THE SILVER SPUR

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Thursday, December 17, 2009 Rancho Bernardo High School Vol. 22 No. 2

•December 18 - Winter assembly in the gym•December 21-January 1 - Winter break•January 13-15 - Finals•January 18 - MLK Jr. Day No school•January 19 - 2nd semester begins

•January 5 - Senior Class Council•January 7 - Junior Class Council•January 8 - Pep rally•January 28 - ICC meeting

Upcoming Events:

The Christmas season is a time of good feelings and charity. Even the stingiest scrooge feels the pull to give to those less fortunate. RB High is getting in to the spirit of the season with its annual ASB canned food drive that began on Dec. 7 and lasts until Friday Dec. 18, the last day before winter break.

RB High participates in the food drive as part of a larger mission hosted by the San Diego Food Bank. Schools, churches, and businesses across the county collect food to donate. Out of all high schools

Upcoming ASB Events:

Look Inside for...News: Hate video Features: Winter fashionOpinions: College Entertainment: “Glee”Sports: Varsity boys soccerSpread: Holiday Focus

Top: boxes of canned goods. Bottom: ASB member packing canned food. Right: Sana Marzouq lends a helping hand.

What distracts you the most when studying?

Jack Degesero, 10

Tiffany Lahe, 11

“Friends, TV, going to the gym, and not wanting to

study distract me.”

“My siblings distract me because they are

babies, so I have to take care of them.”

By Emily YavitchStaff writer

Read us online at

rbhs.org

Phrases like “That’s a level one!” or “You just did a level two!” or “Level three!” could be heard across the RB High campus on Dec. 8, when all fourth period classes viewed the video detailing PUSD’s new policies for punishing hate-motivated crimes.

While these calls were made in jest, the content of the video was serious. However, the situations portrayed in the video and the way it was filmed was such that some stu-dents may not have taken the message too seriously.

“People did not take it seriously,” senior Edwin Carpio said. “People were saying ‘This is stupid.’”

There was cause to show the video. A few years ago, there was an outbreak of supposed hate-related offenses across PUSD. The dis-trict was stuck as it realized that its policies did not outline specifically how to punish offenses of this nature. The federal and state governments updated its penal codes to en-sure harsher punishments for perpetrators of hate crimes. The district recognized the need to update its own procedures.

“The district has been working on the new policies since last spring,” Principal Paul Robinson said. “The new policies are aligned with current penal codes.”

By Emily YavitchStaff writer

Kurt Trecker discussing the Hate and Harassment video with students. Photo by Kiana Said

Informational hate video is presented to RB High students: an in-depth look at level one, two and three infractions

The video outlined three different levels of offenses. The first level is something said to nobody in particular, and without malice, but could be taken offensively. The exam-ple given in the video was a student saying “That’s gay!” upon receiving a poor grade. Terms like “that’s gay,” or “that’s retarded” are often said by people who do not con-template the meaning of what they say.

“The first level was realistic,” said Car-pio.

“People actually say stuff like that,” said senior Alexis George.

The punishment for saying such a thing would be sensitivity counseling. If a student failed to reform after receiving such coun-seling, suspension could be a possibility.

The second level of offenses covers hate-ful remarks said in malice to a specific per-son. In the video it was dramatized as a girl yelling to a boy of Mexican heritage to go back to Mexico. A remark like this, as it was said with the intent to hurt somebody, is taken very seriously. The punishment could be suspension upon the first offense, and even expulsion could be considered if, “Other means of correction fail to bring about proper conduct.”

The third level defines incidents involv-ing hate violence. Hate violence is defined as actual assault or the threat of assault. The

in San Diego who participate in the food drive, RB High usually ends up in the top 10. Last year, RB High collected 10,000 pounds of food.

The food that is collected goes to a good cause. The food is stored in a ware-house in Mira Mesa, and families in need can go there to pick up food.

Students are told to bring the cans and other nonperishable food items to their fourth period classes. A pizza party is the prize for the class that brings in the most cans.

In past years, the competition for the most cans brought in has been between

AP government and civics teacher Jeff Carpenter and algebra teacher Jim Choe.

Choe does the food drive a little bit differently. He has his 5 classes compete with each other to see which class will bring in the most cans. The prize for the winning class is breakfast on the day of the final exam.

Choe’s focus is on bringing in as many cans as possible. The school-wide com-petition is not what matters. What is im-portant is helping other people.

“I’ve told ASB I’m willing to forego their prize,” Choe said.

Choe’s goal is to get 1,000 cans. In

past years his classes have and surpassed that goal, at one point bringing in 1,200 cans.

“One girl’s mother brought a box to work and collected 400 cans,” Choe said. “People gave her $10 and $20 to buy food from Costco. She ended up bring-ing in 600 cans.”

Choe does not offer extra credit for bringing in cans. He credits natural com-petitiveness for the amount of food that he brings in every year.

“Other classes try to beat my class,” Choe said. “I participate in one fundrais-er a year, and I do it 100 percent.”

video dramatized this level with a scene involving a black student receiving a note threatening that his future is to be lynched. The punishment for this sort of behavior is always suspension and even expulsion upon the first offense.

Since the policies affect the whole dis-

trict, the perpetrator’s age will be taken into account. In addition, the circumstance in which the offense was committed will be carefully considered.

“The victim’s response will explain the intent,” Robinson said. “Every case is de-cided on an individual basis.”

RB students and faculty participate in annual food drive

Photo courtesy of Google

THE SILVER SPUR - DECEMBER 17, 2009 NEWS2

General Motors, one of the most prominent automaker.

American automakers struggle agaisnt foreign competitors

Students are affected by adverse economy

By Brent GoldbergBusiness manager

By Brent GoldbergBusiness manager

it much harder to find jobs or even an interview. Many adults who are out of work have been forced to take entry-lev-el jobs, which significantly decreases the need for student workers.

If students cannot gain the necessary experience in the job market while still in high school, many will find that it will affect their ability to compete for jobs re-lated to their major, and also will not get the opportunity to experience the respon-sibility of holding a job.

Some students have needed to cut back on their spending. Like the rest of the nation, conservation is the key to surviv-ing during these uncertain times. From

Walk by any shopping center around San Diego, and you will see numerous vacant buildings, the dark reminders of our nations’ economic downturn. From Circuit City to Mervyn’s, many com-panies are completely out of business, while others have closed many of their locations. Students are also feeling the influence of the economy along with the rest of the nation, as they are being forced to make changes to their routines.

As the unemployment rate in our state is over 10-percent, students have found

holding off on buying a new car to cut-ting down on video games, many are feeling the full effects of this economic downturn.

Students have many opinions on how to solve this national crisis. Overall, most feel that less federal spending is im-perative in order to get our country back on track. Many are not pleased with the way the government has handled the eco-nomic situation so far.

From higher tuition prices for college, to parents becoming unemployed, we are all affected by this national crisis. It is apparent that the economy needs to be fixed soon.

company with billions of dollars in stim-ulus money, yet GM has yet to regain sta-bility. The company is in debt to the gov-ernment, and needs to try to pay of these immense burdens, yet the consumer is the one who is adversely affected by this situation. The current administration has taken citizens’ tax dollars to give to GM, but they continue to struggle against the competition.

The Hummer brand has been sold to a Chinese company, Sichuan Tengzhong. Although the company announced plans to keep Hummer’s headquarters in the United States, this sale may have danger-ous consequences, as these vehicles were formerly used as military equipment be-fore being sold to the general public.

Ford has been able to avoid govern-ment funding, and is currently the stron-gest American automaker, even though they are suffering as well. Chrysler, along with GM, has accepted govern-ment assistance.

The reason that many prefer these cars is because they have proven to last longer, be more reliable, and have built a level of consumer satisfaction that American companies cannot compete with.

Foreign vehicles, like Toyota, have outperformed American cars possibly

Not long ago, American automobiles were considered the most desirable to drive, and by far the most popular cars. Ford and Chevrolet were the most suc-cessful car companies in America a few decades ago, but today, you can barely find these cars on the road amidst the Toyota, Hondas, and numerous other foreign cars.

What has happened to the American car industry? From inferior quality and dependability to a lack of new, original ideas for consumers to get excited about, American cars cannot compete with their foreign counterparts.

The problem this poses to the United States is immense, as automobiles are a staple to the American economy. Those who have grown up in the 20th century are aware that General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler have a big influence on the well being of our nation’s economy, and this has been proven by the recent economic downturn.

General Motors, the most powerful and influential company of the century, has now been forced to discontinue its Pontiac, Saab, and Saturn brands. Unfor-tunately, the government has supplied the

because of the Toyota Production Sys-tem, or TPS. TPS ensures a maximum amount of quality in every vehicle built by Toyota and every automaker that has adopted the system, including Ford. The

principles of this system are very simple, and the goal is to be as efficient as pos-sible while creating flawless vehicles on a production line.

American automakers need to regain

their places as the leaders of the automo-tive world. This will help our nation’s economy, restore jobs, and improve our country in more ways than we can imagine.

A “jobs offered” advertisement in a newspaper. Photo courtesy of Google

THE SILVER SPUR - DECEMBER 17, 2009OPINIONS 3

The attitude of going to college for the purpose of learning is not as relevant as it should be because of the fact that society emphasizes the importance of big name, prestigious universities.

Nowadays, seniors rarely view col-lege as a means of learning. Instead, students often think of the benefits

of a high-paying job, a comfortable house, associated with the big-name colleges believing that the right col-lege could make everything fall into place as planned.

Because society constantly pushes for high GPAs and SAT scores, stu-dents are given the misconception that the high scores are the only things that matter.

The curriculum learned in classes are merely facts to be memorized that will help boost test scores and AP

Exam scores. Students then think of college as a bridge to the ideal life they fantasize; consequently, many students do not put great emphasis on choosing a suitable major.

Many students look to the presti-gious universities instead of choosing a college that has a good program in their particular field of interest.

Senior Mateo Vargas explains where students’ misconceptions lie.

“No matter where you go, you’re going to get a good education,” said

Vargas. “Like Dr. Englund once said, ‘Choosing your college is like choos-ing your significant other.’”

Vargas went on to say that people want to choose a person, not based on his or her wealth or social status, but based on character and personality. Choosing a college must be done in the same manner.

While the big-name universities may give parents pride, it is more im-portant to consider these other factors when choosing the right college.

As you are busily working on col-lege applications and writing college essays, you probably haven’t thought about the differences between the words “college” and “university.” To most of us, “college” could refer to a community college, and “university” is a top-notch school like Ivy League schools.

The two terminologies are treated differently in the United States com-pared to that of the rest of the world. In the U.S., there is very little difference academically between a “college” and a “university”; the terms are synony-mous. Other countries use “college” to refer to secondary education and “uni-versity” is used to mean an institution of higher learning.

Universities are often larger in size and have multiple “colleges” within them. There are exceptions to that as top-ranked schools, such as Dartmouth College and Boston College use the word “college.”

The word “college” is the generic term for any post-secondary under-graduate education. Students in Amer-ica go to “college” after high school, regardless of whether the specific in-stitution is formally called a college or a university.

College refers to liberal arts colleges that provide education at the under-graduate level and offer only a bache-lor’s degree. Often times, the four-year colleges are strictly undergraduate institutions, but some have limited graduate school programs. Two-year colleges include community, junior and technical colleges and offer an as-sociate’s degree.

College offers just a collection of degrees in one specific area, while universities have a collection of col-leges. A university is composed of an academically diverse set of units called schools or colleges. When you go to a university, you graduate from one of their colleges, such as the business col-lege. Colleges tend to be smaller, while universities are bigger.

University is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of sub-jects. A university provides both un-dergraduate and graduate education and has more options for majors and college course offerings. They also offer more degrees, like master’s and doctoral.

Public and private universities are more research-oriented which have both an undergraduate and graduate student body. They have a larger stu-dent body. Introductory classes on the undergraduate level can have classes with hundreds of students. Many times, graduate student teaching assistants may teach undergraduate classes.

Whether you end up at a college or a university, you should attend the school that’s right for you and not at-tend the school because of its presti-gious name.

College vs. University

It is well known that the only col-leges worth getting into are known by a single-word name: Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, Yale, Berke-ley. To not get into one of these schools means failure. These are the only schools that offer a qual-ity education and the opportunity for a good job. Not getting into one of these schools pretty much assures that the only job available will be bagging groceries at the local supermarket day in and day out until being eligible for Social Security.

Of course, nobody wants to date, let alone marry, a 24-year-old loser without a decent job, so such a person will end up alone for the remainder of his or her life. Once he or she is alone, there is no point in putting in the effort of looking good for anyone, so exercise will be out of the ques-tion. His or her only past time will be watching TV. Eventually this person will end up old, alone, fat, and ugly.

Sounds crazy, right? It is; high school students across the coun-try believe it and apply it to their daily lives, making sure to par-ticipate in every sport, club, and community service project in or-der to please brand-name colleges in their applications come senior year. As a result, state colleges are applied to only as “back-up.”

What is behind this myth? What do those schools offer that others don’t? True, they have a famous

Logos courtey of Google images

Going to college just for learning

“Big Name” colleges and universities

When students show their enthusi-asm for learning in a particular field, they know exactly what type of job they want to pursue in the future. An enjoyable career is extremely impor-tant because it ultimately increases the quality of life.

Although society pressures students to pad their college applications with impressive scores, students should think of college as a place to develop their interests, choose a career path, and learn.

Affording a college education is tough, and with some colleges raising the tuition costs, many students are dropping out or putting off going to a four-year college for later. Whatever your choice may be, it’s good to know about the professions out there where you can earn a decent living with no to minimal education.

But in case you want to look at an alter-native to this ideal, let’s take a look at a list of ten top-paying jobs that require little schooling. Just because some of these pro-fessions require little formal schooling, it does not mean that they are easy, as many of these jobs have their own difficulties, and often require some type of specialized on-the-job training and or degrees.

Air traffic controllers come in first, with a median earning of $117,200. Air traffic controllers make sure airplanes land and take off safely. The median salary ranged from $86,860 and $142,210. These work-ers have to constantly watch blinking dots on a radar screen in order to keep hun-dreds of people safe. Such a task is stress-ful, which is why air-traffic controllers get paid well without requiring formal college education.

The job requires specialized Federal Aviation Administration schooling and on-the-job training. In order to become fully certified, two to four years of train-ing are needed. Also, air traffic controllers can retire at the age of 50 with 20 years of service, or after 25 years at any age.

Industrial production managers come in second with a median earning of $77,760. Their job is to oversee manufacturing ac-tivities. A college degree is usually pre-ferred, but not a requirement. You can mostly see them working in industries such as aviation and automobiles.

First-line police and detective supervi-sors come in third with a median earning of $69,300. Police officers can advance through ranks by passing exams and get-ting good performance reviews.

Next are funeral directors with a me-dian earning of $49,620. This job actually needs a degree in mortuary science, which takes from two to four years. You have to serve a one-year apprenticeship, pass an

exam and obtain a state license. Although this job may sound easy, if you can’t deal with dead bodies and crying relatives and families, you might want to reconsider being a funeral director before going to a community college to take a course on mortuary science.

Police and sheriff patrol officers earn a median salary of $47,460. This job needs to have at least a high school education, and depending on the department, requires a year or two of college or even a degree.

Next in the list are three types of sales agents: advertising sales agents, real es-tate brokers and sales agents. Advertis-ing sales agents earn a median salary of $42,750, and real estate brokers and sales agents both earn $39,750. But for real es-tate brokers and sales agents, the highest 10 percent earned more than $111,500. Both jobs require passing an exam and obtaining a state license.

The bottom three professions deal with being therapist aides and assistants. Occu-pational therapist assistants earn a salary of $42,060; occupational therapist aides earn $25,000, and physical therapist as-sistants earn $41,360.

All three occupations help patients re-cover from various injuries. Occupational therapist assistants, with occupational therapists, help injured patients recover from lost motor skills. Physical therapist assistants help patients improve mobil-ity, relieve pain or overcome injuries. All three need at least an associate degree in order to compete with the competition.

Not attending college and going straight into the workforce can mean sacrificing many memorable events that are common in college.

“I think it’s okay to go straight into the workforce after high school because since you start off early, you gain more work experience,” senior Grace Kang said, “but at the same time, you don’t get to experi-ence the college life. On top of that, it’s likely that your social connection will be limited since your friends will be at col-lege while you are out working.”

Whether you decide to go on to fur-ther your education or directly go into the work force, it is best to pursue a job that fits your interests and will make you happy.

Photo courtesy of Google images

name that carries weight when getting a first job; after the first job, employers look at past per-formance and qualifications. The name of the college means little.

This common generalization is aimed at undergraduate degrees. For a graduate degree, especially in professions such as law and medicine, the name of the school does carry some weight. But whether you get a B.F.A. from the University of Utah or UCLA, you still have received the degree.

Some may wonder whether the degree truly is the same. Surely the education at an Ivy League must be superior; it better be at $50,500 a year (total cost for Yale for 2009-2010 school year.) The professors who teach at those top universities tend to be the best in the country.

Often, though, they are not the ones teaching the classes. They save their expertise for the gradu-ate students. Undergraduate stu-dents are often left with teacher’s assistants teaching the class, while the professor is busy working on their latest book. In addition, some top-name schools have rather large classes.

Many frown upon those who choose to go to a junior college first, for no apparent reason. For the first two years, no matter what school one attends, general edu-cation requirements are the same. College Algebra and Psychology 101 are the same courses wherev-er. The biggest difference between the two is how much it costs to take the same courses.

Logos courtesy of Google images

By Jin LeeEditor-in-chief

By Emily YavitchStaff Writer

By Carrie ChenFeatures Editor

Highest paying jobs in U.S. without a college educationBy Jin LeeEditor-in-chief

THE SILVER SPUR - DECEMBER 17, 2009 OPINIONS4

How much sleep do you need?

Since the dawn of capitalism, the batt le between local commu-nity shops and corporate franchises has been ever-present in every-thing from clothing stores to cof-fee shops. Starbucks is a major source of coffee for many because i t is popular and can be found any-where. Some, however, maintain that Starbucks is inferior to local coffee shops and should not be so heavily supported.

Here, in the Rancho Bernardo community the problem may not seem relevant: students mostly go to either Starbucks or the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. In other areas, the si tuation is more of a small-

“Though b r i l l i an t ly sunny, Sa tu r-day morn ing was ove rcoa t wea the r aga in , no t j u s t t opcoa t wea the r, a s i t had been a l l week and a s eve ry -one had hopes i t wou ld s t ay fo r t he b ig weekend- the weekend o f t he Ya le game .” Th i s quo te , t he f i r s t s en tence o f t he nove l l a “Franny” by J .D . Sa l inge r wou ld seem s im-p le enough . I t s t a t e s c l ea r ly tha t t he wea the r was coo l and ove r-coa t s were necessa ry desp i t e t he sun . Tha t ’s i t , no th ing more .

Ye t t he re i s more , much more , t o t h i s s imple s t a t emen t t han mee t s t he eye . One o f many in t e rp re t a -t i ons sugges t s t ha t i f one r eads c lose ly, t he a l lu s ion to the P la to ’s a l l egory o f t he cave i s s t r ik ing ly appa ren t . The sun c l ea r ly r e fe r-ences the peop le who a re ou t s ide o f t he cave . And the r e s t o f t he peop le , i n t he i r ove rcoa t s hu r-ry ing in s ide to the sa fe ty o f t he smoke- f i l l ed room means…

The t ex t and ensu ing ana lys i s con t inue in p re t ty much the same ve in fo r t he r e s t o f t he 44 -page s to ry. The focus o f t he s to ry i s no t on the d i a logue o r ac t ion . I t i s a s to ry o f a l lu s ions and me taphors .

Starbucks vs. local coffee shops

Are we overanalyzing literature?

Why celebrate a national holiday if you don’t understand why you are getting the time off from work or school?

Holidays are meant to honor or remem-ber a certain day or person in history.

Those who celebrate a particular holi-day should know its purpose and history, as well as how it has affected our society.

Holidays could easily be looked at as simply a “day off,” but within that fre-quently used term, there is a purpose and meaning.

Veterans Day, or Remembrance Day, for example, is a federal and state holiday that is dedicated to honoring those who have served in our country’s armed forces. It is especially directed towards the soldiers who served in World War I and World War II, and have returned from their time in combat.

Don’t confuse this holiday with Memo-rial Day, which honors those who have served in the armed forces and have not returned from their time in battle.

A representative from the U.S. Depart-ment of Veterans Affairs said that this holi-day is all about recognizing the ideas of “patriotism, love of country, and willing-ness to serve and sacrifice for the common good of the country.”

Although many students know about the holiday, many are not able to completely explain the significance of Veterans Day.

Veterans Day is on Nov. 11 every year.There are various celebrations in San

Diego, such as the memorial services and parades held near the USS Midway.

Some schools recognize the holiday by asking students to participate in a “wear red, white, and blue” spirit day.

Most students are unaware of the impor-tance of the holiday and are just happy to get a day off from school; they don’t care why. This holiday is just an example of so many holidays that are not recognized in the appropriate way.

Some holidays are not celebrated by certain people for religious beliefs, which is completely understandable, but to not honor those who serve in our armed forces and protect our right of freedom is unac-ceptable.

The next time you have a day off from work or school, remember why you are taking a break from your busy, scheduled life, and do something besides just staying home.

Search for local parades or celebra-tions. Get together with a group of friends or family and celebrate. Do anything you want, just don’t sit at home and act like it is just another day off.

Everyone needs sleep. Those who have an active lifestyle

need as much rest as possible. It is recom-mended that athletes and people who are constantly moving around throughout the day should take frequent “reboots”, which are times of sleeping that only last a few hours.

This type of sleeping is most effective for athletes because it is a quick way to re-gain energy and to take a break from physical activities.

Those who have an average lifestyle, meaning that a person is not as active as an athlete, but you don’t just stay at home all day, need “full-length” sleep each night, which is a time of sleeping that lasts an

Significance of a holidayBy Michael RupicOpinions Editor

By Celeste ConowitchEntertainment Editor

By Michael RupicOpinions Editor

By Emily YavitchStaff Writer

Li te ra tu re c l a s ses ope ra t e on the con junc tu re tha t l i t t l e t ha t an au -tho r wr i t e s i s an acc iden t . Eve ry l i ne , eve ry word has mean ing and a spec i f i c pu rpose fo r be ing cho-sen . L i t e ra tu re c l a s ses can spend days ana lyz ing ju s t a f ew pages o f t ex t .

Th i s so r t o f ana lys i s i s impor-t an t i n p repa r ing s tuden t s t o pas s AP t e s t s and p repa re fo r co l l ege . I t i s app ropr i a t e s ince those a re the two ma jo r goa l s o f mos t c l a s s -e s on campus .

The p rob lem wi th such ana lys i s i s t ha t s tuden t s cease to f ind en -joymen t in the bas i c ac t o f r ead -ing . The s imple p l easu re o f r ead -ing an in t e re s t ing and en te r t a in ing s to ry i s r ep laced by the demand to f ind mean ing in eve ry th ing . S tu -den t s l ook a t r ead ing a s a “have to” in s t ead o f a “ge t t o . ”

Th i s s eems coun te r-p roduc t ive in a t ime when r ead ing in gene ra l i s f a l l i ng to the ways ide a s more means o f e l ec t ron ic en te r t a inmen t a re be ing p roduced . Ch i ld ren and t eenage r s have shor t e r and shor t e r a t t en t ion spans . Wi th the idea o f i n s t an t -g ra t i f i ca t ion runn ing r am-pan t , ado le scen t s a re choos ing mov ies a s opposed to books to r e -ce ive the en te r t a inmen t o f a s to ry.

The re i s mer i t i n ana lyz ing g rea t l i t e r a tu re . Au thor s do no t wr i t e mere ly to t e l l a s to ry ; t hey o f t en have a message o r commenta ry abou t soc ie ty to r e l a t e t o the i r aud ience . To unde r s t and th i s , one mus t r ead and r e read l i nes and ques t ion the au tho r ’s d i c t ion and a l lu s ions . I t i s impor t an t i n mod-e rn -day soc ie ty to be ab le to th ink ana ly t i ca l ly and to d ig benea th the su r face . Th i s deepe r though t p repa res one to func t ion in t e l l i -gen t ly in modern soc ie ty.

The re a re d i f f e ren t r easons fo r r ead ing a book . One r eason i s t o ga in knowledge . One r eason i s t o be en te r t a ined . A th i rd r eason i s t o r ead the words and th ink abou t wha t t hey mean and fo rmula t e a pe r sona l op in ion , wh ich i s t he sk i l l l i t e r a tu re t eache r s i n t end fo r t he i r s tuden t s t o l ea rn . They wan t t o t each the i r s tuden t s how to th ink and ana lyze fo r t hem-se lves so tha t t hey a re p repa red fo r co l l ege and , u l t ima te ly, t he r ea l wor ld .

I t i s i n h igh schoo l t ha t a pas -s ion fo r l ea rn ing and knowledge mus t be fos t e red . S tuden t s w i l l no t ge t t ha t i f t hey a re no t t augh t t he joy and p l easu re o f r ead ing ju s t fo r t he sake o f r ead ing .

scale war between small and the large coffee shops. The Oceanside community for example has placed a total ban on Starbucks, meaning that they are not allowed to set up shop within a certain radius of the community. This action was taken to protect the multi tude of local, family-owned coffee shops.

There is no doubt that Starbucks is delicious, or that they have a huge variety of coffees and goodies. But the major difference l ies in the atmosphere. Starbucks can’t attain that low key artsy vibe that reso-nates in local coffee houses. Ulti-mately, i t comes down to what the customer is looking for. Coffee is simple enough, but the atmosphere and personal touches make i t a nov-elty that can’t be duplicated.

average of six to eight hours. There are recommended sleeping hours

based on age. For adults, eight and a half to nine and a half hours of sleep per night, and for adolescents, seven to nine hours of sleep per night.

These guidelines are to be followed if you want your body to function properly and if you just want to feel like you have had a “good night’s sleep.”

Those people who are lazy, meaning you get more than enough sleep, you should only take a couple of naps throughout the day.

Although getting enough sleep is impor-tant, you also don’t want to get too much sleep; you will just end up having no motive to get out of bed in the morning, and that can lead to some serious problems in life, also according to www.sleepingschedules.com.

Lexia Ronis, a freshman student, has adjusted well to having to wake up much earlier in the morning to get to school, com-pared to last year.

Her daily schedule is pretty busy. Ronis wakes up at 5:45 a.m.and goes to school for most of her day, and then starts on her homework.

“After a half hour of being home I get to my studies.”

Once all her homework is done, she has sports practices to go to. Ronis is involved in swimming and dancing teams, which take up a few hours of her time each night.

She does not have a designated time to go to sleep, which is helpful because it allows for flexibility.

Tom Martin, a RB High P.E. and track coach, also has a busy daily schedule.

He wakes up at 5:30 a.m. and heads off to

his job of working at our school. Martin spends most of his day at work, but his day does not stop when the bell rings.

After school, it takes him an addition-al half hour to make lesson plans and some extra time to work on grades.

Martin then coaches the track team, which takes up more than three hours of his time each night.

He usually goes to bed by 10:30 p.m., so his sleeping schedule is not impacted by the other activities he is involved in.

Both Ronis and Martin believe that the amount of sleep directly correlates with how well you perform in school, sports, clubs, etc.

No matter your schedule, every-one needs to put aside a good amount of time in their day dedicated only to sleeping.

Photo by Michael Rupic

Liam Rupic poses as as student who cannot write an essay. Photo by Michael Rupic

Photo courtesy of Google images

THE SILVER SPUR - DECEMBER 17, 2009SPORTS 5Chess boxing: not your typical sport Soccer Corner:

Strange sports can be found in all corners of the globe; the conventional sports such as football and soccer simply don’t seem to satisfy humanity’s need for interesting ways to compete with one another.

Sports such as cheese-rolling, toe wres-tling, and bog-snorkeling have been gain-ing increased popularity in recent years. Chess boxing is an example of such a sport. It has grown so popular that it may even be accepted into the upcoming 2010 Winter Olympics.

Now what is chess boxing exactly? As suggested in its name, the sport is com-prised of several rounds of chess with box-ing rounds in between. Each chess round lasts 4 minutes with a 2 minute boxing bout

immediately following. The game is won by the first person to gain either a check-mate or a knockout win. If the time elapses with neither goal accomplished, the referee decides the winner based on overall perfor-mance.

The idea for the sport was invented in 1992 by French cartoonist Enki Bilal who featured the sport as a main plot point of his comic book Cold Equator. Artist Iepe Rub-ingh brought the sport to life in the spring of 2003. The first world championship was held in Amsterdam in 2003 and was won by Iepe Rubingh himself.

David Depto is currently the United States’ most highly rated chess boxing champion. Growing up in Ohio, he excelled in academic pursuits as well as school

sports, leading to his decision to join the chess boxing league. The sport perfectly combines challenges of the intellect with physical strength. In an interview with The Intelligenc: News Register Depto said,

“There is a lot of similarity. Boxing is a chess match. You're always trying to set them up. The toughest part is coming out of the ring and trying to figure out what was the next move you were planning to make on the chess board. You always plan four or five moves ahead.”

Chess boxing has been gathering popu-larity world wide and now exists as a full-fledged sport regulated by the World Chess Boxing Organization under the motto, “Fighting is done in the ring, and wars are waged on the board.”

The boy’s varsity soccer team has kicked off the season with four wins against Mira Mesa, Chula Vista, Bonita Vista and San Clamente. With their team goals in check, the soccer team is ready to come out on top this season in Palomar league and CIF. Along with the goals of doing well in CIF and winning Palomar, the team hopes to have a good showing in state and perhaps place in the top 10.

“This year the team is going to bring a new level to RB soccer,” senior varsity player Andrew Lee said. “We are going to make differences in our performance and work together mentally and physically.”

English teacher and soccer coach Kurt Trekker has been coaching the boy’s varsi-ty team for 4 years now, wants to work on making the team work as a cohesive unit.

“We need to focus on becoming a cohe-sive unit to in order to advance in CIF’s,” Trekker said. “Advancing farther in CIF this year compared to last year’s lose is one of my main goals for the team this season.”

A lot of the boys on the varsity team

The RB High girl’s soccer team is off to a good start this year, holding a 4-2 win over Granite Hills, and a near 0-1 loss to Eastlake. With virtually the entire team being varsity returnees, plus two fresh-men, the girls are looking promising this year.

“We’re basically the exact same team as last year, so we’ve all have got a year older and better,” said Junior Jessyka

Boys Varsity Soccer

Armstrong. The key players on this year’s team consist of Seniors Regina Menneh and Keriann Nomura, and Juniors Tyler Adair and Codi Dantu.

Many of the girls play on club soccer teams as well as the team here at RB High. Although they are not all on the same team, groups of about three or four are scattered among the soccer clubs here in San Diego.

The girl’s soccer team has two upcoming games, one at Torrey Pines, and the other against Westview.

Upcoming Events:

Boy’s Basketball: Monday-Wednesday, Dec. 21-23 Grossmont Winter Classic @ Grossmont HS

Girl’s Basketball: Wednesday-Saturday, Dec. 16-19 Kiwanis Tournament

Roller Hockey:Monday, Jan. 4 vs. Scripps Ranch @ Escondido West

Water Polo:Thursday, Dec. 17 vs. Ran-cho Buena Vista @ The Wave

Wrestling:Friday-Saturday, Dec. 18-19 Las Vegas Holiday Classic @ Las Vegas

Photo courtesy of Google

According to Wikipedia, RB High’s baseball program is known as “The Factory” for consistently producing quality players that move on to college, and to the major or minor leagues.

Having played baseball for 15 years, senior varsity baseball player Trevor Williams’ hard work has finally paid off as he gets ready to continue his baseball career at Arizona State Uni-versity in the fall of 2010.This achieve-ment did not come easy for Williams. He has tried to improve every year he has played baseball, by conditioning and perfecting his skills so he can ex-ceed his expectations.

“There is always someone better,” Williams said, “so improving everyday is imperative to achieving my goals.”

“Because of his experience with a lot of good players throughout the years, my Coach Sam Blalock has helped me mature physically and mentally as a baseball player,” Williams said when asked who was a major help to his suc-cess. “He helped me become a smart-er ball player from the others on the field.”

A big step that made Williams no-ticeable to a lot of college coaches was when he was invited to try out for the USA team. Although he did not make it, the experience opened doors for him as different colleges began to contact him.

You can find the Tour de Force dancers performing at assemblies, varsity football game halftimes and at competitions against other schools and dance concerts on cam-pus. The Tour de Force team consists of a dedicated and talented group of girls with a passion for all types of dance. Dance is an art, and the Tour de Force work hard to put on brilliant shows.

Dance is a lifestyle for these girls, and some senior dancers are thinking of incor-porating dance into their lives after gradu-ation from RB High. Three veteran danc-ers are getting ready to audition for various colleges in hopes of making it and being a part of the colleges’ dance team.

Averey Schiermeyer has been dancing for 10 years and has been on Tour de Force since her freshmen year. She performs jazz, tap, and lyrical dances. Schiermeyer is auditioning for the dance teams at Uni-versity of San Diego and California State University, Long Beach. For USD, she is trying out for the dance team or the spirit squad. CSU Long Beach is at the top of Schiermeyer’s list.

Margaux Leffas-Lopes has been dancing for 13 years and has been on Tour de Force since her freshmen year as well. She is a dedicated dancer who dances for 20 hours per week and helps out junior dancers at San Diego Dance Centre and Danceology. She performs tap, jazz, ballet and lyrical. For her immediate plans, she plans on at-tending Orange Coast Community College

The four main colleges that were interested in Williams were Universi-ty of California Los Angeles, Arizona State University, Clemson University and Louisiana State University. Wil-liams officially signed his letter of intent for ASU on Nov.11. Williams’ decision on choosing Arizona State University was based off the fact that their baseball team has been a top-five team for the past five years and has been a part of the PAC 10, a col-lege athletics conference, for the past three years.

“They are always competing for the national championship, and I want to be a part of that,” Williams said.

because it has a good dance team. She eventually plans on transferring to Chap-man University or CSU Fullerton to major in dance. Leffas-Lopes plans on being in dance for the rest of her life and hopes to eventually open a dance studio. When she turns 18, she wants to try out for the televi-sion dance competition So You Think You Can Dance.

“With dance, you can let everything out on the dance floor as well as your emo-tions,” Leffas-Lopes said. “Without dance I would be lost; dance is like my best friend.”

Lastly, Holly Lundeberg is another dancer who has been dancing for most of half of her life. She has been dancing for 14 years and has been on Tour de Force since her freshmen year. She performs jazz and lyrical dances.

Lundeberg is trying out for San Diego State University’s dance team and Univer-sity of Arizona’s Pom Line Competition Squad, which is like a dance team; SDSU is her top choice. Lundeberg also wants to major in dance and someday be in a dance company. She has stated that she wants to keep dancing and do things related to dance.

“I love performing at football games and at concerts,” Lundeberg said. “I love being a part of the competition dance team and my coaches, Tiffany King and Michelle Ling, inspire me to keep on dancing.”

With such passion and dedication for dance, it seems that these girls are sure to make it into the dance world.

By Jin LeeEditor-in-chief

By Kiana SaidEditor-in-chief

Athlete spotlights: future college athletes

By Kiana SaidEditor-in-chief

have been getting ready for this season through their club teams. With eight new boys joining the team, building strong team chemistry is a key to varsity’s success.

Senior varsity player Ross Candelore hopes to serve as an example on defense during practices and games.

“I think it is important that this season we form a solid fixture in the defense,” said Candelore, “and to make sure everybody is focused on working together to succeed and get as many shut outs as possible.”

The seniors on the team hope to make their last season exceed everybody’s expec-tations.

“Our team is really strong this year, and we are very capable of setting a high bar for our team’s victories,” said four-year varsity player Nick Grigorgiev. After he graduates from high school, Grigorgiev will continue his soccer career at the University of Cali-fornia Davis.

The boy’s varsity team hopes to come together on the field to defeat their biggest competition: Torrey Pines, Rancho Buena Vista and Poway High.

Photo by Kiana SaidRoss Candelore runs for the passing soccer ball.

Photo courtesy of GoogleBy Kiana SaidEditor-in-chief

By Geoff BoganSports Editor

Girls water polo splashes backGirls Varsity Soccer

The girl water polo team is looking great this year. Senior Brook Fugate expressed her optimism about this season.

“We didn’t lose many seniors last year, so we are still strong. Fred, our coach, is a great guy, and we have been working hard for him,” Fugate said.

Unlike the boy’s team, the girls didn’t lose many players last year due to gradua-tion. So the girls are in top shape from the strain of Hell Week, and they’re determined to take on our nemesis.

The team is looking like they’re ready to take on Poway. The girls entered a tourna-ment a few weeks ago, to start off their sea-son. Winning two games and losing three, the girls are optimistic.

The girls did well in a tournament to start off the season. The teams they played have always had a great record, so their perfor-mance at the tournament has been impres-sive.

They won against Valley Center and Can-yon Crest, but the game against Huntington Beach was tough.

“Those girls are really rough players,” Fugate said. “Six of our starters got two

By Robert BojarPhoto editor

ejections each and it takes three ejec-tions to be kicked out of the game. So that just shows how those girls play.”

Mt. Carmel was also tough, but it had a great impact from it.

“That’s the game we really came to-gether,” Fugate said. “It was our very first game, and we all bonded togeth-er. It was a great game, despite that we lost, because we found out where we fit in the game and what role we play for the team. Winning isn’t ev-erything.”

“This year is looking really great,” Fugate said. “We’re all excited.”

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Christmas Traditions

Chanukah Customs

Kwanzaa: the seven day holiday

Chanukah is celebrated every year on the 2fth of the month of Kislev. This is not a random date. The 25th commemorates the day after the Jewish victory over the Greek tyrants that ruled them. Cha-nukah lasts for eight days in remembrance of the miracle of the small cruse oil that should have lasted for only one day, but instead burned for eight.

The oil that was used in the Holy Temple is at the crux of the many traditions and customs that are observed during the holiday of Chanukah. Jews light a smaller version of the menorah in the Holy Temple every night of Chanukah.

Each night, a new candle is added to the eight-branched candelabra to signify the oil which lasted for so much longer than it should have. Some Jews use olive oil to light their menorahs, instead of candles, to further remember the miracle that occurred over 2000 years ago.

The menorah is place by a window so that others may see it. This is similar to, though it predates, the tradition of Christmas lights adorn-ing houses. This is in order to publicize the miracle, and it is a very important facet of the holiday of Chanukah.

Traditional foods eaten on Chanukah are those fried in oil. The tra-ditional food for European Jews are fried potato pancakes, called lat-kes. For Sephardic Jews, those Jews hailing from Israel, the Middle East, and Africa, the traditional food eaten on Chanukah is donuts. These donuts, sufganiyot in Hebrew, are fried, filled with jelly, and generally topped with sprinkled sugar.

During the time of the Greek dominance in Israel, Torah study was forbidden. Children would go into the forest and study secretly. If

they heard a Greek soldier coming by, they would hide their books and take out their tops and pretend that they were only playing. On Chanukah, Jewish children play with tops called dreidels to honor these cou-rageous youths. What differentiates dreidels from regular tops are the letters inscribed on each side. The letters nun, gimmel, hay, shin, grace the sides of the dreidel. The let-ters stand for “Nais Gadol Haya Sham”, which translates into “A great miracle hap-pened there”. This references the miracle of the oil. In Israel, since that is where the miracle occurred the shin on the dreidel changes into a pey, which stands for the word poh, which means here.

Many Jews have the custom of giv-ing gifts on Chanukah. This originated with the idea of Chanukah gelt, money given to children on Chanukah in or-der for them to learn the practice of giving charity. Learning is a very im-portant part of Judaism. For children, sometimes an incentive is necessary. That is the origin of Chanukah gelt. In later years, especially as their non-Jewish neighbors were celebrating Christmas with the giving of pres-ents, Jewish parents started to give their children presents as well. However, the giving of presents is not a traditional Jewish custom.

When asked if she celebrated Christmas, sophomore Emily Zhao said, “Yes, but not because I’m religious. Even though I’m not Christian, I support some of the mor-als that they advocate, like peace and love.”

As for Christmas traditions, Zhao and her family have developed their own.

“We go to China every other year to visit our relatives and bless them with good tidings,” said Zhao. “We also put up trees. On Christmas day, we eat a big dinner together with as many relatives as we can congregate in one place.”

Traditions vary; however, the Christmas meal is a very popular custom among many who cele-brate the holiday, and family and friends can re-unite and appreciate the time they have together.

“I like to make Jesus a birthday cake, and I spend most of the day thank-

ing the Lord,” Moncayo said. “And ev-ery Christmas I always get new pajamas.”

These traditions usually develop over time, such as Moncayo’s pajama tradi-tion. She said the tradition started when they were kids, when her mother would get the pajamas she liked. Every year since then she has gotten new pajamas for Christmas.

Moncayo said she started making a birthday cake on Christmas day af-ter hearing the idea from someone else.

Christmas is a holiday that has taken on dif-ferent meanings for those who celebrate it. Some follow the basics of the tradition with a Christmas tree, gifts, and a meal, while some create their own family traditions. Re-gardless of the reason behind the celebra-tion, Christmas is a time for joy for many.

By Emily YavitchStaff writer

Kwanzaa, which shares the month of December with two religious holidays, Christmas and Chanukah, is in fact not a religious holiday, but a cultural one.

Kwanzaa was founded in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Kar-enga, a professor of Black Studies at California State University, Long Beach. Karenga founded Kwanzaa in 1966, a year after the Watts riots ravaged Los Angeles.

The five days of rioting, looting and burning that made up the Watts riots, a culmination of racial tension in the city, left 34 people dead, 1,032 injured, 3,952 arrested, and 977 building damaged. The devastation of these riots made Karenga aware of the need to unify the Af-rican-American community. Thus, was Kwanzaa born.

Kwanzaa is celebrated from December 26- January 1. This seven-day holiday has its roots in harvest celebrations from Africa. The name Kwanzaa is derived from the Swahili phrase “ma-

tunda ya kwanza” which means “first fruits.” On Kwanzaa, people greet each other with words

in Swahili. The greeting, “Habari gani? (What‘s new?)” is answered by the principle of the day (so ‘umoja’ the first day, ‘kujichagulia’ the sec-ond day, and so on). This is done in order to reaf-firm the principles that are central to this holiday.

A table is set with a piece of African cloth. The mkeka is placed on top of the cloth with all of the symbols arranged upon it.

A recognizable symbol of Kwanzaa may be the colors black, red, and green. These are the colors of the organization United Slaves, also founded by Dr. Karenga. The color black symbolizes the people, red is for their struggle, and green repre-sents the future and hope that comes from their struggle. These colors are used for all Kwanzaa

THE SILVER SPUR - DECEMBER 17, 2009 SPREAD6

Carrie ChenFeatures Editor

By Emily YavitchStaff writer

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ChoColate CheeseCake Candy Cane BarCrust-20 chocolate wafer cookies -3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted -1 tablespoon sugar -1/2 teaspoon ground coffee beans -1/4 teaspoon fine salt Filling:-8 ounces semisweet chocolate -8 ounces cream cheese

-2/3 cup sugar -1/2 cup sour cream -2 large eggs Glaze:-4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped -2 tablespoons unsalted butter -1 teaspoon light or dark corn syrup -2 tablespoons sour cream, room temperature -1/2 cup crushed candy canes

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8-inch square baking dish with foil.Crust: Process the chocolate wafers in a food processor with the butter, sugar, coffee, and salt until fine. Evenly press the crust into the prepared dish covering the bottom completely. Bake until the crust sets, 15 minutes. Filling: Put the chocolate in a medium microwave-safe bowl; heat at 75 percent power until softened, about 2 minutes. Stir, and continue to microwave until completely melted, up to 2 minutes more. Blend cream cheese, sugar, and sour cream together in the food processor until smooth. Add the eggs. With the food processor running, pour the chocolate into the wet ingredi-ents and mix until smooth. Pour the filling evenly over the crust. Bake about 25 to 30 minutes. Glaze: Put the chocolate, butter and corn syrup in microwave safe bowl for 2 minutes. Stir the in-gredients together until smooth; add the sour cream. Spread glaze over the warm cake and scatter the crushed candy canes over top. Cool completely, then refrigerate overnight. Cut into small bars.

Chanukah Customs

Kwanzaa: the seven day holiday

they heard a Greek soldier coming by, they would hide their books and take out their tops and pretend that they were only playing. On Chanukah, Jewish children play with tops called dreidels to honor these cou-rageous youths. What differentiates dreidels from regular tops are the letters inscribed on each side. The letters nun, gimmel, hay, shin, grace the sides of the dreidel. The let-ters stand for “Nais Gadol Haya Sham”, which translates into “A great miracle hap-pened there”. This references the miracle of the oil. In Israel, since that is where the miracle occurred the shin on the dreidel changes into a pey, which stands for the word poh, which means here.

Many Jews have the custom of giv-ing gifts on Chanukah. This originated with the idea of Chanukah gelt, money given to children on Chanukah in or-der for them to learn the practice of giving charity. Learning is a very im-portant part of Judaism. For children, sometimes an incentive is necessary. That is the origin of Chanukah gelt. In later years, especially as their non-Jewish neighbors were celebrating Christmas with the giving of pres-ents, Jewish parents started to give their children presents as well. However, the giving of presents is not a traditional Jewish custom.

tunda ya kwanza” which means “first fruits.” On Kwanzaa, people greet each other with words

in Swahili. The greeting, “Habari gani? (What‘s new?)” is answered by the principle of the day (so ‘umoja’ the first day, ‘kujichagulia’ the sec-ond day, and so on). This is done in order to reaf-firm the principles that are central to this holiday.

A table is set with a piece of African cloth. The mkeka is placed on top of the cloth with all of the symbols arranged upon it.

A recognizable symbol of Kwanzaa may be the colors black, red, and green. These are the colors of the organization United Slaves, also founded by Dr. Karenga. The color black symbolizes the people, red is for their struggle, and green repre-sents the future and hope that comes from their struggle. These colors are used for all Kwanzaa

Ringing in the new YeaR...

New Year’s Eve is a time for par-ties and having fun. Resolutions are made, and memories of the past year are celebrated. Some even travel to New York City during this time to watch the ball drop in Times Square.

On average, over one million peo-ple pack New York City to witness one of America’s most treasured tra-ditions. As 32,000 thousand light bulbs and 2,600 Waterford crystals drop, spectators excitedly count-down the seconds to the new year.

Numerous bright neon signs illumi-nate the square with hundreds of adver-tisements flashing on giant billboards. These advertisements have truly become

a unique part of the landscape of Time Square. From, Chevrolet to Coca-Cola, many companies have become a part of the celebration of New Years, and are a common sight all year long.

The history of Times Square dates back to 1904, when it was named af-ter the Times building. It quickly be-came one of the world’s busiest inter-sections, and has played an important role in New York’s tourism. The ball drop began as an annual tradition in 1907, and quickly gained popularity. In 1999, one of the biggest crowds was attracted to the square in antici-pation for the new millennium. Over two million people packed the city, and entertainers came from all over. This year, the same turnout is ex-pected, as we ring in the new decade.

Those who do not attend the cer-emony can still join the millions of other people around the nation who make this annual ball drop a part of their New Year’s tradition. All ma-jor news stations cover the live en-tertainment, extensive crowds, and, of course, the symbolic ball drop. If you are lucky enough to join those that pack the streets on New Year’s Eve, you will probably acquire that sense of pride and patriotism that is wide-spread in “The city that never sleeps.”

THE SILVER SPUR - DECEMBER 17, 2009SPREAD 7

decorations, including the candles on the Kinara. Like the holiday of Christmas, Kwanzaa also has a

tradition of gift-giving. The sort of gifts presented is much different than the toys and games common of Christmas gifts. Included in the gift must be a book and a heritage symbol. The book is to stress the im-portance of learning, and the heritage symbol is to reaffirm the importance of African cultural values.

On each night of Kwanzaa, a child lights the candle for that night. Then the principle of that day is discussed. Other than that, there is no one specific way to celebrate Kwanzaa. However, cel-ebrations tend to include singing, dancing, Afri-can drums, storytelling, poetry, and a large meal.

THE SILVER SPUR - DECEMBER 17, 2009 FEATURES8Celebrations of New Years around the world

There are many different traditions and celebrations around the world that are used to ring in the New Year. Some new year’s celebrations are national, and are only cel-ebrated within a specific country, while oth-ers are religious. Together, there are hun-dreds of varying ways to celebrate one of the world’s most common holidays.

In the Jewish religion, the New Year is called Rosh Hashanah. Like the American New Year, this is a time to make resolutions and look back at one’s mistakes of the past year. Rosh Hashanah is one of the most holy days in Judaism, and observers are not permitted to work on this day.

Many traditions accompany the holiday, including having apples with honey, which is symbolic of wishing for a sweet new year.

Ten days after Rosh Hashanah is Yom Kippur, which is the single holiest day in the Jewish religion. On this day, many ob-servers fast until sunset. These holidays are a time to repent for sins and make plans for a better new year.

The Chinese New Year is celebrated in many parts of the world and lasts for about

15 days. Some cities in the United States, like San Francisco and New York City, have parades to commemorate the holiday. Tra-ditionally, the new year is a time for families to spend time with each other and celebrate with food and customs. There is also a 12 symbol animal zodiac chart, which is well known in American culture. The purpose of the holiday is to hope for happiness, wealth, and longevity.

Diwali is religious New Year celebrated in India and Nepal. It is a celebration of good over evil. The holiday lasts about five days and usually takes place September through November. The New Year is significant to Hindu observers because it is known as the “awareness of the inner light”. For numer-ous other religions, including Jainism, the holiday has a very historical significance.

Hogmanay is a new year celebrated in Europe, mainly Scotland. This holiday is filled with customs, including giving sym-bolic gifts such as coal, whisky, or salt. Each area within Scotland has created a set of unique customs to help observe the holi-day.

There are numerous other New Year holi-day traditions. Many more exist, in many different parts of the world. No matter

A look at a new club on cam-pus: Teenage Republican

Walking around campus, one would not be shocked to hear conversations about movies, shopping and sex. One probably would be surprised to hear students dis-cussing the current political climate in Washington. Politics in not the most popu-lar topic of discussion for students; yet, a small, dedicated group meets every Friday to discuss these topics.

This group is the RB Teenage Republi-cans, founded just this year. For upperclass-men that have not had such a club through-out their high school career, the desire for the club was strong.

Sahand Rostami, senior, recognized the “necessity for a place where the few Re-publican students can discuss their views with others who understand.”

This need was actualized by freshman Hailey Edmondson. Edmondson got the idea for starting the Republican Club when in 7th grade, she heard that there was no such club at RB High. She thought to start the club to earn her Silver Award for Girl Scouts.

“Since the [2008 general] election, I’ve wanted to become more educated about politics and world events,” Edmondson

said. One of the difficulties facing the con-

ception of a Republican Club is the num-ber of Republican students on campus. Of the small number, many are uncomfortable voicing their opinions in front of friends and classmates. They face open hostility from students about their views.

“There is a lot of bias against my ideas,” said senior Parker Conley.

“Liberals claim to be open-minded,” Ros-tami said, “but they explode against others views [that they disagree with].”

Edmondson faced problems when start-ing the club. Her friends laughed at the idea. During Club Rush in October, Edmondson was alone at the table promoting the club. Passing students would laugh or jeer at Ed-mondson.

Conley, Edmondson, and Rostami all agree that the media is to blame for the amount of hostility towards the Republican viewpoint on campus. They agree that Re-publican views do not get the best attention in the media.

“The media leans to the left,” Edmondson said. “Everybody sees it- it’s so pervasive. It’s ingrained in students to be Left.”

“Kids are into trends,” Rostami said. “What people have to remember is what’s popular isn’t always right, and what’s right isn’t always popular.”

Drama department is hit with major

financial cut backs

The Performing Arts Center gets popu-lated by drama productions, choir concerts and dance shows alike. One might be im-pressed by its size and grandeur, but few realize what is actually happening behind the scenes. Dents and holes riddle the walls; paint has been scratched off or has peeled away; many seats are broken, and these problems are only on the surface. Backstage hosts broken lights, equipment, doors, and set pieces.

“This used to be a nice state-of-the-art theater,” Drama teacher Terri Roglestad said, “but it’s taken a beating over the years. People still think it’s impressive, but they need to dig a little below the surface to find it’s in bad condition”

Over the years, Art Departments have been feeling the pain of the budget cuts more and more, and the Drama Depart-ment is no exception. Roglestad said that ASB gave them $1000 this year; whereas, in previous years that number was double. When the factors of producing two shows comes into play, that $1000 does not stretch far enough; there are materials to buy, sets to build, and costumes to rent. Taking all those factors, and then considering the state of disrepair of the theater, makes the prob-lem at hand quite apparent.

Clifford Harrison, who graduated last year and is the theater’s long-reigning

technical manager, said it is the loss of the ability to buy consumables that has hurt the most; no longer can the theater purchase gels (colored screens) or bulbs for the bro-ken lights.

“We could still use a lot of the theater’s lights if we could just afford to replace the lamps in them,” Harrison said. The produc-tions have had to become very minimalist; often artistic sets and minimal lighting have to be used to compensate for the lack of ma-terials.

“We can’t design the shows the way we want,” Clifford said. He estimates that to re-store the light rack alone to its prime condi-tion, it would cost $2000.

Roglestad said that the district should be held responsible for theater maintenance. Not only do many groups and clubs use it, various organizations use it for their activi-ties or productions. She said the theater does not have basic theater elements, like house lights or light strips along the rows.

Technical director Edwin Carpio, senior, said that RB High has had to borrow cos-tumes and equipment from other PUSD schools that get better attention, like Poway High.

“We get by with what we have,” Car-pio said, “but would prefer more funding.” “Drama is a good investment; it builds self-esteem and character.”

This holiday season brings a feel of givingand thanks to everyone

By Brent GoldbergBusiness manager

By Carrie ChenFeatures Editor

Left: Chinese new year dragon Right: New York Timesquare during New Years

By Emily YavitchStaff writer

Throughout the holiday season, many Americans participate in canned food drives, donations, and school or church programs that benefit those in need. The spirit of giving is present during this time of year, whether it be exchanging gifts within the family or making a donation to organizations like the Salvation Army.

Many people simply give because of the joy they feel when family and friends get to open up special gifts meant for them.

“I love it!” Junior Kayla Moncayo said. “The joy that they get in getting the gift is doubled for me because I’m able to give it.”

Many times, the facial expression of the receiver of the gift when they tear open the wrapping paper is worth all the amount of time and money spent picking out the right present.

For some, exchanging presents has be-

come such a tradition that the novelty of it has worn off.

“I do it as a formality,” sophomore Em-ily Zhao said.

Giving and receiving presents for many means nothing more than carrying on an old tradition. Others, however, appreciate the tradition the joy they give and feel.

As for donating to a charity, although one cannot see the reaction of the child who gets the donation, the act of giving itself satisfies many.

“When you give to someone in need, it’s like you’re giving a part of yourself to better humanity,” Moncayo said. “If you can give, I believe you should give.”

Many students have a closet full of clothes that has either gotten too small to wear or has gone out of style. These clothes could be donated to organizations who help those in need, such as the Sal-

vation Army or Goodwill. After the holiday season is over, many

people will go back to their old ways, in which the spirit of giving is not a prior-ity.

“I think people give because it’s tra-dition,” Zhao said. “Around this time, empathy flares up.”

Others think it is to make up for not giving during the rest of the year.

“I feel that people use the holidays to feel better about the fact that they don’t give throughout the year,” said Mon-cayo. “It’s like they’re using the holi-days to free up their conscience from not giving during the year.”

During the year, even when it’s not the holiday season, people should keep in mind that those who have financial issues don’t need help only during the holiday season.

Photo courtesy of Google.com

By Celeste ConowitchFeatures Editor

Photo courtesy of google.com

which New Year’s celebration, or celebra-tions, you observe, all of these holidays have one common, uniting factor: hope for a healthy and prosperous new year, filled with an optimistic outlook towards the fu-ture.

THE SILVER SPUR - DECEMBER 17, 2009FEATURES 9

Immigrants adjust well to RB High

The Student Store changes for the better

Why you should not believe the myths of driving tests How to dress in style this winter

By Kiana SaidEditor-in- chief

By Hanna LeeFeatures Editor

By Jin LeeEditor- in- Chief

By Celeste ConowitchEntertainment Editor GirlsHow many times have you heard stories about which driving places are easier to pass the test than others. What about stories about mean instructors, or ridiculous automatic failures? It is a common discussion topic among high-schoolers. Driving is a symbol of freedom, especially for teenagers, nothing is more gratifying then piling all your friends into your dads Mercedes and going for a joy ride. Naturally, a license is wanted as quickly as possible, so the easiest teacher is wanted.

People are more then willing to share their driving stories, especially about the “mean old guy at Poway” or how “the Escondido test was only 5 minutes long”. Unfortunately, there are many contradictions floating around that lead some want-to-be

drivers to disappointment. Often a student will go to a certain DMV because their friends heard it was the easiest, when they fail the test there is the unfortunate tendency to go to yet another ‘easy’ DMV. If the student had gone to the same DMV twice in a row, their knowledge of the test would make them more comfortable and therefore more likely to pass.

There are no definite statistics regarding whether certain DMV’s are ‘easier to pass at’ than others. The outcome of the test depends on many factors, including personal reaction, conditions of traffic, or perhaps the specific moods of the tester and testee. But above all these factors, is the skill of the person being tested. The driving test checklist is the same wherever you test and all California DMV’s are bound by the same policies. It is true, driving instructors typically go harder

The lunch lines are long, and the items on the menu are pricier compared to that of last year, so you decide to head to the Student Store. To most of us, buying food at the Student Store is an option when we don’t want to stand in the long lines or don’t have enough money.

“I like going to the Student Store because the lines are fast,” senior Sulki Kim said. “It’s convenient to go to when I don’t want to wait in lines at the lunch carts. Also, the ASB people are kind.”

Associated Student Body’s students and the Student Store supervisor Sharon Muenzer run the store. Muenzer supervises the workers, orders products and takes care of the finances. The ASB students, as part of their class duty, take shifts during break or lunch shift. Along with Muenzer and other ASB students, you can expect to find the Student Store Commissioner Jacob Teal to be present as well.

Some new items that can be bought include Go-gurt and face paint. The store has recently decreased the price of pretzels and Cheez-Its. The popular items are Hot Cheetos, smoothies, water and Gatorade. You might want to try the pickles and string cheese, items that don’t get a lot of attention.

Just how exactly does the Student Store benefit the student body you might ask?

Muenzer and Student Store Commissioner Jacob Teal stated that the money earned from the sales goes directly back to the students. The money earned funds the digital media, the sports trainer, sporting events, school dances, student-run clubs and assemblies. That money you spend at the Student Store actually goes back to you in order to make RB High a friendlier environment.

With that in mind, even though the

Adjusting to a new country is hard. It’s even harder when you come to the United States in high school, knowing no English at all. People immigrate to the United Sates for the promise and possibility of more opportunities.

“My dad’s job,” Natsuko Ibi, freshman said. She came here from Japan this year and seems to have no real difficulty adjusting to our school.

ELL teacher Maureen Garland said that the reason many students come to the U.S. in high school is because of the opportunity for better jobs and education. Garland also said that some students are here because their parent is looking for better opportunities for their children.

Fabienne Dudde, sophomore, came here from Germany in the may of 2008. She said that she likes it better here because the people are nice. However,

she is currently taking most of her classes with freshmen, because she was not able to take those courses last year.

Chun-Chieh Lin, freshman, came to the United States in the summer of 2003 from Taiwan, she had difficulty adjusting.

“They didn’t understand what I was saying when I was speaking because of my accent,” said Lin. However, she is able to speak English fluently, now.

Lin will probably get a high school diploma and go to college; however, this is not the case for many immigrant students. Garland said that if they are in an American high school for all four years or came here two years before entering high school, they will be more successful in graduating with their class. But, if a student came here during their junior or senior year, chances are they will need summer school or adult education in order to receive a high school diploma.

By the time a student is in middle school or high school, it’s harder to learn

a new language. In English, grammar is difficult, and pronunciation can be hard too.

“What they are hearing in school is academic language, not social language,” Garland said. They must also meet the same requirements as the English-speaking students, as well as passing the CAHSEE.

Typically, a teenager goes through many emotional stages and difficulties during the high school years, and adapting to a new language and culture can make a teenager’s life even more frustrating and difficult. According to Garland, some students go through a period of time when they are angry at their parents for making them move here, but within a few months, many adjust.

Hopefully, all students who come to RB High will find it a welcoming place to make friends and be more successful in school.

on teenagers during testing because DMV policy wants to ensure safe and responsible drivers will be on the roads. But contrary to popular belief, driving instructors do not sit around and scheme how to fail the next kid they test.

Ultimately there are a few good rules to follow when signing up for the driver test. Don’t listen to everything you hear from friends, everybody’s testing experience will be different so just go to the DMV closest to you. Also, if you have to retake the test, the best idea is to take it at the same DMV so you will be comfortable and knowledgeable about the test. Remember it’s not the end of the world if the test ends in failure. And lastly, if you are really ready to pass the test you will, regardless of which specific DMV you choose.

Student Store has stopped selling soda and candy due to nutritional guidelines, it might be a good idea to purchase items because it helps the school and the student boy function.

The Student Store is stacked with food items that meet the new state nutrition guidelines. Make healthier choices by heading to the Student Store, and at the same time support RB High.

From left to right: Fabienne Duude from Germany, Natsuko Ibi from Japan, and Chun-Chieh Lin from Taiwan pose for a picture.Photos by Hanna Lee

gUysBy Robert BojarPhoto Editor

A view of the student store. Photo by Michael Rupic

You are ready to be fashion forward this winter if you have in check your pea coat, boots, tights, scarf and cardigan. Winter is all about being comfortable, that’s why all the looks this winter can fit any style.

Starting at the top, berets are a big hit this winter, keeping you warm and fashionable at the same time. It can supplement almost any outfit, whether you want to dress your outfit up with a bold colored sparkly beret, or keep it simple with a neutral colored one.

If you are feeling sportier, wear a trapper hat. There are many different types of trapper hats that can fit simple or bold style. You can find trapper hats in Plaid, fur, or made out of knit. These hats are no longer just worn on the slopes, but are being worn in normal conditions. If the trapper hat and beret look is not for you, there is the beanie. A knit beanie with tassels can freshen up your style this winter.

It is essential to have at least one winter coat. A simple black pea coat, along with a stylish wool scarf will complete your winter look. Also, leather jackets are becoming very popular this winter and can replace your typical winter coat.

A leather jacket can compliment your style when worn with a fresh new pair of winter boots. Brown leather jackets can be just as fashionable as black leather ones, so don’t feel hesitant to invest in a non-black leather jacket.

A good pair of boots and tights can help complete every one of your outfits this winter. Ankle high boots, knee high boots and leather boots are all being worn on the runway. So take the runway into your closet and invest in some leather ankle booties. Cool patterned tights are becoming very popular in comparison to the once

plain black tights. To finish it all off, it is imperative that you have the one necessary accessory: a scarf. Scarves add character and fashion sense to your style. Whether it is a chunky wool scarf, a complex patterned scarf or a flowy loose type, scarves can compliment any look.

Take these winter fashion suggestions and make them fit your style; everybody is entitled to make up their own style.

It’s time for the boys to step up to the winter fashion season this year! You guys can spice up your wardrobe with some classic components of fashion. There are a lot of styles that stem from these few but essential elements like the blazer, the jeans, and the cardigan.

Starting at the top: the blazer is a classic and can be paired with almost anything. A classic blazer over a simple t-shirt is stylish and fits in almost any general setting. Roll up the sleeves to add a casual look; wear a graphic tee to add statement or personal style, or a collared button-up shirt for a more formal stature.

If a blazer doesn’t fit your style, then a cardigan can make up for your pickiness. Cardigans come in a variety of styles, unlike most blazers. Go for the classic prep school Holden Caulfield look with a deep burgundy colored textured cardigan or the monochrome grey for the laid back young entrepreneur look. Add a scarf if it’s too cold for just those layers. Either a neutral grayish colored scarf that fits with any component of your wardrobe or a bright patterned scarf to shout your expression across the large quad.

Now to the legs. A pair of well fitted jeans will serve you well for any season and with any style of top. Darker wash jeans with a slimmer fit are in season now, and they will go perfectly with that blazer or cardigan top. For you guys who just like to throw on a pair of pants, these jeans are perfect for you since they match almost any top and work with any shoe. They’re low maintenance and are durable as jeans are. Just make sure you flip them inside out when you wash them so that rich deep color stays in.

For you guys who want to go for a more formal look, pinstriped pants are great. A dark grey or black fabric with vertical pinstripes work just as well with that graphic tee, cardigan, or blazer. But a good comfortable pair of pinstripe pants are usually more difficult to find and will be more expensive, but it’s well worth it. If you get the right pair, they work for any setting: school, just hanging out, taking your date out to dinner, or church.

Now for the shoes: a pair of Converse Chucks go with those jeans or pinstripes perfectly. They’re comfortable; they last long, and they just fit well. And don’t worry about getting them scuffed

up a bit, because they look just as sharp with some wear as they do new. A pair of Chucks with a blazer say you’re down for business, but you’re laid back, and Chucks with a cardigan say you’re easy to get along with.

But a pair of leather slip-ons are much more formal. Even though they also fit well with jeans, pinstripes, or the cardigan and blazer, they can get uncomfortable, and you may look too formal and perhaps too showy for a casual school day. But if that’s what you’re going for, then simply go for it.

Keep in mind, though, these aren’t things you should wear, but things you could wear if you are quite lost in what to wear if you want a low maintenance and widely accepted wardrobe. Everyone has his own style, and these are just the basics that are the fundamentals to expressing yourself through your clothes.

Sean Lasiter shows off his style.

Photo by Robert Bojar

Photo by Robert Bojar

Alexis Vallin flaunts her style

THE SILVER SPUR - DECEMBER 17, 2009 ENTERTAINMENT10

The movie “This Is It” starts with nervous dancers telling Michael Jackson how much they admire him and how much they want to be his backup dancers. One dancer even starts to cry due the excitement of it all.

Ballroom DanCing is all the rage

Movie Review: Michael Jackson’s “This is It”

By Michael RupicOpinions Editor

By Hanna LeeStaff Writer

By Emily YavitchSports Editor

Sony produced this movie, directed by Kenney Ortega (the same guy who directed “High School Musical”), and its footage of the concert rehearsals. The movie was supposed to be out for only two weeks but because of the instant popularity, Sony ex-tended it.

The movie shows a different side to Mi-chael Jackson. He is thin and does not seem as energetic as when he was younger. His frailness really showed when he wore or-ange skinny jeans and very baggy Ed Hardy sweats.

Jackson wore the strangest clothes during his rehearsals. He was often wearing many layers, and he wore a jacket with one lapel that was diamond studded and the other la-pel was plain.

Jackson seemed tired at times and did not sing all the vocals. He once complained that his earpiece was like a “fist pounding in his ear;” however, he was determined to make this concert tour one of the best, as he was seen constantly telling the musicians how

to correct their pitches.This concert would have been very cool

to see with all the technology. One part of the movie showed Jackson and his dancers standing against a green screen, to make it look like hundreds of thousands of people were dancing along during the song “They

Don’t Really Care About Us.”The movie also showed him rehearsing

the Jackson 5 songs. He sang “I want you back.” In the movie, it also showed young Jackson singing with his brothers.

For the song “Earth Song.” It showed a clip of a young girl in a lush rainforest. Then, when the girl wakes up from her nap, it shows a destructed and devastated forest with fires burning down trees, not different from the song’s music video. The little girl then spots a small green plant and tries to dig it our before the bulldozer kills it. Then the bulldozer enters the stage where Jackson is singing and the bulldozer closes down on him.

Throughout the end of the movie, all the singers, dancers, musicians gather in a large circle where Jackson declares that they are a family. He then thanks them for their hard work and effort. They all gather for a hip-hip hooray.

The movie ends with him singing “Man in the mirror” and asking the world for a change. As he raises his hands up to ac-knowledge his invisible audience, the movie pauses and says, Michael Jackson King of Pop.

Then the credits started rolling, but the most surprising thing was that no one in the theater left. They all stayed until his song

“This is it” ended. They all watched him in the little sidebar, dancing and laughing. They paid their respects to him and didn’t make any rude comments. This movie pro-vided closure for Michael Jackson fans, as they were given the opportunity to see glimpses of the last days of his life, and to pay tribute to the “King of Pop.”

Life as a vampire or werewolf is not easy, as is depicted in the movie “New Moon.” This is the second story in The Twilight Saga, based on the series by Stephenie Meyer.

For those of you who are caught up in the recent pop-culture rave that is “Twi-light,” it is about Bella Swan, a human who has moved to Forks, Washington af-ter her parents get divorced. There, she meets the Cullens, a family of vampires who live in the area. She falls in love with one of the members of that family, Edward, and cannot imagine life without him.

A vampire’s craving for human blood is so strong that Edward feels he has put Bella in danger by having her associate with him and his family. It is also against the vampire code, created by an ancient group called the Volturi, for a human to know the secrets of a vampire.

Edward decides he has to move away in order to keep Bella safe.

Once he has left, Bella falls into a deep depression, having nightmares and not being able to get herself out of bed.

In the meantime, she develops a bond with Jacob Black, a member of an Indian tribe and who is also a werewolf. Bella finds comfort in his company and tries to forget about Edward. Jacob has been taught to kill vampires like Edward to keep humans like Bella alive.

This movie is filled with plot twists and new characters that reveal the talent of the author and the skill of the direc-tor.

The setting, a gray, cloudy town in the Pacific Northwest, could not have been represented any better.

At times, the plot may be slow and confusing, but if you have read the book or are able to follow the events in a mov-ie well, then you should have no trouble watching this movie. The ending is un-expected, so be prepared for a surprise.

Overall, the reviews by the critics were not good.

Dana Stevens, a writer for Slate, said the movie was “mopey, draggy, and ab-surdly self-important…”

This movie is made for teenagers and young adults, which is probably why I loved it so much.

The movie was true to the book for the most part, but, as it is often said “the book was better.”

I recommend reading the books before or even after seeing the movie, but it is not necessary.

FoX’s new show “glee” is a Big hit

The television show “Glee” first hit screens with its pilot episode on May 19, and with its tenth episode just airing, it is clear this show has something audiences have been looking for. The pilot episode brought America a show about a rag-tag group of misfits who banded together to form a show choir club at their school; it featured a myriad of flashy music and dance numbers, witty dialogue, and a cast of stereotypical yet completely lovable charac-ters. And the viewers fell in love.

Junior Shannon Hayes explains why she likes the show:

“What I like about the show is the idea that outcasts can all come together and be apart of something special. I also love the music and the show is very well written with the perfect amount of wit, and just enough dramatic sadness.”

Hayes goes even further repeating a quote from the first episode: “Being part of something special makes you special, right?”

That quote can be said to represent the whole theme of the show. Every character in “Glee” has some kind of obstacle to face, be it social awkwardness, handicaps, or in-

ability to escape from social standards. Some may say the show goes too far in

projecting stereotypes such as the cruel jocks who torture the wheelchair-bound kid, or the captain of the cheer squad who is president of the celibacy club and ends up pregnant. From a realistic standpoint

“Glee” certainly does not carry anything we have not seen before, and yet it still possesses an irresistible charm.

Sophomore Roxanne Conowitch said, “The minute I saw the preview for a show

about a high school show choir, I imme-diately knew I’d love it. Being an actress/singer really drew me to the idea of watch-ing such talented kids go through what us high school students go through while also being fully committed to Glee club.”

“My absolute favorite thing about the

show is Artie.” junior Megan Ralston said, when asked what her favorite thing about the show was. “My brother is in a wheel-chair, and my family has dealt with a lot of wheelchair-kid discrimination in the past. Discrimination against people with dis-abilities happens every day, and sometimes

in ways people don’t even notice.” Artie is a boy confined to a

wheelchair by a long-term disabil-ity, yet he overcomes his physical and emotional struggles to be an important member of Glee club.

“Glee is the first media I’ve found which acknowledged not only the difficulties that disabled people go through, but the right and wrong ways to help them,” Ralston said.

Surely the show brings up many questions regarding discrimination among students. Set against a high school background where cruelty is king, the characters grow close to the hearts of their viewers. Their

experiences are very real and happen to the average student on a regular basis.

“My favorite thing about the show is the realistic characters present in high schools everywhere, which are present within the show,” Hayes said.

“I’m sure for everyone who watches that they can relate to a character one way or another.”

Whatever the verdict, “Glee” exists as a refreshing reminder of the struggles and

Movie Review: “New Moon”

By Celeste Conowitch

Entertainment Editorfun associated with growing up.

Ralston said, “The thing about ‘Glee’ is that it’s one part mindless, enjoyable en-tertainment, and the rest is all meaning-ful, important lessons and messages that everyone should remember. That everyone can benefit from.”

Photo by Google

Liz Steigerwald

SPORTS EDITOR

the silver spUrRANCHO BERNARDO HIGH

Kiana Said

ADVISOR

Jin LeeNEWS EDITOR

FEATURES EDITORS

Brent Goldberg

BUSINESS MANAGER

Silver Spur Editorial Policy The opinions expressed in the Silver Spur are not necessarily the opinions of the staff, administration, or the students of Rancho Bernardo High School. They are not necessarily the opinions of the Silver Spur staff as a whole. The Silver Spur is a public forum.

STAFF WRITERS

PHOTO EDITOR

EDITORS -IN-CHIEF

Kiana Said

Hanna Lee

Robert Bojar

Michael Rupic

Michael RupicStephen Bernard

Stephen Karanewsky

OPINIONS EDITOR

Carrie Chen

Jin Lee

Geoffrey Bogan

GUEST ARTISTMaranda Li

ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Celeste Conowitch

Photo courtesy of Google

Movie Review: “The Blind Side”Despite the Twilight series craze,

“The Blind Side” has managed to beat “New Moon” at the box office. As of the Dec. 4-6 weekend “The Blind Side” has made a cumulative gross of about $128 million.

“The Blind Side,” which stars San-dra Bullock, Tim McGraw and Quin-ton Aaron, is a biopic about Michael Oher, the current offensive tackle for the Baltimore Ravens. Quinton Aar-

on plays Michael Oher, a homeless African-American who is taken in by the Tuohy family, a family who owns more than 70 fast food franchises, including Taco Bell and Long John Silver ’s. Sandra Bullock plays Leigh Anne Tuohy, and Tim McGraw plays Sean Tuohy.

Oher ’s life consisted of unstable events such as having a mother who is a crack cocaine addict, and being sent to different foster homes. With the assistance of a family friend,

Oher applied for admission to an all-white private school, Briarcrest Christian School, which is called Wingate Christian School in the mov-ie. With a height of 6 ft 5 in, he was a natural at being a defensive tack-le, and quickly became a star player at his school’s football team. Oher lived with several families before he moved in with the Tuohy family.

The Tuohys provided Oher with his own room and even connected him with a personal tutor to bring

Televised sports have functioned upon the public’s basic love of competition. A football game can rouse excitement and anticipation, even when one is not rooting for either team. This psychology is being utilized to produce many different types of competitive sports on TV.

Dancers used to be televised on vari-ety shows like “The Ed Sullivan Show.” Ballets can be viewed on PBS. But these sorts of shows draw only those who are already interested in dance. Producers re-alized that competition is a sure-fire way to draw viewers and to introduce them to the world of dance.

The recent popularity of shows like “Dancing with the Stars” and “So You

Think You Can Dance” have brought a distinct upswing of interest in classical dancing.

The newfound interest has crossed gen-erational lines. People of all ages are sign-ing up to take dance lessons. Ballroom dancing used to have the stigma of being old-fashioned and too proper. Now the realization is that ballroom dancing en-compasses all sorts of styles: tango, me-rengue, samba, the paso doble, rumba, and the foxtrot. Names like these, which a few years ago would have been foreign except to a select few, are now common.

Competitive dancing is, in and of itself, nothing new. Professional and amateur competitions occur world-wide. Com-petitions are held for ages ranging from 3-years-old to adult.

What is new is the idea of broadcast-ing these competitions on a major scale.

Recent movies and television shows have dedicated themselves to bringing the world of dance to the masses.

Photo courtesy of Google Photo by steponedanceshows.com

Photo by Google

By Jin LeeEditor-in-chief up his 0.6 grade point average to

a 2.52 GPA upon graduation. Oher received scholarship offers from University of Tennessee, Louisiana State University, University of Ala-bama, University of South Caro-lina and University of Mississippi. Oher eventually chose his adoptive parents’ alma mater, University of Mississippi.

This movie is truly an inspir-ing movie that will touch viewers’ hearts.

Photo by Google

THE SILVER SPUR - DECEMBER 17, 2009ENTERTAINMENT 11Evolution of Disney: past to present Artist spotlight:

Mariana Bedoy

Some Disney fun facts...

By Celeste ConowitchEntertainment Editor

By Celeste ConowitchEntertainment Editor

Photo by www. kidsillinois.blogspot.

Disney is a name known to adults and small children alike. The Disney Corporation exists as a builder of dreams as well as a huge corporation, including a monstrous list of compa-nies and campaigns.

The legacy of Walt Disney began with his birth on Dec. 5, 1901 into a family of five children. Raised on a farm in Missouri, Walt managed to graduate high school and attended an Academy of Fine Arts with special emphasis in drawing and photogra-phy.

Mickey Mouse, Disney’s most widely recognized creation made his first appearance in the world’s first fully synchronized sound cartoon “Steamboat Willy.”

“Snow White and the Seven Dwarves” was the studio’s first full length animated musical feature cost-ing $1,499,000, a huge sum in the midst of the Great Depression. Origi-nally deemed by his business partners as “Disney’s Folly”, the film was met with huge success, winning an Academy Award for film innovation. During the course of his lifetime, 81

full-length features were created by the Disney studio.

Disney first publicly announced his plans to open a theme park in March of 1952; the original idea was to cre-ate “Holiday Land.” An entire year was devoted to selecting a location for the park. Meanwhile teams toured American theme parks compiling lists of what not to do. Construction final-ly began in July of 1954, and soon after the Magic Kingdom was com-pleted. It was immediately followed by Tomorrow Land and Main Street. Adventure Land, Frontier Land, and Fantasy Land opened to the public in 1956. The first day the park opened was strictly an invitational event for workers and supporters, huge amounts of grand opening tickets were for-feited leading to disaster, several rides broke and the food stands ran out of supplies. The park generated huge public response, and officially dug the Disney Company out of the massive debts incurred through early development.

Disney contracted lung cancer and was hospitalized in 1966, where he died shortly after. The Disney legacy continues to thrive today as his theme park and film industry flourish, still creating “the stuff dreams are made of”.

•George Lucus (then 11) was one of the first guests at Disneyland in 1955, he was there with his family. •“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” and “Finding Nemo” are the two Disney films that earned the highest box-office gross total.

Book Review: Through the Looking-Glass,and What Alice Found There

Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There is the sequel to Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll and features many aspects from that book, expanding on the same themes.

Originally, Carroll publicly intended Alice in Wonderland to be a book for bored little girls about a bored little girl. But it soon came clear that there were many deep and social themes running through the jumble of nonsense that can seemingly be decoded into a strongly opinionated social commentary.

Following Alice in Wonderland, the se-quel is said to be encoded with even deeper themes.

In the book Through the Looking Glass, Alice walks through a mirror, entering the

world that mirrors ours. This is an obvious link to the fact that Carroll is handing out themes about our lives through these “par-allel” lives. She then comes across the Red Queen in the garden that she ventures in.

The Red Queen offers her throne if Alice could win a chess match. Alice is then turned into a pawn, and realizes the whole landscape is a chessboard. Through her journey on the chessboard, she meets many characters that you may have heard of: Tweedledum And Tweedledee who recite “The Walrus and The Carpenter” nursery rhyme, Humpty Dumpty, the Lion, and The Unicorn.

This all seems like ridiculous nonsense. It is. But there is a lot more to it. This is the strong point of Carroll’s book: if you’re looking for a fun read or some nonsensical inspiration then this book offers both.

Mariana Bedoy is an aspiring artist who wants to pursue a career in 2D animation. Bedoy draws everything from anime to cartoons. Shealso specializes inmaking comic strips.

“I want to do animation, like cartoons, like Disney,” Bedoy said. “I find 2D ani-mation better then 3D animation.”

Bedoy wants her art to be something that everyone can relate to, she wants people to be able to look at her art and understand the meaning of it. If it’s a per-sonal drawing, it will often symbolize something in her life, or someone in her family.

Bedoy got into art when her friends introduced her to drawing. Most of her friends are also artists. Her friends draw and discuss art frequently.

“My friends criticized me a lot,” Bedoy said. “It gets me mad, but it helps me improve.”

Mariana’s friends inspired her to start drawing, but she takes her ideas from her own dreams and often finds interesting subjects in anime.

“The ideas I get are usually from an-ime and dreams.”

When she draws, Bedoy has the ten-dency to go back to fix the mistakes she made to make it better. Her art is some-thing that she feels that she needs to con-tinue working on until it gets to the way she wants it.

“I get really frustrated when it’s not perfect,” Bedoy said. Whatever the case, Bedoy continues to aspire to make her art better and better.

Movie Review: “The Princess and the Frog”

Disney released its new film “The Prin-cess and the Frog” on Dec. 11. This movie was animated in the style of the original classics due to popular request of long-time Disney fans, instead of the newer Pixar style seen in movies such as “Toy Story” and “Monsters Inc.”

“The Princess and the Frog” stays true to the Disney princess format, introducing a hard-working young woman who dreams of opening her own restaurant, a handsome prince and wicked villain. Unlike previous Disney stories, the movie is set in New Or-leans during the high point of the jazz era.

This movie takes the traditional story

of “The Princess and the Frog” fairytale and places it into a more practical setting, where the characters are motivated by realistic desires such as strong work-ethic, want of power, and the ultimate desire to fulfill the happiness of others.

The plot follows a young woman who follows in the foot-steps of her father, whose dream is to open a restaurant that would become the hub of New Orleans activity. After he dies in war, the lead character Tiana works several jobs to make enough money to turn his dream into a reality.

Meanwhile, a prince from a foreign land comes to America, seeking a wealthy bride to support the lifestyle his parents cut him off from. Through a run-in with a voodoo witch doctor, the prince and his servant

switch roles; leaving the greedy servant as prince, while the prince himself is con-demned to become a frog.

The setting lends a high energy tone to the whole film, allowing the incorporation of snappy jazz music into the plot with several fun numbers. It also includes a lov-able cast of characters, including every-thing from a crocodile who dreams to be a jazz musician and a firefly that is in love with the evening star.

The most impressive thing about this movie is the return to the Disney virtues of attaining dreams despite all odds, through love and friendship. The movie grants a heart-warming feeling, and when walking away you will assuredly have a smile on your face.

By Stephen BernardStaff Writer

Photo by Robert Bojar

Photo by Google

Photo by Google

Photo by Google

By Celeste ConowitchEntertainment Editor •Only moments before the film’s comple-

tion, Walt thought Snow White was too pale so inkers and painters rushed to add blush to her cheeks in thousands of draw-ings. •Disney produced a series of sex-education films including an animated film called “The Story of Menstruation” •Disneyland workers were forbidden

from having facial hair because it was ‘a sign of hippies’ the policy changed in 2000. •There have been more than a dozen deaths at Disneyland, including a teenager flung off the Matterhorn ride because he removed his lap bar. •Iconic Mickey Mouse ears are hidden all over the park, in everything from ride displays to tiling.

By Robert BojarPhoto editor

THE SILVER SPUR - DECEMBER 17, 2009 FINAL FOCUS12What type of computer is better: Mac or PC?

PC Mac

Poll of RBKiana SaidEditor-in-chief

Robert Bojar

Photo Editor

Matt Togni, junior: “I prefer Macs because being more technologically advanced, they avoid becoming obso-lete for many years after purchase.”

Yiming Ma, freshman: “I prefer PCs because they are less confusing than Mac’s.”

Apple Macs are generally associated with the “artsy” side of the computer world. And rightfully so, because the standard Macs and Macbooks come preloaded with “artsy” programs that deal with design, such as GarageBand for music and track editing, iMovie for video editing, or iPhoto for photo editing. Although Macs are more expensive than PCs, they make up for it in performance and software.

“Every Apple product is pre-tested before it leaves the factory, so that means you know it’ll work,” Mr. Gagnon, the digital photo teacher said. He heads the photography classes which use Macs exclusively, along with the Graphics and Digital Media classes.

Many may argue that PC is much cheaper than Macs. Macs, in the long term, are cheaper than PCs because they are pre-loaded, pre-tested, and last much longer than PCs.

“That’s not true,” Gagnon said. “PC comes with a lot of preloaded trial software that just pops up and annoys

you to buy software. In the end, you have to load up your PC with the software that Mac already has, and it usually comes out to the same cost.”

RB weighs in:“What do

you prefer: Mac or PC?”

Jennifer Chalam, sophomore: “I like Macs because they are sleeker and look more attractive than PCs.”

An Introduction to PC’s: The Personal Computer, known as the PC, was invented by Jack Frassanito and patented on July 5, 1972. Ever since then,

the PC has rocked the modern world with it’s advanced technology, yet simple to use methods.

An Introduction to Macs: The Macintosh, known as Mac, is famous for it’s artsy and classic style. It’s programs are good for those interested in

movie-making, photography etc. With it’s sleek and attractive appearance, it has become increasingly popular throughout the decade.

The Personal Computer, dominated by the business world, has also been the world wide standard for a long time. Despite what Robert Bojar said, when it comes to convenience and simplicity, PC should be your pick; almost all s o f t w a r e ’ s available for computers are c o m p a t i b l e with PC’s. It is a computer used by companies such as Dell, Compaq and HP. Since PC’s have been on the market for a long time, this has allowed manufactures to improve their products to be as efficient as possible. For example, it is easy to upgrade your PC with the ample amount of upgrade ability.

Windows is the standard operating system for PC’s. Windows offers endless software products and programs to complete all types of tasks. PC’s are automatically supplemented with the essential programs such as Microsoft word, excel and PowerPoint, whereas with Macs, you have to pay extra costs for these features. Not only do PC’s offer a variety

of programs, they also are up to date on attraction and affordability, and

The weakness in PC’s is its vulnerability to viruses, which then makes it susceptible to crashes and breakdowns. Since the PC is being used world wide by so many

people, they are easier to get hacked into, and less secure than Macs.

When it comes to graphics and animation, PC’s come no where close to what Mac’s do provide. First off, all Mac computers come with webcams, where as for a PC you have to buy a web cam if it is not already installed.

The cost for a video editing program

c a l l e d

Final Cut Pro

on a PC is around 3000 dollars,

but on a Mac it costs only 1000 dollars. PC’s tend to crash

and can not handle the resources graphics programs use, as well as Macs can handle it.

Even though PC’s are cheaper when you buy them, the programs that you eventually buy make all the external and internal costs more than expected, and sometimes more than a Mac. Keep in mind that you get what you pay for, If you are buying a 300 dollar PC, you are buying a computer with limited features and space.

Macs do not emphasize technical details of the functions, but simply function.

“I don’t care how it does what I want it to do. I just want it to do it without any problems. If I want to edit a photo, I want to do just that and skip everything else. A Mac’s simplicity allows me to do that,” said Gagnon.

A lot of professionals do not have time for viruses, meltdowns, or any technical details but do want a great result and service use Macs.

“We use Macs because it’s what the professionals use. So we have them so that students can be trained properly if

they want to go into arts,” said Gagnon.

It comes down to preference: if you like to meddle with codes, then PCs are definitely for you, but if you want your computer to serve you and do what you want it to do without caring about how it does it, then Macs are for you. Keep in mind,

though if you do like the operating

software (OS) of a PC, you can always install it on your Mac. Mac runs PC software, so anything a PC OS can do, you can do on a Mac.

VS

Average price of a PC:$550

Average price of a Mac:$1,500

Steve Jobs: “Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.”

Bill Gates: “I think it’s fair to say that personal computers have become the most

empowering tool we’ve ever created.”