THE

GRANADA HIGH SCHOOL

P megranateVOLUME 8, ISSUE 4

INSIDE

JANUARY 2013

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ContentsTheater etiquette...........3Year in review...............6Get Set science..............7Healthy tips..................9Post NFL......................11

Student finds passion in photography

49ers quarterbacks: who’s in and who’s out?

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Gangnam style is the latest media sensation

By Rebecca Bernstein

News Editor Every student has their own unique talent that sets them apart. For sophomore Kevin Morikawa, it’s digital photography. So far, Morikawa has only taken one class on digital photography, and it was in that class where he found his passion. “I originally thought taking pictures was pretty fun,” he said, “but it wasn’t until Digital Photography 1 that I found I really like the digital art.” Despite what might appear as limited experience in the art of photography, Morikawa has been asked to do some family photo shoots. “He took our family Christmas picture this year,” said sophomore Alyssa Gonzalez, who took Digital Photography 1 with Morikawa. “I always love his work.”

Although Morikawa can take quality pictures of people, that’s not what he enjoys capturing the most. He prefers to photograph nature or inanimate objects. Unlike a lot of professional photographers these days, Morikawa rarely uses Photoshop. He said, “I use it sometimes, but mostly just to crop photos.” He uses a Canon brand camera and likes to keep it simple by sticking to digital photography rather than developing film. What really sets Morikawa’s photos apart is how they are composed and taken. “When he takes photos of people, he can either arrange them, or he can just take a good quality picture,” said Gonzalez. In order to take a high quality picture, Morikawa takes into account both the lighting and the angle. Both are important when trying to achieve the specific mood he wants his picture to convey.

He said, “I can take up to 20 photos or more on one subject and out of those many, there could only be 1 or 2 that I would choose for a project.” Morikawa experimented with different art forms. “I always found art interesting, but I couldn’t draw or paint very well, so taking pictures is a great way for me to display my artistic side,” said Morikawa, who is also on the water polo team. He believes photography is a great way to express the artistic feelings he isn’t able to let out through water polo. Morikawa thinks he might want to have photography as a side career in the future, but for now, he wants to continue making art as a hobby, rather than turn his fun into work. “Photography is a recently discovered skill that I really enjoy doing,” he said. “I just enjoy doing it for fun.”

competition that presents a different challenge every year. The competition is judged off the robot’s ability to complete an assigned task with the most efficiency. There is an autonomous round in which the

By Zachary D. Williams

Staff Writer If building real-life T-1000’s from “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” is not the coolest sounding project ever, then there can be no hope for mankind. But who wouldn’t want to partake in the co-destruction of corporate America through artificial intelligence and killer robots? Although they are not permitted to build mobile Gundam-Mecha suits due to the strict Granada Absolutes, The GHS Robotics Club engage in astounding projects nonetheless. “In the Robotics Club, we compete in a competition called Vex,” said senior Ryan Craig, president of the Robotics Club. “The game this year is called Vex Sack Attack. At the club we have to build a robot to be able to pick up beanbags and place them in goals while working against other teams. We also have to program the robot so it runs by itself as well as off a controller.” Vex is an annual robotics

programmed robot must act on its own accord to accomplish the task, without anyone touching the controller. The next round would then consist of the robot’s creator controlling its actions. Last year’s challenge

was to have have a robot pick up a ball and place it in a goal. Whoever got the most balls through the goal would win the round. All the competitors place their robots on the floor at once during the challenge.

It is mass, robotic chaos. The members of this team put their ideas together and build actual functioning robots, providing students with hands-on fundamental knowledge in regards to the building from their technological ingenuity. “In order to join, you have to be willing to learn and help bring up ideas,” said Craig. “Also, you have to be used to explaining why your idea is the best because we can only build one design and can’t mess around with an idea that is going to fail.” There are multiple competitions spread throughout this year, so it is not too late to get involved. “New members are always welcome, and yes, we build actual robots.” said Craig. The Robotics Club meets in room 604 at lunch on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. Hopefully the world has seen the worst of its chaos, but if Sky-Net takes over, then we all know who is really at fault for the blame.

Robotics Club takes part in annual competition

Robotics Club president Ryan Craig, and other members plan to participate in the Vex Sack Attack.

Photo by Zachary D. Williams

Photo by Kevin MorikawaKevin Morikawa enjoys taking photograghs as a fun hobby.

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Pomegranate Staff

- Editor-in-Chief -Heather LeCon

- Editorial Staff -Rebecca Bernstein

Jeff KatenKatherine M. Klem

Jack KovacichBrooke Yarrington

- Staff Writers -Zachary D. Williams

Lana FickKelsey LaBarbera

Mary LawhornJustin Moore

Ashley MoylanBella Murphy

Sarah NortmanAlison PiersonDakota Rogers

Douglas Simpson

By Jack Kovacich

Features Editor Think back to a time not too long ago. A time when the thought of a Korean pop song becoming the most watched video of all time on Youtube was ridiculous. A time of innocence. A time before Gangnam Style. You probably remember the first time you heard it, unless your living quarters for the past four months have been deep, deep underground (in which case you’d still at least feel the vibrations from entire rooms doing the dance in unison). I do: my friend sent it to me over Skype, telling me about this wacky Korean man’s hijinks. I watched. I was bewildered. But I didn’t pay it much attention. People make wacky music videos all the time, right? Over the course of the next week, on four separate occasions, I was asked to “check out this crazy music video!” Every time I was met with the familiar sharply-dressed Korean man and cast of wacky characters: dancing little kid, dancing man in yellow suit with bowl cut, pelvic-thrusting man in elevator with confused expression on his face. The video made less sense every time I watched it.

But the unanimous obsession with it made even less sense. My confusion has only increased over time. Gangnam Style has blown up so massively that even if I wanted to ignore it I couldn’t. It’s on the news. Psy is making appearances all over TV shows. Plenty of people have had the idea of parodying it–searching “Gangnam Style parody” returns about 60,000 results on Youtube–resulting in such gold mines of inventive humor as “Mitt Romney Style” and “Gandalf Style,” in which people sing the songs but replace some of the words with words that relate to the theme of the parody. So... why? Why has this particular music video caught so much attention? My answer is: I don’t know. It could be that it’s a catchy song, paired with an infectious dance move and a memorable music video. Its Korean-ness probably helped elevate it beyond the realm of regular cultural phenomena as well, as we don’t understand the lyrics and therefore it’s more universally acceptable than some sappy song about love or whatever. It’s like the macarena: all that matters is that the song comes back to the recognizable chorus between all of the unintelligible lyrics in another

language and everyone dances. All of these traits can’t hurt it. But something in me says that this explosion of success was more about the video being watched by the right people at the right time. It’s not that I don’t think Gangnam Style is good or catchy or anything. It’s enjoyable, but as I’m sure plenty of others feel at this point, the only thing I should be exposed to this much is oxygen. Though plenty of other videos of its caliber exist,

Gangnam Style straddles the line between weirdness and catchiness in the perfect way for millions of people who’ve seen nothing like it before to enjoy it. Phenomena that reach the right people keep building momentum, even if they may not necessarily be the best or the most entertaining, just because people see recommendations by friends or celebrities or see it as a “trend” in some other way. They’re convenient to quickly click on and digest, just

to see what all the fuss is about. Gangnam Style is now the first video to surpass one billion views. The closest competitor, 200 million views behind, is Justin Bieber’s “Baby.” Unlike “Baby,” Gangnam Style is nearly unanimously “liked” (while “Baby” is only “liked” by 25 percent of its viewers). How long will it be until people collectively stop worshiping it? Comments on the video are nearly all positive or boastful that Gangnam Style “beat” Justin Bieber to the 1 billion mark. Surely people will eventually get sick of it and move on to another trend. If I bring up Rebecca Black’s “Friday,” you probably just groan and write me off as some stale old guy from the past who can’t think of original jokes. That trend happened just about a year ago. The Internet allows us to consume things quickly and for trends and fads and “memes” to spread at the rate of a rocket-propelled Usain Bolt, but deem them stale and irrelevant just as quickly. The 1 billion view mark is just another indication of the Internet’s increasing ability to spread things and our collective fascination with the “weird,” even though unironic enjoyment probably won’t last long.

By Lana Fick

Staff Writer It is extremely hard to understand why something that eats people and is not alive is so entertaining. Zombies are technically the product of viruses that infect organisms and change the organisms’ behavior and cause them to become a “zombie” of some sort. The zombie that the media has created is nothing like the definition scientists use. Zombies are considered to be many different things. They can be fast, slow, smart, or dumb. This is all depending on how the media is trying to portray them. Either way, our generation has become obsessed with them. Six years ago the only popular zombie-related media out there was “I am Legend.” The zombies in that movie were “super zombies” who could perform physical feats far beyond that of a normal human. While “I am Legend” was, in fact, entertaining and creepy, the real

zombie T.V. show that started this infatuation was “The Walking Dead.” The zombies portrayed in that show are really slow and really dumb. Yet they can hear and are attracted to light. The truth is that our generation has become infected by these gross creatures. The zombie media has grown and students around campus have strong opinions about zombies and the hype surrounding them.Ashtyn Page said, “I like the zombie movies, but I don’t think that it will ever really happen.” Other students also said that they were “cool” but they were “creepy, scary.” Makinna Newkirk said, “Zombies are scary and amazing.”

In the case of a zombie attack, Trevor Gregory said, “I would kill all the zombies. I would just get a

lightsaber, then I would train in the way of the Jedi and bam!” L a u r e n Koelsch clev-erly commented, “If I were a zombie the first

thing I would do is go after all the people who won’t be quiet about zombies.”

What do you love?

Yasmeen Haider: “I love waking up in the middle of the night and looking at my clock and seeing that I have 3 hours left to sleep.”

Erin McQueen: “I love bacon.”

Valerie Sommer: “Having exact change.”

Madeleine Thompson: “Big blanket forts on rainy days where you can get cozy inside.”

Matt Tyler: “A full tank of gas.”

Marcella Williams: “I love actual cowboys.”

Mr. McCombs: “I love sitting at home on a stormy day.”

Stephanie Divita: “I love drinking a mug of hot mint tea in the morning and watching the sunrise.”

Mady Souza: “I love sleeping.”

Student survey:What do you hate?

Austin Hoggatt: “People that walk in front of you when you’re trying to get to class, and they walk at a glacial pace.”

Erin McQueen: “I hate anything that isn’t bacon.”

Sean Cabanlit: “I hate Powerschool and the fact that the school added the new dance rules and might add them in the other dances as well.”

Jonathon Futral: “I hate the aftertaste from barbecue chips 5-10 minutes after consumption.”

Mr. McCombs: “I hate being at school on a stormy day.”

Haley Emerson: “The people that mob in front of the 200 hall - with a burning passion.”

Mady Souza: “I hate exerting effort.”

Gangnam Style first to reach a billion views

Zombies need to die

allthingsd.com

Youtube sensation and Korean star, Psy, has become a big hit.

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By Lana Fick

Staff Writer When it comes to movies these days, the typical genres are horror, comedy, romance and action. Horror movies are about a person going out and killing other people. They can be dark and somewhat entertaining, but other than that, the movie’s plot line is always the same. Either the movies consist of a serial killer kidnapping someone or some supernatural creature haunting a town or a family. Comedy movies don’t really even exist anymore; most are either romantic comedies or slapstick comedies. When there are good comedy movies, often times Hollywood tries to capitalize off of it by making many sequels. For example, “The Hangover” was funny and there was nothing else out there like it. The second one was entertaining, but it was not necessary to remake something just because the first was so good. Watching middle-aged

men hung-over after a drunken night yet again gets kind of old. Romantic movies are probably the worst when it comes to originality. They always follow the same plot line: boy meets girl; girl plays hard to get; in the end, they end up together or if they don’t in that movie, they do in the sequel. In reality, people want these couples to end up together; they want the Hollywood ending. In real life, if a guy shows no interest in you, they really don’t like you, as much

as you wish they would. False expectations are implemented into the audiences heads, especially young teenage girls. Action movies involve several car chases and someone being able to survive the impossible. The main character is almost always an attractive guy who is out to save to world from something dramatic and unrealistic. There is usually an equally attractive girl who is super smart but is also a force not to mess with. She usually drives the main character crazy, but in the end, they are together. Overall, the repetition is in the plot line and character development. The bottom line: that’s what people expect. They want to be entertained and want an escape from real life. However, movies can still be entertaining and be original; they do not need to show the same story multiple times. The movies need to just tell one story and move on to another one that can be even better. Honestly, it’s just starting to get old.

By Heather LeCon

Editor-in-Chief It’s Friday night and you’re out with friends. You decide that seeing a movie sounds like a good idea. Movies are a fun activity until people don’t follow the right movie etiquette. You pick the perfect seat right in the middle, when all of the sudden you feel your chair moving. You think to yourself, “Am I in those new D-box seats that are motion censored?” Nope, it’s just that annoying little kid whose parents pay no attention to while he kicks the back of your seat. You think you can handle the kicking,

but really, you can’t. You don’t want to ask the parents to tell their kid to stop because obviously, they couldn’t care less. Moving seats is your only option. Fortunately, there is an open seat a few rows down. You think you are finally ready to enjoy the movie, but once again you’re wrong. To your dismay you see two large feet resting on your cup holder. Who does this person think they are? Do they not know how rude they are being by using the armrest as their own personal foot rest? That is a big no no. Another big red flag is when people are using their cell phones during the movie. Most movie

theaters run previews on how you should silence your phone so that you don’t disrupt others. Do people not know how to read the screen as it signals

you to turn off your phone? Even texting can be bothersome to people sitting around you. No one wants to see a bright shining screen in their face as they try to enjoy a movie. Buying popcorn at a show is perfectly acceptable. What’s

not acceptable, though, is when you’re chewing it with your mouth open. It’s bad enough to hear people rustling their bags every five seconds; we don’t need to hear it in your mouth as well. By far my biggest pet peeve is when people are talking during a movie. The movie theater is not your home. Nobody wants to hear your side comments about every single scene. Whispering can be tolerated in moderation, but if you’re full on having a conversation, then you need to get up and leave. By now your movie is finally over. What is that you hear? It’s the sound of people clapping. Why are people clapping? This

isn’t a live performance. None of the actors or the director can hear your obnoxious applauding. I understand you really enjoyed the movie, but your clapping is just annoying and unnecessary. All of these disturbances should not be happening in a movie theater. People pay to see a quality film while enjoying the peace and quiet that surrounds them. They should not have to worry about obnoxious outbursts throughout the movie. Next time you go to the movies, see how many of these things you can notice. Or if you’re guilty of committing a movie-goer no-no, then try to put your bad habits to an end before it’s too late.

Matador on the Street: Which of the seven dwarves would you be and why?

Shawn Throckmorton, Junior: “I would be Bashful because whenever I look into the mirror, I blush.”

Fernanda Van Atta, Sophomore: “I would be Doc because he’s a good leader, capable of making intelligent decisions.”

Samantha Sobers, Junior: “I would be Dopey because he looks like he has it all figured out.”

Josh Knight, Senior: “I would be Sleepy because, well, it wouldn’t be much of a change from the way I live life regularly.”

Ms. Bergmann, Teacher: “I would be Dopey because he’s just himself, and he’s so fun.”

By Sarah NortmanStaff Writer

New movies getting old

By far my biggest pet peeve is when people are talking during a

movie.

To Whom This Concerns: This letter is in regards to the review written for the One Direction CD—“Take Me Home.” It is understandable that this article is completely opinion- based, but we would like for the album to be reviewed once again. I feel that the album was unfairly reviewed just because they are a boy band. Please give the album another chance. One suggestion would be to take a poll of how many people love One Direction and I guarantee 75% do. One Direction cures cancer and has saved numerous lives of puppies. The world is going in one direction and that is all thanks to the beautiful crew of 1D. Like all bands they started off as struggling nobodies and became gods. One Direction’s “Take Me Home” literally wants people to take home that album. And people (girls) take home the album because the songs are genially fantastic!!! <3 <3 1D RULES!!! When I read the review, I was outraged. I couldn’t believe that

anyone would give One Direction a 1 1/2 star out of 5. One Direction may be a boy band but they stand for so much more. They stand for the American Dream, justice, freedom, happiness, and everything that is good in the world. So by putting down the band because of their “pop” sound, you’re basically putting down the American Dream and everything else I mentioned earlier. One Direction’s music makes millions of people happy. Is it so wrong to be happy? Should the world be rid of happiness? Without One Direction, the world would be a dark, depressing place with people who wouldn’t know they’re beautiful. Your review has angered many of the female population. I plan on mailing your review to One Direction and Simon Cowell as well. Something must be done.Once again, I strongly urge for another review of their album.

Sincerely,Dedicated 1D fansJeanne Marcelo and Rochelle Stewart

Letter to the Editor

Annoying habits make movies less enjoyable www.collider.com

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January Music Review“Bish Bosch” by Scott Walker

2012 Oscar Predictions

Editor’s Choice: Quick Picks

-Heather LeCon Editor-in-Chief

-Jack KovacichFeatures Editor

-Katherine M. KlemAssistant Editor

San Francisco Zoo: Fun for all ages

Thought For Food:Collage music

Chocolate Chip Cookies:Trader Joe’s

Looking for something fun and exciting to do this weekend? Why not go to the San Francisco Zoo. Tickets are only $15 to see the diverse selection of mammals and reptiles. Feed the goats at the petting farm or take pictures with the leopards and tigers. The zoo is enjoyable no matter what age you are. You’re sure to find your favorite animal when you visit the SF Zoo which is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“Life of Pi” “Les Miserables”

“Lincoln” “Argo”

By Jack KovacichFeatures Editor

By Justin Moore

Staff Writer Scott Walker is a singer/song writer who has easily had one of the most interesting careers in modern music today. He recently released his first album “Bish Bosch”, after a six year hiatus, which completes the trilogy of albums he’s been working on for the past three decades. “Bish Bosch” could possibly be the weirdest album you’ll ever listen to. As a kid in the 50’s, he sang beach rock, but during the 70’s and on he made a name for himself performing a number of works ranging from solo albums to trio albums with his band “The Walker Brothers.” His solo career brought him into the limelight when he released 4 LP’s entitled Scott 1-4, all of which are albums showcasing his strong baritone voice accompanied by crisp, well-defined music composed and performed by him. After a personal hiatus (during which he may have gone crazy) several decades passed before “Bish Bosch” was released. The dark lyrics accompanied by ambient sounds of ear piercing strings and oddly placed instruments give “Bish Bosch” the feel of a sound track for an insane asylum. Grotesque and profane lyrics range from blowing up bullfrogs with straws to people just falling apart into a meaty mess. Such subjects covered in his songs are abnormal and not common topics to be covered in the music industry. Then again,

neither is combining completely different styles of music to create dark horror-esque music. Heavy-out-of-tuned guitars, deep pounding drums, Walker’s aged (rather frightening) baritone voice and weird out-of-place sounds such as the sharpening of knives, jack hammers and dogs barking all create a horrifyingly disturbing album that leaves you questioning what it was you just listened to. However random some tracks may seem, there are plenty of times where it is clear that the segment of the song has been meticulously composed and performed. In all honesty, I’m not sure I

would ever openly say I liked or enjoyed this album. At the same time, I can’t deny that I would indeed listen to it again and again. As odd the album may be, we must give Scott Walker the credit that he deserves. The album “Bish Bosch” is a masterfully crafted album with a cynical and dark twist to it. As irreverent as the LP was, I didn’t feel like I was listening to something I had heard a thousand times before. Furthermore, I recommend “Bish Bosch” to anybody who feels up to the task of digesting an uncomfortable, dark, yet skillfully composed torture chamber of an album.

This ambitious story of a boy and a Bengal tiger has been hailed as a visual masterpiece by critics and audiences alike. Director Ang Lee transforms the supposedly “unfilmable” source material into a film that “combines breathtaking beauty with edge-of-your-seat suspense.” After a shipwreck, Pi, the title character, is stranded on a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger. Readers of the original book were skeptical about the translation from novel to the big screen. Like every single movie on this list, though, the conversion from book to movie goes well. Several critics have already predicted “Life of Pi” winning various technical awards. Unlike most films, the 3D is being acclaimed for adding to the beauty.

With a Christmas Day release, a star-studded cast, high production value and historically significant source-material, “Les Miserables” seems like it was made for the Academy. Directed by Tom Hooper, who also directed 2010’s Best Picture winner, “The King’s Speech,” it has already caught the attention of many critics and awards ceremonies for its intense performances and “stunning cinematography.” Based on the musical based on the landmark 19th century novel, “Les Miserables” features live-to-tape singing and very little dialogue. It follows the story of Jean Valjean, a prisoner recently released after 19 years. So far, critics have taken note of Anne Hathaway’s performance and the cinematography.

Detailing the final four months of one of the greatest presidents ever, “Lincoln” has been acclaimed as director Steven Spielberg’s best film since “Saving Private Ryan.” Based in part on a biography, “Lincoln” chronicles the efforts of Abraham Lincoln (played by Daniel Day-Lewis) to pass the Thirteenth Amendment. Sally Fields and Tommy Lee Jones also give knockout performances as First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln and Thaddeus Stevens. As always, Daniel Day-Lewis’s performance is being heavily praised, almost guaranteeing him the Best Actor Award. Jones is also a strong contender for Supporting Actor. The film has topped numerous Best Picture lists.

Ben Affleck’s crime thriller has garnered extensive critical praise, including four stars and designation for Best Picture from Roger Ebert. “Argo” takes place during the 1979 Iran hostage crisis. CIA agent Tony Mendez (Affleck himself) is tasked with rescuing six hostages who have escaped to the Canadian Ambassador’s house. Mendez teams up with a Canadian film crew and plans to save the hostages under the pretense of producing a science-fantasy film titled “Argo,” resulting in thrills and often-dark humor. Though this year’s race has been more competitive and varied than any in recent memory, “Argo” seems to have pulled ahead slightly, in both the Best Picture and Best Director categories.

The debut album by The Books is an unique album only matched by other Books releases. Establishing their trademark combination of original instrumentation and strange samples, the album is more thoughtful than later releases. With its mostly acoustic instrumentation and bleaker samples, it’s mellow enough to listen to in the background but interesting enough to command your full attention.

Trader Joe’s Crispy Crunchy Chocolate Chip Cookies are some of the best store-bought cookies on the face of the earth. These little cookies with a big taste are sold in a large tub for $3.99, which is well worth the price. The cookies are marvelously crispy and contain the perfect number of chocolate chips, but the delicious flavor really comes from the coconut in them. But buyers beware: it’s very difficult to stop eating them.

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Flavor of Fashion

Garrett Oliver, senior

Sweater: H&M, $10

Pants: Tilly`s, $30

Scarf: Gift

Jacket: Hand-me-down

Shoes: Online, $60

Style: “Modern class”

Liz Person, junior

Jacket: Mom`s jacket

Shirt: Homemade

Dress: Ross, $10

Earrings: Styles, gift

Shoes: Forever 21,$20

Style: “Thrifty eclectic chic”

January Crossword

By Jeff KatenPerspectives Editor

By Bella Murphy & Brooke YarringtonStaff Writers

Nebo brings energy to campus

Photo by Alison PiersonMrs. Nebo have known her in the social aspects of Granada especially in her disco dance in the staff skit.

By Alison Pierson

Staff Writer Although she has not been at Granada for very long, Mrs. Valerie Nebo has certainly made an impression with students She started at Granada during the 2007-2008 school year, took time off to be an at-home mom, and returned last year. Early in her college career, Nebo attended University of San Francisco but dropped out because she didn’t know why she wanted to be in college. She then decided to go back and attend California University of Pennsylvania. She earned her Bachelor’s of Science in education with an emphasis in English.

Her favorite part of teaching is watching the “epiphanies” of her students. She explained she enjoys “not just the little ‘aha moments,’ although those are great, too, but being witness to an understanding that changes the way a student thinks about and goes about life.” Her best memory at Granada was Homecoming 2011 when she dressed up as a hippie for the teachers’ 70s skit. At the time, few students knew who she was because she was still fairly new, but after a show-stealing dance where she came to the front and performed a “Soul Train-inspired” dance, she became the talk of the skit. “All those Saturday mornings

as a kid laughing at the dances and all the multiple viewings of ‘Saturday Night Fever’ did, in fact, pay off!” Nebo said. During the final awards rally on Friday of Homecoming week, Nebo received an award for her “Best Performance on a Friday” but remembers “failing to show up for the rally to receive it.” She said, “It is sitting proudly at the end of the hall leading to my office in my house. I keep meaning to bring it to school.” Nebo enjoys activities away from school, including cooking, writing, reading, gardening and spending time with her three kids. She described her hobby of gardening as “killing plants.” She has known her husband since junior high school but did not start dating him until several years after high school. Nebo’s passion for what she does shows in her teaching as she always makes herself available to help students. “The most important part of teaching high school students is preparing them to go out into the world as adults. Our jobs are not just to teach subject matter, but to obligate ourselves as perhaps the last chance at teaching the importance of self-reflection, good citizenship, and empathy for others and the world,” she said.

Across:

1. Severe6. Plant juice9. Min. part12. Rocker ____ Cooper13. Boxing great14. Expert15. Supermarket16. Composer ____ Bernstein

18. She, in Valencia20. From Oslo21. Toledo’s waterfront24. Live coal26. Subway gate, e.g.28. Ocean31. Place for clothes32. Parentless child34. Egg source35. Honor roll (2 wds.)37. Whittled down38. Primates

39. Muzzle42. Relax44. James Bond’s drink46. Musical pace50. UN member51. Itinerary word52. Baseball great Hank ____53. Four qts.54. Building section55. Zest

Down:

1. Possesses2. Key near the space bar3. River (Sp.)4. Shows (a movie)5. Sock part6. Deli sausage7. Pub order8. Trailblazers9. Shadowbox10. Makes a mistake11. Secret language17. Neither’s mate19. Alphabet part21. Engrave22. Govern23. Treat pleats25. Light-haired27. Quieting medicine

Answers on page 7

28. Ocean vessel29. Alleviate30. Industrious insects33. Level off36. ____ photography37. Position39. Self-satisfied40. Apollo agcy.41. Uttered43. All-male party45. Nothing47. Married woman48. Plant holder49. Common Japanese surname

featuresJANUARY 2013

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Baseball Playoffs The Bay Area provided baseball fans with a very entertaining postseason. The A’s made the playoffs for the first time since 2006. The Giants won six elimination games to move on to the World Series. They swept the Detroit Tigers to bring the trophy back to the Bay Area for the 2nd time in three years.

Honey Boo Boo The newest TLC reality series has taken the country by storm. “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo” follows the life of seven-year-old Alana Thompson and her family. Alana is a child beauty pageant participant, whose quirky family and seemingly strange lifestyle provides comic relief for audiences.

Hurricane Sandy In late October, Hurricane Sandy devastatingly ripped through the East Coast. The coasts of New York and New Jersey were some of the hardest hit areas in the United States. Sandy caused flooding and gale force winds that led to the closure of schools and public transit due to massive power outages.

The Presidential Election The biggest story of 2012 was the presidential election. Mitt Romney was nominated by the Republican party to take on the incumbent Barack Obama. The fierce battle between the two opponents raged on throughout the year without there ever seeming to be a cease-fire. The divide between the country’s political parties was made very clear as the debates of the fall began. The economy, health care, immigration, foreign policy and education were some of the hot-button issues discussed. As the election drew nearer, the most important swing states were Ohio, Florida, Virginia and North Carolina. Campaigns came down to the wire, but on November 6, it was in the voters’ hands. The night of the election, Obama won the state of Ohio, and it was all over. He was named our president for the next four years by the Electoral College, and he will officially begin his second term on January 20.

iPhone 5 The newest generation of the Apple iPhone was released last year, claiming its reign as the bigger and better smart phone. The new iPhone boasts a bigger screen, better performance, an upgraded camera, a lighter weight, a new charging port and a new iOS 6 operating system.

Kony 2012 On March 5, Invisible Children, Inc., released a short film to bring awareness to the issues facing Uganda and to call for the arrest of Joseph Kony. Kony is the leader of a guerilla warfare group that recruits children as its soldiers. The video went viral, drawing the world’s attention to this issue.

Mayan Calendar The mysterious end of the Mayan calendar on December 21, 2012 had everyone talking. There was no shortage of movie spin-offs and superstitions either. Good news is that the Mayans probably just got bored making the calendar because we all survived what was supposed to be the final date ever.

The Olympic Games This summer, London hosted the 30th Olympiad. The opening and closing ceremonies were labeled as spectacular works of art. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Brunei had female athletes for the first time and women’s boxing was added as a sport. It was the most-watched TV event in US history.

Crisis in Syria Throughout last year, the civil war in Syria raged on between the government and its people. Tens of thousands of people have already been killed and millions of others displaced. This long lasting battle appears to have no end in sight. The world continues to hope for resolution.

Top 10 in 2012: The Year in ReviewBy Ashley Moylan, Staff Writer

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Tragic Shootings 2012 was a year of much misfortune and heartbreak in our country. The public shootings of innocent people became far too common. The most tragic perhaps was the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. On December 14 in Newtown, Connecticut, a gunman shot his mother, and then drove to the nearby elementary school, where he killed 26 students and faculty before turning the gun on himself. This was only one of many tragedies. On February 21 in Norcross, Georgia, a man went to his family’s spa and killed 4 people and then himself. On February 27 in Chardon, Ohio, a sophomore student killed 3 other students in the cafeteria of Chardon High School. On March 8 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a gunman opened fire in a psychiatric hospital, killing 1 person and himself. On April 2 in Oakland, California, a former nursing student at Oikos University opened fire on the campus, killing 7 people. On April 6 in Tulsa, Arizona, two gunmen drove around on a shooting spree, killing 3 people. On May 30 in Seattle, Washington, a shooter killed 5 people in a coffee shop and later killed himself. On July 20 in Aurora, Colorado, a gunman shot into theaters during the “Batman” premiere, killing 12 people. On August 5 in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, a white supremacist shot and killed 6 people in a Sikh Temple. On August 13 in College Station, Texas, a man shot and killed 2 police officers approaching his house before killing himself. On September 27 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, a man that was fired from his job retaliated by shooting and killing 6 people and then himself. On October 21 in Brookfield, Wisconsin, a former Marine opened fire on a spa and killed his wife plus 2 others. On December 11 in Happy Valley, Oregon, a man shot and killed 2 people in a mall before killing himself. The unnecessary violence of last year has sparked much debate on the issues of gun control and helping the mentally ill.

featuresJANUARY 2013

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By Mary Lawhorn

Staff Writer The Get Set program here at Granada is attracting many girls who wish to pursue careers in technology, science, math and engineering. Get Set is a program that holds workshops for girls to learn about careers that they hope to pursue in the future. Workshops are held teaching robotics, food science, engineering, technology, CSI and physics. Career center advisor Mrs. Mintz said, “For anyone who wants to explore different pathways, different majors, different schools, it’s a great way to get hands on experience for the future and explore different opportunities.” Each workshop is an hour and a half long, and is free. However, if you wish to attend one of the four field trips, then there is a cost for transportation or other insurance costs. Field trips will visit the Travis Air Force Base, Santa Clara University Engineering Department, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom and Stryker Neurovascular.

For seniors out there looking to get into one of these fields and for some extracurricular activities to add in college applications, Mintz said, “It will definitely look good (on applications).” Orientation was held on November 7th at Dublin High school. Mintz said about 300 people from all the Tri-Valley high schools showed up to learn more about the program and what it has to offer. However, each workshop usually has about 30 girls in it allowing for a comfortable yet exciting learning environment. Mintz said she hopes the program gives girls ”a better idea of what they want to do in college or as a job and I really hope they make connections between our workshops, our field trips and other events. We have a lot of women professionals that they can make connections with, and I really hope that helps them in their future.” For students interested in the program, please see Mrs. Mintz in the Career Center for more information or to sign up. The next workshop will be held on January 10th here at Granada, for robotics.

By Jeff Katen

Perspectives Editor Lunchtime is a time for eating, socializing and complaining about school lunches. The most common criticisms that seem to circulate our campus are that the food they sell here doesn’t come in big enough portions, is too expensive and just isn’t all that great tasting. Well, the portions and the taste aspects can be traced back to a movement by the U.S. government to control the nutritional value of meals served to students. The new guidelines were intended to address increasing childhood obesity levels. They set limits on calories and salt, and phased in more whole grains. Schools had to offer at least one vegetable or fruit per meal. The department also dictated how much of certain food groups could be served. However, these regulations have ultimately led to downsizing portions of school lunches throughout the nation, leaving kids hungry by the end of lunch and parents angry when they hear about it. A recent development in the U.S. Department of Agriculture responding to criticism over these new rules is once again allowing more

grains and meat in kids’ meals. Lawmakers and school administrators wrote the department after the new rules went into effect this September complaining that kids weren’t getting enough to eat and saying set maximums on grains and meats were too limiting when it came to planning daily meals for the schools. Although the new tweak of these guidelines maintains broader calorie limits, they will allow for school lunch planners to use as many grains and as much meat as they want, which helps for freedom and potential for better tasting meals. Overall, experts are agreeing that the adjustment to the guidelines do not disparage them, and should not hinder their ability to help our country’s obesity problem.

By Kelsey LaBarbera

Staff Writer Our generation has many different types of social networking sites, but there is much competition over which one is the best. All of them have different qualities that make them unique from all the others. When students were asked which site was their favorite, there were four main sites that were chosen, all for different reasons. Some students of course responded with none, but the favorite was definitely Instagram. The main reason that Instagram was the more favorable social media site was because of the lack of drama and spam. This is definitely a reason that

Facebook has slowed down. Some students just like the fact that you can post pictures without having to post an entire status. Senior Brandon Rios explained, “I’m more of a visual person so I like Instagram more than reading

Students’ favorite social media sites

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Social media competitionposts on Twitter.” Twitter and Facebook were tied for second place. Senior Nicole Guzzo said, “I like Twitter because I can Hashtag.” This feature definitely makes Twitter a more favorable choice. Although Facebook doesn’t seem as popular as it once was, people are still using it to connect

with friends. Senior Bianca Devoto said, “It’s a great

way to talk with all of my friends!”

The final site that students love is the virtual pin board site, P i n t e r e s t . Kassidy Peters said, “I like getting lots of great ideas.”

Hope Silveira explained that

she likes Pinterest because she “loves

seeing the amazing ideas, and you can’t really

post something that would insult someone else.” This is

almost unavoidable on other sites. When choosing which site to use, there are many things that people take into consideration. Who knows what new form of social media will come up next?

Complaints result in better school lunches

Girls explore their future with Get SetInstagram

inches ahead of Facebookas favorite

featuresJANUARY 2013

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Cars With CharacterBy Ashley MoylanStaff Writer

There are cars, and then there are cool cars. Cars that make you wonder, “What happened to that car?” Cars that make you wish they were yours. Cars like Dylan Tupper’s 2007 Dodge Charger.

By Sarah Nortman

Staff Writer ‘Twas the season of giving, of Operation Christmas Child, of Angel Tree and of Toys for Tots. ‘Twas the time of year where many focused their attention on others’ needs and gave back to the community. But what about the rest of the year? Our help is needed all the time, not only during the holiday season. There are local volunteer opportunities you can take advantage of anytime in order to help those in need. Open Heart Kitchen is a non-profit organization that provides hot meals to those in need. They serve food at different locations in Livermore, Pleasanton and Dublin every day of the week, all year. Open Heart Kitchen boxes two nutritious lunches for middle and elementary students from low-income families who qualify for free meals at school. If you’re 14 or 15 with an adult accompaniment, you can go through the easy volunteer registration process at Open Heart Kitchen. Simply fill out a form online and, upon receiving a confirmation email, you can sign-up to volunteer. The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) is an animal shelter in Dublin. Most volunteers walk the dogs and socialize with the cats. Freshman Brittany Nortman,

By Heather LeCon

Editor-in-Chief With the winter season in full swing, a favorite pastime for many students is the ultimate winter sports of snowboarding and skiing. A lot of students may not enjoy the rainy days we have here, but lots of us know that if it’s rainy here, it’s most likely snowing in the mountains. Here in California, we are fortunate to have the best of both worlds, being able to experience the sandy beaches and the snowy mountains. According to www.trails.com, we also have some of the best ski resorts. On the top 10 list of resorts, is Heavenly Ski Resort in South Lake Tahoe, Sierra Summit Mountain Ski Resort in Lakeshore, Northstar at Tahoe Ski Resort in Truckee and Squaw Valley Ski resort in Olympic Valley. What is a ski resort? For those who don’t know, a ski resort is a town or village in the mountains that has ski lifts and runs. It also has hotels and restaurants. Ski Resorts can be for couple’s retreats or family vacations. Junior Shelby Stunkel said, “I think the best Snowboarding Resort is Northstar at Tahoe. They have an awesome terrain

park and a gondola that takes you to the top of the mountain with a sick view!” Junior Mark Santos also said his favorite resort is Northstar at Tahoe. When deciding on a ski or snowboarding resort, there are many factors to be considered, such as the run, the altitude of the resort, the lifts, prices and accommodations, and the difficulty of the runs. “My favorite part of snowboarding is the endless challenges,” said Stunkel. “There’s always a new trick to master or a new run to tackle. It’s the adrenaline. It’s my favorite thing in the world to do.” Another important aspect

Students’ favorite ski resorts

Sierra Summit Ski Resort in Lakeshore has an excellent summit for skiers and snowboarders of all skill levels.

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Many opportunities for volunteer work

Why do you think your car has character?I’ve had this car for 3 years now, and I’ve gone through a lot with it.

What is the craziest thing you have done in your car?One time I drove to Chico with Collin Sommerhauser.

If you could drive your car anywhere, where would you go?I would go to the beach because it is my favorite place to be.

What is the longest trip you have taken in the car?When I went to Los Angeles to look at colleges.

What is your favorite thing about your car?My favorite thing is the color. A lot of Chargers are either black or white, but mine is a steel grey.

Describe your car in one word.Beautiful.

Photo by Ashley Moylan

Samantha Henshaw volunteers at Camp Arroyo to give special needs patients an opportunity for summer fun.

Photo by Casey Henshaw

about the runs is whether they are south facing or north facing. South facing runs face the sun so the snow is softer, whereas the snow will probably be icier if you’re on a north facing run. Senior Jason Shanley said his favorite part of snowboarding is “probably just being with friends while going down the mountains and having fun.” It doesn’t matter whether skiing is your forte` or snowboarding, you are bound to still have fun with all that ski resorts have to offer. If you’re seriously looking to shred some snow and catch some air, the perfect resort shouldn’t be hard to find.

who has been volunteering at the SPCA for more than two years, said, “I love volunteering at the SPCA. Some of these animals have been abandoned, and just seeing how excited they get from the attention I give them is so rewarding. It’s a lot of fun, too!” Becoming a registered volunteer is a cinch. “It’s easy to get started, (but) you may have to wait for a spot in the orientation class to open up. After that, you’re good to go,” Nortman said. Shepherd’s Gate strives to meet the practical, spiritual and emotional needs of battered and homeless women and children. They need volunteers year round and can always use more volunteers, who do everything from gardening to baby sitting to tutoring to teaching art classes. Shepherd’s Gate accepts all volunteers, regardless of their age, so anyone— even you— can lend a helping hand. Volunteering, however you do it, is an amazing thing. “(Volunteering) gives you a sense of accomplishment. You have to put yourself out there, and get out of your comfort zone. It’s tough at first, but once you get out, it’s fantastic,” said junior Samantha Henshaw, who volunteers regularly in order to help the homeless, among other causes. “Even if it’s just smiling at someone from across the street. People don’t realize the difference they can make.”

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By Kelsey LaBarbera

Staff Writer With the New Year in full swing, many people are going to make the New Year’s resolution to get fit, and the gyms will be packed. This goal sounds easy, but most will end up giving up within the first month. However, there are many easy ways to stay fit that are easy to commit to and keep up throughout the year. The new year is the best time for a fresh start. The best thing to do is make goals that are realistic and start small. The more realistic your goal is, the easier it will be to accomplish. When starting a new fitness plan it is better to start with two or three days a week rather than every day. Eventually you will be able to work up to once a day, but if you start with every single day, it will be harder to commit to. Working out and being fit is always better with a partner. If you can find a friend that has the same resolution as you, then you can accomplish it together. Having a partner also gives you someone to be accountable for and you will feel less alone if you have a friend that’s willing to help you. There are many components to staying fit,

and exercise is one of them.Exercise is not only good for you, but it will actually improve your mood and self-esteem. After an exercise, you will feel good about yourself, and know that you are another step closer to reaching your fitness goal. You have to find a plan that will work for you and your interests. Find a workout that you actually enjoy. Try many different forms of exercise until you find one that is right for you. Try finding a sport that you enjoy for your workout. In order to get the most out of any workout, you need to make sure you have the proper clothing and equipment. This can make a huge difference in how effective your exercise is. Although it can be expensive, it is definitely worth it. You will feel more comfortable in workout clothing than just some old jeans. Another important part to being fit is paying attention to the food you eat. Make sure to pay attention to serving sizes so that you aren’t eating too much of one thing. It’s all about portion control. Eating healthy doesn’t mean you can’t eat what you want; it just means you can’t have as much of it as you want. Putting your food on a smaller plate can also help.

Start your New Year on the right track

By Katherine M. Klem

Assistant Editor As the college application season ends and seniors head into the college decision season, many students are planning college visits to get a feel for prospective schools. College visits can be very helpful for students, giving them a sense of the school’s environment and of the type of classes they might take if they end up going there. That said, it is important to have a plan, in order to capitalize on the visit. The most important thing to do when visiting a campus, according to Princeton Review, is to go when school is in session. Otherwise, one isn’t really seeing the school; empty lecture

halls don’t give anyone a good idea of the college experience. College Board recommends meeting with admissions counselors. This is especially important if a student hasn’t yet applied (some college applications aren’t due until March) because it may help admissions counselors put a face to the student when going over his/her application. In addition, admissions counselors can supply financial and other helpful information that may help in future decision making. Many web sites with college visit tips recommend taking the official campus tour. However, it is also important to explore by yourself, so that you can see all parts of the university and not just the points of interest that the school prides itself on. Exploring the campus with a student who already goes to the school is a wonderful idea, as they may show you areas that you wouldn’t see

on an official campus tour and that you might not find yourself. Of course, since the main point of visiting colleges is to see if one wants to go there, and since college mainly involves attending classes, it is important to try to sit in on a few classes while on a visit. The most helpful classes to attend are ones that a student would potentially take as a freshman or classes required for an intended major. While visiting classes is helpful for prospective students,

academics should not be the only thing that is focused on. If planning to do a sport, try to meet with coaches and/or members of the team. Senior Maryann Gong said the highlight of her visit to MIT was running through Boston at night with the school’s cross country team. It is also important to eat at the school’s cafeteria and stay in the dorms, if possible. Visiting on a regular day, instead of during a specially scheduled event for prospective students will help

guarantee a realistic idea of the type of food actually served. Bunking with a current student will give a much more true-to-life picture of dorm living than will the model dorm at the end of the freshman hall. College visits should not be contained to the actual campus, but should include taking in the surrounding area. Look for the mundane along with points of interest; knowing how far the local grocery

Photo by Alison Pierson

UCLA is one of the many great campuses you can visit.

store is from the freshman dorm is just as important as finding the area’s best restaurants. Visiting the area around a university is also good in that it can provide a mental break from the stress of thinking about college. The best advice for students who are visiting colleges is to be prepared. Taking care of practical matters can make college visits much more enjoyable; a good breakfast and comfortable shoes will greatly enhance the walking experience. It is also important to remain flexible: if the schedule suddenly changes, make the most of it. If all of the classes that one planned to see get cancelled, go to the university cafe, if there is one. It would be a shame, if after visiting 5,000 different schools one couldn’t distinguish them from each other. The most practical way to prevent that is to take notes so that the money spent on seeing all those colleges isn’t completely wasted. This can easily be done in five minutes back at the hotel before watching late-night “NCIS” reruns on USA. Keeping these tips in mind should help make college visits less stressful and more beneficial for everyone involved. After all, the stress should be reserved for the actual decision, whenever that might be made. Happy travels!

It will make it look like you are eating more than you really are! Sometimes all it takes is a healthy switch in eating. Try staying away from fried foods and switch to baked. Or maybe trade your soda for a water. These changes may seem small, but they will be beneficial in the long run. It would be surprising to most how many healthy recipes you can find, from protein shakes to

healthy desserts such as cupcakes and ice cream. Almost every food has a healthier version that you can make at home. `The internet is a great source to find these recipes. They are all over the place and just as good as the food we know and love. You might just find your favorite new meal. Many restaurants also are required to show the amount of

calories listed on their menus so it’s easy to stay on track. This is a great tool to pay attention to when going out to eat. This New Year is the perfect time to start a new fitness plan. If you stay committed, you won’t fail. Eventually you will reach any goal you set. Make sure not to have any doubts in yourself, and you will be able to accomplish your goal.

Learn how to make the most of your college road trip and find the school environment that is right for you

College visits take careful preparation

sportsJANUARY 2013

10

By Mary Lawhorn

Staff Writer The 49ers season has been full of controversy this season leaving fans wondering on a weekly basis, who’s in and who’s out?On November 11, Alex Smith was hit by Rams linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar in the back of the neck. Smith stayed in to finish the quarter, even completing his next five passes including a touchdown pass to Michael Crabtree. Smith then went to the locker room with a concussion and it was up to Colin Kaepernick to finish the game. The game ended in a 24-24 tie. With the crucial Monday night football game against division conference Chicago Bears next, coach Jim Harbaugh had to decide what to do. The decision was made easy as Smith’s symptoms reappeared the night before the game, allowing for Kaepernick to make his first NFL start. Kaepernick was able to prove himself in a 32-7 win over the Bears. With the 49ers playing the New Orleans Saints next, the question once again was who will start. Harbaugh held off from announcing his choice

creating more controversy and a guessing game for the Saints. Alex Smith watched from the sidelines, though, as Kaepernick made only his second start leading the 49ers to a 31-21 win. When asked if he would start for the third time, Kaepernick said, “That’s coach’s decision. I'm just trying to take a similar approach that I've been taking, just keep my head down, keep working and see where it takes me." Harbaugh did, in fact, choose to start Kaepernick against the St. Louis Rams, and things didn’t go according to plan. The Rams beat the 49ers in a 16-13 overtime game which upset 49er fans everywhere. Kaepernick came under fire as he gave up a safety, leading many to attack him for his lack of experience. Harbaugh however defended his quarterback as most coaches do and said, “I'm proud of Kap, proud of the way he played." With the controversy continuing, many 49er Faithfuls can’t help but notice the resemblance between the Kaepernick-Smith and Steve Young-Joe Montana situation in the late 80s. However, Smith has been fairly quiet about the whole situation saying, “I don't get to make those decisions.

That's what he gets paid to do. He's the head coach. I play football. That's what I'm going to continue to do, continue to get ready. And then make the most of my next opportunity." Kaepernick once again started against the Patriots and was able to pull off an upset with a 41-34 win and clinch the playoff berth. Both potential quarterbacks have good and bad qualities. Kaepernick is fortunate to be very athletic. He can really use his legs to the best of his ability as shown in the Bears game. However, he doesn’t have as much experience as Smith as shown in the Rams game when he drew that safety. Smith has been with the 49ers for eight years now, even leading his team to the playoffs last year. Smith has a good throwing arm, in the past eight quarters that he’s played, Smith has completed 32 of his 35 passes. Now insiders are questioning whether he will return to the red and gold next year. Even with the controversy, looming over the 49ers, it’s hardly a problem to be worried about. The team, with one of the best defenses in the league, has two quarterbacks with good arms, allowing for either of them to be used to the teams advantage.

By Alison Pierson

Staff Writer With the winter season approaching quickly, the boys varsity soccer team is preparing for another year of highly competitive games. Despite the challenge of the tough EBAL league, the boys are eager and motivated to make the season a good one. The boys have already played several preseason games in preparation for league. They improve each game and work on getting comfortable with their t e a m m a t e s ’ style of play. The boys have high goals to strive for this season, especially the seniors. Senior Michael Carlson said, “[I am looking forward to] winning NCS and beating De La Salle.” The strength and success of the team comes from their ability to possess the ball. They continue to work on speed of play and scoring in order to be competitive throughout the season. For the seniors on the team this year, the motivation to succeed is even greater. Senior Nima

Jafarkhani said, “It’s kind of a bittersweet feeling that this is my last season. I’m sad that it’s going to be over but I hope to make this last season one to remember.” Without official captains, the six seniors on the team can all contribute their experience and leadership to support and encourage team success against tough opponents like De La Salle and San Ramon.“I am looking forward to sweeping Livermore,” said Jafarkhani. “The best part about our team is that we have fun but we’re serious when we need to be.”

Because of schedule change for the San Ramon game, the boys began their official season off against Foothill on December 18th at home, beating Foothill 2-1 with a strong start to their

season. With high hopes in mind, the boys will strive to create a strong reputation for the team. Senior Marco Nolasco said, “This year is the first time we really had a technical team. Coach Salazar said this is the best team he ever had in is coaching time here at Granada. This year our team has a lot of young players, we’re all very good looking.”

www.bleacherreport.com

Alex Smith received a concussion against the St. Louis Rams. Rookie Colin Kaepernick replaced him, and has started since.

Quarterback controversy leaves fans divided

Wrestlers bring intensity to the matBy Brooke Yarrington

Sports Editor Although our wrestling team is a fairly young one, they haven’t let that stop them from making a name for themselves. Age being their only disadvantage, it only encourages them that much more to succeed. Wrestlers are in fact a part of a team, but wrestling is different from many sports. The competitions and matches are one fighter against therir opponent. “In wrestling there is only one winner; only one hand gets raised at the end of each match,” said varsity coach Greg Hazelhofer. Senior varsity captain Kyle Campiotti said this is one of the main reasons he loves wrestling. “Wrestling is an individual sport,” he said. “You have to do good for your team to do good and place well. There are not many sports like wrestling.” Even though they practice as a team and compete as a school, the victories for wrestlers are individual. The strive more for rankings and placing high individually, but also for the team This adds pressure and motivation to each individual wrestler to make his own success, and each time he wins a match, it reflects as a success for their school. For a school to have a good reputation of being a strong team, each wrestler needs to win his match and

score a high number of points. The wrestlers give a lot to the sport and devote much of their time and effort to it. “You are constantly running and then wrestling,” said Campiotti, who added that it’s all worth it. “The feeling you get when you win a match is so reveling and you know all your hard work paid off,” he said. Senior leader Brandon Self knows the competition his team is up against, but he is confident in his team. “Being in EBAL is always tough competition, but we have a great group of guys and we are definitely going to be a team to compete with.” Wrestling may be different from other sports, but like everything with competition, teams have their advantages

and disadvantages. Senior Jake Stalie said his team’s only real disadvantage is that “we don’t have a full line up and that makes things more challenging.” Although Stalie believes that the good outweighs the bad, he said, “Our team has a lot of endurance and knows how to bring the intensity. That’s something that most schools can not maintain.” Wrestling has always been a competitive sport for GHS, and it will be interesting to see what they achieve this year. They should have few issues because they have a team ready to succeed and one that has a true passion for the sport. “I love to wrestle because it’s a great sport that teaches discipline and respect, it turns boys into men,” said Self.

Boys soccer eager to place in competitive EBAL league

“The best part of the team is we

have fun but we’re serious when we

need to be.”-Nima Jafarkhani

Photo by Mr. HazelhoferJunior wrestler Kaiponui Bradanini took 4th place at the Bay Area Invitational; it was the 50th anniversary of the competition.

sportsJANUARY 2013

11

By Brooke Yarrington

Sports Editor Prior to the start of the 2012 season, the NFL created an uproar that has been and probably will be followed by other professional sports. They took fans by surprise when the players union went on strike against management. Why the strike, though? What is there to debate? Do they even have the right to protest when they have so much fame and fortune? How much money and credit do they deserve? This topic is a controversial one, but in reality it is all pretty simple. The main point made by those against the players wanting to strike is a prime reason behind it, money. The union (the NFL players) wants more money from their management. This urge for wealth is frowned upon in almost every million dollar business because no matter how much we are told not to be greedy, this is a capitalistic society and money creates power and to some extent happiness, and that is something that everyone wants. You can’t blame these men for

wanting something that everyone wants. But those who say they don’t deserve to strike, and if they get their way only become even richer, are judging before they realize the reasons athletes have that are valid arguments. You may not personally enjoy football or any sports for that matter, but you have to respect that athletes are some of the most popular and prominent sources of entertainment. They have become a huge part of our society and for the most part, bring nothing but unity and happiness to Americans. Although there are many different activities for people to engage in, sports is definitely the most common and has showed many health benefits to those who take part in them. Another aspect of playing a violent and extremely physical sport like

football, that many people don’t realize, is the poor health that post-NFL players go though. Football takes a huge physical toll on an athlete’s body. When the object of the game is to tackle someone to the ground, they are bound to have injuries. These can be anywhere from sprained ankles and pulled muscles to

broken legs/collar bones and concussions that can cause severe brain damage. It’s completely acceptable that when the players’ physical safety is at such high risk that they would want to make sure that they are covered financially for both medical expenses and salary security if they were to have a season-ending injury.

Many NFL players have to think about not only their own financial security but also make sure that their families are able to live comfortably if something serious were to happen to them. Some severe injures and brain damage, caused from tackling and numerous concussions, are just too much for the body. Today, there are many who believe those injuries

have turned some players into dangerous and unstable people who pose a danger to themselves and others. Again it’s important to make sure that these players are covered medically to be sure that they are taken care of no matter how serious their post playing effects may be. Many believe that there are people in other occupations that deserve to earn more money than the NFL players, but in reality there is no way to rank every occupation and make income fair according to the importance of the job. You may believe NFL players to be overly blessed with their current salaries, but it is in no way relevant or fair to compare their job to other occupations because the players are not pretending to be anything that they aren’t. They are not claiming to be any kind of a hero or someone who saves lives; they are being reasonable and have every right to strike for a higher salary, especially when it guarantees insurance, security, and a reward for being a pro in, by far, the world’s largest source of entertainment.

By Justin Moore

Staff Writer Often the most recognized athletes are those who receive much attention for their participation in one sport. However, this is not the case for senior Nima Jafarkhani. Jafarkhani plays three sports and has done them well all four years of high school. Not only is he an exemplary athlete, he is also a 4.0 scholar, which is an accomplishment often overlooked in the sporting world. Jafarkhani has been interested in soccer ever since he was a little kid, whether it was practicing with his team or playing pick up games with friends.

“I enjoy the team play. It’s physical and fast but you have to be smart,” said Jafarkhani. He has played competitive soccer on the BUSC team in Pleasanton for five years now. Being the starting striker on his team means that not only is he the quickest player on his team, but he is the most capable of scoring and one of the most important players on the field (next to the goalie), which is a lot of pressure for one young man to handle. Playing soccer for so long before his high school career caused Jafarkhani to realize that in order to keep up his game and enable himself to play above and beyond the other players on the field, he was going to need to be

By Rebecca Bernstein

News Editor As the winter trimester begins, so does a new array of sports, giving the chance for other student athletes to showcase their athletic abilities. Among these are the 15 athletes who have made the girls varsity basketball team. This year’s team is larger than in previous years, but the hope is that each girl can be rotated into the game in order to keep fresh legs on the court. Achieving this level of playing will take some work, but Head Coach Al Chavira and Assistant Coach Mike Turpin are determined to help the girls reach their maximum potential. Turpin, having also coached at Stanislaus State University and Bishop O’Dowd, is the newest addition to the coaching staff. The new assistant coach hopes to bring his enthusiasm and knowledge of the game to the program, as well as his love for taking individual players and bringing them together for one common goal. He said, “I predict the team will do very well this season if we keep working hard to obtain our goals.” Every girl on the team can agree that the overall goals for the season are to beat Livermore and make it to North Coast Section (NCS). Led by captains senior Candice Vieira, senior Kaila Silver and junior Brielle Preece, the team is part way to achieving its goals with a 4-3 record as of December 16.

With wins against Antioch, Enochs, Skyline and Benicia, junior guard Stephanie Rucker said, “I think if we keep playing how we have been and working hard every time we are on the court we’ll make it to NCS.” Sophomore point guard Shannon Rosemark agreed that working hard every day will help the team keep its winning record, and sophomore Delaney Gill-Sommerhauser added, “The unity and desire to win will help our team to do better than last year.” Overall, the team is looking for a successful season with NCS within reach. Preece said, “We will win some and lose some. It depends on how hard we work and how bad we want it.”

in better shape. So what better sport to join during soccer’s off-season than cross country? Running up to eight miles every day with periodic workouts in between, he slowly built up his stamina and became quicker on the field. Jafarkhani, however, didn’t stop there. Always looking to improve his feats in some way, after the freshman year of soccer ended, Jafarkhani joined the track team. He started off doing sprints and then settled into mid distance (the 800 and the 400). With his freshman year under his belt, Jafarkhani pursued the next three years with more effort, improving his skills and becoming a stronger athlete

each day. This year he completed his last cross country season and made the varsity soccer team for the second time. All of these efforts are not just impressive because they require dedicated efforts in difficult sports, but also because Jafarkhani manages to stay on top of his school work and his social life with his friends. He plans to attend Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, or San Jose State next fall and hopes to pursue his sport of soccer wherever he decides to go.

Money, security, health risks–valid reasons to strike

Athlete balances sports, school, friends Girls b-ball shoots for NCS

Nima Jafarkhani excels in soccer, cross country, and track all while maintaining a high GPA. He also finds time to manage a social life and have time for family.

Photo by Justin Moore

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AV: Amador ValleyCal: California High

DLS: De La SalleFH: Foothill

LHS: Livermore HighMV: Monte Vista CDL: Carondelet

SRV: San Ramon Valley

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