INDEXNEWS...............................2-3

FINE ARTS.........................4

FEATURES......................5-7

TEACHER BFFs..............8-9

OPINIONS..................10-12

ENTERTAINMENT...13-15

SPORTS.............................16

O’Connor visits to open history academy

For many months, neighboring residents have criticized the proposed Phoenix Temple on 5104 W. Pinnacle Peak Road. This controversy escalated when the City Council approved The Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints’ request to construct a building 10 feet over the zoning restriction on Dec. 2.

In protest, the Phoenix Property Rights Coalition submitted a referendum petition with 16,446 signatures to the city to put the issue of the temple’s height to a public vote.

In response to these complaints and the petition, church officials agreed to redesign the building so that it stands at 30 feet rather than the original 40 feet and complies with residential zoning laws. The temple will still have a 78-foot steeple and spire since there are no zoning restrictions on it.

Scott Anderson, the leader of the Phoenix Property Rights Coalition, said that the church didn’t want to see the issue go on the ballot and was therefore forced to lower the height of the building.

By ANGELA YUNGFeatures Editor

Despite the concession, many citizens are still concerned about the temple.

Since OHS is only a few miles away and many students live close to the temple site, students have voiced their opinions—some for the temple and some against. There is hardly a neutral stance.

Apart from the height of the temple, another common concern is that it will attract thousands of visitors like the temple in Mesa and will cause traffic issues for Pinnacle Peak Road, which has only two lanes.

“I don’t think there’s any way Pinnacle Peak can handle that traffic,” said Liam Westby, a senior who is not opposed to the temple itself, but rather the traffic issue.

However, Len Greer, the spokesperson for the Church of Jesus Christ in the Phoenix area, said he doesn’t think the temple will cause any significant traffic problems because many people are basing their concerns on statistics dealing with the Mesa temple, which is 100,000 square feet, while the Phoenix one will be 30,000 square feet.

“This temple is not a big temple,” Greer said. “It will only accommodate about 200 people. It will not have the same number

of people as the larger temples.”Hayes Rollins, a freshman and a

Latter-day Saint, said that a few flaws exist in protestors’ arguments concerning the traffic that the temple will attract.

“I feel [the controversy] is more against us than the building itself,” Rollins said. “I think Wet N’ Wild [a water park also on Pinnacle Peak Road] draws more people than the temple would.”

Other people are opposed to the light which will illuminate the temple at night, although The Church of Jesus Christ has agreed to dim the light at 10 p.m.

Cody Donnor, a senior and a Latter-day Saint, said that he finds the whole controversy “kind of ridiculous.”

“We’re trying to please people the best that we can and people are still complaining,” Donnor said. “I think once it gets built, [the controversy will] be done and over with.”

Now, the Phoenix Property Rights Coalition is planning to meet with church officials in order to negotiate and come to a mutual understanding with them.

“Our goal isn’t to win,” Anderson said. “It is to find some middle ground to satisfy both sides.”

By HEAJIN YUEditor-in-Chief

Students and staff members crowded around her. They wanted photos. They had questions. They were standing in front of a woman with a celebrated name. The first woman to be a justice on the Supreme court—Sandra Day O’Connor—attended the grand opening of the Academy of American Studies on Jan. 8.

“It was cool because [former Justice Sandra Day O’Connor] has been through so much,” said Liz Schmitt, a senior. “She’s a predominant figure in history and she was right in front of us.”

The Academy of American Studies is the first history school of its kind in Arizona. O’Connor gave a welcoming speech along with many leaders of the district and members who played a part in putting the academy together.

“I didn’t expect her to be as funny as she was [in her speech],” said Brooke Warren, a senior. “It was nice to know that people in high status in our government have a sense of humor and care about the

welfare of our education.” During the welcoming speech,

O’Connor thanked the school for making her name look good. She said that “civics has all but vanished.” She believes it is “time to restore it.”

O’Connor gave a few facts to show today’s reality and people’s knowledge of the government: one in seven Americans recognize John Roberts as Chief Justice. Only one-third of Americans are able to name the three branches of the government, but two-thirds can name a judge on American Idol.

“[Civic studies] are vitally important to the preservation of the nation,” O’Connor said. “Students have to learn about our system of government, understand the structure and what our framers have envisioned for [the nation in order to fulfill] the role of a good citizen.”

After the reception, there was a civic discourse which was added to the schedule by O’Connor’s request. Her philosophy is learning how to disagree agreeably. Students, teachers, parents and district

officials collaborated in a discussion on how to better public education. Everyone who attended was separated into groups and each group was facilitated by administrators, teachers and O’Connor herself.

“What was most interesting was the public discussion after the speakers because we got to speak freely about what we can do about education and how we can change education,” Warren said.

Principal Bryce Anderson said that it was a “great honor” to have the woman who has “accomplished so much and had such a positive impact on society” come to OHS to “celebrate and recognize the importance” of the Academy of American Studies.

Some students were disappointed that they didn’t personally meet her but they were still awed by seeing her from a distance.

“I didn’t get to meet her personally so I was depressed,” said Anthony D’Avello, a senior. “However, [attending the opening] was a great experience.”

Controversy surrounds new Mormon temple

Bad cooks exist everywhere. See Page 6

COURTESY OF GARY MCSPADDENFormer Justice Sandra Day O’Connor visits OHS on Jan. 8 to open the Academy of American Studies. She gives an inspirational speech to welcome the attendees.

See which teachers are

best friends on our campus. See Pages 8,9

2 News Feb. 12, 2010French Club offers taste of culture through cheese

There are many fundraisers going on right now to support Haiti: telethons, Facebook groups, money pledges, and others. Who knew eating cheese could be one of them?

The French club held a cheese tasting on Jan. 22 to not only embrace the French culture, but to also raise money for the Haiti earthquake relief. Some of the students who attended donated money, raising $150.

The money will be given to ROTC who will then send it to the Red Cross. It was the club’s idea to do a cheese tasting, while it was French teacher Jarred Gainey’s idea to use it as a way to fundraise.

“It went well and it was cool to see students have some cheese and some fun while giving money to a worthy cause,” Gainey said.

Eleven different types of cheeses were served—all of them being French—along with bread, crackers and an assortment of fruit and grape juice. The fruit was served because not all cheeses taste the same alone and are complimented by other snacks.

Among the most popular cheeses were Comté and Brie, which are both made from cow milk.

The least popular cheese at the cheese tasting was the Blue cheese,

which is made from a mixture of cow, sheep and goat milk.

“O la vache, blue cheese is strong,” Gainey said.

It is very sharp and salty with a pungent smell.

While tasting the cheese, attendees viewed the French film La Chèvre, which is about a private detective who is hired to find the daughter of a rich businessman who disappeared while vacationing in Mexico.

It wasn’t just French club members that went—several novice cheese tasters attended as well.

“I had to go because my sister is in French Club and she was my ride home, but I [went] because it sounded like fun and who doesn’t like free food?” said An Bui, a sophomore. “My favorite was the Swiss cheese and crackers.”

Apart from just enjoying free food, students also took something from the cheese tasting.

“It is a new experience and I used to think, ‘what’s so good about cheese? cheese is cheese,’ but there are so many different varieties,” said Cindy Garcia, a senior and French club president. “There is hard, soft, bitter, sweet and some can age forever.”

Garcia hopes this will help the French club gain popularity while helping out a good cause.

“[Haiti] is going through a tough time right now and everybody needs to help out,” Garcia said.

Anthropology Club embarks on adventure in great outdoorsMembers learn survival skills in wilderness, camp in the snow, build fires, get attacked by cows

Anil Chowdhury, Colton Carson and Jason Tadano, all seniors and Anthopology Club members, get packed up for a camping trip in the desert. So far the club has gone on five excursions in the wilderness.

What comes to mind when you hear the word “anthropology”? Do you think of mind-numbing exhibits of ancient Egyptian artifacts in a stuffy museum? Think again: the OHS Anthropology Club has gone camping in the desert, on the edge of a cliff, in the snow and has even been attacked by cows.

“In a way, [Anthropology Club] is kind of a misnomer,” said Jason Tadano, a senior and Anthropology Club president. “We’re more of a survival club. We make

fun of Bear Grylls [from Man vs. Wild on Discovery Channel].”

The 12 members of the club like to put themselves in “unnecessary bodily harm” and “do as much stupid stuff as [they] can without getting killed,” Tadano said. The club has gone on five (not officially club or school-sponsored) trips and “has some really crazy stories already, and we’ve only been here for about a semester.”

The club’s initial aim was to study “aboriginal things” and learn about Native American peoples, but they realized it “was more fun” to go camping and learn how to survive in “the

wilderness,” according to Tadano.“The most important aspect [of the

club] is that we understand we are all human beings,” said Jason Lohmeier, Anthropology Club sponsor and an art teacher. “We all need shelter and food. [We need to be able to] rely on nature.”

The goal of the Anthropology Club is to figure out how primitive people would survive, taking as little equipment as possible, even out into the desert, using only what they can find for shelter, fire and food.

“We have a lot of academic clubs but none you can necessarily apply [to real life] and none that are this fun, obviously, and it’s the best club ever invented,” Tadano said.

Meetings are informal, broken off into different styles of instruction. Originally, the club wanted to learn about archaeology but changed it to anthropology because “archaeology is more of structure [and] anthropology is more history,” according to Lohmeier.

“We haven’t gotten to the point where we’re going to start hunting and gathering yet because that’s probably illegal,” Tadano said. “But maybe one of these days, [we will].”

Senior Anil Chowdhury has gone on every Anthropology Club expedition, most recently near Crown King, where he and junior Branson Bonds got stuck in the snow.

“We packed for all desert,” Chowdhury said. “It ended up being 20 degrees and snowing. We were driving on Gladiator Road and less than a mile from the top of Crown King Mountain,

we got stuck and had to camp in the snow for the night. We tried a campfire but it didn’t work. We were 10 miles from [the nearest] town.”

After trying to dig out the car for five and a half hours, Chowdhury and Bonds walked the 10 miles into town in the snow, without jackets, to find someone to tow the car out.

“We were supposed to explore the mines but it was too cold,” Chowdhury said. “[The temperature] dropped 15 degrees. So we left, and nine miles outside of Bumblebee, we ended up flipping the car because the roads were slick [and] we ended up losing traction. So the car hit an embankment and landed on the top.”

The first time the club went camping, they encountered some wild animals—cows.

“We didn’t realize it but we camped right on a game trail,” Tadano said. “All of a sudden, it was probably around midnight, and we were already freaked out because we’d been hearing coyotes and javelinas and stuff, we hear [noises] and then we heard running and then we freaked out. We ran out in the wilderness and screamed and yelled at cows. We decided we were going to face our demons like Mr. Lohmeier told us.”

If interested in joining Anthropology Club, see Lohmeier for details. The club meets on Wednesdays in Room 210.

“Anthropology Club is designed for people who love the outdoors,” Lohmeier said. “If you love the outdoors, love nature, [want] to learn about who you are and where you came from, join Anthropology Club.”

By JESSIE DITOMASSOFeatures Editor

By SAVANNAH THOMAS Photo Editor

COURTESY OF ANIL CHOWDHURY

PHOTOS BY JESSIE DITOMASSOStudents help themselves to cheese, crackers and fruit at the French Club’s cheese tasting on Jan. 22. The $150 raised at the cheese tasting will be donated to the Red Cross to support Haiti.

Money raised at cheese tasting sent to Red Cross to support Haiti

Feb. 12, 2010 News 3Graduation requirements increase to 22 credits

“Put your backs into it, kids! Don’t be slacking! If others can do it so can you! Don’t whine! Just do it! When I was a kid it was much harder! It’s only a few more requirements for graduation!” The Arizona Department of Education is still on the verge of changing the class requirements for graduation. “I believe they are looking to better prepare the students for real life,” said Bryce Anderson, principal. Some say that this is a right move and some disagree, but let us all face

the music: the standards are increasing for sophomores, freshman and future high school students. “I think [the standards] are too easy,” said Bridgette Moore-Caine, a counselor. “The bar has not been this high.” When the requirements for the class of 2012 were released, 1.5 credits from electives were distributed through math and history. Now, three credits of math and history are required. “The standards are just right,” said Lexi Anderson, a sophomore. “The real world is getting harder.” Some believe that these requirements are just adding that perfect “punch” to high school so that

students get the right education. “I think the standards were set so that the kids will rise to the challenge,” said Amanda Walker, a biology teacher. “It [also] creates more teaching opportunities.” This year, the Department of Education has decided to add two credits for the class of 2013. Now students of 2013 and younger will have to take 22 credits rather than 20 to graduate. “The change taking place is that there are four math credits required instead of three and three sciences instead of two,” Anderson said. This year ’s freshmen have to take one more math and science credit in

Senior citizens come to school,greeting students with smiles

A student strolls onto campus on a Tuesday morning. It is a dull, gray day. Everyone is grouchy about the weather. All is glum and moody. Then, the student reaches the entrances to the building where they dread the classes that they will have to sit through all day. When the student reaches out to open the door, it is already open. Someone is standing there holding it for students, with a welcoming ear-to-ear grin on his or her face.

Soon there will be some new faces on the campus in the mornings. About 20 volunteers from the Christ Church of the Valley (CCV) will be here to greet students as they enter campus on Tuesday mornings.

The volunteers are all senior citizens and average at around 75 years old, and they will be waiting in pairs of twos at the entrances to all the buildings in order to welcome students to campus.

“To us, this is a way to connect the two generations,” said Brian Jacobs, assistant principal. “We hope this will form a bond.”

The volunteers plan to be on campus every Tuesday morning from 7 a.m. to 7:45 a.m.

Danny Hinkle, head of the program and a volunteer himself, is unsure when this will begin. Currently, all volunteers are having their fingerprints taken for the safety of the students.

The volunteers plan to form friendships with the entering students.

“I think at first [the students] will be really surprised,” said Dustin Riches, a senior. “But since a lot of students are outgoing they’ll make new friends. At least I will.”

Eventually, Jacobs hopes that the students will come to recognize the volunteers by name as they will be standing by the same door every morning.

“The idea is to get to know each other,” Jacobs said.

All of the members of Stugo met

By KODY D’AMOURSAsst. Design Chief

By SHAMARAH SHOUPEditor-in-Chief

order to graduate. “Freshmen are for sure frustrated,” Moore-Caine said. Some students disagree with the standards that were set a long time ago. “I am not the next Picasso,” said Dylan Barnes, a senior. “I should not be required to take a fine arts credit to graduate.” Overall, there are many sides to this change in graduation requirements. If these class requirements keep changing at this rate… “We try to be competitive globally and economically to prepare students to be [on] an even playing field with the rest of the world,” Moore said.

Starting with class of 2012, students will take more math, science

with the 20 volunteers at the end of December.

“We are really excited to meet all of the kids,” Hinkle said. “If Stugo was any reflection of the student body, then this will be a positive thing.”

Dylan Barnes, a senior and Stugo member, feels that the students will warm up to the volunteers once they arrive, but at first he suspects kids will be confused.

“I’m skeptical as to how other people might receive them,” Barnes said. “Hopefully, the majority will appreciate them being here.”

Barnes noted that the volunteers seemed “really excited to get into it.”

One of Jacobs’ goals when forming this program was that the students would be able to make connections with new people.

He said this will be especially helpful to students who have grandparents who may have passed away or live in other states, because they can get to know someone from another generation.

“This benefits high school students [because] they get to meet a type of person they might not have had around otherwise,” Jacobs said.

Some students, however, think that although this simulation is a good idea, it may be faulty due student attitudes and/or behaviors.

“It’s different from visiting your grandparents, [because] when you visit your grandparents, you adjust your behavior,” Barnes said. “With [the volunteers] there will be grandparents around teenagers in their own habitat.”

Hinkle thinks this is a good method for students to start the morning.

“What a great way to be welcomed,” Hinkle said. “We want to give them a big smile every morning before class.”

It remains unknown when the program will begin. As of Feb. 2. The district is still waiting on reports for the volunteers and the scans of their fingerprints.

“We want to make sure no one is on campus when they aren’t supposed to be,” Jacobs said.

4 FiNe Arts Feb. 12, 2010Midsummer Night’s Dream: a Fairytale SuccessDrama department gives their all in performance for 3 nights

Clockwise from top left: Seniors Anthony D’Avello and Alex Acosta kick of their performance on opening night. Sophomore Emily Shaffer and seniors Anthony D’Avello and Will Davies show off their less serious side off stage. Senior Seterae Banihashemi prepares for her part as Titania while getting her stage makeup done before the show. Freshmen Whitney Nikander and Carly Christensen stretch and yawn as they get into character as Puddle and Rose Bud. Lovers, senior Cody Donner and sophomore Dakota Hale (who plays Francis Flute who plays a woman) talk to a wall, played by freshman Nathaiel Lutz, in a comedic scene during the performance. Senior Natalie Mellis and freshman Harrison Davies sit with the rest of the “married couples” on stage. Junior Matthew Bedsole and senior Amanda Valenzuela share a tender moment when Lysander (Bedsole) promises marriage to Hermia (Valenzuela). The cast gathers together for a prayer before going on stage. Freshmen Dominik Joneic, Tim Hernandez and Harrison Davies excitedly await backstage.

PHOTOS BY ANGELA AND MICHELLE YUNG

PHOTOS BY ANGELA AND MICHELLE YUNG

Feb. 12, 2010 FeAtures 5Excuse after excuse after excuse

By CHRISTINE KWEONStaff Writer

“Today I realized that I talk to inanimate objects when I bumped into a desk and apologized. My life is average.”

Students may recognize this as an example of a confession found on the popular website mylifeisaverage.com. “My life is average” is a site that contains numerous anecdotes which could happen to anyone and everyone, submitted by anonymous people. According to mylifeisaverage.com, “my life is average” is “a space where you can share the normal and average stuff that happens in your day, and maybe realize that you are not alone in experiencing normal and average stuff.”

This site is purely meant to be a form of entertainment among “average” people as they share their everyday mediocrity. It is also meant to be humorous toward its audience.

Many students visitthis Web site, some making it an everyday habit.

“I go on to mylifeisaverage.com twice a day,” said Alex Garcia, a junior. “It’s almost addicting.”

For others, visiting the site is more of an occasional habit.

“I go on every now and then,” said Nicole Richardson, a freshman. “But I don’t have the time to stare at it for hours.”

No matter how frequent students check the recent posts on “my life is averag”, their main reason for logging on is for an easy giggle. My life is average also makes some students feel better about their mediocrity.

“Reading the posts from mylifeisaverage.com makes me laugh at how average my life can be sometimes,” Richardson said.

Some of the posts you may see on

According to school rules the only reasons a student can switch out of a class is a medical reason, computer error, completion of a class or if a certain class is necessary for graduation.

These are rules that should be well known throughout the school. But each new semester, counselors are met with countless silly excuses students make in attempt to switch classes.

“Many of the reasons are typical,” said Bridgette Moore-Caine, a counselor. “Like ‘the teacher yells at us all the time’ or ‘I can’t stay in this class because I broke up with this kid and it would be awkward.’”

Anthony Ermeri, a senior, named some of the strangest excuses he had heard.

“‘I’m allergic to math’ and ‘I hurt my foot so I can’t run [in this class]’ are some strange ones,” Ermeri said. “Of course, those didn’t work.”

Nick McRae, a sophomore, listed some generic reasons students use to switch classes.

“Most excuses are along the lines of ‘I can’t understand because she doesn’t take the time to explain,’” McRae said. “And literally, ‘I don’t feel like trying.’”

These excuses often stem from personality conflicts with the teacher that the students never resolve personally, according to Moore-Caine.

“My friend didn’t like the teacher,” said Jennifer Oh, a junior. “So he said that he had a medical problem [and] that he couldn’t be in the same room as the teacher.”

Oh’s friend may not be the only one using invalid reasons that still fall into the four reasons listed by the school. Justin

Bybee, a sophomore, recalled the excuse he had in mind.

“I planned on saying the lighting [was] bad and that it hurts my eyes,” Bybee said. “Or if that won’t work, I’d say her voice is so monotone it would put me to sleep and I would fail [and] that would mess with my graduation.”

Students have gone across the ranges, from doubtful medical reasons, to plain complaints, to denial.

“Some of my other friends joke that if they found an honors class difficult, they would just have to say they never signed up for it or that they must have written it wrong on their card,” Oh said.

When the problems in the class affect their education, students become serious.

“I’d go pretty far [to switch classes],” Ermeri said. “If I really can’t learn, I’d go to the district office.”

But even if the students’ reasons are somewhat within the boundaries of school rules the school will not accept dismissible excuses, according to Saroj Jagernauth, a counselor.

“We do not take frivolous excuses whatsoever,” Jagernauth said. “Class selection should be a carefully thought out process, because when we move a student from class to class, it causes an imbalance in the classrooms that are beneficial to neither the students nor the teacher.”

Jessica McDonald, a language arts teacher, explains the imbalance.

“If a popular teacher had 40 students and a strict teacher students didn’t like had only 15 that would be unfair,” McDonald said. “Sometimes you might not always like or agree with your teacher or professor, and in the real world your boss, but you have to learn to deal and get through it.”

‘My life is average’ offers laughsBy AMANDA BOWERS

Staff Writer

mylifeisaverage.com include “Today, I put my iPod on shuffle. I skipped most of the songs to get to the ones I like. MLIA” and “Today, I wore Axe body spray. I wasn’t tackled by any women. MLIA.”

Though these posts are relateable to many students, there are also posts that seem a little less than average.

“Some of the things people post are outrageous, it makes me laugh,” Garcia said.

Though the posts are meant to be common and easy to relate to for “average” people, the posts are typically odd for a person of mediocrity. The abnormality of what people share only adds to the entertainment.

“I think people post their stories in order to get feedback from others,” said Azra Ariff, a junior.

It is questionable why these anonymous people share their stories.

“People post to make themselves feel better,” Garcia said. “Their posts are pointless.”

On the other hand, there are some who, though they may be familiar with the Web site, prefer not to visit mylifeisaverage.com.

“I don’t go on my life is average, my life is beyond average,” said Ronnie Pohl, a junior. “I don’t find the Web site funny.People go on there because they’re bored and don’t have anything better to do.”

Some teachers are also familiar with mylifeisaverage.com, but prefer not to take part in reading the posts.

“I’ve heard of mylifeisaverage.com but have never been on it,” said Holly Batsell, a language arts teacher. “I do have a student though that once made a post about something that happened in my class.”

It may be creative, but it won’t always work Students enjoy quirky, verging-on-bizarre stories

6 FeAtures Feb. 12, 2010Bad cooks ruin mac n’ cheese, cupcakes, ramen

On Iron Chef America, a popular show on the Food Network, “iron chefs” compete to create top-notch dishes such as artichoke fricassee with salt crusted sea bass or paella croqueta with wild rice horchata. Don’t know what “fricassee” or “horchata” are? Neither do most people. But some cooking amateurs are baffled by not only “croqueta,” but dishes like Kraft macaroni and cheese.

These cooks are the worst of the worst. For most, it’s not too difficult to add orange cheese powder to noodles. But Gloria Tello, a senior, who is “not a good cook,” admitted that she has problems with the boxed mac and cheese three-step preparation.

“One time I was making boxed macaroni and cheese and I didn’t know you were supposed to put milk in it,” Tello said. “And I got it all crusty on the bottom and I burnt some macaronis.”

The classic Kraft recipe is simple with directions no longer than a few words. In fact, there are even illustrations! But the base of Tello’s problem would be not being able to follow a recipe, no matter how simple.

“There [are] so many measuring things and there [are] all these ingredients and I don’t understand a lot of things on the recipes, like brown sugar,” Tello said. “Brown sugar? What?”

Cooks like these must resort to Ramen noodles, which have much simpler directions than the mac and cheese (three ingredients instead of four!) or meals that require no real cooking at all, like sandwiches, cereal or Chex with boysenberry jam (a real student example).

Tello, who prefers no-cook meals like those, said that grilled cheese was too hard for her to make, but for Omone Abu, a senior, grilled cheese is her specialty. Abu can follow simple recipes, but not much else because she inherited terrible cooking skills from her mom.

“I can do waffles and pancakes from a mix and Betty Crocker cake boxes, but I can’t do anything from scratch,” Abu said. “[When cooking from scratch] there [are] ingredients everywhere and the pan’s burnt and it doesn’t turn out right at all.”

So where do these terrible cooking skills come from? These students have been showered in love from their parents, who cook for them every day. For example, Tello’s dad owns a Mexican restaurant, Mi Pueblo, and Abu’s dad cooks daily as well.

Ellis Kim, a sophomore who avoids cooking because she fears the stove, said that even when her mom’s not home, she has a meal prepared that is microwave ready.

But parents aren’t going to be around to cook dinner forever. Someday, students will be all alone in the real world. Sometime in life, it is necessary to acquire basic cooking skills.

“I’m hoping by then I’ll have gotten over my fear of [fire] and [will] be able to cook stuff by myself,” Kim said.

Going away to college does not mean that people start cooking though. Instead of preparing meals, Susan Henry, a language arts teacher, ate what she called the “breakfast of champions”—a Snickers bar and a diet Pepsi.

Henry did not even become a good cook when she became a mother, contrary to the popular assumption that all mothers know how to cook.

“I used to be a horrible cook,” Henry

Gloria Tello, a senior, places an entire box of Hamburger Helper into a pan, unsure of what to do next. Tello confesses that she is a bad cook and has problems making simple foods like boxed Kraft macaroni n’ cheese.

Distracted driving can cause hazardous situations on roadways

said. “I used to make muffins for my son’s kindergarten treat day and I called them ‘Cajun muffins’ because the bottoms were all black and [the kids] had to peel the bottoms off.”

Her cooking skills have improved, though. Henry described her talents as being a “mean cereal pourer” and spreading peanut butter on bread. Also there are no more “Cajun cupcakes” with her acquired ability to follow recipes.

“I can follow recipes, but when it comes to creativity, I’ll poison someone,” Henry said.

Creative cooking is what cooking is really all about. Only a select few, like Justin Ratkovich, a junior, can abandon all kitchen catastrophes and enjoy

cooking. “I can interpret recipes very well

and I can even put my own little spin on them if they’re not up to par,” said Ratkovich, whose all-time favorite—not to mention his own—recipe is spam and macaroni and cheese.

From the point of view of someone who is successful in the kitchen, Ratkovich said that the reason for bad cooks’ failures is because they “simply forget about things and let them burn” and can’t multitask.

And while these bad cooks will never make it to Iron Chef, there is another show they’re destined for. The Food Network recently premiered a new show: Worst Cooks in America.

Who are the better drivers: boys or girls? The answer may depend on the situation.

“Girls [are the better drivers] because they are more cautious and boys like to drive fast,” said Emily Higginbotham, a senior.

A 2006 study from researchers at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine shows that women have higher risks of crashes than men by 27 percent.

According to security monitor Carrie Young, there were two accidents last year.

Head security monitor Joy Turner noted that the driving situation has improved since previous years.

“It hasn’t been that bad this year,” she said. “Students have been doing pretty well [at not crashing].”

In general, men tend to break more traffic laws and drive more dangerously than women, according to 5myteen.com.

Also, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, more men than women die each year in motor vehicle crashes.

In 2001, males between the ages of 16 and 19 were in 4,257 crashes per 100 million miles and women within the same age group were in 1,852 crashes.

In the student parking lot, most cars are parked straight, although, here and

there, some of the younger drivers’ cars are slanted at an angle. It is easier to park straight forward, rather than backing a car in for teenagers, according to 5myteen.com.

It is easier for students to look through the windshield and see than to look through the back window. Also, it is easier to steer when looking forward rather than looking back, according to 5myteen.com.

“Sometimes people speed up around corners [in the parking lot],” said Lyna Ngo, a junior.

Distractions often lead to speeding and accidents.

Not paying attention is a major problem on the road. Many students are distracted by phones, radios, noises, etc. Students want to be with their friends and constantly talk to them.

When paying attention to a phone, the person’s eyes are off the road and they are not alert, according to 5myteen.com, which can lead to accidents.

“I only look at the road 50 percent of the time,” said Jimmy Garcia, a senior.

Most students believe they are a good driver compared to other people. Friends seem to criticize each other over their driving abilities. An example of this is when students go to eat lunch and bicker about who is going to drive.

“Boys are worse drivers because boys mature slowly and they don’t have the best judgment,” Higginbotham said.

By MICHELLE YUNGNews Editor

By PAIGE LA POURStaff Writer

COURTESY OF GLORIA TELLO

PHOTO BY ANGELA YUNGAs cars are trying to exit the parking lot, students yell at each other in frustration because of the slow pace.

Zach Jenner, a senior, sits in his truck after school, waiting for the traffic jam in the parking lot to subside, PHOTO BY ANGELA YUNG

Feb. 12, 2010 FeAtures 7

The future is shrouded in mystery. As a new decade emerges, no one can be sure what the next 10 years will bring. Some things, such as the emergence of new technology, are bound to occur. Other predictions, such as the end of the world, are more radical. The possibilities are endless. But one thing is for sure: the intrigue of the unknown keeps people guessing.

The state of the economy changed drastically over the past decade, and it will change even more over the next 10 years. But will it change for better or for worse?

Kent Younger, a ceramics teacher, said he believes that it will not be an instance of chance if the financial state of our world changes; rather, he said, we need to do something to cause positive improvement.

“I think the world will be under a lot of financial stress and pressure so there needs to be some effort to change the course [of the economy] by global leaders coming together,” Younger said. “Finding jobs will be difficult unless we find new industries.

We’re at a pivotal point.”These new industries could help

young adults start their careers in the next decade.

“I hope to achieve money, a big house, nice cars and a nice family,” said Alexandria Zorne, a senior.

Andrew Lambert, a sophomore who plans to become the CEO of a company, would likely be willing to work in one of these new industries.

“[I will work] anywhere that will hire me,” Lambert said. “You have to work your way up.”

Perhaps one of the most nervously anticipated days of the next decade is Dec. 21, 2012. The Mayan calendar ends on this day, and some people believe this is when the world, too, will end. Yet others believe that the world is just as likely to end on any other day.

“I believe if everybody knows the world is going to end on a certain day, it will definitely not occur,” Younger said.

While the 1970s are remembered as the decade of the “hippies” because of their eccentric style , the 1980s for its big hair and retro clothing and the 1990s for its advancing steps in music, it begs the question, what will be remembered most about the 2000s?

For some, the decade brought sadness and tragic loss on Sept. 11, 2001 when terrorists hijacked planes to crash into the twin towers of the World Trade Center.

“I will remember Sept. 11 most because it made a big impact on my life,” said Azra Ariff, a junior.

It is certain that the 2000s will surely be known as the decade that made huge leaps in technology as well.

“The evolution of the iPod, going from classic to touch, many types of nanos; it’s amazing that there are that many different types of technologies in one decade,” Ariff said.

Some will remember the great victories in sports: the games that they watched as they sat on the edges of their seats cheering wildly when a good play was made.

“It was the decade for Boston sports,” said Michael Neary, a junior and a fan. “The

Red Sox won the World Series, Patriots won the Super Bowl and Celtics won the NBA finals.”

Fashion also changed and evolved over the course of the decade. Gauges, skinny jeans, leggings and highlighter t-shirts are some of the trends that will be remembered in the years to come.

“When I think of the 2000s I think I’ll think of hair poofs and baggy pants,“ said Ally Messina, a junior.

Economic and political factors played an enormous role in the decade as well, when the good fortune of the economy began to decline. With the impact hitting Americans hard financially it is something no one is likely to forget.

“I think Obama as president will be a big deal [looking back] and the economic crisis will be a part of the 2000s,” said Jody Evans, an anatomy teacher. “If we end up to be successful with our war on terrorism I know that Sept. 11 will always be reffered back to.”

The 2000s were definitely the decade for change and evolvement in politics and decisions were made affecting the future.

“When a democratic senator died

recently a republican was elected in his place and now Obama doesn’t have a majority vote to pass laws,” said Sara Westerman, a freshman. “I think this will have an effect on the future. “

As far as music goes, the scene has definitely been changed and the range expanded.

“A lot of young artists were introduced like Taylor Swift. They really changed what was considered mainstream and there is a lot of new raw talent,” Evans said.

Along with the fresh talent that rose in the 2000s, the old came back better than ever.

“My favorite band of all time, Blink 182 got back together,” said Bailey Crennan, a sophomore.

Overall the 2000s were a decade packed with emotions and changes that will never be forgotten. Some students like juniors Alex Garcia and Ronnie Pohl will most remember their high school experiences.

“I will remember all the crazy things I did with my friends and trips to the dunes,” Garcia said.

—Mallorie Harper

Caitlyn Cooley, a senior, also does not believe that the world will end in 2012.

“They said [the world] was going to end in 2000,” Cooley said. “No matter what the Mayan calendar says, I don’t think the world is going to end anytime soon.”

No one can be sure of what will occur, yet people still attempt to predict the future. At times it seems that it may be easier to know what’s going to happen. Yet, if given the chance, many people would wish to keep the air of mystery that surrounds the future intact.

“Any cataclysmic events we saw coming would bring panic, and rational thought would go out the door,” Younger said.

Cooley also said given the choice, she would not want to know what is going to happen in the future.

“The future is never written in stone; it always has the chance to change,” Cooley said.

—Leah Stapleton

Decade passes, future moves on from time to time

TheFuture.Silver jumpsuits. iPad. Cures for diseases.End to the recession.Smart cars.Ma-yan calendar. Poli-tics.Space travel. Increased diversity. Online education.3-D television.Longer life-expectancy. Apocalypse. Evolution of cell phones. Ge-netic engineering. Robots.Goodbye Oprah. Technological inventions. Go Green movement. Diploma-

cy. Academy of American Studies.

ThePast.September 11. Taylor Swift. Diamondbacks won World Se-ries. Hair poofs. Baggy pants.George W. Bush. American Idol. Facebook. Wii. Ener-gy drinks. First black president. Evolution of the iPod. Harry Potter. Reality TV se-ries. War on terrorism. HighSchool Musical. Hurricane Ka-trina. Virginia Tech. Death of Michael Jackson. Darfur. Oil price rises. Capture of Saddam Hussian. Trans-formers. Millenium. Rea-gan’s death. Brangelina. Texting.

COURTESY OF ASHLEY CARMICHAEL

Outside the classroom:Apart from the fact that they’re

both language arts teachers and have neighboring classrooms, Holly Batsell and John Bruggner are almost nothing alike.

“He wears like size 16 shoes,” Batsell said. “I wear 8 and a half. He likes ‘Freedom Rock’ music from the ‘70s and ‘80s. I like electronica. He likes unicorns. I like the flying spaghetti monster. It’s amazing we can even co-exist.”

With this plethora of differences, some may wonder how the two even became friends.

“I think we bonded over politics and intellectual debate,” Bruggner said. “It’s difficult to find people that can speak with substance about topics outside popular culture. Bats can do that.”

In addition to having philosophical and political discussions, Batsell and Bruggner “suck caffeine” together, consult each other about lesson plans, and pull the occasional prank.

One time, Batsell found a picture

of Pauly Shore, who bears a remarkable resemblance to Bruggner, and placed it in one of his picture frames.

She also put a picture of George Bush on his bulletin board and wrote “I love Bush!” under it.

But they’re not all about being mean and sarcastic towards the other.

Batsell brings Bruggner cookies from Paradise Bakery whenever she goes for lunch, doesn’t tattle on him for sending a yearbook kid into the lounge to heat up his bag of veggies and lets him mooch snacks from her.

Meanwhile, Bruggner lets her use his “carpet sweeper thing” and gives her a sneak preview of the yearbook spreads before anyone else sees it.

For those who wish to have the same devoted friendship as these two have, Batsell offered some advice: “Pick friends who will eat anything in your lunch you don’t want.” —Angela Yung

Bats & Bruggs: best of buddies

Just a couple of history geeksCarter & Booth: NAU roomies

When you take earth science you get a buy-one-get-one-free deal.

Marc Mur and Jonathan Poe, science teachers, are “teacher best friends.” Their classes do so many numerous activities together during the school year that the students get to learn from not only one teacher but another who also teaches the same subject.

“We have combined our classes a few times in the past for some labs and reviews,” Poe stated in an e-mail interview. “Its fun working together, it’s a nice change of pace and our students have the opportunity to work with and interact with others that are in separate class.”

The two teachers met at Deer Valley Middle School 10 years ago. However, the pair worked more closely with each other since teaching the same subject for the past two years.

From sharing the same dorm room to working at the same school, Jessica Carter, a language arts teacher and Abby Booth, a special education teacher, found that opposite personalities make a friendship work.

The two teachers became roommates at Northern Arizona University during their freshman year of college.

“Ms. Carter and I were roommates for a few months before we became best friends,” stated Booth in an e-mail interview. “I remember her asking for a ride to the grocery store since she did not have a car. All I can remember is that after that we were inseparable.”

Carter and Booth both agree that the personality dynamic is the main reason that their friendship has lasted for so long.

“Ms. Booth and I are polar opposites and that is what makes our friendship work,” stated Carter in an e-mail interview.

Their friendship of eight years gave them a great insight of what friendships are all about.

“High school students should know that best friends can be found any time in your life,” Booth stated. “I met so many people in college and my roommate ended up being my best friend; eight years later we are still as close as ever.”

Carter concurred with Booth but for one exception:

“You are young and should be having as much fun as possible, after you finish your homework of course.”

—Sirigul Gosuwin

“When I first started teaching Earth Science, he mentored me and we have continued to run our classes the same since then,” Poe stated.

Working together is the key in their friendship. “[We] make copies for each other [and] take turns

making up tests, [and] other teaching responsibilities we split up,” Mur stated in an e-mail interview.

Mur feels that a great friendship is imperative. “Friendship is important; you need good friends to

help you and support you in life,” Mur stated. Poe also agrees with Mur but added that a friendship

is more than just being there for your friends. “[A] real friendship is with someone you are able to

confide in and trust that the confidential information stays just between the two of you,” Poe stated.

—Sirigul Gosuwin

Dynamic duo Mur & Poe bond over teaching earth science

As classroom neighbors, Sheleena Schorey and Colleen Weeks are always popping in to see each other. Despite the bickering students may hear, they should not assume that the two hate each other. In fact, they’re best friends who share a common love for a certain subject—history.

They can go on and on about history—from the Boston Tea Party to the Cold War.

“We’re just a couple of history geeks,” Schorey said.

They start discussing history topics first thing in the morning when Schorey and Weeks carpool.

“We talk about everything history related but I would say our main talks are about international relations and how to make it a better world, although we both

love to discuss war!” Weeks said. “We often do not agree but that’s okay. We help each other understand the other point of view.”

In addition to carpooling, they co-sponsor Model UN together, got their Masters degrees together, and are now in the History Grant together. They also have travelled to places like Boston, Washington D.C. and New York.

Like any typical BFFs, they tease each other a lot. Schorey always teases Weeks for her constant hyperness. Meanwhile, Weeks likes to tell Schorey that she’s scary and intimidating. They also bicker about different political views and of course, history.

“[Weeks] thinks she is always right…wait a minute, so do I,” Schorey said. —Angela Yung

Mur and Poe walking to lunch.

I can read faster than you!

Go Lumberjacks! Carter and Booth show off their

NAU spirit.

we’ll work for peace.

History fanatics

Holiday sweater party

teachers chum togetherFriends help friends win Twinkie

eating contests. Susan Henry and Ronda Cunningham,

both language arts teachers, are best friends. Their friendship began when when they both started teaching at OHS.

“Having never taught high school [students] before, we worked together that year basically to survive,” Cunningham stated in an e-mail interview.

Now, the two have enjoyed getting to know each other better.

“I know that I can go to her with anything and she will help me out and has so many times,” Cunningham stated.

Apart from lesson planning and gossiping together, they two enjoy pranking fellow teachers like science teacher Jody Evans.

“We switched Mrs. Evans’s room

Henry & Cunningham: twinkie buddies

Through the roller coaster called life, Gail Kimzin and Iran Barroga, both Spanish teachers, found their friendship to be their saving grace.

The Spanish señoras met about 16 years ago when Kimzin was Barroga’s ESL teacher and have formed a strong friendship ever since.

“Barroga [and I] had this [bond] that was way beyond student and teacher,” Kimzin said.

This special bond also exteneded to their families as well.

“When I was a teenager, I remember how much I loved hanging out with her and her family,” Barroga stated in an e-mail interview.

About six or seven years ago Barroga became Kimzin’s student teacher. This is why their teaching styles are so similar.

Sometimes people would tell her to stop acting like Gail, but since she was my student teacher she couldn’t help it, Kimzin said.

Even though both teachers have the same teaching style their personalities are completely different.

While Barroga described Kimzin as being “crazy,” Kimzin said that Barroga counter balances all the energy she brings to the table.

“She has a very calming effect and in hard times she [radiates] tranquility,” Kimzin said.

Through the years the two best friends have supported each other through struggles.

“My favorite memories are of the time [when] I was going through some medical problems and she would come into my class and pray for me,” Barroga stated.

They have also spent many happy times together like when they went to French teacher Jarred Gainey’s wedding and when they went camping together.

While high school friendships for the most part seem to be short-term, Kimzin offers this advice:

“Honor your friend,” Kimzin said. “Don’t talk about them behind their backs. Know that people aren’t perfect. Think of others before you think of yourself”.

—Sirigul Gosuwin

around and made really high piles of books,” Cunningham stated.

Throughout the eight years of friendship, there have been many numerous memories. One that stands out the most is a Twinkie eating contest which took place at the 2008 OHS Spring Carnival.

“I was her coach while she stuffed her face with Twinkies,” Cunningham stated. “I totally lied to her and told her she was behind just to see her stuff more in her face, [but] she did win.”

Both teachers, who have been in neighboring classrooms for the past eight years, found themselves separated at the beginning of this school year.

“She left me and moved way down the hall,” Henry stated in an e-mail interview. “When is she going to fix that?”

Walker and Stoffers were friends from the start when they met at lunch at OHS and just started talking. That was six years ago. Now, they hang out on the weekends, go shopping, get pedicures and work out together.

“We do typical best friend things,” Stoffers said. “If one of us goes to Starbucks in the morning before work then we always pick something for the other.”

In addition to the fun, typical routines, Stoffers also said that they have “enjoyed special moments in each

Wenzel & Bobbitt: 18 years of friendship

Stoffers and Walker are big Justin Timber-lake fans and went to his concert together.

Stoffers & Walker: coffee runs, road trips

When Virginia Wenzel first began teaching math at Barry Goldwater High School, she became acquainted with fellow math teacher Pam Bobbitt.

Over the years at Goldwater, the two became good friends. Both transferred to OHS when it first opened and they still have remained good friends.

They often go out to lunch and try new restaurants or go to nice, inexpensive places like Mimi’s Café where there’s a variety of food to choose from.

There, they just talk about anything that comes up—vacation, family or math problems.

“[Bobbitt is] a good listener and is supportive,” Wenzel said. “She’s the kind of person who will get you to see the sunny side of things.”

Likewise, Bobbitt described Wenzel as “funny, caring and willing to go out of her way to help.”

Apart from eating lunch together, the two have also shared some memories together, including being roommates at an AP Conference at Stanford together.

Wenzel also enjoyed sharing the excitement of Bobbitt’s granddaughter being born. She said that she loved shopping for baby girl clothes.

“Having a friend that can share your highs and lows is very rewarding,” Bobbitt said. “Someone who can make you laugh when you are down and will sympathize

when you need a shoulder can help you overcome almost anything.”

— Angela Yung

Kimzin & Barroga:

other’s lives,” including birthdays, Walker’s wedding and when Walker’s baby was born. The two have also gone on road trips to Las Vegas and San Diego.

After six years of good memories, both understand what friendship is all about.

“You shouldn’t have to work too hard to maintain a friendship,” Walker said. “I think with a real friendship, they should happen naturally.”

—Angela Yung

Las Señoras Locas

They always have each other’s backs.

Amigas para siempre.

The two enjoy lesson planning and gossiping.

2 teachers+ 2gether= 4 ever

Lunch buddies

—Sirigul Gosuwin

10 OpiNiON Feb. 12, 2010

An evil demon lurks within us all, causing us to whittle away our precious time on trivial activities when we should really be working on that book report that’s due first hour and studying for that huge test tomorrow. The culprit? Procrastination.

Most of us spend a little more time with this procrastination guy than we’d like to, and I’m certainly no exception. He’s

not exactly my ideal BFF. But he just keeps showing up.

I procrastinated writing this very article, and I’m sure many of my fellow classmates should be doing something at this very moment that they’re not. Well, procrastination―I’ve had enough of you!

The worst thing about procrastination is that whatever you are avoiding doesn’t go away. No matter how long you pretend to not think about it or attempt to busy yourself with other tasks, the thought of the thing you need to be doing sits in the back of your mind, nagging you whenever you’re not attending to it. In the end, this causes you to waste time and still leaves you with the undesirable activity hanging over your head. Wouldn’t it have been

better to just get it done hours ago so you wouldn’t have been worrying about it all day? There’s really no point in prolonging the agony, so you might as well be like Nike and Just Do It.

But what drives us to procrastinate and not manage our time well? When I sat down in my economics class on the first day of this semester, the first thing we learned about was scarcity. Scarcity is the concept that society simply doesn’t have enough resources to fulfill every human want. Similarly, people don’t have unlimited time to do everything that they want to in life. This realization is disappointing, but it’s true and it’s something we are all aware of. Unfortunately—or perhaps not, depending on your preferred amount of

sparkle—we are not like Edward Cullen. Humans require sleep. Despite our lack of immortality, there are still ways to make the best of the time we do have.

Much of our time in life is spent waiting. Whether at a doctor’s office waiting room or in a classroom after finishing work, there are probably a few minutes every day that we could be spending more efficiently. If you can’t do something you want to be doing, you might as well get something important done. It could be a couple of problems on your math homework, or it could be a few minutes of sleep. I’m sure those kids slumped over on their desks in class are simply trying to get some sleep in now so they won’t have to do it later.

The Talonhttps://sdohs.dvusd.org/Newspaper/TalonMenu.html

The Talon is published as a forum for student opinion at Sandra Day O’Connor High School: part of the Deer Valley Unified School District. Letters to the editor must be signed and dropped off in room in Room 425, e-mailed or mailed. Letters may be edited for content and/or space consideration. Obscene or libelous statements will not be printed. Opinions reflected here are of those of The Talon staff and do not reflect the Deer Valley Unified School District. Some material courtesy of MCT Campus News Service.

editors-in-chief Shamarah Shoup Heajin Yu

copy chief Leah Stapleton

design chief Sirigul Gosuwin

asst. design chief Kody D’Amours

photo editor Savannah Thomas

news editors Andrew Snider Michelle Yung

features editors Jessie DiTomasso Angela Yung

opinion editors Brittany Dierken Anna Freydenzon

sports editors Amanda Bowers Cletus Milan

entertainment editor Tarah Wells

fine arts editor Mallorie Harper

staff writers Cassie Glaser Rachel Gress Christine Kweon Paige LaPour

adviser Erin Howard

Embrace the procrastination monster, learn to chill in stress

Editorial BoardShamarah Shoup

editor-in-chief

Heajin Yueditor-in-chief

Savannah Thomasphoto editor

Andrew Snidernews editor

Anna Freydenzonopinion editor

By LEAH STAPLETONCopy Chief

OHS should work more closely with communityIt is easy for the school to see the

value of school-parent relationships and this partnership is frequently sought out by many schools. But what about the significance of a school-community relationship?

It’s about time for the school and community to work more closely together. For students to have an enriched experience at school, a school needs a strong partnership with the community.

Collaborating with the community reflects the community’s desire or value of education. Not only will the students be able to connect their learning experience with different parts of the community, organizations and events which provide real world application—students will grow up and mature into well-rounded citizens who give back to the community that played a strong part in their adolescence.

There are more ways for the community to get involved than just providing financial support (which is much needed by every subject department). The simple ways can range from students taking part in cultural organizations to business internships for students to volunteer opportunities. This provides the cultivated experience that students need to develop into responsible adults.

Within our community, senior and religious groups exist in addition to

numerous businesses, cultural and non-profit organizations. If all these groups become natural partners to the school, the school experience will be more developed and deepened. But it takes initiative on someone’s part to ensure and build a relationship; often, it must be the school to see and assess the importance of community’s involvement.

We often hear how the community thinks of teenage students: we are “very immature” and people say the school needs to take more responsibility in its students. Well, we are not only the school’s students but part of the community as well. Sure, the school needs to take the first step, but if the community is not willing to get involved and provide an environment that does not denigrate teenagers—students won’t either. A community that celebrates young achievements will provide an incentive for students to be more engaged and in tune with their community. Many students are not aware of their surroundings and do not know of many current events—many only get news from Facebook or Twitter. This is a result of teenagers not feeling a part of their society and community.

It’s easy for the school to be isolated in its own world—inhabited only by the teachers, schools officials and students. And our school experience is spent by teachers teaching us the skills we need to

survive in the real world. Why not bring the real world to students at a young age? This action will remove many students’ fears of the real world or many students’ naïve thought that the real world will never be a part of them because they are not able to see the immediate use of their valuable learning.

Active involvement with the community can also broaden students’ social skills, common sense and adaptability to different situations and ability to communicate. By volunteering, students are able to see different elements of the community that they haven’t been exposed to before and see a variety of social aspects and effects.

OHS is definitely taking steps to ensure this partnership with the community through the senior citizens greeting students in the morning (which will soon take place) and providing business internships through Academy of American Studies.

A community’s commitment to education provides a healthy, positive environment to students and in the near future when students become adults (the biggest horror after the thought of student drivers), they will in return provide the same opportunities they were given. This is one cycle that nobody wants to end.

COMICBYANGELAYUNG

Feb. 12, 2010 OpiNiON 11

Be courageous;12 things seniors should do before graduation

By HEAJIN YUEditor-in-Chief

Appreciate your servers, waiters; be considerate

Gratitude is appreciated.This statement applies to all aspects of

life. When someone does something nice you say thank you. It’s the cycle of life: when you do something nice for someone; you expect some kind of appreciation back.

However, there is one type of gratitude that many people neglect or believe they should not be required to give. This form of

gratitude is tips given to waiters, waitresses and anyone else who provides excellent service.

The No. 1 reason people don’t give tips is that they don’t realize an extra form of thank you is needed. Here is a list of places where people expect tips: sit-down restaurants, valet parking, hair stylist, salons, Starbucks and ice cream parlors. If they’ve got a tip jar, trust me, it’s not there for decoration.

The second reason people don’t tip is because the person providing the service did a poor job in their opinion. This may be true in some cases; however, if a person provided quality service, a tip is imperative.

One time at Berrygood, a customer

came in for the first time and asked to try every single favor. I graciously provided the customer with sample cups. In addition, this person grilled me about the nutrition contents of the frozen yogurt. On top of that, I was asked to define the word “non-fat.” My response to this infuriating question was polite and I even pulled out my phone to look up the word on the Internet. Then this person finally decided what he wanted and I swirled the yogurt into the cup. I gave the cup to this person and he looked at me and said he would like me to swirl the yogurt side by side in a sweeping motion rather than make it into a circle. I redid the swirls without complaining and went to the register to ring him up. The yogurt cost him $ 3.99, so the man pulled out four

$1 bills and said, “keep the change.” Oh thanks buddy, here’s to the one cent that changed my life.

For people who don’t work in the food service industry, the whole gratitude is appreciated idea is often overlooked. Here’s the truth. Waitresses and waiters make way below minimum wage and the only contributing factor to their income is tips. They don’t ask for tips to be greedy, they really need it to get by.

So when people say it’s customary to tip 15 percent of the total bill, please just do it. Don’t be that person who goes into a restaurant and never leaves any tips for the servers. Trust me, you will be infamous at that restaurant and not because the servers like you.

By SIRIGUL GOSUWINDesign Chief

I’ll admit: I never made a likely New Year’s resolution. Last year my simple and only resolution was to drink a lot of milk and grow five inches. For some reason the latter could not be controlled—I think I grew half a centimeter. So this year, as a senior, I have made goals that are attainable for myself and my fellow peers.

The following is a list of things seniors should do before they graduate from OHS. I have completed many of the 12 things so I know that they are not impossible. Are you ready?

1. Ride the elevator. In order to ride the elevator, you must

break a leg or your friend’s leg. This may sound a little strange but listen to my reasoning. In order to ride the school’s elevator, one must be injured in some way. But it cannot be one’s arm or wrist—it has to be from the waist down. Not many high schools can boast of an elevator and this is a special characteristic that is unique to our school. So to be able to considered a “well-rounded student” who has done a lot of things at OHS you must be able to say, “I rode the elevator at school.”

2. Read a full article in The Talon. This sounds a little biased, but you’ll be

surprised to know how many students do not read the school’s newspaper. It’s a little hard to understand for all those die-hard Talon fans, but it’s the truth. So for all those who have not read an article in The Talon…you should definitely consider reading

it. I think this message would be better conveyed verbally, so if you are reading this right now and see a senior friend that is not reading the newspaper—simply ask your friend to join you in finishing this article.

I’ll wait. 3. Be nice to a freshman. Before you graduate, wouldn’t it be

great to reach out to a lower classman in an inspirational way? Before you say no, remember this: it would be an easy way to ensure your legacy and make sure your name is remembered for the next four years. So don’t make fun of them for running to the lunch lines or for taking up space in the halls or saying not-so-smart things or for doing other freshman things. Embrace their identity and show them how it’s really done (in a nice manner).

4. Thank a teacher. This would be better said as thank

your teachers. Teachers, whether you like it or not, have tolerated our freshman ignorance to our senior laziness—that is a lot of work. They should be appreciated for their hard work. Your teachers really do love you and they will love you even more now that senior year is almost over. Just remind them that you are soon leaving, trust me they are more excited to see us leave than we are. In addition, having a good relationship with your teachers comes in handy for recommendation letters.

5. Join a school club at the last minute.

There are many benefits in joining a club—friends, fun and another opportunity to be in the yearbook. You want to be remembered, right? By joining a club, you can ensure that you will show up in the yearbook one more time. It’s a good thing. I hear anthropology, ping pong and Interact are fun.

6. Read a book without solely

depending on Sparknotes. The only book that can be excused

from this list is Heart of Darkness. And if you read it, you’ll know why. Anyway, I know of many seniors who brag about not reading a book, and how their goal is to graduate without reading a single book. Really? There are better and greater things to brag about. This is not asking a lot: read a book. Just one.

7. Donate and/or volunteer. As I said before, not reading is not a

cool thing to brag about. But to graduate and be able to say that “I helped or donated” is pretty cool. I think on a senior ditch day, all seniors should come together and volunteer at a homeless shelter, soup kitchen or at a food bank. If volunteering your time is not your niche, then donate money to non-profit organizations. Right now, ROTC and Interact are collecting money for relief in Haiti. And there are many non-profit organizations that Interact donates to too—be a part of it.

8. Bury a time capsule. Take and bury all your unwanted

homework and projects (after they have been completed) and photos of your ex best friends and girlfriends and boyfriends and simple items that remind you of high school in a time capsule. OHS is surrounded by sand and mountains. Find a place, mark it with a unique rock and bury it. You can then find it at the 10-year high school reunion. If you don’t find it then, try again at the 20 year reunion. You’ll find it, if not you will find someone else’s and compare who had a better high school experience.

9. Learn how to do laundry. To be quite honest with you, I have

never done my own laundry or cooked. But remember in the beginning when I said I have chosen reachable goals—cooking is not one of them. So let’s focus on laundry.

We’re about to graduate and move on to the next phase in our lives and I personally want to be able to say, “I know how to do laundry!” I’ll let you know how to separate colors from whites; I haven’t done it yet. I think you separate the nicer, more expensive clothes from the not-so-expensive clothes then within that you separate them into colors: red, white, blue and etc. But don’t take my word for it, try it yourself.

10. Attend a theatre performance. This is self-explanatory. Our school’s

theatre program is pretty amazing. (I’m not being biased, I am not in theatre.) But I do love the arts, if you haven’t been to a performance and you’re a senior—you’re really missing out. Tickets are cheaper than at the movie theaters and it’s worth your money.

11. Clean your room and keep it clean at least for a week.

I am referring to true cleaning, not just shoving it under the bed or the closet and calling it done. I’ll admit that is the only method I have used since I can remember. And for some reason, it won’t even take more than three days before the items start moving themselves—coming out from under the bed and from the closet. I don’t remember moving them at all. So this year, it’s time to use tape to ensure that the items do not use their powers and transport themselves out. I am planning in advance and buying lots of tape and this way my room will be clean for more than a week.

12. Enjoy being at the top. Enjoy it. We’re seniors! And before you

know it, we’ll be at the bottom of the social food chain at universities and at work places. Before that happens, have a great, fun senior year. It’ll be a better year if you complete all the things on this list.

Good luck!

ILLUSTRATIONBYANGELAYUNG

12 OpiNiON Feb. 12, 2010

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With the arrival of 2010, the Android platform has become a buzzword within the tech community. However, the Android is constantly compared to other smartphone models: the Black Berry, Windows Mobile, Palm and most importantly the iPhone. The consumer now has a ton of options; what do they choose?

I personally own a Motorola Droid (which runs on Android 2.0) and I couldn’t adore it more. I still hang on to my iPod Touch, though I rarely use it anymore after I received my new phone. I understand why the iPhone is better for a certain audience; however, Android phones seem to be more efficient, more open and heavily featured.

First things first: What is the Android? Android is a mobile operating system, akin to Windows, Mac OS and Linux (which Android is modeled after). There are phones that run off of Android, but there is no “Android phone.” The iPhone is a phone—the iPhone OS, however, is an operating system.

This isn’t a game of Verizon against AT&T. All major providers are releasing Android phones, including AT&T, which has signed for five Android phones for 2010. What is so fantastic about this platform that requires so many models to be released compared to the only one for the iPhone?

The Android came with the founding of the Open Handset Alliance—a group of 65 companies including Google, HTC, Motorola and T-Mobile. The very goal of the Alliance is to create a standard, open source phone for all to use. In comparison, Apple is extremely protective of its own software and is wary of distributing it. As a

result, it is far easier for wireless providers to get a hold on Android than iPhone OS.

Not only do phone companies benefit from such freedom, the consumer gains a fantastic variety of options for the actual phone. The HTC Dream (the first Android phone) still receives updates and the Google Nexus One and the Motorola Droid are current frontrunners.

Android shares many standard features with the iPhone—an app market, a browser, a media player, 3G and WiFi capabilities, calling and texting, multitouch (though only on non-standard applications) GPS and a camera. Differences tend to be visible only through the use of extra applications.

Admittedly, the Android phone is not initially user-friendly; it will take even the most electronically advantaged person at least 30 minutes more time to learn the Android than to learn the iPhone. The issue tends to be in the four constant buttons on the Android: back, menu, home and search. While the iPhone uses soft buttons in applications to do basic functions such as changing pages and settings, the Android always uses the same four buttons in the same exact place to do certain functions. Once the user is familiar to the phone, the back button becomes a savior and the menu button becomes a necessity for all applications and even the home screen.

The Android market (their version of the app store) is sparse in comparison to the iPhone’s—20,000 in December while the iPhone had at least 100,000 in November. Of course, more applications are being created each day and as Android is open source the applications can manipulate more settings on the system than the iPhone, which does not allow non-standard applications to gain access to developer features.

Transferring media onto a phone from a computer works differently than the iPhone. The iPhone requires the user to sync content through iTunes. Android, however, syncs through a drag and drop technique like a memory card. Some users may feel uncomfortable with the manual transfer of information onto their phone but programs like doubleTwist are able to synchronize much like iTunes.

The Android and iPhone OS are simply for different audiences. The iPhone is for the average phone user who wants a decent smartphone with clever features. The Android is more for the geeky or professional crowd who want more control over their phones and a more detailed interface. In any case, the iPhone user might find themselves charmed by the Android; it’s worth a shot, after all.

Point-Counterpoint:iPhone VS Android

Swallow your pride, try making peace with friends

In order to learn a lesson, a lesson must be taught. Throughout high school, there are three major areas where life can get a little tricky: conflict, regret and forgiveness.

The only way to get out of a sticky situation is to be nice and make peace. It’s not exactly peace signs and a “peace to the world” type thing, but true sincerity and forgiveness.

A person must swallow their pride

and fix whatever is broken. Be ready to forgive and receive forgiveness back. Within boy-girl relationships, friendships and internal conflicts, there is always room for growth and repair.

A rush of hormones can be scary for a young teenager. Especially when said teenager is experiencing complex and compelling feelings for the first time with the opposite sex.

Falling too quickly for someone can result in the relationship ending abruptly because of nerves or immaturity. Without thorough communication, harsh feelings can occur. Don’t be so afraid to talk to that person, take a jump and make a move toward reconciliation.

Talk it out with that person, and if you’re not meant to be, then so be it. At least you had the courage to come to a conclusion.

Life in itself is distracting. Combining boys, school, work and church equals a very distracted girl, leaving a once fully-blossomed friendship to deplete like a dying flower.

Distraction is a hard habit to break, especially when the person does not even know they are distracted.

Maybe each person in the friendship should make an effort to give it a steady heartbeat. Talk out and set aside your issues and create new memories. The friendship may not go exactly back to the way it was, but over time the scar will be healed.

Just don’t think about it too much; it will happen naturally without oblivious mind games. Internal conflicts are very damaging. One can lie to one’s self without even knowing it. The mind can play dirty tricks on a

By TARAH WELLSEntertainment Editor

person and most of the time that person is not smart enough to stop the mind games.

The basic conflicts are between good and bad, yes and no, but many people experience something called deciphering-every-little-detail-after-an-event-happened-syndrome. This causes emotional turmoil. To make peace with this internal conflict, forget about it, just let it go.

Don’t just dwell on the negative; the past is in the past. There has to be at least one piece of the event that turned out positive. Focus on that.

With this found new peace you should try something courageous, daring and crazy (but not too crazy of course). Life is full of mistakes and bruises; they just need to be mended with forgiveness and peace.

By BRITTANY DIERKENOpinion Editor

By ANNA FREYDENZONOpinion Editor

COURTESYOFGOOGLE.COM/PHONECOURTESYOFAPPLE.COM

Enough said: iPhone wins. It has been at the top of cell phone sales and will remain. There’s no competition because the new Google Android poses no threat.

Android has released the newest phones on the market this year, striving to compete with the iPhone in a chance to measure up with the high tech and user-friendly system of Apple. The question is not whether the Android phones will overtake the cellular world, but rather if Android can even keep up with the iPhone’s already established A-list status.

Since the debut of the first generation iPhone, there have been 17 million iPhones sold worldwide, according to networkworld.com. Still in its new stages, the Android is expected to climb the selling charts. To even compete with the iPhone, Android will have to upgrade to more apps and increase the popularity of its sponsor (Google), and manufacturing common functions of the phones.

Your phone is a big part of your life. Some people put their lives into their phones. What if your phone was too complicated and not user-friendly? That’s the problem with Android. From setting it up to using it in your everyday life, Apple has simplified the heck out of the iPhone. Multitouch and word auto-correction is one example of how the iPhone allows you use your time more effectively and take care of busniess, according to www.mobilecrunch.com.

Along with the iPhone being user friendly it is under the reliable AT&T cell phone service. The consistency of service applies all around the world, without the “no signal” updates in Verizon Wireless.

Applications in a phone are critical to the entertainment of the buyer. Applications alone attract the customer into the computerized consumption of games. Android phones only provide 20,000 applications and the iPhone offers more than 100,000 in their app store, according to billshrink.com. In our socially dependent society of addicted electronic device users, having the newest and most advanced technology is mandatory. The iPhone brings forth the material instantaneously; we’re still waiting for Android phones to catch up.

One of the major perks of the iPhone along with all the apps, is iTunes is always available at hand. You can listen to music , buy music and organize music all at your fingertips. Always being updated, iTunes and the iPhone sync together to make the

best and easiest way to incorporate music and cellular usage together.

“I really like my iPhone, because it is one of the first phones of its generation where you can call and surf the internet at the same time and the app store and iTunes come in handy,” said Chris Fraker, a junior and iPhone owner.

The Apple Company first came out with the iTouch, which was a best-seller and almost everyone owns or has owned it. The Apple name and easily operated touch screen is well known and set the electronic world a step farther in advancements in technology. However, Google has just introduced their new set of cell phones and is expanding its company.

In comparing the basic foundation of each phone, the iPhone and the android both prove to have wifi, 16GB in storage capacity, apps, voice command and GPS. In contrast, the Android has a better camera, but does not have as many apps, no multitouch, according to androidcentral.com, and is limited to CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) making it not a true global roaming device, according to blogs.techrepublic.com. It does not give the option of having an iPod and does not allow downloading from iTunes.

“I prefer the iPhone, because it has better speed and doesn’t freeze up with spastic service,” said Heather Ratliff, a junior and HTC Eris (Android phone owner).”The Android has decent apps, but they aren’t as great as the ones offered from Apple and iTunes is unavailable, which stinks.”

Feb. 12, 2010 eNtertAiNmeNt 13Time for new spring seasons to start for TV shows

The new season of Glee airs April 20 on channel 10 at 7 p.m.. Glee is packed with tons of new exciting songs.COURTESY OF: TV FANATIC.COM

Fike earns All-State band spot

Bryan Fike and his fellow band members play their instruments to perfect their musical abilities for competitionCOURTESY OF BARB FIKE

Ahhhh… spring. The flowers are starting to bloom, birds are chirping and your favorite TV shows are beginning a new season. Glee, Desperate Housewives, The Office, Lost and Gossip Girl are just a few of the shows that will be coming back this spring.

The creators of Glee, the second half of the season is expected to air Season 1, Episode 15 on April 20. Glee is about a high-school Spanish teacher who becomes a director of the school’s Glee club, and is hoping to restore it to its former glory. This “biting comedy” [imbd.com] received six wins and 12 nominations at the Golden Globes.

Language arts teacher, Holly Batsell predicted that “Sylvester [cheer coach Sue] will lurk in the shadows planning something nefarious like biological terrorism, which will be thwarted by Rachel and Fin [students and that] Schuster [teacher] will divorce his wife and be somehow be prevented from marrying the counselor so there will be continued angst.”

Desperate Housewives is about a suburban life for a group of close-knit housewives that take dark turns. Season six of Desperate Housewives aired January 3.

“[I don’t like] Desperate Housewives, just because I think it is all about drama,” said Austin Arthur, a sophomore.

The Office documents the exploits of a paper supply company in Scranton, Penn. and is meant to be a dark comedy. In the new season, the plot is about a CEO of a Fortune 500 Company who drops dead in his morning Pilates class, and three female executives compete for the top spot. Trailing behind, one of the women become enthralled with a book that claims 100 percent success rate in taking female executives to the top of their companies. This show began its new season February 4.

“I’m more into comedy that isn’t so dark, [sometimes] The Office just seems bland,” said Jimmy Freeman, a junior.

Lost has a story line of a mysterious and bloody airplane crash, where only 48 survivors are left stranded on a Pacific Island. The new season includes a frustrated, mild-mannered computer wizard who will be seduced by a beautiful, immortal woman named Hope. She then recruits him to locate the antidote to a synthetic virus. This antidote is being used as a biological weapon by the hunters who are trying to destroy them, according to imbd.com. This show aired February 2.

By CASSIE GLASERStaff Writer

By ANDREW SNIDERNews Editor

Hard work will take you far in life. That is a saying that parents pound into their kids’ heads. Bryan Fike is a living example of that. He has made this year’s All-State Band. He is the first person from OHS to make the All-State band playing baritone saxophone, and he is only a sophomore. He not only made the band, but he has also kept up his grades.

“It is an honor [to make the All-State band].” Said Bryan Fike.

Musical talent runs in the family. Fike’s grandfather was just introduced into the Arizona Music Educators’ Association Hall of Fame.

His father also played the saxophone in high school and has won awards in piano competitions.

Fike’s uncle sang professionally in a barbershop quartet at the now defunct Phoenix amusement park, Legend City.

In addition, his sister sang in junior high All-State choirs.

Even his mother, Barb Fike, history

teacher, is into music. She too played the piano and cello and also made the All-State choir twice in high school.

“Bryan seems to really enjoy being challenged,” said Melanie Britton, the band director.

Fike has been chosen to be one of two drum majors next year, which is considered to be both a challenge and a leadership role for the band.

“It is an extreme responsibility to be a drum major, and I know he will lead the band with great strength, musicianship and integrity,” Britton said.

Drum major is the highest position that a student can occupy in the band. The drum majors are the people up on the stands using their arms to keep the band in beat.Fike not only practices countless hours on his own, he also gets private lessons from Michel Warner, a music tutor that many of the other band members use to get extra practice and hone their skills.

“On first appearance you would think Bryan is shy and withdrawn, but he is quite funny, outgoing and very focused,” Britton said.

Gossip Girl portrays life in New York’s Upper East Side where the wealthy and connected, mingle at beneficiary advances, such as achieving power and control while trying to deal with their dramatic love lives. This show begins March 8.

“Gossip Girl is one of my favorite shows,” said Katie Knoepker, a sophomore,

“I am looking forward to the new drama in Serena van der Woodsen’s love life.”

People look forward to these shows on a daily basis.

“[When I] look forward to them [it] helps me get through the day,” Batsell said.

14 eNtertAiNmeNt Feb. 12, 2010MTV’s ‘Jersey Shore’ is orange, outrageous, obscene

COURTESY OF: MTV.COMMTV’s original show Jersey Shore is about eight Itialian-Americans living under one roof packed with drama.

When did stupidity become the new awesome? Well, when Jersey Shore came along. And I promised myself I wouldn’t watch it. I pride myself on having excellent taste when it comes to TV shows. I watch Glee, House, 30 Rock and The Office, all shows that are lauded by critics and have since their initial run become big names in the TV business. Yet, Jersey Shore has proven to be just as big as The Situation’s abs among younger audiences.

Produced by MTV, Jersey Shore is another of its parent’s social experiments-turned-reality-TV -shows. The main difference between it and its sister shows is the exclusive cast featured. Unlike The Real World, which brings people together from different backgrounds, the Jersey Shore cast is cut from the same stock: East Coast and guido or guidette certified.

For those who haven’t had the luxury of watching an episode of Jersey Shore or being familiar with East Coast culture, a guido (pronounced gwee-dough) is a male, likely to be of Italian descent, in the northeastern coast who adopts a specific code of dress and lifestyle. A guidette is the female equivalent of a guido. Basically, the West Coast has bros and the East Coast has guidos. Who’s worse off is anyone’s guess.

The focus of MTV’s Jersey Shore is eight young adults living under one roof. Camera crews follow the housemates around as they spend their summer in

Seaside Heights, N.J. Like any reality TV show, Jersey Shore has a fair amount of drama and ridiculousness attached to it, but it’s the all-star cast that boosts the show to prominence. The cast is comprised of four guidettes: Jolie, JWoww, Snooki and Sweetheart and four guidos: The Situation, DJ Pauly D, Ronnie and Vinny.

It’s hard to understand the appeal of Jersey Shore until you see the cast members. Glowing, orange skin and wind resistant hair, the guidos of Jersey Shore are pretty boys who make sure to keep their lips glossed and their eyebrows waxed.

“I associate [a guido] as a male who is usually Italian. He tans…has short spiky hair that he spent like two hours trying to get [it] up straight,” said Amanda Walker, a biology teacher, who watches the show.

The Situation explained the commitment it takes to be a guido.

“I wait till the last minute to shave, I wait till the last minute to put the shirt on ‘cause you feel fresh,” he said in episode two. “These are rules to live by, shave last minute, haircut the day-of, maybe some tanning and the gym. You gotta do the guido handbook.”

And let’s not forget the guidettes who are on the prowl for their guido-mate and have poufed their hair to heights not seen since Marie Antoinette’s time.

“You just can’t beat that pouf. That pouf is the definition of class,” said Larissa Szwez, a senior.

It’s hard enough for people on the west coast to imagine a single person who fits

the label of guido, so it’s both fascinating and disturbing when watching episodes of Jersey Shore. Not only are these eight young adults fastidious observers of all things guido, their lifestyles are so outrageous to the point of comedic stupidity.

“Jersey Shore is popular because its filled with drama. People live for drama,” said Korina Standley, a senior who is a fan of the show.

But not everyone apprerciates the drama steeped episodes of Jersey Shore.

“I [lived in New Jersey] and I have a lot of friends back home and [the portrayal of people on the East Coast] just hurts because it’s your hometown and you don’t want it to have a bad reputation,” said Lisa

Colleta, a junior.However, many fans of the show, myself

among them, see it as pure entertainment-it’s a welcomed break from the doldrums of reality. As season one progresses it’s hard for me to consider not watching the show. The ozone depleteing amounts of hair gel used by DJ Pauly D has managed to latch onto me and every Thursday this winter, I eagerly awaited for fresh drama to unload and for the show to leave me sucker punched like it left Snooki. At its best, the Jersey Shore offers a mind numbing hour to forget the realities of life and is the least expensive form of therapy I have come across for individuals lacking self esteem.

By RACHEL GRESSStaff Writer

Feb. 12, 2010 eNtertAiNmeNt 15 Oscar Picks! The Academy Awards are set for March 7 and the national pastime of predicting who gets which award is currently underway. To

followthistrend,The Talon is doing its own picks on the top five awards: Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress. By Anna Freydenzon.

1. BEST PICTURE:Student favorites with a decent chance of getting nominated include Up,Precious,Avatar,Star Trek

andWhere the Wild Things Are.Outofallofthese,Precious—theheart-wrenchingtaleofateenagemother struggling through abuse, disease and racism—is the most likely to be at least nominated for theaward.UpandWhere the Wild Things Are are somewhat unlikely as only one animated picture has ever been even nominated for Best Picture, the 1991 Beauty and the Beast. Critics may consider AvatarandStar Trek to be less story-oriented than their competitors.

Precious is one of the top picks for the average critic, along with The Hurt Locker,A Single Man,The Messenger,Up in the AirandThe Last Station.Up in the Air seems like a possible winner, earning a 90% rating on Rottentomatoes.com. Ryan Bingham (played by George Clooney) is an employee of a company whose job is to travel around the country to fire people, finding himself disheartened over time. The connection to the current recession and the natural depth of the characters could attract the votes of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

2. BEST ACTOR:Many students rave about Sherlock HolmesactorRobertDowneyJr.

andThe Informant! actor Matt Damon. Though neither were nominated, certainly Damon was closer to the prize in The Informant!astheawfullyinept Mark Whitacre who keeps an eye on his own price-fixing company. Downey, no matter how decent the performance, simply does not have an edgy enough role to compete with the star of a dark political comedy.

Critic nominees include Michael Stuhlbarg in A Serious Man,GeorgeClooneyinUp in the Air,MorganFreemaninInvictusandJeremyRennerinThe Hurt Locker. George Clooney seems like a winner in Up in the Airas Ryan Bingham. His role in the movie easily connects with those who find themselves pressured by the current recession and he still manages to be charming, despite his character’s insensitive job. The apprehension that occasionally shines through his character’s confidence is startlingly realistic; it rivals all other possible award-winners.

3. BEST ACTRESS:Students eye Gabourey Sidibe’s performance as the title role in Precious, Anika Noni Rose in The

Princess and the Frog as Tia and Meryl Streep as Julia Child in Julie & Julia. It’s entirely possible that both Streep and Sidibe will be nominated; Sidibe for her daring performance for a beautifully victimized character, Meryl Streep as she has already been nominated a total of 15 times beforehand and won two times. She accurately portrayed the real Julia Child, mimicking the energy and enthusiasm that was so uniquetohercharacter.

4. BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:Christoph Waltz is likely to win best supporting actor for his role in Inglourious Basterds playing

Hans Landa, a Nazi colonel who happens to be a delightfully edgy sadist, known in the film for his atrocities to the Jewish people. Even though the background of his role is grim, he injects a perfect medium of quirkiness into a terrifying character.

5. BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:Mo’Nique has again and again been praised in her role as Mary

LeeJohnstoninPrecious, in which she is the abusive mother of the title character; she has currently won 12 awards from multiple critic circles and associations for her role. Many viewers were astounded by her ability in the role, previously associating her with subpar acting. At least in this role, Monique changed her normally comedic attitude something vicious, hostile and vivid—which is why she deserves an award.

COURTESY OF: MCTCAMPUS.COM

COURTESY OF: MCTCAMPUS.COM

COURTESY OF: ASK.COM

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16 spOrts Feb. 12, 2010

Boys Basketball has a record of 7-10 as of F eb.2. The team has been doing well when it comes to offense, but the team does have its weaknesses. “We need to get better at rebounding and playing defense,” said Will Jones, coach. The two players that have had the most impact on the team are seniors Zach Jenner and Dexter Bethers, according to Jones. Even though the team has an even record this season some players feel that they can have a better season than what their record shows now. “We could be playing a lot better than we are now,” said David Bruce, a junior and guard. They have very loud and dedicated fans that make it hard for opposing teams to face them at home. “Fans are great, they have a lot of energy and their energy gets the team more pumped up for the game,” said Bryce Nicolicchia, a sophomore and a guard. —Cletus Milan

This season has not been the best for the ice hockey team. Their current record 0-13 as of Feb.2. Although that’s not a ideal record, the team is looking forward to finishing off the season on a good note and preparing to have a better season next year. Maybe one of the reasons for the record is the team lack of bonding. “Most of the guys from last year are still pretty close but some of the freshmen are still trying to get into the flow of the team system,” said Conner Gavrilles, a junior and a defense. The stand out stars for the team are Jimmy Umnatch, a senior, and Brandon Kalvoda, a sophomore, according to players on the team. One of the bright sides is that the team got a new goalie so that can help the season turn around for the team. But it’s hard to keep playing when you have such a bad record. “The season is going pretty bad, it could be a lot better,” said Tommy Robb, a senior and a defensive player. —Cletus Milan

Girls Basketball is 11-14 as of Feb. 2. The team has about two games left in the season and they look like a promising team for the playoffs. They have swept Deer Valley High School, beating them at all levels. According to coach Justin McLain the players that stood out this year were point guard junior Christina Mitchell and post player senior Amanda Rondo. The team has been doing great this season but they do need some improvements in their game. “We need to improve on running the fast break and outside shots,” Justin McLain said. The team has a winning record students at OHS are accustomed to the boys basketball team having a better record, but the girls team has a better record than the boy’s team this season. “The team is doing well due to the team bonding this year,” said center Kalie Matthews, a sophomore. —Cletus Milan

Like all sports teams, the girls soccer team has had their ups and downs and their team record is 10-6-1 as of Feb. 2. Ashley Wittke, a senior said, “I’m the most goal scorer but Lacie Jones has the best set skills.”

Paola Pratt nominates Brandi Alvarez as most likely to make a person laugh.

“She’s naturally funny,” Pratt said.Laura Romanet said Alvarez laughed when she got

hit in the face and just kept running and smiling. —Tarah Wells

Wrestling season has started off well for OHS as they are 3-1 in region as of Feb. 2. The wrestling team has placed higher at all their tournaments this year including third at the Southwest Duals, third at the McClintock tournament, second at the Ironwood tournament and third at Round Valley.

“The team makes no excuses, they expect to win,” said Chandler Evans, wrestling coach.

This year’s wrestling team has set their minds on winning and won’t accept anything less.

“No one expects us to be any good,” said Daniel Cotton, a junior. “Though we may look unintimidating, we are a decent team.”

—Amanda Bowers

During the soccer season, there are many people who stand out, shine and make differences. Many awards are given out at the end of the season. The boys are 3-6-3 as of Feb.2.

“Connor Vincent [is most likely to have the most head butts during a game] because he’s just so tall that he gets to the ball before anybody else,” said David Romanet, a sophomore. “Jesus Quintero has really good ball control and strong kicks.”

To comment on his award of most head butts, junior, Connor Vincent said, “I’m good at throwing the ball in. My best moment [on the soccer field] is getting an assist. [if you don’t know what an assist is, its] where you pass the ball to someone and they score.”

—Tarah Wells

PHOTO BY CASSIE GLASER

PHOTO BY LEAH STAPLETON

PHOTO BY CASSIE GLASER

PHOTO BY KODY D’AMOURS

COURTESY OF OHS YEARBOOK

COURTESY OF CARSON HOWARD