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On Mar. 11, Japan was struck with a series of catastrophic disasters. A 9.0 magnitude earthquake hit the island nation and was quickly followed by an even more destructive aftershock: a large tsunami.

CNN broadcasted video clips of sturdy sky scrapers being completely demolished into massive piles of rubble, waves of infested and dirty water sweeping cars and boats away like little toys, and short segments of entire roads cracking in half, uprooting trees and plants along the way.

However, the tsunami caused much more damage than mass flooding; it led to the malfunctioning of several nuclear power plants. Within a matter of days, over 200,000 lives were endangered not only from the terrible conditions of the earthquake and tsunami but also from the possible nuclear radiation being released by the damaged power plants. Now, not only are the Japanese people in danger, but also the volunteers and medical crews who are there for relief efforts.

The devastation of both the earthquake and the tsunami has garnered the attention of many worldwide. International charities have been established to raise money for the victims.

RB High’s Key Club, a club devoted primarily to giving back to the community of Rancho Bernardo, is among many clubs and organizations within RB High who have taken the initiative to help raise awareness and money for earthquake and tsunami relief efforts.

“We always see graphic images on television showing all these disasters,” said Project Chair Zachary Manlapid. “When we see all this destruction, it makes you want to go there and help the people out. But since we can’t physically travel there right now, we might as well do our best to help raise money to send the people in Japan supplies, food, and items for shelter.”

Members from Key Club spent their Saturday morning in front of the Rancho Bernardo Vons selling homemade baked goods. Dozens of busy shoppers stopped by the table overflowing with cupcakes and brownies to drop off spare change. A series of cars even drove by, before stopping to hand money to the Key Clubbers through the car window.

“[It’s] really something to be able to see the people in your community that care,” said sophomore Carolina He who attended the bake sale. “You can tell some of these people really truly care about what’s going on the Japan, regardless of whether they have friends or family there or not.”

Because of the generosity from the community, all the baked goods were gone in only two hours. However, people continued to donate their spare change, and Key Club raised $1000.00 from only five hours of work.

“It’s really mindblowing that just a handful of kids are able to raise so much money in so little time,” said He. “It’s just a really great feeling to know that by doing something this simple, you can help people who really need it.”

All the proceeds raised from the bake sale are being directly sent to the Red Cross.

Urinetownpg. 7

A look at the different gynastics events

pg. 11

A student poses as a “druggie”.

Vol. 23 No. 4March 24, 2011

Photo courtesy of Photo Class

By Melody Huang

Assistant Editor-in-Chief

Key Club raises $1000 for tsunami relief

Photo courtesy of joe-miller.net

After the drug bust this month, the administrators are concerned with students coming to school high. Though he could not reveal specific details of the incident, Principal Paul Robinson said that, “We have some students who made very poor choices.”

The known facts are that a group of male students got high in the boys bathroom in the small quad. They were caught and punished. The boys were suspended for several days and then came back. Some students have suggested that installing a smoke detector in the bathrooms would be easier than the punishment they have right now, which is that only one bathroom is open for the about 1,000 males at our school.

Many students at RB High can name at least one or two people they know who have done or do some sort of drug. Over the last few years, the percentage of teens who do drugs has gone up exponentially. One statistic states that over 60 percent of teens

say that drugs are used, sold, or kept at their school. So, why has drug use, especially marijuana, gone up? And even more frightening, why is so much of it being done at school? One source who chose to stay anonymous said, “Why not try something new if it’s not going to kill you?”

However, this attitude is flippant at best and extremely ignorant at worst. Sixty-six percent of underage males that are arrested are said to be on drugs. There have been countless studies on how drugs, even marijuana which is claimed to be harmless by some students, affect your judgment and reflexes.

One more reason teens have gotten lax about drugs is that many believe the consequences can’t affect them. Sure, people get caught, but those are other people, people you don’t know. The mentality is that it’s safe to do drugs if you’re hidden from sight and with people who will never tell. One consequence, going to rehab, is also not treated seriously. An anonymous source said, “None of the people in there [rehab] seemed very serious about quitting drugs…”

And as another student, who has done both marijuana and aderoll, said,

“Most kids don’t care, even if there were harsher restrictions or regulations, they’ll still do it.”

One thing students can agree on is that teachers don’t seem to attempt to intervene when students are struggling with drugs. Many teenagers at RB High have stories about a student who was clearly high, where a teacher did not intervene.

“We’ll do everything we’re supposed to do according to our school rules and district rules,” said Principal Paul Robinson.

This may seem like willful ignorance on the part of the teachers, but they could also be concerned about the student’s future. An arrest for drugs or a stint in rehab does not look good on any application, whether it is for college or for a job.

“There are staff members on this campus that are here to help students,” Assistant Keith Koelzer said. “If you’re suffering from this affliction [an addiction] there are people on this campus to help you get off that. We have a great thing here; let’s not spoil it.”

Anonymous letter written to “The Administration” shakes up the campus

As we have seen in past history, when we do not like something, we express it very clearly. On a bright, sunny morning on March 10, no one expected that an anonymous letter from a “concerned student” would spread around the school.

It was a well written letter that focused on the actions of The Administration, arguing the justification of students’ freedom of speech. It also addressed the Associated Student Body (ASB), saying that they control clubs on campus. The student continues to point out the many of the struggling programs at RB High that seem to have no money while ASB “crams its bank account with $80,000.” It also claims that RB High supports Christianity. Although the student impressively references Mussolini’s Fascist ideas throughout the letter, it does not account for the lack of facts used to cite some of the points made.

Responding to the incident about Christianity over loud speakers, Principal

Paul Robinson said, “Last year, we had a group that had been asking us if they could play some music at lunch time, and we said sure, no problem. We had no idea that they were also going to grab a microphone and one student gave a testimony there,” said Principal Paul Robinson “after that, we actually talked with the student afterwards about how it was way out of line. That group was never allowed to come back and play music again…it wasn’t as if we were trying to preach Christianity.”

One side of the story is never the whole story, so many students got the wrong impression of the issue and rumors circulated the school. Although students are not as informed as some might like us to be, there must be an fine line between what we need to know and what we want to know.

As for our freedom of speech and press, it is a little different at the high school level. As students, we can express our opinions and thoughts, but not if they affect the learning process.

The question everyone asked when the letter came out was, who wrote it? Guesses ranged from students in an APEC class to

maybe a frustrated student in ASB. The author has not yet identified himself.

“I don’t see this as a huge thing where I have to get into a bunch of consequences, unless this is a continual thing,” said Principal Paul Robinson.

The anonymous student strikes again with another act of resistance, this time with a visual appeal. On Monday 21, a cartoon got passed around the school depicting “The Administration” as a four-legged octopus reaching in the bus, lockers, backpacks and even a student. The main focus was unreasonable searching without a warrant, with a paragraph singling out Mr. Robinson and Mr. Koelzer. The student also had a talk bubble coming out of Mr. Robinson’s mouth, saying “It’s for your own protection! Don’t you trust me?” There are also a number of puns throughout the cartoon, hinting that the student has no right over who searches their belongings.

Has this gone too far? To what lengths will they go to, and for how long? No one knows yet, but at the bottom of the cartoon there is a chilling statement. This time, it is signed “A Few Concerned Students.”

By Nina von Nyssen

Staff Writer

By Stacy Luu

Features Editor

Photo art by Jennifer Chalam

A look at teen usage on campus

Trolling

Photo by Heeyeon Sarah Chung

pg. 5

THE SILVER SPUR - MARCH 24, 20112 NEWS

Liz Winn

SPORTS EDITORS

The Rancho BeRnaRdo SilveR SpuR

ADVISOR

Carrie Chen

NEWS EDITORS

FEATURES EDITORS

ENTERTAIN-MENT

EDITORS

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

STAFF WRITERS

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Julian PotterTaylor Franklin

Tori GamaJulie Lohmann

Nina von NyssenHannah ChiuGrace Chen

Diksha SudarshanMaria Bischoff

Kyle Leung

OPINIONS EDITOR

Carrie Chen GUEST ARTISTS

Maranda Li

Jennifer Chalam

Melody Huang

Stacy LuuHanna Lee

Edward ZhuSelina Li

Jeffrey LamAngela Hwang

BUSINESS MANAGER

Luke Verayo

Robert Moore

RB’s Got Talent Show displays a variety of skills on campus

Carrie Chen

Amy Ma

ASSISTANT EDITOR-IN-

CHIEFMelody Huang

Lieutenant Governor. He or she is charge of all the Key Clubs in a division and plans divisional event such as fundraisers, service projects, etc. Our division which RB Key Club is Division 37 South which will soon have 9 clubs. At DCON, the new district board, which these LTG are part of, are installed and trained and the old district boards are celebrated for their hard work over the past year.

“Being LTG was honestly one of the greatest experiences of my life. I met so many inspirational people and was able to further develop my leadership skills. I learned how to set major goals and develop plans to meet them. I know

that Douglas [Bi] will do an amazing job and I will do everything I can to share what I’ve learned with him.”

Vivian Yu, current LTG of Division 37 South Key Club reflects on her experiences and accomplishments as LTG and on her hopes for Bi who will be taking her place.

DCON is not all about hard work though. They have special guests, an award ceremony, and a Governor’s Ball. It is also a time where new Key Club members can meet new friends from different schools and states while getting closer with those they already know.

RB’s Science Olympiad makes state

RB High’s Kristi Krause competes on “American Idol”

RB Key Club, Division 37, California-Nevada-Hawaii District is a symbol of character Southern California. Next month from Apr. 15-17 the club is going to the Anaheim Convention Center where they will gather for one of the largest Key Club gatherings, the District Convention (DCON). At DCON, volunteers from C a l i f o r n i a , N e v a d a , and Hawaii c o n g r e g a t e to better themselves and each other.

The event costs $200 for the three-day trip to the Anaheim Convention Center where they will stay in hotel rooms with their peers. At the convention, they inaugurate the new Lieutenant Governor (LTG) of each Key Club District, participants also spend a majority of time going to workshops where they learn how to become a better volunteer and the true spirit of Key Club.

This year at DCON current Lieutenant Governor, RB High’s Vivian Yu, will be handing over the throne to incoming LTG, Douglas Bi, whom is a junior here at RB High.

According to Bi, LTG stands for

On Feb. 24, students filed into the PAC (Performing Arts Center) for the RB’s Got Talent show. They saw many acts, such as brilliant yo-yo tricks, groups composed of various instruments, solo singing, and stand up comedy routines. Once again, RB students were showing off their skills and why “RB’s Got Talent.”

The show’s proceeds went to Invisible Children, a group who is trying to eradicate conflict in Uganda and stop children

from being turned into soldiers for war. According to Lisa Kim, ASB president, the packed show set up by ASB raised around $2500 for the cause.

“I’m proud that we were able to have a full house, run a smooth and successful show, as well as raise thousands of dollars for charity,” Kim said. “We [ASB] held audition for a week for about three to four hours a day. As tiring as it was, the talent show was successful and fun in the end. All our hard work paid off.”

In the talent show, there were judges that scored each act to determine a final solo and group victor. This year’s panel of judges

was made up of a few teachers as well as RB alumni who volunteered their time to judge.

There were several categories that each act was judged upon. According to Tristan Mccoy, each act was judged on the talent, their amount of stage presence, creativity, and overall performance.

Though there were many amazing acts, in the end, one solo act and one group act stood above all others. The solo act was Kailey O’Donnell, who sang “Vanilla Ice Cream” from the musical “She Loves Me.”

“A close friend and mentor of mine passed away a few days ago, and he introduced me to the song (Vanilla Ice Cream), so I sang it in honor of him,” O’Donnell said.

O’Donnell’s favorite thing about singing is getting a reaction from the audience, whether laughing, crying, or applause.

The winning group act was Kevin Erskine & Friends, who performed “Ain’t no sunshine,” by Bill Withers on multiple instruments.

“My favorite thing about performing is the communication that occurs between the audience and the performer,” Erskine said. “You never really get to show that side of yourself for the student body to enjoy. The performance is an amazing feeling.”

According to Erskine, the group didn’t practice together, but merely practiced their parts and came together well on stage.

Key Club visits District Convention in Anaheim

RB High senior Kristi Krause has had only one dream: to audition for one of America’s most popular TV show “American Idol,” and her wish came true this year.

American Idol is a reality television singing competition, and is now in its 10th.

“I wanted to take on the challenge and see what I could be capable of. I had the best experience auditioning for the show and there was so much amazing talent!”

Krause’s audition song was “At Last” by Etta James. She was just hoping that what she had been working on would pay off in the two minutes she had to sing. Moreover, she was also very excited to meet the judges. “When I first met the judges, I was definitely star-struck; however, I didn’t really show it because I was so concentrated on making a good first impression!”

Jennifer Lopez said Krause has a strong voice and good musicality. Krause was delighted to hear those comments from Lopez.

In the first week of Hollywood, Krause

sang “No One” by Alicia Keys. If Krause had the opportunity to go back and change anything on her journey, she would not because it was such an enjoyable learning experience. She would have, however, picked a different song in Hollywood.

Krause credits her parents for all the support they have given her.

“My parents have always been a huge encouragement for me. They are always keeping me motivated to work hard for what I want,” said Krause. “Having them in my life as support has helped me realize that in order to get something I want, I have to work for it and be patient. As far as other artists who inspire me, they are Eva Cassidy, Etta James, and Christina Aguilera. They are all so amazing at what they do, and I get a lot of my writing inspiration from them also.”

On her “American Idol” journey, Krause met several contestants, including Lauren Alaina, who is now in the top 11. There is a lot of talent among all the people coming from different states all over America. Season 10 apparently has the most talent and competition yet on American Idol out of all the seasons so far. Every week, a new person springs up in the audience’s eyes,

sharing their beautiful music. The favorites are Pia, Casey, James, and Scotty.

Krause was lucky enough to get all the way to Hollywood. She auditioned against 350 contestants from all over the United States, and she was very fortunate to get so far and show the world her talent. In order to make it to even the first round, the contestant has to go through three other auditions before they appear in front of the judges.

Krause auditioned for the first round when she got to Hollywood but didn’t make it through. Krause, however, is content and has learned so much from her experience.

“I have learned so much from this journey, and I plan to keep going with my music. My parents have just kept on encouraging me to never give up on my dreams and to keep playing and singing wherever I can. My voice teacher has always been a huge support and has taught me that great success comes with preparedness.”

From her experience and from making it to Hollywood on “American Idol,” Krause encourages everyone who has dreams to never give up because one can truly achieve her dream with perseverance.

Every February, around one hundred students from RB High participate in a nation-wide competition. This day is known as the San Diego Regional Science Olympiad competition.

Armed with an arsenal of notes, binders,

and home-made contraptions, students set out every year to vanquish rival schools in the battle for first place.

Science Olympiad has the goal of spreading interest towards the scientific field. The nationally acclaimed science competition hosts 23 events for students to compete in. Events range from building complicated contraptions such as Rube Goldberg machines to studying topics

not taught at school, such as ornithology and astronomy. Students are given the opportunity to expand their personal interests in science, as well as explore the world of science.

This year, RB High placed 6th out of over seventy teams at the Regional competition, qualifying them for the state competition on April 9th.

“Going to state involves a lot more work and more time as it takes top schools from regionals,” said RB Science Olympiad President Scarlett Chen. “The team members competing need to be more motivated, especially since we only have a matter of weeks.”

However, placing 6th in the Regional competition was not an easy feat.

“We started prepping back in October,” said Chen. “Students studied individually, but we also held after school sessions where members could work on their events with their partners.”

“I had study groups, reading materials that were sent by event leaders, taking notes,” said member Carolina He. “Event leaders gave us oral tests, quizzes, and different practice tests from before.”

As the RB SciOly-ers head up to Anaheim to compete in the state competition, more preparations are to be made, and more studying is to be done.

“We definitely have a pretty good shot to perform well at state,” said Junior Co-President David Hu. “We have a solid team with dedicated members.”

Science Olympiad team celebrates with trophy.

By Melody HuangAssistant Editor-in-Chief

By Diksha SudarshanStaff Writer

By Jeffrey LamSports Editor

By Edward ZhuStaff Writer

Photo by Scarlett Chen

Kristi Krause sings during Hollywood Week. Photo courtesy of americanidol.com

Students perform in talent show. Photo by Jerry Thomas

COPY EDITOR

Taylor Franklin

Jennifer Chalam

“Being LTG was one of the greatest experiences

of my life.”

THE SILVER SPUR - MARCH 24, 2011 3NEWS

Calling all aspiring authors and poets! The Author/Poet fair was on Friday March 11th in the LPR. It started at the beginning of the period after the 2nd bell and went to the end of the period. Three authors were presented each period; 18 authors in all. He or she took 10 minutes to talk about their book and discussed the writing process, then took questions. Students also came up to the authors and talked to them individually. All 18 authors were present per period to talk to students. RB High has the Author/Poet Fair each year because it helps inspire students who enjoy English to further pursue it and maybe later on even write a book.

“It’s an opportunity for our students to listen to and speak with real published authors! Writers are risk takers! They put themselves out there for the whole world to see. We’ll learn about not just about what they write but also how they write, how they got published and why they do what they do. It’s a chance for us to pick their brains about their experiences and their craft!” said Benn von Wistinghausen, in charge of the fair.

All their books are available for purchase; the price ranges from $10-$20. The fair was a good experience for students, and they took a lot away from it. Writers and poets have the power to convey thoughts into words and place them on paper to beautifully capture the scenery of the reader’s mind. That is what makes writers, poets or any other form of artist unique. They go above and beyond to publish their discoveries to share with the world. That is the ultimate step that takes courage and fearlessness.

“I hope my students will take away a myriad of experiences from this day. First, is the exposure to adults that have believed and followed their dreams, so regardless of my students’ chosen field of endeavor, they will see examples of what

can be accomplished through diligence and determination, and second is the fact that these adults are approachable and willing to share their paths and journeys to fulfillment and success with my students,” said Mia Hunter, an English teacher who is bringing her class to attend this event.

The authors that attended were: Judy Bernstein, Joan Brady, Adolph Brostrom, Charlie Capazzoli, Mary Lenore Quigley, Judy Duarte, Curt Erler, Marjorie Hart, Bob Lundy & Elizabeth Yahn Williams, Tom Kirkbride, Linda Thomas Sundstrom, Erica Miner, Sheryl Roush, Antonio F. Vianna, Diane Lee Wilson, John “Jack” Wolf and

Author/poet fair inspires RB High students to become better writers

Bettie B. Youngs. They are all local San Diego authors who are published and they shared a little piece of their creation with English classes.

“I think it’s important to do things out of the classroom every now and then. It makes for a memorable lesson when students can connect what we’re doing in class to “real world” scenarios” said Terri Rogelstad, who is taking her two American Literature classes.

If you did not get to buy their books, the RB High library has most of the books still on their shelves, so students can go and check out those books.

Stacy Luu

Features Editor

By Carrie Chen

Editor-in-Chief

RB High campaigns to end use of the r-word

Teenagers today use rhetoric that is specific to our generation and to our culture. Oftentimes, students employ slang and cultural terms that are indecipherable to adults. Yet, with this innovation of language, we have also invented derogatory words that hurt, insult, and exclude people. One such word is the r-word, retarded, which has caused our campus and the Critical Skills Department to campaign against the spread of the word.

Spread the Word to End the Word is the official campaign slogan to spread awareness of the hurt the r-word can cause people. At RB High, we dedicated one week, from Feb. 28 to Mar. 4, to support the efforts of the nationwide movement. There were announcements over the intercom every day of that week, and a banner was open to students to sign to show their support.

The r-word originated in medicine, as doctors, psychologists, and other professionals used the term “mentally retarded” to describe people with intellectual impairment. The word has evolved into colloquial language, as teenagers and adults alike used the term to describe something or someone that is stupid. However, the misuse of the r-word has become a sign of disrespect.

“The r-word hurts and excludes people with disabilities,” said Carole Harland, a critical skills aide and Best Buddies advisor. “It puts them outside normal social realms.”

When asked how he feels when he is called the r-word, Ryan Darvishi, a special needs diploma-bound junior, said, “It’s very rude, and it makes me angry. But I just walk away and ignore it, and hopefully my day will get better. I try to keep my emotions in check.”

Many students and teenagers dismiss the use of the word, claiming that it is not offensive if the word is not directed at an individual. But even so, it still hurts people with disabilities, their families, and their

friends. Others justify similar

rhetoric simply because they are using a different version of the same word.

“Re-re, tard, retard,” said Michele Folk, a special-needs aide and Best Buddies advisor, listing several different

variations of the r-word that she’s heard. “No matter how you phrase it, it still hurts.”

How can RB High students contribute to the campaign to end the derogatory use of the word “retarded”?

They can begin by not saying the r-word anymore themselves, and then spread awareness to others.

“Just point out to people that that word hurts people with disabilities,” said Harland. “There will be people that will stop.”

Many of those who misuse the r-word do so without realizing their words are hurtful to those who are involved in the special needs community. Students can do their part in the Spread the Word to End the Word movement by taking a couple seconds to remind those around them that the r-word is offensive to those with intellectual disabilities. Students can learn more at www.r-word.org.

Author/poet fair at RB High Photo by Jennifer Chalam

“”

The r-word hurts and excludes people with

disabilities. It puts them outside normal social

realms.

THE SILVER SPUR - MARCH 24, 20114 OPINIONS

Many students enter high school with expectations of achieving “success” – of graduating as valedictorian, being voted “Most Valuable Player,” or becoming part of the elite group who receives 2400’s on their SAT’s. They have dreams of becoming the founder of an economic smashing business that earns over a million dollars, creating the next Facebook, and hopes of being published in the New York Times for uncovering an earth shattering discovery.

All these ideas of finding fame and glory are geared towards one common thing: the sheer hope of one day having the people from the Admissions Office at Harvard groveling at your feet for you to enter their prestigious university.

This desire has propelled many students to go through a process joking termed as “College app whore-ing.” By doing so, they sign up for numerous extra curriculars for the sake of putting it on their college applications.

However, whether they wish to admit it

or not, many have a little part of “College App Whore” within them. This small amount of hope propels students to sign up for an abundance of AP courses, most of which they hold little to no interest in, or it helps instill the sudden desire to collect community service hours with no interest in actually helping better the community.

There is nothing wrong with having the hope of fullride scholarships to Ivy Leagues. Being college-bound is something that has long since been promoted – college is said to be the key to a great career and thus, success.

Success is supposed to be geared around the idea of happiness and self-fulfillment. Teachers often preach that effort puttowards a class and the learning experience outweighs the grade received in a course. Parents often tell their children that finding a job that suits their interests is more important than the salary.

So, why is it that during Club Rush, the organizations that sell themselves out to be “good for college applications” receive the most interest and membership? Why is it that we no longer find “success” to be the

simplistic idea of upholding strong morals and self esteem?

The simplest explanation is that society has distorted the idea of “success” into a measurement of numbers: some social cliques are generated from the number of honors and AP classes we take; our degree of intelligence is stereotyped from our SAT scores, and our level of happiness comes from which universities accept us into

But, we hardly ever take the time to consider the possibility that perhaps success just might stretch a little beyond receiving a six-figure paycheck. Whatever happened to pursuing your own interests in life?

By always being geared towards getting into a good college, we’ve completely given up on going after our own dreams for the sake of achieving them for self fulfillment.

By placing a mere numerical value on the immeasurable idea of success, we have destroyed all the simple pleasures in life and in a sense, the basic necessities to happiness.

And with all college acceptance rates and valedictorian qualifications aside – isn’t happiness the actual key to success?

Is being a “College App Whore” the key to success?

The immense impact technology has in our lives

Technology fever is sweeping the nation. It is, quite literally, impossible to turn on a TV, radio, or computer without being bombarded with advertisements glorifying the newest craze, be it a new 4G phone, or Apple’s latest invention. Technological advancements have become our new obsession; however, many question the increasing role that technology plays in our everyday lives.

Yet, there is no denying that technology makes us more productive and more efficient. Cynthia Hartley, AP U.S. History teacher, recalls when teachers had to calculate students’ grades by hand, which required working long, tedious hours, and left room for human errors.

“Now, we use the program, Making the Grade,” said Hartley. “At first it was hard to learn, but now grades are done quickly, and it saves me hours.”

Technology is a guaranteed time-saver, whether it is the computer that allows students to chat, surf, and blog in a matter of seconds, or the cell phone that can connect people at the touch of a button. Companies are constantly competing to generate the fastest, next, best product that will have consumers lined up for blocks in agonizing anticipation.

But many are protesting against the current rate of technological advancement, as it only fuels our desire to obtain the latest thing we may or may not need.

“It’s nice how new technology makes it really easy and convenient to do a lot of things,” said Connie Kang, junior. “But the sad part is how dependent we are becoming on the technologies.”

A large part of this dependence originates from our need to keep up with the newest technological advancements that companies are pumping out every two months.

Companies often employ strategies that ensure that people keep buying the

latest craze. One such method is planned obsolescence, when objects are deliberately designed to break after a certain period of time, therefore, forcing consumers to buy and use the latest technological advancement. Style obsolescence is another method companies use in which consumers feel the need to buy products because of the new aesthetic design.

This designed dependence on technology also serves to reduce traditional face-to-face communication, as people put less emphasis on a live interaction and instead rely on the Internet, phone calls, and texting to communicate. Today, many feel that adolescents are not developing the social skills that they need to interact in the real world.

But the number of options that people have for interaction limits the amount

The benefits of being vegetarian

Vegetarianism is a lifestyle which many people are increasingly taking part in – whether it is for religious, health, moral, or fashion related reasons. However, it is debated whether or not vegetarianism is worth it, or even completely necessary to a healthy lifestyle.

There are many misconceptions about vegetarianism. Some believe that the only thing vegetarians can eat are salads. This is definitely untrue. It is very possible to lead a vegetarian lifestyle while also dining in foods other than vegetables. In fact, some vegetarians are not the most healthy eaters - another misconception of many who are not vegetarian. However, it is true that becoming vegetarian can make it easier to acquire healthy and balanced eating habits.

There are several different types of vegetarians. These are mainly terms coined to describe the different types of lifestyles that arise from the food preferences that different people have.

Pescatarians do not eat any animal flesh except for fish. Lacto-ovo-vegetarians do not eat meat, but do eat dairy and eggs. Lacto-vegetarians eat only dairy, not eggs, and ovo-vegetarians eat eggs, but not dairy.

Vegans do not eat any meat, dairy, or egg product. One of the more extreme lifestyles is led by raw vegans, who do not eat meat, eggs, or dairy, and who also do not eat cooked food for belief that heating food causes it to lose nutritional value.

The different types of vegetarianism are merely guidelines for one to customize a

healthy lifestyle. One can pick and choose from the different dietary options in order to create a proper lifestyle suited to one’s personal interests.

Of course, eating vegetarian foods should be combined healthy exercise, drinking water, and other factors to improve health holistically.

One disadvantage to being vegetarian, however, is the lack of protein consumption. The protein content gained from meat is lost in a vegetarian diet. Other nutrients lacking from a vegetarian diet include Iron,

Zinc, Calcium, and Vitamin B-12. However, these can

be properly gained from other foods and used to supplement a wholesome diet.

Another reason besides health that one might choose to become vegetarian is morality. Some who have become vegetarians for

ethical reasons argue that the killing of other beings is not

right, and that there is no difference between killing animals for food and killing humans for food.

Other ethical vegetarians have adapted their lifestyle in protest to animal cruelty in meat production.

Factory farming and harsh animal treatment are reasons for those passionate about animal rights to go vegetarian.

Another more glorious reason to go vegetarian is for fashion. If one is involved with trends and styles such as “going green” and “organicism”, then being vegetarian may be a way to help effect that “green” lifestyle.

Whatever the reason, going vegetarian can definitely be a suitable replacement for a typical non-vegetarian lifestyle and can, with the right diet and supplements provide an even more beneficial path to wholesome living.

of time we spend talking to each other in person.

“It is really sad how instead of finding someone and talking to them, or even making a simple phone call, we rely on Facebook or texting or IM’ing to communicate,” said Kang. “But the good thing with this is that people who normally don’t get a chance to see each other can still communicate and be a part of each other’s lives.”

Technology is, in many cases, hugely beneficial to our lives. It gives people the opportunity to communicate on levels that were impossible before, and it increases efficiency and speed in the business world. However, we must keep maintaining our ability to interact socially with real human beings, as well as take the time and effort to slow the pace of our lives that technology has helped quicken

By Melody HuangAssistant Editor-in-Chief

Cartoon by Amy Ma

Cartoon Courtesy of Luke Verayo

By Jennifer ChalamNews Editor

By Carrie ChenEditor-in-Chief

“Going vegetarian can definitely be a suitable

replacement for a typical ... lifestyle.”

The now popular chat site Omegle is known for its ability to connect strangers via computer chat. The creator of the site is 18 year old Leif K-Brooks of Brattleboro, Vermont who created the site on March 25, 2009. The site pairs up online users randomly on one-on-one chat windows, with the option of blocking certain users, where they chat with the names “You” and “Stranger”.

There is no age requirement for the site but several users condone the use of the site and recommend that it is not for children. The popularity of the site is believed to be garnered from the “Your conversational partner has disconnected” at the end of the site. Omegle popularized the type of chat that is called anonymous chat, stranger chat or one-on-one chat.

A popular past time for Omegle fans is to post the stories about what has happened during their chats and laugh at them because of their humor or awkwardness. Omegle is noted for its many users who ‘troll’ since the site is anonymous and your ‘conversational partner’ will never know who you are.

| Omegle

Have you ever been given a link by your friends sending you to a video of Rick Astley? Then you became a victim of 4Chan. Being the innovation of Christopher Poole, aka Moot; this website was originally founded to discuss Japanese anime.

The site in was started 2003 when Poole was 15-years old. At first it was an excellent idea; however the idea soon spiraled out of control and ultimately the website developed into a site known for trolling.

On 4Chan, there are no regulations, so users can post whatever they desire. There are six categories on the site for message boards as well as image boards. 4Chan, unlike most message boards, do not have an account system, allowing users to post anonymously. Users are even allowed to post a pseudonym while using a trip code to regulate users.

4Chan is also highly noted for its creation of memes – concepts that are spread via the internet. An example of a meme is “Double Rainbow” – a type of meme that chronicled the sighting and reaction of witnessing a double rainbow. The community of 4Chan took the idea and made it a “national” joke.

People can and have used 4chan to spread hilarious yet very embarrassing or offensive photos, links, memes, videos, or memos about random or sensitive topics. Anything posted on the website can suddenly explode into a viral sensation around the world. This could do as much damage as good to a person’s reputation if it were to go viral. Thus, members of 4chan and the creator of the website himself have been criticized about their privacy feature and the risks it poses.

Another occurrence involved last year’s political figure, Sarah Palin. Her email account was allegedly hacked by “trolls” on 4Chan. The email account was quickly spread on 4Chan’s /b/. /b/ is the most popular board on 4Chan and is a forum about anything remotely random. 4Chan is overall a website that demonstrates the power of the internet.

| 4Chan

THE SILVER SPUR - MARCH 24, 20115 OPINIONS

Every generation has its form of moronic teenage humor. In the Shakesperean time of “Romeo and Juliet”, teenage boys harassed maids while trying to meet with a girl they met hours ago by jumping on vine-covered balconies.

During our parents’ generation, it would be “ding-dong ditching” while throwing rice bombs across their neighbors’ yard releasing mud and pieces of uncooked rice all over their lawn and front door. Just a few years ago, it was prank calling – making phone calls to friends and teachers.

As for this generation – harassing maids is now considered demeaning and rude and vines don’t grow at a large and populous rate in Southern California. “Ding-dong ditching” requires actual physical activity, and with access to new chemicals and Youtube tutorials, teenagers might be more inclined to setting off an actual bomb and

creating a fire hazard. Prank calling is still at large, but perhaps more popular is the art of trolling.

Trolling is defined on Urban Dictionary as being “the act of purposely disrupting a community through controversial and provocative messages and actions.” The person carrying out the action is thus deemed a “troll.” While acts of trolling can include bizarre prank calls, it’s prone to be more extensively found on the internet.

Whether it be sending large amounts of cardboard boxes to a friend anonymously or writing blatantly bad advice to someone in need of help, these pranks have created stories and laughs all over the virtual world of the web.

The act of trolling is unlike prior teenage pranks in that it can be done virtually anonymously. Also, because trolling is done exclusively on the internet, it allows access

to almost anyone, anywhere. People living in Uberlandia, Brazil could be “trolled” by someone here in Rancho Bernardo. As the majority of trolls reside behind their

computers stirring up mayhem and chaos, it becomes increasingly hard

to catch the person who “donated” five hundred boxes to the woman

living next door, or the person who “accidentally” sent thirty expensive pizzas to the man across the street.

The idea of trolling is just like prank calling, or

even releasing rice bombs on people’s lawns. It’s the idea of creating pet

peeves for people all around for the comic relief. However, unlike prior forms of

teenage humor, trolling can be twisted into a much more dangerous concept.

Cases of “trolling” have come up on national news before. About one year ago, the Today Show debuted an entire segment dedicated to different incidents of trolling. All of these “trolls” were linked to the deaths of three different girls.

Among many other offensive messages,

trolls defaced one girl’s Facebook memorial page, while in another case, trolls sent a family pictures of their daughter’s mutilated corpse after a fatal car accident.

While pranks such as sending pizzas to a neighbor’s house may be funny once in a while, offensive and cold hearted jokes are simply an easy way to be a bully – anonymously.

People who choose to purposely anger a community by posting offensive material on a memorial page are not only inconsiderate but also entering the realms of cyberbullying.

Trolling should not be used as an excuse to bully other people.

Admittedly, trolling can be funny at times – laughs at blatantly sarcastic remarks on Facebook and stories of friends receiving hundreds of cardboard boxes are often welcome.

However, like a rice bomb or a prank call, if the person on the receiving end of the moronic teenage humor isn’t so happy – it probably isn’t the best idea.

Trolling: a funny joke, or a new form of cyberbullying?

Chatroulette is an online website that allows anyone with a webcam from around the world to randomly conduct an unfiltered video chat with you. Created in November of 2009, this website became an instant hit for people just interested in accessing R-rated material and “trolling”.

The website’s founder, Andrey Ternovskiy, was a high school dropout from Moscow, Russia. He intended to create the website to earn some extra money. Within five months, 1.5 million people began to use this website.

The people using this website have been commonly addressed as “trolls”. These “trolls” have been the heart of much controversy and complaints on Chatroulette. A recent study from Robert J. Moore, CEO and co-founder of an intelligence gathering company called “RJMetrics” showed that the website was predominantly run by male perverts seeking images of female nudity.

The graphic desires and goals of these internet “trolls” have led to many arguments and rules on the chatroulette website. When a user has had a certain amount of “complaints” filed against them, they will be banned from the website for a certain amount of time.

When using online social websites like these it is always highly important to remember to keep all personal information to yourself and to use your better judgment.

| Chatroulette As defined by Urban Dictionary, a “troll” is “someone who posts inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum, chat room, or blog, with the primary intent of provoking other users into a desired emotional response.”

Cartoon courtesy of Amy Ma

By Melody HuangAssistant Editor-in-Chief

THE SILVER SPUR - MARCH 24, 20116 FEATURES

How countries prepare their students for colleges

For most teenagers, school has been an ever present entity in life. In the opinions of many people, no specific period is more life-changing and transformative than one’s years in college. Yet although the pre-college years, namely high school, is a common experience all around the world, distinct differences can be seen when comparing the American road to college with those around the world.

The educational system in Spain has a compulsory education age of 6 to 16 years old. From the ages of 16 to18, students enter a voluntary schooling period where those who wish to attend a university study in an institution called the Bachillerato. This stage of highly intensive education includes subjects of study, such as Spanish, foreign languages, philosophy, religion, art, science, geography and humanities.

“In many ways the system is similar [to the American one],” Estefania Sevilla, Spanish teacher, said. “Indeed there is an exam you take as you finish high school that is an important part of college admissions. One way it is different is that the exam has specific topics you are tested on depending on what you studied in high school. As in the United States, your high school GPA is also important to get into colleges.”

In Taiwan, all students receive nine years of free education, funded by the government. In order to attend high school, students must succeed in a final national examination.

This process, which is later repeated in entering a university, may help students practice for what is ahead. Aside from the

typical subjects found in the American curriculum, many high schools offer a military education class that educates students on civil defense, military drills and basic firearms training.

“There is a lot of pressure,” Olivia Hsu, a senior who had attended school in Taiwan, said. “All the high school students of a particular school take the exact same classes, so they are all being prepared somewhat equally for the college entrance exam taken their senior year. I think students start thinking about colleges as early as they start high school in the tenth-grade.”

French students also recognize the importance of preparing for college at a very

young age. According to Jacqueline Wight, French teacher of RB High, in addition to the conventional liberal arts universities, France also has well planned system for those who plan to study in vocational fields, such as fashion design or graphics.

High school seniors also take a final examination as a college entrance exam at the end of their senior year. These examinations are called Le Bac and are a week-long examination with the choice of emphasis on science, economics and social sciences, or literature.

As Wight explains, college is considered with more serious attitude than in America. When determining admission, colleges do

By Selina Li

Entertainment Editor

Love with Music is a club at RB High that combines music appreciation and community service. The club plays music in places like retirement homes to help out those who want to hear music in the communi ty.

“Love with Music is a place where RBHS students can share their talent and love for music,” said senior Warner Tse, an officer in the club. “However, not only do we enjoy each other’s talents, but it is a great way to bring joy to the community when they see our club members express themselves through music”.

Love with Music has many different kinds of memorable things about it. The club attends events as part of their community service.

The retirement homes offer a sweet audience who is always willing to listen to the club perform. Even if the club is unprepared or messes up, the crowd always manages to clap for the performers.

Most of the players consist of flutists and a pianist who are more than willing to give up their time to play for others.

“We play music at retirement homes and those events are my favorite part of being in the club, my most memorable experience was meeting one of the people who listened to us play at the Villa Pomerado,” said Carmen Ng, another officer. “He was very thankful that we came, and I felt glad that we could play for them.”

“What I love about Love with Music is how everyone knows each other. Even though as one of the club leaders, I do not know everyone, the fact that everyone seems to enjoy talking to each other is a huge plus in a club,” Tse said.

Love with Music can teach you valuable lessons about life through experience.

“It has changed my life as I met so many people who share the same passion for music and are willing to use their talents for a good cause, said Olivia Hsu, the founder of the club. “As the founder, I’m also glad that I could show the members that they could help out by applying their talents”. It even helps you appreciate music at a deeper level.

“Love with Music has taught me that no matter what we play, it is one of those universal languages that everyone understands,” said Tse. “This means that we can bring joy to those who might not understand English (or any of the languages we know), but they still find pleasure in what we choose to play.”

Love with Music is a great place for meeting people with similar interest in music as you.

During club meetings, students eagerly talk about music and what they are willing to do with it in their lives.

“The benefits of being in Love with Music are as simple as meeting people with similar musical interests, playing with them, and the feeling that you get when you know you are bringing joy to the elders and many others simply by playing music,” said Hsu. “Overall, it provides me with many meaningful experiences”.

Love with Music also sets its differences with other service clubs that help the community.

“Love with music is different because under all our differences, our sole goal is to bring joy through music to the community,” said Tse. “Because music is so subjective, I believe that every time we play music for a service project, it is a genuine act of kindness to our community”.

Students can sign up for Love with Music at the beginning of the year during club rush or just go to the biweekly meetings every Friday in the choir room where further information can be given about the current events that are coming up.

Love with Music is a wonderful way to connect with other music-loving friends and create long-lasting relationships. If music be the food of love; play on!

Kyle Leung

Staff Writer

Hilarious prank ideas for April Fool’s Day

April Fool’s Day is the only day of the year during which one can get away with pulling practical jokes.

While pulling April Fool’s pranks is usually more celebrated amongst giddy elementary school kids, the holiday can still provide a way to pull creative practical jokes on friends, parents, or teachers - as long as they are not malicious.

“Once I put a sticky note on the bottom of my parents’ computer mouse so that the mouse wouldn’t work. They had a hard time figuring out what was wrong,” said junior Kaeli Garner.

Other easy pranks range from pretending someone has a gigantic bug on them to taping the nozzle in a sink. One especially annoying prank is to hide another person’s cell phone in an inconspicuous, yet nearby, area and to call it so that it drives him or her crazy trying to find it.

According to “aprilfoolzone.com” the “Tidal Wave” is a good prank to play on someone with a desk. One must take a large number of plastic or paper cups and place them on the desk, fill them all with water, and then staple them together.

Pranks are not only fun to play on friends, but on teachers as well. A prank could include covering one’s computer and desk

Jennifer Chalam

News Editor

not weigh extracurricular activities such as acting as president of clubs or accumulated volunteer hours as much as concrete test scores. The Le Bac is the major determining factor and if one fails the test, said student must repeat his or her entire senior year over again.

In Germany, students typically go through an examination called the Abitur, similar to the SATs in weight. These exams occur at the end of the 12th year of schooling, and the certificate students obtain for passing the exam act as both a graduation certificate and a university entrance document. However, Abiturs are not to be taken to be as serious as the SATs or Le Bacs, and students certainly have alternative routes in standardized testing. In fact, some universities create their own entrance examinations for hopeful applicants.

“Their school schedule is very similar to ours except that once a week, school will literally go all the way to five in the afternoon,” Luke Lundborg, senior and foreign exchange student to Germany, said. “They have almost a dozen periods and study a lot. For example, they take roughly ten subjects throughout the year. I feel like their educational system is fantastic, and I think ours would be vastly improved if we did something identical to theirs.”

In retrospective, even though many cultures have their peculiarities, the long passages into adulthood are similar throughout the world. Thus, while the burden of applying to colleges weighs heavily on the minds of many American students, it is at least slightly comforting to know that across the world at this very second, millions of other students are feeling the same.

in aluminum foil or plastic wrap, or hiding his furniture.

Even teachers can pull pranks on the students.

“Mr. Bokesch had an idea last year that all of the Math teachers and the English teachers should switch classrooms, so that when the students walked into their class, their teacher would be different,” said Richard Deem, an A.P. Calculus teacher at RB High. The prank was never completed, but it goes to show that teachers can participate in the spirit of April Fool’s Day as well.

There are always classic pranks, such as the whoopee cushion, but one can even get more creative with April Fool’s Day pranks. One is to place large bubble wrap behind the tires of another person’s car, so that when he or she reverses, he or she will be confused as to what was run over.

Another is to pretend to swat a fly in front of someone, then pretend to squash it and eat it, while actually eating a squished raisin that was already in hand. A similar prank is to place fudge or a crumbled brownie on the ground to make it look like dog poop. Then, when someone is watching, one can casually pick up the “poop” and eat it.

April Fool’s Day pranks can be unique, elaborate, or simply classic ways to have fun, but the most important thing to remember is to not be vengeful or harmful. If April Fool’s Day humor is kept light hearted, then the day can be celebrated as merely a way for everyone to enjoy practical jokes.

Join Journalism!If you are interested in...

• Writing reviews,

• Taking photos• Designing layouts• Conducting interviews

editorials, features, or news pieces

• Drawing cartoons

Then Journalism is for you! Being a part of your high school newspaper will make your life complete. Gain leadership opportunities, make new friends, and experience the best years of your life!

• Or just need a computer class and need to fill a practical art requirement

Students pose as people pulling a classic prank Photo by Jennifer Chalam

Students in Asia studying Photo from blogs.reuters.com

Two Journalism students are looking at the product of their hard work. Photo by Jennifer Chalam

Club Spotlight: Love with Music

THE SILVER SPUR - MARCH 24, 2011 7FEATURES

are no longer available, and the citizens must pay in order to use a public restroom.Urine Good Company, a large corporate organization, controls the funding and money the townspeople are forced to pay to use the toilet. Failure to pay the fee or damaging the facilities results in the penalty of being deported to a penal colony known as “Urinetown.”

The complex production had many intricate details that extended beyond the plot. While the audience only sees the overview of a mind-blowing show, hours of work went into perfecting all of the pieces that had to come together in order to create a seamless performance.

“It really takes a lot of work,” said Shannon Hayes, a cast member who plays the kind and somewhat dimwitted Hope Cladwell. “[You have to spend a lot of time] learning the lines and songs, choreographing dance numbers, and having a live band.”

Cast members spent hours after school and at lunch rehearsing tirelessly day after day, getting ready to perform.

Director Terri Rogelstad noted, “We usually have to piece the rehearsals together like a puzzle, and with any luck, there won’t be any pieces missing when we’re done.”

However, as was evident in their performance on opening night, the puzzle

pieces did fall in place. The talented cast provided a charming and energy-filled performance that was truly unforgettable. The audience fell in love with the sweet character of Hope Cladwell and the somewhat airheaded Bobby Strong. Laughter permeated the audience throughout most of the show. After the last number of “Run Freedom Run,” the audience quickly jumped to their feet, giving the cast a standing ovation.

“I want the cast to walk away from Urinetown knowing that they gave it all that they could,” said Assistant Director Jason Solomon. “I want them to learn that if you practice and strive for something, and give it 120 percent knowing that that it is the best that you can do.”

With that in mind, the cast of Urinetown has shown that putting together a massive production filled with musical numbers, hundreds of spoken lines, and a live pit orchestra is an indescribable challenge – but their amazing and memorable performance proves that with a group of talented kids who all share the same passion of music and theater as well as the willingness to work, challenges can quickly be turned into accomplishments. So a few years from now, do not be surprised if you see any one of these cast members at the Tony awards.

By Melody Huang

Assistant Editor-in-Chief

Meet the Cast...

Shannon Hayes Photo by Jennifer Chalam

“Being in a musical is a beautiful expe-rience that cannot compare to anything else except for meeting Penny.”

Chelsea Thomas Photo by Jennifer Chalam

Roxanne Conowitch Photo by Jennifer Chalam

“It was really great working with the cast and I had a lot of fun and I’m glad the audience enjoyed it.”

“This musical has been great. From the minute we started, I literally fell in love with my character Penny Pennywise.”

Anthony Cirillo Photo by Jennifer Chalam

Angelica Gorga Photo by Jennifer Chalam Rachel Garstang Photo by Jennifer Chalam

Dillon Thomas Photo by Jennifer Chalam Zachary Manlapid Photo by Jennifer Chalam Chris Riordan Photo by Jennifer Chalam

“It’s great to be a part of something and to be able to be a crazy person.”

“It was probably the most fun I’ve had doing a musical.”

“Who knew a play called Urinetown could be so epic?”

“I think probably the best part of any production is that you form lasting friendships with the other cast mem-bers.”

“The play is a good social commentary on tyrannical systems of government and how to manipulate the masses through their bladders.”

“It was a really fun show to be a part of. It finally came together in the end.”

Stage Manager Nick Bonafede

House Manager Kimberly Dasteel

Officer Lockstock Dillon Thomas

Cladwell B. Cladwell Jason Solomon

Penelope Pennywise Roxanne Conowitch

Hope Cladwell Shannon Hayes

Little Sally Angelica Gorga

Ms. McQueen Rachel Garstang

Senator Fipp Kresten Taylor

Officier Barrel Zachary Manlapid

Mrs. Millennium Sarah Finch

Dr. Billeaux Kaitlyn Summers

Bobby Strong Anthony Cirillo

Hot Blades Harry Chris Riordan

Little Becky Two Shoes Allison Ruffner

Tiny Tom Zak Corrales

Soupy Sue Chelsea Thomas

Robin the Stockfish Tiffany Lahe

Billie Girl Bill Haley Gansert

Josephine Strong Golden Owens

Old Man Strong Andrew Freedman

Orchestra with Mr. Jim Thompson on piano Joshua Garcia, Patrick

Judge, Daniel Jensen, Rachel Trombore, Kevin Erskine,

Corey Williams

Chorus/Rebels/Poor/Cops/Etc.

Katie Marcus, Christine Heyne, Katie French, Maddie

Lanois, Genie Reyes, Elizabeth Moreno, Sarabeth Belon,

Alexandra Nicholson

Director - Terri RogelstadMusical Director - Lisa Friedrichs

Conductor - Duane OtaniAssistant Director - Jason Solomon

Student Director - Zak Corrales

“This is Urinetown! One restroom here at Urinetown … It’s the oldest story, masses are oppressed… Yes here we are in Urinetown.” Simply from the title of this musical, it’s easily seen that “Urinetown” is not a typical production. Filled with elaborate musical numbers, a plethora of hilarious characters, and a complex yet satirical plot, “Urinetown” is a truly unique production that causes audiences to sit at the edges of their seats, cry, and laugh all in the same scene.

This phenomenal musical was put together in just six weeks and opened March 16. The drama teacher, Terri Rogelstad, and the choir director, Lisa Friedrichs, worked together to direct the play, alongside Jason Solomon as the Assistant Director and Duane Otani as the Band Director. Unlike a typical high school production, “Urinetown” featured not only live singing and dancing, but also a real pit orchestra.

The entire musical is narrated by a police officer referred to as Officer Longstock and a poor girl by the name of Little Sally. Lockstock tells the audience of a massive drought that has hit a town hard. In order to control water consumption, private toilets

B C

THE SILVER SPUR - MARCH 24, 20118 ENTERTAINMENT

film game

When you first play Pokémon Black or Pokémon White, everything feels comfortingly familiar, and while the games does attempt to introduce new things to the series, nothing significant has been changed to change the minds of those who have already formed opinions on the series.

One of the new things brought into the series is the more serious theme on the morality of keeping Pokémon in poke balls and forcing them to battle for amusement. However, the attempt is uninteresting, and has obvious opinions on which side is right and so the morality of the game ends up simply black and white. Additionally, the characters are so frustratingly bland that every time they appear, you will probably want them to just shut up and battle.

There are two new battle modes in the games, the more simply and self-explanatory three-way battles, and the tactical and challenging rotational battles. However, these new modes are encountered so rarely that they might as well be non-existent.

However, let’s be honest, no one plays Pokémon for its deep nuanced story or its varied battle system, people play it to

catch them all, and in that regard it greatly succeeds. For the most part the game made no real changes to the battle system itself, but it did not really need to. Catching the Pokémon is just as addicting as before.

The games also bring better graphic to the series, with both the now more detailed two-dimensional sprites and three-dimensional objects seamlessly blending. There is also more motion is battles, as the moves the Pokémon use are now more animated and the Pokémon themselves dance around during battle now.

The sound however, is nearly the same as previous generations, with the same shrill sirens, oomph’s, and cries as previous generations. They do try to bring more variation the background music none of it is interesting. So overall, my recommendation is to play the game with the sound off, after all, you can take only so much helium-pitched whines before you start to wish death upon your own little creatures.

Overall, it boils down to this: if you are a fan of the Pokémon series you will enjoy Pokémon Black and you have never liked the series this game will do nothing to change your mind, as it is just the same old formula as before with a new shiny coat of paint.

“Unknown” is a new suspenseful thriller which was released in February. It was directed by Jaume Collet-Serra and starred Liam Neeson and Diane Kruger.

The plot of the movie is not extremely original, although it does contain a few surprising twists. Liam Neeson plays Dr. Martin Harris, a man who travels to Germany with his wife for a biotechnology convention. However, soon, he realizes that he has left all of his personal papers at the airport and takes a taxi back to retrieve it.

On the way, his taxi crashes and falls over a bridge. In the next scene, Dr. Harris wakes up. Unable to remember anything immediately prior to the crash, he searchs for his wife. However, when he confronts her, she seems to not recognize him. Furthermore, another man next to his wife begins to claim that he is the “real” Dr. Martin Harris. Dr. Harris, enraged and bewildered, is escorted out by the hotel security. He is now forced to wander the streets without any official claim to his real identity. As he becomes more desperate, he himself begins to doubt his identity. However, just when

he is beginning to lose hope, he finds help when he seeks out the taxi driver who was driving the taxi cab when it crashed. He is also helped by Ernst Jurgen, who begins to investigate more about Dr. Harris’s situation. Dr. Harris begins to feel that the situation is even more complicated when he begins to notice a strange man following him. The man makes several attempts on Dr. Harris’s life, which he narrowly escapes.

Meanwhile, Jurgen discovers that the biotechnology convention which Dr. Harris was supposed to attend was shrouded in controversy because of the attendance of a middle-eastern figure that many assassins had attempted to kill.

In the midst of all of the suspense and confusion building up and yet having no real answer to the question of Dr. Harris’s true identity, Dr. Harris is kidnapped by another group of strange men. The final plot twist approaches as Gina rescues Dr. Harris, and they both finally unveil the last clue to Dr. Harris’s mystery as they find his briefcase and he uncovers his true identity.

At the end of the movie, Gina and Dr. Harris encounter some final action, suspense, and drama, and finally the movie resolves on a somewhat ambiguous but vaguely pleasant note. re

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By Jennifer ChalamNews Editor

By Robert MooreStaff Writer

Pokémon

“A new world filled with never- before-seen pokemon”

-Pokemon back cover

“ Pokemon “(2011)

Unknown

“Do you know what it feels like to become insane? It’s a war between being told who you are and knowing who you are”

- Dr. Martin Harris

“Unknown” (2011)

Photo from of entertainmentwallpaper.com

By Julie LohmannStaff Writer

Photo from of ds.nintendolife.com

RB High’s very own aspiring writer

In the words of William Wordsworth, “Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.” This is exactly what Jessica Noe, an extraordinarily talented author at RB high does when she writes her short stories.

Jessica is not the only author at RB high, though. She only represents a section of the student body. In fact, there are many more authors.

“I am currently pursuing publication of a novella I recently completed,” Jessica states, showing that she has the perseverance necessary to reach her future goal in having a career in writing news journalism or analysis. For now, Jessica tends to stick to the more entertaining side of the field.

As an author with a fresh outlook on things, Jessica enjoys writing fictional or historical fiction stories in both straightforward and allegorical fashions. She sees this as her favorite genre to write in because it enables her to reveal to the reader her passions and interests, and to change the way they view the world. The best thing about Jessica’s stories are that they do in fact, represent the feelings of youthful bliss and remind the

Jessica’s story: Kanuri Village

Jessica Noe poses for the camera Photo by Julie Lohmann

world that we all begin young and with an open mind.

This is an important factor considering that one of the reasons Jessica writes her stories is indeed to promote youthful thinking. “In my opinion, it’s very important for young people to write. For me, writing is a way to understand my own life and thoughts by playing them out in written situations and hope that it will help someone else who has questions about the world we live in.” Jessica comments on the importance of her writing.

“It seems as though our generation is focusing more on electronic devices for communication than our written communication, and our entertainment is shifting from reading to television,” She says, talking about the cultural importance of her generation to write. She realizes that the way people her age do things will always be changing to be more technological, but traditional methods are still important.

“To avoid writing is to avoid intellectual and true thought, and without it, the culture we have will be lost,” says Jessica Noe, one of the most talented authors of her age. It is important to continue to keep our generation’s culture alive as well as the culture at RB High.

remains. He held her, her arm hanging uselessly by her side. Her eyes were closed; burns had charred her chocolate skin. He had lost his sister and people he loved like parents in a matter of days of seeing them alive. He found them within minutes of each other.

He heard a cry from the house next door. A persistent whimpering that made him sure he wasn’t hallucinating. Someone had survived. He laid her back down, careful not to twist her body as he put her down. He stood on shaky legs and walked through the debris, blindly following the cry, paying no mind to the knowledge that the Koreans would send their second string soon.

The left side, towards the back, that’s where he should dig. He began to dig, yanking off beams, pawing through debris. Finally he reached the cry. A child, no more than two had been saved in a pocket, under a foot of rubble. He had been knocked unconscious by his fall, a burn on his back from where he had been lying against a beam. The child coughed through whimpering sobs of fear and edged back into the corner of his safe haven.

Malek began to talk through his tears of relief and grief in Kanuri. The toddler began to cry again and he let Malek take him out of the debris. The child was shaking and tried to climb closer to Malek when he lifted him from the rubble. His small arms wrapped around Malek’s neck and he buried his face into his shoulder.

He had been too young to talk when Malek last left. His name was Zae; he was two years old. His parents had been killed and the only home he knew had been burned on top of him. He was a survivor. He was the lone survivor of an ignored and soon to be forgotten people.

mothers who had cried in anguish as they watched their children die, before they themselves had been killed. For the fathers who had bravely tried to save their families but knew not how to fight.

He stumbled over to the home of Mayema and her family. The fire pit outside was the only thing not smoldering. The clay pot he had carried not two days ago sat outside next to the fire pit, water still filling the bottom.

A cry caught in his throat when he saw Ferjah, collapsed in front of where the entrance used to stand. An arm stuck out from the rubble, cleanly broken at the elbow; Mayema.

He saw it in an instant. Ferjah had pushed her daughter inside and had blocked the entrance, yelling for her husband who was in the corrals, feeding their mare, preparing for the journey. The jeeps had come from the eastern side. Sayeman, hearing his wife, had tried to clamber over the side of the corrals to escape and save his family. He had gotten halfway over before they gunned him down. He had died; his arms still hooked around the top rung.

The soldiers had dismounted and had entered the village. Ferjah screamed for her husband, desperately crying out to God to save them. They had shot her six times and then lit the house on fire. Mayema had still been inside, crying as she watched her mother fall. The house had collapsed on her and had continued to burn, burying her in the remains of the only life she had known.

Malek stumbled through the debris towards the lone arm, the testament to the horrors that had transpired while he was out playing politician. He should have stayed with them. Grief swelled in his chest and spilled over. Sobs wracked his body as he dug her out from under the smoldering

Malek traveled around the basin and came up on the outside ridge that overlooked what was left of the village. The sight that met his eyes brought a crushing sorrow that rammed his chest with a vengeance.

The huts smoldered, reduced to piles of ash and mud. The charred remains of skirts hanging across a line between two homes twisted and writhed with the breeze as if reaching out to some unseen force to save them. The corrals had burned, the horses gone.

It was then he saw the first body. He scrambled down the slope, hoping against hope the figure was not dead.

It was Sayeman. He had died, draped over the last remains of the corrals. A dark stain had spread in the dirt at his bare feet, his body full of bullet holes. Nausea swept through Malek’s stomach and he fought it back, forcing his legs to carry him into the village. He was searching for survivors, but the aroma of death that rose from the village told him he would find none.

It was a sight not many Americans had or would ever see. No pictures would be published. Those who died unnecessarily that day in Africa would be pushed out of the way, and out of mind. The charred skeletal remains of buildings, the mutilated and filthy bodies, their end would never be known. The metal pots lay where they had been discarded, twisted and welded together in melting piles, handles bending and drooping, collapsing on themselves.

Malek walked down the trail alone, tears staining his face for those who had been slaughtered. For the children whose smiles would never again grace this earth. For the

By Jessica NoeGuest Writer

Jessica Noe and her future writing career

Send your best work to room S5 or at rbsilverspur@gmail.com.

Want to see your short story, artwork, or other original work featured in the Silver Spur?

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THE SILVER SPUR - MARCH 24, 2011 9ENTERTAINMENT

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successfully encompasses various styles of hard rock, soft rock and romantic ballads. As a concept album, “Until We Have Faces” effortlessly tells a story of first, self-doubt and dependency, then, disillusionment and anger, then finally, confidence and reconcilement.

One of the most compelling and easily relatable songs on the album is “Faceless.” Extremely relevant to any listener who is on the road of self growth and discovery, this song is the best combination of powerfully written lyrics, fast paced instrumentals and passionate performance delivery. Overall, “Faceless” carries the message that though one may be lost at times, no one is ever alone.

However, though most of the album is well thought out and honest, several later songs leaves listeners with less enthusiasm. For example, although “Not Alone” and “The Outside” has a relatable message, the melody compositions of songs are slightly awkward at times.

Ultimately, Red has shown true artistic growth with their new album “Until We Have Faces.” This extremely versatile album is equally great for a catharsis of monumental proportions as well as a quiet lullaby before bed.

literature album

The book “Room,” by Emma Donoghue, shows the harrowing tale of Ma and her son, Jack. The book is told in the perspective of a precocious boy, one whose only friends are his mom and Dora and Barney on T.V. A boy who calls everything by a name and not an object, such as Wardrobe, where he sleeps at nights.

The book starts with Jack turning five. Ma calls him Mr. Five. Jack is genuinely happy, playing with Ma and his friends on T.V. Through Jack’s innocent voice, readers are able to sense Ma’s suffering. To Jack, Room is his whole world, but to Ma, it’s a prison she can’t escape.

Ma, we later learn, was kidnapped by “Old Nick” when she was in college; he lured her in by telling her his dog was dying. He then drugged her and trapped her in a shed. As Ma attempts to explain this situation to Jack, the readers feel a queasy sense of claustrophobia.

One day, Ma has a revelation. She uses Jack to escape from her personal hell. Jack is able to make it to outside and get a policewoman to rescue Ma. Of course, after living in a shed for all his life, Jack

In early February, the music rock band, Red, released their much anticipated album, “Until We Have Faces.” Since 2006, band members Michael Baanes, Anthony Armstrong, Randy Amstrong and Joe Rickard have been producing award winning albums. In fact, both of their debut album, “End of Silence” (2006) and “Innocence & Instinct” (2009) have received Grammy nominations without fail. With their newly released album, “Until We Have Faces,” it seems very likely that Red will soon be receiving not only the nominations but also the solid win.

As the band described on their website, the overall theme of the entire album is all about the universal quest of finding one’s own identity in a confusing and technology overloaded generation. Because the band had asked the fans to give suggestions for what they wanted to hear, this theme became the foundation for the anthem of Red fans everywhere.

Similar to their previous records, Red’s new album “Until We Have Faces” is a perfectly balanced blend of passion and angst, hope and despair. The entire album

By Selina LiEntertainment Editor

By Hanna LeeFeatures Editor

Room““I keep messing up. I know you need me to be your ma but I’m

having to remember how to be me as well at the same time…””

- Ma

“Room”(2011)

Photo from buy.com

Until We Have Faces

“And time is just a war that’s stealing dreams from within”

- “The Best is Yet to Come”

“Until We Have Faces” (2011)

Photo from of ipadwallpaper.eu

ASB

needs to try to fit in with the world. Unlike Ma, Jack cries and wants to go back to Room. Also, he feels sympathetic for “Old Nick,” demonstrating a condition known as Stockholm Syndrome.

One of the struggles Jack faces in fitting into society is that he is still being nursed by Ma. People find it strange. Jack refuses to part with Ma, and although he is very bright, he does not have social skills. The book ends with Jack and Ma visiting Room for the last time.

Room is a captivating book from beginning to end. However, though Jack and Ma are safe, but readers can’t help but feel disturbed. Overall, “Room” is a provocative novel on a subject most people do not want to think about.

“Room” reminds readers of the story of Jaycee Lee, who was found a few years ago in a shed with her two daughters. It was also based upon the Fritzel case. The Fritzel case was when a father kidnapped her daughter and hid her in the basement for many years. These kidnapping and rape incidents are ones that strike terror in most parents’ hearts. Room shows a young boy trying to make sense of the world he once knew and the one where he must interact with a lot of people.

StudentStore

• Chocolate pudding

• Crunchy cheese cheetos

• Hot munchies mix

• Pirate’s booty white cheddar popcorn

• Peach cups

• Frosted strawberry poptart

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Have you checked out the new items in the Student Store? Stop by and try the newest snacks! ALL profits from the Student Store go back to the students in the form of dances, sports, assemblies, clubs, etc.

• Strawberry Nutrigrain

The Beatles were the phenomenon of the 60s. Made up of John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison; they remain one of the most well-known bands in the history of modern music.

Their first single was “Love Me Do” released in 1962. When the British band arrived in the US they were met by crowds of thousands of cheering fans; a clear sign of their ever expanding popularity.

According to the RIAA, the Beatles have sold more albums in the United States than any other artists both before and after their time. They received seven Grammys and 15 Ivor Novello Awards from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors. Their success can be measured by the fact that they engendered a movement called “Beatlemania.”

The Beatles embodied the values of the 60s social and cultural revolutions. The band brought attention to the matters of gay liberation, women’s liberation, and environmentalism. It was not just their music that was popular; their bohemianism came to represent an entire generation of people. The concept of an album was redefined by The Beatles, who were also the inventors of the music video. Today, only McCartney and Starr are alive.

The 70s musical style was characterized by disco. One band that embodies this is the Bee Gees. Composed of Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb, they started as a soft-rock group in the early 70s. Because members of the band continuously dropped out and were replaced, their style continued to evolve with every album. Eventually, they found their calling in disco and by the late 70s, they had garnered enough fame to be introduced into the Rock Hall of Fame in 1997. Their most famous single is “Stayin’ Alive,” is covered by countless artists and is continuously used on soundtracks to movies. Though the members were English, they moved to Australia and began producing songs there. The Bee Gees had a rocky start, but managed to snag #1 on billboard charts with the single “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart.” Then, “Jive Talkin’” was released.

They became the leaders of the disco scene with the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. The most popular songs off that were “How Deep is Your Love,” “Stayin’ Alive,” and “Night Fever.” With this soundtrack, the Bee Gees came back into fame. Although their musical career was littered with many pitfalls, they breathed new life into the disco era.

The new millennium brought a new type of music: rap. The best selling rap artist of that decade and of all time is Eminem. His very first album “The Slim Shady LP,” won a Grammy for Best Rap Album.

The next album, “Marshall Mathers LP,” was the fastest selling album in American music history. Eminem was the first artist to win the Best Rap Album Grammy three times in a row. His song “Lose Yourself” won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. Having sold more than 80-million albums worldwide, Eminem is one of the most successful music artists of his time. With 13 number-one singles, six consecutive number one albums in the United States, and the first artist to have two year-end best selling albums, Eminem is the Artist of the Decade from Billboard Magazine.

His commercial success is exemplified by his other achievements. Eminem has over 30-million likes in total on Facebook, and his VEVO page has over 1-billion hits. Perhaps Eminem’s popularity stems from his controversy, as well as his music. His songs continually give offense to certain people, giving them much appeal to people with similar views as his. Regardless of what the cause behind his immense popularity is, Eminem’s success is stunning.

The undisputed king of the 80s music scene was Michael Jackson. He was originally part of the Jackson 5, a group consisting of Jackson and four of his family members. That band was moderately successful, but when Jackson broke off onto his solo career he became a musical legend. With his biggest singles “Beat It,” “Billie Jean,” and “Thriller,” Jackson brought about the fame of MTV.

His music videos were used to promote his songs, an entirely new idea in the music industry. The Guinness Book of World Records names him the most successful entertainer of all time. His 1982 album “Thriller” is the best selling album of all time.

Though his personal life was a constant scandal, his musical influence has never faded. The numerous awards he received are proof of this. Jackson earned a total of 13 Grammy Awards, the Grammy Legend Award, The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and 26 American Music Awards.

Jackson’s style influenced his era and continues to influence ours. Beyonce, Mariah Carey, Usher, Green Day, Britney Spears, Madonna, Justin Timberlake, and Ludacris all cite him as one of their musical inspirations.

By Nina von NyssenStaff Writer

Evolution of Music

Beatles album cover

Photo from seekacover.com Photo from go.com

The trend that was most often seen in the 90s was boy bands. Boyz II Men represent this genre perfectly. The band began in high school, with few changes to its composition before their first album was released.

The original members were Nathan Morris, Marc Morris and Shawn Stockman. Later, the group became Boyz II Men consisted of Michael McCary, Nathan and Wanya Morris, and Shawn Stockman.

Their first single “The End of the Road” stayed at number one on the billboard charts for 13 consecutive weeks, pushing Elvis Presley’s record out of the way. Their following singles, “I’ll Make Love to You” and “One Sweet Day,” featuring Mariah Carey, broke their own, previously set record. “One Sweet Day” was the number-one single for 16 consecutive weeks.

Because of these numerous successes, they were named the most successful group of the 90s by Billboard magazine. Their first album, “Cooleyhighharmony”, sold over 9 million copies and won them a Grammy. Their next album, “II”, sold over 12 million copies. With their new single “On Bended Knee”, Boyz II Man became the third band to replace themselves at the number one spot. Their success and sound mark the general style of the 90s.

Photo from rockandpop80s.com Photo from 3.bp.blogspot.comPhoto from chartstats.com

Michael Jackson album Bee Gees album cover Boyz II Men album cover Eminem album cover

60s 70s 80s 90s 00s

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THE SILVER SPUR - MARCH 24, 201110 SPORTS

Madeline McIntyre, senior, plays varsity for three different sports here at RB High. She does field hockey in the fall, basketball in the winter, and softball in the spring. She is an active varsity player on all 3.

McIntye has been recruited by several prestigious and well known colleges around the nation, ranging from Northwestern University to Michigan State University to Ohio State University.

McIntyre has been playing softball for RB High since her freshman year and has enjoyed every moment of it. It has helped her become a better player and leader on and off the field. It has also helped shape her future for greatness and success.

“She’s one of the best hitters and keeps everyone paying attention,” said Coach Summer Downs. “[She] makes good plays, and gives amazing effort that makes her want to get better everyday.”

Though a number of schools have offered her a scholarship, McIntyre has decided to commit to Ohio State. According to

Junior Trent Williams is one of the captains of the varsity Swim and Dive team and is a great athlete of this spring season. Trent is competing in all events for the dual meets during the regular season, but he will compete in both the 100 and 200 yard freestyle stroke in the CIF tournament. This year Trent became co-captain, sharing the title with Senior Robert Foss.

“Trent is one of the most gifted athletes I have ever worked with His impact on this team has been immeasurable. He practices and competes with an intensity that is uncommon for such a young athlete. He has established himself as one of the best swimmers to ever come out of Rancho Bernardo High School. Trent is a very selfless individual who always puts the best interest of the team first and would do anything for his teammates,” said Head Coach Tim Oelgoetz. Asides from being the Aquatics director here at RB High, Oelgoetz also coaches the San Diego Aquatics Club (SDAC). SDAC is a USA swim team.

Oelgoetz has coached Trent and helped in for the last few years.

Although the Swim team fell short of winning the CIF championship in 2010, Trent had a breakout season as a sophomore, winning the 100 Freestyle at 45.98 seconds and 200 freestyle at 1:39.53, qualifying for the regional tournament. He currently holds the school record in four events: the 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle, the 100

backstroke, and the 200 medley relay with Jobin Bahmanipour, Dennis Liu, and Robert Foss.

“Winning the CIFs was awesome last year,” Trent said of his success. “No one expects a sophomore to come in and win both his races, so showing them I could do it was great.”

“My goals for this season are to break

more RBHS records like the 50 free, 200 IM [Individual Medley], and 100 fly. As far as team goals are concerned, I want this season to be a winning season. I want us to have fun and swim our bests.”

Now as a team captain, Trent Williams will help lead the RB Swim and Dive team to great success.

RB High Athlete Spotlights:By Jeffrey Lam and Edward ZhuSports Editor and Staff Writer

Madeline McIntyre Trent Williams

By Edward ZhuStaff Writer

With the budget crisis still going on in California’s schools, school Districts have tightened their budgets and cut back on spending. Poway Unified School District (PUSD) is no different. There has been much commotion amongst teachers, parents, and students on the loss of art programs, but little do people know about the toll it has taken on our sports programs.

“The school gets about $28,000 a year from the district, and they use the money to refurbish the school fields, pay for transportation, and pay for the officials at every game,” said Athletic Director Peggy Brose.

It seems like $28,000 is a lot of money, but it is not, especially when you have to support one-third of RB High’s student body for three sport seasons. The school lost a lot of money when the District cut the funding for transportation.

Many sports have felt the hit from the budget cuts. Many sports have been fundraising to get enough money to just pay for their own coaches.

“It’s such a sad moment to hear that the athletes have to raise the money to pay for the very coaches that are supporting them,” Peggy Brose said.

Other sports, such as RB High’s varsity baseball team is not feeling as much of the cuts as some of the other sports. With the generosity of the coaches, players, and parents, they have managed to keep their fields preened and recognized as one of the best in their league.

“The [baseball] varsity field is amazing…we have one of the best facilities in the league,” said player Gosuke Katoh. “Coach Ray donates a lot of time and money to the program to keep our fields and facilities in top shape.”

Some spectators do not seem to feel that the budget cuts are affecting the quality and skill level on the field.

“I’m happy to say that the funding has absolutely no bearing on the game,” Principal Paul Robinson said. “Through fundraising and donations, we have up-to-date equipment and facilities.”

The new head football coach, Tristan McCoy, believes that the effort it takes a team to raise some of the money actually helps strengthen the team’s bond with each other and teaches them to work together as a team the way practicing and drills can’t.

With the good and the bad that has come with the budget cuts and its cut into school sports funding, most coaches and players can agree, more money would be nice, but they do the best with what they have. With all the championships banners in our gym, it seems like they have done an amazing job of it.

By Julian PotterStaff Writer

McIntyre, she chose Ohio State because of the strong sports program.

“I worked really hard to get into Ohio State, and I’m glad it paid off,” said McIntyre. “I chose to go there because of the coaches, atmosphere, and the team. Ohio State also has a big sports program.”

McIntyre plays shortstop, and she hopes to work on her hitting, and being more vocal in the team. Her favorite thing about

playing shortstop is that you have a leadership role, and that you also get to cover a lot of the field. Her personal goal, like many other athletes, is to win at CIFs. According to Downs, McIntyre is not only a good athlete, but a good person as well.

“Madeline is very athletic, she made varsity in field hockey, basketball, and softball

as a freshman,” Downs said. “Also, she learns from her mistakes quickly and improves. Everyone on the team looks up to her and her qualities.”

With the softball season well underway, Madeline is doing her best to lead the team and get them to CIFs. With an excellent athlete like McIntyre, they can make it.

Although this is a team, tennis is also an individual sport. It allows players to be eligible for sponsorships or be noticed by universities when they shine on the court. For example, Chiu has a partial scholarship from Prince and Solinco.

“I like how it’s an individual sport...it involves (more) critical thinking,” said Valdez.

Although you would think tennis being a lot more individual would create competitiveness among the players, the team is close-knit, and there is great emphasis on the team as a whole. Parrinello wants his players to support each other as well as be responsible for their activities and decisions.

“Apart from having good players, we need to be able to cooperate as a team,” said Chiu. “This includes cheering for teammates, being able to play with different people and being a fun person to be around.”

Because the tennis team is one of the best, it is more challenging to make it to the team, let alone varsity.

“Make sure (you) practice, play in tournaments and take lessons,” said Parrinello to those interested in joining next year.

“Trying for the tennis team is different than most sports. You play other players one by one and based on your scores and what the Parri and the captains think of you, you either make the team or you don’t,” said Sedehi.

The varsity team has fourteen members and nine of them start. To start means to be

part of the three singles or the three double teams. To win a match is to win ten of the eighteen matches that are played. The singles and doubles are played like a round robin where each match is one set. So that means if the player does not get subbed in for another player, the original player will have played three sets.

This season there are new challenges present. Due to the success the team had at a widely regarded tournament, Dana Hills Invitational at which they finished 3rd, the team went to the National Tournament. The national tournament is held at Corona Del

Mar on March 18. “We beat a school in Colorado called

Regis Jesuit High School,” said Chiu. Other schools from San Diego such as La Jolla and University High School were there as well. The team lost to University.

“We haven’t seen that many talented tennis teams before,” said Bernhardt.

They all hope to go back to the tournaments next year as well and may take first place among all the other tennis teams within the nation. With practice and skill, they can accomplish this feat.

By Hanna Lee

Features editor

The boys tennis team has started the season with an optimistic outlook. According to Coach Mike Parrinello, the team has one of the best tennis programs and team.

“All players but two are ranked in California,” said Parrinello.

The team won CIF championships and Palomar League championships last year. Instead of savoring their accomplishments, the boys tennis team is working harder than ever to accomplish the same goals this year. The new Palomar season will include schools such as Torrey Pines, Westview, and Poway.

“It is important that we stay healthy and remain focused through every match this year... everyone wants to beat us,” said varsity captain Gio Valdez.

According to varsity player William Chiu, the tennis team’s biggest competition within the San Diego section is Westview High School, who won last year’s CIF Division II championships and Torrey Pines High School, who RB High faced in the final.

“Torrey Pines has beat us in the past, but as of last year, we are the team to beat,” said Kaveh Sedihi. However, Chiu added, the national high school tournament the team will be attending will include many other tennis teams that the boys tennis team have not encountered yet.

“We would like to place in the top 3-4 in the national high school tournament,” said Chiu.

The team poses for the National Tournament. Photo by Mike Parrinello

Swim and dive team splashes into action

Swimmers dive into the race at a meet. Photo by Jennifer Chalam

By Jeffrey LamSports Editor

Spring sports have finally gotten underway, and RB High’s swim and dive team is training intensely once again. Having placed high in CIF several times, as well as several firsts in the Palomar League, the team is fired up and ready to take another shot at the CIF title.

The swim and dive team is headed by Tim Oelgoetz, the aquatics supervisor at RB High. Asides from coaching at RB High, Oelgoetz also coaches for the San Diego Aquatic Club, a USA swim team.

“I take great pride in representing the swim/dive team here at Rancho Bernardo High School,” Oelgoetz said. “I love watching the kids improve, meet new friends and have fun. Working the the youth of today to make for a better tomorrow is why I coach.”

According to Oelgoetz, there is a team aspect to swim and dive, and that his team has it.

“They [the team] approach every meet with the idea of what can I do to help the team today,” Oelgoetz said. “If it wasn’t for the team aspect of this sport, we probably wouldn’t be as successful as we are. The individual needs the team as much as the team needs the individual. In turn, the team

will be there for them when their race is close.

Though swim and dive are put together in scoring, they truly are two different sports. According to Marrisa Grabowy, the dive coach, diving is a whole event in a swim meet, though the divers score points for the team as a whole.

“Each diver must perform six dives, and they are scored on a scale from one to ten, ten being the best,” Grabowy said. According to Grabowy, the boy and girl’s dive team placed at the top for both CIF and the Palomar league, so we should expect another outstanding performance this year

from them.The team is full of strong, talent, and

dedicated swimmers, all ready to leap out and swim. Songhee Han, a freshman on varsity swim, has been swimming for about four years.

“I feel privileged to be in such an amazing team and also very excited to train with amazing upperclassmen,” Han said. “It’s fun to have your teammates cheat you on during races.

The team’s season has just started, are getting out there and trying their hardest, so be sure to come and support our swimmers and divers!

Boys tennis starts season strong with nationals Lack of funding hurts sports department

THE SILVER SPUR - MARCH 24, 2011 11SPORTS

Gymnastics is a difficult and complex sport that is comprised of the athletes competing in 4 events. The events are Floor, Beam, Vault, and Uneven Bars. On RB High’s Gymnastics team, there are 22 girls on the team, with 13 girls on the JV team and 9 girls on the Varsity team. The girls compete at “Meets” at other high schools after school and the next meet that will be at home will be on Mar. 31. Meets that are home are called Home Meets.

Alyssa Ravera, RB High’s Gymnastics team coach and alumni, explains the complexities of each event.

“Vault involves running at full speed down the runway, jumping off the springboard and on to the vaulting table. At the JV level, which is Olympic Level 4, the gymnast will do a straight jump on and off the vault. At the Varsity level, which is Olympic Level 5 and 6, the gymnast will flip over the vault, using her hands to jump off

Floor is comprised of 2 very important parts: tumbling and dance. By using

One of the most difficult events in gymnastics is the uneven bars; it requires the extraneous use of all muscles in the body, as well as balance and timing. Becki Relph, a junior on the RB High varsity gymnastics team stands out at this event.

“I like the momentum you get off the bars,” Relph said. “Uneven bars are really challenging both ways. Physically because it takes a lot of muscle and mentally because you need to prepare yourself.”

According to Relph, the worst part is when your skin peels off your hands from the friction swinging on the bars causes.

The varsity bars routine starts out with a kip to get up on the bars, then a connected front hip circle. To jump to the higher bar, there is a squat on jump, then once on the bar, a long hang kip, cast, and a baby giant bring the gymnast to the final trick, a fly away. A fly away is a back flip from the bar and landing on the floor.

At meets, this is one of the toughest events because of the scoring. There are so many deductions and the skills are tricky. At the end of it though, the girls are there for each other cheering on their teammates, and the feeling of accomplishment is rewarding.

The best thing about being on a team is that a family is created. This is especially true in gymnastics because all the girls support and cheer for each other at meets and practice.

Broncos have never flown as high as the RB High gymnastics team. The event, vault, is always super exciting! It may look easy but it takes so much skill and timing with a limited amount of time to think.

According to Melody Bellora, a junior, “vault is either easy or hard, depending on how you look at it.” For varsity vault, gymnasts sprint towards the springboard. Just steps before they reach it, they do an arm circle to gain power to jump on the board with as much power as they can, and immediately launch themselves to a handstand position on the vault. The handstand does not stop, but continues into a front hand spring.

Vault can be dangerous as well. One wrong step and you could be stepping off the board and possibly ending up with a sprained ankle. “You have so much power going from running that if you mess up, it amplifies it and you can go flying in a different direction.” Bellora comments.

Along with fear, other difficulties arise with vault. “I think the thing people have the most trouble with is trusting themselves, especially to ‘get your steps right’.” Before reaching the springboard, just the right amount of steps have to be taken in order to have the right lead leg for jumping on the board.

Vault, though difficult, is amazing both to watch and compete in. Like Melody Bellora says, “When you do it right, you fly, and it’s an amazing feeling.”

Perhaps the most artisitic event, floor utilizes both dance and tumbling to create a routine that shows the gymnast’s talent and style.

Brianna Edwards has been a gymnast since she was 4 years old. When she was 10 she took a break from gymnastics to do cheer. She returned to gymnastics 2 years ago, and is member of the varsity gymnastics team at RB High.

According to Edwards, being a cheerleader really helped her to become a better gymnast.

“Floor includes many different skills and many different techniques from tumbling to leaps to jumps to floor work to major flexibility and it takes a lot of rhythm, where as other events only take the same general technique.” said Edwards, “I also like the dance portion; It gives it some extra pizzazz!”

Edwards is a level 6 gymnast; “levels” are used as part of the Junior Olympian system. In gymnastics, Level 1 is the basic level while Level 10 indicates the gymnast is ready to compete at Elite level.

What Edwards likes most about Floor is how she can make the event her own.

“Yes, I would say floor is my favorite event, because you basically get to show off everything you have been working towards. It’s the best feeling when you do each skill perfectly in your routine.”

“Mind over Matter” has never been so accurate than in the gymnastic event, beam. Beam is performed on a 4-inch, 4-foot high apparatus and involves both dance and tumbling. Typical tricks included in the varsity level routine are one-half and full turns, leaps and jumps, the back walk-over, pivot turns, a scale, and a handstand dismount; the routine is approximately one minute, 10 seconds.

Riley Embry, senior and varsity member of the gymnastics team, explains why beam is such a difficult event.

“Beam is challenging mentally much more so than physically challenging. It’s so hard to focus on the beam as apposed to the “scary” aspects- how high you are off the ground and the fear of falling.”

Embry has been a gymnast since she was five years old; she has been a part of RB High’s gymnastics team since her freshman year and on varsity for the past three years. She is the team captain for the 2011 season.

“[Being] team captain has taught me how to talk to people and how to be more encouraging.”

“It’s nerve-wracking. My favorite trick is a back-walkover. It’s cool to say “I can bend over backwards on a beam”, not many people can say that.”

Although nothing about gymnastics is easy, the exhilarating feeling the gymnast experiences makes it all worthwhile.

|BarBy Julie LohmannStaff Writer

|VaultBy Julie LohmannStaff Writer

|BeamBy Taylor Franklin Copy Editor

|FloorBy Taylor FranklinCopy Editor

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dancing and tumbling, the gymnast will execute a pre-choreographed routine to upbeat, instrumental music.

Beam is performed on a 4-inch width, 4-feet tall beam. The gymnast will execute a pre-choreographed routine that includes both gymnastics and dance elements. This is the most challenging event

Com

petitors

By Taylor FranklinCopy Editor

A look at the different gymnastics events

mentally. The Uneven Bars is the most

physically challenging event. The gymnast has to swing between the low bars and high bars using a lot of arm strength and skill to execute a pre-choreographed routine,” said Alyssa Ravera, RB High’s Gymnastics team coach and alumni, who explained the complexities of each event.

The gymnastics season begins in late February and ends in May. There are 6

meets, not including leagues or CIF’s. The requirements to try

out for RB High’s gymnastics team include previous knowledge and

experience of the sport, also familiarity with 4,

5, 6, level routines. The girls who make the team are expected to be keep up with the rigorous training that is involved in the sport as well as practices that are everyday

after school. For girls who have no prior experience in gymnastics, clubs and gyms outside of school are a great alternative to practice the sport or work to gain the skill that is needed to try out for the team that will be successful in the future as long as they work hard.

THE SILVER SPUR - MARCH 24, 201112 FEATURES

|Cheer

“Cheer is a big commitment.”

-Alana Thomas, 12

Do you ever have to get up early in the morning to prepare for cheer?Alana Thomas (12): “We once got here at five in the morning to do a news program. That consumed my sleep time. And practice twice a week for football season and Friday games. Cheer is a big commitment.”

When do you have practice for cheer and how long?Summer Wineteer (12): “Our cheer practices are twice a week for two hours with games on Fridays during football season, and Wednesdays and Fridays during basketball season.”

Do the cheer team hang out much outside of practice?Thomas: “The good thing about our team is that we are really close at cheer but most of us don’t hang out outside of cheer.”

What do you like most about cheer?Riley Embry (12): The cheer schedule has made my life much more structured, and has given me something to look forward to during the week.I like stunting the best because it’s so much fun, and there are so many new and impressive stunts to learn and master.

What classes are you taking?David Hu (11), Dayoung Lee (11) , and Helen Fang (11): Between the three of us, AP Calc BC, AP Physics C: Mech and E&M, APEL, APUSH, AP Chem, AP Art History, APES

What time do you usually sleep at?Lee: I nap when I get home. It depends on when I get home, which is different every time. I nap for about four hours or so, and then I start my homework later, and it takes me a while because I’m lazy so I sleep early in the morning.Fang: I sleep at 12, but it used to be at about 11:30.Hu: 10-4. I get up early to do homework.

Describe your daily schedule.Hu: I wake up at 4, then I really wake up at 4:30, and then I do homework until 6, and I get to school and I go to class. I go to school until 2:30, and I stay afterschool until 4 for Scioly and I go home. I procrastinate until 6, and I do homework until 9. I eat dinner at 9.Fang: I wake up at 6:30 and go to school, and then school ends at 2:30. I go home, and then I eat, and then I read fanfiction, and then I do homework, and then I eat dinner. I go for a walk in the neighborhood and meet my neighbors. I go home and do more homework, and I shower and sleep.Lee: I wake up at 6:45 and go to school. I go home, take my nap, and I wake up and chat with people for a little bit. I start my homework, then go to sleep.

“I am a nerd. I have no life”

– David Hu, 11

A day in the life of...

|AP Nerds

“I am definitely a Bando.”

-Cory Williams, 12

|BandosDo you consider yourself a ‘jock’? Why or why not?Reed McKenna (12): Even though athletics (soccer) is one of the largest aspects of my life, I don’t consider myself a ‘jock’ because I don’t wear a letterman or athletic clothes to school, I hang out with a lot of non-athletes, and I talk about other things besides sports. Brian Riley (10): No, because a jock is a person that is not smart. Not saying I’m a genius or anything but I think of myself as a student-athlete.

How do you begin to train for the various sports (or sport)? How do you juggle that and school work every day?McKenna: I train with my club or high school team multiple times per week year round. In addition to normal team practices, I practice ball-work on my own, as well as lift weights and run. I juggle sports and school work by prioritizing soccer and school over social and leisure activities. Despite a lot of success with soccer, there have been times where I’ve underperformed, which has resulted in not making certain teams, losing games, or missing chances. There’s always room for improvement. Fortunately my confidence and self-belief is unwavering.Riley: For each sport I train the specific talents I need for that sport.

|Athletes

“You can’t lose your concentration on

your ultimate goal ”-Brian Riley, 10

Do you admit you are a Bando?Shagnyne Vito Cruz (11): Yes, I am a Bando!Cory Williams (12): I am definitely a Bando.

What you do the whole day that differentiates you between other people?Vito Cruz: Life of marching band season is chaotic. We have band camp during summer. It meets P.E requirements and we have it second period. We need to memorize all our steps and our songs. We always need to rehearse and be in step with everyone. Life of a concert season is more casual. What differentiates us is that we’re always in the band room, every morning because our friends are there. Many eat in the band room and practice. I practice after school.Williams: Music is constantly in my life. I always think about what I will do in the future with music. I’m planning to go to a music school. . . I write songs, play guitar, and I’m in a jazz band musical. Basically all about music!

Can you tell me the great things you guys do as a group and how do you guys work together?Vito Cruz : We spend so much time together. It get’s to the point where we only talk about band things. Some of my “non-band” friends are intimidated because of band, but honestly, we’re just a group of people with similar interests.Williams: We always accept criticism and that’s why we are always improving.

Collage by Carrie Chen