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THE EPIGRAPH

WINNTER 07-08

A NEWS MAGAZINE FOR THE YUCAIPA HIGH SCHOOL COMMUNITY

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lettersfromtheeditors

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PROMISE NEWELL, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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KATIE ESPINOZA, EDITOR-IN-

M S I L A RN

“In the real world, nothing happens at the right place at the right time. It is the job of journalists and historians to correct that.”

U O J H IG

MARK TWAIN (1835-1910)

H A P I A UC

Y

Katie Boddy, Maddeline Cain, Michael Craver, Allyson De Risio, Kellie Ferguson, Elaine Hayworth, David Idiart, Joseph Lee, Rachal Mc Groarty, Marilyn Newell, Nick Squires, Elizabeth Tompkins, Chelsea Uhrig, Jacobe Varela, Chris Walsh, Ondrea Wear’n

EDITORS IN CHIEF:

Promise Newell and Katie Espinoza

CONCEPTUAL EDITOR: Stevi Boggs

NEWS EDITOR: Matt Darrow

SPORTS EDITOR: Ryan Hamlett

ENTERTAINMENT: George Pitman

FEATURES:

Wesley Van Der Veen

CO-CURRICULAR: Vanessa Beall

COLUMNS:

Ryan Brewer

LAYOUT EDITOR:

Diego hernandez

PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR: Joy Newell

BUSINESS MANAGERS:

Edward Timmons and Stephanie Sanchez

CLASS ADVISOR: SCOTT KENNEDY Journalism is a class created to represent the student voice. We inform the campus and community about current and up coming events that are happening in the world, as well as things in our local community. Our goal is to operate a high quality magazine, and for us to take ownership.

WINTER.07/08 co-curricular THEY HAVE FEELINGS TOO New club on campus plans to meet against meat.

LORDS OF CANDYLAND What some students will do to get their candy fix.

BREAKING THE BOUNDARIES How college expectations are pushing their prospective students over the limit.

TURF AND TRACK

YHS Football’s newest addition to the field

A BIRD’S EYE VIEW

A photo-documentary of the first week of school.

A CUP OF COFFEE FOR EVERYONE

Westwick to open a non profit coffee shop in Redlands.

BEIJING, HERE WE COME Yucaipa High School Madrigals are headed for China!

PUBLIC AFFECTION IN THE PUBLIC EYE BEARDS ON CAMPUS YUCAIPA’S BEST BURRITO Where will you eat it at?

CELL PHONES ON CAMPUS HOMECOMING 2007

Hit or miss?

news BEIJING OLYMPICS 2008 HILARY WEARS THE PANTS But does she wear them well?

CURRENT NEWS SAGGING CITING

Louisiana Officials say “Pull up your pants!” to people exposing their underwear, as a new law gets passed.

PUMPKIN PATCH PANDEMONIUM

The truth regarding the behind the increasing rumors of of Live Oak Canyon’s Pumpkin Patch and Tree Farm.

EFFECTS OF TECHNOLOGY: The new dominant finger

KURDISTAN:

The better Iraq

DISCRIPTION OF PHOTO HERE. Photographed by Joy Newell

WINTER.07/08 sports THE PATRIOTS Tyranny of the NFL: How ow Tom om B Brady and Randy Moss have become the Dynamic ic Duo D

ATHELTIC HIGHLIGHT Cross Country athlete Zak Weinburg rg proves p ves to be successful both on and off the track.

YHS FOOTBALL: Another season of improvement

TIMEOUT WITH RYAN HAMLETT

Sports columnist Ryan Hamlett discusses his increasing love for the Colorado Rockies.

DISCRIPTION OF PHOTO HERE. Photographed by Joy Newell

features eat and columns 8 PEOPLE WHO WILL CHANGE THE WORLD (And And also happen to go to your school)

EXPOSING SIN THE FAKE SIDE OF REAL Is reality te television as real as we think?

CAN MUSIC REALLY RE AFFECT WHO YOU ARE? FASHION FORECASTER AS Promise Newell’s interpretation nte of the Fall/Winter 2007 collections. ec

COHEN & MUSGRAVES Devon and Evan debate over ver the politcal issue of illegal immigration.

entertainment HATS OFF

Diego Hernandez reviews new must-see up and coming movies.

BATTLES AND NO AGE George Pitman reviews a Los Angeles based concert. ce er

AN ARM AND A LEG Michael Craver’s expensive night out at the movies.

HAIL TO THE CHIEF The Master Chief goes out with a bang in Halo 3.

VAN HALEN THE CHOICE

A book review by Marilyn Newell.

ACROSS THE UNIVERSE

Kelli Ferguson discusses one of this year’s most talked about movies.

DISCRIPTION. Photographed by Elizabeth Tompkins

THUNDERBIRD NEWS “a little bird told me...”

THEY HAVE FEELINGS TOO Club plans to meet against meat

by Jacobe Varela

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Are animals our friends or just mobile dinner? Rodeos, slaughter houses, circuses, animal testing, television and fur farming are just some of the ways animals are being mistreated in today’s society. The FBI has even shown that many registered serial killers and rapists experimented and enjoyed abusing animals in their childhood. The bottom line is that animals are being treated horribly and few efforts are being made to change that. Many animal rights activists have tried to make stricter laws than those currently in effect. There are several different steps one could take to accommodate animal well-being.

Vegetarianism and veganism are two options some YHS students are choosing to take in order to support the cause.

The major difference between the two types of diets is that while vegetarians do not eat meat, they do consume foods that come from animals, such as dairy products; vegans, however, do not eat anything that comes from an animal.

Yucaipa High School’s Animal Rights Interact Club plans to do something about it here on campus. “We aren’t trying to convert the student body to vegetarianism or veganism,” says Jolise Munoz, the club’s treasurer, “not all of our current members are.” By raising awareness about the subject, they hope to promote volunteering at local animal shelters, raise options for dissection, and educating the public about animal cruelty. Senior here at YHS and president of the club, Monica Jimenez said that she feels strongly about this topic because “many intelligent people are aware of the issue, but remain content”. The club meets together every other Friday at lunch in room Q-203 and welcomes anyone passionate for the cause.

Lords of Candyland

What some kids will do to get their candy fix

by Alyson Derisio

Photographed by Joy Newell Pho

Candy has always been the most popular fundraising product for schools.

Now, however, all public schools are not allowed to have candy sold on school campus or during school hours.

Selling candy has always been the easiest thing for students to do. Students would just carry their boxes around with them and then sell them throughout the school day. They could sell the candy before school, at breaks, during passing periods, before class started, and at lunch. Students would also have most of their stuff sold by the end of the day, by carrying their boxes with them all around at school. Many teachers did not have a problem with the candy being sold in class, including Mrs. Cooper who says, “I do not have problems with the students selling candy in class because they are respectful and put all items away when asked”.

A main reason why candy is not allowed to be sold is because of the everincreasing obesity epidemic. There have been complaints that the kids will get to school and waste their money on candy or junk food. A lot of kids think that is the other students fault for spending their money on candy or any other kind of junk food. The schools should compromise and at least let candy be sold before school and or at lunch.

Everyone thinks different about the whole candy issue, but candy is very easy for students to sell. They make money easy and there is a never an issue when it is being sold.

BREAKING THE BOUNDARIES:

COLLEGE EXPECTATIONS

The increasing increeasing expectations expectatio of colleges are pushing their prospective students over the limit. By Katie Body. Photographed by Scott Kennedy Since the requirements to graduate high school are so trivial, many students believe that it applies to college as well. This thought is quickly demolished by colleges and their increasingly high expectations. There is never enough time to stop and relax while you are running around trying to get everything done for college. Welcome to reality.

Amazingly, you only need four years of English, three years of history, two years of lab science, and one year of your choice of either a foreign language or fine art. Besides the core classes, you just need a few classes to fill up a schedule.

However, the requirements to be accepted into college are much more elaborate.

To get into the University of California, San Diego, you must have all of this completed: •The same requirements that YHS requires plus an additional College Prep class •A solid G.P.A of 3.0 if they reside in CA and a 3.4 if they live outside of CA •They must have passed the SAT with a minimum of 1700 or the ACT with a score of 23 or higher University of Southern California requires this: •The same requirements for graduating from YHS •A minimum G.P.A of 3.75 •An SAT score of at least 1920 and a minimum of 28 on the ACT Students that are looking into the University of California, Los Angeles need to have completed: •The exact same requirements as YHS requires to graduate •A minimum of a 3.75 G.P.A. •One must have scored a 1770 on the SAT or higher and/or a minimum of 24 on the ACT Once June rolls around, students are ready for summer and lose all focus on school unless college is in the picture. Those who have met the requirements are headed off to college, while the rest are stuck behind in Yucaipa facing blistering heat waves. Unfortunately, the hard work does not cease once you have been accepted. Colleges are pushing their students to the limits with gruesome tests and hours upon hours of studying. Between all of the lectures, term papers and deadlines, a normal college student never rests.

College opens up many doors for students and it is ultimately up to them when it comes to choosing the right college. Getting involved, while a positive choice, can initiate stress and cause students to go down a negative path. It is essential that students find a balance between school and the parties, adjusting to living on their own and even having to deal with the responsibility of paying their own bills.

High School, while debatable, prepares

CO-CURRICULAR

TURF AND TRACK YHS Football Field piloting Astro-Turf

by Matt Darrow If you lived in Yucaipa through this past summer, you will most likely remember driving by the high school on the boulevard thinking, “What in the world is going on over there?” A thick layer of dust would haze over your windshield, the putrid stench of fresh tar would invade your mind, and constant traffic jams would irritate you for upwards of minutes. All of this discomfort has spawned from one simple nuisance. Just at the end of this previous school year, construction was under way at the track and field of Yucaipa High.

One obstacle to sports at YHS has been weather conditions. However, that problem has just been solved because the new football field is actually composed of artificial grass. This “grass roots” movement has sent a shock through the student body. At first, very few students knew the true purpose for the dramatic and incomprehensive decision. “It’s actually green,” says Terryn Thompson, a Junior who plays for both the Varsity and Junior Varsity football and has gotten to test out the new turf.

As the school year progressed, more and more students figured out why their grass field was an imitation of grass. “They’ve made it so much better,” states the newly appointed athletic director Mark Anderson, remembering the decrepit football field from only a year ago. This “quilt-like” material is superior to regular grass, and actually reduces injuries by a near fifteen percent.

All of the funds for this “Turf and Track” project are handsome donations at a potential rate of 140,000 dollars per year for the next ten years, with the long term goal being approximately one and a half million dollars.

It turns out that this program will be expected to go for another ten years, with financial assistance being given each year.

Another great perk that comes along with installing artificial grass is an appealing, wellmaintained field. Of course, it does not need to be cut like genuine turf, and no one has to worry about ugly brown patches that had been appearing to take over the fields toward the end of this past school year.

This “soft turf” has turned out to be more than simply a benefit, and is sure to be a quick trend spreading to high schools all around the nation.

CO-CURRICULAR

co-curricular

A BIRD’S EYE VIEW

By Promise Newell. Photographed by Joy Newell.

There is only one week of the year when the words “lunch,”school”,and “friends” can combine to induce overwhelming feelings of anticipation, eagerness, and overall enthusiasm. We might remember the first week of school as somewhat of a nightmare, but there is nothing like The Quad at 12:11 on a hot summer’s day. Popsicles, anyone?

CUP OF COFFEE FOR EVERYONE

How one cup of coffee can make a difference.

By Joseph Lee. Photographed by Joy Newell Buzz! The coffee machine is signaling that the coffee is ready.

Imagine yourself in a comfortable coffee shop, enjoying your favorite coffee while the money you spent for it is helping others.

Mr.Westwick, a math teacher at Yucaipa High School, envisions opening this kind of non-profit coffee shop that will utilize the profit to go into charity. The customers of the shop will not only enjoy a delicious top-quality coffee, but will also take part in bettering the community.

Westwick’s shop, better known as the “Wild Goose Coffee Company”, will operate as an instrument in improving the community. It will be located in Redlands and the profits made will be used to donate to several charity groups, including funding Microloans (a program which gives out financial support the underprivileged families in developing countries), Homeless Rehab, Drug/Alcohol Rehab, Single Pregnant Teens, and Inland AIDS Project. Mr.Westwick’s long-term dream is to build a school or a hospital in the developing countries where he will import the coffee beans from. The customers of the shop will be indirectly

donating money for charity and get a top notch coffee in return: a win-win situation for the customers.

“Rather than spending three dollars on a latte with the profit going to shareholder’s pockets, customers will spend three dollars on a latte, and the money will go right back into the community. I think this provides an attractive solution – good coffee and social aid all in the same transaction,” says Westwick.

Westwick dreams of starting the shop because he has always wanted to contribute to society in some way. “I could never get beyond opening a business just so I could get rich. That always bothered me. So, here is something where others can have a better life because of the business. That seems like something I can pour myself into, because it just seems to fit right.” He had this idea for a long time, however, he never had the chance to act upon this until his friend proposed to co-operate this coffee shop with him. Westwick believes that as Americans, we have the right tools to serve others. “The two biggest assets that we, as Americans, possess are creativity and capital, and if they are used to help people, amazing things can happen,” says Westwick.

Westwick expresses a strong confidence in the success of the shop. Part of his confidence comes from his experience advising the Invisible Children club at YHS, which was a big success over the past 2 years. The members of Invisible Children held a fundraiser to benefit the children in Africa, which started with selling hand-made hats and bags, and, later on, candies. Eventually, the fundraiser that began with hand-made hats and bags transformed into selling quality T-Shirts. As the process went on, the money for the underprivileged Children kept increasing, and, as Mr.Westwick experienced it, he got a thought, ‘what if this continued happening in a larger scale?’ There, he had an “epiphany,” as he likes to call it. His thought reached to “why not translate this model into a larger system? Why not run an entire business based on the principle that capital can go toward helping people?” Westwick decided that he would hold a giant-scale fundraiser− a business for others, and not just for himself.

Westwick’s shop involves local and global components.

Locally, the money is donated to several institutions and many programs will be held in the shop, such as free tutoring sessions lead by volunteers. Globally, the shop will contribute in the steps of world improvement with importing the coffee beans only from Fair Trade companies; companies that do not carry out conditions similar to slave labor or have a hostile work environment.

Currently Westwick is working with his accountant to maximize the donations he could make seeing as it is an unconventional type of business model and there are a few difficulties regarding taxes on creating a non-profit shop.

“Can a business exist independent of greed?” Westwick throws a question to people. “Can a business exist for others and not for a personal gain?” As the preparation for the grand opening of the shop is under way, Westwick encourages people to ponder upon this question.

CO-CURRICULAR

Yucaipa High School’s award winning Madrigal Singers reach new heights with their recent invitation to the Beijing Olympics. By Marilyn Newell. Photographed by Joy Newell The Madrigals are going to China? Is that some kind of bird migration?

Well…not quite. In fact, besides the fact that both birds and the Madrigals sing, there really is no other similarity. The Yucaipa High School Madrigals are the highest level auditioned choir here at YHS, and although this may have been the first time you’ve heard about them, they are currently gaining added recognition for their continuous accomplishments, and now for their upcoming Beijing, China trip in March of 2008.

The Madrigals, or “Mads” as its members endearingly refer to it as, have always been an outstanding group of advanced singers, but it wasn’t until the recent addition of Drew Pulver as the new choir director that things really started…well… taking flight. This will be Pulver’s third year as Yucaipa High’s choral director, and roughly 25% of the students that have passed through the Madrigals class are now attending college with voice scholarships, including former seniors Laura Smith, Ulysses Espinoza, and Kayla French. The Madrigals have been invited to sing along Symphony on numerous with the Redlands Symp

occasions and two years ago they ranked in the 97 percentile in the nation as part of the Forum Festival. Their greatest accomplishment so far, however, is definitely the invitation to be a part of the pre-Olympic performing arts festival in Beijing, China.

The group will be departing from California on March 14, 2008, and will performing at various places in both Beijing and Shanghai, with a small number of other selected high schools and colleges from the Southern California area. Madrigals will have the honor to be under the direction of Dr. Anna Hamre, the Director of Choral Activities at California State University, Fresno. Along with their performances, they will also have the opportunity to experience a number of monumental events, including a visit to the Great Wall, viewing an opera at the Beijing Opera , and seeing the world-famous Shanghai Acrobats performance. They will return, March 24, being gone for a total of ten days.

The total cost per student for this remarkable trip is approximately $3,000, and although that seems like an awful lot of money to fund raise before March, the students are optimistic. RJ Balver, a fresh-

man who is apart of the group embarking on this trip, said, “I know $3,000 is a lot of money, but I’m doing everything I can to make it happen, because things like this are a once in a life time opportunity.” So far, the group has done numerous bakesales, car washes, and even a rummage sale to raise support for their trip, and will be performing The Messiah along with the other combined choirs as one of their major fund raisers on December 14 and 15. Drew Pulver is proud of their success and enthusiastic efforts so far, “They are an amazing group of kids who consistently, year after year, reach the highest percentile of all choirs nation wide. They are a group that everyone at Yucaipa High can be proud of.” If all goes as planned, the Madrigals’ trip to China will be something that the entire student body can, indeed, be truly proud of.

For information on how you can support YHS Madrigals, call 797-0106 extension #1306, or e-mail Drew Pulver at drew_pulver@ycjusd.k12.ca.us

CO-CURRICULAR

HOMECOMING 2007: Hit or Miss?

Ro commolut aciduis dio estio ea feugait nibh elit utatum zzriliquisim ilbore el ullandiatuer auguercil illa feugiam. Written and photographed by Katie Boddy.

As soon as you walked into the Multi-Purpose Room, it seemed as if you had walked into a night club in Los Angeles, only less crowded. With a DJ on stage playing a mix of rock, rap, slow ballads, and obviously the “cha-cha slide,” there were very few people that were seated at the tables set up by ASB. Posters of ACDC, Pat Benatar, The Rolling Stones and more were plastered on the stone printed walls as you made your way around the room. The fog machine located at the front of the stage, clearly, gave the effect of being at a rock concert, but made it hard to see what was going on when it was used to its full potential. Regardless, the heavy fog provided a brilliant palate for the laser light show being cast from the DJ’s turn tables. The security was strict when it came to the type of dancing going on, but everyone enjoyed themselves to the highest level possible. With such a large crowd no one knew what was going on around them, especially if you worked your way into the middle of all of the commotion. Un-

like any other dance that I have attended at Yucaipa High, there was someone playing guitar outside, therefore, the entertainment did not end when you walked out of the MPR. The slow rhythms of the acoustic guitar switched the vibes from a high intensity to a mellow vibe that mixed well with the cool weather. There were refreshments outside as well which came in handy after hours of dancing. Due to the fires that had engulfed us in smoke, the football game and bonfire rally had to be rescheduled. Although results for the winners of the Homecoming court, minus king and queen, were going to be announced, nothing of the sort happened. ASB, truly, out-did themselves and provided a great time on a cool Saturday night regardless of the fires going on and all of the negativity that came along with them. Even though there was less excitement about Homecoming in general due to the rescheduling of the game and rally, Homecoming 2007 was, definitely, a smash hit.

CO-CURRICULAR

PUBLIC AFFECTION

IN THE PUBLIC EYE How far is too far?

By Allyson Derisio and Vannessa Beal

Photographed by Joy Newell Nearly everywhere we look we see some sort of Public Display of Affection.

Whether if it is hugging, kissing, holding hands, or other things that are strictly meant for private moments, we see it all the time. But what exactly is P.D.A.? Public Displays of Affection is the definition within itself, displaying affection publicly. To students and other high school teens, P.D.A. is something that “everyone does” and it should not be a big deal. But it, in fact, is something that teens have been taking too far over the edge.

Public Displays of affection does not only happen to high school students or

adults even, but middle school students have gotten the idea that expressing P.D.A. in inappropriate ways is appropriate for young middle school students. High school students have given the impression to young followers that expressing your affection in a very offensive way is perfectly fine.

“I think holding hands, hugging, and a little bit of kissing is ok, but anything more than that, or if your getting too carried away with whatever it is your doing, then it becomes inappropriate” said sophomore Annaleise Anderson. Some people may agree with P.D.A. and some people may

not agree with this kind of display of affection. Public displays of affection should be something that is put into accord with to other people and our surroundings. Even though the way we express our love for someone is our own business, and nobody else should worry about it, people should take into consideration that other people may not be comfortable seeing use express our feelings in front of them. For all intents and purposes, P.D.A. is something that can be very beautiful, but when it’s taken too far, it becomes something that is very disrespectful towards others.

BEARDS ON CAMPUS:

they are growing on us!

Written and photographed by Wesley Van Der Veen

There are but a few fortunate souls endowed with a full thatch of glorious facial hair in their high school years. This article honors and explores the existence of the few hot-sauce guzzling, beef-jerky-mongering individuals that compose Yucaipa High School’s beard wearing population.

Beard wearers come in all shapes, sizes, and ethnicities, and with innumerable styles of facial hair. Included below are a few beard biographies of our very own Yucaipa High students, as well as, for your convenience and beard-ucation, a short list of beard relevant vocabulary for those who may as yet be unfamiliar with the many incarnations of the beard.

Beard Vocabulary: 1. Predestination: There are some folks that are born beard wearers, however, some are simply not so well endowed.

It is important that one is self aware of one’s own beard potential, and does not attempt to force a follicle crop that isn’t quite mature. The notion that one is not in control of one’s own beard growing ability is called Beard Predestination.

2. Candid Beard: The Candid Beard is simply a healthy yield of facial hair that is in no way cropped at its borders. The

Candid Beard is often considered unassuming, if scruffy. A beard can still be classified as Candid if it is trimmed, however any modifications made to its border render it into one of the many beard subsets.

3. Traditional Beard: The Traditional Beard is merely a somewhat tamed variation on the Candid Beard. A Traditional Beard usually features a shaved neck to avoid itchiness and the illusion of a dewlap and may also be cropped at parts of the cheek if the beard rises too high.

4. Five O’ Clock Shadow: The Five O’ Clock Shadow may appear deceptively at any time of day, as coarse bristles of facial hair begin to protrude from areas of the face that have been shaved at the beginning of the day.

5. Goatee: A Goatee is achieved when facial hair is allowed to grow unfettered around the mouth and on the chin, but cropped at the neck and cheeks. A Goatee is sometimes worn with sideburns.

6. Flavor Saver: The Flavor Savor is a small patch of facial hair located on the chin beneath the lower lip, often cropped short and into a defined square or rectangle. The Flavor Saver occurs naturally in the Candid Beard and Goatee, however it is usually only referred to by said moniker when existing in isolation.

7. Sideburns: The coarse hair that extends from one’s cranial hairline in front of the ear and down to the jaw line is referred to as the sideburn. Sideburns are usually the first area of the face to yield facial hair, and often extend beyond the aforementioned borders and into the realm of Mutton Chops, or in extreme cases, a Neck Beard.

8. Mutton Chops: Mutton Chops are

merely oversized sideburns that extend well onto the cheek and provide a full and meaty aesthetic to the wearer.

9. Neck Beard: If Sideburns extend all the way down the wearers cheeks and meet at the neck and below the chin, but hair around the mouth and upper cheeks is absent, the resulting follicular formation is referred to as a neck beard. A Neck Beard is often worn by one who is incapable of hair growth in the areas where hair is absent.

10. Traditional Mustache: A Traditional Mustache features a thick yield protruding from the upper lip and cropped at the point where the hair begins to drop around the edges of the mouth.

11. Power ‘Stache: A Power ‘Stache is a mustache that is allowed to drop around the mouth but is cropped before it extends under the lip or onto the neck or cheeks.

12. Fu Man-Chu: The Fu Man-Chu is similar to the ‘Power Stache, however it’s ends hang down from the jaw at varying lengths.

13. The Chaplain ‘Stache: Named after the famous entertainer, Charlie Chaplain, the Chaplain ‘Stache is a closely cropped square or stout rectangle of hair centered of the upper lip. Adolph Hitler also wore this small mustache, which, for this reason, is commonly referred to as the Hitler ‘Stache as well.

14. The Colon: Occasionally, a confident beard wearer may choose to grow both a Chaplain ‘Stache and Flavor Saver.

This combination is called a Colon, as the resulting shape resembles said punctuation mark. If one allows the bottom section of their Colon to grow out a bit, a SemiColon may result.

CELL PHONES ON CAMPUS: LOOK WHO IS TALKING NOW

by Katie Body

YUCAIPA’S BEST BURRITO: WHERE WILL YOU GET IT?

by Matt Darrow, Vanessa Beall, Alyson Derisio

Most think all burritos taste the same, but do they? We took this into consideration, and went to five Mexican restaurants here in Yucaipa to see if all burritos really did taste the same. We tried to visit Mexican restaurants that may not be as popular as say Rosie’s or Casa Trejo. With that goal in mind, we visited Zabella’s, La Mexicana, Lupita’s, Gabbi’s, and Bonita’s. We graded them on the taste of a single bean, rice, and cheese burrito, which sounds easy enough. Once we had finished our last one, we thought we would never want another burrito again. The votes were in and Lupita’s won away with our taste buds. The taste was great, although we were not the only ones to think so. Lupita’s won the best green burrito in Yucaipa for the Yucaipa News Mirror.

Inside the burrito there was enough cheese to where it was not overpowering the burrito, and the burrito was not so big that it made you feel as if you just ate an entire cow. Not to mention the service and prices were great! Second on the list was La Mexicana which tasted good but something was a little bit bland inside. Then after that is the new Gabbi’s where the tortillas were homemade but the inside was not mixed very well, with a bite of all cheese, and your next bite being only beans. After Gabbi’s is Bonita’s, the burrito itself seemed too bland. As if it were just a Del Taco burrito, and Matt was disgusted by the onions put inside. While every place got at least one thing right, Zabella’s, last on the list, didn’t seem to get anything right. The cheese was rather, well disgusting. And there seemed to be something…questionable that did not belong in a burrito. So now that we have finished finding the best burrito in Yucaipa, you should support these restaurants and make them a little more talked about.

Towards the end of summer, every student at Yucaipa High School receives a packet full of papers that contain various school policies. In the pile of mayhem, there are papers about dress code, attendance, senior information, expectations and about five papers that need to be signed and returned. The one policy that is constantly being overlooked by students is the “no phones on campus.” Although the policy clearly states that cell phones are prohibited between school hours, campus security has been asking students to put their phones away even before 7:50 A.M. Is this a violation of the policy or is security taking their authority too far?

Pam Sibley, a YHS counselor, stated “If you do not have strong policies, people are going to find a way around them.” The cell phone policy is only to be effective during the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 2:50 P.M. Many students violate this policy and it is understandable that the security is forceful when they spot a cell phone being used. A few weeks ago, campus security was pushing students to put their phones away before 7:30 AM. This seemed, for many students, to be harsh and unnecessary. While campus security has the right to enforce the policies and rules that apply to YHS, they do not have the right to stretch them and apply them when they are not needed.

Campus security takes their job very seriously, as they should and they may not beware that they are stretching the policies.

Try handling thousands of teenagers daily. With that in mind, it should be a lot easier to understand why they may seem upset or harsh. Although they have to deal with all of the fights, events and handling the rush of cars that come bounding out of “B” lot and “C” lot, they should enforce a consistent policy.

There is nothing being distracted from before and after school hours; therefore, cell phone usage should be permitted. However, cell phone usage during class is not allowed and understandable, due to it being a major distraction from the learning process.

The cell phone policy is being exploited by those who enforce it. Campus security are pushing the limits of the authority that comes along with their title. The policies of Yucaipa High School should be consistent and should not change according to the moods of campus security. The administrators need to instill a permanent policy that will be carried out regardless of what is happening day to day. Consistency – take it or leave it.

H HILLARY WEARS TThe

PANTS

But does she wear them well?

Written and photographed by Joy Newell.

From a accusations of vast “right wing conspiracies” against d her husband, to suggestions that the government her and should simply give money to “every future baby born in America”, r this Liberal candidate not only wants to be President, e but also wants to run your life. This is right, I am talking about a the all too familiar Hillary Rodham Clinton. h beginning of Bill Clinton’s eight year term, you Since the can bet your bottom dollar that Hillary, much like an ordinary Yucaipa a High student, anxiously waiting for the 2:50 bell to sound, d has been waiting for her time to run good old America the brave. Well, with the bell sounding and the gates unlocking, n looks like our former First Lady just might ht get her chance. c A Although Election Day is nearly eleven months hs away, Hillary l has wasted no time trying to win over AmeriAm ca’s vote.. Making her rounds to nearly every majorr Sunday S morning talk ta show, the former First Lady continues es to make bold statements e concerning her goals for the United n States.

Recently, she s announced that every baby born rn in America should receive a 5,000 dollar ‘baby bond’ from c om the government. “I like k the idea of giving every baby born bo in America a 5,000 dollar a account that will grow over time, tim so that when ey have finished that young person turns eighteen, if they high school o they will be able to access ss it to go to college or maybe theyy will be able to make that at down payment on their first home.”” The New York Senator or has yet to mention how g d. However, perhaps the such a program would be funded. g not settle too with th current tax payers, in other answer might words, yourr very own parents. s.

When participating in debates, some compare c her ‘long winded’ answers to campaign tactics cs of Al Gore back in 2000. He too was another supposed se winner before losing to Bush. According to a recent report or released by CBSNEWS. COM, Hillary Clinton even tookk a jab at the Bush Administration concerning the way Hurricane u Katrina was handled, ““If you’re stuck on a rooftop po or stranded in the Superdome during a hurricane, you’re to this president even d e invisible i w when you’re on CNN. Well, We you are not invisible to me you, a and you should never be b invisible to the President of the U United States.”

As for the ew war? Though once an original support of sending American e n troops to Iraq, Hillary now says she is opposed o to the ‘War Wa on Terror’. Despite previously promising D Democratic voters ot to ‘end the war’, if Clinton was elected president, r she he would not withdraw troops in 2009 as hoped for. or It seems ms our Lady candidate is giving off a bit of a mixed message. e e. And so the plot thickens.

Well then, what about our dear old friend Bill?

Recently, e nt in an interview with CNBC, the former President spoke oke on his possible role as America’s(you knew this was coming)First om m Man. He compared his plans to those of form mer e First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt. Clinton mentioned that he would w like to continue doing work with his foundation and AIDS D development work. The former President plans to be veryy active, speaking out for of course, all things moral. “I just want to get more people involved in trying to do things to help e solve problems and save lives,” said Clinton. Wow, how w profound. I know I am looking forward to seeing this guy change the world for the better. I assume this will be c attempt m number two?

So will the campaign and election be a cake walk for Hillary Clinton? The election “could go either way,” commented te Vice President Cheney. Though polls are (supposedly) showing favor to Hilary, only time will tell. When it all comes e down to it, political commentators say American voterss long for change above all; it might even be safe to h most believe any Democrat would do at this point. say that But should American citizens really be desperate enough h to elect c power starving Hillary Clinton to the presidency in 2008? Well, I am fifteen years old folks. Fast-forward three y more years and it might actually matter that I would have to T say, “Thanks, but no thanks!”

NEWS

2008 BEIJING OYLYMPICS

by Alyson Derisio and Vanessa BealL

The original Olympic Games began g in 776 BC in Olympia, Greece and ended in AD 393. In 1859 the first modern international Olympic Games were e held. At the opening of an Olympic ceremony, Greece marches first because of its a historical status as the origin of the th Olympics. The Olympic program consists of 36 differentt sports, ranging from Baseball to Fencing down to Tae Kwon wo Do. The 2008 Olympics next year being held in Beijing,, China will comprise of 28 sports in 302 events.

For the 2008 Olympics, Beijing e had to build around thirty-one new venues six of these t venues will be right outside of Beijing. The 2008 8 Olympics will be held in the center of Beijing National Stadium.

The new stadium hass St a unique nick-name called the “Bird Nest” because it looks ok like the skeletal structure of o a bird nest.

China has been battling major m problems with air pollution. ut This is an obstacle Beijing n is having in holding the OlymO pics. Beijing is hoping to o get rid of some of the pollution oll c are held. The reason that h this is by the time the Olympics causing such a problem m is because people think nk that the th air is going to affect the quality q of the athletes when h theyy play.

Several countries are e saying there are going g to bring ng their athletes as late as possible, to avoid pollution o uti forr athletes. a Another obstacle causing problems is Beijing’s tap a ei ta water because since it has as ran through the pipes ip in the th city, it

[Pictured [ ur above] Beijing Tiananmen Ti nm Square Photo courtesy of http://en.wikipedia.org/ ou tp n.w wiki/Image:Beijing_2008_Tiananmen_Square1.jpg i g_ an me [Pictured right] Beiing iin National Stadium photo o courtesy sy of http://en.wikipedia.org/ ht wiki/Image:Beijing_National_Stadium.jpg m Be ng

becomes contaminated. on d. So residents living in Beijing are forced to drink ri from water wa bottles.

For the 20 2008 Olympics pic Beijing chose for their emblem “the dancing It had been revealed back in August g Beijing”.

B 2003 in a ceremony mo attended by over 8,000 people. On the emblem le the open pe arms symbols, that the world in welcome. m Jaques es Rogge, and the National Olympic Committee (NOC), stated NO te “Your new emblem immediately conveys the awesome and the power of china which are ema e beauty b bodied in your heritage and your people.” The new slogan, “One wo world, one dream” is said to call upon the world to join the Ol Olympic spirit. It was chosen from over 200,000 entries sent nt in.

The torch relay is the most important component in all of the Olympics. The relay has a theme this year called “Jourth ney of Harmony”. It will last for 130 days, carrying 137,000 km, the longest ever been done.

There will be twenty-eight returning sports, and 302 events at the Olympics this year. There will also be 165 men’s events and 127 women’s and ten mixed events.

Overall there are nine new events taking place this year, for example BMX and Table Tennis. The Chinese Government has been trying to make Video Games a demonstration sport at the games.

Leadd Issues I stretch through the holidays

CCURRENT NT

The e issue of lead poisoning has been manifesting around the t nation at a rapid pace. Now it is hiding in stt expected of places: your holiday lights. Now the least while hanging n the lights around the tree, your body is at risk forr toxic contamination. Companies like WalMart sell products p that hold up to 132.7 micrograms of lead; 116.3 1 micrograms more than recommended p These products actually have warning by the Cspc. labels revealing ea the presence of lead, but not many e to notice them. It turns out that lacparents seem ing these electrical e deathtraps with lead is a legal practice. Studies ud show that it could be done more safely using calcium, c still getting the same effect. The only problem is that calcium is more expensive. The ce against loss of retention and cognionly resistance tive ability is using s latex gloves around the lights and photo courtesy of o wash your hands afterwards, espemaking sure to u are about to eat. The most important http://blog.scifi.com/tech/pics/ledcially when you b is keeping the lights out of reach of thing to remember ng standing tradition seems to now be children.This long c poisoning America.

120 MPG Toyota yo Hybrid

The word is out. Toyota is developing a hybrid that will attain 100–120 Mileage Per Gallon. Prius, an already recognized hybrid vehicle for it its fuel efficiency, is about to take a step further. During the he Geneva Auto Show, Toyota featured Hybrid X, a concept c car which is likely to be the next generation Prius. Hybrid rid X is a car with a fresh design, with a general shape off a Prius, but with more internal room and with lower wind nd resistance. Hybrid X is named after the X shaped line e seen in vehicle’s roof (it does require some imagination n to see that) and is the Toyota’s next step for its goal in producing ro an ultimate Eco-Car. Thierry Dombreval, executive ive vice president of Toyota Motor Europe, describes the car ar “as a four-door, four-seat open-space vehicle… providing in sustainable mobility for modern families” and adds to the he assumption that the Hybrid X is a future Prius because Prius already is the car of Dombreval’s description. ConsiderP ing all the breakthrough technologies which the current Prius already have, including the regenerative breaking system and hybrid synergy drive, if the Hybrid X does come true a a and it is the next Prius, then it is likely that the vehicle will have mind-blowing fuel efficiency. a

Toyota Hybrid X photo courtesy http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/ images/articleimages/ ToyotaHybridXGen_1_560px.jpg

NEWS W

NEWS

TELLING YOU Y WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAYY New York’s Philharmonic n set to perform in North Koreaa

photo hoto courtesy of http://www.ket.org/pressroom/2006/38/ /ww

The philharmonic is among g the most reknown orcheastras in the world and it delivers top notch performances every time.The h orchestra’s president has decided to perform in North Korea on February 26, 2008. This is a breakthrough r due to the fact that tensions between the United w States and this Communist nation have found some common ground. Once labeled as a member of the “axis of evil” by President n Bush himself, North Korea has improved their relationship with l the U.S. by disabling its plutonium-producing reactor in Yongbyon this past July. The invitation was sent in early August and d decided on in late October. More news of the upcoming concert o will be released as the date of the c concert draws nearer.

Colorado olor shootings stun Missionary training ing center A tragedy took ook place in Denver, Colorado ra on Sunday, December mb 10th at 12:30am at Youth With a Mission,, a training center for m missionaries. A former student, den Matthew Murray, y, 24, opened fire on the current ren students in the e program. Police officers say that hat he seemed to have hated Christians. He was kicked ick out three years ago and had been sending hate ate mail for a few months before taking action at the e in institution.

Twelve hours later he made his next attack ack on New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Coloraado. There he killed two women who were sisters and turned out to have been heavily involved in Youth With a Mission. It was in Colorado Springs that he was allegedly shot by a security guard after killing four people and critically wounding five. The possibility of his own gun shot wound being self-inflicted is currently being investigated. g

Scene of Colorado Springs shooting photo courtesy of http://static.sky.com/images/ pictures/1620786.jpg pic

KURDISTAN: THE BETTER IRAQ

by David Idiart

Photo courtesy of http://www.25idl.army.mil/deployment/OIF%20

The British government should be ashamed of many of the things done to the colonial peoples under their three-century reign over the third world. Their partitioning of Africa left dozens of tribes forced into countries inhabited by their mortal enemies. They left Middle Eastern oil in the hands of tyrannical dictators who now train and finance Al-Qaeda.

There is one mistake the British made however, that is now being paid for with American blood. The Kurds residing in northern Iraq, eastern Turkey, and northwestern Iran have long dreamt of experience the sweet taste of independence.

They have for decades struggled and combated against dictatorship and genocide. It is time the world acknowledges their odyssey from a persecuted people to a wealthy, democratic nation, and come to terms with the idea that perhaps in saving a fake country, we may be killing one truly deserving of freedom.

From 1918 to 1920, the Kurds, under the leadership of Sheikh Mahmud Barzani, fought against British forces, who refused to acknowledge their independence. Barzani quickly found himself exiled to Iranian Kurdistan, and then to the USSR when the Iranian government cracked down on their Kurd population. Oddly enough, when Turkey looked to be set to take Iraq’s oil from the British, they returned Barzani to power to act as a buffer state in 1922.

Throughout the 1920’s and 30’s, the Kurdish government demanded the League of Nations to grant their sovereignty as a political state, rather than remain under British control. Their pleas were met with bombs, and in 1945, Mustafa Barzani, the most influential of the Pro-Independent

Kurdistan leaders was exiled to Iranian Kurdistan. When Iranian forces destroyed the Kurdistan Republic of Iran in 1946, Barzani fled to the safety of the Soviet Union.

Relative peace followed until the 1960’s when Iraqi General Abdul Karim Qasim’s coup d’tat succeeded in overthrowing the Iraqi government. The sixties were dominated by another Kurdish revolt, which managed to defeat Iraqi forces and secure their independence. However, when Saddam Hussein’s Baathists overthrew General Qasim, the new government reneged on the old treaty, which had not yet gone into effect. The Baath government was stalled in 1969 and 1970 when the USSR and Iran both declared their support for the Kurdish state.

In 1975, Iraq managed to secure Iran and Russia’s neutrality. By 1980, the Kurdish state no longer existed, and the Baath Party had begun a campaign of Arabization in the oil-rich lands of the Kurds. Conditions worsened during the Iran-Iraq War, eventually leading to Iraq’s attempted genocide of the Kurds utilizing chemical and biological weapons. Kurdish estimates place the number of dead at around 200,000.

The Kurds, as a people, are extremely liberal Muslims, noted for not believing in covering women’s faces or killing Americans. This alone should get America’s attention. In fact, Kurds love America.

They’ve loved Americans ever since American Military forces overthrew Saddam back in 2003, and even back to Desert Storm. When fighting broke out in 2003, the Kurdistan army attacked Baathist forces in the north to aid the American

soldiers.

Kurdistan currently is the best off part of Iraq, suffering from little to no terrorist activity, and possesses a powerful economy.

When the old regime fell in 2003, Kurdistan was the only area considered “secure” in all of Iraq. The Kurds’ per capita income is roughly 25% higher than any other part of Iraq, owing mostly to the high level of safety in the area allowing it to become developed.

There are two problems with granting Kurdish independence however. The first downside is that the Kurds tend to look favorably on Communism, having received much support by the now defunct USSR. Without the Soviets’ help, Kurdistan would have been burnt flat years ago by Saddam’s forces.

Another issue America has with Kurdish independance is the fact that there are millions of them in Turkey. If we help the Kurds, Turkey dies when the Turkish Kurds revolt; and they will. The Kurdish part of the country is so wealthy that if Turkey were to lose it, it would never recover.

The same goes for Iraq. If Kurdistan goes, Iraq dies.

Is making Kurdistan independent worth some misery to other governments who, let’s face it, have been despots to their own people? Shouldn’t we try to spread freedom and democracy to a group of people who will actually value it? Why can’t we live up to our basic goals? Kurdistan deserves what the Jews received at the end of World War II, and what every people truly desires to possess; a country they can call home.

Louisiana officials say “Pull up your pants!” to people exposing ther underwear, as a new law gets passed.

You are sitting in your sixth period class, tapping your pencil on your desk, when a brilliant flash of color jerks your attention to the present. The guy sitting in front of you is exposing the colorful dots on his boxers! ‘When is someone going to stop this?’

You are groaning mentally, when hope flares inside of you as he stands and pulls his pants up … then plummets as he tugs them back down. ‘Am I the only one who is bothered by this?’ You ponder, as he casually flips his hair and looks around, thinking he is in the height of fashion. Is he though? Very soon he may not be, as several states share this confusion, and are trying to do something about it.

A new movement is steadily creeping across America, yanking up pants over underwear and keeping our lunches in our stomachs. People who sag their pants and flash their underwear may soon be charged 500 dollars and community service. Motions to pass a law against such public exposure range from Connecticut, to Virginia, to Louisiana. Some people think that having the police involved is wasting time that could be used for more relevant things. Gary Griffith, of the Dallas City Council, says that he does not favor“… taking policemen and women off the streets to chase young peoples’ fashion trends…” Unfortunately though, it is not just ‘young people’ anymore. A number of men and women of all ages are lowering their waistlines and flashing their cracks.

Although, Mr. Griffith has probably not spent six school periods a day wishing the girl in front of him would wear some pants that covered her, and if he did he would most likely be as offended as are the people filing these complaints. It may be a trend, however many people agree that it has been going on too long. Though it does not seem indecent to the youth of today, in comparison to how people dressed fifty years ago, our society has been stripped nearly bare. (Most people who sag seem to have their modesty sufficiently satisfied by the almost shocking amount of flesh they show.) If trends like these continue, in seventy years, the school dress code system may be just begging kids to wear pants! It might be time to urge students to be prepared, because somewhere in the near future a new police slogan may be “Cover your crack or crack, your wallet!”

PANDEMONIUM

by Rachal McGroarty

There seem to be conflicting stories concerning Yucaipa’s Live Oak Canyon Tree Farm and Pumpkin Patch. In a recent Press Enterprise article, printed on Wednesday, October 10th, owner Greg Palmer stated that the rumors of an upcoming Target shopping center are only partially true. Palmer states that while there are plans for a shopping center, “The question is whether the shopping center will be here in ’08 or ’09 or 2010 or 2011.”

While Palmer insists that the shopping center could be years away, Yucaipa’s own News Mirror printed an article the very next day stating that Yucaipa’s City Council has approved plans for the Oak Hills Marketplace, which will be the site of a new Target store at the southeast corner of Live Oak Canyon Road and the I-10 freeway. According to this article, Palmer plans on keeping the pumpkin patch running through the 2008 season, and is currently looking for a new area to relocate after that.

One thing seems to be certain; this is not the last year for the pumpkin patch, and Palmer will relocate when the Live Oak Canyon area is developed.

However, with a new rumor surfacing almost daily, it seems that only time will reveal the real story.

The Tree Farm/Pumpkin Patch was established in 1980 by brothers Gregg P. Palmer and David L. Palmer, and has been family owned and operated ever since. For 27 years, families have been hand picking their pumpkins, selecting their perfect, homegrown Christmas trees, and enjoying the activities and attractions, which include a petting zoo, a children’s play area, pony rides, and more. As it is one of the largest pumpkin patches in this area of southern California, people from as far as LA come to Live Oak Canyon to experience the fall and winter festivities.

The pumpkin patch will be open through October 31st from 9am to 6pm daily. The Christmas tree farm will be open November 18 through December from 9am to 5pm.

Photo by Joy Newell

SAGGING CITING

Writing and photography by Elizabeth Tompkins

PUMPKIN PATCH

NEW DOMINANT FINGER

by Stevie Boggs Texting. The current generation is obsessed with the newest technology involving phones which allows them to converse with their friends. However, has anyone ever stopped to think whether or not all this texting is having a positive or negative effect? In consequence to this generation’s constant texting, the thumb is becoming the new dominant finger, as opposed to the index finger. Scientists even predict that in the distant future, over the course of time, the index finger will slowly “disappear.” This can be verified with the theory of evolution, which states that a limb, organ, or in this case the index finger, that is scarcely used will slowly withdraw throughout the course of time. Scientists have come to this conclusion because their data indicates that the current generation prefers to do everything with their thumb. As of now, our generation texts, rings doorbells, dials the phone, as well as other things using only the thumb.

“The relationship between technology and the users of the technology is mutual: we are changing each other,” said Dr. Sadie Plant, author of the study and founder of the Cybernetic Culture Research Unit at Warwick University. “The fact that our thumbs operate different from our fingers is one of the main things that define us as humans. Discovering that the younger generation has

She goes on to say, “There are many ways to input information into these devises, but for some reason kids under 25 most often choose to use their thumbs over any other finger. There is no question that choice is having a clear effect on their physicality: thumbs are the new fingers.”

Plant even continued to find that the youth (under 25) in Japan have started to refer to themselves as oya yubi sedai, which translates into the thumb generation, or thumb tribe. The Japanese have even developed a new keyboard, one that allows the user to access everything using their thumb. The user can enter alphanumeric text and control the mouse with only one thumb; it is a cross between a television remote and a phone keypad.

X-box has also created a new gaming device where their players can more easily chat between players. The game controller has the regular X-box controls but in addition, below the regular controls, there is a key pad, much resembling the ones on the new side opening cell phones.

The question is, “how much will this change society?” If this “thumb craze” continues, it could cause the modern world to lose all means of dexterity in the other four fingers. Unfortunately it is impossible to stop a trend once the world holds onto it. This at least cannot be done until the negative effects have brought conflict to the entire nation.

taken to using thumbs in a completely different way and are instinctively using it where the rest of us use our index fingers in particularly interesting.”

Dr. Plant concluded from her research that the main reason the younger generation chooses to use their thumbs is because it requires the minimal amount of movement. According to Dr. Plant, to the current generation it is easier to “simply exert pressure with the thumb rather than tapping at the phone.”

Photos courtesy of: http://umpnews.com http://www.techeblog.com

CAN MUSIC REALLY AFFECT WHO YOU ARE?

by Stephanie Sanchez

“Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.” (Victor Hugo). The definition of music is the art of sound in time that expresses ideas and emotions in significant forms through the elements of rhythm, melody, harmony, and color.

With that being said, who is to say that music does not affect you? If music expresses ideas and emotions, then it obviously affects our emotions. I know that we all are affected by music one way or another. Scientifically we can determine that music affects our moods and actions. We have all heard that in a study of how plants react to music, the plants that were exposed to heavy metal deteriorated and stopped growing. The plants that were exposed to classical grew at a fairly fast pace. Just imagine how different music can affect us. If plants react so easily to different kinds

of music, then it’s only proof that human beings are most likely to do the same.

In hypnosis treatments, repetition is key.

In music, the same thing is done. Beats, melodies, and lyrics are repeated. In hypnosis, people are often asked to repeat a phrase until your body looses control on their conscientious mind.

Soon, as the person looses control of their mind, the subject is in deep hypnosis. The same effects happen when people, normal or crazy alike, listen to music. Our body starts following every beat and lyric of a song, until we do not realize that we are singing along to it.

In past experiences, I think we have all started singing along to a song, and all of a sudden, the song happens to be over, and we don’t even realize that we sang along to the entire song. Often times, people become under a “trance” or a hypnosis state of mind, and some people end up doing or feeling things that we don’t recall.

I know that with me, my mood is affected by what music I listen to. For example, if I have just experienced a break-up in a serious relationship, and “our song” happens to come up on the radio, I can either get angry because I don’t want to be reminded of something or someone that’s not worth being reminded of. Or for instance, listening to cheerful music such as R&B, some hiphop, and some rock and alternative can get me in a really good mood. These Genres of music can be very upbeat and they make you want to jump around and dance. Using myself as an example, music is a big part of who I am, just as any other person. It changes my mood, and it can make me either feel happier, hyper, sad, or angry.

No matter what genre of music you listen to, it will definitely influence you. Classical music helps babies minds grow. Hip Hop can sometimes make you think differently. Heavy metal will most likely make me give in to the “trancelike state of mind” it encourages. Blues, Jazz, and R&B music help me relax, and sometimes these genres of music are the least violent of them all. So, no matter what you listen to, you can expect it to influence what you do. Some people wouldn’t agree with this statement, but I think that they are just clueless of their actions. If you don’t agree with me, then I encourage you to take up a challenge.

Change the usual genre of music, and stop listening to it for a week. Listen to something completely different, and you will see a difference in your mood, attitude, and the way you act.

EXPOSING THE FAKE SIDE OF REALITY Is reality television as real as we think?

People do not care that they are being lied to as long as the deceit is entertaining. A perfect example of this statement is in reality television.

The producers of reality programs do not take into consideration that the material being displayed to the public is untrue. Their only concern is simply filling their need for content.

What many students fail to realize is that the shows they obsess over are not as they may seem. When asked whether reality television was real or fake, the majority of the students at Yucaipa High School said that it was real. Sophomore, Justin Mackey said, “It is because most of [what you see] happens, but producers go back and add more script into it.” However, many students feel that reality television is somewhat of a setup.

“I don’t think it’s real. They set it up to bring out the drama.” Said a Junior, Heather Shull. Reality shows are cast, created, and edited to be more dramatic. In these shows, love interests and feuds are fabricated, quotes are changed to be more interesting, scenes are pulled together from footage that was shot several days apart, and episodes are planned on multi-frame storyboards before taping.

Every reality television show has a team of producers, editors, and directors. Their jobs are to review footage and piece it together in a way that will appeal to their target audience. Showing scenes in the order that they actually happened is not necessarily a priority. Story editors also create story lines, and coach interview answers. These editors use techniques such as asking leading questions, and “frankenbyting” to get the material that is needed. Frankenbyting is the term used to describe the combining of different soundbytes together to make new dialog. It is used to literally put words into somebody’s mouth.

The real problem with reality television is that in order for a show to be successful, it has to be entertaining. The way we handle certain circumstances and situations is what makes us interesting and watchable, so writers, story editors, directors, and producers have to do something, even if this means twisting reality. Ask yourself whether or not the manipulation in these programs is a problem. If you are entertained, in reality, does it matter?

(and also happen to go to your school)

Written by Promise Newell. Photographed by Joy Newell. Additional Research by Nick Squires.

There are but a handful of people who have the passion and drive to change the world. The fact is, though many parlay themselves to these ranks thanks to a combination of incredible genes and natural intelligence, in the end, it is someones strength, determination, and overall unwillingness to give up which ensures that they will ultimatly have staying power.

You might know of them as the “smart kid” in the back of your math class, the determined athlete on the tennis team, or the friendly face you smile at daily on your way to second period, but one thing is for sure: the following people are not just ordinary, they are extraordinary as they continue to help define modern-day success and pave the way for both future dreamers and thinkers alike.

MATT DAVIDSON Junior Matt Davidson is the master of determination: his disposition is that of a calm and confidant cool, so much so that he appears years beyond his actual age. This, among other attributes, is what has been attracting college scouts from various universities to Yucaipa High School’s Varsity Baseball gales for the past few seasons for the sole purpose of watching him get his game on–literally.

As a starting third baseman and pitcher, Davidson has gained notoriety from both his teammates and classmates due to his diligence, strategy, and overall skill when it comes to the game.

“Matt is amazing, blah blah, “ says Brock Alexander, snerion.

With a background in baseball beginning in the third grade and later branching off to recreational sports, club ball, and then Yucaipa High School’s baseball team, Davidson has hearned an MVP reputation throughout his entire athletic career. “ I don’t like being second,” says Davidson, “I always work hard to ensure that I win.”

Non-defeatist attitude intact, Davidson plans on a career in professional baseball which will pave the road for further success in his life.

“Everything is practice for your dream,” says Davidson, “I am going to give it my best.”

Clockwise from left to right: Kirstin Pefley, Lindsey Martin, Matt Davidson, Patrick Aiken, Lindsey Howard, Townsend Gallagher-Scholz, Monica Jiminez, Amber Romano

8 PEOPLE WHO WILLCHANGE THE WORLD

AMBER ROMANO Chicken wire. Melted crayons. Acrylic layered on top of oil. Watercolors. Just a few of the elements that senior Amber Romano uses to create her distinct, one-of-a-kind artwork that rangers anywhere from sculptures to pencil drawings, but mostly consists of paintings. “When I was little, I loved coloring books,” said Romano, “I used to spend hours on them.” Like most artists, her love for color and design started at a n early age, however, by the time she entered her freshman year of high school, Romano found that her art had began to develop into something way more surprising than a simple brush on canvas, Choosing to use atypical materials and unexpected colors was a choice that only she knew would later expand into her recent creations.

“I know that a lot of people don’t understand the manipulation of an element to symbolize something,” said Romano, “Some of my art is different, “I will admit to that.”

Although Romano’s visual passion is boundless, and she admits to getting most of her influences from the people around her, many have had a hard time understanding the abnormal nature of her artwork. “When I first started experimenting, I felt inadequate, and sometimes even pressured, but I kept going anyways,” said Romano.

Currently, with AP Art and a few art classes at Crafton under her belt, Romano intends to graduate high school and attend college to pursue a career in art therapy. “[My art] is helping me understand people, and in turn understand myself,” said Romano, “I want to use my art to help other people.”

LINDSEY HOWARD For many, junior Lindsey Howard is not just a friend– but that friend: the one you go to for the advice and inspiration that you might not necessarily want, but desperately need. “I’ve always liked to help other people,” says Howard, “I really think it is my calling.”

A Christian of devout faith raised in a philanthropic family with adopted siblings, Howard has been attending Yucaipa Christian Church and going on mission trips in order to explore this passion of hers in hope of finding her life profession. Although Howard has been devoted to her faith for a number of years now, she accounts her trip to Mexico over spring break in 2007 as a milestone of spiritual experience. “The trip was so inspiring,” says Howard, “just seeing the look on the faces of all the people that I helped made it worth it.”

As Howard plans to attend college with the hope of becoming a missionary in Africa, she knows that she would be nowhere without her family, friends, and ultimately her faith which keeps her going. “God is at the center of who I am,” says Howard, “I just want to love people in the same way that he loves me.”

KIRSTIN PEFLEY

If senior Kirstin Pefley appears to be a bit fidgety, it might have something to do with the steady diet of movement, music, and dance that she grew up on. Pefley is always on the go, and can often be caught tapping her foot, nodding her head, and– if you’re lucky, busting sporadic dance movements as she pleases.

A dancer since the age of eight, Pefley has studied everywhere from ballet to hip-hop and crump--ing at the Dance Spectrum in Beaumont. Although Pefley is educated in many areas of dance, her heart truly lies in the world of hip-hop. This passion became most evident at the start of the school year when she decided to quit the Yucaipa High School Cheerleading Squad to dance full-time. “Quitting cheer was hard because I had done it for such a long time,” said Pefley, “but dancing is more personal to me, there is no drama involved.”

Although “no drama” in context would be correct when it comes to the interrelational matters of dancing, it certainly doesn’t apply to the true nature of Pefley’s movement. There is a sort of unbridled freedom that comes from watching Pefley perform, whether it is an impulsive in-the-moment jig to a song on the radio, or an actual dance routine. “Dancing is my second nature,” says Pefley, “It pulls me away from and everything so I can just let myself go.”

Pefley choreographed the Junior Varsity Cheer Squad’s routine for this year’s Homecoming Rally, and although the event was canceled because of poor air quality due to the recent Southern California fires, this is definitely not the last of what we will see of Pefleys work. Alongside her plans to join an all-star team to compete in hip-hop and Dance Spectrum competitions, Pefley plans on choreographing as a part-time job, and possibly even as a full-time carreer, which doesn’t seem to be too difficult a feat, considering her current position. “Dancing takes commitment,” says Pefley, “ you have to have faith and hope in the fact that you can do it.”

LINDSEY MARTIN

PATRICK AIKEN

It is safe to say that Patrick Aiken is an experienced professional. After all, he not only runs the sound and audio at most every assembly, play, and function at Yucaipa High School, but he has single-handedly created a legacy for the future successors of his current position of Commissioner of Media and Technology for the campus Student Council Leadership Class.

With more than three years of experience under his belt, Aiken is headed for a carreer in sound engineering via further schooling at The Conservatory of Recording Arts in Arizona. Here, Aiken hopes to obtain a recording degree in live sound.

It might sound highly ambitious, but Aiken is well underway to achieving these goals. With a father who recorded underground punk bands for the Inland Empire at the height of the 1970’s punk-rock movement, recording and music are literally in his blood. “Recording is really and experience,” says Aiken, “I have truly found my devotion and I just want to share this passion with others.”

Anyone who knows Lindsey Martin knows that she has nothing against, say, disguising herself as a boy and picking fights with people twice her size. Yet at a couple of inches above five feet tall, Martin stands tall and firm on the assertion that this is not, in the least bit, her true character. “I am not a tomboy at all,” says Martin, “in fact, I am actually quite the opposite!”

This is, of course, referring to her role in Yucaipa High School’s Spring 2007 play, West Side Story. “[West Side Story] was one of my favorites,” says Martin, “it was really a great experience.”

Although many know of Martin from her character in this play, her past roles include everything from Jan in Greece to a fish and a Who in Sursical. “I really had to get into character for those last two,” says Martin, referring to her roles in Sursical, “it defiantly was challenging.”

Watching Maring act is another experience in and of itself, and anyone who has seen her perform has witnessed a passion and enthusiasm that is unique to her boisterous personality. “Acting is really an out of body experience,” says Martin, “After a while, you really begin to see yourself as a character.”

It is not only Martin’s passion which brings an element of realism to her characters, but also her maturity and seriousness about her work wchih may be due to the fact that she has been acting and singing since the third grade at Ridgeview Elementary School. “All I have ever wanted to do is bring real-life to the stage and make it work,” says Martin.

“Plans for Martin’s future in the industry include the hope of attending a college with an excellent performing arts program such as Julliard in NYC. This is fitting, seeing as Martin admist to being an avid “people watcher.”

“I am always looking at my surrounds”, says Martin, “this is how I find my inspiration.”

TOWNSEND GALLAGHER-SCHOLTZ Townsend Gallagher-Scholtz has to be one of the most daunting seniors at Yucaipa High School. If not for the fact that he happens to be in the top five percent of the school, then for the fact that he appears to be unearthly confidant and personable. He is the type of person that literally comes to a halt when you address him amidst the ebb and flow of passing-period traffic to not only smile, wave, and greet you, but personally slow down and address you. Although most know of him as this friendly, charismatic person, Gallagher-Scholtz has many sides which extend themselves across his vast persona to make up a fascinating student, athlete, musician, friend, and ultimately, to put it in loose terms– genius.

Bypassing most of Gallagher-Scholtz’z obvious academic achievements, some know of Scholz by his predominant position for the past three years on Yucaipa’s own undefeated highest academic achieving tennis team. However, most know him as the actor that has graced many of the Yucaipa High School plays, most notably the Fall 2007 adaptation of Shakespeare’s Hamlet in which Gallager-Scholtz played none other than Hamlet himself.

Part of the enduring appeal of this play lies in its complex characterization and twisty, tragic plot. Hamlet deals with, among other things, madness, revenge, politics and many other real and figurative

issues. Despite the weight of the issues at hand, there is still a great deal of humor and good, old-fashioned adventure.

Hamlet can quite literally make you laugh and cry, hiss and cheer. With the weight of this on his shoulders, Gallagher-Scholz definitely stepped up to the plate and put on a remarkable performance with definitely left many speechless, which was no easy task. “In Hamlet I came to terms with the fact that I can not expect to be perfect or take things entirely upon myself,” said Gallagher-Scholz, “I really learned a lot.”

With a predominant role in every school play since Hamlet, Gallagher Scholz has almost contradicted himself by taking on an immense inclination for anything and everything deviant when it comes to art, acting, and intelligence.

“My passion is not just about acting, or any sort of specific skill or knowledge for that matter,” says Gallagher-Scholz, “It is simply about energy and reacting. I feed off of the people around me.”

Plans to attend a University of California School to major in English is by far not the end of his theatrical career. Although he is still unsure of exactly where these studies will take him, Gallagher Scholz knows what he wants as a result. “I don’t need fame. I don’t need to change the world,” says Scholz, “ I just need to change my world.”

MONICA JIMMINEZ Monica Jimenez is one of those rare persons that entices both visually and intellectually. Those who know her understand that a big part of her persona is essentially getting across an underlying initiative for which she is so enthusiastic. There is something beautiful about passion, and Monica Jiminez, AP Student, YAPS Volunteer, Animal Rights Interact Club President, and all-around extraordinary person– possesses an inordinate amount of it.

Although the basis of her fundamentals for life include first and foremost knowledge and understanding of the world and her surroundings, the intense love that she has for animals takes center stage as one of the driving factors in her life. “Ever since I was little, I have loved animals,” says Jiminez, “I have an innate duty towards them.”

Initially wanting to be a vet, Jiminez quickly realized that her empathy for animals stretched way beyond the bounds of uncomplicated sympathy. “I am simply too squeamish,” says Jiminez, “I would not be able to handle seeing animals die.” This awareness led to a series of decisions that ulti-

mately landed her with a job at the Yucaipa Animal Placement Society (YAPS) as caretaker of abandoned animals. “[The job] really brings both me and the animals joy,” says Jiminez.

While a job at YAPS surely represents the basis of Jiminizez’s beliefs, another predominant life decision sets her apart from many. A vegan since 2005, Jiminez seeks to exclude the use of animals for food, clothing, or any other purpose in her daily life by not using or consuming animal products of any kind. These sacrifices have enabled her to further her understanding of the world, and, in turn, ultimately find her goal.

Jiminez plans to attend college so that she may become a Wildlife Conservationalist. “I know that a lot of my principles will be challenged in this carreer,” says Jiminez, “but that is a risk I am willing to take.

Her advice for other aspiring dreamers and animal lovers alike? “Leave a mark, but leave it yourself.”

fashion forecaster

Written and styled by Promise Newell. Modeled by Megan Faye.

Photographed by Joy Newell.

For those who haven’t been channeling this season’s latest fashion trends, let me break it down for you: Fall/Winter 2007 is all about bold fluorescent hues in juxtaposition with proportional layers, minimalist separates, unconventional tailoring, and a return to the 1940’s classic aesthetic.

COHEN & MUSGRAVES For the politically stimulated minds of Yucaipa High, this one iss for you: We asked two politically savy students, one liberal and one conservative, to share their views on a prominent issue in society. Here’s what they had to say. by Marilyn Newell. Photographed by Joy Newell

“DOES ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION HAVE AN ADVERSE EFFECT ON OUR SOCIETY?” Immigration has Devon Cohen Says: Illegal always been and will always

be a dividing issue between the Democratic and Republican Parties. First of all, one must understand that illegal immigration is primarily a euphemism for “illegal immigration from Mexico and Latin America”, since this is where most media attention and political policy toward the issue is directed. The matter of illegal immigration has two main components of controversy: economics and security. As a moderate democrat, I must conclude that on this subject, neither party is entirely right or wrong.

As a matter of economic analysis, illegal immigration cannot be found to have any adverse impact. The Republican platform’s economic component of illegal immigration has always rang to the tune of “illegal immigrants take jobs away from hard working Americans”. In reality, these illegal immigrants occupy jobs that Americans aren’t willing to take. An example is our agricultural industry, which is reported by the Department of Labor to employ 50% of its 2.5 million workers as illegal aliens. Since border security has been increased after 9/11, labor shortages have occurred in agriculture. Many major agricultural companies have even taken their operations south of the border. When labor shortages begin to occur in the areas where illegal immigrants once took jobs, this should be an obvious sign to the public that they are filling vast crevices in our labor force. When companies begin to outsource, and use labor foreign labor by moving their operations outside our country,

this takes money away from our economy.

Even as a Democrat, I am obliged to say that illegal immigration is a threat to the security of Americans. Common sense tells us that if workers looking for labor can so easily cross out borders, what stops criminals, even terrorists from doing the same thing? Although Republicans make attempts to tighten our borders and make America “safer”, their methods are not effective, sometime borderline absurd. For example, a wall is being constructed on the southern border of the United States. There is one tiny problem: the wall covers 1/3 of our southern border. The amount it would cost is between 3 and 8 billion dollars. Out of the 300 million official American citizens, over 200 million pay taxes. With only a calculator, one can conclude that if the Federal Government took an extra dollar from every taxpayer every month, this wall could be paid for in 30-40 months. An alternative option is to man the border with additional patrolmen, but the cost effectiveness of this method is yet to be determined.

Another problem with border security issues is that 97-98% of the debate is about our southern border. This implies that almost every American forgets that we have three more borders, each with its own security issues. The Canadian-American border is over 5,500 miles long, nearly twice the size of our Mexican border. Over half the 9/11 hijackers entered our country via Canada. There are vast expanses of land on either side of our country that are easily accessible by sea. The coast of Oregon for example has 1 highway patrolman for every 50 mile stretch

along its coastline highway. Regardless of what party I belong to, I must conclude that porous borders are a security issue that needs to be dealt with.

Thus one can conclude that for the economy, illegal immigration has its benefits, and regarding security, illegal immigration can possibly have many adverse effects. In many cases, the Right Wing uses security as a knife to cut off the flow of Latin Americans to this country. Therefore, as a Democrat, I am advocating these measures of border security for security purposes only, and have no cloaked intentions in my policy recommendations.

Most Democrats should be in favor of secure borders, but also believe that all current illegal aliens already residing in our country should have a path to obtaining citizenship. Deportation is not the answer, and if over 20 million immigrants are shipped to their native countries, we could have a serious economic problem on our hands. An issue such as illegal immigration is one that needs bipartisan cooperation, and until synergy between the two parties occurs so that this problem can be overcome, it will forever be a point of contention in American politics.

As with any current politi-

dollars and paid only 16 billion in taxes. This is a net fiscal deficit of 10.4 billion dollars. In other words, illegal immigrants cost the federal government 10.4 billion dollars in 2002. It is now 2007 and this deficit has likely increased as more illegal immigrants have entered into U.S. since 2002. Also according to the Center for Immigration Studies, in 2006, illegal immigrants cost ALL levels of government 20.2 billion dollars (this is even after taxes). Illegal immigrants are taking advantage of our health and education systems and by doing this are wasting the money of the American taxpayer. They also take away money from taxpayers, not only through health and education, but through the prison system. As of August of 2007, 73.5% of prison inmates were U.S. citizens. The other 27.5% were people with different citizenships. The annual cost to incarcerate a prisoner varies, but is generally around 20,000 dollars. So the cost to incarcerate all the non U.S. citizens is well over one billion dollars each year. Note that this is just federal prison system, and this does not include state and local prisons. Currently our prisons are struggling with overcrowding and that problem could easily be resolved is over 27% of the prison population was not there. Not to mention that legal American taxpayers have to pay to keep these illegal immigrants in our prisons. It may be true that illegal immigrants pay taxes such as sales tax, but how can they pay income taxes if they are employed illegally?

It is easy to understand the desire to help one’s family escape poverty and seek a better life. However, doing so without going through the proper channels depletes our government’s resources to provide for its citizens and legal immigrants. Statistics show that the sheer volume of illegal immigrants adversely affects the healthy functioning of society.

“AA Veryy Politicallyy Interestingg QuotaQuo ttion onn from Either EEithe ither Devon or Evan Eva goes goe g s h e!” here! here!” !”

Evan Musgraves says: cal issue, there are pros and cons that come with it. Both sides of the argument have valid points that must be considered.

This is the case with illegal immigration. It is true that illegal immigrants are employed in many jobs that Americans will not do. It is true that they help stimulate our economy in many ways.

It is true that they come to America to seek a better life for themselves and their families.

Those are the pros. There are also many cons that accompany illegal immigration and these negative effects outweigh the positive by far. It is also true that illegal immigrants are a drain on many social services provided by the government. According to the Center for Immigration Studies, in 2002 illegal immigrant households cost the federal government 26.3 billion

HATSOFF

TO THE MOVIES

by Diego Hernandez

CLOVER

FIELD

Release Date-!/18/08 Would it be hard to believe that next year’s most talked about movie, and what could possibly be one of the biggest sleeper hits just recently got a name? Well that is exactly the circumstances with the film that spent the majority of this year known by only its release date-1/18/08. Cloverfield is a new rookie film being directed by creator of lost, JJ

Abrams. There hasn’t been a film in movie history that has been veiled in so much secrecy, not much is known about the movies story but if you are a fan of lost, you don’t want to miss this one.

RAMBO LV Release Date-1/25/08 Fallowing in the same vein as last year’s “Rocky”, Rambo returns after a long slumber, Stallone and all. Again the story revolves around John Rambo getting in a heap of trouble. Although he tries to stay out of it, trouble always seems to be lurking around the corner just waiting for the opportune time to pounce on him. A group of Christian missionaries ask Rambo if they could rent his boat to travel up stream to Burma. After allowing them, Rambo hears of an incident of slaughterings in Burma, where the missionaries are headed. The minister in charge of the missionaries, and with the help of Ed Baumgartner, employs Rambo to lead a rescue effort to save the people.

He accepts and travels up river to free the people from the slaughter in what could be one of Rambo’s deadliest, most gruesome missions ever!

AVPR Release Date-12/25/07 Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem is a sequel to 2004’s alien horror, Alien vs. Predator. The story surrounds a Colorado town. When a scout ship crash lands and aliens pour out of the alien space craft a “predator” is sent in search of them to “exterminate” the extra terrestrials. The residents of the town are unknowingly caught in the battle between both alien species.

BATTLES AND NO AGE

A concert review by George Pitman

I was lucky enough to be allowed out Tuesday, October 30th, and go see one of my favorite bands, Battles. I think the first time I heard Battles was up in Berkeley at my friend’s apartment when I stayed there for a few days. When you first listen to Battles one thinks of some kind of new age tribe, doing a strange dance around an open fire, armed with Micro-Korg’s and an electronic drum kit. They also played with No Age; a Los Angeles based band that follows the current “no wave” movement, a style punctuated by dance riffs, discordant melodies, and yelled vocals that rarely match the music.

The show started at 9, and as soon at the lights dimmed, and the curtain started to rise. No Age came on first, two young men playing side by side with a strangely configured drum kit, and a single guitar player. The band gave no introduction but started off with a loud, thrash-like song that

had no real composition to it. The band finished the first song, and introduced themselves by asking us how we were, with an extra explicative or two. They finished their set with a huge climax that culminated with the guitarist recording a small loop, hit his guitar against the drummer’s kit, and finally jumped off of the highest amp that would hold his weight.

After a small intermission the lights went down again, and the curtains rose, a deep amount of stage fog rolled out into the crowd, and the thick smell of it, as well as another easily recognizable smoke smell, went over the entire audience. The lighting on stage made it so that all you could see was the outline of a drum set, multiple amps, and single man on stage playing a down-tempo bass riff. After about 5 minutes of the slow bass line, the rest of the band came out, and started beating out the opening song. The band consisted of four

members, a synth player who was outfitted with two large synthesizers and a Macbook. There was a bass player, a guitar player, and a drummer set in the middle of the stage.

The skill of the players, and their robust enthusiasm for their music made me confident that I had made a good choice and that this would be an exceptional performance. They opened with a few singles and lesser known songs, each one lasting about fifteen to twenty minutes in length.

Each song had a skeleton that was built up with loops and electronic sounds. They moved into some of their more popular songs such as “Tonto” and “Atlas” which turned into behemoth performances that showcased the talents of the vocalist and drummer. Overall, I thought both bands did well, and I would certainly pay to see either one again.

AN ARM AND A LEG: Written and Photographed by Michael Craver A NIGHT OUT AT THE MOVIES

Do you remember how much money you spent the last time you went out to the movies? The prices of an outing at the local movie theatre have become almost overwhelming lately. The tickets themselves are 10 dollars or more! At the convenience snack center, you are looking at about 5 dollars or more for a box of candy, popcorn or a decent sized beverage. My question is, why the unbelievable prices? Is it pure profit or is there truly a reason behind the outrageous prices?

If there is an explanation to why the prices are so unjust, I could not find it. I have spent hours upon hours googling my way to answers but have yet to find way. I could not even get a returned phone call from the manager of our very own Krikorian Premiere Theatres! The only substantial pieces of information I found was on an entertainment blog that read “ The prices of production and cinema wage has almost increased fivefold in the past few years...” Whether or not this is a credible source is yet to be seen but I do hope that it is something along those lines.

Aside from the price of the movie itself, I have been so disappointed with the quality of a night out at the movies lately, that I have almost practically stopped going. Let us take into account the other attributes of this unpleasant occasion. The parking is ridiculous! It is almost impossible to find decent parking in or even by the movie theater itself, even in an afternoon showing! By the time you grab an empty space hopefully close by, you have to rush to box office to luckily grab what is left of seat-selection for a movie. I almost do not bank on getting enjoyable seating in a movie on its opening weekend anymore.

By the end of the evening, I find myself almost out of cash, dealing with a sore neck from nose-bleed seats and looking for alternatives to this unpleasant and overpriced outing. I have only come along a few, but I found a similar, more enjoyable entertainment experience.

There are always movies in-and-out of rotation through the theater, so if you can not get into this weeks new movie release, give it a few months you will be able to rent it on DVD. There are also smaller theaters farther out by San Bernardino that have discount-priced tickets and only play movies that are in between theater and DVD release. You can also try and catch a matinee (afternoon) showing, whereas the tickets are a bit cheaper and a tad less crowded. If Krikorian Theaters ever gets around to call me, I will be sure to ask them for a refund of my arm and leg.

HAIL

TO THE CHIEF The Master Chief goes out with a bang in Halo 3.

By David Idiart.

Photographed by Joy Newell.

On November 14th, 2001, at 11:59 pm, the world ended. What followed was the sweetest apocalypse anyone could have asked for. Master Chief descended upon our Xbox console like the Second Coming, except that instead of a friendly Prince of Peace, we got a seven-foot tall cybernetic super soldier of unrivaled epicenes. However, as of September 25th, 2007, his loyal followers have had to say goodbye to the Chief one last time. Fortunately, this particular goodbye is laden with millions of Covenant Brutes, Flood Parasites, Galactic Doomsday weapons with hilariously ironic names, and a level of storytelling barely rivaled

by Hollywood writers themselves. Ladies and Gentlemen, Grunts and Marines, cyborgs and AI’s, this is Halo 3.

In the year 2553, the human race is embroiled in a thirty-year war with the Covenant, an alien civilization waging holy war against all who stand in the way of their Great Journey.

Despite the efforts of the Master Chief, the last surviving member of the SPARTAN-II project, and a civil war breaking out amongst the Covenant led by the Arbiter of the Elites against the Prophetical Hierarchs and their new Brute Guardsmen, the human race has nearly lost the war. The Covenant, and more importantly, the Prophets of Truth, Mercy and Regret believe that activating the rings will cleanse the galaxy and send them on their way to meet their gods, the mysteriously extinct Forerunners. Unfortunately, the Forerunners did not build the Halo system to enlighten themselves,

but to destroy the Flood, a terrible parasitical creature with a dangerous hive consciousness that calls itself Gravemind 100,000 years ago. The Flood nearly devoured the whole galaxy before, and the Forerunners wiped out all sentient life in the galaxy with the Halo Super-weapons in order to starve the Flood to death, yet only the Elites and the humans of the United Nations Space Command seem to understand the true nature of the Halos.

The Prophet of Truth, the last surviving religious and political leader of the Covenant has learned of a weapon that can activate all the rings at once, The Ark. And its location: Earth, in the middle of the desert sands of Africa. As the Arbiter and Master Chief struggle to defeat the Covenant and save all the peoples of the galaxy, the Flood, now armed with its own fleet of stolen warships and the military knowledge held within the mind of the Master Chief’s AI companion Cortana, who stayed behind on Delta Halo at the end of Halo 2, have arrived on Earth itself to stop the Ark from being activated as well, but only so it can consume the galaxy once again.

Halo 3 actually begins with the Master Chief completing a two-kilometer swan dive into the African rainforest. Nevertheless, before you can say “Gimme that Assault Rifle”, the Chief’s up and jumping headlong into the fray alongside the Arbiter. The story starts just like the other Halo games, with your character off balance from a sudden alien attack, though it gives off the faint aroma of nostalgic memories from Halo 1’s first “real” mission where you

wander a green wilderness. Right off the bat, your eyes are assaulted with pristine lakes and rivers, and warm sun drenched branches.

The branches actually bend around the Master Chief, and if (or in some instances when) your killed along the way, you may be treated to the sight of your body, glittering with dampness drift and bob down a river and away from the conflict which just took your life for the fiftyseventh time.

Later on, the game’s vistas include a wider variety of locals. During the first third or so of the game, you’ll find yourself more often than not wandering the decomposing remnants of civilization, or more precisely, your civilization.

You may conclude that Africa has seen better days once you lay sight upon the dilapidated mess lying everywhere. And it doesn’t help that literally thousands of Covenant soldiers stand between you and your objective. You will also have to delve deep within the heart of the Flood, the Covenant’s former capitol High Charity to find Cortana. The walls ooze constantly, and on more than one occasion, tentacle-armed alien zombies begin tearing holes through their own walls to get you. With all these areas, including the mysterious Ark, Halo 3 may have the most diversified landscape of any game in recent memory. Just don’t look too long. Occasionally, your view will be obstructed with hallucinations of a deranged and tortured Cortana crying out to you in cryptic messages.

As you make your way through Halo 3, you will notice something odd about the sound.

“You may just cry when it is all over...”

Occasionally, the sounds of gunfire will change depending on how far away you are from the fighting. While an assault rifle round going off by your head will be a short roaring blast, another burst from the same gun will become a faint popping noise across the valley or over a hill. This realism sucks a player into Halo’s world.

Closely tied into the sound effects of Halo is the musical score. The famous Gregorian Chanting makes a comeback as well as the majority of music from Halo 2. Each level, and indeed, each set of enemies has their own distinct musical score, and when the violin based theme of Halo erupts from your speakers, it’s a good sign you’ve just reached one of the game’s high points.

Players this time around will also get a kick out of Hal 3’s physics engine. Gravity works exactly as it should on every object in the game, from crates and rubble, to that grunt you threw off a cliff. Unfortunately, the physics are not perfect. Occasionally, you’ll find yourself clubbed in the head with the butt of a gun, and subsequently find yourself hurtling over a wall and into a river just beyond the level boundaries. I wasn’t aware the game took place on Mars, or that rifle butts contained mininuclear warheads.

One new feature that’s become a very popular one is the removal of the Arbiter, the leader of the Elites and former Holy Warrior of the Covenant from the main character’s position. Gamers everywhere raged against what they saw as an intrusion on the Master Chief’s turf. He has since been relegated to the invincible AI companion position alongside Sergeant Major Johnson and “HalfJaws”. Although he still plays a role in the story, as well as the Co-Op feature, he is a capable fighter and lends sometime desperately needed assistance to the Chief.

The weapons that Halo fans know and love from the previous two games have returned. All of them.

The comically overpowered magnum pistol from Halo 1 has returned

without its scope, making it just as useless as the one from Halo 2 but with even less accuracy. Likewise, the good old faithful Assault Rifle from Halo 1 has made a dramatic comeback, albeit with half the original bite. One noticeable exception is the Brute weapons, which are pretty much stronger Covenant weapons, with a sword jerry-rigged to the barrel. These actually prove immensely lethal against your foes, unlike the Covenant Plasma Pistol. Come on, who’s going to knock out a guy’s shields when they can punch a large super-heated metal spike through their helmet in a fraction of the time?

While the Single-Player game is enthralling right up to the last pixel on your screen, the multiplayer and Xbox Live have won gamers’ hearts since the beginning. Unfortunately, this form seems to suffer, and yet succeed all at once.

The interface is clunky and hard to decipher if this is your first venture into the vast online community, and I do mean vast. Close to 600,000 people from all over the world play Halo at any given moment. I had someone in Germany screaming in my ear every time he snuck up on me, and since he had a twelve foot hammer, it was not a very pleasant surprise. However, while the interface and message systems are in disarray, it’s worth it just to enter into a massive battle. New modes and some new tricks keep the action from going stale, though you will still probably get sick of getting a sniper round lodged behind your wisdom teeth every time you play “Shotty Snipes”.

Final Judgment: Graphics:

When water looks like water, and you can leave your footprint in the sands that slowly fill up over time, you know this game’s amazing.

Sound: I can’t honestly give this full credit since the voice acting, while impressive, is too low to hear during the cutscenes.

Game play: When the game sets you up against two spider-tanks the size of buildings and then gives you a pistol, that’s not a cue to give up, that’s the cue to reload and find a bigger gun.

Story: I guarantee this game will satisfy any fan’s hopes for the franchise.

Multiplayer: Superb combat still can’t absolve this game of all those lost network connections.

Tears in Your Eyes: You may just cry when it’s all over.

Overall: Halo 3 had a lot of hype preceding it. However, unlike games like FFXI or Fable, Halo 3 met and demolished all expectations. Even if you never play the main story (which is legally a crime punishable by death) you will never have a social life again once you try multiplayer with some friends.

And so the saga ends. The Chief’s last mission is done and over with, and the Halo Trilogy has come full circle. Now comes the years of online multiplayer we will treasure for a lifetime. And finally, finally, many a gamer can hang their assault rifles up, because we’ve finished the fight.

THE CHOICE

A book review by Marilyn Newell

Van Halen The reason why Van Halen will never die

Diamond Dave, as some call him, manages to set aside his differences with Eddie Van Halen for another tour around America. The question though is, are they going on tour for love or money? Honestly, who cares? It is old fashioned rock, why have one when you can have both? Well, Van Halen has teamed up with David once again for a 40-date amphitheatre tour and will be in the Los Angeles and Anaheim areas late this month. Replacing Michael Anthony, guitarist Eddie Van Halen’s 15-year-old son Wolfgang has stepped up to plate as stated in billboard.com’s Van Halen interview.

The story behind the Diamond starts when David tried out for Van Halen for the first time and failed the vocalist position, thus, Van Halen grabbed a better singer without a sound amplification system. When on small gigs Van Halen had to rent the PA system from Roth and this became very expensive as back in the mid 70’s, seeing as Roth charged $100 a night. To save money Van Halen just accepted David as the vocalist, which was a smart decision because David helped bring the band to the charts with “Runnin’ with the Devil.” Although David’s magic helped bring the band together, it also broke it apart. As with any big rock band in the day, when money comes, sometimes alcoholism and drug addictions follow. David took the band for granted by performing drunk and high at most shows, as an effect the Van Halen brothers kicked him out in 1984, but was re-invited for the band’s tour reunions in 1996, 2000, 2001, and 2006-2007.

Although Van Halen went through much heartache, this is American Classic Rock, where almost every song is about a special heartache. Music of this quality and talent is often not seen in modern day society, and should be thoroughly appreciated for its style. With this being probably one of David’s last reunions and with seats going for $160 a piece, I am already standing in line− see you ther

I am the last person on earth to see infidelity as a romantic idea, but Nicholas Sparks has somehow made that possible in his newest romance novel The Choice. After 12 nationally acclaimed romance book including The Notebook and A Walk to Remember both adapted for the screen ¬– it is no wonder why women all over the country have been eagerly awaiting Sparks’ latest story with tissues in hand – and for good reason.

Set in small-town 1996 North Carolina, Gabby Holland and Travis Parker, new neighbors, meet under less than ideal circumstances. Gabby has no intention of getting involved with a neighbor whose mutt she blames for the condition of her dog, which turns up very pregnant. Plus, the existence of her long-term boyfriend seems to make the possibility of any relationship between the two of them dubious.

However, in a manner that is quintessentially “Nicholas Sparks,” Travis and Gabby are somehow thrown together in a journey of love. Fast-forward 10 years to the present, and Travis is suddenly faced with a life-and-death decision that will change their lives forever, and brings up the underlying theme and question of the novel: How far should you go in the name of love?

Although Sparks didn’t exactly disappoint, I felt like he played it too safe, and I can’t say that at the beginning I was exactly pleased. A fan of Sparks, I have read a number of his books, and I felt like a majority of The Choice was all too familiar to me, like he had used these characters and plots before.

However, regardless of my discontent, Sparks managed to redeem himself in the second half of the novel. He definitely knows how to get to the heart of a woman, and I could not have possibly imagined a more satisfying conclusion. This story will definitely have you re-thinking the “ripple effect” that even the smallest choices we make seem to have on our lives, and although this story will not give you as many tears as The Notebook or A Walk To Remember, you will definitely still want to have some tissues handy.

Photo by Joy Newell

ACROSS THE UNIVERSE A movie review by Kelli Ferguson With its use of Beatles’ songs woven throughout the story of six dreamers living together in the 60’s, “Across the Universe” creates a fun, colorful ride from start to finish. The use of gorgeous visual production and its slightly fictionalized historical events draw viewers in to witness a story about experiencing life, love, and even death. The characters quickly emerge as spirited young folks, attempting to find their place in the world.

Briefly, the story: Jude, (played by Jim Sturgess,) leaves his hometown of Liverpool to search for his long lost father in the United States. He finds him at Princeton University, along the way befriending Max, (Joe Anderson.) Max takes Jude home for Thanksgiving, where he announces to his family that he is dropping out of school and moving to New York. It is at Max’s home that he first meets Max’s little sister, Lucy, (Evan Rachel Wood.)

Once in New York, Max and Jude settle into a small bohemian apartment with land lady Sadie, (played by Dana Fuchs.) They are later joined by Lucy, after her boyfriend dies in the Vietnam War, JoJo (Martin Luther McCoy), a guitarist who arrives by bus, and Prudence, (T.V. Carpio), who hops through the window one evening.

The movie follows the lives of all six people, through Jude’s art and Lucy’s work for an anti-war organization, to Max’s enlistment in the army, along with Sadie’s musical career with Jo-Jo as her sometimes guitarist, and Prudence’s journey to self acceptance. Several other big names make an appearance in this film, including Bono and Selma Hayek as minor characters.

The use of symbols and visually appealing scenes looked fantastic, but could also become slightly bewildering from time to time. The scenes in which Bono appeared as the acid-drenched Dr. Robert begins as a series of visually striking, yet completely confusing, scenes. However, other artistic scenes, like the rows of bleeding strawberries Jude creates in a fit of anger, and the marching of Max and other army recruits across the Vietnamese jungle while carrying the statue of liberty on their shoulders, perfectly conveys the feelings of the characters in those scenes.

This movie is both cheerful and sad, tied in with classic songs wonderfully redone by the actors/ actresses, and portrayed very well on screen. It is entertaining to watch and altogether a very pleasant surprise.

Photos courtesy of http://www.reelholes.com/ http://www.allmoviephoto.com/photo/2007_across_the_universe_003.html http://media.movieweb.com/galleries/3773/2864/hi/05.jpg

Photograph by Mary Murphy

THE PATRIOTS

Tyranny of the NFL How Tom Brady and Randy Moss have become THE Dynamic Duo

by Ryan Hamlett

“It’s good to be king, if just for a while. To be there in velvet, yeah, to give ‘em a smile,” sings famous rock musician Tom Petty.

This line in his hit single It’s Good to Be King is oh-so representative of the mindset of the entire New England Patriots team, especially Bill Belichick.

Winning three of the last six Super Bowls, the New England Patriots come into each season as one of the teams to beat, and, in turn, receive their opponent’s best effort each and every week.

This season, however, began and has continued to be more than just an ordinary season.

During the Patriots six years of dominance (and counting), sports analysts and casual NFL fans combined have thrown the term “dynasty” around to describe the team; dynasties such as the Boston Celtics from 1957 to 1969, the New York Yankees from 1996 to 2000, and the San Francisco 49ers in the 1980s. The most remarkable thing about the Patriots has been that they have won each and every one of their championships without either a star running back or wide receiver. Over the last two seasons, that problem was solved.

One of the blockbuster moves of the 2007 off-season was the Patriots signing of former Minnesota Vikings and Oakland Raiders wide receiver Randy Moss. When Moss was traded from the Vikings to the Raiders for a the seventh-overall pick in the 2005 draft, he was considered one of the premiere wide receivers in the NFL, but had also been branded with the tag of “trouble-maker” what with multiple off-the-field problems and run-ins with the law.

Moss flopped in his two seasons in Oakland and some sports analysts figured him to be over the hill. When he was put on the trading block this past off-season, the New England Patriots’ were immediately rumored to be in the mix. The Patriots and Raiders eventually worked out a trade sending Moss to the Patriots and a fourth-round draft pick in the 2008 draft to the Raiders. The initial response was that the Patriots were easily the winners of the trade. Once the season started, everyone realized how very true that statement was.

Tom Brady has always been an outstanding quarterback having been compared to the greatest quarterbacks of all-time and, more

specifically, Joe Montana for his guile and instinctive knowledge of the game, but never has he had a season such as the one he is having this year. After Week 14, Brady’s stats were sitting at a career-high 45 touchdown passes and 4,095 total passing yards, both career highs for his already prestigous career. He is on pace to obliterate Peyton Manning’s record for touchdown passes that is set at 49 as well as come close to Dan Marino’s record of 5,084 total passing yards in a season. This has been primarily accredited to the addition of Randy Moss and, less publicized, Wes Welker and Donte Stallworth.

Randy Moss, arguably the highest profile wide receiver the team has ever had, is also on pace to have a record setting season. With 19 touchdowns through week 14, Moss is on pace to surpass Jerry Rice’s receiving touchdown record in a season of 22. This is especially impressive considering that each and every week, sports analysts are talking about how each opponent plans to stop Randy Moss, not the other wide receivers. Yet, somehow, Moss has managed to pile up the statistics and, consequently, the Patriots are piling up the wins.

After week 14, the Patriots have managed to defy every obstacle thrown their way, defeating both the Baltimore Ravens and Philadelphia Eagles, who weren’t given a fighting chance initially but managed to put up some of the best fights the Patriots have seen all season, in consecutive weeks as well as beating the Pittsburgh Steelers, who were supposed to be the spoilers of the Patriots fantasitic season, just last week. The reward for such timely defeats? An extremely easy schedule for the rest of the season with the New York Jets in Week 15, who have a record of 3-10, the Miami Dolphins, who are playing the role of opposites to the Patriots this season with a record of 0-13, and the Patriots final challenge of the New York Giants who are playoff hopefuls at 9-4.

With the season coming to a close, the question on just about everyone’s mind is “will the New England Patriots manage to become the second undefeated team in history?” Within the next three weeks, history as well as everyone else, will know.

by Ryan Hamlett

ZAK WEINBERG Cross Country athelete Zak Weinburg comes at you with the whole package. By Elaine Hayworth and Ondrea Wear’n. Photographed by Joy Newell.

The Yucaipa High Cross Country team does not usually receive a lot of press, but this year they are definitely living up to their own standards. Zak Weinberg, aka the “Zak Attack”, is the voice YHS students hear every morning over the intercom. As well as being the Senior Class President, Weinberg is a very important member of the team. Just recently, Weinberg broke the school record for the three mile run, coming in under fifteen minutes. “Our goals are to win league, do well at CIF Finals, and hopefully go to state,” said Weinberg, “My team always comes first and it’s good to have a supportive and successful team that will hopefully do good this year.”

Weinberg is very concentrated on his team as a whole, and values them greatly. However, it hasn’t always been a breeze. “Our biggest challenge was getting five guys that can run fast enough to make it out of CIF prelims.” Many people may expect Weinberg to make a career out of his athletic abilities, but, at the moment, that isn’t what he sees for himself. Weinberg is currently interested in pursuing his academic career at Berkeley, Santa Barbara, or San Luis Obispo.

Where does he see himself in five years? Weinberg says “Finishing up college and interning or having something to do with writing”. Many like Mr.Cavanaugh are proud of Zak and his ability to motivate and inspire other students.”I am proud of Zak and his athletic accomplishments” says Mr.Cavanaugh, ”and I am equally proud of Zak for his contributions to our students and school through the leadership and enthusiasm that he brings to Yucaipa High School.”

athletic highlight

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TIMEOUT with Ryan Hamlett

“ROCKTOBER” YHS FOOTBALL:

ANOTHER SEASON OF IMPROVEMENT

by Kellie Ferguson and Ryan Hamlett

The 2007 football season for Yucaipa High came with high hopes and disappeared with a bittersweet taste being left in everyone’s mouths. With a record of seven wins and four losses, YHS managed to take ahold of 3rd place in the Citrus Belt League, besting their record of five wins and six losses and 4th place finish of last year. In turn, the YHS Thunderbirds made the playoffs for the second consecutive year, but, regretfully, lost in the first round against the #2 seed Vista Murrieta for, once again, the second consecutive time, this time by a score of 9-49 compared to last year’s final of 6-28.

Senior Grant Davis manged to score the most touchdowns this season with 12 total, followed by Matt Marnati, Jeff Cuaron, and Zak Mella at 5 each. These four alongside sophomore quarterback Wyatt Padgett carried the team on offense and defense as well, with the inclusion of Cody Meservey. The Thunderbird passing attack was headed by Wyatt Padgett, with a total of 709 yards and 5 touchdowns.

In this year’s playoff game, both YHS’s weaknesses and strengths were on display. The running game with Jeff Cuaron, Zak Mella, and Grant Davis were shown to be as strong as anticipated while the passing game managed to show that it needs improvement. On the defensive side of the ball, YHS’s pass defense was exploited consistently which, consequently, opened up the running game as well. By the end of the game, the offense looked worn out because it had been on the field for so long because of the defense’s inability to contain the overpowering Vista Murrieta offense.

The Yucaipa Thunderbird’s varsity football team has gained more and more prestige in the past years. Over the last two years, specifically, the team has increased in size, strength, and, most importantly, wins. As a school, YHS can only hope that the footbal team can continue this growing tradition and prove, once and for all, that YHS is a force to be reckoned with.

Beginning when I was about six years old, I’ve been an avid Anaheim Angels fan (or the Los Angels of Anaheim as they’re now known). Never, ever, would I consider being a fan of another team. It had never even crossed my mind.

This was until Monday, October 1st. The Angels had already clinched a birth in the playoffs weeks earlier so I needed some excitement in my life. Thanks to the Colorado Rockies . Earlier in the season, somewhere around August, I had predicted that these Colorado Rockies would overtake the San Diego Padres for the Wild Card birth into the playoffs.

This was primarily to rile up my friend Tim Moore, a Padres fan, but there was also an underlying truth that I truly believed. After having emerging stars Matt Holliday and Garret Atkins on my fantasy baseball team the previous season, I had already had an odd sense of attachment towards the Rockies. This feeling increased when I, once again, acquired Atkins in my fantasy baseball draft this season along with fellow Rockies Brad Hawpe, Todd Helton, and Troy Tulowitzki. I had become a “closet Rockies fan” as Tim had called it. Once the playoff race began, however, I became a full-fledged Rockies fan. I had become a part of the phenomenon dubbed as “Rocktober.”

The one-game playoff was underway and I hadn’t felt such intense feelings for any one sports team since the 2002 World Series between my beloved Angels and the San Francisco Giants. With each and every pitch, I became more and more emotionally attached. As each inning passed, I became more tense, more nervous. As the ninth inning rolled around, I found myself standing on my bed, yelping with every swing of the bat. My climax of emotions came when Jamey Carroll, the pinch-runner for Garret Atkins in the seventh inning, came to the plate with no outs and star left fielder Matt Holliday on third base. This could be it, one swing of the bat could win the game. Then the crack of the bat sounded and the ball soared into the air. I inadvertenly began screaming words of pure joy and relief. A mid-range fly ball to Padres’ right fielder Brian Giles.

The moment the ball touched Giles’s glove, Holliday began to sprint home. I was jumping on my bed with my hands on my head. Holliday slid into home at the very same instant that the ball was caught by catcher Michael Barrett. The umpire’s hands signaled that Holliday was safe. Joy, relief, anticipation, and many other feelings overwhelmed me.

The game was over and the Colorado Rockies were in the playoffs. And there I stood, hands clasped upon my head, a

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