September 2012 Issue

OPINION

ENTERTAINMENT

FEAUTURE

CHILD STARS: Mirador takes a look at your favorite childhood TV stars and where they are now. (23)

PINK HOUSE: The mystery and the history is unveiled in this exclusive article.

(12-13)

PLANNED PARENTHOOD: Planned Parenthood’s government funding is threatened by GOP candidates. (9)

The Volume 55, Issue 1

Mirador

September 28, 2012

iPads Enhance Freshman Curriculum Miramonte administration decides to test-run iMat program with one third of the freshman class

by Liz Berndt This year, about one-third of the 2016 freshman class was given iPads and made part of the “iMat Trial.” The addition of iPads into the technology toolbox of this year’s freshmen has aroused mixed feelings. The excluded students from the trial are disappointed they did not receive an iPad. On the other hand, Principal Adam Clark and English teacher Steve Poling are hopeful and very excited about the potential for growth in education.

“Research shows technology is how you make the next jump in learning,” Clark said. “We wanted to find a way to put technology into kids’ hands so they could create a one-on-one working relationship with it.”

The Measure E bond, passed Nov. 4, 2008, supplied the money to purchase these iPads. Voters agreed to put aside around $93 million to improve facilities and upgrade technology. A portion of this money must be spent on technology. The administration decided to spend part of this designated money on iPads due to their potential to replace textbooks, aid in research, and replace “old school” pen and paper.

The administration wanted to test-drive the iMat program with the freshman class for one reason; there is no flexibility in their course options for History and English, providing a control for the trial.

This created a problem: which students would receive iPads? Clark promises it was completely random. The selection was based solely on how the computer arranged students into classes. This random selection divided the inseparable Fabian twins.

Emily and Lizzie Fabian do everything together. They have three of the same classes and both play on the varsity volleyball team. However, they were out of sync when only one received an iPad. Emily, the iPad recipient, is excited about the trial, but Lizzie has her doubts.

“I definitely wanted an iPad and I am sad I didn’t get one,” Lizzie said. “But I think the iPads have great potential for distraction and I’m worried some of my classmates will abuse the privilege.”

This has been a common fear amongst students and staff. Clark is not as worried. “We are talking to the

students about what it means to be a digital citizen and how technology is a great tool, but must be used responsibly.”

The twins worry about theft, and are skeptical of the teachers’ abilities to limit their classmates’ misuse.

Both are disappointed they cannot be a part of the trial together.

The first couple days iPad recipients attended lectures on the responsibility that comes with this new technology. Thus far, the iPads have been used to take notes and Emily says they will be assigned a project using iMovie in the weeks to come.

Nick Carpenter, Michael McAlister, and Clark hosted two informational meetings to involve the parents and answer any questions they had. In general, parents wanted to know what the iPads would be used for and if there is a way to filter content. At school, the administration can block sites that are “inappropriate for school use,” but at home, Internet filtration is completely up to the parents.

According to Poling, “iMat students will be using iPads for note taking, research, School Loop, writing, and a host of other creative and productive tasks.”

Clark said the iMat teachers have worked all summer to develop different programs for their classes. These programs intend to enhance learning and allow greater room for growth in the classroom. iPads could increase the potential for academic

dishonesty, could become a distraction in the classroom, and could create a new level of theft possibilities. The freshmen will be held responsible for their actions. All the iPads are insured, and if lost, damaged, or stolen, students will be expected to pay the $45 insurance fee, but not the $500 market price.

The four teachers pioneering the iMat trial, Poling, Amy Krochmal, Kelly Ginocchio, and Carolyn Cahill, along with Clark are collaborating to figure out what works and what doesn’t.

“If this trial is successful, we are looking at having visitors and making partnerships with app development companies.

The possibilities are endless,” Clark said.

Clark stressed that these iPads are a trial. Next year, assuming the trial works, the school may target a different grade or different subject.

“I think the most exciting thing about being an iMat is the trust I feel the school has given us,” said Emily. “In Photo: middle school they watched K. Watson our every move and never gave us any freedom. Hopefully our class can handle this responsibility and my sister, along with the rest of the grade, will receive iPads next year.”

Stay in the Loop With the New School

Various problems with Blackboard causes a district-wide switch to the School Loop website

by Sofia Marinac and Courtney Attard

This school year, Miramonte has switched its student-teacher information sharing site from Blackboard to School Loop.

The upgrade to School Loop is based on various problems with Blackboard. “It was a finicky program that went down a lot. It wasn’t very user friendly,” Principal Adam Clark said.

Colleges that use Blackboard are successful with it because they have full time staff who work with the program. Miramonte didn’t have the resources to continuously work with the program, which resulted in frequent system failures. The only benefit of the system was that teachers could give exams and keep assignments on Blackboard.

On School Loop, all of the students’ classes, assignments, and grades are easily accessible. Some students have shown discomfort with the openness of School Loop’s grade display, however, Clark said, “We want parents to be in the loop.” According to Clark, Miramonte’s goal is for students to be the best they can be, and having access to grades is a good way to accomplish that. Parental involvement benefits students’ time management and work ethic.

Many students found Blackboard difficult to use as well.

“I didn’t really like the layout of Blackboard. School Loop is easier to check my grades and assignments because my teachers use it more,” junior Andrew Furtado said.

Blackboard is a complex system, so it was neglected by many teachers. However, all teachers use and update School Loop more often. English teacher Donia Gousios

has coined her own clever and catchy name for School Loop - Schloop (pronounced Shloop). “Schloop is fun, I love the calendar. Overall the whole package is easier, that’s for sure,” Gousious said. “But I do miss Blackboard; I had a lot of fun putting up really cool graphics.”

Additionally, Blackboard was very expensive and School Loop is just a fraction of the expense.

“They would have to house the program for Blackboard in our district so it was very expensive. School Loop is like an app so there’s no need to have the program housed in our district,” Clark said.

Blackboard was not always used due to its complications and setbacks.

“The number of Miramonte High School Non-Profit Organization people actually using US Postage Paid, Orinda, 750 Moraga Way Blackboard was Ca Permit #301 pretty low because Orinda, CA 94563 it was a little hard to use. Now, all of the teachers are using School Loop and there haven’t been too many complaints,” Clark said.

2 News 9/28/12

Mirador

Wilder Arrival Makes for a Bright Summer New Orinda community offers fun place for residents to get involved with town activities

by Devin Mottier

Summer is gone, but its memories will forever live on. A large portion of Lamorinda high schoolers’ summer memories include time spent relaxing in the un-gated subdivision of Orinda, Wilder. Although Wilder’s recreational facilities closed on Aug. 19, there are still many opportunities open to visitors.

Eighteen years have passed since the creation of the 1994 Montanera development agreement plans, and as of June 9, 2012, these designs turned into a reality.

The Montanera Project (renamed the Wilder Project), began as a dream for a neighborhood filled with housing, recreation and wildlife.

Over the summer, it turned into a hotspot for high school get-togethers, kickbacks, and outdoor fun.

“The vision for Wilder was guided by an appreciation of the semi-rural landscape and natural surroundings. Once complete, Wilder will be a neighborhood of 245 homes nestled within 1,600 acres of the pastoral Gateway Valley, it will feature a network of trails and pathways that weave through the neighborhood and connect to existing Orinda trails and the East Bay Regional Park District,” Wilder spokesperson Jason Keadjian said.

Photo: J. Hayes

The Wilder Community Pool was a popular destination for Orinda residents looking for a fun place to cool off this summer.

Wilder is home to two sports fields, as well as three more under construction, all of which are owned and maintained by the City of Orinda and used by local sports groups like the Orinda Youth Association.

One of the most popular amenities is the Quarry House, which was utilized by over 350 Orinda families this summer.

“The Wilder Quarry House features a private swim and recreation center and opened this summer only to Orinda

residents at no charge. Designed in the Spanish Colonial Revival style, this gracious hacienda is the recreational and social heart of Wilder with an eight-lane competition-size pool, spa, kid’s pool, fully-equipped fitness facility, and plenty of areas to lounge and sunbathe,” Keadjian said.

Because of Wilder’s secluded location and fun features, it unfortunately became a hot spot for unwanted late night visitors.

“There were a few instances of trespassers entering the locked private swim facility after hours,” Keadjian said.

“But the Wilder property includes private and public areas. A security service patrols the Wilder neighborhood seven days a week in order to maintain the security of the site and the safety of residents and guests. Wilder is still an active construction site, and caution and safety are of the utmost importance.”

Despite the amenities being closed during this school year, there is still much in store for Wilder’s future.

Wilder has made it a priority to team up with the Orinda community on important events such as the Third Annual Nor Cal Kids Triathlon, which they hosted on Aug. 25.

“Wilder reached many important milestones this year. Our first homeowners moved in, the first two playfields were completed and are in use, construction is under way on several new homes along Rabble Road, and we continue to partner with the Orinda community on important local events such as the fourth annual Norcal Kids Triathlon which was hosted at Wilder last week. In the coming years, Wilder will welcome 245 homeowners, complete five playfields, and welcome hikers and equestrians alike,” Keadjian said.

Miramonte Debuts Newly New No Left Turn Sign Renovated Sports Field Impacts Morning Drive Students have mixed feelings about allocation of funds to purchase new turf and track

by Julia Hass

Photo: D. Clark

Miramonte’s new field, completed Aug. 22, benefits all sports teams that use it.

Over the summer, Miramonte went forward with its plans to renovate the old athletic field. Work began on the new field on June 11 and wrapped up on Aug. 22, just in time for the first home game of the season. On Friday, Aug. 24, the Miramonte football team christened the new athletic field with its first home game.

The athletic field is used by many sports, including the high school’s football, soccer, lacrosse, and track and field teams.

“It was definitely time to replace the field,” senior soccer player Coco Pearce said.

“The turf was always coming up and during the winter and rainy months there was such bad draining that it was almost impossible to use the field. It was more of a swamp at that point.”

Though the field was in need of replacement, doing the renovating while the school is in the midst of budget cuts seemed like poor timing to some students.

“I know the field needed replacing, but at the same time I feel the school really needs to focus on other parts of the school that need help,” senior Katie Catton said. “For example, my Calculus BC class has 41 kids in it and that’s an AP course that should be receiving attention.”

However, the original field was built 10 years ago with a bond stating that the first replacement of the field would be paid for. There was money set aside with specific instruction to be for the use of replacing the original field.

“I really like the new field,” senior football player Matt Solit said. “I think it creates a great environment for student athletes to excel at their respective sports. Having good facilities really motivates students.”

The sports teams at Miramonte will look forward to using the field for years to come.

New sign on Whitehall adds to plethora of traffic calming measures taken by city

by Jackie Steele

Look out Miramonte drivers.

Another no left turn sign has graced us with its presence on Whitehall Drive. The new sign, which prohibits a left hand turn from 7-8 a.m., was voted on by 44 neighbors within the area. Voters received polling notices after a traffic calming request was sent to the city last November.

According to the City of Orinda Vice-Chair, Mark Roberts, the Ivy Drive and Southwaite Court signs simply “kicked the problem down the street,” suggesting that although the sign may solve problems for Ivy Drive residents, it only causes more trouble for other sidestreet neighbors. Whitehall Drive saw an increase in traffic by Photo: J. Steele 30-40 cars between 7:30-8:30 a.m.

The new sign has received complaints after the sign on Southwaite Court about being hidden in bushes. was installed. has been addressed by students. The back Traffic consultants Fehr & Peers observed and reviewed the traffic roads that are now off-limits cause traffic on Whitehall Drive from December 2011 to be primarily on Moraga Way, causing to January 2012 and after analyzing the a longer commute for students and a data, they recommended to not install the congested Moraga Way. “I think all the no left turn sign. Neighbors, however, no left turn signs are really unnecessary,” rose the issue of pedestrian safety and senior Alexander Jorgensen said.

“The traffic needs to be more evenly potential traffic concerns.

“The TSAC (Traffic Safety Advisory dispersed.”

Despite possibly safer roads, Committee of Orinda) process is fair and Miramonte students generally dislike the lends a voice to all concerned,” Orinda new sign.

Police Chief Jeffrey Jennings said. “They “If people were able to use Ivy Drive consider all issues and have a public and Whitehall Drive, it would really help forum.” The Orinda Police Department Moraga Way traffic and keep things more has no say in where the signs go or in balance,” senior Alyssa Barker said. when they are implemented, but merely Traffic calming measures are constantly enforce their presence. changing, and there may be even more The signs themselves might be signage in the future. creating a new problem, a possibility that

Mirador

Mirador 750 Moraga Way, Orinda, CA 94563 (925) 376-4423 Ext. 331 or Room 333 mhsmirador@gmail.com www.mhsmirador.com

Katie Hoskins, Reese Levine Print Editors-in-Chief

Cameron White Online Editor

Julia Hass

Managing Editor

Karmi Chan News Editor

Julia Govan

Opinion Editor

Kate Wolffe

Feature Editor

Georgia Briskey Sports Editor

Maddie Nicolaisen Entertainment Editor

Devin Mottier

Columns and Reviews Editor

Nicola Gonzales Business Manager

Alison Pietrykowski Head Photographer

Maya Sherne Beats Editor

Staff Writers

Young Joo Ahn, Drew Anderson, Courtney Attard, Colin Bean, Elizabeth Berndt, Lauren Branagh, Simone Britto, Colleen Burke, Kelly Cheng, Elizabeth Chenok, Dominique Clark, Caroline Colwell, Natalie Condon, Kaitlin Fenn, Hannah Friel, Jack Garrett, Maddie Geary, Joey Goodreault, Jack Kovalik, Hank Larsen, Kate Laughton, Claire Marvin, Sofia Marinac, Nadine Masarweh, Heidi Maupin, Matt Metheny, Alexander Mills, Jessie Osterman, Eli Poling, Kyle Rechnitz, Meghan Rogers, Bailey Smith, Jackie Steele, Molly Swain, Arianna Tong, Natalie Vigo, Davis Walker, Natalie Wapniarski, Elena Wasserman, Kenyon Watson, Cassidy Waters

9/28/12 Opinion 3

Editorial

Receive a License, Become a Donor For teenagers, receiving a driver’s license is a memorable and significant milestone. While this marks a newfound sense of independence, it also comes with the responsibility of making an important life decision. This is likely the first time that a teen is asked to make a choice on whether or not to become an organ donor.

While it is easy to quickly check the “yes” box while registering for your license, according to Donate Life America over 57 percent of individuals 18 years and older nationwide have opted to leave it blank, despite the fact that 90 percent of Americans are in support of organ donation. Each person who chooses to not become a donor has his or her own personal reasons, including fear, religious affiliations, or just a general lack of knowledge on the subject. But the truth is these personal reasons are oftentimes based on misconceptions.

This can cause well meaning people to overlook the tremendous opportunity to give another a second chance at life.

In fact, an organ and tissue donor has the capacity to impact up to 50 lives.

Just about any organ and tissue type can be used, including skin, lungs, intestine, bone, arteries, eyes, and bone marrow.

The process begins once someone performs the altruistic act of enrolling in his or her state’s donor registry when obtaining or renewing a driver’s license or by going on-line. After a person dies or is nearing death, the hospital contacts the Organ Procurement Organization (OPO) to check the registry to see if the patient is enrolled as a donor. Then the OPO contacts

the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, to search for a possible match. According to Donate Life America, there is an 80-90 percent transplantation success rate. So when you’re 16 years old and rejoicing that you passed your driver’s test, try to remember that taking two seconds to check the donor box has the possibility of saving another’s life when you’re gone.

The sad truth is that there are over 117,000 people in America waiting for organ transplants and tragically, more than 7,000 Americans die every year due to the lack of available organs.

When becoming a donor is as easy as checking a box on your license registration, why would one refuse?

Some people mistakenly believe that doctors wouldn’t work as hard to keep them alive if they knew they were potential donors. However, this is not the case. The reality is that doctors always focus on saving your life and not another’s. Surprisingly, there is no age cut off for being able to donate. According to the Mayo Clinic, organs have been successfully donated from people in their 70s and 80s. Thus, almost anyone has the chance to unselfishly turn around another’s life.

An additional myth that persists is that one’s religion could prohibit a donation. But in actuality, organ donations are consistent with most religions.

Graphic: J. Govan And while some may become squeamish when picturing their organs being removed, it may help to remember that it’s a miracle that something extraordinary can come out of such a tragedy. Perhaps the best reason to become an organ donor is that some day you or someone you love may be in need of an organ transplant.

The Editorial Board Voted 7-2 in favor of becoming an organ donor

Editorial Cartoons of the Issue

Melissa Quiter Mirador

Faculty Adviser

Mission

Statement:

Placing truth, accuracy and objectivity first.

Letters to the Editor: Editorials reflect the opinions of the majority of the Mirador’s editorial board. Editorial topics are chosen by a consensus of section editors. The Mirador solicits letters to the editor. Signed letters to the editors can be sent to mhsmirador@gmail.com or placed in Mrs. Quiter’s box. Unsigned letters will not be published but names can be withheld by request. The editorial board reserves the right to edit letters for clarity and length.

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Mirador

Case Closed: The Case of the Missing Swallow Nests

by Elena Wasserman and Cameron White

It was a cold and gray Wednesday morning, and a light breeze moved through the air. The Mirador room was dark, and the sound of keyboard strikes and mouse clicks filled the room. There had been talk of killer swallows nesting within our very school, occasionally swooping down to warn students not to get too close to their homes made of mud. With this news spreading throughout the school, Mirador realized that it was time, once again, to solve another of Miramonte High School’s great mysteries.

This new assignment took us to the 400s hall, where students learn about subjects ranging from history to psychology, from government to journalism. After inspecting the building closely, it was apparent that many of the nests were missing. Where had they gone? Had they been removed? We had more and more questions, but still no answers.

Our search brought us to Associate Principal Jan Carlson with our most pressing question: “Where had the swallow’s nests gone?” Thickening the plot, Carlson replied, “The school is not allowed to touch those nests. It would be wrong of us to do so.”

Confused and curious, we checked where the nests had previously been one more time. Something was there that we hadn’t spotted before...but could it be true? Did one

Photo: C.White

Sad remnants of the swallows nests still remain in the 400s hall overhang.

nest remain? It did indeed, because there before our eyes was a hidden swallows’ nest.

Frustrated and craving more answers, we went directly to the big man with all the answers, District Maintenance Director Steve Fishbaugh. After we asked the same question about the swallows, he responded with a strangely similar reply. Fishbaugh said, “We don’t touch nests or disturb them in any way. You might check with your site administration.”

With no more information than we had before, we had completed a full circle and were back to where we had started. At this point it was clear, we weren’t going to obtain any information from the school management. It was time to ask the teachers and students for insight on what had happened to the swallows. We decided to go on location, and search for answers at the source.

In our search we came upon popular US History teacher and men’s water polo coach James Lathrop. When asked about the swallows, he didn’t seem to recall any swallows in the 400s hall but he had a lot to say about the swallows on the pool deck. “They left a terrible mess on the pool deck,” said Lathrop.

Hoping to find some answers from our fellow students, we searched the halls, and asked as many students as we could find if they knew anything about the nests in the 400s hall. After receiving many variations of the same answer, “No.” We were at a loss. How could nobody know about these nests?

After days of asking questions, and receiving no answers, it was time for our investigation to come to a close. We had made the long journey from the Mirador room to the 400s hall countless times, and couldn’t do it again. Contemplating the mystery that would never be solved, we took our leave, and walked off into the sunset.

Orinda Idol Hits a High Note for the Seventh Year

by Bailey Smith Orinda Idol’s seventh annual singing competition took place Sept. 9 at the Orinda Theatre. From Miramonte, sophomore Maritza Grillo won in the high school soloist category and sophomore Tosca Maltzman won the Audience Award.

Before the event, a panel of judges selected the finalists and runners-up that would be performing. On the day of finals, soloists and groups alike sung their hearts out on stage for the various awards.

Orinda Idol is open to talented students grades K-12.

Soloists and groups each compete in categories by grade, and a combination of judge scoring and audience votes determines the winner of each category. All finalists receive gift certificates and winners receive cash prizes.

Photo: B.Smith The highest cash prize that competitors can be awarded is $750 for soloists in grades 9-12.

On Sept. 15 the Orinda Arts Council held the after The high school soloists from Miramonte were seniors party for the finalists and their families. The winners were Julia Elliot and Carolyn Moore, juniors Amrita Newton, invited to perform at the Orinda Car Show on Sept. 22.

Paige Powell, Mariette Ebarle and Sophie Belinn, and On Sept.

25 the winners performed at the Orinda EFO/ sophomores Sarah Caine, Grillo, Hannah Whitbeck, and Chamber of Commerce Dine Around Town event.

Maltzman.

Photo: P. Michel One very passionate and talented finalist of Orinda Idol Grillo sang “I Am Changing.” The judges, Matthias Juniors Emma Patton and Sophie Belinn performed is junior Amrita Newton.

Montgomery, Lois Grandi, and Lisa van der Ploeg, were “Drumming Song” by popular artist Florence and the “When I am on stage, the rest of the world becomes blown away. On Grillo’s closing note, the audience erupted Machine. a blur and I literally feel nothing but the emotions of the into applause. song,” said Newton.

“It’s probably one of the most amazing feelings out there.”

A very special award Orinda Idol offers is the Audience Award, awarded to the finalist According to Newton, her family didn’t think she could sing when she was younger. with the most audience votes. Maltzman belted out her own version of “Feelin’ Good,” In elementary school, she tried out for Orinda Idol for the first time and became a finalist, which she had been preparing for since May. “I like the message and it’s a lot of fun to shocking her family. sing,” Maltzman said.

“I’ve been singing since I was tiny,” said Newton. “I was known to horribly sing in the Maltzman’s award is so special because she will be receiving a two-hour recording shower.”

In fifth grade, Newton won Orinda Idol with the song “Orange Colored Sky,” contract with Red House Studios. Although Maltzman doesn’t know what to expect from and has won in the group category twice. For Newton, getting applause is a great relief. this experience, she is very excited. The Audience Award is the first award she has won “You have just finished singing, you have laid all our emotions on the line,” she said. participating in Orinda Idol.

Even though she has been doing it for years, Newton still gets butterflies. “Orinda Idol “I hope to pursue [singing] in the future, it’s my favorite thing to do,” Maltzman said. is terrifying,” said Newton. “But it’s really fun. Everybody is super-supportive and the Maltzman is also an actor. Her favorite playwright is Shakespeare. She has partaken in hard work always pays off in the end. You get to see a great show.” She performs for the many plays and among her favorite are “The Wiz” and “Annie.” enjoyment of singing, not to win.

On Sept. 9 from 1-2:15 p.m., the finalists in the group category took the stage. Judges Newton describes Orinda Idol as “a place for a bunch of kids to share their passions Lois Grandi, Dyan McBride, and Mark Rennick were prepared to hear from groups for the whole of the East Bay.” Simply Sisters, Sweet Harmony, Rising Starz, and the Monday Blues in grades K-5. Fine & Sassy, Sophie & Emma, Frank and Annie, ATC, J n J, and Urban Flare made up the middle and high school groups.

The middle and high school group category winner was Urban Flare. They were dressed in matching color schemes of black, white and red. They sang a haunting acapella version of Adele’s “Someone Like You.” The winner in the K-5 group category was a sister act, Sweet Harmony. The girls were dressed in black sequin tank tops and charmed the audience with their powerful voices and jazzy dance routine with the song “Hit Me With A Hot Note.”

Auditions for Orinda Idol were held May 17-19.

Following auditions, finalists and runners-up attended and participated in a few events that included group seminars on what makes an outstanding performance and performances at the Orinda Community Park and the Orinda Theatre Contact the volunteer manager at: ca.cancer.institute.volunteer@gmail.com.

Square. Some events helped the performers perfect their Please leave your name and contact information. performances, and some were simply for the joy of singing for an audience.

Volunteers Needed at the California Cancer and Research Institute

The California Cancer and Research Institute in Pleasant Hill is looking for volunteers to greet and assist patients. Two hour shifts are available Monday through Friday from 9am – 5pm. Volunteers are eligible for community service hours and minimum volunteer age is 15.

Mirador

9/28/12 News 5

Students Receive Unwanted Study Hall Class

by Hannah Friel and Kenyon Wastson

are still able to fund some classes, they weren’t able to fund as many classes this year. This is because the money they raised had to be spread throughout the district.

Miramonte also has many parttime teachers who are limited to teaching certain periods, usually in the morning or afternoon. This further limits when specific classes are offered.

When students first received their schedules on Mats Day, many saw that they were given a study hall period and complained to the counselors right away. After some students switched out, 80 students remain in study hall.

“Our counselors started working on requests right after Mats Day,”

This school year, due to a declining enrollment and less funding from Educational Foundation of Orinda (EFO) and Parents’ Club, many students who requested periods one through six were instead given alternatives.

While some received first period off, others were given six classes of their choice and a period of study hall. Although this mainly affected the junior class, students from all grades were unsatisfied with their schedules.

According to Principal Adam Photo: E.Wasserman Clark, there were multiple Students in study hall are able to get their classwork and homework done for other classes. variables that led to this problem.

The primary issue was a decline in student enrollment compared to last year’s numbers. Clark said.

This year’s freshman class has 44 fewer students than the class that just graduated.

Although the administration and counselors received a fair number of complaints in “As enrollment drops, the number of teachers we can hire drops, which means we the beginning, Clark said the complaints have stopped, and students seem to be either have limited sections available for students,” Clark said. “This creates an issue, because satisfied or making the best of their situation. as there are less sections available per period, more classes are full and students aren’t According to sophomore Rory Howells, study hall has been a positive addition to his always granted their elective or honors classes.” schedule.

Some electives, such as Journalism 1 and Yearbook, are only offered during one “At first I was really upset that I was given study hall, but now that I’m in the class, I period. These electives are known as singletons. realize I’m actually able to finish my homework or study for a test,” Howells said. “It’s a “The counselors have to work around your required classes and any singletons that great time in the middle of my morning to relax and unwind from the pressure of school.” might be in your schedule. When they started creating schedules, although they tried to However, other students don’t share the same mentality as Howells. “I wish I could’ve honor every request, sometimes there was a gap period in a schedule, which means they changed my schedule so I could have six classes instead of seven,” junior Sarah Mills had to place a study hall period there,” Clark said. said. “I like study hall, but having six classes would have worked with my after school This problem didn’t occur last year because Parents’ Club and EFO were able to schedule better.” fund more sections, but due to the budget crisis, EFO and Parents’ Club has given more Although most students who were enrolled in study hall were unsatisfied with their funds to the district so that Miramonte can maintain librarians, counselors, and all of the situation in the beginning, the majority have come to terms with their predicament and main classes instead of just pointing at individual sections. Although both foundations are making the best of it.

Admin Enforces School Policy Furlough Days

by Katie Hoskins and Reese Levine

Since classes began in August, the Miramonte High School administration has actively been enforcing regulations in an effort to uphold the integrity of the school environment.

The administration has suppressed traditional activities for the beginning of the year including Senior Women shirts and the 10 Commandments. This year, students with carpool passes have also been subject to inspection to see if drivers have the year necessary to drive other students to school. The Welcome Back Rally video was also a source of tension for many students as the administration found it inappropriate.

“I don’t think the administration has gotten more strict this year in comparison to past years,” Principal Adam Clark said. “We are just upholding Miramonte’s honor.”

One issue this year that affected the senior class was the design for the senior women’s shirt, which the administration felt was not suited for a school setting. Usually, the designers of the shirt check-in with the administration to make sure their designs are acceptable. But this year the administration received no such updates on the shirt.

“People in the community see the shirts and don’t know who made them, so they assume it’s Miramonte High School,” Clark said. “I was disappointed the senior ladies did not run the idea by me first.”

The administration felt that the shirt presented a sexual innuendo to the student body and community that was inappropriate. Many senior ladies, however, were disappointed that the administration misunderstood their intent.

“Senior women shirts are a tradition and it was upsetting this year when our slogan was deemed inappropriate because it was interpreted as a sexual reference, which was not our intention at all,” an anonymous senior involved in creating the shirt said.

Like last year, the administration also confiscated the 10 Commandments, which were distributed to freshmen by seniors. This list of “rules” contained many sexual innuendos and insults that degraded the freshmen, things which the administration cannot allow at Miramonte.

As part of Miramonte’s push to make the campus greener, many parking spots have been designated for students who carpool to school. Of course, the only students who are legally able to drive multiple students to school are ones who have held their license for at least a year. To get one of these spots, students must submit an application, which in years past has included verifying that the applicant has their year.

However, an error occurred this year and anyone was

able to go onto the webstore and buy a pass for carpool spots. Realizing their mistake, the administration had to check the licenses of every student who bought a carpool pass to make sure they had their year.

Although some students saw this as evidence of the administration cracking down, it was just an effort to fix a mistake and ensure Miramonte was abiding by state laws.

Another controversial decision surrounds the video from the rally on Aug. 24. The video, made by senior rally leaders Jamie Howells and Matt Solit, along with other seniors and Miramonte graduates, contained offensive material inappropriate for a school rally setting.

“I hold a meeting with the rally leaders at the beginning of the year to explain the importance of their role,” Clark said. “Their material needs to be appropriate from the youngest freshman, to the seniors, to the oldest members of our community because it represents the whole school.”

Clark said Howells and Solit assured him their video was appropriate at a meeting they had before the school year started. However, Solit believes the administration overreacted following its showing.

“I don’t think what we did was bad enough to justify our being removed as rally leaders,” he said. “People said the rally went really well, that it was the best one in years.”

“I want the seniors to have a good year, keep it respectful, and act like 17 and 18 year olds. This means no hazing or destroying the school. It has been here since 1955 and can’t take that sort of thing,” Clark said.

Clark asserts that although some students believe the administration is being unfair, his policy for discipline and regulation is one based on trust and respect with the student body.

“Our seniors and student body have the least amount of rules and restrictions [in the district],” Clark said. “I feel we have developed a sense of respect. This respect is earned when you behave.”

Despite this reasoning, many seniors still feel they are being treated unfairly by the administration.

“It’s just very unfortunate that during out last year of school, we as seniors will especially feel the harsh repercussions of the administration’s decision to crack down,” senior Taylor Nielson said. “I think that their harsh restrictions regarding dances and limitations on activities will definitely have a negative impact on students’ willingness to participate.”

Looking forward, another senior tradition that could possibly run afoul of school regulations is the senior prank.

Some pranks, such as camping out on the lawn, were allowed by the administration, but others, such as throwing water balloons at lowerclassmen, are not tolerated.

Contract Ends Five school days return to the 2012-13 academic year

by Heidi Maupin

The Acalanes Union High School District will not have furlough days this year because of the expiration of a two-year contract that resulted in five furlough days per school year.

This two-year agreement saved money for the district. Acalanes Education Association (AEA) President and Miramonte teacher Nick Carpenter estimates that the furlough days saved the district just under $1 million per year.

“Teachers originally took the furlough days to help pass the parcel tax,” Carpenter said. “We wanted to show the community that we were willing to make a sacrifice to help them meet us half-way with passing a parcel tax.”

Furlough days are not expected to come back in the future. “I don’t think furlough days are going to come back because the district has a very high reserve,” Carpenter said. “The parcel tax passed, and the state budget didn’t turn out to be as bad as was projected, so the district actually made money over the furlough years.”

“The district also got some federal stimulus that was unexpected. So right now they’re sitting on one of their highest reserves that they’ve had in at least the 10 or 15 years I’ve been around,” Carpenter said.

As long as this reserve lasts, furlough days will likely not be reinstated. Teachers will have more days than the previous two years to teach the curriculum to students before final exams, which makes for a more relaxed schedule. The teacher paycheck has also increased because the district now pays for the extra school days.

“It’s harder to have school without breaks since everyone’s usually really stressed out,” junior Ching Fang said. “But I guess in the end it’s worth it because it means that teachers are getting paid.”

Some students are disappointed by the lack of threeday weekends that the furlough days created. “It’s sad that we don’t have a break from school, but the teachers need the income so it’s understandable,” junior Andrea Tamminga said.

Mirador

6 News 9/28/12

New Boutique Impacts Lady Mats Fashion

by Maddie Geary

Brandy Melville has grown to be a cult favorite among teenage girls who love fashion, but may not want to put in much effort. With a large selection of clothing ranging from off-shoulder tees, multi-colored shorts, and soft, slouchy sweaters, every girl can find something that will fit into their price range and style.

Because of this, it is no surprise that the new location of the trendy store is a big success. In November 2011, the tiny, previously unheard of boutique opened in the bustling Walnut Creek shopping area.

It became popular as word spread and has since served as a main source of clothing for a large portion of the female population at Miramonte.

But what makes so many girls gravitate toward this store? Sophomore Haley Stanten thinks it’s due to their unique and fashionable clothing.

“It’s just so comfortable. Up until the day I found this store, I basically lived in sweatpants. I just didn’t have the energy to put together an outfit,” Stanten said. “At Brandy, almost everything is neutral tones, so it’s easy to pair together. And it’s so soft I could sleep in their clothes no problem.”

Brandy Melville has successfully launched their clothing line worldwide.

Starting in Italy, the store spread throughout Europe and eventually to the United States and Japan. Brandy also attracts fans via social media. The women’s boutique has a successful Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, Pinterest, and Facebook. The company is constantly updating their accounts with new items, which helps get the word around about the store.

While Brandy is a staple store for many girls, there is controversy about a few things, including the one size fits all policy and the customer service.

“I think the one size fits all rule is insulting to plus size women. I’m fortunate enough to have the clothing fit me, and it

can be really convenient not having to try on multiple shirts just to find the right size,” Powell said. “However, in today’s society, there has been such a stride towards people accepting themselves for who they are. The one size fits all policy completely contradicts this idea of self- confidence and should definitely be reconsidered as their line of clothing branches out farther.”

Another major critique about Brandy Melville is its poor customer service.

“It has gotten to the point where I don’t even want to go in the store,” freshman Holly Bohuslav said. “I am clearly obsessed with their clothes, seeing that 50 percent of my closet is from Brandy, but now I just order it online because the employees are so rude.”

Online reviews about Brandy Melville usually rank the store fairly well, but almost all the critiques have to do with their employees. They are said to be rude, unhelpful, and distant.

“They are all little clones of Kristen Stewart,” Stanten said.

Another critique is the store’s lack of tidyness. While other teenage clothing stores such as Nordstrom and Free People keep their shops organized by size, style, price or color, Brandy Melville is relatively sloppy. However, some people like the easy feel of the store because it matches the laid back style of the clothing.

“I love their clothes but I always need to wash them before I wear them. The store is really dirty and unorganized,” said senior Lauren Dougherty. “It grosses me out to think of where the clothes have been. It’s also really hard to find something cute because a lot of the time all the clothes are in piles.”

Although Brandy Melville has its flaws, it is still a great source of affordable and fashionable clothing for girls. While there is controversy over whether or not it has hit its peak, for now Brandy Melville will continue to serve as a necessity for girls interested in fashion.

Sophomore Haley Stanten strikes a pose Junior Paige Powell flaunts the “Ingrid in her Brandy Melville dress.

Dress” from Brandy Melville.

Rheem Receives a Taste of Tangelo

by Kate Laughton and Davis Walker

Photo: A. Pietrykowski

Tangelo brings a friendly clean environment with plenty of seating and cheerful staff members.

Since the first day of school, Miramonte students have flocked to Tangelo, Moraga’s newest attraction, after school. Tangelo, located in the Moraga’s Rheem Valley shopping center, is a frozen yogurt shop that opened on Aug. 10. Tangelo is conveniently located between Miramonte and Campolindo, making it easily accessible for an after school snack.

May Lo, a Moraga mom and architect, envisioned opening a frozen yogurt shop due to her family’s love of frozen yogurt. “I wanted to combine all the good aspects of other frozen yogurt shops in a nearby location with accessible parking,” Lo said.

Lo visited many frozen yogurt shops in the Bay Area while preparing to open one of her own. With her archi-

Photos: M. Geary

Freshmen girls Merrick Goodman, Holly Bohuslav, Olivia Vigo, and Paige Miller show off the wide variety of clothes that “Brandy” has to offer.

tectural instincts, Lo was able to create a visually pleasing shop.

Tangelo offers over 35 toppings and 10 flavors of frozen yogurt. It is kid-friendly and provides seating both inside and outside, unlike other yogurt shops.

The frozen yogurt machines are set up in pairs, giving you the option to mix the two flavors. Popular mixtures include cookies and cream with cake batter, and chocolate with peanut butter.

Orange sorbet and Cable Car chocolate are among the most popular flavors at Tangelo. Coconut and Cinnamon Bun, on the other hand, are not as popular, and will be replaced soon.

Tangelo sells their frozen yogurt for 45 cents per ounce.

Compared to other yogurt shops in the area, it is slightly more expensive. “Although I sell my frozen yogurt for a higher price, I think the quality is better,” Lo said.

Lo is environmentally conscious, and has taken steps to make Tangelo as energy efficient as possible. The shop uses recycled cups and napkins, and hopes to make the change to recycled utensils as well. They also have an innovative system of cooling their machines.

“Most frozen yogurt places run cold water to cool their machines, but all that water goes directly into the sewer system and goes to waste,” Lo said. “Tangelo uses a cooling agent called Glycol that cycles through and cools the machines while not wasting any water.”

Tangelo employs high school students from Miramonte, Acalanes, and Campolindo.

“Working at Tangelo is basically a dream come true,” said junior Megan Coleman. “It hardly feels like I’m working. I’m getting paid to serve people delicious frozen yogurt in a really fun environment.”

Tangelo held their grand opening on Sunday, Sept. 9 and handed out free frozen yogurt and t-shirts from 4-6 p.m.

Tangelo is open Sunday-Thursday from 12-9 p.m., and Friday-Saturday from 12-10 p.m.

Mirador

9/28/12 Opinion 7

Lance Armstrong: He’s Not Dope For Doping

by Reese Levine

Last month, Lance Armstrong gave up his career-long fight against doping allegations, deciding not to proceed to arbitration with the U.S Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), which had accused Armstrong of an elaborate conspiracy of doping during his professional cycling career. Although the full truth about his actions will never come out, this is the best situation for Armstrong, the sport of cycling, and all of the people who rely on his foundation, Livestrong.

Before winning a record seven Tour de Frances, Armstrong was a known name in the cycling world. He was World Champion in 1993 and won many European races, including two stages in the Tour de France. But to the casual American sports fan, Armstrong is remembered as the man who came back from beating cancer to achieve unmatched heights as an athlete.

Inevitably, with great success comes increased scrutiny.

During his career he was tested over 500 times by doping authorities and was subject to negative and suspicious articles in the press, especially in France. After he retired from the sport of cycling for good in January 2011, he was investigated first by the federal government, and most recently by USADA. Eventually, Armstrong felt he had had enough. In the press release announcing his decision to not contest the USADA charges, Armstrong said, “I refuse to participate in a process that is so one-sided and unfair…I will no longer address this issue, regardless of the circumstances.”

Nowhere in this statement did Armstrong say he had ever cheated by doping, evoking consternation from his detractors and sighs of relief from those who have supported him throughout the years. Nevertheless, USADA took his decision to not fight the charges as an admission of guilt, and promptly banned him for life.

Although now impossible to prove, the chance that Armstrong doped at some point in his career is very high. He raced in a period where tests for EPO and blood

transfusions were almost nonexistent, and dozens of his competitors have either been caught or admitted to doping during the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Armstrong made a smart decision by stopping his fight against his accusers. Not only have his major sponsors, including Nike, stuck with him, but he has also been called a martyr of an unfair system, with lawmakers and famous figures standing up for him.

Even more revealing, donations to his cancer fighting organization, Livestrong, were 25 times higher on the day following his announcement.

An example of this is another cyclist, Floyd Landis, who after professing his innocence for a long time, even writing a book supporting his claims, admitted to doping. He lost credibility with his folPhoto: J. Villegas/MCT lowers and has had to repay Armstrong, accompanied by his teammates, rides through El Dorado during the back thousands of dollars to first stage of the 2010 Tour of California. people who contributed to his Floyd Fairness Fund. cleaner than their predecessors.

Cycling has always struggled with its image due to Those who stand to lose the most from an admission the multitude of doping scandals in the past decades. For of guilt by Armstrong are the beneficiaries of Livestrong. its greatest champion to come out and admit to cheating Founded in 1997 after Armstrong’s recovery from teswould present another obstacle in the sport’s effort to ticular cancer, this organization has fought to help those move forward from its troubled past. The reality is that affected by the disease. Today, the names of Armstrong cycling has one of the most comprehensive systems to de- and Livestrong are synonymous, and the downfall of one tect cheaters of any sport, and the athletes today are much would damage the other.

g

Mars Gets Curious

by Molly Swain and Elizabeth Chenok

On Aug. 5, the much anticipated Curiosity rover successfully landed on Mars. The Curiosity’s team plans to take the one ton rover on a six mile trek up a martian mountain called Glenelg, moving a couple of feet each day. As amazing as this is, people are surely wondering: is the $2.5 billion rover really worth it?

The answer is yes. The Curiosity is expected to explore Mars for about 23 months to discover if the planet ever had environmental conditions where life could thrive.

Our childhood fantasies of discovering what really happens on Mars are coming true.

Aliens, rovers and craters-oh my!

As exciting as all this “life on Mars” stuff can be, we must also consider the financial consequences. Can the US afford this? $2.5 billion is a significant amount in this current recession. However, as the rover meets and exceeds expectations each day, all seems to go according to plan, giving hope that this dream might just work out to be a true success.

This expedition is making leaps into space exploration. This is the first time that a spacecraft has landed on Mars, and been able to report information back to Earth successfully, The only other country to land on Mars was Russia, whose craft stopped working after just a few hours. Now, that orangey Martian dirt is within reach, thanks to the Curiosity.

Retrieving rock samples and providing NASA workers with detailed 3-D images are just two of the Curiosity’s outstanding features. Studying these samples could give clues to the much anticipated answer to the question: Was there, or could there ever be, life on Mars?

The Curiosity may also provide information about possibilities for the future of Earth, and inspire a new generation of scientists by uncovering resources that we could benefit from on our planet. Human space travel to Mars could be promising in the future. If life is found on Mars, it can give scientists an idea of what to expect for Earth.

The Curiosity stirs excitement and is making leaps in space research for the future.

Scientists will be working as hard as they can to discover all there is about extraterrestrial life on Mars.

In the race to space, the US has been one of the main trail blazers, especially when it comes to planetary research. The Curiosity is about a month into its two-year mission, and has had a positive outcome, as there have been no problems with the rover to date.

Currently, the Curiosity is preparing to use its arm equipped with tools for research. If the arm works, it will gather more detailed information about the chemicals in Mars’ famous red rock. The arm will be able to detect similarities between Earth and Mars. Scientists are especially looking for any form of water molecules.

As the Curiosity approaches its one month mark on the Red Planet, the hard work and money spent seems to be paying off.

Mitt Romney Needs to Increase Transparency

by Jack Kovalik Throughout history, leaders have been overthrown or accused of misguided behavior because they think they’re entitled to a different set of rules. Mitt Romney and his millionaire private equity friends have a different set of tax rules for themselves that the average American family doesn’t have access to. Middle class Americans are faced with much higher rates imposed on their earnings. An American presidential candidate should not be able to hide anything about his past or current finances from the American public. It’s time for Mitt Romney to be fully transparent and release more of his tax returns and explain how he can defend paying only 13 percent.

His actions two weeks ago were meant to distract the public from recent blunders, but did little to satisfy those worried about his financial ethics.

Romney, with an estimated net worth of $250 million, has claimed that he’s paid all taxes that are “legally required.” Coming forward with two years of returns doesn’t put him in the clear.

Romney earned his fortune with the company he co-founded in 1984, Bain Capital, a private equity and consulting firm. Questions continue to haunt the Romney campaign about why Romney is being so silent on his tax history, and not providing full public disclosure.

Romney should prove to the public that he crossed no ethical boundaries with his tax payments, but he’s reluctant to release enough information to take the topic off

the list of concerns around his candidacy.

If any candidate desires to gain the trust and support of the voting public, he or she must appear willing to expose details about almost all of their personal life, the least of which is what taxes they’ve paid.

Romney also has offshore banking accounts that are causing concern. His Swiss account was reportedly closed in early 2010, but questions remain around this offshore activity. Some wonder if Romney included the income in his Swiss account on earlier U.S. tax returns.

“I did go back and look at my taxes, and over the past 10 years I never paid less than 13 percent. I think the most recent year is 13.6 or something like that. So I paid taxes every single year,” Romney said on Aug. 16. Most Americans pay at least 10 percent and up to 40 percent in federal income tax.

The voting public finds themselves asking, how can a multi-millionaire pay far less than the average American?

The loopholes and “fee waiver” programs that have allowed Romney to declare that his income is long term capital gains as opposed to earned wages need to be corrected. Long term capital gains tax rates are much lower than ordinary income tax. Sure, Romney has paid technically what he owed, but how is it fair that he can claim his income is capital gains as opposed to ordinary income?

I am not opposed to the American Dream of entrepreneurship and individual success, but the playing field should be more level when it comes to federal income tax obligations.

8 Opinion 9/28/12

Mirador

Is Facebook Still Cool?

Created and founded by the infamous Mark Zuckerburg, Facebook has been teens’ go-to social networking site for years. However, with new apps like Twitter and Instagram rapidly growing in popularity and Facebook increase in advertising to bring in more revenue, the site may be losing its cool factor. Mirador’s Katie Hoskins and Julia Govan debate Facebook’s relevance and present day value.

PRO:

CON:

Photo: L. Berndt

by Katie Hoskins In middle school, I was always jealous of all the kids who had Facebook accounts.

My friends would show up to school everyday and tell me about the funniest statuses from the previous night or a funny picture someone posted, as if they were members of an exclusive club in which everyone knows everything about everyone else, a mighty tool in the shark tank that was middle school.

So finally, in eighth grade, I decided to fight for my right to a Facebook profile.

And after much persuading, debating and arguing with my parents, I was finally graced with the okay to set up my account.

To this day, I believe that it was worth the fight, because Facebook is still my number one, go-to social networking site, even with the newly installed Timeline.

Let’s be honest, the number one use of Facebook is to stalk people. Now I’m not saying that the whole Miramonte student body is a set of sleep-deprived Internet creepers, but I know everyone uses Facebook to check up on friends or foes alike. One of the things that makes Facebook so ideal for this sort of friendly paroozing is that it’s all in one place: photos, statues, places, relationships. You name it, it’s on a Facebook profile.

Though I’ve never had a Twitter account, I understand it’s a site where users can post short blurbs about whatever they want, similar to Facebook statuses, maybe even exactly the same. While this is all well and good, statuses are only one part of the wide range of information Facebook provides.

Facebook is also a great way to get in touch with people who suddenly go incommunicado texting-wise, see a clip of a funny movie, or find that former friend who moved across the country freshman year. With just a few clicks of your keyboard, you can share basically anything on the Internet with your friends and the rest of your news feed.

These random posts are often the biggest contributors to the smorgasbord

of entertaining, procrastination worthy material that a Facebook news feed provides to the weary Miramonte student. After a long night of studying or composing a brilliant Common App essay, it’s rejuvenating to waste a few minutes just scrolling down the news feed, scanning for any eye-catching posts.

While some may argue that Instagram is the new “it place” for photos originally intended for Facebook, that’s not what the app was intended for. Some computer whiz in Silicon Valley did not create all those cool, artsy effects that users can put on photos so you could make your selfies look more appealing. News flash: they’re still selfies, not art, and it’s annoying.

Instagram is supposed to be a place where people can find the beauty in objects around them and create inspiring, complex looking, interesting pictures with a few taps to the screen. There’s nothing more irritating than wanting to take a dive into culture and art through Instagram and intstead being bombarded with pictures of people smiling for the camera at some random event. So save those prof-pic shots for Facebook, where they belong.

Another admirable aspect of Facebook is its ability to foster collaboration. If you’re stuck on a homework problem, chances are one of your friends is online and ready to help. Or maybe you’re lucky enough to have a group for your class to enlist some assistance from.

These groups also become incredibly useful with community outreach or awareness projects. In just two days, a group promoting awareness for a missing Cal Poly student from the Lamorinda area grew to over 40,000 members, all actively posting and participating in the cause. This kind of fast-paced awareness is something only the Facebook environment can create.

Mainly, Facebook is like a park with everyone you could ever want to talk to or interact with. You can go chat with friends, procrastinate, or even stalk others. And while some people might think that the social networking sight is passé, Facebook is still a relevant, entertaining, helpful and

Photo: L. Berndt

by Julia Govan I, like many of my peers, have had a Facebook account ever since MySpace became outdated and “uncool.” With Facebook’s release to the public in 2005, the social networking site generated a new medium to communicate with friends, post photos, and share thoughts on each others’ walls. And while all these amenities have good intentions, lately Facebook has become more annoying than useful, and the days of the site being cool are over.

In many respects, Facebook can often be very helpful and proactive. To note, organizing upcoming events or communicating with other students about a certain class has been made much easier

by Facebook.

However, whether or not this was ever Facebook’s intention, its main purpose now is solely to stalk people. There’s no point in denying it. And although it is always entertaining to creep on that person in class you “kind of, sort of know” or the college life of a recent high school grad, the site can oftentimes become boring, if not irritating.

The sheer magnitude of statuses is just one example of Facebook’s declining appeal. In many cases, statuses that pop up on the news feed can be relevant and even funny. However, we all know that person who treats Facebook like a diary, updating their life every few hours.

But sometimes, it’s not just the amount of statuses, but the type. After years of personal Facebook usage, it seems the most bothersome ones to materialize on the news feed can be boiled down into three categories: inspirational, baiting and poorly typed.

In some instances, inspirational statuses can be uplifting to a reader. But there comes a time when posting an inspirational quote or line from a song just becomes overdone.

Baiting statuses usually end elusively, sometimes asking a broad question or ending in three periods. The problem with these is that most of the time, the

author of the status is directing it towards one person in particular, yet this person remains unnamed. Such ambiguity baits an unsuspecting news feed browser to comment in the hopes of gaining insight on whomever is being referenced. The result of this curiousity leads to a stream of never ending comments.

The poorly typed are simply, poorly typed. Unfortunately, no matter how well intended the status is, if misspelled, one of your 600 friends is sure to comment with a correction within five minutes.

Every few months it seems that Facebook undergoes maintenance and returns with an entirely different and hard to use layout, the latest example of which is Timeline.

This recent Facebook update organizes all of your profile wall posts ever created, by you or someone else, chronologically in an easily accessible layout, starting from your birth. In other words, those embarrassing middle school mirror pictures you hoped would forever stay stashed in the confines of your wall from 2007 are only a quick click away.

Ironically enough, on Facebook there are hundreds of groups which are exclusively dedicated to the shared detest of Timeline.

Despite Facebook’s many drawbacks, it is not and will never be Twitter. After Twitter’s rise to popularity, Facebook users started to see hashtags begin to creep their way into the social networking world. And this would be perfectly fine, if they actually made any difference to the text they’re placed in front of. I understand their usage in the Twitter realm; however, anywhere outside of it is unnecessary and pointless.

There are other means of planning and conversing with others without having to put up with the distraction the social networking site inflicts or the oftentimes annoying posts, photos and videos that clog up the news feed.

Sadly, but appropriately, it may be time for Facebook to regress into the shadows and become a footnote from the first decade of the 21st century.

Media Rightly Highlights Akin’s Rape Gaffe

by Colin Bean

On Aug. 19, Republican Missouri Senate candidate Rep. Todd Akin was asked if he supported abortion in the case of rape. To this Akin answered, “If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.” This comment is not only biologically inaccurate, but highly offensive to rape victims.

Some argue that the media has been covering this story more than necessary, especially since it has been covered more than Vice President Joe Biden’s speech in which he said, “[Mitt Romney] is gonna put y’all back in chains.”

The difference between the two comments is that Biden used a poor choice of words, and Akin truly believed what he said.

The media is justified in covering Akin’s comment as much as it is because a senate candidate demonstrated

tremendous ignorance on such an important public policy issue. Considering that the topic of abortion is a pivotal issue for Republicans, Akin’s comment had a major effect on the Republican Party.

Shortly after Akin made the legitimate rape comment, he made an apology solely engineered for political gain.

In his apology Akin said, “I used the wrong words in the wrong way.”

This apology didn’t help Akin, because he claimed he misspoke instead of fully admitting he was wrong. It was clear that he had not misspoke, and knew exactly what he was saying, because he continued to say, “but let’s assume maybe that didn’t work or something.”

Akin’s comment is also receiving such a remarkable amount of media coverage because this is not an isolated incident. Anti-abortion politicians have been spreading the false idea that rape doesn’t lead to pregnancy for years.

In 1995, Republican representative Henry Aldridge said, “The facts show that people who are raped, who are truly raped, the juices don’t flow, the body functions don’t work and they don’t get pregnant.”

This claim could not be more wrong. A 1996 study in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology states that the rate of rape-related pregnancies is about the same as unprotected consensual sex. However, this idea has continued to be relevant because it allows anti-abortion lawmakers to argue that there shouldn’t be exceptions for abortion in the case of rape.

Akin called the media coverage an “over reaction,” and has decided not to drop out of the Missouri Senate race.

However, almost every Republican has requested that he drop out, including members of the Tea Party, of which Akin is a member. Akin should drop out, because he is damaging the reputation of the Republican Party.

Mirador

9/28/12 OPINION 9

President Changes Immigration Policy Recent change in Obama administration immigration policy resembles the DREAM Act

by Maya Sherne There has recently been an issue heating up politics throughout the United States. This issue isn’t new, nor is it brought on by environmental issues or war. In fact, this controversy is over an issue that has been part of American society since the 1700s. Since the beginning of this country, citizens have disputed over immigration, and it has taken the government 300 years to find a solution.

On June 15, the Obama administration announced a new immigration policy that changes the United States’ former deportation and immigration practices.

In many ways, the President’s plan was a political tactic for campaign votes, but regardless of selfish intentions, this policy has the potential of helping nearly 800,000 illegal immigrant minors; and all that good most definitely outweighs the “bad” of Obama’s political campaigning strategy.

Under this policy, illegal immigrants under 30, who arrived in the United States before the age of 16, and have been living in the country for at least five years are applicable for a “deferred action.” This temporarily eliminates the possibility of deportation, while never granting citizenship to the minor.

Along with the other requirements, the minor must be serving in, or honorably discharged from the military or have a GED or high school diploma, and can not have a criminal record. The minor is then granted the opportunity to receive a work permit.

In 2001, federal legislation was introduced with intentions to legalize the status of millions of undocumented children in the United States. The DREAM Act, or the Development Relief and Education of Alien Minors Act,

was opposed by Concreased crime, loss of American gress and has been rejobs, and diverted public fundintroduced every sesing. These fears would be legitsion since. imate, if they were true. HowThe DREAM Act’s ever, most of these concerns are objective is to help ilprevalent in American culture legal immigrant youth regardless of immigration. who have lived the Ruben Rumbaut, a sociolomajority of their lives gist at the University of Caliin the United States fornia, Irvine did extensive qualify for a six-year research on the crime trends of provisional citizenillegal immigrants. ship, under conditions “Studies that I have done that they complete based on census data, studtwo years in the miliies along the border, governtary or work towards a ment commissions from 1994 college degree. to present, repeatedly have The debate over ilfound the same thing,” Rumlegal immigration has baut said. “Immigrants are asevolved into a neversociated with much lower rates ending ethnically prejof crime and incarceration.

Photo: O. Douliery/MCT udiced conflict. ConAnd some of the safest cities President Barack Obama, at the Department of cerns regarding illegal Homeland Security, speaking about the recent anare those with large immigrant immigration have nouncement regarding illegal immigrants. populations.” morphed into negaThe United States is a countive feelings towards try built on the labor of immiimmigrants as a whole, despite the fact that the majority grants, and continues to thrive on such labor. If a person are law-abiding citizens who contribute positively to the wants to uproot their life and move in hopes of making a United States’ society and economy. better life for themselves and their families, who are we Republican’s critisize Obama’s policy as an amnesty to oppose them? Our families once did the same thing. move, and a presidential override of congressional auRegardless of motivation, the United States has althority. ways been the land of opportunity, and a place of refuge; Opponents worry that illegal immigration leads to inlet us not be the generation to stop this cycle of dreams.

GOP Attacks Planned Parenthood Disregarding Vaccines Endangers Others

by Colleen Burke

One of the many heated controversies in the upcoming Presidential election is the stance Republican candidates Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan take on abortion and Planned Parenthood.

Barack Obama-approved commercials report that Ryan and Romney violently oppose abortion in almost all respects, and if elected they would attempt to withhold funding from Planned Parenthood.

Romney originally stated that he would oppose abortion, except in cases of rape or incest, but later he withdrew that statement and replaced it with a complete disdain for the entire idea.

Ryan feels that abortion is wrong even if the pregnancy endangers the mothPhoto: A. Pietrykowski er’s life. Ryan sponsered a bill allowing hospitals to decline from perform- This Planned Parenthood, located in Walnut Creek, ofing abortions due to religious reasons. fers a variety of services and is there to help someone This bill was mocked as a “Let Women in need whether it’s health or personal issues.

Die” bill mostly because it says that a Planned Parenthood promotes safety. It does woman should always be declined an abortion. not promote under-aged sex or abortion. It simply The Constitution states that there must be a offers options, regardless of age, religion, or genseparation between church and state, which Romder. Opponents to Planned Parenthood fear that ney and Ryan violate by letting their religious offering these options, including both birth conviews affect their opinions on abortion. Abolishtrol and abortion, would give young individuals ing abortion can cause mental instability, overthe idea that sex is acceptable even if they aren’t population, unwanted children, abandoned chilready. But, taking the choice away isn’t going to dren, unqualified parents, and ultimately unstable stop sex; it would only increase unwanted pregfamilies. nancies.

Their reasoning for demolishing Planned ParRomney and Ryan have the right to make perenthood is simple: Ryan and Romney don’t want sonal decisions for their households, but not for a place of “easy access” for abortions. Unfortuother people. It is extremely disturbing that they nately, Ryan and Romney haven’t done their rewant to control people’s lives so dramatically. search on Planned Parenthood, for it is not solely Many Republicans take the stance that govcreated for abortions. ernment shouldn’t be as hands-on and controlling Planned Parenthood is a full service health and leave more personal choices to individuals. center for women and men. It does provide conIf this is true, then Romney and Ryan (as Repubtraceptives and perform abortions, but that is just licans) are going against their fundamental core. the start of it. It offers general health care for men What makes it okay to control reproductive rights and women and educates the public about body while they want the government to be hands-off image, STD prevention, pregnancy, relationships, in many other respects. There are no obvious adsex and sexuality, and sexual orientation and genvantages to the radical movement of withdrawing der. Ultimately, Planned Parenthood is a trusted funding for such an important service. resource for both physical and emotional health.

by Meghan Rogers For most people, vaccinations are an expected part of a doctor’s visit. Although it is typically the most dreaded part, it’s understood by the patient that the shot will help them in the long run. However, some people opt out of vaccinations, which puts the public at risk.

Choosing to opt out of a vaccination isn’t very hard to do – a parent simply has to tell their child’s doctor that they don’t want them to get the vaccine. The parent then has to fill out a vaccine exemption form.

At Miramonte, a medical form from a doctor has to be attached to the form for reasons not to vaccinate. It has become quite easy to do this in recent years, arguably a little too easy.

“Even at Miramonte, some students don’t vaccinate,” Miramonte nurse Barbara Polanger said.

A high concentration of people have chosen to opt out of vaccinations in and around Berkeley. In 2010, there were more cases of whooping cough than any year in the United States since 1947. According to the California Department of Public Health, California had 9,477 cases and 10 deaths. There were fewer than 1,000 cases a year in the 1970s, 80s, 90s, and most of the 2000s. Berkeley reported 18 cases and Alameda County as a whole had 422 cases.

Particularly in the United States, vaccine exemption rates have been extremely high, especially on the West Coast. Rural counties in Northeast Washington have vaccination exemption rates for the whole population above 20 percent and as high as 50 percent in recent years.

Vaccinations have literally saved millions of lives, so why would someone choose not to vaccinate?

Some people believe that vaccines can cause more harm than they prevent. No vaccine is completely effective, and there is a very slight chance that someone will come down with the disease the vaccination is meant to prevent. Because of this, some people think they’re just not worth the risk, not to mention the time or money to get.

In 1998 the British medical journal The Lancet published a theory proposing that vaccinations for measles, mumps, and rubella could lead to autism. It was believed that the “vaccine overload” – the hypothesis that giving many vaccines at once - may overwhelm a young child’s immune system and lead to autism. This has long since been proven false, not to mention biologically implausible, but many people still believe in delaying vaccinations for their children or not getting them at all.

The advantages of receiving the vaccine far outweigh the arguments against vaccinating. By choosing to opt out of vaccines, you are putting everyone around you in danger. No vaccine can prevent a disease 100 percent, so if an outbreak occurs among unvaccinated people there is a risk of vaccinated people still contracting the disease.

There is also a possibility that diseases once extinct could come back again if more people choose not to take the vaccine.

Mirador

10 FEATURE 9/28/12

MHS Clubs Make an Impact on Campus There were loads of incredible clubs for Miramonte students to join at Club Day last Friday. Mirador profiled four that seem to be influencing the Miramonte community.

by Simone Britto

Treble Makers

Dodgeball Club

Diversity Club

What It Is: With a pretty self-explanatory name, members of the Dodgeball Club meet every other Friday at lunch to play dodgeball and promote the spirit of healthy competition. With over 100 signups last Friday, this is one of Miramonte’s most popular clubs.

Photo: A. Pietrykowski

President John Pugliesi and Vice President Anna Boer exercise their voices in the choir room.

Why You Should Join: For fun, of course! As a member of the Dodgeball Club, you get to play everyone’s favorite old PE game. Dodgeball Club is also a great way to make friends. “We have a significant amount of underclassmen inPhoto: S. Britto volved in Dodgeball Club, which allows Officer Lina Mathkour, President Jonathem to interact with, and become, part of than Chan, and Vice President Kate the Miramonte community,” co-President Wolffe want to promote diversity. senior Bobby Veres said.

What It Is: Founded last year, Treble Makers is an acapella club that raises money for charity through concerts. Members sing pop songs, putting a twist on Contact: matadordodgeball@gmail.com songs you know and love. They meet once a week to practice and usually participate in Performers for Progress and the Pops Choir Concert at the end of the year.

Why You Should Join: “It’s a really fun group of people singing really cool arrangements to songs you already know,” club Vice President senior Anna Boer said.

Treble Makers gives you the opportunity to show off your lovely singing voice for your friends and fellow students, even if Photo: S. Britto you’re not taking Choir or Drama.

Co-Presidents seniors Jimmy McFeeContact: annajboer@gmail.com

What It Is: Environmental club aims to spread awareness of climate change and encourage everyone to lead sustainable lives. Tuesdays during lunch, members plan activities that raise awareness, like Green Week. In the past, they held waste audits, putting the trash around campus onto the quad to show students how much waste is created in a day.

Why You Should Join: If you’re worried about the state of the environment, this is the club for you. Members get to help with the beautification of the campus. As if you needed more encouragement to improve Miramonte’s sustainability, students will also be awarded community service hours for coming to meetings and participating in activities.

What It Is: An important part of Mira- Contact: mhsenvironmentalist@gmail.com monte for over 20 years, Diversity Club is a club that celebrates people’s differences and discourages discrimination. Members meet twice a month to plan school-wide activities that recognize Miramonte’s diversity, like International Night and Tolerance Week.

Why You Should Join: “Because it is the best club ever. We welcome anyone. Anyone who wants to make Miramonte a better place should come,” club President junior Jonathan Chan said. Diversity Club is all about making Miramonte a better place.

ley, Mark Tamminga and Bobby Veres started Dodgeball Club last year.

Contact: jonathan1995chan@gmail.com

New Teachers Join Miramonte Staff

by Kelly Cheng

Environmental Club

to me. The best part of the job is probably getAt the start of each ting to know everybody school year, Miramonte and forming relationwelcomes a few hundred ships with students so new students in addition that I can help them with to a few new teachers. whatever they need,” Several new staff memVasquez said. bers have joined the Mats Franck Reyherme, the for the 2012-2013 school new English 3 teacher year. and a former Miramonte Algebra 2/Trigongraduate, is happy to be metry and Pre-Calculus returning to the school teacher Daniel Appel is for the second time since excited about the adjusthe graduated in 1999. ment into the Miramonte “I am a Miramonte family. grad, so I know MiraPhoto: K. Cheng “I think it seems like monte pretty well. Miraa great school. The stu- New math teacher Daniel Appel is glad to be part of the Mi- monte is a great school, a dents are really moti- ramonte staff. Here he poses while in the midst of preparing wonderful place to work, vated, the staff is always for class. and a fun place to be a on the ball, and there are great resources. It seems like teenager. I’m happy to be a part of it,” Reyherme said. “I’m a great place to be,” Appel said. sure this year will go great. I’m really excited to be back.”

Appel said that his past teaching experience at both After teaching at Miramonte from 2008 to 2009, Reyherme Berkeley High School and Orinda Intermediate School took a break to teach at Pittsburg High School. gave him a sense of what to expect from students here “My students and colleagues at Pittsburg High were all at Miramonte. truly wonderful people, as are all the students and staff at MiHis favorite thing at Miramonte so far is the general ramonte. Students at PHS and MHS face very different presopenness among staff and students. sures, challenges, and obstacles, but in the end, they are still “If I want to try something different then people here just young adults trying to find their place in life,” Reyherme are willing to let me try, as opposed to pushing back said. right away. I’m excited that people genuinely want His favorite thing about Miramonte is the commitment of to learn the material and are open to trying different the entire community toward education. things,” Appel said. “I hope to continue teaching here.

“The whole community is involved in the school, and as I’ve been really happy so far.” a result, Miramonte is a rigorous school where students are Erika Vasquez, the new counselor for students with expected to work hard and learn a lot,” said Reyherme. last names letters Mc-Sc, anticipates the new school Students are just as excited to be having the new faculty year with the goal of getting to know all of her students. members for the new year. Sophomore Eleesya Cordes shared Before coming to Miramonte, Vasquez taught a her opinion about the new staff joining Miramonte. “Mr. ApFamily and Consumer Science class out of state. How- pel is an awesome teacher. He’s probably one of my favorites ever, after moving to California, Vasquez earned her this year,” Cordes said. counseling credential and began work in the Acalanes Other new staff members include Ari Gorman, the Jazz, Union High School District.

Orchestra, and Symphonic Band teacher and Jeremy Foltz, a “Everyone has been very friendly and welcoming Learning Skills instructor.

Photo: S. Britto

Co-Presidents Andrea Tamminga and Samuel Shain celebrate the environment.

Teachers Tackle Different Classes

by Drew Anderson Miramonte departments are shaking things up with veteran teachers taking on new subjects for the 20122013 school year. Due to class sizes, student requests, and teacher preferences, many teachers on campus this year are teaching new classes.

“It depends on students’ schedules a lot, and the administration tries to help balance the teachers’ workload as well,” history teacher Meghan Selway said.

Students may not realize that there are nuances that vary in every class that teachers adapt to. It’s more than just course content that they must master.

“The change for me is the different grade scale, and the testing is different as well,” Manoa Koepp said about teaching Physiology for the first time this year.

Meghan Flores, who is most commonly known at Miramonte as a Spanish teacher, is also teaching United States History, which she taught at the middle school level.

“It’s definitely different teaching high school students instead of eighth graders. The high school course goes into a lot more detail, so I’m learning some of the things over again too,” Flores said.

Another aspect that changes for the teachers is their relationships with different students.

“In Physiology, I’m teaching a lot of older students, which is nice. It’s different and I like to change it up sometimes,” Koepp said.

Flores enjoys the relationships she has created with students. “For me it’s the second time teaching many of my students so it’s nice to have another chance to teach students I really like,” Flores said.

Several students said that they really enjoy having the same teacher for a second time because they feel comfortable and already know the teacher’s tendencies.

The science department is changing things up this year as well. Hope Hauptman, who usually teaches Chemistry, is teaching a Biology class and Nicki Leboy, who usually teaches Geology, is also teaching Chemistry.

Mirador

9/28/12 Feature 11

Teachers Crawl Out From Under Desks Teacher summers have always remained a mystery, until now. Mirador uncovers the antics and adventures of Miramonte faculty during their 10-week break from teaching.

by Youngjoo Ahn For Miramonte students, summer is a time of relaxation and forgetting backbreaking textbooks, hours of homework, and teachers.

“Teachers probably stay under their desks grading papers,” sophomore Alex Jang said. Junior Liya Levanda agrees that summer school is the first thing that comes to mind when the words teacher and summer are combined.

However, that is not the case at all. It may be surprising, but like students, teachers have active summers full of adventure too.

History teacher Carolyn Cahill went gorilla trekking in Eastern Africa for three weeks while fellow history teacher Meghan Selway explored around Southern Africa for five weeks.

“I had a really fun trip but the hardest thing was probably jetlag,” Cahill said.

Selway learned all about plants and animals on the trip of a lifetime. Highlights of her trip included riding an ATV, rafting class five rapids, and even giving an impromptu history lesson to her tour guide.

Selway became an expert animal spotter and was immersed in the culture of native tribes.

“I’ve gone on trips to China and Southeast Asia, but each place is different and becomes a trip of a lifetime,” Selway said.

“Teachers are so caught up in test standards and students are focused on grades and tests, so that the love of learning

is sometimes lost,” Selway said.

“Travelling definitely reminds me why I’m a teacher.”

Science teachers Hope Hauptman and Jennifer Moore also had incredible experiences while traveling. Hauptman spent the summer in New Zealand with her sister while Moore was in France.

Hauptman travelled to New Zealand for the fifth time and spent time with her family. By taking paddle boarding lessons, she improved her swimming.

The weirdest thing Hauptman ate was possum stew. Possums are considered pests there and eat the eggs of endangered birds. Hauptman said that possum tasted like chicken.

“I missed summer because it’s winter time in New Zealand when it’s summer here. Next time I’d like to go when it’s summer there,” Hauptman said.

Moore goes to France annually partly because she loves the food. The most exciting part of her trip this year was seeing Madonna live in concert.

Math teacher Mike Plant also had a busy summer. He travelled to Lake Tahoe with friends and also visited Hawaii with his wife and Public Speaking teacher, Kristen Plant, and her family. He also went to England for three weeks to visit his family.

Not only did Plant travel, he also moved from Martinez to Orinda. “It was really hard because we had to pack up every few days between different vacations,” Plant said.

Photo: H. Hauptman

Photo: M. Selway

Photo: M. Plant

Photo: M. Selway

Top left: During her travels to Africa, Meghan Selway observed a lot of wildlife, including zebras at the watering hole.

Top right: Hope Hauptman and her nephew made a great discovery while exploring caves in New Zealand.

Bottom right: Assisted by her tour guide, Selway lifts a skull she found in Africa.

Bottom left: Mike Plant visited his family during trip to Great Britain. He was able to spend time with his sister and nephews.

Mira

12

The Pink House at

by Katie Hoskins

In third grade, Orinda students explore and learn about the history (and mysteries) of the small town that is Orinda, answering questions that have long puzzled them and other residents. However, the pink house at 209 Moraga Way has always been a sort of town-wide enigma, provoking questions in people’s minds as they zoom past during the morning commute. Why is the house so small and rundown? Why is it so close to the road? Who the heck painted it that pink color and who is rebuilding it after all these years? Mirador decided to get to the bottom of the pink house.

Built in 1894, the pink house has always been a symbol of the history and rural roots of Orinda. Rumors of a past train station and even a haunting by Bloody Mary herself circled the small house. As the town of Orinda grew into the bustling suburb it is today, the house has remained essentially unchanged, serving as a little pink bridge to the past in the modern and technology filled town that Orinda has become.

However, even links to history require love and maintenance, and as the years wore on after the owner moved out, the mysterious pink house deteriorated as the surrounding town became increasingly modernized. It needed a sort of super-hero architect to launch it back into the future without destroying its rich history. And James Wright, of Net Zero Homes, was just the guy to do it.

As an energy architect, Wright is passionate about building and restoring buildings that consume a minimal amount of energy and have a net zero amount of electrical usage per year. Through various modern techniques and systems that utilize the geological and thermal capabilities of the land, Wright has made a living creating incredibly energy efficient and almost futuristic homes.

“I believe coupling homes with the earth is where it’s at,” Wright said. “My inspiration is to visually make a collage of the mechanical systems and what I’m doing.”

Not only does Wright plan on reaching net zero with his restoration of the house, but he also plans to exceed that amount and generate enough power to run a subsequent guest house and studio on the property. “That’s my goal, to take an 1893 building and show everyone how easy it is to turn it into a net zero consumption annually building,” Wright said.

One of the main principles behind Wright’s plan is making the structure completely air tight, so no energy spent heating or cooling air will escape from the building. However, to avoid a situation of unhealthy indoor air quality, Wright plans to mechanically supply the interior with fresh air using energy recovery ventilators. These systems are 95 percent efficient and run on only 60 watts of electricity, the same amount as a light bulb.

These ventilators will also help maintain the interior air temperature of the building using a geothermal technique. One of the crucial elements to the success of this system is the well in the basement of the building, the feature that really drew Wright to the property in the first place. “The well made me salivate because I saw the geothermal opportunities for the systems that I have been developing,” Wright said.

The system is based on the idea of matching the interior air temperature with the temperature of the ground (hence the term geothermal).

The ventilators will match the temperature of the air being brought into the house with that of the well. “So, instead of at night 37 degree air, it will be 58 degree air because of the ground

The Richmond High School bus, complete with wooden seats, took Ezra’s siblings to school each day. Ezra’s sister Clara is inside with the driver Earl Miller in front. “The bus is standing about where the theater is now,” Ezra said.

1924

temperature,” Wright said. “Then in the summer, instead of 100 degree air, it’s 60 degrees.”

Wright also plans on controlling the temperature of the house using an evaporative cooling system composed of a waterfall behind glass and a relatively new invention made of a seemingly commonplace item: aluminum foil. It’s called a radiant barrier, and it’s the same material scientists and engineers use on space shuttles to reflect the sun’s intense radiation away from the craft and passengers. “I read somewhere that there are two inventions of our time that are great. One is the smart phone, and the other is radiant barrier materials,” Wright said.

The idea is fairly simple. Wright will have two radiant barrier systems on the house, one in which the foil reflects inward, and one outward. In the winter, any heat in the house will be reflected and maintained by the first layer of foil, keeping the interior warm and cozy. Then in the summer, the secondary layer, creating a cool interior environment, will ward off the sun’s hot rays.

Another energy saving feature of the restored house will be that it is thermal bridge free, meaning that parts of the building that interact with the exterior will not leak colder or hotter air into the house. Any transfer of energy like this would take energy to reverse, which would be a major setback in the Net Zero goal. So, Wright plans to eliminate these thermal bridges in the restored structure, augmenting the other energy saving systems.

While all of this may seem awfully futuristic and scientific, Wright has a strong appreciation for the historical attributes of the house, and plans to inPhoto: T. Black corporate his newfound love of the home’s history in the restoration. When demolishing the basement, Wright was surprised to find an assortment of historical artifacts. Among the objects were horseshoes, marbles and even a lock dated 1902. Underneath the linoleum of the house, Wright also came across newspapers dated back to the late 1930s that he plans to laminate and use as room dividers for the second story. “It’s so interesting to look at those newspapers and see what you could buy for five cents in 1939,” Wright said.

In addition to the newspapers, Wright plans to restore both the first and second floors of the house as they were originally, complete with period furnishings like antique typewriters and radios. “I’m so inspired with the opportunity to illustrate a snapshot of the Industrial Revolution,” Wright said.

However, since Wright plans to live in the house once it is complete,

Ezra (in center) with older sister (left) and a friend from a nearby farm across the street. Before many people lived in Orinda the scenery was very open and rural, with a few telephone poles dotting the rolling hills.

Ezra’s father would bring water from the creek up towards the house to water his garden. Every week the family would also fill and heat a basin of water and take their weekly baths, taking turns oldest to youngest.

ador

13

t 209 Moraga Way he couldn’t make the whole building like it was in its hay-day. In the basement, Wright plans to create a modern kitchen and bath chock full of energy systems and glass floors and walls to showcase them. When complete it will look like a Malibu beach house and Wright will be able to enjoy both elements of the past and present all under one roof.

Even once all the new systems are installed, the house will still be a beloved, and mysterious, treasure to many Orinda residents that pass it every day on Moraga Way. And to next-door neighbor Ezra Nelson, the house will always be a past home.

Nelson, a retired mailman, has lived in Orinda his entire life and spent his childhood days living in the pink house with his family.

In 1918, the Nelson family purchased the house and moved from Albany to escape the flu epidemic that had already claimed the life of one child. However, even before the Nelson’s occupied the building, it served as a home for sea captain Alexander Jenkins, not a railroad station, as many Orinda residents are led to believe.

Ezra was born six years later and lived in the house, a goldenrod color at the time, until 1954 with his parents and four siblings. Growing up, life for the young Nelson was comprable to life on Walton’s Mountain. Children walked, rode horses, took the train or even hitchhiked to school, and Nelson fell asleep each night to the sound of his older brother practicing the harmonica. The surrounding area was open country with few trees, scattered orchards, farms and hayfields and enough open space that one could see as far as El Sobrante and Richmond by simply stepping onto the back porch.

Back then, Moraga Way was a dirt highway that led to the 27 pear orchards owned by Moraga Land Company and St. Mary’s College, home of Nelson’s favorite college football team. Along the road to Moraga, one would pass scattered farms sharecropped by Portuguese farmers who would raise cattle and the hay needed to feed them during the winter months.

Going along the highway back towards the crossroads brought visitors to the quiet town Orinda, complete with three buildings downtown and a whopping population of 200 people. Comparable to modern times, Orinda residents tended to be business folk who commuted to Oakland or San Francisco, rather than farmers.

Such a simple, charm-

Photos (from left): E. Nelson, K. Hoskins

From left to right: Wright’s plans for the house reconstruction. Nelson’s father standing in a snowbank with the family dog, Duke. Kids from the nearby farms would ride horses to the school across the street from the house. All the Nelson children in front of the house. Ezra at about six years old standing with his dog next to Moraga Way. The present-day house under construction.

ing setting couldn’t last forever, especially after the construction of the Caldecott Tunnel in 1937. “It was changing,” Nelson said. “Even before the tunnel. And that tunnel opened up the whole county actually. It didn’t take long before areas started building up piece by piece.”

But even after the tunnel was complete Nelson spent his days mushroom hunting, exploring the surrounding hills and spending time with friends from school. “Even though it was hard during the Depression, it was a fun place to grow up anyway. There were so many places you could go hiking and exploring, you could go just about any place you wanted to. But once they started building up, you could just go where the roads were.”

In 1941 the Orinda Theater was built, near the area that once housed the Nelson’s mailbox.

Nelson was 17 years old at the time and attended the opening day celebration, which had drawn quite a crowd and even featured the movie starlet Laraine Day. With the increase in traffic to Orinda, the highway that eventually became Moraga Way had to be repaved multiple times. Each time more asphalt was added, the road came closer and closer to the little yellow house, which for the most part, remained the same as the town around it grew.

Eventually the Nelson children grew and went their separate ways in the world. Mabel, the eldest sibling, had ownership of the house but didn’t want to make it a historical landmark because of business implications. Since no one was willing to put in the funds or work into bringing the building up to code for living, it became vacant in 1966.

Nelson did do some repairs himself and the house was repainted in 1991. “It was yellow to begin with and it was starting to look very run down. Being as I lived the closest to it, the painter asked me what color it should have,” Nelson said. “The closest I could come was apricot. For some people it looks pink. But it’s really supposed to be apricot.”

For the most part, the house has remained in the same condition it had been in since 1948, until Wright came along and began his restoration, putting the little pink house back on Orinda residents’ radars. However, even though the interior of the newly restored house will be a futuristic, energy efficient, net zero home, on the outside it will still be Orinda’s mysterious gateway to a simpler time, filled with open countryside and pear orchards and hillsides as far as the eye could see.

Want to learn more about James Wright’s Yellow House Restoration Project? Visit www. facebook.com/NetZeroHomes. For more pictures of the construction and the Nelson Family, go to mhsmirador.com

Photos (from left): E. Nelson, K. Hoskins

Ezra Nelson on the left with a friend from Moraga in front of the old barn on the property. Growing up, Ezra enjoyed spending time exploring the area with friends and neighbors that lived on nearby farms.

From left: Clara, Earl, Mabel, Clyde and Ezra Nelson at a memorial service. All the siblings were gathered together to mourn a death in the family but enjoyed the chance to catch up with one another.

Ezra Nelson and James Wright shake hands in Ezra’s home at 207 Moraga Way. Throughout the building process, Nelson has been there to support Wright in numerable ways and fully endorses Wright’s efforts in the reconstruction.

2012

Mirador

14 FEATURE 9/28/12

Uncovered: Best Bread of the Bay

by Katie Hoskins Ever wondered where to get the best bread selections when out to dinner? Mirador went on a bread hunt and discovered the top four places to find the crunchiest, softest, most mouthwatering bread to enjoy. Eat up and enjoy!

3. Il Fornaio

1. Pasta Pomodoro Location: Emeryville & Pleasant Hill

Location: Walnut creek This place clearly has an understanding of what the customer wants in a breadbasket. Not only do they include warm, sweet Italian slices with butter, but also an herb focaccia-like option. Both variations ring true of Italian roots, and the consistency of the bread is absolutely ideal: a somewhat cruchy outside with a golden brown hue, but a soft and comforting inside. Biting into one of these babies is like taking a stroll through the garden of Eden. As if the heavenly loaves of sweet bread and focaccia weren’t enough to satiate the weary customer, Il Fornaio really raises the stakes with another, succulent option with olives, and just enough of them to make you exclaim with delight “delizioso!” No matter which version you choose to enjoy, your pallet will be delighted by the warm, perfectly crunchy crust and soft, heavenly center. This place will definitely have you begging the waiter for more. Don’t be a bread binger.

There are two sides to every breadbasket. There’s the actual bread and then there’s whatever the waiter or waitress gives you to put on it. Pasta Pomodoro’s bread excels in both of these areas, winning it the rightful name of champion of breadbaskets. As a hungry customer in the depths of pre-dinner hunger pangs, the perfectly warm focaccia herb loaves are like a godsend from heaven. The perfect aroma and combination of herbs and just plain Italian sweet bread really brings this dish to the top of the charts.

As if that wasn’t good enough, Pasta Pomodoro also pairs their succulent, mouth-watering pieces with an olive oil pesto sauce that will ignite a fury of elation and excitement on the weary customer’s taste buds.

Beware: this stuff is addicting like no other, but Pasta Pomodoro’s pasta is worth saving room for.

4. La Piazza

2. Fillipos

Location: Orinda

Location: Berkeley As far as breadbaskets go, Filippos’ isn’t really anything to salivate about. While the loaf slices may have started their lives with a crunchy and satisfying crust, they’ve lost this feature by the time they reach the table. The thing that really brings this restaurant to the top of the pack is the dipping sauce they give you.

While some restaurants merely provide a drum slab of butter, Filippos has the best of both worlds, giving both smooth butter and an absolutely delicious, mouthwatering, addicting garlic and olive oil dip. A hint of onion and chili flakes really gives this salubrious concoction an unbeatable kick. However, garlic is clearly the star ingredient, so better plan on bringing a few breath mints if you plan on smooching a date later.

A favorite family dinner spot for Orindians, La Piazza is a delicious, Italian restaurant a lot closer to home than other options. While the Semifreddi’s sourdough bread that comes cold to the table is nothing to brag about, it’s the homemade focaccia that really catches the diner’s eye. Taller than most focaccias, La Piazza’s version is full of herbs and hints of rosemary that perfectly blend with a classic olive oil and vinegar emulsion. It’s an unbeatable classic Italian bread with an Orinda twist, and it’s absolutely delicious. Indulge yourself and take a jourPhotos: K. Hoskins Bread selections from Fillipos (top) and Il Fornaio (bot- ney down focaccia bread meadow while taking a dip in tom) bring crunchy joy to its eaters. Additions of olive oil, the tangy vinegar and olive oil stream. Though it’s served butter, and ever so delicious garlic dip enhance the flavor cold, the slightly cheesy crust still brings a smile to the hungry customer and is a great appetizer to any main dish. to the max.

Miramonte’s Fine, Fabulous, and Foreign

by Elizabeth Chenok

With every new year at Miramonte, there are many fresh faces. However, this year, two new students might stick out from the average new kid. Michael Cizek and Leonhard Von Deimling are two foreign exchange students studying at Miramonte this year. Believe it or not, there is a lot more to these two boys than their charming accents. Mirador asks tthem about their lives back home compared to Orinda.

Leonhard Von Diemling

Michael Cizek

From: Heidelberg, Germany

From: Tabler, Czech Republic

Grade: Junior

Grade: Senior

Host family: Fernbachers

Host Family: Vishers

Duration of stay: One year

Duration of stay: One semester

Photo: A. Pietrykowski

Mirador: What are the biggest differences between Germany and the US? Leonhard Von Diemling: The meals, the school, and the weather. In Germany it’s not as hot for this long, or as dry.

M: What do you miss the most?

LVD: I miss my friends and family, but not that much because I have friends and a new family here.

M: How is the school system different here?

LVD: Here every day the periods are the same. In Germany, every day is different – it’s a block schedule. You also are not able to choose what classes you want in Germany.

M: What’s something you want to do here before you leave?

LVD: I haven’t been to San Francisco yet. I’m really excited. Last year I visited so I know the area but I miss it and want to go back and spend more time there.

M: What is your favorite American food?

LVD: I like the orange juice here. I don’t know why.

M: What will you miss the most about the US when you leave?

LVD: The family, friends, and probably the school.

M: Did you get to choose to come to California?

LVD: No. I knew my host family before coming here so I told the organization that I wanted to be with them. My dad lived with my host dad for a year 35 years ago. My dad was a foreign exchange student just like me, and now I’m staying with their family.

It’s really cool.

Photo: A. Pietrykowski

Mirador: What do you miss most about the Czech Republic?

Michael Cizek: I don’t know… probably my friends but I have friends here.

M: What’s here that you don’t have there?

MC: Sun. It’s cold there, but not in the summer. But here, the weather is more stable.

M: How is school here different than in the Czech Republic?

MC: We have to study everything; we don’t have choices, like Biology, Economics, etc. And our classes are different every day. Each lesson lasts 45 minutes and we usually have nine lessons a day.

M: What’s something you want to do while you’re here.

MC: Visit as much as possible to see everything. Enjoy my American life here.

M: What’s your favorite food here?

MC: We had burritos and they were delicious. Peanut butter is also something I’ve discovered I love.

M: Did you choose to come here to California?

MC: My town has a partnership with Orinda, so I came here. Martin (previous foreign exchange student) is from the same school as I am.

M: What’s the hardest part of speaking English? Has it gotten easier since you first arrived?

MC: Yes. I can now concentrate better. The family could be sitting one meter from me and I was not be able to concentrate; now I can listen and concentrate on what they are talking about.

Mirador

9/28/12 FEATURE 15

Mirador’s Freshman Survival Guide

The transition to freshman year can be confusing, so let Mirador’s four S’s guide your way

by Sofia Marinac and Courtney Attard

Be nice to people and take the time to chat with your classmates.

Dating in high school is a little different than dating in middle school. It’s more serious, so don’t start dating someone that you don’t really know that well. Those relationships will last about a week and will most likely just be a texting relationship.

Respect others and give everyone a chance.

Don’t change who you are for other people.

Try to befriend people older than you. It expands your social pool and you can get to know different kinds of people.

Get involved in sports and clubs that you’re interested in. It’s a way to meet new people, create great friendships and have a fun year!

S chool: Any of the restrooms are fine, but

if you’d like to avoid the mysterious puddles, use the one next to the cafeteria.

Dress for PE. It’s one of the easiest A’s you can get, so don’t give it up just because you don’t feel like dressing.

Pick up your trash! Miramonte’s school color is green, let’s keep it that way.

Don’t be afraid to talk to your teachers—they like it when you participate.

Your locker is your friend. If you have to bring textbooks to school everyday, use it to help you stay organized. Plus, you’ll reduce the risk of having a turtle shell for a backpack.

Go to Miramonte sporting events.

They’re exciting and a great way to show off your school pride and spirit.

Get to know your counselor.

You’ll need her later.

Don’t walk slowly in the hallways.

It causes traffic, and people get Photo: S. Marinac annoyed.

Clean out your backpack every- Top: The freshman class of 2016 gathers for their first taste of Miraonce in awhile. Three month old monte on Mat’s Day. sandwiches at the bottom of your Bottom right: Enjoying the shade bag can get pretty nasty. of a leafy tree, freshmen Francesca Don’t keep valuable things in Calderon, Lucy Wilmot, Caiseen your backpack during PE. They Kelley, and Molly Colwell enjoy can easily get stolen (both of their lunch together. our phones were stolen freshman Bottom left: Freshman Aidan Rosyear). Lock them up in your lock- siter gets involved by signing up for a club during Club Day lunch. er!

Freshman year is actually the easiest out of all four years, so enjoy it while it lasts.

Participate in spirit days.

Even if you have a teacher that you don’t really like, don’t let it get in the way of doing well in the class.

School Loop is very helpful. You can check your grades, look at due dates, and see what’s going on throughout the month in your classes.

S ocial: Avoid drama.

Try stepping out of your comfort zone - meet and talk to new people!

Haters gonna hate. If people try to bring you down, don’t let them. Kill them with self confidence and bury them with a smile.

Photo: G. Moran

S elf: If you’re sick, stay at home. Seriously. We

don’t need the Miramonte Cold to strike again.

Confidence is key! Everyone loves an outgoing character.

Learn to balance your school and social life.

Get involved with community service and charity work. Not only will it look good for college applications, but helping others is a great thing to do.

Stay organized and use your agenda.

Hygiene is pretty important. You don’t want to be the person that smells bad.

Don’t give in to peer pressure.

S tudies: Don’t procrastinate.

While studying, avoid letting your phone, Twitter, or Facebook distract you.

If you have to read something, avoid lying down because it may make you sleepy.

Don’t throw away your notes or flashcards Photo: S. Veverka when you’re done with them. You’ll need them!

Don’t wait until the night before to study for a test.

Acronyms can be funny and memorable. Ex: IDSFA (It Doesn’t Stand For Anything) If you’re going to study with a group, make sure you don’t get distracted.

Once you get behind with school work, it’s hard to catch up. Crawling your way out of holes is difficult, so don’t dig one!

Use highlighters to emphasize key words or information.

For each hour you spend studying, take a 10 minute break to prevent your brain from exploding.

If you’re having a hard time in a class, free afterschool tutoring is useful and available in the library Having trouble with a concept? Take the time to go in and talk to your teacher to clear things up before a test or quiz.

Freshmen Q’s and A’s:

Q: Will I really get beat up if I step on the senior lawn? A: Of course not, but you’re guaranteed to get some really dirty looks.

Q: Where is the best place to study on campus? A: The library. Most textbooks are there, computers are available to you, and it’s quiet.

Q: Is there a tsunami evacuation route in the school? A: Um, no. You’re on your own for that one.

Q: What happens if I get caught cheating on a test? A: If you get caught cheating you’ll recieve a zero on the test. If you get caught cheating three times you’ll get an “F” as a final class grade and a three-day suspension.

Q: Should I send nudes to my boyfriend? A: No, there is no doubt that you’ll both be charged for child pornography. Realistically though, it’s a bad idea that may seriously sully your reputation and your self-esteem for the rest of your high school career.

Senior Stories:

“My brother Tyler used to sit at a table next to the one my friends and I sat at during lunch. Everyday, he would randomly start throwing food at me and then his friends would join in. If I didn’t sit at the table next to him he would throw food at me whenever I walked by. It was basically a one-way food fight.”

-Alyssa Barker

“I was new freshman year, so I didn’t really have any friends going into school.

Even though I wasn’t really that great at it, and I was shy, I joined football. I was a fifth quarter warrior and during one game, I made a sweet diving catch. After that, I felt like I gained respect from my team, which gave me confidence, and making new friends became a lot easier.” -Cevae Nava-Lewis

“My brother was a senior when I was a freshman and during lunch, he and his friends would call me and trick me into going on to the senior lawn. Once I was on it, they would scream ‘freshmmmmmaaaaannnn!!’ or ‘Baby Taapken’ and pick me up and hold me so everyone on the lawn would see. Definitely a scary experience.”

-Mia Taapken

Mirador

16 Sports 9/28/12

SPORTS

Brett Jackson Debuts for Chicago Cubs

by Jack Kovalik and Colin Bean

Miramonte alum Brett Jackson made his Major League Baseball debut for the Chicago Cubs on Aug. 5, 2012, against the Los Angeles Dodgers. In his debut, Jackson went 2-4 with a walk and also scored his first run in the majors.

“I was very nervous stepping up to face Joe Blanton in my first at-bat,” Jackson said. The outcome of Jackson’s first at-bat was a groundout to first base. “I felt much more comfortable and relaxed during my second at-bat, and I drew a walk.”

Jackson was drafted 31st overall in the 2009 amateur draft by the Cubs. Jackson’s arrival in the majors for the Cubs had been long awaited. Jackson was ranked the 28th overall prospect by MLB.com’s Prospect Watch entering the 2012 season. Jackson was also the third overall outfielder on the list.

Jackson found out about his call-up via telephone. The Cubs’ Director of Player Management phoned Jackson late at night on Aug. 4 to tell him the news. Jackson says he didn’t sleep a wink, and then caught a 6 a.m. flight to Los Angeles to make it in time for the Cubs-Dodgers game, saying that the flight seemed to be the longest of his life.

Jackson graduated from Miramonte in 2006, and then attended University of California, Berkeley, where

Photo: N. DiNuzzo/MCT

Jackson trots around the bases after hitting a solo homerun on Aug. 27 against the Milwaukee Brewers.

he played outfield for the Golden Bears for three seasons. During his time at Cal, Jackson was an honorable mention AllPac-10 as a sophomore and made All-Pac-10 as a junior.

As a Matador, Jackson led the team to two straight North Coast Section titles in addition to being an All-CIF shortstop in 2005 and AllDFAL two times. “Winning the championships in 2004 and 2005 made for the best baseball memories and moments of my career,” Jackson said.

“Miramonte baseball is where it all started and where for the first time I truly believed I could make something of baseball,” Jackson said.

Jackson was coached by Photo: C. Myers/MCT Vince Dell’ Aquila during Jackson dives for a line-drive hit by Nationals’ outfielder Bryce Harper on Sept. 6. his high school career.

“I could tell he was a “Knowing how long the odds were that he would ever special player and was going to be good in college, but meet his childhood dream, I always carried the stress that it was impossible to tell if he would be good in the pros,” his chances were about as good as the chances of somebody Dell’ Aquila said. Jackson is the first player that Dell’ becoming an astronaut,” said Peter Jackson, Brett’s dad.

Aquila has coached that has gone to the majors, but some “As you can imagine, I was very proud. It’s wonderful other players have gone on to the minor leagues. when your child sets a high goal for himself and achieves it Jackson says that he gets recognized in Chicago every through hard work and determination,” said Katie Jackson, now and then, but for the most part he slides under the Brett’s mom. radar. As for the fans in Chicago, “Cubs fans are pretty “Seeing Brett get his first hit at Dodger Stadium was crazy and probably some of the best fans in all of sports,” surreal. He grew up hating the Dodgers, being a huge Jackson said.

Giants fan,” Katie said.

Some of the best fans however, are Jackson’s family.

“The night he was called up to the Majors, I felt a great Sophomore Connor Jackson, Brett’s brother, said that sigh of relief. This would bring a new chapter that would having a brother in the big leagues is a very special thing. be easier than the prior one,” Peter said.

“I definitely feel a sense of pride when I get to tell The previous “chapter” was a long and sometimes someone about him,” Connor said. “But at the same time it tedious chapter for Jackson. Before he graduated high has made me realize that professional baseball players are school, Jackson had played on five different summer the same as you and me. To me, Brett is just the good old league baseball teams. Then, after his time in Berkeley, loving brother I always knew.”

Jackson embarked on a journey throughout developmental Baseball runs in the Jackson family. Drew Jackson, and minor leagues.

Brett’s other brother, is headed to Stanford this fall to play Jackson represented America in 2010 and 2011, playing baseball for the Cardinal. Drew had been highly recruited with the US National Team in the World and Pan Am since his sophomore year at Miramonte. Over Drew’s Games. sophomore summer, he verbally committed to Stanford.

“Nothing has ever felt more heroic to me than putting Jackson’s parents felt many of the anxious emotions on the red white and blue and playing for my country,” that Brett himself felt.

Jackson tweeted on June 24.

New Cal Memorial Stadium Opens for 2012 Season

by Matt Metheny The University of California, Berkeley recently finished a new $321 million football stadium which took two years to complete. Memorial stadium was modernized, and many changes were made while still maintaining its historic structure.

This is the Cal football team’s first season in the renovated stadium. Fans were excited and couldn’t wait for the first game in the renovated Memorial Stadium on Sept. 1, 2012. Although Cal lost the game against Nevada, fans were pleased with the updated venue.

“It was one of the most exciting games I have ever been to. The stadium looked so nice,” junior Mac Watson said.

The renovation highlights include a modernized interior, additional restrooms and concession areas along the western

Photo: J. Fajarado/MCT

The Golden Bears opened the new Memorial Stadium on Sept. 1, 2012, with a loss to the Nevada Wolfpack.

side, state of the art scoreboards with enhanced video, bench back seating, old wooden benches replaced with aluminum bleachers throughout the stadium, new artificial turf, and a 34,000 square foot press box on top of the western side.

The capacity of the stadium was reduced from 71,799 seats to 63,000.

The outer part of the stadium was repainted but the original outer walls remain.

“The seats were a lot more comfortable to sit in and I enjoyed the new scoreboards,” Watson said.

The stadium was not only renovated to modernize it, but for the sake of earthquake safety as well. With the Hayward fault cutting through the middle of the stadium, it has always been a concern that the stadium could collapse during an earthquake. Concrete seismic blocks were inserted at the end zone where the Hayward fault bisects the stadium, making the structure more able to withstand an earthquake.

Mirador

9/28/12 Sports 17

Athlete of the Issue: Jack Fellner

by Nicola Gonzales and Natalie Wapniarski In recent years, the Miramonte boys water polo team has experienced nothing but success due to extreme talent and hard work. Everyone is an essential member of the team, but if you ask the players, they will all agree that Jack Fellner ‘13 easily has the strongest shot of the team.

This past summer, Fellner was selected to play with the Junior National Team for the Junior UANA Championships in Montreal, Canada.

Fellner has been playing water polo since seventh grade, starting out with Lamorinda Water Polo Club, and began playing with Miramonte as a freshman. Water polo has defined Fellner’s life in a sense that it takes up a lot of time. When he was practicing with the Junior National team, he was down in Los Angeles for two weeks, in the pool for four hours a day. If he makes the cut, he has the opportunity to play in Australia.

“It really was an honor to be playing with the best players in the country,” Fellner said.

Playing for three different teams can be stressful, and Fellner admits to liking his high school team the most out of the three. Coached by Miramonte history teacher James Lathrop, the team won NCS in sudden death overtime against San Ramon Valley last November, regaining the title from Acalanes. Fellner played a huge role in that game, primarily as a perimeter shooter. Winning that NCS game is Fellner’s favorite water polo memory so far. He likes high school the best because he’s with all of his friends and it’s less stressful.

“The guys are more fun on the high school team, and you get to joke around more often,” said Fellner.

In terms of college, Fellner is looking seriously towards Cal, UCLA and USC. Each has an outstanding water polo program, and Fellner’s uncles played at Cal. Before games, Fellner has a variety of routines he likes to utilize.

For example, he stretches, meditates, sings, and dances, all in preparation for a good game.

“I also really like GU,” said Fellner, referencing the popular Gatorade brand goo.

“Jack Fellner has been doing a great job this season. He

Photo: B.Fellner Photo: N.Wapniarski

Top: Fellner smiles broadly as he gazes into his bright future. Right: Fellner advances down the pool in search of the perfect shot opportunity.

was the leading scorer of our first five games, he is a great leader and we are expecting great things from him this upcoming season,” Lathrop said.

Teammates of Fellner have nothing but good things to say regarding his character and actions in the water.

“I couldn’t be happier about his succes. He’s always been good at every sport he’s played so it comes as no surprise to me,” senior Patrick Fabian said.

In what little spare time Fellner has outside of school and polo, he really enjoys surfing in Santa Cruz, Ocean Beach and Pacifica. He enjoys spending time with his family and friends.

Fun Facts About Jack Fellner

Favorite movie: MacGruber Favorite restaurant: Siam Orchid Favorite music: Alternative & Country Favorite food: Chinese or Thai Water polo idol/role model: His uncles Favorite scent: Vanilla or Coconut Favorite dessert: Hula Pie from Sunnyside Nickname: Flenner Favorite colors: Orange and yellow Height: 6’1”

Steroid Usage Throws MLB a Curveball Bay Area star baseball players Melky Cabrera and Bartolo Colon test positive for steriods

by Claire Marvin

to use performance-enhancing drugs.

In a statement released through the Major League Players’ Association, Cabrera owned That’s one, no two strikes in just one week for Bay Area baseball after both the Giants’ up to using illegal substances.

Melky Cabrera and the A’s Bartolo Colon tested positive for increased levels of testoster“My positive test was the result of my use of a substance I should not have used. I am one. The news of Cabrera’s positive test broke on Aug. 15, and Colon’s on Aug. 22. Both deeply sorry for my mistake and I apologize to my teammates, to the San Francisco GiCabrera and Colon have been suspended for 50 games. ants organization and to the fans for letting them down,” he said.

“From a baseball standColon found himself in an eerily simipoint, we’re scrambling. lar situation with the A’s organization.

We’re all disappointed, not “I apologize to the fans, to my teamjust for the Giants and the A’s, mates and to the Oakland A’s,” Colon but for baseball,” the A’s Gensaid in a statement also released by the eral Manager Billy Beane said Players’ Association. “I accept responsiin an interview with ESPN. bility for my actions and I will serve my Twenty-eight-year-old Casuspension as required by the joint drug brera was having a dream first program.” season with the Giants. The Colon had undergone a controversial Kansas City Royals traded shoulder and right elbow surgery just him last November, replacing two years prior to the scandal. As the the Giants’ Jonathan Sanchez A’s 39-year-old starting pitcher, Colon’s in a $6 million deal. Since the joints in his right arm had started to wear trade, Cabrera has gone from out. During the off-season, Colon trava .284 career batting average eled back to his native home, the Dominito a .346 batting average afcan Republic, for this surgery. ter just half a season on the Doctors allegedly used stem cells in an Giants. He led the National unproven and new technique on the athLeague with 159 hits and was lete. One of Colon’s surgeons, Joseph R. second for his overall batting Purita, admitted to using Human Growth average. Cabrera set the GiHormone (which is banned in MLB) in ants’ record for the most hits similar procedures, but denied using them ever in May with a total of in Colon’s surgery. There is still question Photo: J. Sleezer/MCT Photo: D. Cameron/MCT 51 hits. Making up those 51 as to whether this surgery had anything to hits, he had three home runs, Left: The Giant’s starting centerfielder Melky Cabrera hits it out of the park in an intense game. do with Colon’s positive steroid test. five triples, seven doubles and Right: Bartolo Colon throws a ball to a fellow A’s teammate.

Drug-testing labs check urine samples 17 runs batted in (RBI) and a to see if the ratio of testosterone to epit.429 batting average for the month. esterone is the normal one-to-one ratio found in most adult men. If they detect any abnorIt was the glaring contrast between Cabrera’s previous season average stats and Ca- malities the lab conducts an Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS). This test checks if brera’s stats while on the Giants that fueled the most controversy. Before donning the SF the testosterone came from outside the body. If the testosterone is indeed found to be fororange and grey, Cabrera averaged 139 hits, 67 runs, 43 extra-base hits, 10 home runs, eign, athletes can be suspended, fired, and even have previous titles revoked from them. and 60 RBI a season. On the Giants, Cabrera ended his portion of the 2012 season with So then why do athletes continue to use steroids? US Anti-Doping Agency CEO Travis 220 hits, 116 runs, 64-extra base hits, 15 home runs, and 83 RBI. However, most baseball Tygart wrote in an email to the Associated Press that the drive behind steroid usage is to fans still never would have guessed that the grinning Dominican Republic native holding “win at all costs in sport at every level. Athletes and their entourages will do whatever it the All-Star game crystal MVP bat over his head could have possibly stooped so low as takes if they think they have a chance to get away with it.”

Mirador

18 Sports 9/28/12

Two Way Street Athletic enthusiasts Georgia Briskey and Nicola Gonzales openly debate the potential of Bay Area baseball, the best of NFL’s quarterbacks, and how Dwight Howard will affect the Lakers tunity to end his college education early to play in the NFL, but decided to stay in school after talking to Manning and St. Louis quarterback Sam Bradford.

In addition, Luck’s teammates admire his diligence in practice as the whole team goes through the daily grind. It’s no question that Luck will have a more successful season than RGIII.

“twice the editor, none of the Y chromosomes” Which Bay Area baseball team will go further into the playoffs: A’s or Giants?

Georgia: Many think that simply because the San Francisco Giants now have N: Robert Griffin III will have a more such a commanding lead in the productive NFL career than Andrew National League West that they Luck.

In week one, he responded to will go far in the playoffs. This the critics by showing he could be just is not the case. The Oakland A’s as explosive in the NFL as he was in however, have earned every win college.

RGIII put on a show against in this 2011-2012 season with the perennially strong New Orleans grit, determination and guts.

Saints throwing for 322 yards and two The A’s have battled all the touchdowns. Although it does help that way from last place at the start RGIII plays on a better team, he is just to a team that is now competing an overall more explosive player that for first place. Yes, the Giants can help any offense and will prove have impeccable pitching and himself throughout his career. While good hitting, but look who rookie quarterbacks don’t usually prove they play in their division: the themselves, this isn’t true about RGIII. Colorado Rockies (possibly the Photo: C. Lee/MCT worst team in all of baseball), Robert Griffin III leaps into the endzone for a touchdown while the Rams trail helplessly behind. He can make plays with his feet as well as with his arm, which won’t change the San Diego Padres, which throughout the season. RGIII will, and has one of the worst records in has already turned the Redskins into contenders, and will Who will have a better NFL season: Andrew Luck or the majors and, of course, the no hitting and one-goodhave a better career than Andrew Luck.

Robert Griffin III? pitcher Los Angeles Dodgers. Have fun now Giants, but we all know who is going to be winning the World Series.

G: Is it pure “luck” that Andrew Luck was selected first Thoughts on Dwight Howard on the Lakers? overall in the 2012 NFL draft for the Indianapolis Colts?

Nicola: The Giants will go deeper into the playoffs Georgicola Gonziskey: We think that Dwight Howard The answer is no: According to Sports Illustrated’s Tory and will rely heavily on their pitching staff. The most on the Lakers proves to be another great move by the Laker Pauline, he’s “the most NFL-ready of all the draft-eligible important player will definitely be Tim Lincecum, and front office.

Dwight is now paired with Kobe Bryant, Paul quarterback prospects” and the best prospect since Peyton assuming he returns to his youthful form, the Giants will Gasol, and Steve Nash, and that’s a little bit better of a Manning. go far into the playoffs. Although they’ll rely heavily on supporting cast than Jameer Nelson and Ryan Anderson.

Despite having three of his passes intercepted in his first pitching, this season will be like the 2010 playoff run On the Lakers, Howard will be relied on less offensively game against the Chicago Bears, Luck still has the most because the Giants’ offense is much improved this season. than he was with the Magic.

However, Howard adds a potential for a successful season.

During his college career A healthy Buster Posey, Pablo Sandoval, Angel Pagan, and defensive presence that the Lakers haven’t had since at Stanford, Luck had the most touchdown passes and Hunter Pence need to play well to have a chance at the Shaquille O’Neal.

Howard also gives the Lakers another the highest winning percentage by a starting quarterback.

World Series. The Giants bullpen is very important in the offensive weapon with his freak-of-nature athleticism During his 2011 season, he made First Team All Pac-12 post season when just one or two runs decide most games. and his polished skill-set.

He has shown what he can do and was awarded the Pac-12 Player of the Year.

He may Also, one can’t forget about Melky Cabrera, who defensively, and his production on that end of the floor have been runner-up for the Heisman Trophy two years will be eligible to play if the Giants play more than five won’t falter either.

With Howard at the five in the Lakers’ in a row, but the fact that he was in contention is truly games into the playoffs. If the Giants stay healthy for the revamped starting line-up, they have arguably the best impressive. remainder of the regular season and the pitching staff can starters in the league.

They will definitely be a contender Luck’s potential can be seen in his high football IQ, be consistent, then the Giants will be prepared for another work ethic, and leadership. In 2011 Luck had the oppor- for a championship this year. playoff run like the 2010 season.

Miramonte Athletes Inflicted With Array of Injuries

by Natalie Vigo and Jesse Osterman The dedication and passion of high school athletes can lead them to risk their health for the good of the game.

The “giving it everything you’ve got” attitude, although beneficial to the team, can also cause a range of injuries, from minor to serious.

The most common injuries, according to trainer and sports medicine specialist John Grisby, are ankle sprains, knee injuries, and strained shoulders.

For him, the scariest are head and neck injuries and concussions. Overexertion is the leading cause for most sports related injuries.

Preventative tape jobs, proper nutrition and hydration, strength, and conditioning all contribute to injury prevention.

“For water polo, a lot of our major exercises are with therabands,” senior Charlie Wiser said. “We warm up with them, and I use them before I go to bed or else I’ll get sore.”

“You need to stretch a lot,” senior George McConnell said. “It sucks but it works.”

Even though precautionary measures are taken every day, the risk of serious injury is still present. Fractures, sprains, cuts, and bruises happen without warning, and are difficult to prevent.

When Logan Boersma ‘14 was a freshman, he broke multiple parts of his leg during a one-on-one drill at football practice. Boersma was unaware his leg was caught behind a piece of equipment as his partner tackled him to the ground. On the way down, both players heard a snap and immediately knew something was wrong.

“I was speechless and just started crawling backwards.

Everyone thought it was nothing, but we knew it wasn’t just nothing,” Boersma said.

An ambulance rushed Boersma to the hospital, where doctors immediately took x-rays and discovered he had broken his leg. During surgery the following day, they found his ankle was broken as well. One plate, 15 screws, three four-inch pins, and three surgeries later, Boersma finally recovered after about a year.

Football is one of the most dangerous high school sports. Therefore, it is required for Grisby and team physician Melvin Huie to be on the field during all home games.

Other sports don’t need to have sports medicine specialists on the field, however Grisby believes all sports deserve medical attention and assistance.

“We normally expect a couple injuries a night,” Grisby said. “And if a team is losing, there are normally more.”

One of the other common injuries he sees are ACL tears. Plenty of students most likely know someone who has hurt their ACL.

One notable story was Elliot Alper ‘14, who tore both of his overly flexible ACLs. His first tear happened during a pile up at a football game. Alper was taken to the hospital, had an inconclusive MRI, then immediately went into surgery. Doctors discovered he tore both his ACL and meniscus. After he recovered, he picked up lacrosse, being sure to wear his brace. But this time, his foot got caught in a defensive stance and he tore his other ACL. Matt Cobley ‘13 suffered a different kind of ACL injury. He had an incorrect jumping technique in basketball and over time it slowly tore. After the seven-month recovery of his first surgery, doctors realized it wasn’t healing right. There was little blood flow to the replaced ACL, which meant Cobley had to endure yet another surgery and healing time period.

“It made me depressed, like really depressed,” Cobley said. “I just couldn’t do anything about it.”

Other injured athletes include McConnell during his sophomore year of JV football. McConnell dislocated and tore his left labrum, a part of the shoulder joint. As he was trying to tackle, he cut left and held out his arm while another opponent hit it. It went undiagnosed for a year and McConnell kept dislocating it during other sporting events. After surgery and seven-month recovery, McConnell is currently back playing baseball although there is permanent scar tissue.

Mirador

9/28/12 Sports 19

Olympians Represent East Bay at London Games

by Arianna Tong

The East Bay has a notoriously high concentration of Olympic athletes, especially in the pool. Mirador sat down with a few who competed this summer in London and found out what it’s like to be a super-athlete.

PETER VARELLAS Varellas attended Campolindo High School and went on to play water polo for Stanford University. Towering at 6’ 3”, Varellas has a keen sense of humor and is a beast in the pool.

However, he isn’t just all guts and glory. Mirador recently had the privilege of getting to know Varellas on a more personal level.

How did Beijing and London differ?

London and Beijing were both very different experiences. This year, we didn’t do as well as we had hoped, so it changes the whole experience, unfortunately. I wish it wasn’t that way, but it’s hard to separate the results from your general experience.

Did you have any goals going into the games?

Individual goals are superseded by our team goals, and our team goal this year was to go for the gold medal. The story was silver in 2008, and the group stayed together to give it one more shot and finish the job. That was the attitude we came in with. I don’t know if that was the right mentality to have, as we tend to play better as the underdogs.

It was going to be a tough tournament this year.

There were eight teams that could win gold, which is a lot in a 12-team tournament. Now as for individual goals, I try to think a lot about defense, and focus on that, because I know offense will come, and that’s my biggest contribution to the team.

How did it feel to bring the silver medal home in 2008?

It was great. To put a number up on the medal count for us was cool. The US hadn’t won a medal in water polo for 20 years. Having the medal isn’t just a medal to me. It’s nice to have a symbol that represents what we did for our nation, and a lot of sacrifices made.

Do you hope to redeem yourselves in Rio 2016?

Unfortunately, this group will not. The core of Photo: P. Varellas How does it feel to be a hero to young athletes? the team is disbanding for the most part. This year, Varellas launches out of the water as he prepares to shoot during It feels good on different levels. It’s good to training. we had an older team, and a lot of those older guys spread interest in the sport, and to see anyone exare retiring. As a team, we really won’t have anDo you have any pregame rituals? cited about it is great. This year they had a lot of naother chance, which is why it’s kind of hard to end For the whole team, it’s more about eating and how it the way it did. It feels like I’m a college or high school tionwide coverage for water polo, which is great, because now a lot of people have some idea of what the game is. much sleep we get. For my own routine I like to get up, athlete that didn’t send off their seniors the right way. And As far as locally, I talk to kids at various times, and inspire and if we have a night game, I like to loosen up in the I wish it would’ve been a better finishing touch for them. them. I think it’s important to have someone to look up to. morning. I tend to eat four hours before the game and have But at the same time, we all remember what we did in People don’t get to meet players that often, so I try to be a nap. I love to nap! Then I get up and take a shower, I 2008. That was a pretty awesome run and a pretty special a little bit present with some people. It’s a valuable part know it’s kind of weird, but it wakes me up. Afterwards, result for us. of every young player’s development, so I’m happy to fill we go on to warm up, which is really the main ritual, and everyone kind of just does their own thing. Some of the that role.

At the same time, for me, being humble is extremely guys are superstitious. There’s no organized set of rules, important. I realize that I’m a product of a lot of people and we know what works best for us. putting time and effort into my development, and that of the Olympic team, I like to think about it as the team Are you superstitious?

I have a few things, like where I stand when we’re behind the team. My parents were obviously my whole development, along with tons of coaches, teachers, men- meeting people or lining up for introductions, when I take tors, friends. People took us into their homes, as starving water and electrolyte tablets, handshakes versus fist bumps athletes! The 13 of us are the face, but there are a ton of and high fives. We all have different little weird combinaScan this QR code to read more about people standing behind us. It’s definitely good to come tions. When things are going well, you try to stick with it, the Olympic journey in the Sports secback and reconnect with some of those people, and hope- and keep everything constant, which is probably stupid.

But hey, it works. tion. fully build that team a little further.

MAGGIE STEFFENS

NATALIE COUGHLIN

Crowned MVP of the 2012 London Olympic games for water polo , Steffens atended Monte Vista High School and played for Diablo Water Polo, coached by 2000 Sydney Games Olympian Maureen O’Toole. At the age of 19, Steffens led all scorers in the London games with 21 goals and helped the United States to women’s water polo Olympic victory.

Currently a resident of Lafayette, 11-time Olympic medalist Coughlin once lived in Walnut Creek, before attending UC Berkeley and qualifying for the 2004, 2008, and 2012 USA Olympic Swim Team.

Going into the Olympics, what was your main focus?

The main thing for me personally was reminding myself that this is just a game, it’s just another tournament. As a team, we wanted to make sure the most important thing was sticking together and staying true to ourselves and how Team USA plays. We’ve been preparing as a team for a year and a half full time, but this is something I’ve been preparing for my whole life. It’s a mental and physical preparation.

Do you have a pregame ritual?

We always make coffee before our games in our room and have a music/coffee party.

Other than that, just the normal stretch/activation and a little dance session in the locker room to get us really ready.

Did the women’s water polo team have any expectations going into the Olympics?

We expected to not expect. You have to prepare for anything and never let your mind get ahead. But of course we expected that we would give the best effort and have the best attitude.

What’s the most interesting aspect of the Olympics?

The people and just how everyone has their story. Everyone, no matter what country or sport, has an interesting story or past.

How did you prepare, both mentally and physically, for the Olympics?

Not unlike any other competition. I train five to six hours a day, six days a week.

Do you have a pre-race ritual/ meal/song?

I used to like fried eggs and rice with soy sauce when I was a kid. That meal isn’t too easy to get when you’re in a foreign country, though.

Who did you want to meet at Coughlin dives in during the semi-final of the the Olympics?

4x100 free relay at the 2012 London Olypmic I’ve been able to meet a lot games. of great Olympians in the past.

Keri Walsh and Misty May are two of my favorite non-swimming Olympians.

Photo: N. Meyer/MCT

Photo: V.Bryant/ MCT

Steffens winds up to shoot during a semi-final versus Australia in London. The U.S. went on to win the game 11-9.

What would you like to say to future water polo players?

Have fun, enjoy the moment. At the time, life can seem so difficult or you don’t want to go to practice, but it will pay off and it is worth it. The only way I got through the Olympics was by being myself and having fun, pretending like I was a 12 and under at the Junior Olympics again.

What’s the first thing you’ve done in the past when you won gold?

I can’t even remember. I like celebrating with a great meal.

Who do you thank most for your success, and why?

My coach, Teri McKeever. I’ve been working with her for over 12 years, which is more than half of my career. We’ve been through a lot together and it’s a wonderful partnership.

What’s your mindset before a race?

Excited, anxious, nervous… there are a lot of emotions swirling around before a race.

Mirador

20 Entertainment 9/28/12

Entertainment and Culture

Attention to all who don’t want to drop $800 on a new iPhone 5: YOU’RE IN LUCK! If you have an iPhone 4S, a new iPhone accessory company, Adopted, can snazz up your “old” iPhone. If you’re interested, ‘Like’ the iPhone status on Mirador’s Facebook page for your chance to win a case!

Photo: G. Reyes

The wise words left behind . a ham, a yak,.. t, ca a , n a pl )” “A man, a rge Boudreau eo G es m Ja ee (s 1 -David Beal ‘1

“Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? Literally translate d to: I love sandwiches?”

-Hank Kaplan ‘12 “(Continued from David Beal) a yam, a hat, a canal, Panama!”

-James George Boudreau ‘11

“Don’t get in the van.”

-Tyler Young ‘11

ter.”

“All porcupines float in wa -Marjohn Monemi ‘12

“Why was six afraid of seve n? It wasn’t.

Numbers are sentient and th us incapable of fear.”

-Sabrina Rezapour ‘12 r!” ly for one yea n o e r e h s a w I “ ‘12 -Connor chang

“The hot glue gun left a mark.”

-Melissa Chenok ‘11

“If you can’t beat them, join them... then steal their pens.”

-Erik Thompson ‘11

Sassy-Scopes:

by Cassidy Waters and Natalie Condon

Libra (9/23-10/22) Happy birthday gurl! This month’s all about you. Be prepared for an unexpected surprise from your BFFs. You may be taken to El Morocco in PH which features a live belly dancing performance so strut your stuff.

This month’s Mirador astrologists channel Sadie Saxton, Regina George, and Blair Waldorf to take a look into your future.

Aries (3/21-4/19) You’ve been rather upset about the lack of school spirit lately. Ask the cutest football player for his jersey and and represent your school under the Friday night lights. Go Mats!!

Scorpio (10/23-11/21) You’ve been up late pinning J-prom dresses six months in advance, the resulting lack of sleep combined with stress from school is dragging you down. Take a power nap to give you more energy to get your shop on.

Taurus (4/20-5/20) You and your friends have had nothing to do the past few weekends. It’s time to get out to Berkeley and check out some thrift stores. Maybe even indulge in some C.R.E.A.M. while you’re there. #CreamTeam

Sagittarius (11/22-12/21) Your crush hasn’t been noticing you lately. Do something to get his attention. If there’s still no connection, you’re clearly too good for him. Buy a new pair of boots to mend your broken heart, but keep up the flirty spirit. #bootzandboyz

Gemini (5/21-6/20) You can feel pressured to know everything about everyone. Even if you want to know all the deetz, relax, it’s not the end of the world to be out of the loop.

What goes around comes around. You’re welcome.

Aquarius (1/20-2/18) You’ve been so caught up with boys lately that you think your whole world revolves around them. However, that’s sew nawt true. Take a boy-fast and pamper yourself with a mani-pedi or hot stone massage.

Leo (7/23-8/22) You’ve been lacking in confidence lately. Take some artsy pics to post on instagram. All of the likes will be a major self esteem boost. Make sure to consider creativity cuz no one wants anymore selfiez.

Capricorn (12/22-1/19) Your schedule has been packed with tons of events lately. Even though it can be totes worth it, remember to give your family some time too. Take your dad to the mall to finance your latest shopping spree.

Cancer (6/21-7/22) Your obsession with country music has risen to the top. Be spontaneous and buy tickets to the latest concert. Break out the flannels and cowboy boots. You may even meet your very own cowboy there ;)

Pisces (2/19-3/20) Your life has seemed srzly boring lately. Spice things up a bit. Bust out your sassiest spandex skirt and wedges. Grab your girlfriendz and take a GNO to the city to hit up da teen clubs with virgin margaritas.

Virgo (8/23-9/22) You and your boyfriend have gotten close lately. You may think you two are soul m8s and will be 2getha foreva, but keep the PDA to a minimum. The two of you are still ah-dorable, others may not agree.

All Graphics: D. Mottier

Mirador

9/28/12 Entertainment 21

We’re Back, and You’re Welcome

by Julia Hass and Julia Govan

Dear Julias, I’ve always been a girl who goes for older guys. They hold the all-access pass to driving without parents, later curfews, and entry onto the senior lawn. Why would I ever pass that up? But now, I find myself at the top of the school as a senior, with no higher group to hunt. I’d say I’d like to pursue the boys, or men rather, at the nearby St. Mary’s College, but let’s be honest, a boyfriend isn’t worth having unless you can flaunt PDA in the hallways and use him as a human locker during school hours. Thus, I turn to younger boys. But how am I to detect a boy of worthy maturity? How can I distinguish the Kevin Jonas, sweet and sensitive, from the Joe Jonas, immature and self-centered? I’m a Vanessa in search of her Zac, a Demi in search of her Ashton. Aid me in my quest for eternal love (or at least one that lasts until graduation).

Sincerely, Cougar in Training

Dear Julias, Since a young age I’ve known with absolute certainty that I am going to be a rock star. Though I possess little to no musical or vocal talent, I don’t plan to let this stand in my way. However, I didn’t make it into the recent Orinda Idol competition, for reasons unbeknownst to me, and I’m wondering how I’m going to be discovered if people keep insisting on not letting me perform. Any ideas?

-Iwannabefamous

Dear Julias, Recently, my entire friend group has gotten boyfriends.

I’m not dying to have a boyfriend or anything, but I have been a little lonely lately with my friends always out with their boyfriends while I’m sitting at home. I’m hoping you have some tips on how to deal with my situation.

-Foreveralone :( Dear Foreveralone :(, Turn that frown upside down and buy a cat! And Crocs, a Snuggie, and a Pillow Pet. You will basically be alone your entire life and might as well just accept your predicament.

Only joking. Two words: third wheelin’.

Why sit at home when you can just add to the fun? Though some tend to shy away from awkwardness, we’ve always embraced it, and have always tried to convert others to our ways. Literally everything is more enjoyable. For example: Let’s say one of your friends reveals that she and her boyfriend are going out that night and she lets slip the name of the restaurant they’re going to. Meet them there. It’s as simple as that.

Erase any doubt from your mind that they might not want you there.

-Julias

Dear Cougar in Training, I’m sorry, did you just admit your dream Jonas is KEVIN?! Not to mention the fact that you used a Jonas reference, you completely bypassed the better options and landed yourself with the most annoying, least attractive, most effeminate of the three. And Vanessa and Zac? Dear Julias, Photo: A. Pietrykowski Demi and Ashton? When was this quesEveryone makes fun of me because I’m Julia Govan and Julia Hass contemplate the answers to your questions, along with tion written? We don’t want to break it the meaning of life. a ginger. Should I shave my head or dye my to you how these romances end, but we hair? suggest picking up some US Weekly’s -Ginger from the past four years or so. They’ll contain some shock- Dear Iwannabefamous, ing news.

While we can’t completely sympathize with your lack Dear Ginger, As for your quest, if you’re going to aim low, might of musical abilities (as we’re both incredibly naturally Hold on, let’s not be too hasty. Instead of shedding your as well go for freshmen. They’re kindly, simple folk who gifted), there are certainly ways to break into the music lovely lustrous locks, why not embrace them? While as of would gladly accept some lovin’ from a senior lady. There business without actual talent. Just ask Carly Rae Jepson late, “gingers” have come down with a bad rep, we think are some cons, we admit, to this stellar plan. You will be or the members of One Direction or Justin Bieber or actu- the time is ripe to turn the tables. Like scooters, disposable expected to drive them everywhere, getting an unfortunate ally any of the American Idol winners. cameras, high waisted shorts, beaded hair, but NOT GAUpeek at motherhood. On the upside, you will most likely Back to your question, autotune is the name of the CHOS, it’s never too late to make a comeback! Fro it, gel be the one wearing the pants in the relationship. game. it, mohawk it, dread it, make the ginger community proud!

-Julias -Julias -Julias

Fears and Phobias Haunt Students

by Karmi Chan

It’s pretty common to be afraid of spiders and heights, but here at Miramonte, students have some very peculiar fears and phobias. Take a look at some of the most unusual fears on campus. (Warning: This is not an invitation to terrorize your fellow classmates with said fears.)

Lockers

“Who knows what could be hiding in there?!”

-freshman Scott Wu

Treadmills

“I’m afraid my death will be by way of treadmill.” - sophomore Anne Marie Hoskins

Feet

“They make me uncomfortable. They’re totally unneccessary.” - senior Kiley Fillinger

dout/MCT

Photo: Han

Cottonballs

“They make my skin tingle. I hate the way they feel.” - senior Taylor Nielson Photo: K. Chan

Ph

ot

Ducks

“They’re always watching me.” - junior Cali Fehrnstrom

o:

J.

Le

on

ar

d/

Photo: M. Schneider/MCT

Doritos/Cheese Puffs “The cheese dust is literally my worst nightmare.” - senior Tyler Hanson

M

CT

Ice Covering Popsicles Photo: T. Wallace/MCT

“I cringe and curl up into a ball.” - junior Amrita Newton

Photo: K. Chan

Mirador

22 Entertainment 9/28/12

Sane Students Offer Helpful Advice

by Alison Pietrykowski

With the school year now in full swing, homework, sports and various after school activities have started to fill up Miramonte students’ free time. With so much to do and so little time, stress and anxiety often take over our frazzled minds. After talking to a few of Miramonte’s finest, here are the most effective ways to tackle stress and do your best.

Julia Duncan ‘14 “When I get stressed I cuddle with my cats and tweet pictures of them.”

Do’s

Exercise - Be it two hours of an intense Miramonte sports practice or a quick 15 minute walk with your beloved dog, getting your blood pumping is a great way to clear your mind and refocus your thoughts.

Make a schedule - Make a to-do list of everything you need to do for the rest of the day. Put specific times next to each task, and include silly little tasks like eating a grape so you can feel the great satisfaction of checking something off.

Photo: J. Duncan

Connor Holton ‘13 “When I’m stessed I listen to music, if I’m really stressed I’ll listen to angry music. I prefer to take my mind off of it by playing video games or watching hockey.”

Change your perspective - Realize that even if you fail every single test you take this year, your parents and friends will still love you and think you’re awesome (maybe not smart, but nevertheless, awesome).

Take a quick break - Watch a two-five minute clip from your favorite TV show (Friends “The One with the Pediatrician” is strongly suggested if you want a good laugh).

Dont’s Photo: A. Pietrykowski

Brielle Graumlich ‘13 “I Skype or call someone I’m close with and they always make me feel better. Then I usually get some cookies.”

Photo: A. Pietrykowski

Go on Facebook - Checking Facebook might be conceived as a five minute activity, but before you know it three hours will have passed and your will to finish your homework will have diminished.

Procrastinate - Do I really need to explain this? Just don’t do it guys, it’s no fun to be up until 1 a.m. :( Use your smart phone - Twitter, Snapchat, Texting... They’re all distractions and will just make your homework take twice as long.

Mirador

9/28/12 Entertainment 23

Then and Now: Your Favorite Child Stars

by Maddie Nicolaisen and Katie Hoskins

Photo: Nickelodeon

Amanda Bynes from “The Amanda Bynes Show”: The “She’s the Man” and Nickelodeon sitcom star could be following in the footsteps of our dear Lindsey Lohan. Bynes hasn’t acted in two years and this year alone has been in four car related incidents-one DUI arrest, one investigation for a hit and run and two collisions. She has stated that she has retired.

Photo: D. Werkheiser

Photo: J. Spears

Devon Werkheiser from “Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide”: His survival guide writing days are long gone and since the show ended in 2007, the star has been trying to establish himself as a singer/songwriter. However, Werkheiser still manages to pay homage to his middle school days by sporting a Bieber-like haircut not unlike the cut of his youth.

Jamie Lynn Spears from “Zoey 101”: Looks like this one has partied a little too hard at PCA (AKA Pepperdine for those whose minds haven’t yet been blown). She announced in 2007 that she was pregnant, ended her show, got married, then in 2009 called off her wedding. Career-wise she has been off the map.

Photo: H. Duff

Hilary Duff from “Lizzie Mcguire”: The girl who coined the term “Disney Star” released an album called “Dignity” in 2007, launched a few clothing lines and perfumes, wrote young adult novels, and contributed to humanitarian causes. She married Mike Comrie, a former hockey player and has one child. She’s doing pretty well for herself we must say. She’s one of the only Disney stars that hasn’t gone off the deep-end.

Photo: Handout/MCT

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen : Time finally ran out on these girls’ New York minute. They have become prominent style icons, meaning they wear really weird clothes and then get a ton of praise for it. Neither has done any acting in the recent years. However, their super-hot younger sister, Elizabeth Olsen, has entered the movie industry with a horror movie called “Silent House.”

Photo: Nickelodeon

Drake Bell and Josh Peck from “Drake and Josh”: Bell recently announced that he is working on a new album. Other than that… not much. Peck has quite nicely lost the chubbiness and is making his mark in Hollywood, voicing the character Eddie in “Ice Age: Continental Drift,” and appearing in the remake of “Red Dawn.” Who’s gonna pick you guys up now that you’re down?

Words to Help You Understand Grandma

by Maddie Nicolaisen

Need a translator? Unfortunately, there is no Google Translate for geezers, but Mirador has a few suggestions. Here are some words you can use not only to understand your grandparents, but to emulate their sage wisdom. All our grandparents have regaled us with stories of words from the “good ‘ole days” at one time or another. These words can be thrown into casual conversation if you want to sound swell!

Drugstore Cowboy:

Ducky:

Cash or Check?:

Very good

Do you kiss now or later?

a guy that hangs around on a street

Egg:

a person who lives the big life

corner trying to pick up girls

Cat’s Meow:

Don’t take any wooden nickels:

something splendid or stylish

Necking::

caressing lovingly

Don’t do anything stupid

Breezer:

convertible car Graphics: C. Burke and D. Mottier

24 Backpage 09/28/12

Mirador

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Junior Maddie O’Shea took a mission trip to Joplin, Missouri to work on houses destroyed in a tornado.“Joplin was easily the hottest place I have ever been. I honestly didn’t know I had the ability to sweat so much. However, the work we did and the sense of accomplishment that followed was worth any amount of foul humidity.”