hysterically crying as they boarded the bus to go home. Many campers told me depressing stories of their home-life and how they were scared to go back to reality. Other campers told me that

they had just spent the best week of their life at camp, and they wished they could live there all year long.

The image of pure sadness as the buses drove away is permanently engrained in my head, and has changed me as a person. After working this summer, I realized that I’d rather work for others than work for myself.

Changing someone else’s life, even in the slightest way, gives people a feeling of accomplishment that can’t be obtained in any other way possible. Don’t make community service just about the amount of hours that will show up on your college application, make it about the people who are benefitting from your work, and the pure feeling of satisfaction you feel afterwards.

“I might be worrying about a test that I have to take, but then I see so many family members hoping for their loved one to wake up the next day. It helps me realize what really is important.”

-Natalya Buchwald

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photos by Maddie Tenebaum

TRIDENT

November 2013

ATHLETICS

In the

Waterwith

Sherbs

Dive Into the Waterpolo Team Captain’s World

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Matt Sherburne calls for the ball in the two-meter position.

powerful leader in the water, senior team captain Matt Sherburne commands his band of brothers during the water polo season. Sherburne, the only threeyear varsity player on the team, shows his dedication as a captain through his experience, hard-work, and passion.

“Matt always seems to be working the hardest in the pool, even though he is already the most skilled,” said junior Patrick Ong. Sherburne, the high-scoring starting center set player, still somehow manages to stay humble and modest while talking about his performance. “I don’t focus on the amount of goals I make or steals that I get in a game; those are just numbers.

Coach [Barry O’Dea] says that nobody [on varsity] is above the team, and the three letters on our [water polo] caps mean everything.”

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November 2013

How do you help to lead your team as team captain?

“I find myself leading the team both inside and outside of the pool. I’m always there for my guys when they are in the water trying to make something happen for the team, which is what I’m all about.

Whenever players ask for help I always deliver, especially in the lady department.”

How do you typically prepare for games?

“I like to visualize the game before I enter the water, sometimes hours before the game itself. I usually imagine situations such as passing an assist to star player Charlie Rodosky.”

Is there any sort of pre-game music that pumps you up for games?

“Definitely. I feel as if I can not truly be prepared unless I listen to my pregame pump-up playlist that includes the legendary Colbie Caillat, Natasha Beddingfield and Jack Johnson, all some of my personal favorites.”

Who are some of your inspirations?

“Our coaches both played and were

Sherburne holds a hard press on defense during a game.

some of the best players on the U.S.A. team. Also, Ryan Bailey, one of the best centers pretty much in the world, has been coaching us a lot. They are all definitely big inspirations to me.”

Since you are a team captain and top scorer for one of the highest ranked water polo teams in the county, you obviously must have been getting some looks from big-time colleges. Can you please elaborate on this?

“I am not committed anywhere, but I have been talking to different coaches and am applying to schools that are known for their water polo team. I have narrowed it down to four schools-Cal Berkeley, UCLA, Pepperdine, or UCSB.” When you get into tough games, how do you pull through and play hard?

“Some would say focus, or high intensity, but I go farther than that. I like to imagine myself as a water moccasin in games so I can swim faster than everyone else. Usually this helps me be graceful, yet lethal, in the water.”

article by Kyle Rodewald photos by Nick Snyder

ATHLETICS

Soccer in the U.S.A.

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Jack Mcbean attacks the ball against another player. The CdM alumni was recruited at age 16.

he long time worldwide phenomenon of soccer has seemed to miss a certain country: ours.

But why is it that the world’s most popular sport has taken a nosebleed seat in the United States?

We love sports, baseball, football, and basketball, even golf. So, why not soccer?

First off, why do we even call it soccer?

In reality, this is just a nickname that stuck with us Americans. Originating in England, after the founding of the Association Football. “Young Brits” back then liked to give things nick names ending in –er, so after a short term love affair with “assoccer,” the word evolved into what Americans call this amazing sport today.

The name is not simply the reason soccer has taken so long to make its mark in the U.S. Men’s Major League Soccer was founded in 1996. Before then, the only time U.S.A would get a taste of rooting for their own team in a soccer match would be during the World Cup or Olympics if we were lucky enough to qualify.

Our men’s team might not be top notch, but our women’s national team is one of the best in the world. The US Women’s team won the 2012 London Olympics, coming out undefeated and with the gold medal. We came in second in the most recent Women’s World Cup, losing to Japan’s team in penalty kicks.

article by Elizabeth A. Greenberg photo by kutv.com

The U.S. Struggles in the World’s Most Popular Sport

LA holds the MlS’s top team, CdM alumnus Jack McBean even plays for the Galaxy. Winning the last two MLS cups, LA Galaxy is one of America’s best teams.

Maybe it’s the fact that soccer is one of the most frustrating sports in the world.

With matches that end in 0-0, to games where one lucky bounce can make an undeserved team win a tournament, it’s no wonder why Americans make fun of the agonizing game. Tied games in tournaments are often decided by penalty kicks, leaving fans in despair as they watch their teams take and block shots. It’s a nerve-racking experience for both fan and player.

But fear not, young football adoring Americans, don’t be deterred by the wacky rules of soccer, for it’s a sport of grace and strategy, fouls and penalties, frustration and joy. It is a spectacle to be watched by all ages, races, ethnicities, religions, nationalities; soccer is one common event that can bring the world together in an epic battle of eleven people vs. eleven other people fighting over a ball and trying to use their feet to get into the other team’s net.

Soccer outside the U.S. is possibly more popular than our own leagues. The English Premiere league, housing Manchester United and Chelsea, is popular worldwide.

La Liga, Spain’s soccer league, has perhaps the world’s best two teams: Barcelona FC and Real Madrid. All over the world, people root for their favorite team and

favorite players, even if they come from the other side of the globe.

National teams play in an assortment of championships and cups, so about every year, there is at least one tournament where you can root for a specific country, even the US teams.

A contributing factor to soccer’s new success in the U.S. is the video game series FIFA, named after the same soccer association that puts on the World Cup. It is basically soccer in video game form, where players can choose their teams and can even choose their favorite players to make a dream team in some games.

Lionel Messi, an Argentine soccer player who plays for FC Barcelona, is even in a commercial sponsoring the video game.

Arguably one of the world’s best, Messi’s support for the game will bring in new players, as well as supporters for the actual game of soccer.

Soccer is a game of passion. It draws you in no matter how far in the game is, no matter who is playing, nor what the score is. Anyone and everyone can appreciate the artful passing and epic shots on goal.

Next time you’re scrolling through channels and you see a soccer game, try watching it. If you like a player on FIFA, try watching that player work his magic in an actual game, or go pick up a soccer ball yourself and go play just for kicks. Soccer is a game for the ages, lets hope that our generation and country don’t miss out on it.

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November 2013

ENTERTAINMENT

Makin’ It

CdM’s First Play of the Year

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former CdM student returns to campus to make it as the drama teacher. Jackie Colgate, Makin’ It is the first play of her CdM teaching career and also the first major play of her CdM teaching career and also the first major play of the school year.

“I chose this play because it is very relevant to high school students. And also because it has a lot of roles starring many students,” said Ms. Colgate. Colgate is a the best replacement CdM could have for Mr. Martin.

“It is really different from what Mr. Martin Had done in the past. And also a big transition for people who had acted before,” senior Maia Mohammadi said.

Makin’ It is a story of high school students and what they have to go through every day. There are the jocks, the nerds, the popular girls, but none of them are stereotypes. Everyone has their own story.

Some of the cast members pose for picture as their character.

This play is about the ordinary kids seen walking down just about any hallway in just about any school. A good kid, a bit baffled by high school, tries his or her best to make it through their high school career. A girl who wants to desperately look like the models in Seventeen, and the football player who must protect his mom and sister from his father’s wrath both have problems, along with daily homework. A girl deals with body image issues. Some kids empathize with misfit students, and then the principal who is trying to keep track of all of these ever changing students.

The students try to make it through their challenging and satisfying four years of high school. You’ll see if they all make it through.

The cast members of this play have been working very hard with practices MondayThursday from four to six o’clock after school.

“We’re trying to get into the character of a 1980’s high school student and accurately portray their stereotypes,” Senior Ricker

Hausam said. Hausam and Mohammadi are the only two seniors acting in the play but there are others working behind the scenes.

Getting into character for these CdM students would be extremely hard, but the members of Makin’ It have seemed to have mastered their roles after listening to music and watching movies from that era.

Makin’ It is the proper play for new cast members to showcase their skill of acting.

Each of the actors has his or her own monologue, so each person has a main influential role in the play.

“It’s fun to have everyone be in the spotlight,” said sophomore Mason Amdor.

For many of the actors in the play, they like sharing the spotlight rather than being in it alone.

Everybody in the cast, as well as Ms. Colgate, hope you can make it to this production of Makin’ It. This play is happening on November 14th, 15th, 16th, as well as on the next weekend, the 23rd and 24th in the Little Theater.

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November 2013

article & photo by Nick Snyder

ENTERTAINMENT

How to Make...

S’ more Cupcakes

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S’Yummy S’Mores

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he melting chocolate on the mountainous fluffy marshmallow, topped off with delicious graham crackers, this is the crave of s’mores. But there’s a problem, you have no fire pit! Without sitting around the heated campfire, there are still ways to get that s’more taste! You can achieve this by topping everything off with a milk chocolaty cupcake.

Materials: *Cupcakes liners *Cupcake tray *Chocolate cake mix. (dark or milk both work) -additional materials on back of the cake box vary *Large Bowl * Large spoon for mixing cake mix *Graham Crackers *Hershey Bars (three bars work for 24 cupcakes) *Marshmallows –normal size

Steps: 1) Preheat your oven to 350 degrees 2) Follow ingredients needed on the back of the cake box. Pour all the ingredients from the back into one large bowl including the mix.

3) Stir the ingredients together making a cake batter. Make sure everything is mixed thoroughly.

4) Put the cupcake linings in the cupcake tray and pour the mixture into each cupcake lining to about ¾ full.

5) After the oven is preheated, follow the directed amount of minutes your cake mix takes for 24 cupcakes.

6) Take out your cupcakes five minutes early.

7) After taking out the chocolate cupcakes, put a normal sized marshmallow on top of each cupcake in the center.

8) Put the cupcakes back in the oven for the remaining five minutes.

9) Take out the cupcakes and let cool for about 5 minutes.

10) Sprinkles graham cracker crumbles on top of the melted marshmallow 11) Top it off with a Hershey square.

ow that you have witnessed the s’more cupcakes to-do-list, lets dive into the s’more underworld of cookies! If you think the s’more cupcake was easy, now try the s’mookie, as easy and quick as a snap!

S’more

Materials: *Graham cookie mix *Hershey’s (buy according to amount of cookies) *Large marshmallows

Steps: 1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees 2) Follow directions on back of the graham cracker/cookie mix. (including ingredients) 3) Take out the cookies two minutes early.

4) Add a large marshmallow on the top of each cookie and put back in the oven for remaining two minutes.

5) Remove the cookies with the marshmallows from the oven after two minutes and let them cool 6) Add a Hershey’s piece on top and let it melt into the marshmallow

cookies

Both of these simple recipes contribute to your s’more crave giving you every aspect of a real s’more as if you were in front of your own fire pit! Each of these fireside related recipes are simple, not taking up more than 30 minutes maximum of your time, so stop that mouth watering, get on your feet, and cook up s’mores!

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article & photos by Aleah Berger

TRIDENT

November 2013

SCI/TECH

Gather Around the Smartphone Student’s Dependence on their Smartphones Interfere Family Gatherings

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veryone gathers around the table, crowded with all the yummiest foods in massive proportions. Despite all this succulent, mouthwatering food and the heart-wearming family reunion, once everyone sits down, faces are brightened with a glow. The glow of a smartphone.

This time of year, family members from all over the world come to unite at a designated household to enjoy the holidays. After the greetings and friendly conversations, comes dinner time.

During dinner, there is no reason for anyone to be on their phones considering that you will not be successful contacting your friends who are busy enjoying their Thanksgiving dinners or prepping for the next day’s Black Friday. Therefore,

Sophomores Ricky Schmidt, Alex Fargo, and Ethan Wu play with their phones instead of enjoying their lunch time with their friends.

nobody should be contacting anybody during precious Thanksgiving dinner.

We continuously and consciously check our phones several times in an hour and most of the time we know there are no new messages or alerts. Some people do this to avoid awkward conversations, silence or a relative that you never got along with. Additionally, most people who won a smart phone have developed what researchers call “checking habits,” which are “repetitive checks of e-mail and other applications,” according to CNN News.

“I’m on my smartphone because it’s fun, but it takes away family interaction and time,” said sophomore Melody Yoo. If you are the black sheep or the outcast of the family and check Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook 40 times each before, during, and after dinner, drop

or put away that phone and find a close relative or a cousin to start a conversation about anything— video games, books, food, traveling or the most common topic among our friends, school. However, if you insist on being shy, then go to the kitchen. There is always an option of helping your mom set up, cook and clean.

She will constantly need those extra pair of hands.

This might be the only time of the year to see foreign cousins or grandparents only because of Thanksgiving. So put down your smartphone or cell phone (better idea to just leave it in your bedroom and don’t worry, missing a message or two will not bring the world’s apocalypse) and show respect and gratitude towards a nice gathering of family members, who, for some, came a long way to visit.

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TRIDENT

November 2013

article & photo by Emma Sung

SCI/TECH

the C DM cell phone APP CdM is Now at the Tip of Our Fingers

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ave you ever been in a passing period when one of your friends tells you that a test grade has just been put up?

Then you begin to stress that you didn’t do well and suddenly it becomes imperative that you check your score at that instant? You try to go on the browser of your phone and on the CdM website to log in to your portal. Uh oh, the bell just rang and your grade still hasn’t loaded. Your teacher is going to take your phone away if he or she sees it, so you still didn’t get to check what you got. You are just going to have to sit through a full period of anxiety about that test score.

With the help of CdM ASB and a few other intelligent CdM students, we will no longer have this problem. A way has been created to allow CdM to be at the tip of our fingers.

Class of 2014’s very own Kendall Mulvaney came up with the idea after hearing about a school app that Tesoro made for their students.

“I heard a Tesoro student talking about an app he was planning on making while at ASB camp. Then, when it came out, I made sure to look at the features and what was included,” said Mulvaney.

Mulvaney improved upon the app she heard of at ASB camp in many different ways. She added easier access to the Bell Schedule, the CdM Webstore, and in the ‘Student’ section, she allowed for links to unique student activities. Some of these include the clothing brand Spruce, the band Point Loma, and Trident Online.

She also created tabs to allow students to

have accessibility to information through an outlet we all know and love - social media.

“I added a lot of things I thought would be useful like the Twitter and Instagram feeds. As a student, I know that most people check social media more often than their grades so I figured it would be helpful to relay information through different

A screenshot of the homepage of the CdM app displays its many features; including access to your School Loop, the Bell Schedule, and various other social media sites.

medians,” said Mulvaney.

Other CdM students on campus have played large roles in making the CdM app as user-friendly as it is today. Juniors Trey Fortmuller and Alex Wendland collaborated to create the updated version we have now.

As stated by Fortmuller, the original app created by Mulvaney was built by a service that automatically creates apps. He and Wendland took it upon themselves to recode the entire app by hand.

“Having the advantage to code the app entirely by hand, our version is much faster and smaller in terms of Megabytes.

There are no visual bugs and discrepancies that the old version was riddled with, and is compatible with all device sizes,” said Fortmuller of the version that he worked on back at the end of last school year.

While Fortmuller was working on straightening out the kinks of the Apple version of this product, Wendland created the Android version.

“We work together to make sure that we offer the same features,” said Fortmuller, who learned app development by studying independently from textbooks and taking courses at UCI. The CdM app has already been downloaded over one thousand times.

Thanks to Mulvaney, Fortmuller, and Wendland, the easy usage of this app allows us to keep as up to date with our grades and school events as we do with Justin Bieber’s tweets. If you haven’t downloaded the app already, you’re missing out on being able to buy tickets to dances, and check what homework you have, all from the convenience of your smart phone.

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article & photo by Suhaa Dada

TRIDENT

November 2013

OBAMA CARE

And the Political Divide

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hat has the two parties of this country at each other’s throats? The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare. The left touts it as a godsend piece of legislation and the savior of the country while the right condemns it as the first sign of the apocalypse. Signed into law back in 2010, Obamacare is approaching deadlines for actually being implemented. The now imminent effects of the law have sparked a country-wide debate that shut down the government for two weeks. Republicans tried to refuse to fund it while the Democrats refused to negotiate. The shutdown lasted until the final hours remaining to pass a budget before the country defaulted on its debt. Obamacare is so divisive that our government would not only cease to function, but risk financial ruin over it. Love it or hate it, Obamacare is one of the most important laws passed since the implementation of Medicare.

Obamacare is the largest overhaul of the country’s healthcare system since Medicare and Medicaid were introduced back in 1965. The law aims to expand insurance for those that already have it and to give it to those that don’t. It’s an attempt to reduce insurance cost overall while increasing the quality of the coverage. By mandating rate standards for those with preexisting conditions, Obamacare ensures that everyone is able to be covered.

Affordability is the act’s main goal however, and includes many measures to achieve this. The lowest income individuals and families will receive government subsidies to keep premium costs down. Those currently at, and hovering at just above, the poverty line will be subsidized so that premiums are kept at 3-4% of net income. While the law provides subsidies for small businesses, it also mandates that any employer with over 50 employee’s provide health insurance or pay a fine. The law, though signed on 2010 shall be in full effect by 2020.

On the one hand, the main argument against the Affordable Care Act is the cost. The United States is experiencing a financial disaster, and that’s putting it lightly. The cost of insuring everyone in the country will undoubtedly be significant. Many businesses

GLOBAL are trying to avoid paying for their employee’s insurance by cutting work hours to part-time.

This presents a solid case against Obamacare, not to mention the clashing ideologies. The socialistic nature of Obamacare directly contradicts the pure capitalistic mindset of the law’s opponents.

Kyle Rodewald has called Obamacare “the summation of everything wrong with the direction of our country.” He believes that “socialism, which is what (Obamacare) is, cannot and will not work.”

The date the individual mandate went into effect was October 1.

Before it did, the entire government shut down. This is the most severe example of protest against the law, but the Republicans have been trying to get rid of the law since its inception. Clearly the opposition is strong.

On the other hand, some would argue that the United States is one of the few first world countries that does not provide universal healthcare. Our European friends consider governmentprovided healthcare to be an integral part of civilized society.

Britain, for example, prides itself on its National Health Service.

The NHS manages to provide healthcare for all british citizens and operates almost entirely on tax revenue. This leads many Americans to wonder why we don’t have a similar system. Nick Snyder, argues that “Obamacare is the salvation of the uninsured and of the entire country.” Our current healthcare system is considered an embarrassment, and change is bound to come in one way or another.

Obamacare has since been opened to the public, unfortunately with great difficulty. The website is almost inaccessible, leaving many people unable to register for healthcare they desperately need. The President has since addressed this, saying “People have been getting stuck during the application process. And I think it’s fair to say that nobody’s more frustrated by that than I am.” He reiterates that “(he) wants the people to be able to get this great product”, but that “there’s no excuse for these problems.” With luck, the website will be fixed as quickly as possible.

Regardless of one’s position on the legislation, it will undoubtedly be the most important law of the decade. The Affordable Care Act will perhaps define the President’s entire administration and shape the future of The United States.

President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law on March 23, 2010.

article by Connor Mickelson photos by Pete Souza & J. Scott Applewhite (R)

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GLOBAL

Thanksg vukkah The Ultimate Festival of Lights, Love, and Latkes

F

or many years, humans have witnessed the overlap of Christmas and Hanukkah, or “Chrismukkah,� but to tell you the truth, that winter holiday mash-up is getting kind of old.

This year, on November 28, it is time to jazz up the holidays with the never-before-seen merge between the first day of Hanukkah and Thanksgiving. For the fist time since 1888 and for the last time in over 70,000 years, the world will get the opportunity to enjoy the once-in-an-eon celebration of Thanksgivukkah.

Thanksgiving and Hanukkah are really not much different.

They both celebrate freedom of religion and thankfulness for all the important aspects of life. Although it does not pertain directly to Judaism, some consider Thanksgiving to be like an honorary Jewish holiday because it celebrates the same values as the Jewish religion. In fact, there is a portion in the Torah (the Jewish bible) called the Thanksgiving-offering. This portion states that when someone has survived a hazardous journey, such as a long sea voyage, they are to make a food offering which they must eat for a number of days to give thanks for their safe

return. Some people believe that the pilgrims modeled the first Thanksgiving feast after this Torah portion.

On any other year, Hanukkah and Thanksgiving would be celebrated separately in small groups of friends and family, but this year, all the members of the Jewish community can come together to celebrate the holidays at the Los Angeles Thanksgivukkah Festival on November 29. If there is anyone who is not already feeling as stuffed as the turkey from their Thanksgivukkah feast the night before, then they can throw on their pants with the stretchiest elastic waistband and head down to L.A. for their final taste of Thanksgivukkah. This postThanksgivukkah festival is said to include live music, crafts, and a whole lot of delicious food, well, as delicious as kosher food can be. It is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience that no one wants to miss.

Jewish families across the globe have already begun planning for the ultimate festival of lights, love, and especially food. It is no secret that the members of the Jewish community are very passionate about food. The majority of the Jewish holidays take place around the dinner table. That is why the Jewish

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article by Hannah Schoenbaum

GLOBAL community has taken advantage of this incredible opportunity to compile the most delicious menu items from each holiday, making the first-ever Thanksgivukkah medley.

Some typical Hanukkah foods include: latkes (potato pancakes), challah bread, applesauce, brisket, noodle kugel, matzo ball soup, gelt (chocolate coins), sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts), and just about any other fried food you can imagine. It may not be the healthiest menu, but do not worry, the Jews are not just some community full of fried food fanatics. The fried food that is typically eaten on this holiday emphasizes the importance of oil in the story of Hanukkah.

“I am so excited for Thanksgivukkah and I am looking forward to incorporating all my favorite Hanukkah meals into my family’s classic Thanksgiving feast. I am

especially eager to taste the very first sweet potato latke with cranberry sauce and sour cream,” said freshman Haley Cohen. Some of the other menu ideas include cranberry applesauce, challahapple stuffing, roasted turkey basted in Maneschewitz wine, raisin cranberry kugel, pumpkin doughnuts, and much more.

The Thanksgivukkah table will certainly be piled with food, but the decorations are what really bring the room to life with holiday spirit. There are many ways to decorate your house for Thanksgivukkah.

One could make a menorah out of miniature pumpkins and even paint them gold. Another great idea is to make dreidels out of actual acorns.

Dreidel is a fun game to play with everyone, even the non-Jewish guests. In the game, one spins the dreidel and tries to get it to land on the Gimel as many times as possible. The goal is to collect as much gelt (chocolate coins) as possible. Whoever ends up with the whole pile of gelt is the winner. Not only does the game of Dreidel educate kids on the perks of gambling at a young age, but it also makes them even more hyper, due to the large consumption of gelt. Kids love to spin the dreidel, and parents love the game even more, because it keeps their kids from bugging them all night and asking when it is time for dessert. The game is a great bonding experience during the holidays and this year, players will get to play with a dreidel made from an acorn.

Thanksgivukkah is a great twist on the typical Hanukkah celebration. Thanksgiving and Hanukkah both stress the importance of giving thanks. So on this holiday, it is important to focus on what Freshman Haley Cohen shows her plate of sweet potato latkes and really matters in life, and this new Thanksgivukkah t-shirt. These t-shirts are availible online and Thanksgivukkah can be a are a great way to get into the spirit of giving. holiday to remember.

Turkey Trivia Did you know...

46 86 50 The National Turkey Federation found that Americans consume approximately

million turkeys during Thanksgiving each year.

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, he heaviest turkey ever raised was

pounds.

million people watch the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade on television.

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photos by Hannah Schoenbaum

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November 2013

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