EL DORADO HIGH SCHOOL
March 12th, 2010
Little Green Men Amanda O'Brown
Volume 38, Issue 6
LADIE'S CHOICE
Some Enchanted Evening...With Water
Staff Writer
They’re three feet tall and very small, they love to make shoes and cause trouble too. They wear green or red and love to steal, some people may wonder, are Leprechauns real? With St. Patrick’s Day quickly approaching, it’s that time of year again when Leprechauns start coming around with their pots of gold and mischievous pranks. Leprechauns are little makebelieve faeries from Ireland. The name Leprechaun comes from an old Irish word meaning “Little Body.” One of the suggested origins of leprechaun myths comes from the many "faerie forts" or "faerie rings," earthworks and drumlins found in Ireland that date back to before the Celtic occupation. They are mostly connected to the belief in the Tuatha Dé Danann which when translated means “peoples of the goddess Danu" and other semi-historical races said to be the original inhabitants of the island of Ireland. “I believe in Leprechauns because they are small,” says Senior, Brandon Vanek. Some legends say that Leprechauns are cute, mischievous, playful creatures who love to drink, dance, play music, and pass the time away making shoes. Not only are they known for that, but they are also known for leaving a pot of gold at the end of each rainbow. Freshman, Nick Rios says, “I remember when I was in the 2nd grade my teacher, and my fellow classmates and I, set a Leprechaun trap. The next day golden chocolate coins were scattered everywhere in the class room.” Leprechauns are not only known for their funny, mean schemes, but also for being the mascot for “Lucky Charms” and “Skittles”. Everyone can surely recognize the character who joyously sings, “Hearts, stars, and horseshoes, clovers and blue moons, pots of gold and rainbows, and me red balloons.” While many students at EDHS believe in Leprechauns, but there are also those who do not believe in the mythical creatures. “I only believe in Leprechauns for my [little] brother,” says junior, Jolynn Yanniello. “I won’t believe in Leprechauns until I see a little green man,” says EDHS secretary, Mrs. Spicklemier. So ask yourself again, are Leprechauns real? It is up to you to decide.
Your Turn Ladies, even though the sign may not explicity say it, time has run out to ask that special guy. by Jonathan Moon Staff Writer
It’s that time of year again, when the ladies have to step up their game and ask the gentlemen to the dance for a change. Sadies, themed Enchantment Under the Sea, will be on Saturday, March 13th. Tickets cost $15 with ASB and $18 without. This dance is unique from the other dances throughout the year in that the girls have to ask the guys! The Sadie Hawkins dance is named after a character in the comic strip Lil’ Abner, Sadie Hawkins. In the comic, Nov. 13 was Sadie Hawkins Day, a holiday on which the unmarried women of Dogpatch could chase single men and marry them if the caught them. The dance itself was introduced in a strip published on Nov. 13, 1937. If you plan on taking your sweetheart to the dance and are taking your relationship to the next step, you’re in luck, since you can get married at the dance! Carnival games will
be set up for those looking to take a break from grooving on the dance floor. A caricature artist will be hired to create portraits for our hawks, and the DJ will be the same one who ran the music at last year’s Sadie Hawkins dance. Senior Kathleen Trinidad says that Sadies this “this year, in particular, is special because the National Honors Society is in charge of this dance.” Senior Aurora Lopez also said that “Sadies is such a special dance, rather than all the other ones, because the girls have to ask the guys for a change! Girls realize how stressful it is for guys to ask and think of a great idea of how to ask [them].” The pressure of getting a date is a big deal to all Eldo students, male or female. Lopez says that she is “very excited for Sadies because this is the first year I’m asking a guy and it’s going to be a very special and memorable night!” Remember that Sadies is the last casual dance of the year. Be sure to attend on March 13th, 2010 and have a blast! Be
Holiday Leaves The Non-Irish Green With Envy Molly O'Heer Staff Writer
What is St. Patrick’s Day? Is it another holiday that gives people an excuse to act crazy? Well, this is part of it, but it there is much more. St. Patrick’s Day celebrates the death of Saint Patrick. It is a national holiday in Ireland but is also widely celebrated in Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, the United States, Argentina and New Zealand. Some say St. Patrick was born but some same opinion, he was born about 390 A.D., while others say it is about 373 AD. He was kidnapped and sold into slavery. One day, a band of pirates landed in South Wales and kidnapped him along with many
others. Then they sold him into slavery in Ireland. He was there for 6 years, mostly imprisoned. Changes started to begin with him when he dreamed of having seen God. He was directed to escape. When he, did he went to Britain, and then to France, where he joined a monastery. After spending twelve years of training, he became a bishop and wished to return to Ireland after having a dream about saving Ireland. Upon his return he became more successful in converting the Pagans to Christianity. St. Patrick died on March 17 A.D. 461. The celebration of St. Patrick’s Day came to America in 1737. St. Patrick claimed that he banished the snakes from Ireland. It’s true that no snakes exist on the island today, but they never did. The water surrounding Ireland is too
cold, making it unable for snakes to migrate from Britain or anywhere else. Since snakes usually represent evil in literature the mean of driving the snakes out Ireland really means that he drove the old Pagan ways out of Ireland. Have you ever wondered why people wear green and if you don’t you get pinched? Well, it is an American tradition. Past generations thought if you wore green, you’d be invisible to leprechauns who supposedly pinched anyone they saw. The day is also celebrated by wearing the color green, which 93.3 million people reportedly planned to wear last year. Pubs are known to dye their beer green and people usually will eat corned beef, potatoes, and cabbage. Many parades are held to celebrate the holiday. Chicago has dyed their
river green for the past 43 years for their St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The New York parade has become the largest Saint Patrick's Day parade in the world, outside Ireland. In 2006, more than 150,000 marchers participated in it, including bands, firefighters, military and police groups, county associations, emigrant societies, and social and cultural clubs. The parade was watched by close to 2 million spectators lining the streets. In Ireland, it is more of a religious holiday similar to Christmas and Easter. With grand parades, community feasts, charity show, church, St. Patrick's Day in Ireland is celebrated uniquely. The parades, shamrocks, and green beverages are provided primarily for tourists. In fact, it has turned out to be one of the most celebrated events in Ireland and a major tourist attraction.
Inside NOT QUITE BURNING MAN
TEACHER PROFILE
The Bamboozle Music Festival is coming to Anaheim Stadium...we have tickets!
A Stark look at one of El Dorado's finest.
– page 5
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www.edhs.org
College Basketball For those who care, March Madness is upon us.
– page 7 Please recycle
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El Gavilán
News
Always Come to A Picture-Perfect Stop Mahin Hasan Staff Writer
The near future is a way to look forward to new technological advances, meaning better ways to manage our everyday problems and make our lives easier. For example, technology has become an aid to help with fatal problems which can happen anywhere. The systems of cameras on traffic lights have been made to enhance our community by having less violation on the roads. These cameras help make drivers careful while on the road, by detecting cars that run red lights. In a 2005 article, in Washington D.C. red-light cameras have caught more than 500,000 violations and generated $32 million in fines over the past six years, reported by Washington Post. The cameras are meant to decrease the usage of actual police when a car gets caught after speeding through a yellow light or running a red light. Yet is this advanced technological actually decreasing the use of the police and the amount of reckless drivers who run red lights, is it really helpful to communities? Junior Madeline Suchard believes that these cameras are useful, “I think they help deter people from driving irresponsibly.” Yet is that what is really happening? In a 2005 article, the Washington Post also reported according to their analysis of crash statistics, the number of accidents has gone up at intersections with the cameras. Freshman Megan Hill believes
Hidden dragon George Orwell was on to something, little brothers. that the cameras are no good, “I think they are more trouble than they are worth. I mean are police going to chase down every single person who runs a red light.” The red light cameras have become the future police now. Police don’t go and chase cars down; the cameras simply take a picture of the licenses plate and a ticket is sent to the driver’s house. E v e n though the cameras are helpful they are cutting down jobs for the police. Now police are rarely seen near traffic signals to spot a car running a red light. Yet some of the red light cameras have become over effective.
In 2008 msnbc.com reported after Dallas officials reviewed the data from the cameras, they found that the red light cameras were so effective and that they had to be shut down. There were so few violations and drivers had become so careful that they decided that the red light cameras were not required anymore. By this, violations will definitely increase again; the point of the red light cameras is to prevent people from running red lights and not to take it out once there are no violations. States have put up these redlight cameras to help make the community safer, but some cannot
get the support through funds from the states’ government to continue with these safety issues. According to thenewspaper.com the allure of red light cameras has left many Southern California cities. Many cities are willing to work with the red light camera system, but due to the unwilling support of the states’ government and lack of funds these advances have not yet been able to be accomplished. The red light cameras include much more than running a red light. Reported by LA Times, LA officials estimate 80% of red light camera tickets are not only for running through intersections but also
for drivers who make rolling right turns. The different detections in the red light cameras help roads become safer. The red light cameras are popping up everywhere around the country. They are used to make life easier and end the risk of fatal problems to occur. Being able to drive is an opportunity not many have, so it should be done with caution. So Hawks make sure to follow the rules and watch out for the red light cameras. Safety should be a priority in everyday life, safe driving leads to no accidents on the road.
It's Registration Time Again; How About Newspaper? Rabiya Shakil Staff Writer
OVERLOAD Students wait with schedules and signatures
for next year's classes. Yearbook and Newspaper are wonderful options.
Well Hawks, another great year is coming to a close, and the end is in sight. With almost no school in February and spring break approaching in April, the days left can be easily counted. As the year ends freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors have already started laying the foundation for a fabulous next year. Many of you probably are wondering, "What’s next?" What is in store for me next year? Well here’s an answer for you; next year will be however you want it to be, that is if you plan it just right! So here’s a sneak peak for the future sophomore class of 2013. Your registrations cards are almost here so you can start getting excited about taking a history class again right about… NOW! You will have the opportunity to take your first Advanced Placement (AP) class next year; AP European History. Another thing to keep in mind is that sophomore year is a very critical year if you plan on enrolling in a four year university. So, when you get your registration cards make sure to challenge yourself and turn them in between March 22nd through the 26th. Now for the sophomores, you
will be registering for next year’s classes, March 15th(the ides or March!) through the 18th in your language arts classes. You are in for a mighty challenging and exciting year. If you are planning on attending college, which is getting increasingly difficult to get into, your junior year will be a rigorous one for you. Although it will be difficult, there are also very exciting electives offered. Ceramics is a very popular elective that people try to get, and as juniors, you will get priority when it comes to electives. Art, sports, band, color guard, and foreign languages are also other ways to spice up your junior year. A fellow sophomore, Rida Shakil, excited about her junior year, “I’m extremely excited about taking two AP classes for the fist time and am looking forward to AP Chemistry. I can’t wait for this year to be over!” Juniors, soon to be seniors, you are approaching the end of your high school career. This doesn’t mean to slack off as a senior; taking a rigorous schedule your senior year means a stronger college application. The curriculum is simple as a senior; language arts, and history, math and science are optional depending on how many credits you personally need. Your registration is already over but this is a great time to start planning for your future. Looking at colleges and seeing what classes they require or recommend can get you a head start in planning your future career. Juniors, enjoy
the rest of your school year. Seniors, seniors, seniors, it’s almost time for college, or what ever you plan to do for the rest of your life. Seniors will experience the life of a freshman once again. There are many things on your minds, so here are some important registration dates to remember. May 6th is the Cal State Fullerton orientation. May 1st is the deadline to register for Universities of California (UC) and Fullerton Junior College started accepting applicants March 1st. Fellow senior Megan Orr is excited about; “I want to major in biology and am very excited about registering for science classes at FCC” Also, remember to include all SAT scores and your FAFSA applications by June 30th. Scholarships are also being awarded between March and May.
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Opinions
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I'm Seeing Double Staff Writer
Open your textbooks and get focused because you’ve got that test tomorrow and you need to study…that is, until you open Facebook. However, something looks out of place. What’s Mario Lopez doing writing on your wall? Why is Denzel Washington commenting on your status? Then it hits you: doppelgangers. The idea, coined by Bob Patel, whose coworkers constant
Rebecca McKinnell
Mrs. Oberle
joking that he looks like Tom Selleck gave him the idea to start the now famous fad. It soon took Facebook by storm, with people going crazy to figure out who their celebrity look-alike was. Many people launched into a panic to find their doppelganger, but were they really desperate to join in the fun, or could they have become obsessed with the chance to be compared to someone famous? Students are being compared to just celebrities these days. There have been many comparisons to our very own staff here at El Dorado. Here are just a few to whet your appetite:
Jeff Grant
Mr. Thomas
Prom is Almost Here...
Ryan Yoder
Mr. Campuzano
Matt Macias
our Books
Glenn Rex
Mr. Wolf
If you think of any more doubles, feel free to e-mail us at
[email protected]
Block It Like It's Hot Reese Adams Staff Writer
Censorship of any media is almost always viewed as malicious, and at first glance, the PYLUSD's limited internet access seems oppressive. While some blocking is accepted by almost everyone, blocking sites for reasons such as humor is overly restrictive. This would be a problem if not for the system by which sites are blocked. Most pages are reviewed individually before they are blocked, creating enormous gaps in the blocks. This allows students to access blocked material as long as they don’t stop after being blocked the first few times. A simple search for “games” returns a blocked page, but searching the name of a specific game is likely to succeed, returning pages of results. While the first few of
March 12, 2010
El Gavilán
these results are usually blocked, usable pages are can often be found at the bottom of the first search page. While the main pages of most major flash game sites are blocked, specific game pages sometimes work. Also, many blogs and other personal web pages host their creators’ favorite games, making a game available despite its source being blocked. “I still can’t get Madagascar!” says senior Guilherme Fialho, referring to Pandemic II, an online game whose site of origin is blocked but is still played frequently in classes with computer access and copious amounts of downtime. Searching for jokes works in much the same way. Searching for the term “jokes” returns a blocked page, but typing in a few key words of a specific joke usually leads to a collection of jokes. One of the most recent changes in the blocking policy is the addition of the relatively benign Pandora Radio to the list of “dubious/ unsavory” pages. While games and other blocked material can
truly detract from the efficiency and work quality of students, sites like Pandora fill the same function as IPods, which are allowed by many teachers. The school district’s internet policy is a good example of how poor implementation can remedy bad decisions. The internet permission forms that all students’ parents must sign before the student is allowed to access the internet frees the school from liability for students’ actions, and there is little reason to block jokes unless the district’s administration considers low morale among students a good thing. The system’s overall end result is not good. It encourages students to break more rules, since breaking minor rules often leads to breaking bigger ones. A student who has spent time subverting the school’s internet systems is more likely to believe that he or she can get away with other things than one who has played the same games, listened to the same music, or read the same jokes but been openly permitted to do so.
Arielle Clark Staff Writer
Stephen King combined Carrie’s character from two girls he knew in high school. He actually threw the story away and his wife saved it. In spring of 1973, Doubleday & Co. accepted the publication for his Novel Carrie. With an overly religious mother and bullying peers, Carrie White never seemed to fit in. Bizarre things seemed to happen when Carrie got upset or frustrated. Glass would shatter. Objects would move or fall over without even being touched. Carrie White had telekinesis. The ridicule reached a breaking point at her senior prom. It would be a night nobody would ever forget. Carrie was a good novel. It really drew me in. I felt sympathy for Carrie. Maybe if she hadn’t been bullied, nothing would have happened at the prom. “I thought the book was more descriptive than the movie. It went into more detail about the characters. I like the book more then the movie” says Mrs. Zapata. It definitely made me appreciate my friends, my family and my life more. Carrie was certainly one of Stephen King’s less fearful novels. It was very depressing the way everybody treated her. She didn’t deserve it. She hadn’t done anything wrong. I personally couldn’t relate to Carrie but I have an idea of how it was. People are treated the way she was all the time and what’s disappointing is that many people cause that sort of behavior. Carrie is one of my all time favorite Stephen King novels. The message of this story is that when you bully another person it always comes back ten fold.
El Gavilán
Mission Statement: The purpose of El Gavilán is to serve the students of El Dorado. It is to provide a forum for student discussion of issues facing them. Express yourself: El Gavilán welcomes responses to editorial positions, news stories, and other issues from students, staff, faculty, and members of the community. Letters MUST be signed with a phone number, where staff can contact the writer. No unsigned or anonymous letters will be printed. However, requested letters may be printed with the name withheld. El Gavilán reserves the right to edit letters for length and clarity. Submission does not guarantee publication. Editorials: Bylined editorials appearing in El Gavilán represent the opinions of the writers. They do not necessarily express the views of administration, faculty, student body, El Gavilán or its advisors. Advertising: Does not represent the endorsement by El Gavilán, E.D.H.S. or the P.Y.L.U.S.D.
Editors
Alissa Meagher Carli Schall
Writers
Reese Adams George Alvarez Keilani Asmus Victoria Bakker Simona Boneva Amanda Brown Vincent Chow Vivian Chow Arielle Clark Derek Craig Nick Daher
Ryan Dennis Eunice Fitzgerald Griffin Hanna Mahn Hasan Molly Heer Natalie Jamali Jessica Moon Jonathan Moon Glenn Rex Allison Sanger Shannon Scurrah Rabiya Shakil
Adviser
Pat O'Donnell
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Music & Media
March 12, 2010
EL GAVILÁN
New Music George Alvarez Staff Writer
Well...I'm Big In Japan
Come to See the Show, For Shoozle Vivian Chow Staff Writer
This March a two-day musical mash-up bonanza will be taking over Anaheim’s Angel Stadium. With a strong and notable lineup of 44 bands and musical acts, Bamboozle California 2010 will be an event not to be missed! The musical festival will take place on March 27th and 28th and is expected to have a tremendous show up. As with many other known musical festivals, certain genres of music are exhibited and presented to a certain demographic or musical taste but Bamboozle is a fest that offers a wide collection of artists and genres ranging from pop, rock, alternative, indie, hip hop, rap, and more. Some of the headlining acts in Bamboozle California include: AFI, Angels and Airwaves, Something Corporate, Say Anything,
The Maine, Circa Survive, Story of the Year, Chiodos, Never Shout Never, The Bouncing Souls, Iyaz, Piebald, and The Fall of Troy. The Bamboozle festivals are not just located here in California but also in New Jersey and Chicago as well. There’s also the Bamboozle Roadshow which kicks off its tour around the U.S. starting May 21st with stops in California at the Sleep Train Pavilion in Concord on June 5th and the Cricket Amphitheatre in Chula Vista on June 6th. Each Bamboozle festival features different headlining artists and various acts. In Bamboozle Chicago, the Charter One Pavilion on May 15th includes headliners such as: Something Corporate, Cobra Starship, 3OH!3, Travie McCoy from Gym Class Heroes, I Fight Dragons and Jump Smokers. In Bamboozle New Jersey at the Meadowlands Sports Complex on May 1st and May 2nd, the star-studded lineup features: Paramore, Weezer, Drake, MGMT, Ke$ha, Girl Talk, Hanson, Matt
& Kim, Mute Math, Motion City Soundtrack, Bullet For My Valentine, The Aquabats, Kevin Devine, Ok Go, Saves the Day, Four Year Strong, and much, much more. The Bamboozle Roadshow includes 24 stops at stages and arenas all over the Unite States and it begins May 21st and runs through June 27th. Headlining acts include: All Time Low, Boys Like Girls, LMFAO, 3BE, Good Charlotte, Hanson, A Cursive Memory, Cady Groves, Cartel, Forever the Sickest Kids, Great Big Planes, Hellogoodbye, Shwayze, Simple Plan, Stereo Skyline, The Ready Set, and more. If this all sounds very appealing to you, tickets are still available at thebamboozle.com and a single day ticket is priced at $45, while a two day pass at $82, and a VIP pass for both days plus a meet and greet and extra goodies at $200. Hurry up and grab your tickets before they’re all sold out! Hope to see you there at the party!
Becca, the Oregon-born Japanese sensation, debuts her album “I’m Alive” in the States this year. She has gotten a lot of stage time and experience in Japan and has been very successful there but, for anyone who is familiar with Paramore’s sound or Avril Lavigne’s swagger, this “rocker” should come off as unoriginal. Her voice is no better than those of the singer/song writers or cover artists on YouTube. It seems like Sony Records simply plucked her out of the lines to the Oregon Idol auditions. Said to make “cute look adorable”, Becca has donned Avril’s style. Becca is proclaimed as “Sugary enough to give you a tooth ache until she throws you a sucker punch to the gut!” The sour patch kid in reverse lacks originality, appeal, and talent. Her first impression is that of a 20-something-year-old slamming on a guitar, whose every song seems to revolve around dating and relationships. Becca’s hit “I’m Alive!” is a miss. She sounds uncannily like Paramore’s lead singer and looks like and angry parrot-version of Avril Lavigne with her tropical colored hilights. Becca will be stepping into an entirely new world of music when she comes to the U.S. and will have some serious adapting to do when she gets here. Becca realizes this and is quoted as saying “Japan is very different from the States, especially when it comes to the music business.” Becca’s CD does posses a few glimmers of hope and potential for her transition into American music that are a bit easier on the ears. Her song “Without You” has a bumpin’ beginning and does not disappoint through the rest of the song. It has more verses than most of her others which repeat their chorus way too much. “Without You” is another of her songs about relationships but this song sounds better and has enough material to avoid being annoyingly repetitive. “Perfect Me” is a song that I can absolutely relate to and I thoroughly enjoyed. It was also used on a cable TV series in the U.S. “Falling Down” is by far Becca’s best song, which is a power ballad that shows off her singing voice and sets her apart from other singers. With all of Becca’s success overseas and performing in front of large crowds, she is definitely one to keep an ear out for.
Mr. GQ Cancelled It was 3rd period, approximately 10:15 AM, on a crisp Monday morning when Mrs. Switzer revealed the sad news about GQ. GQ is cancelled; I repeat, GQ is cancelled! Please don’t form a mob with torches and sabotage Mrs. Switzer, because it is not her fault at all. Due to the lack of school spirit, participation, and boys, the show has diminished into nothing. But don’t worry golden hawks, because there’s a pageant bound to replace GQ. It’s not official yet, though there are ideas being thrown around about adding a new tradition to El Dorado’s list. “Clash of the Clubs.” Here’s how it’s going to go down: All of Eldo’s clubs may participate. There will be one
by Natali Jamali
male and one female from each club representing their clubs. They would perform in a few different sections. One will be a talent segment, and another will be a club dress-up segment (dress how your club would dress; ex. Hip hop club would wear bling). The show’s meant to be extremely “tongue in cheek,” as Mrs. Switzer would describe it. The judges would then choose three of the best clubs to be titled as winners of the first annual Clash of the Clubs brawl. First place wins $100, second wins $75, and third wins $50. The prize money will then go to their club represented. There will also be a club that will win some money if they have the most supporters in the audience.
Features
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EL GAVILÁN
All the Grub That's Fit to Eat
March 12, 2010
5
Profile Shannon Scurrah Staff Writer
Ms. Stark
LANDMARK This restaurant has been in the Yorba Linda Station for as long as anyone can remember. Jessica Moon Staff Writer
Nestled in a familiar shopping center, I always passed by Fitness Pizza & Grill (or FP&G, for convenient use) without a second thought. Fitness Pizza & Grill, established in 1989, is located one block East of the Richard Nixon' library in the heart of Yorba Linda. Boasting over 100 exciting selections, Fitness Pizza & Grill’s “ perfect marinated fresh lean meats (Choice filet mignon, fresh chicken breast and seafood) [are] accompanied with a perfect balance of vegetables and grains.” Organic whole-wheat flour, as well as 100% Whey protein and naturally grown ingredients, are just some of the idiosyncrasies that the restaurant prides itself on. A restaurant that brags that it’s “dedicated to your dining experience and in doing so [has] combined the Art and Science of cooking to bring …a unique global cuisine with unsurpassed
quality, in a pleasant, eclectic and relaxed atmosphere,” is sure to catch anyone’s eye. The restaurant had a chic and comfortable ambiance, with its dark and rich décor, which was significantly more upscale than the usual pizza joint, but not so high class that it topped Palomino. My boyfriend and I walked in around 6 PM to find the restaurant fairly quiet. The hostess was bubbly and we were seated immediately at our table of choice. Laura, our server, was very friendly and offered some of her personal favorites, as my boyfriend and I were both newcomers to FB&G. I, the vegetarian, chose the popular “Golfer”, which consists of sliced tomatoes, mushrooms, green and red bell peppers, and red onions. My boyfriend chose Laura’s favorite, the “Soccer Player”, which consists of “chicken, Italian sausage, fresh Roma tomatoes, fresh basil, sliced garlic and feta cheese.” The pizza available only comes in two sizes, with the larger size costing essentially twice the price of the smaller pizza. The larger pizzas are simply longer, not larger diameter, similar
to the sizing used at Little Cesar's. I found the pizzas to be expensive, beginning at $9 for the 9" basic personal cheese pizza and easily costing $30 for a gourmet special order pizza that is really just the size of two personal pizzas. We also split the spinach dip, which consists of chopped spinach, artichoke hearts, mozzarella, feta and Parmesan cheese, served with tricolor chips or vegetable sticks. After a short wait, Laura served the spinach dip, which I thought to be a little lukewarm, but wonderfully creamy, nonetheless. The chips were crisp, but tasted a bit “out-of-the-bag”, but the blame should go to the fact that I’ve just recently been weaned off of the piping hot, freshly made tortilla chips at Mexican restaurants. The texture was much more finely chopped, compared to California Pizza Kitchen’s famous Spinach and Artichoke dip with hearty chunks of artichoke hearts. We received our pizzas soon after, and they looked downright mouthwatering. The presentation was bare, but it showcased and highlighted the fresh ingredients.
The cheese used was obviously a fresh mozzarella that had a more “hand-grated” texture than an average run-of-the-mill pizza place. The tomato sauce was clearly fresh as well, with subtle tastes of quality tomatoes. I found this to be a nice change from the over-spiced tomato sauces of other pizza restaurants. The whole-wheat crust had a delicate spiced coating, being mildly sweet and lightly chewy with a fair crispness on the edges. The chicken and Italian sausage on my boyfriend’s pizza were overly spiced in his opinion, so he ended up eating more of my pizza than his. The vegetables on our pizzas were crisp and not soggy, and had a nice crunch, even when baked. Laura kept checking up on us, refilling our drinks whenever she saw that they were getting low. Overall, my experience at Fitness Pizza & Grill was pleasant, with great service and a laid-back ambiance. My boyfriend and I left satiated with satisfied palates, and I recommend FP&G for a spontaneous and delicious splurge.
I Get Lost...In Your Eyes Ryan Dennis Staff Writer
It’s the moment we have all been waiting for Lost is back! Lost has an average of sixteen million viewers per episode and has been one of the top shows on television since it has aired in 2004. Lost has been a huge success and has won 10 awards, a couple of them are an Emmy for outstanding drama series in 2005 and a Golden Globe for best drama in 2006. This is the shows sixth and final season. Viewers all over the world have asked why only six seasons of such a popular show? Well the reason for making only six seasons is that the producers did not want to make the show so long that it would lose its luster. El Dorado junior Krystal Souza said, “I wish
there were more seasons but I’m hoping that this last season will be good!” This season already looks like it has a lot of potential to be the best season so far. For those who do not watch Lost, I highly recommend you see the show. If you decide to start watching the show make sure you have a lot of time on your hands because you will have to watch over hundred episodes before you catch up to this season! Lost has a very committed fan base there are the people who are obsessed with the hit show. Junior Alyssa Reardon said “I follow Lost 24/7 and I am going to be very sad after this last season ends.” There are hundreds
of websites, blogs, and podcasts that consume people’s time as they discuss theories as to what will happen next. I think this show became such a big success because it offered a deep story line that no one has ever seen before. The show was designed to make it feel like you’re watching a very long movie. Also, every commercial break and end of an episode leaves you on a cliffhanger, which always keeps people coming back. With this being its final season people are asking if there be will anything that keeps the Lost legacy going? The producers discussed about having a spinoff but they ultimately decided against it. Others have
heard “Lost the movie” rumors “but that also will not be happening anytime soon” says J.J. Abrams. If you’re looking for something to replace Lost after its gone then I recommend Flash Forward. Flash Forward offers a similar layout as Lost and seems to have potential for becoming the next big action show, Although Lost is hard to compete with because of it extreme popularity. Lost producers claim that questions will be answered, but are they really being answered? As this season progresses there just seems to be more questions than answers! Junior Tori Thayer said, “I feel like they’re making more questions and that it’s going to be hard to answer all of them before the season ends.” It will definitely have a suspenseful and emotional season finale. Lost will air its 121st and final episode on May 23, 2010.
1. How long have you been teaching? 30 years total, 23 in this district. 2. What subjects do you teach? AP Literature & Composition/Language Arts 3 3. Is there another subject you would like to teach? If I could get a degree in something else, it would be Psychology. 4. What motivated you to become a teacher? My 9th grade English teacher; She had such a passion for reading and writing that I acquired that passion too. I wanted to share it with others. 6. If you weren’t a teacher what other career path would you choose? I would want to be a fitness trainer or a psychologist. 7. What is your favorite and least favorite thing about teaching? My favorite thing is interacting with students, watching them learn. I love seeing a student who doesn’t understand something and then when it finally clicks and they understand it. My least favorite thing would definitely be grading essays. 8. How do you deal with upset students? I try my best to understand and respect my students’ feelings. I strive to make sure I have a clear understanding of the problem before I give a response. Therefore I listen, then validate I understand what he/she said and how they are feeling. Then the student and I can get the situation resolved. The student just needs to be heard and acknowledged. 9. What is the funniest thing that has happened in your teaching career? One time I stepped outside of my classroom for a moment and when I walked back inside the room, my desk and chair had been moved to the front lawn. It was a harmless funny joke my students played on me, all motivated by the desire to have class outside. 10. What were your favorite and least favorite subjects as a high school student? My favorite was English, of course. My least Favorite was math. 11. If you could go back to when you were in high school, would you do anything differently? No, nope, nope! 12. What is the biggest change you’ve seen from when you were in school and your students today? Today I see students more unsure about their future. I also see many more students stressed academically these days. They are tested with multiple measures today. 13. What advice would you give to the graduating senior class? Pursue your dreams!
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Sports
March 12, 2010
El Gavilan
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GOLDEN STATE Wrestling Brings Home Yet Another C.I.F. Title
Varsity Wrestling 5-0 & Century League Champs CIF Southern Section Central Division Champs with 8 placers CIF Champs Charles Chavez Michael Vargas Frank Vilardi CIF Placers Luke Hales Marc Donovan Cavin Myers Shea Bailey Byron Amaya
REPEAT This picture is becoming very common for ElDo's wrestlers.
Lacrosse Sticks It Out For a New Season Derek Craig Staff Writer
It’s back for another season. Our school’s newest sport is back in season and our school hopes to get to CIF Playoffs. About two years ago there were only thoughts of having an EDHS lacrosse team here. However, we started one last year, largely carved from people who played on travel lacrosse teams. The girls only have a varsity team while the boys have varsity and junior varsity teams. All three of our school’s teams are very good and love the sport. Lacrosse has longer games than most other sports, but has rela-
tively few games to decide who is good and who plays well. In high school they try to make everyone on the team play in each game. The girls’ roster is made up of Alexandra Kyte, Ashley Dominguez, Ashley Martin, Cailyn Creswell, Caralene (Carly) Hanania, Cutherine Vi c t o r i a n o , Chelsea Ayllon, Courtney Jimenez, Elizabeth Deutsch, Hailey Meyer, Hayleigh Garlow, Juli Krucli, Kristen Darling, Kristin Oelkers, Lacy Youmans, Lauren McCune, Leslie Dominguez,
Melia Pitney, Nicole Robertson, Nicole Rodriguez, Prezly Espeseth, Rachel Simons, Shannon Hacker, Supranee DeGrow, and Tori Bowe. The team is coached by Stephanie Roberts who is also a science teacher. These players do not have a lot of experience but they have the heart to play and make the game their own. The boys’ roster is made up of Angelo Altamirano, Kevin Ascheri, Brandon Carson, Corey Clark, Casey Curran, Curtis Davila, Kael Eaves, Nick Fonseca, Timothy Fredricks,
Cody Kleen, Tanner Grier, Austin Haines, Josh Iwanaga, Daniel Kim, Collin Kinnane, Jordan Lusignan, Nick Mageda, Andrew Merritt, Everett Montano, Shane Morines, Gilbert Ortiz, and Cameron Rocha. Todd Beauchamp is the head coach for the Varsity team. All of these boys are very experienced and talented by high school standards. The girls played their first game at Mira Costa High on March 8th. Their first big event was the Rose
Bowl Tourney on March 6th. Their first home game will be against Irvine High School. Boys’ lacrosse played their first game on March 9th at 7:30 at Mater Dei High School. They lost with a score of 15-6 in favor of Mater Dei. Although they lost their first game they are still aiming for a win-lose ratio greater than one. Boys’ lacrosse plays its next game at home at Bradford Stadium against Aliso Niguel 7:30P. Good luck to everyone on the EDHS lacrosse teams, both boys and girls.
The Track Team Gets Warmed Up Keliani Asmus Staff Writer
Track and Field—it is truly an exciting array of sports that won’t have you dieing of boredom. The meets consist of multiple events, and these events fall into the two categories: Track and Field. Track events are the hurtles, sprints, and distances, and the field events are high, long, and triple jump and shot put and discus. The Stadium was said to be finished last Friday, March 5th, but
unfortunately wasn’t, so Coach Sweet and Coach Fela had the hurdles team practice at Bradford Stadium at 6 am every morning on that week. Fortunately, the stadium will be finished before the first track meet at home, which will be held on March 18th. Some key athletes to watch during the meets are not only your friends, but also were some of the top track athletes in Orange County. It is amazing how high jumpers can run a couple yards and fling their body up and over a bar that is raised to heights as tall as you or me. Senior Greg Dixon is known to jump such extreme heights effortlessly. He also jumps larger distances too in both the long and
triple jump. Senior Alexandra Thomas is also returning for yet another successful season, trying to improve her already impressive jumping abilities. Coaches Titus and Henshall, the jumping coaches, cannot wait to see these two athletes succeed. What is the chance that one of the few girls that is in shot put and discus ends up throwing the shot put/discus much farther than her male opponents? Very slim in most cases, but in junior Tiffany Gray’s case, it isn’t surprising that she blows away the competition by a couple of feet. “She especially works her hardest during practice, so she can do a perfect job in the next track meet…she really is an
inspiring athlete,” says a fellow teammate. Given the title of Century League Distance Runner of the Year in 2009, it is no question that Tommie Poston will leave his competition in the dust in 2010. He represents the boys in the1600 meter race and is always exciting to watch. On the girl’s side, Corinne Cherne competes in the 1600 meter race, but she also runs in the 3200 meter race as well. Similar to Poston, she has a reputation for her significant lack of failure. Under the coaching guidance of Distance Coach Beckman and Assistant Coach Morey, who knows how far these athletes will go? The team’s first track meet was
held on March 4th at Valencia. The first thing that a spectator would notice is the amount of players wearing the gold and black El Dorado Track and Field uniforms. This year, 130 athletes are on the team, an amount that is a lot larger than last year. Beckman says, “These new athletes and our returners will make us more competitive.” The question from most people is, “Why the sudden interest in Track and Field?” When asked the reason for joining track, junior Ryan Hailey replies, “I need to get in shape for football.” Sophomore Leisha Simpson agrees with Hailey’s views and also looks forward to trying a new sport alongside her friends from Volleyball.
El Gavilán
March 12, 2010
Sports & More
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Mad, Am I? We're All A Little Mad
El Gavilan's So-Called Expert Takes on College Basketball and That Tournament Thingy Nick Daher Staff Writer
The biggest dance of the year for many seniors is Prom. Girls will always remember the dress they wore, where they ate dinner, how much they danced, and guys will always talk about how hot their date was (sorry ladies it’s true). Yet while I may be excited to party it up on prom night this year, the dance I’m most looking forward to is right around the corner: The Big Dance itself, March Madness baby! For those of you who don’t know what March Madness is, educate yourself by tuning into Sportscenter any time between 2 am and 11 pm in the month of March. If you don’t have cable or satellite I’ll explain it, but call up DirecTV and hook that up because you’re missing out. March Madness, a nickname given to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship, is a winner-takesall single elimination tournament. 65 teams all compete for a chance to cut down the net and claim their glory as National Champions. The bracket is divided into four separate regions, the West, Midwest, East, and South, and the winners of each bracket play each other in the final four to decide the final two teams that will play in the Championship game. Lets take a look at each region, and my picks for team to watch, bracket busters, and top seeds that will inevitably lose (I’m looking at you Duke). WEST: I love Duke. I love everything about Duke, from the Cameron Crazies to the great Coach
K. I love the annual Battle of the Tobacco Road (UNC vs. Duke), and I love Cameron Indoor Stadium. Yet for all the love I give to Duke, they manage to break my heart in the NCAA tournament year in and year out. Since 2002, Duke’s tournament rankings have been 3, 1, 1, 1, 6, 2, 2, and this year they will again be the top seed in the West. How many times has Duke been to the championship game since ‘02? Zero. Not only that, but they have only been to the Final Four once since 2002, in ’04 when they lost to second seeded Connecticut. My point is this: Duke’s tournament seeding is about as important as an umbrella in the summer. Look for them to beat Lehigh (16) and UTEP (9), only to lose to Michigan State (4) in the Sweet Sixteen. A team whose chance I do like is 7th seeded Marquette. They had a 20-10 regular season record, with two losses of two points each to a very good Villanova squad. Also, they had a five point loss at Syracuse, who is the number one seed in the South. Look for the Golden Eagles to make a deep run into the tournament with a win against Minnesota (10) and upsets against both Kansas State
(2) and New Mexico (3). EAST: This bracket is my pick for most exciting bracket games to watch, featuring a 1st seeded Kentucky team led by super-freshmen John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins, a five seed Tennessee team who upset that same Kentucky team, and a couple of ACC sleepers in Wake Forest (7) and Clemson (9). Look out for 3 Big East representatives as well; Pittsburgh (3), Connecticut (10), and Notre Dame (12). Not
much to say as far as upsets go here, as 16 seed Quinnipiac has as much chance of beating Kentucky as I do dating Megan Fox. Do look for a couple Sweet Sixteen/Elite Eight semi-upsets: Tennessee (5) beats Kentucky (1) again in the Sweet Sixteen and Wake Forest (7) loses to Connecticut (10) in the first round. SOUTH: Ultimately, I see no
huge surprises in this region’s bracket. Top-seeded Syracuse should have no problem making it to the Final Four, with an opening game vs. Coastal Carolina, and probable games against UNLV (9), Wisconsin (5), finishing with an Elite Eight match up against West Virginia (3). However, I predict one very large upset that would shake up many people’s brackets: the opening round match up facing Ohio State (2) against UCSB (15). UCSB hails from the Big West, and no team from the Big We s t h a s ever won a national championship save for the 1991 UNLV team. H o w e v e r, Santa Barbara has a solid team that may present defensive match up problems for Ohio State in the paint, with a pair of bigs listed at 7’3 and 6’10. Look for UCSB to go inside often and attack Ohio State from the inside out. MIDWEST: Anyone who likes high scoring basketball games should love this bracket. Topseeded Kansas had the fourth highest points-per-game average in the nation this year with 82.4. And 2nd seed Villanova? They
had the second highest average in the league with 83.6. Kansas’ big three - guards Sherron Collins and Xavier Henry, and the center down low Cole Aldridge are the nucleus of this Big 12 juggernaut, but I’m not convinced that they are the best team in this region. No, those honors go to 2nd seeded Villanova, led by senior point guard Scottie Reynolds. Averaging just under 20 points a game, Reynolds can score in bunches, yet his true talent lies in his court awareness and leadership – two qualities possessed by every great point guard. Reynolds is a floor general, and I see him leading his team to their second consecutive Final Four appearance. Upsets to look for? Not many in this solid bracket, but I predict a 2nd round loss by 3 seed Vanderbilt to 6th seeded Xavier. FINAL FOUR: I see the veteran leadership of Scottie Reynolds proving too tough for Coach Tom Izzo and senior point guard Kalin Lucas, who has been nursing an ankle sprain since the first week of Big Ten play. Final verdict: Villanova beats Michigan State in a slow paced game. On the other side of the bracket, Syracuse continues their tournament dominance with a fast paced, high-octane game against Purdue. Final Verdict: Purdue cannot keep pace with guards Andy Rautins and Wes Johnson, and Syracuse wins by double digits. This leads to a championship game featuring the top 2 finishers in the Big East: Nova and Cuse. Syracuse won both of their conference games against Villanova, and I predict them winning their third in the biggest game of their lives. Final Verdict: Syracuse beats Nova 74-71 in a nail-biter.
This Class Always Follows A Script Vincent Chow Staff Writer
Many of you might not be aware of it, but here at El Dorado a very creative writing class by the name of scriptwriting is being offered. Scriptwriting is a class where students learn all aspects of playwriting and screenwriting. They delve into the writing process by examining many parts of a script such as creating defining charac-
ters, crafting dialogue, shaping the story, creating visuals, and learning the technical bits and pieces of playwriting and screenwriting languages and formats. Taught in the Gai Jones Theater by Mrs. Switzer, scriptwriting is definitely a class aimed at expanding your imagination and teaching how to express that imagination in many ways. “Scriptwriting class is one of those classes that you can grow to love more and love everyday. Once you've written something, see it in print and notice that you've grown as a writer over time and as a person, there's a
definite sense of accomplishment. It's truly an awesome experience!” praises senior Scriptwriting student Stephanie Castro. Whether they’re writing a scene, a short, or a full on play, these students know how to have fun with their work while creating incredible and imaginative masterpieces. “I love Scriptwriting class! The assignments are fun and the class has a relaxed atmosphere. It's a good class for anyone who likes creative writing or screenwriting. It has also taught me to be disciplined and self-motivated
because most of the assignments are long term and done outside of school.” acknowledges senior Lynn Wolfe. It’s a very unique class that hasn’t been offered here at El Dorado until this year. Reading, discussing, watching plays, and learning about all the aspects of play writing gives incredible insight into the inner workings of that field. As we enter the second semester, Scriptwriting is focusing on screenwriting. Students will get a very unique and informative look inside the production of scripts that can relate to our everyday
media interests such as television shows and movies. Fellow Hawks that are filled with oodles of imagination are quite abundant here at El Dorado and a class as mass appealing yet incredibly unique as Scriptwriting should not be missed. When thinking about the kinds of electives you might be interested in exploring and experiencing next year, consider joining scriptwriting and you may be surprised to discover your talent and love of creative writing and imagination.
Break Fast Approaches Simona Boneva Staff Writer
The end is near. Not the December 21, 2012 “apocalypse”, but the April 2, 2010 spring break. This is the end of waking up at the crack of dawn and leaving the warmth of our beds, the end of obscure formulas and theorems, the end of evenings filled with homework and an unhealthy amount of coffee, and the end of being trapped in a
bastille of books. That is, until 10 days later when we return with brown skin and blue hearts. The good news is that our vacation is extended with 2 furlough days; the bad news is that we have to somehow make up those 2 days in the coming weeks. Many students are choosing to spend their vacation productively. Junior Miranda Starbeck is going on a mission trip to Mexicali with her church. Meanwhile, senior Aurora Lopez and junior Bridget O'Connell are doing “studying, studying, and more studying for AP tests”. Junior Allison Hopkins
is “visiting colleges, what every junior wants to do”. Others, like junior Gerard Gully, are doing more fun activities. Gerard is “getting [his] wisdom teeth pulled”. Sophomore Liz Deutsch is “going to see Owl City in concert.” That should be a hoot!!! Senior Alvin Ly and the rest of Jazz 1 are going to the Monterey Jazz Festival. Four German students at El Dorado are accepting exchange students for three weeks, including spring break. One of them, junior Wesley Yen, is excited to meet his German exchange student, Fabian.
After a particularly long and cold winter, several students are trading in their surf boards for their snowboards, like junior Matt Talamantes. Junior Cailyn Cresswell is instead going to one of the traditional vacation spots: Palm Springs. According to the Associated Press, more than 100,000 high school and college Americans travel to Mexican resorts during spring break, probably so they can engage in “legal debauchery”. Though it may be easier to get away with scandalous behavior because of lenient laws, it’s also easier for
kidnappers to act without being punished. With drug cartels, indiscriminate killings, and other political turmoil currently going on in Mexico, it’d be better to wait a few years for everything to settle down before visiting. Students should be very vigilant this spring break; there are many possible dangers lurking in the corners of beaches and resorts. The safest bet would be to do what senior Matt Cao is planning on: “sit at home for a week and have someone bring up food and water periodically.”
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