Events
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Tuesday, April 29, 2014
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4/28-5/2: International Week 5/3: SAT @ 7am 5/5-5/14: AP testing
5/14&5/15: Collab Days (start @ 9:25)
Curing the Incurable By: Courtney Conlan
H.I.V., an illness thought to be untreatable, has recently been cured in two babies. Over two years ago, a Mississippi baby (gender and name were kept secret for anonymity) was born and thought to have contracted the illness from their mother. Within the first thirty hours of their birth, antiretrovirals were given to them to stop the virus from spreading. This is abnormal from the regular procedure concerning babies who might get the disease. Normally, the drugs are not given to them until they are weeks old and doctors have run numerous tests. This baby, known as the “Mississippi Baby”, is now over 2 ½ years old and still appears to be H.I.V. free.
Prospect High School Panther Prints Staff Editors-In-Chief Aida Avdagic Alex Ruby Tisha Harnlasiri Raphael Santa Maria Content Editors Brian Nicholson Larry Nguyen Megan Lynch Natalie Nelson Copy Editors Alex Cavanaugh Owen Gilles Layout Editor Raphael Santa Maria Assistant Layout Editor Brian Nicholson Layout Designers Angel Ayala Alex Cavanaugh Madison Tara Reporters Courtney Conlan Robert Delfino Cesar Garcia Eric Garcia Demian Ibarra-Lopez Clara Mbumba Amara Miranda Kaileigh Otsuka Angelo Patti Mirna Shehata Liam Simon Madison Tara Advisor Gina Campanella Mission Statement Prospect Panther Prints pledges to provide a forum for publishing news, opinions of students and faculty, administration activities, interests, and policies. Our Staff will also maintain high ethical standards with regards to fairness, personal and legal rights, accuracy, and truth. We strive for a high level of competency in the technical aspects of writing, including grammar, spelling, clarity, and precision. Lastly, we welcome diversity by increasing the scope and depth of our coverage throughout our school and local communities.
The doctors had previously been suspicious that the baby had never actually contracted the disease, however another baby given the same drugs immediately following birth has been found. This girl, born in Long Beach, California, is now nine months old with still no sign of H.I.V. Her doctor was positive the girl had the disease, based off of her blood and spinal fluid samples. The virus tested positive in both her DNA and RNA. She was put on AZT, 3TC, and nevirapine which are the antiretroviral drugs used to stop the replication of the virus, following her birth. When she was six days old, traces of H.I.V. were found in her blood samples. However, she was disease-free by day eleven. Although her doctors don’t consider her to be completely “free” of the disease, as she is still on medication for it, this is a huge feat for the history of medicine. Even though the girl and the Mississippi child will still continue to be watched for several years, it is apparent that starting the drugs very early can help. Not only can this change the world of medicine, it can also potentially save hundreds of thousands of lives.
UNBy:Officially Bans Japan’s Whaling Program Alex Ruby
On March 31st, the United Nations’ International Court of Justice ruled that the Japanese government must stop its whaling program in the Antarctic Ocean. Originally, in May 2010, Australia argued that the program was not for scientific research as previously stated by Tokyo. Instead, Australia said that it was actually commercial whaling in disguise. Since the court’s decision is now legally binding, Japan must abide by this decision but it “regrets and is deeply disappointed by the decision.” Japan argued that the suit brought by Australia was an attempt to impose its own cultural norms on Japan.
The judgment said that Japan had caught around 3,600 minke whales since the program began in 2005, but the scientific work was not entirely sound. In 1986, Japan signed up for a temporary prohibition of this activity but continued whaling under scientific conditions. In Japan’s defense, they argued that minke whales and other species are plentiful and that their whaling activities are sustainable; they even sell the whale meat commercially in Japanese markets. Spokesman for Greenpeace UK, Willie MacKenzie said “the myth that this hunt was in any way scientific can now be dismissed once and for all.”
The Search for MH370 Continues By: Owen Gilles
For the last month, people from all around the world have watched, with great captivation and curiosity, the search effort for Malaysian Airlines Flight 370. After not arriving at its destination, Beijing, on time on the date of March 8, and disappearing from radars over the Indian Ocean, a massive search effort was launched for the airliner, which was carrying 239 passengers and crew members. At the time of press, there has still been no success in finding the wreckage, which contains the black box, an item that is crucial in determining the cause of an airplane’s crash. This device only has so much battery life, so recovery crews will be making their best efforts over the next weeks and months to reach it. In the search process, so far, there have been several positive developments in locating the black box, and the rest of the airplane.The most important was in determining that the jet did not head north past Indonesia. Some early theories placed the location of the wreckage (or intact plane, depending on theory) in nations far north as Iran or Kazakhstan, by eliminating these areas, the search was able to be narrowed to the Southern Indian Ocean. By late March, a new search area was created to the west of Perth, located on the coast of Western Australia.On March 30, debris was found floating in the ocean in this area, but search efforts did not find anything from the downed airliner. There have been multiple incidents like this one in the search process so far. Finally, on the dates of April 5 and April 6, two ships involved in the search effort reported receiving pings from a transmitter that could have been the black box. As a result, search crews moved into the area, hoping to locate the missing airplane based off of the signals. After fruitless efforts, the U.S. decided to contribute to the cause with its Bluefin-21 submersible. On April 14, the sub was launched, but had to return to the surface that day, unsuccessful. As of April 20, the Bluefin-21 submarine has still had no success in locating the airplane’s wreckage. Stories of the search effort have dominated both American media, and news all around the world for the past month. This continuous coverage, and lack of success in the recovery operation, have upset family members of the passengers that were on the plane. Hopefully, a conclusion will be met soon in this tragedy, to bring both the families, and the whole world, some closure.
Features
Eye-Opening
2 April 29, 2014
By: Tisha Harnlasiri
Folding origami is a Japanese art that’s been around for thousands of years. With the origami paper’s beautiful designs and simple, affordable use, it’s little wonder that people have taken up the art of folding flowers, cranes, and microscopes. Yes, you read that right: microscopes. Manu Prakash and a team of fellow engineers at Stanford University have recently revealed how they developed an origami microscope that, at the cost of only $1, could change the way everyone views the scientific world. Called the Foldscope, Prakash says that their design can be put together in merely ten minutes. “Although it costs less than a dollar in parts, it can provide over 2,000X magnification, weighs less than two nickels, is small enough to fit in a pocket, requires no external power, and can survive being dropped from a 3-story building or stepped on by a person,” the team adds. Besides the origami paper itself, the medical device requires only five other parts: a lens, battery, LED screen, a switch, and copper tape. The microscope is powerful enough to detect strains of diseases such as malaria and African sleeping-sickness, and is aimed toward helping economically developing countries. In places which lack the money to afford well-equipped hospitals and laboratories, the Foldscope, both portable and of course extremely cheap, means that doctors can easily make diagnoses and treatments. In turn, this could save thousands of lives. “I wanted to make the best possible disease-detection instrument that we could almost distribute for free,” says Prakash. The bioengineer also hopes to inspire children and future scientists to learn more about the physics of microscopy. With this origami-design, Prakash’s aspirations are already well on their way to revolutionizing the medical and educational world.
Big Trouble in Little Korea By: Angelo Patti
North and South Korea are two very different countries and prefer to be separated for a reason. They have had a bitter hatred for each other because North Korea is a dangerous communist threat to South Korea and the rest of the world. Just recently North Korea fired hundreds of artillery rounds near a disputed maritime line, and South Korea showed a similar amount of power soon after. They fired back with a large amount of power that stunned the North, but only for a brief moment. In the midst of this mayhem, South Korea discovered an unmanned drone on Baeknyeong Island that they suspect came from North Korea. They believe the drone may be a part of North Korea’s espionage operations. The short exchange forced residents of five frontline South Korean islands to evacuate to shelters for several hours. The exchange of fire in the Yellow Sea was followed by Pyongyang’s sudden announcement that they would conduct live fire drills in seven areas north of Korea’s disputed maritime boundary. They are making little progress to receive
Ancient Virus is Beneficial?! By: Eric Garcia
On March 30, 2014 Charles Q. Choi published an article that would change people’s perspective on viruses forever. Scientists have discovered that a virus that infected mankind millions of years ago actually plays a major role in human evolution. It all centers on the embryonic stem cells which are known to be pluripotent, meaning they can become every other kind of cell in the body. The virus that they found, called human endogenous retrovirus subfamily H. HERV-H DNA and not only is it active in the embryonic cells but, this virus is the reason that the stem cells are pluripotent. Scientists all over the world believe they can use this ability of the virus to help people recover from injury and diseases. How they would do this is use the viruses DNA code to modify the regular cells into Pluripotent stems cells. This will eventually lead to medicine therapies that can cure conditions like diabetes, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, and brain and spinal injuries. Even though it seems like a small step, it’s a step in right direction because over time scientists could turn these theories into a reality then some of the major diseases could become as small as the common cold. I think this discovery is a major find and will further mankind, because being able to cure worldwide diseases like diabetes and there’s a lot of people who have it. Now these scientists have found this “treasure” What about other ancient viruses? Could they possibly hold cures to more diseases and cell reconstruction? This discovery leads to many more opportunities that could be beneficial to humanity, even though it’s a million year old virus.
outside aid. In November 2010, North Korea fired at Yeonpeong Island, killing four people and triggering a full scale conflict. North Korea is taking drastic measures such as these because the US resists having multiparty talks on its nuclear program. So as of right now, North Korea is just trying to keep the pressure on everyone else, and less on themselves. The South Korean stock market made these incidents seem mediocre with little effect on them. South Korea is now teaming up with the US to train troops in a serious 12 day landing drill. The North heard about the South receiving aid from the US, so they upped the ante by test firing two mid range ballistic missiles capable of striking Japan. The Yellow Sea border has a history of bloody clashes that have been very brief. So South Korea has played it smart and received aid of about 28,500 American troops. As of right now, South Korea remains speculative on what North Korea is capable of, but with the help of the US, they have a better chance of remaining safe.
Features
Directed By Tesla By: Larry Nguyen
3 April 29, 2014
Who hasn’t heard of Tesla these days? They’re an incredibly successful car company that sells electric cars instead of using the generic, inefficient gas engine. It is an entirely new business model, not just in design but in consumer sales. How? Let’s dive in! Ever since the 1930s, there has been a law protecting car dealerships from a company directly selling to the customers, ensuring that the millions of dollars in the dealership industry and the jobs are protected from any mischievousness from the car companies. In other words, the car company cannot start directly selling their cars to the consumer, this would take away thousands maybe millions of dollars from the dealerships, rendering them ineffective. Therefore the law exists. Now how does this apply to Tesla? Tesla wants to sell its award winning car, Tesla Model S, and future cars directly to its customers, but the law (active in 48 states) prohibits such action. A few states have appeared in the news about the incident: New York, New Jersey, Texas, Minnesota, Georgia, Virginia, and Arizona all have tried to block Tesla to directly retailing its cars to consumers. The reasoning behind their actions are that dealerships and legislators fear that Tesla will set precedent for other companies to bypass dealerships and directly distribute their cars to customers. Tesla has appealed to the state courts to argue their position as to why they should be allowed to sell directly to customers. In contrast to the states’ argument of setting a precedent and that Tesla is disrupting the market, the company’s vice president of business development, Diarmuid O’Connell, argues that it is logical to have a direct retail model “because it has to both sell vehicles and promote a new technology.” Also, Tesla has never had any dealerships to begin with; therefore the other dealerships are not facing a huge loss by losing something they never had to begin with. So far Tesla has made progress in North Carolina and New York, both states allowing the car company to directly sell their cars to consumers. However, states like Texas and New Jersey have made it increasingly hard for Tesla to sell their cars without the dealerships in their so-called free market economy. Hopefully, Tesla can pave the new way for direct-to-consumer sales in the future as well as innovative technology.
Dead or Alive? By: Angelo Patti
We humans stand on the shoulders of giants. Technology has erupted in such a short period of time, with innovations such as biotechnology which can be the beginning of the resurrection of extinct species such as the dinosaurs and the wooly mammoth. A 39,000 year old female wooly mammoth, which was frozen in Siberia, Russia, arrived in an exhibition hall in Yokohama, July 9th, 2013. It was so well preserved that it had a lot of its original features. The dodo and mammoth are two species that have been extinct for a long time due to environmental changes and human activities such as the building of our shelters. Advances in biotechnology could enable scientists to bring extinct animals back from the grave. Many disagree with this practice because resurrecting creatures that cannot survive in the wild seems illogical since they have not been around for thousands of years. This idea of resurrecting extinct species was popularized by Michael Crichton’s novel Jurassic Park. Deextinction is more of a sci-fi concept due to this novel, but now it does not seem so unreachable. In 2003, biologists resurrected a Pyrenean ibex (type of goat) by making a clone of frozen tissues samples from the last of its species. At first it seemed like a huge breakthrough, until the clone died within minutes of its birth because of lung deformity. However, this experiment showed that bringing extinct animals back from the grave is not impossible. Ecologist Stanley Temple of University of Wisconsin Madison states, “We can use some of these techniques to help endangered species improve their longevity, but where it gets controversial is when we talk about bringing extinct animals back that have been dead for a very long period of time.” Other extinct species such as the passenger pigeon, which went extinct in 1914, can be bred again because of gene splicing. A lot of the species that are being explained do not compare to the hype that dinosaurs bring. But who knows? Dinosaurs may be able to be resurrected in the near future. Let’s just hope we are smarter about it than the people who built Jurassic Park
Updates on State Senator Corruptions By: Amara Miranda
Many of you may have heard about the allegations against suspended state senator, Leland Yee, for connections to arms trafficking and money laundering. While Yee had nothing to say, his lawyer, Paul DeMeester, said to the press, “Our top priority was to get the senator released, and we've accomplished that”. If you are unaware of the situation, Senator Yee was charged with conspiring to traffic firearms, which included scheming on the same citizens that got him into office in the first place. While he was released a few weeks ago people still can’t help but feel unsure about the people in office. While he has been suspended from pay, which does not make anyone feel safer about the actions that took place, Yee was arrested along with twelve others in this scheme for profiting off of others. It is said that he was planning on using that money to pay off the debt from his failed mayoral campaign. California state senator Darrell Steinberg has asked that Yee be forced to resign, as it is clear that he is not happy with a criminal working in office. Senator Bob Huff, who wanted Yee and the three other senators to be forced to resign said, "It is very troublesome that we have three separate Senators in one year convicted or charged with various felonies.” Yee has six charges against him and each one has a sentence of 20 years. While people anxiously wait to hear the verdict on what happens, it is clear that he will be punished for his crimes. He will probably be in prison for the rest of his life.
Attacks Over Afghanistan By: Mirna Shehata
A sudden suicide bombing on April 2 shook Afghanistan, killing six
policemen at the Afghan Interior Ministry compound in one of the capital’s most heavily fortified areas. It comes as part of a recent escalation in violence in the heart of Kabul. The bloodshed was created in order to threaten and scare away voters from polls, which worried many Afghans, causing concerns as to whether or not the security forces will not be able to guard the areas on election day. The Taliban launched a campaign of violence in order to disrupt Saturday’s vote for provincial councils and a new president. Despite adversity many of the voters will go to polls but Wednesday’s attack may have changed many minds and unnecessary last straw. Even many of those who registered to vote are now fearing to even think about going to the polls anymore. The bomber, wearing a military uniform, passed through several of the checkpoints to reach the place of the bombing, the ministry gate, before detonating his explosives in the midst of other uniformed men entering the compound. Just within a few minutes of the blast, spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid from the Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. The statement came soon after he issued an emailed statement to the media warning them of more violence to come of the elections.
However, the interior Ministry has promised to lead the protection of the polling stations on Saturday, when voters will be choosing a new president in the first democratic transfer of power. This has not happened ever since Hamid Karzai was selected for the job after the 2001 U.S. led the ousting of the Taliban, Karzai is constitutionally barred from seeking a third term. Aside from all of the occurring violence, many Afghans have expressed their defiance, saying that despite all of the violence they will not be intimidated and will go out to cast their votes. This is not the only attack the Taliban are claiming responsibility for. They have been targeting Westerners and placing themselves responsible for the violence that occurred in the past few weeks against a luxury hotel. Both U.S. and Afghan officials expect the level of violence to remain constant or to rise as next week’s elections near. However, a runoff election this spring or summer almost inevitable, making people wonder if whether or not the Taliban will be able to maintain its pressure on the country’s population centers for an extended period. While Taliban may think that they have control of the streets, the Afghans will not let go of their rights and their country easily.
Who’s to Blame? By: Alex Cavanaugh
4 April 29, 2014
In times of hardship, it is easy to push the blame onto someone else. For generations, students in high school have been pointing their fingers at their teachers and accusing them of being responsible for the students’ poor grades. In response, the parents and teachers wag their fingers at the students and tell them to take responsibility for their own actions. So the question is, which side is correct? To be honest, there isn’t one. Or at least, not for every case. I’ve been a student for over a decade now, and I’ve experienced a wide range of teachers. I’ve taken classes with teachers with no experience, and others with over twenty years of experience. Now, of course, I’m no expert when it comes to psychology, education, or teaching. However, I do have experience being a student in the education system, and I’ve been to both public schools, and a charter school. From a very young age, my mother taught me to take responsibility for my own actions, and to deal with the consequences of what I do. It wasn’t an easy concept to grasp at first, and I doubt there are many elementary schoolers out there who are mature enough to handle the concept of consequence without any qualms. As I continued through the school system, however, I slowly began to understand why it’s important to take responsibility for one’s own actions. By the time I reached high school, I finally understood the lesson my mother had been teaching me for so many years. I’m not perfect by any means, but when it comes down to the important stuff, I know that keeping my dignity intact is more important than escaping the aftermath of an action I took. I am not the only student out there with integrity. In fact, most of my fellow students have either surpassed me or are at my level of understanding and accepting life’s repercussions. I might be the one writing this article, but my opinion does not belong only to me, many share the same feelings as I do. I would know, I hear them everyday at school. As I stated before, I’m no expert when it comes to teaching. I have, however, been subjected to being taught since I was old enough to be shoved into a preschool. As a result, I’ve seen, firsthand, the effects of different teaching tactics, and how they affect students. As for the argument of who deserves the blame for a student’s poor grades, I will say that, for the most part, the responsibility to do well in school rests upon the shoulders of the student. There are many difficult classes here at Prospect that are designed to challenge students and force them to use their minds at a higher level than they’ve ever had to. There is nothing wrong with a challenging class. The school, for the most part, does a very good job of making sure the student knows the challenge they are undertaking. There is a difference, however, between a hard class, and an unfair one. It is the scenario in which a class is unfair that the burden of the students’ grades is lifted off the shoulders of the students themselves. As students, we have an incredible potential to learn, adapt, and push our boundaries. There are times, however, when the environment we are put into promote none of those potentials. There are certain ways a teacher can conduct himself that severely limits the potential for a student to grow. Whether it be through oppression, accidental or not, of the student’s free thinking, contradicting himself and his prior teachings, or forcing the students to compete against each other, mistreatment of a student can seriously inhibit the learning potential of a student, and can in fact become detrimental to that student’s education. Again, when a student accuses a grade of being unfair, it is most likely an empty claim used to help alleviate some of the stress that comes from the many corners of life. Regardless, if the student can present a legitimate reason as to why they feel they are being mistreated, I urge you not to disregard it. Remember, we may be teenagers, but we too have a sense of integrity. We know when a teacher has crossed the line from teaching a difficult class to mistreating their students, and it only hurts our view of authority if we are ignored.
Latest Developments from Ukraine By: Liam Simon
A new development has risen in the Ukraine/ Russia conflict. The pro-Russian
gunmen, who have taken over the military base, still have not left even after the government told them they would take action. Unfortunately, the government cannot really act against the gunmen despite the threat. Russia stated during the incident that if the Ukrainian government was to act on this, then Russia would cancel the diplomatic meeting that they scheduled for earlier in the week that I am writing this, which was originally to discuss the annexation of Crimea, and fight back. Many of the people on both sides fear that this will explode into open war. Neither side wants that, but something has to be done. At least that was how it seemed until the two opposing sides, with the help of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and the folks at the European Union, finally made a pact. The terms were that all seized buildings would be evacuated and all cities and other public places being seized by pro-Russian insurgents are to be returned. In addition, all illegal armed groups must give up all their weapons. In return for all this, all groups involved will be granted amnesty for their actions and nothing more will be done against them. Ironically this pact was made shortly after Vladimir Putin started using “aggressive language” and trying to justify the actions in the eastern Ukraine. If that isn’t irony then I don’t know what is. I find it fortunate that this agreement was reached. The situation had been heating up so fast I thought it only be a matter of time before it exploded into a massive war. With this settlement, the situation should cool down, granted that no one does anything incredibly stupid to cause more bad blood to exist between the two countries. All we can really do is see how it turns out. Hopefully the insurgents will listen to the terms of the agreement and leave their captured buildings in peace. It really depends on just how riled up these people are. We will continue to keep an eye on this story as it develops more. With luck, we will have nothing to report in the future relating to this issue. In the meantime, I advise all of you to keep an eye on the news and watch out for new developments. You never know when things could either turn out very well or go horribly wrong. Let’s just hope the latter will not be the case.
Panther Life
Gettin’ On That Job Flow By: Angel Ayala
Looking for a summer job? Here are some easy tips that might just help you land that not-so-dream-job. •Get a work permit if you aren’t 18 yet. oThis should be a given, but you never know with kids these days. •Start Early. oThe early bird gets the worm, so go and get started on a nice day probably about mid-May. •Apply to any place you can. oIf you feel that you wouldn’t mind working there, then apply; it can’t hurt •It’s okay to call and bug your potential employer about the “status of your application”. oIt isn’t necessary to call everyday, but twice a week should do nicely •Make yourself presentable. oIf and when you get an interview, overdress. Don’t go in a tux like in Step Brothers, but wear something nicer than sweatpants and Jordans. •Watch your mouth. oIf there is one red flag employers are looking for, it’s some disrespectful kid who can’t control the words that come out of their mouth. •Take the day to just walk or drive around to pick up and drop off applications. oMake a day of it. Wear something comfortable and relatively nice; jeans and a new shirt should do nicely. •Bring a friend. oNothing is more boring than going around running errands for the whole day. Bring someone to hang out with that you wouldn’t mind working with. Who knows, you two may end up working together. Hopefully this little bit of advice helps you out in your endeavors. If all goes well, then you found a good way to spend your free time and earn some money throughout summer. Take this advice from a guy who has had a couple summer jobs, all of which have turned into employment opportunities.
5 5 Ways to Make Easy Money! By: Kaileigh Otsuka
Do you ever feel like you want some extra spending money, or feel like your wallet is always closer to empty than full? Well not to fear, five ways to make easy money are here! 1.Etsy.com Do you have a nifty talent that you think people might want to purchase? Maybe your grandma taught you how to knit scarves or make blankets? On Etsy, you can let your imagination soar! (and get paid for it!) 2.Neighborhood Chores You’d be surprised how much people pay to get their lawns mowed, leaves raked, and dogs cared for! Most of the time you can make more than minimum wage for a couple hours of labor! 3.Selling Your Photos If you enjoy taking pictures or enjoy photography, try selling your photos! Websites like istockphoto.com will pay you for your pictures and they pay for you to ship it there! 4.Give Someone a “Lyft” Do you have a car that was made after 2000? Do you enjoy driving around or get good gas mileage? Join Lyft today! Lyft is a cab company (the one with the pink mustaches) that hires people in local areas to pick up or drop off people using the Lyft app. Since you get paid by Lyft, there’s no haggling over prices of distances, and each Lyft driver and passenger are background checked, so you’re always safe! 5.Live the Pura Vida Life! Do you love jewelry and Instagram? Join Pura Vida’s campus representative program! Pura Vida are bracelets that are handmade in Costa Rica, and support the local artisans there. Becoming a campus representative means you take pictures of yourself wearing the bracelets and post them to social media sites like Instagram! You get paid monthly by PayPal!
A Different Perspective By: Megan Lynch
A couple weeks ago, I had the opportunity of serving the community of King City on an annual mission’s trip with my church. King City is an average town about an hour and a half south of here, and is a usual pit stop for many travelers. Most would not consider it an extremely impoverished area, compared to other parts of the world. However, one of the main things I have learned throughout the past four years of attending this trip is that you don’t have to go far to find people that have substantially less than you. Throughout the week, our group of around one hundred high school students and leaders held morning activities at various locations for the kids of King City. We had crafts, music, games, and formed relationships with the kids during this time. The trip is intentionally planned during the local schools’ spring break, so that the elementary students are able to attend. In the afternoons, we held a sports camp at the local skate park and offered soccer, baseball, and cheerleading. We also had different crafts throughout the afternoon for the kids and adults of King City to complete and take home. One unique aspect of attending this trip for four consecutive years is that I have been able to form relationships with some of the kids from the community and watch them grow up each year. I am always amazed at how excited these kids are to see us each year, and how happy they are despite the little they have compared to me. This trip definitely allows me to take a step back and put life in perspective, as I get a taste of the world outside my life at home. Hearing various stories from the kids and their parents about the hardships they face on a daily basis makes me thankful for everything I have; it astonishes me at how strong these kids and parents are. It’s always encouraging seeing these kids year after year with such joy and contentment. Unfortunately, this was my last year on the trip and it was a bittersweet ending, as I had to say goodbye to many of the friends I’ve made over the years. This is the sixth year the trip has been going on, and we have been able to form a special bond with the people of King City. Though the idea of the trip has always been to serve the people there, I continuously find myself blessed by them and what these kids have taught me. I will definitely miss this trip next year, but will hold tight to the many memories I have made from this unique experience.
Panther Life
6
Hey Ladies It's Time For Sadie's By: Amara Miranda
Mother’s Day
cute way that he is sure to appreciate. Don’t stress out on who to ask or how to ask them. Gather the courage to ask your crush, or even best guy friend! If you don’t have any ideas on the how part, here’s a few ideas. If you're asking a friend to the dance be sure to make it lighthearted and fun. Try taking their favorite candy bars and spelling out 'Sadie's?' . Or go for something he can't refuse like BACON! That’s right bacon, all guys love it and he’ll say yes, that is of course, after he finishes eating it! Bring him breakfast before school, or head out for breakfast over the weekend. Either way be sure to spell out ‘Sadie's’ in bacon and that is a guaranteed yes. Of course you can go for the sporty approach of incorporating his favorite team into how you pop the question. You can write on his basketball and incorporate that into your question, such as “I’m going to take a shot and ask you to Sadie’s”. You can decorate his car or locker with post-its that spell out Sadie’s. But no matter how you decide to ask him, either with food or a poster, be sure to remember that the guy you're planning to ask may not be into the whole big surprise. Most guys are not into having a big scene made and would rather have something more simply and sweet. Once you asked him and after he says yes, you'll both be rockin' it out on the dance floor and having a great time.
Sunday, May 11 marks the day we give thanks to the beautiful women in our lives. It could be your mom, your grandmother, or a woman who has been a mother figure to you. On this day we give thanks by providing luscious, extravagant gifts that show how much we care and cherish the mothers in our lives. Not sure what to give your mother this Mother’s Day? Here are some ideas you might use to inspire you. • The most classic and loving gift would be a Bouquet of flowers, chocolates, and a card with a nice letter thanking her. • Mothers nurture and care for us, so a great idea would be cooking your mom a gourmet dinner. • A basket of goodies is always a nice gift. The goodies can range from bath supplies to a fresh, organic fruit basket. • A mother loves memories, so a collage of photos in a photo frame or scrapbook would be the perfect gift. • Your mother does so much for you, now it’s time to give her some attention. Go on a walk with her, watch her favorite movie/ TV show or do one of her favorite activities with her. Ultimately, just spend time with your mother. • For dinner that night, let your mother choose her favorite place. It’s her day, let her enjoy it! • A clean home is a happy mother. Take the load off of her and clean the house. It’s not fun, but it’s a great gift. • A nice way to relax is a day at the spa. Buying her a day pass to the spa would relieve all of her stress. • A picture of the family on any object is a great idea. Some examples would be a coffee mug, phone case, or a key chain. • Finally, doing a nice family activity is great gift like making your own candles at Glow Candle Lounge located in Willow Glen, or create your custom pottery at Color Me Mine on Prospect Road. Mother’s Day is coming so make sure you make it special this year. In the end gifts aren’t great by monetary value, but how much effort and love you put in to them. Most importantly, just spend time with your mother, show her how much you care about her, and how grateful you are to have her in your life.
That means you get to ask him to the dance this time, in a
Fuels my Engine Pt. 2 By: Eric and Cesar Garcia
Angelo and Amara covered some things that make us feel better but, we knew there are many more gestures then just eleven ways to fuel our engines. Cesar: Every time I decide to be nice person and give someone a ride, it’s always wonderful when they pay for my gas, it literally fuels my engine. Eric: Someone bringing me a Starbucks or just any delightful beverage in general. It always uplifts my mood and quenches my thirst, two birds with one stone. Shout out to Lily Luu who brought me Starbucks a couple of weeks ago! Cesar: I’m new to the Journalism crew so I’m not as experienced as my fellow journalists. When someone compliments me on my articles, or my writing, I feel like I did a good job! Eric: That one fateful day when your phone battery is below 20% and miraculously somebody just so happens to lend you their charger, thus saving your phone’s life. Cesar: Anytime I’m doing something wrong, like a math problem, and somebody comes over to help me. That kind of gesture really fuels my engine. Eric: The one rare occasion when I make someone laugh. It makes me feel good because you find me as funny as I find myself. Cesar: When I drop my pencil during class and the person next to you who barely talks to you picks it up without being asked. Eric: When I take my sheets out of the dryer on a cold day and wrap them around myself, it couldn’t be any better. Cesar: Even though I haven’t been driving for a long time, it’s nice when people give me the right of way at an intersection, especially when I am in a rush. Eric: Kind gestures in general, like Angelo mentioned last issue, it’s the little things matter. Even if it seems small to you, it could mean the world to the person you’re helping. Take some time out of your day to hold the door or help someone in the hallway, it pays off in the long run. These things and many others can turn a person’s frown upside down, so go and turn someone’s day into the best day of their life! (By the way we like caramel Frappuccinos)
By: Cesar Garcia
Panther Life
7
Almost There
Last Minute AP Test Tips
in the towel. This is the part of the school year that presents the most challenges. Projects pile up and tests challenge your knowledge of what you have learned this semester. Time to put your best foot forward and show off the skills you obtained over the course of this fabulous year. Keeping up with homework is the best way to stay on track and finish strong. Even though homework is the most unappealing thing in the world, it is really helpful in so many ways. It provides practice for the curriculum you have learned, and ultimately gets you prepared for the finals that are bound to come the first week of June. Being a senior doesn’t exempt you from slacking. Maybe you already got accepted to your university of your dreams; however colleges also look at second semester grades. Most colleges require you to maintain at least a C, or better or else your dream can turn into a horrible nightmare. Summer is around the corner, time to give it a final push. You can do it! Don’t give up.
of the school year. As school comes to a close, the whole environment becomes more relaxed. That is, however, until the dreaded AP tests. As expensive and daunting as they are, they must be done. If you're like me, you haven't even started preparing for your AP tests outside of school. Luckily, there are some ways to make up for lost study time. The first tip is pretty standard: know what you're getting yourself into. Most likely, your AP teachers have been preparing you for these exams the whole entire school year. AP lit, for example, frequently takes timed writes in order to prepare for the three essays necessary for the exam. If you know how the exam will be formatted, you know how to go about getting a good grade. The AP exam is long, so know how much sleep you need in order to wake up fresh and ready to go day of. That means no parties the night before, unfortunately. It is also smart to stay hydrated and energized with good food, but that's a pretty obvious one. Another tip that goes beyond just the AP exams is not to worry. It is so easy to stress yourself out before things, especially big tests like these. This doesn't mean that you shouldn't think about the test, because you should. But stressing about it only harms you. Stress has some nasty side effects, like breaking out and possibly failing the test because it worried you so much. So spend the few nights before at your desk, maybe light a candle, put on some music if that helps you, and study without stressing yourself out. And there's always meditation if that doesn't work, just don't forget to study. One final tip: do not Google ways to ace the AP exam. People are weird and like to give out some false information, like every fifth answer is always C (which isn't true, so don't try it). You have been taking tests since you were in elementary school; it's just a little more difficult now. You should know how to write words on a paper and fill in bubbles. Just add the right information and you are on your way to getting above average in the class. Stick to the old school testing techniques. AP classes are enough stress in itself. Add the dreaded AP exam and you get heaps of stressed out students. There are tips to avoid this, however. As long as you stay calm and focused, the AP exam doesn't have anything on you.
By: Cesar Garcia With five weeks left of school, it is not time to throw
Sike, Nah.
Accidents at the Intersection
By: Eric Garcia Throughout the course of this year, there have been
many accidents at the intersection of Lawrence Expressway and Prospect Road. Sadly, some of our own PHS students have been involved in these accidents. Fortunately they weren’t hurt, but here are some tips for teachers, students, and parents to prevent accidents like the ones that happened. 1. Don’t use your phone- this is an obvious one, however many people forget to follow this rule. I know you want to answer that text or call, but it can wait. 2. Pay attention to the road- no matter what you’re doing, driving needs to be the most important thing on your mind even if you have people in your car. Ignore their side conversations and focus on the road and other cars. 3. Watch out for other drivers- Even if you are a very good and careful driver, others might not be. Make sure you look out for drivers that might make a wrong move, so you can avoid the worse possibility. 4. Don’t rush- Sometimes you need to be somewhere at a certain time, but don’t let the time crunch make you lose focus. It’s better to be safe than late. 5. Look around before you enter the intersection- Even if it’s green, other people might run the red light because they are in a rush. Make sure you look around to avoid the small chance of an accident. Green does not mean it is safe to go. These are just five methods to avoid accidents. No one wants to see people get hurt in a terrible accident, and we here at Panther Prints want everyone at PHS to be safe.
By: Natalie Nelson Finally the time we have all been waiting for has arrived - the end
Sports
Senior Highlight: On Par with the Rest Covering Their Bases Felimon Assefa By: Larry Nguyen By: Eric Garcia Three, two, one, golf! Some sports at
Prospect are overlooked because of the big sports like football and basketball taking more of the spotlight, but now it is spring and that’s when all the “underdog” sports come out to show off their talents! Golf is one of them. Since we don’t have a golf course, we can’t have any home games, but that doesn’t stop the golf team from doing their best! I talked to senior Jason Cooper about how this golf season was going and where it was headed. He told me that this season is a rebuilding year and if everyone puts in hard work they can become a strong team. Jason himself practices his golf skills just about every day, working hard to get better at the game, and as a senior he sets a good example for his fellow teammates. He is very excited for this season and described it as “my favorite time of year.” I also chatted with Nico Catalano, a freshman on the varsity team, to find out his impression on Prospect’s golf team. Nico, who played golf until 4th grade and started back up again here at Prospect, said that it seems like our golf team inspires people! He told me that being on the team is fun and that he enjoys playing with his teammates, who he says give him advice on golf. His first game was nerve wracking, especially being on varsity, but it looks like now he’s confident and ready to win! After talking to these two students, it looks like our golf team is trying to build a strong championship team and has a chance to become really outstanding! Even though their games aren’t at home, and you should go and support our Panther golf team!
It’s the end of the beginning. Baseball is four games in with a 3-3 record, but things are looking up. So far our Panthers are starting off slowly, but they are definitely upping their game and hitting harder, better, faster and stronger. Of the six games they’ve played, they’ve lost half of them: senior Freddie Rupprecht says there were “lots of errors and no offensive hitting.” However, he thinks that everyone will start playing a lot better. Everyone is cutting down the amount of errors and the infield is definitely getting stronger. With the team sitting at second in league, they definitely feel that they have a legitimate shot at the playoffs. Especially after a frustrating start, the team knows they can play better and they will. Marcus Myers is a strong believer in his team, and knows that his teammates will pull through with great plays. Freddie would like to give a shout out to Blake Uyehara and Riki DeSa. They are key players in hitting the ball and getting it in play at vital points in the game. Defensively they are on point. Both of these players are assets to the team. Along with these two special players, Freddie, Jake Belardes, and John Sousa have all been money from them mound. Overall this team is a family; they all love each other and help each other out. With more than half of the season left, this team is aiming for the top and I’m sure they’ll get there. Marcus thinks that they will finally get their heads together, starting playing some baseball, beat all of the other teams into the dirt, and finish strong.
8
By: Raphael Santa Maria
“Runners ready, runners set… go!” These are typically the words track runners hear in the seconds before the gun goes off, initiating the race, with all the anticipation in between. “When I practice, I’m taught to block everything out and focus on the track in front of me.” This is oddly commonplace for newcomer, Felimon Assefa, whom his friends like to call “The Scorpion King”. With a hundred meter dash of 11.9, Assefa is well-suited for his individual-oriented events. Although it’s his first year doing track, he’s been doing sports since his Freshman year, from football to soccer. And the conditioning from previous sports he’s played serves him well coming into what he believes to be a great season of track. “For beginners, it keeps me in shape. I’ve been an athlete my whole life. And track goes side by side, complementing every sport I do, like football, soccer and so on.” To stay in tip-top shape, Assefa trains --doing many Rocky-esque training montages that include drinking raw eggs-- to become the best track runner he can be. He doesn’t skip a beat, nor does he skip any days. “Practicing five times a week improves my technique and skills, which help me lower my time.” His advice, which applies to sports other than track, consists of four simple words: don’t skip leg day. All his hard work won’t be for nothing, however. Assefa has a general plan to utilize his talent, which he seemed to have developed naturally. Seeking to follow in the footsteps of his older brother, Bruk, Felimon aims to get recognized for his innate skill on the track, which will yield future prospects. “I want to get a full-ride scholarship at a 4-year, just like my brother did.” Don’t forget to see the Scorpion King in action, at Del Mar on May 1st at 3:30 p.m.
NFL Golden Child Accused of Rape
By: Angel Ayala
Darren Sharper has been accused, yet again of sexual assault. The former Minnesota Viking and New Orleans Saint has been taken to court by eight different women from five different states for sexual assault cases. A ninth has come out and made a police report, but a case has not yet been filed. According to this eighth woman, Sharper handed her a drink at a club in Tempe, Arizona. After she accepted the drink, she woke up a few hours later on her couch at home with her friends around her. How does an NFL Golden Child become so wrapped up in cases like these? It is very unexpected to Sharper’s friends and family. If these accusations are true, then it is an interesting double life to lead. Someone with that much money and those at least decent looks should not have to stoop to that low of a level just to “get some”. Surveillance from the club where this incident supposedly happened does not show Sharper at the club. It is kind of hard to recognize people when you drink at home then go bar hopping, so this woman may very well be mistaken. The case will not be easy for Sharper, but hopefully the Pro Bowler and Super Bowl winner will prevail again.
Pop Culture
“The Infamous Mobb Deep” By: Rob Delfino
Mobb Deep is a hip hop duo that consists of the rappers Havoc and Prodigy. On April 1, they released their eighth album that they have produced called The Infamous Mobb Deep. It is a double album that has some new tracks and some original tracks from last year Those were recorded from 1994 to 1995 when they were doing recording sessions for their second studio album, The Infamous, that was released in 1995. The album consists of 31 songs. There are 17 new and original tracks and 14 old ones. I personally like the older ones more because I really like the hip hop that was released back in the 90’s. There is just something about the styles of the tracks that were released back then that I really like. They sound so unique and each song has its own style and sounds original. I’m not really a fan of the modern rap that is coming out now a days, but the ones on this album are an exception. The featured artists that are in some of the songs are Snoop Dogg, The Lox, Mack Wilds, Bun B, Juicy J, Busta Rhymes, French Montana, Nas, Infamous Mobb, Big Noyd, Crystal Johnson, Killer Black, Karate Joe, Twin Gambino, and my personal favorites, GhostfaceKillah and Raekwon because they are part of my favorite hip hop group, the Wu-Tang Clan. My favorite tracks on this album are Survival of the Fittest, The Money, and Taking You Off Here. Overall, if you are a fan of the OG rappers from the 90’s, you’ll probably like this album because it’s from quality rappers and is cool because they are still making albums today. I would give this album 9 out of 10.
Rio 2 Does not Soar
9
By: Owen Gilles
Now that the great 2013 holiday season, a period in which several films that were nominated for, and won awards, has come to an end, the industry has had an understandably quiet for a few months in the way of memorable movies. One title that was recently released in this current span is the sequel to the 2011 animated film, Rio, Rio 2. Directed by Carlos Saldanha, this animated feature stars several popular names in Hollywood such as Anne Hathaway, Jesse Eisenberg, and Bruno Mars. I recently went to go see this movie, and came out of the theater relatively unimpressed. Having not seen the first movie, one thing that I was looking for was a plot that would be easy and quick to pick up on, as expected from a children’s animated film, it was. Rio 2 tells the tale of Blu, a bird, along with his wife and children who live in Brazil. When Blu gets word that his former owner and her husband are in the Amazon, in search of a rare Macaw, he and his family travel out to aid the two. Dilemmas and hilarity, including an encounter with Jewel’s relatives, ensue. I found the film to be rather unexciting, and understandably so. Rio 2 is most definitely targeted at a younger demographic with its easy to understand plot and cute animated characters. The film also puts in noticeable effort to promote ecoconscious values in the children that watch it, with a major plot component having to do with logging in the Amazon Rainforest region. These features were not enough, however, to keep me interested in the film; I would give Rio 2 a two out of five. As expected, I would not personally recommend seeing the movie unless you are one who particularly enjoys children’s animated flicks.
Putting Your Face(book) in the Oculus Rift By: Alex Ruby
Back in late March, Facebook announced that they are set to acquire virtual-reality headset company Oculus VR for $2 billion in the second quarter of the year. Oculus VR is best known for their Oculus Rift virtualreality headset originally funded on the crowd-funding platform Kickstarter. This deal includes $400 million in cash and $1.6 billion in Facebook stock, and even an extra $300 million if Oculus meets performance targets. The Oculus Rift was primarily pitched as a video game device, but Facebook wants to use the technology for communications, media, and other forms of entertainment. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said, “Oculus has the potential to be the most social platform ever. Imagine sharing not just moments with your friends online, but entire experiences and adventures.” Interest has been growing for the Oculus Rift since its debut at E3 2012 and the Kickstarter campaign that launched afterwards raised $250,000 tenfold. Right now, at least 75,000 people have ordered developer kits to test the device and make software for it. However, it has not yet been released to the general public. Soon after this announcement came, gamers the world over became outraged at the acquisition. Gamers thought this was the worst possible thing that could happen to the Oculus Rift. What really alarms people is how Facebook handles user information, their multitude of advertisements, and their abundance of (usually low-quality) social video games. There is also a lot of heat about how the backers of the Kickstarter campaign aren’t benefiting from this move, even though they did receive a developer kit as promised. Video game developer Markus Persson even revealed that the Oculus Rift version of the popular game Minecraft was in the works until Facebook acquired Oculus. “We were in talks about maybe bringing a version of Minecraft to Oculus. I just cancelled the deal. Facebook creeps me out,” tweeted Persson on the day of the acquisition. Many people are worried that Facebook will hinder their gaming experiences, but this doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Facebook doesn’t have to be involved in the gaming experience but it’s a good idea to have it involved in the user experience. With virtual reality and Facebook combined, users could visit friends and family in the online space. They can have business meetings without leaving the couch and spend the holidays with family without buying an expensive plane ticket. The social and communicative aspects of Facebook can bring the Oculus Rift to the general public instead of the niche group of hardcore gamers. Imagine logging on to Facebook in the Oculus Rift, clicking on your friend’s name, and instantly appearing beside them in a chat room or their own house (virtually of course). I’m sure Facebook and Zuckerberg know that gamers like their games to be left alone, so our gaming experiences will not be obstructed by prompts saying “Share Your High Score to Facebook!” The Oculus Rift is first and foremost a device for video games but it has the potential for so much more.Virtual reality has the potential to be an infinitely-used platform for everyone, so it’s best to keep an open mind.
Coachella 2014: The Ups and Downs By: Natalie Nelson
2014 has been a big year for Coachella. Then again, when is Coachella not a big deal? The lineup was packed with artists, popular and unknown, all talented. The music festival world met new groundbreaking heights, unfortunately not as iconic as the year Tupac made a surprise appearance. There were good parts, and there were bad parts, but ultimately Coachella 2014 was unforgettable. The reuniting of Outkast is enough to crown Coachella one of the best music festivals. Sure, their performance was a little boring and they had a hard time connecting to the crowd, but still, it’s Outkast. The other headliners killed it. Lana Del Rey, Lorde, Kid Cudi, and so on. But the enchanting Arcade Fire takes the cake for best performance. Saving the best for last, they closed Coachella off on a magical note. The mix of their creative costumes and soulful music made their set breathtaking. One couldn’t help but do some soul searching while watching Arcade Fire perform their (many) hearts out. Surprise guests made some performances even more electrifying. One very important guest was Beyoncé; she joined Solange on the stage and both poured their souls into the performance. Other surprise guests included Jay-Z, Snoop, Gwen Stefani, and even Lorde’s photographer boyfriend when Pharrell was performing. As if the lineup couldn’t get any better, the guests were an even better surprise. Coachella also brings countless fashion trends in its path. As always, the common look was the bohemian, Woodstock style consisting of flowing dresses and crochet crop tops. And no one seemed to have forgotten their flower crowns at home. Vanessa Hudgens was again the Queen of Coachella, with her effortless beauty and style. As for the men, most of their clothing was music festival appropriate, but it’s time for them to lose the flip flops please. Now for the bad: Justin Bieber. I’m sure everyone (unknowingly) breathed a sigh of relief when they didn’t see Bieber’s name on the lineup. But did that stop him? Not at all. While Chance the Rapper was killing it on stage, suddenly everyone’s worst nightmare became reality. Chance announced Bieber’s name and he appeared on stage. Dawning a bucket hat and handkerchief, he looked straight ridiculous and unoriginal. Schoolboy Q already copped that trend, Bieber (actually, Earl Sweatshirt gets all the credit, sorry Q). Despite the fact that Bieber gave everyone a headache, Chance soon took back the performance and provided relief to everyone listening. With the good fashion, came bad fashion. Arguably, distasteful fashion. Practically everyone who attended Coachella wore a bindi at least one of the days. Yeah, face decorations are cool and all, but why one that disrespects other cultures? Bindi’s are a spiritual and religious symbol, not something to try and look trendy with. Another example of cultural appropriation apparent at Coachella was Kendall Jenner wearing a nath. A nath is a piece of jewelry that Indian and South Asian cultures wear during weddings and other celebrations. It is both disrespectful to the cultures and to the history behind the nath. So please, if you are set on wearing a bindi or a nath, just don’t unless you know why it is worn and practice the religion. Respect is key. Everyone has heard of Coachella, and if you haven’t then you probably don’t belong to any social media websites. This year brought some amazing performances and inspiration to the world of music and art. It did have its faults, as does everything. I suppose we can forgive Coachella for allowing Bieber anywhere near the festival. Until next year Coachella.
Pop Culture
10
Long Live The King By: Sir Cavanaugh
To the delight of millions worldwide, Game of Thrones is back and better than ever. Episode one of season four premiered the first sunday of April, and since the release of the next two episodes, it has become very clear that the newest season of Game of Thrones is ready to top its three previous seasons. Historically, Game of Thrones’ combination of beautiful visuals, dramatic plot twists, and deep character development served time and time again to keep it at the top of everyone’s most watched list. Season four delivers the same high production values, and is quickly proving itself to be on the same level as, if not better than, previous seasons of Game of Thrones. Now, it’s incredibly hard to talk about the newest season of Game of Thrones without spoiling anything, as every episode there has been a huge, story changing event. Thus, it would be easier to cover what elements of previous seasons make a reappearance in season four. Before that, however, it’s important to give a brief history of the Game of Thrones series. Game of Thrones is a gritty, dark fantasy series based off of the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin that premiered in 2011 on HBO. On release, it immediately gained a fanbase through the use of gratuitous sex and violence. As the show continued, however, it quickly became clear that there was much more to Game of Thrones than attractive women and beheadings. As it turned out, Game of Thrones possessed an expansive list of deep characters and story arcs, as well as high production values, and respect for the viewer. Viewers quickly fell in love with some of the more noble characters, as well as began to hate the more wicked characters in the show. When the supposed main character was killed in the second to last episode of season one, the audience realized that the show was not afraid to kill fan favorites, and reward the “bad” guys. An interesting quality of Game of Thrones is that due to each episode’s hour-long run length, the viewer does not follow a single point of view. Instead, each episode shows events happening in many different areas of the fictional world, and gives the viewer perspectives on both sides of the conflict. There is no real villain in Game of Thrones, there are merely different kingdoms all vying for power, and each kingdom has a different code of conduct. In the first three episodes of season four, every story arc from the previous season is brought back. Past viewers of the show will recognize the return of Arya Stark and her companion and ex-royal soldier the Hound, the political conflict occurring at King’s Landing, the capital of the “united” kingdoms, and many more arcs from previous seasons. The production crew of Game of Thrones did a great job of filming at the same locations that they had previously used in order to keep the look and feel of the scenes constant. In fact, during the production of the fourth season of Game of Thrones, the production crew was running two parallel teams at once in different locations. That way, production times wouldn’t be extended, but the show could continue to feature its incredible spread of visuals, cultures, and settings. If you’re a fan of Game of Thrones already, I highly doubt you have not begun watching the newest season already. For those who haven’t ever watched the show, I highly recommend it. Unfortunately, due to the amount of story and character development packed into each episode, it’s nearly impossible to watch the fourth season without having seen the previous three. So, if you have not seen the first three seasons yet, I strongly suggest you consider catching up. Game of Thrones is one of the epic TV shows we only see a few of each generation. It easily ranks among other classics like Breaking Bad. Each season of Game of Thrones is ten episodes long, with each episode lasting an hour. It may seem like a lot, but in reality many of my friends who entered the show late ended up binge watching almost all of the episodes in the span of less than a week. It’s truly one of the defining shows of our generation, and I highly recommend it. If you’re a fan of action, conflict between characters, and aren’t afraid of a show that depicts the very essence of despair, you’ll love Game of Thrones and its newest season just like the rest of us. Ten out of ten.
Remembering Kurt By: Demian Ibarra-Lopez
On April 1st, 1994 Kurt Cobain escaped from the Exodus Recovery Center in Los Angeles, California. Seven days later
his body was found with a shotgun lying across his chest, a suicide note and a box full of drug paraphernalia nearby. Kurt Donald Cobain was born on February 20th, 1967 to Wendy Elizabeth and Donald Leland Cobain. Kurt’s parents divorced when he was nine, an incident that completely changed his behavior and outlook on life. The musical influence had been embedded into him at a young age his uncle had been in a band called The Beachcombers and his aunt played guitar and piano. Kurt’s adolescence was one that many can relate too, full of betrayal, heartbreak, and rejection. In high school Kurt didn’t fit with the crowd, the opening line in his song Dumb, “I’m not like them, but I can pretend,” accurately portrays his feelings towards his peers. Befriending a homosexual student, Kurt was ridiculed for being gay, but he didn’t mind. “I started becoming really proud of the fact that I was gay, even though I wasn’t.” This anti-conformist kind of attitude is what made Cobain so unique, you hear of people who say they don’t care what others say, but the way that people who personally knew Kurt speak of him, you can tell he truly didn’t care about the opinion of others. After Nirvana’s first album, Bleach, Kurt got rid of their original drummer Chad Channing and ended up with the more famous Nirvana line-up which included Dave Grohl on the drums, Krist Novoselic on bass, and Kurt taking on vocals and rhythm guitar. Later in their career ex-Germs guitarist Pat Smear would join the group for a short period of time. Their second studio album, Nevermind, introduced the more commercial songs such as Smells Like Teen Spirit, Lithium, and Come As You Are. Kurt was dissatisfied with the commercial success of the album, even after it moved Michael Jackson’s Dangerous of the number one spot on the Billboard charts. Their third and final album, In Utero, demonstrated a more underground grunge sound that Kurt was looking for, although while the album was in production he was also not satisfied with the sound of it. At the pinnacle of his career Kurt Cobain was dealing with a heavy drug addiction and with a history of alcoholism, mental illness, and suicide in his family it was no surprise that Kurt was on the path to self-destruction. On April 5th, 1994 Kurt Cobain wrote a letter addressed to his imaginary childhood friend, Boddah, he injected heroin for the last time, and pulled the trigger on himself. His influence and legacy is as strong today as it was 20 years ago, inspiring countless musicians and songwriters. With Nirvana’s recent induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the remaining members getting on stage and performing with Courtney Love, Joan Jett, Lorde, and Kim Gordon from Sonic Youth it’s refreshing to know that Cobain’s simplistic yet ingenious compositions will pass the test of time and live on for generations to come.
The Winter Soldier By: Brian Nicholson
The second installment of the story of Captain America was released in theatres on April 4. Captain America: The Winter Soldier is the ninth movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, following the events of Iron Man 3 and Thor: The Dark World. With a star cast including Chris Evans (Steve Rogers/ Captain America), Scarlett Johansson (Natasha Romanoff/ Black Widow), and Samuel L. Jackson (Director Nick Fury), the movie definitely does not disappoint. It has been two years since The Battle of New York, which took place in The Avengers. Steve Rogers is living in Washington D.C. and working for the espionage agency S.H.I.E.L.D. At the end of the first Captain America movie, Rogers awakens from a 70-year long coma into modern day Times Square. Almost three years later, he is still trying to adjust to his new role in the modern world. Rogers is steadfast in his belief that everyone deserves freedom, the same standard that America was founded on. S.H.I.E.L.D. has been compromised by HYDRA, the same organization that Captain America was thought to have destroyed over 70 years ago. Instead, it has been secretly growing and recruiting new members right under Nick Fury’s nose. Joined by the Black Widow and Sam Wilson (Falcon),Captain Americais tasked with finding and eliminating this new evil presence from S.H.I.E.L.D. He also must face the mysterious Winter Soldier. The movie is full of action and will have you on the edge of your seat at many points. I would definitely recommend this movie and give it 4.5 out of 5 stars. Also, don’t forget to stay for the mid and post-credit scenes.
Food, Fitness, and Fashion Asian Spring Rolls By: Tisha Harnlasiri
Kenji Sushi
11
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
By: Amara Miranda
If you’re looking for a healthy, light dish, what better recipe to try than Asian If you haven’t made your way over to Kenji Sushi House, you may want spring rolls? With the perfect combination of fresh, crisp vegetables and creamy peanut sauce to start planning your visit. Kenji is located across from Santana Row, right off of to accompany it, these spring rolls are the go-to recipe that you’ll be sure to enjoy! Winchester. The owner of also owns Kenzo, which is located in South San Jose. When I Ingredients: first walked into Kenji I was of course greeted by the itamae, and the other workers. Both of the restaurants For the spring rolls: have a Korean feel about them, because the owner • 24 medium shrimp (about 1 pound), peeled and deveined and most of the workers • 4 ounces rice vermicelli are Korean. The back • 10 (8-1/2-inch) round rice paper wrappers wall of the restaurant is • 1 cup mung bean sprouts (about 3 ounces) covered in sake bottles • Fresh mint leaves (from about 1 bunch) behind the sushi bar. • Fresh basil There is a big window • Fresh cilantro that gives the place a more • 1 medium cucumber, cut into thin sticks natural feel. • 8 lettuce leaves, cut in half The menu still seemed to be a work in *You can choose to substitute shrimp with any meat of your choice. . progress, as there were a For the peanut sauce: lot of additions scribbled • 3/4 cup natural-style creamy peanut butter in but, they have many • 1/3 cup water entrées to choose from. The service was amazing, and even though it was fairly • 3 tablespoons hoisin sauce packed, there was always someone to walk by my table and take care of me. The food • 2 tablespoons lime juice (from about 1 1/2 medium limes) is reasonably priced for the portions I was given. While I found my order of tamago • 4 1/2 teaspoons soy sauce to be too spongy and undercooked, the rest of my meal was delicious. The lunch order • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar comes with the soup and salad, • 2 1/4 teaspoons chile-garlic paste of course, along with three crab • 1 medium garlic clove, mashed to a paste rolls and two spring rolls and a • 1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil handful of tempura pieces. All of this is included with the main 1. Cook the rice noodles according to the package directions. Drain and set aside. entrée of your choice, for under 2. Place a clean plate on a work surface. Fill a large, shallow dish with hot water. Take one rice $10. The portions are small but paper wrapper and completely submerge the wrapper until it is soft. Remove the wrapper from the food was filling. The sashimi the water and place it on the plate. was amazing and I plan on 3. Lay about 2-3 shrimp (or whatever meat of choice) in a row near the center of the wrapper, making another trip to Kenji leaving about 1 inch of space on each side. Layer a small handful of vermicelli noodles over Make sure that if you’re in the the shrimp, followed by bean sprouts, mint leaves, basil leaves, and cilantro. Place 2-4 of the Santana Row area to go and cucumber sticks on either side of the noodle pile. Roll one piece of lettuce and place it on top check out Kenji, you won’t be of the noodles. disappointed! 4. Wrap the rice paper wrapper with all of the ingredients into a roll. To make the sauce: In a small saucepan, heat the chile- garlic paste and garlic clove in oil. Add the ⅓ cup of water and slowly add in the peanut butter. Pour in the soy sauce, hoisin sauce, and lime juice; cook and stir until combined and thickened. Add sugar to sweeten, if desired. Serve the spring rolls with the peanut sauce, and enjoy!
Smart Snacks By: Megan Lynch
As the season of testing and finals rolls around, it is important to keep well nourished and energized throughout the day. Here are a few quick snacks that will keep you going! Homemade Trail Mix • 1 ounce almonds • 1 ounce cashews • 1 ounce peanuts • 1/2 ounce raisins • 1/2 ounce dried cherries • 1/2 ounce M&M's or white chocolate chips Combine all ingredients into a very large bowl and combine well. The mix can be stored easily in quart size ziploc bags. The Mini Sandwich If you’re looking for a quick bite of meat and cheese, try stacking slices of cheddar cheese and a piece of salami on top of wheat thins or triscuits. All these items can be bought from your local grocery store, and taste great together. Try cracked pepper triscuits for a kick of spice! Peanut Butter & Anything! Peanut butter is one of those foods that is really good for you and goes along well with just about anything! Try apples, celery, or pretzels with peanut butter on top. For a sweeter treat, try oreos and peanut butter-it tastes delicious!
Asian Spring Chicken Salad
By: Aida Avdagic
Spring is finally here, and so is all the amazing food that comes with it. Most of us enjoy the food much more than the preparation that goes into making it, so this is why the Asian spring chicken salad is a quick fix that doesn’t take long to make. Here is the list of ingredients you will need: • 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or cubed • 2 stalks celery, rinsed, sliced in ¼- to ½-inch slices (not too thin; you want crunch here) • 1 can sliced water chestnuts, drained. (Or whole, and slice them yourself) • 1 small head Napa cabbage, rinsed thoroughly and chopped cross-wise across the rib • 1 cup Tamari almonds, chopped very coarsely, not fine. • 1/3 cup rice vinegar • 2/3 canola oil • soy sauce (to taste; see instructions) • wasabi paste (to taste; see instructions) • sesame oil • chow mein noodles, for garnish and >crunch< • toasted sesame seeds Now the first thing you will need to do is make the dressing in a small bowl. Whish 2-3 cup canola oil with a 1-3 cup rice vinegar. Add one to two tabelsoons of soy sauce, whisk the dressing until it’s well blended and then put it in the refrigerator while making the salad. Next: make the salad. Get a large salad bowl and place chicken, celery, water chestnuts, almonds, and Napa cabbage in the bowl. Get the dressing out of the refrigerator, whisk it one more time and then pour it over the top of the salad and toss gentle. Drizzle a little sesame oil on top then toss again Then refrigerate for a couple of hours until it’s cold. Finally serve and enjoy!
Food, Fitness, and Fashion
More Yum for Your Buck Red Velvet Cupcakes By: Madison Tara By: Brian Nicholson
When you’re in the mood for something delicious, but don’t have much to spend, here are some places to get some good grub. If you’re craving Mexican food, La Vic’s is a great place to go. Their orange sauce is to die for and you get a good amount of food for the price you pay. Their steak quesadillas covered in orange sauce is the way to go, and it’s only $3.49. There is one located in Downtown San Jose and on Almaden Expressway right by Costco. Taqueria Eduardo is another Mexican eatery you should check out. Their super burrito with carnitas is just so tasty and it’s only $5.30; the taqueria is located on Winchester, behind McDonald’s. If you want something a little more on the lighter side, Panera Bread is a great place to go. They have many sandwiches, salads, and soups to choose from. The Tomato Mozzarella Panini is very delightful, vegetarian-friendly and it’s only $6.99. It’s located by Bed, Bath and Beyond on Hamilton. The Melt, another sandwich restaurant is delicious, as well. They mostly have grilled cheese sandwiches but the Two Tomato Basil soup is delicious. Paired with The Italian Job, it’s the perfect combo. The sandwich is $4.95 and the soup is $3.95. They have a new location in El Paseo by Lucky. If you want a snack, Tapioca Express is a good place to get munchies. They have an assortment of yummy drinks and snacks. Their pot stickers and crispy chicken are savory and delightful. Both are under $5. The snow bubbles are also very tasty. The pina colada is heavenly and it’s only $3.75. It’s located on Saratoga by the Lion Market. I recommend these restaurants when you’re in need of some good food but don’t have much money to spend. You will get more food for the prices you pay and it’s worth every penny.
Tapsilog Bistro, a Filipino restaurant located conveniently at 819 Hamilton Avenue, has some of the most delicious food I have ever tasted. I went there multiple times with friends, and not a single person was disappointed. The place is decorated in an almost Hawaiian fashion, with race medals hanging over the ceiling. If you bring one in, you get a free beer (which is something to keep in mind after you turn twenty-one). It isn’t too big, but it is roomy enough. It’s both family/ kid friendly and large enough to accommodate pretty big parties, such as our group of ten. The restaurant, which is casual, can be mildly loud but nothing too distracting. For an appetizer, we tried the pork lumpia, an egg roll type food. It had just the right amount of crunch and was filled with pork, vegetable, and the savory juices. With a group of ten, we each got two or three lumpias and paid only a few dollars each. Silog is the main meal of choice here. It is a Filipino cuisine which includes rice, a fried egg, and some sort of meat. Tapsilog had a wide variety of different meats to get. All of these meals cost $11-$15. One type of meat, tocino, was a sort of sweet pork. The steak silog was more like very well-seasoned steak, but was also quite delicious. The meals were big enough portions to be able to take home leftovers. It was extremely rich, and I still felt full for hours after taking my last bite.
Looking for something delicious this spring? Try these red velvet cupcakes: Ingredients 2 1/2 cups cake flour (not self- rising), sifted 2 tablespoons unsweetened Dutchprocess cocoa powder 1 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 cups sugar 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil 2 large eggs, room temperature 1/2 teaspoon red gel-paste food color 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1 cup buttermilk 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda 2 teaspoons distilled white vinegar Cream Cheese Frosting Directions Step 1: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners. Whisk together cake flour, cocoa, and salt. Step 2: With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, whisk together sugar and oil until combined. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until each is incorporated, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Mix in food color and vanilla. Step 3: Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture in three batches, alternating with two additions of buttermilk, and whisking well after each. Stir together the baking soda and vinegar in a small bowl (it will foam); add mixture to the batter, and mix on medium speed 10 seconds. Step 4: Divide batter evenly among lined cups, filling each three-quarters full. Bake, rotating tins halfway through, until a cake tester inserted in centers comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Transfer tins to wire racks to cool completely before removing cupcakes. Cupcakes can be stored overnight at room temperature, or frozen up to 2 months, in airtight containers. Step 5: To finish, use a small offset spatula to spread cupcakes with frosting.
Five Spring Fashion Must-Haves
Not Your Average Meal By: Courtney Conlan
12
By: Kaileigh Otsuka
As spring rolls around, the grass is greener, the sky is brighter, and school becomes a sea of sun-kissed legs. Along with this seasonal change comes a new wardrobe, so let us see what’s new this April! 1. Flower pattern knee-length skirts with leggings. Save yourself from the cold with this combination that expresses spring with the floral pattern, yet still be warm this spring! Ankle-length boots and Toms are a great addition to this outfit and are practical for walking around school! *You can find flower pattern skirts at H&M for around $8.00 2. Maxi Dresses Since when aren’t maxi dresses in? They’re versatile dresses perfect for transitioning from cool weather to warm and will still keep you comfortable! Paired with some gladiator sandals and jean jacket, you’re good to go! *You can find maxi dresses and jean jackets online at Charlotte Russe for around $15.00 3. Flowing Blouses Loose-fit long-sleeve blouses tucked into some blue jeans are great for school. Being long-sleeved, you still stay warm in the mornings while still looking great! The blue jeans tie the outfit together, and with a belt and an scarf, you’ll still be comfy while looking good. *Find more floral patterns at Forever 21 and solid patterns at H&M. 4. Lace Tops Lace tops are great for Spring because they’re more breathable than a sweater, and keeps you, cooler than long sleeved tops on those hotter days. They go great with a nude bra, or a bandeau underneath. *Lace tops can be found at Brandy Melville for around $15.00 or more. 5. Organic Scarves Organic scarves are bigger than most scarves but thinner, and have a softer touch. You can tuck in the ends to make it look like an infinity or let the ends hang. Organic scarves are also warmer than most and have the strands knit tighter than regular scarves. *Get an organic scarf at Nordstroms for around $15.00 Give your spring wardrobe a kick with these must-haves this April!
