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VOL. 1, NO. 4

DECEMBER 16, 2021

THE YELLOW PAGES BASIS Independent Fremont Journalism Club

HOW KFC BECAME A CHRISTMAS TRADITION

BEHIND THE SCENES: THE NUTCRACKER

By Amber Wong & Ariana Yi

By Bella Alcaine

Christmas is a holiday of cheer and fun, however, some countries may deviate from the iconic, hallmark Christmas, a

Rapid urbanization rippled across the world, and this time period of globalization established the US as a powerhouse. Western

testament to the diversity of the holiday. Traditional Christmas

culture became more prevalent, causing a mass introduction of

dinner commonly features turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes,

Western franchises to enter the fast-food sector in Japan. This

gravy, cranberry sauce, and vegetables. For dessert, pie, pudding, and cake are common

allowed Okawara to more easily advertise KFC in the Japanese market. Okawara promoted fried

choices. However, Japan took the

chicken as an apt substitute for a

Christmas feast to the next level with thousands of people ordering KFC weeks ahead. The fast food

Christmas turkey, advertising fried chicken “Party Barrels”, and decorating the jovial Colonel

chain is newly offering foods

Sanders as Santa. Soon, Okawara’s

such as cole slaw, shrimp gratin, promotions reached the ears of the triple-berry tiramisu cake, and, of national broadcaster NHK. When course, fried chicken. According asked if eating KFC was a common to figures released by the

tradition overseas, Okawara agreed.

American fast-food chain, KFC Japan pulled in 6.9 billion yen (roughly US$63 million) from

Though he admitted on “Household Name” that he was regretful about lying about Western traditions, it

December 20 to 25 in 2018, with lines out the door starting on December 23 and an estimated 3.6 millions Japanese families eating KFC during the Christmas season.

simply was an opportunity he could not turn down. After his promotion of KFC on national broadcast, in 1975, KFC began taking the marketing plan national, calling it

But what made this tradition so “Kurisumasu ni wa Kentakkii”, or common, and how did it originate? translated into English: “Kentucky It all started with Takeshi Okawara, a manager in the first KFC in Japan. According to

for Christmas”. The rest is history, and KFC was established as a holiday tradition. Despite the lie

Okawara, he visited a KFC teststore in 1970, and was smitten by the success of Colonel Sanders.

that originated “KFC for Christmas”, it ultimately established a lasting custom and saved a

Shortly thereafter, he was offered a position at the fast food chain.

corporation from likely disaster.

Okawara opened his own KFC in Nagoya in 1970, but the store did not do as well as he hoped and left Okawara destitute. However, Okawara understood what he needed to do to boost KFC Japan to a soaring success.

INTRODUCTION The Nutcracker is a famous two-act ballet based on the novel “The Nutcracker and the King of Mice”, written by E.T.A. Hoffman. This year, for the 56th time, San Jose Dance Theater is hosting its very own performance. It was my privilege to interview Minna Ko, who has been participating in this performance as either a cast or backstage crew member in previous years, for a look behind the scenes of this festive tradition.

WHEN DOES PREPARATION START? Preparation for The Nutcracker first begins around September 1st, and rehearsals are held on September 12th. Between the two casts (one cast for the first act and another for the second act), there are over 100 dancers. There are also over 35 other members that go into the making of this production and at least 15 additional backstage crew members. The backstage crew is in charge of helping with props, costumes, hair, makeup, and many other things. It takes about 3 weeks to prepare the costumes. On the days of the shows, cast members have to arrive at 9 a.m., even though the shows start in the afternoon. Like any other performance, there is so much excitement and chaos behind the scenes that you can practically feel it in the air.

CANDY LAND Candy Land is a VIP meet and greet with the cast members. It is a festive opportunity to enjoy wonderful food and drinks as well as getting to meet and talk to the cast members. Make sure to buy your tickets for the show before it’s too late! Check out the website: sjdt.org. Also, shoutout to Minna Ko for being our inside source! :)

VOL. 1, NO. 4

TEACHER INTERVIEWS

Interviewer: Thank you, Dr. Dixit, for being gracious enough to answer our questions.

By Kylah Kao For this issue, we had a wonderful opportunity to interview Dr. Dixit. Dr. Dixit is a Physics teacher who teaches at BASIS Independent Fremont Upper School. Interviewer: What do you enjoy about teaching at BASIS? Dr. Dixit: I enjoy the curriculum, which might be hard, but the joy is making it simple enough for students to understand. I also enjoy that I can do a lot of labs and demos in class. Interviewer: How do you stay organized? Dr. Dixit: I tend to think through my to-do list when I am catching a cup of tea or when I wake up first thing in the morning. I have binders for each grade that I teach and folders on my computer to keep track of assignments, study guides and teaching content. Interviewer: How did you become a teacher at BASIS? Dr. Dixit: I applied for the job, and I got the job. Interviewer: What do you plan to do over winter break? Dr. Dixit: Work on my AP (Advanced Placement) curriculum, finish grading, spend time with my family, bake, and go for a short vacation. Interviewer: Do you have any pets? Dr. Dixit: No. Interviewer: When did you get interested in physics? Dr. Dixit: Grade 8, because of the best Physics teacher I could have asked for. Interviewer: What is your best advice for students? Dr. Dixit: Try to be the best at what interests you, but also make the most of learning opportunities that come your way.

STUDENT INTERVIEWS By Vera Lin Student & Grade: Christopher Chen, 10th Interviewer & Grade: Vera Lin, 9th Date: 11/05/21 Interviewer: Hi, Christopher, how has school been treating you? Christopher: School has been pretty stressful recently considering that the 1st trimester is coming to a close. The workload in 10th grade is definitely greater than in previous years, but it’s still manageable. The frequency of tests and quizzes has definitely ramped up, and allocating enough time to each subject is quite the challenge. Interviewer: Wow, just touching on sophomore year makes me nervous already. What celebrity would be the most exciting to meet in real life? Christopher: I would like to meet Bill Gates because he’s a smart guy, and I want some of his intelligence and knowledge to diffuse over into my brain. Interviewer: Where do you see yourself in ten years? Christopher: In ten years, I see myself hopefully graduated from college, making a living wage, yet still having the time to work on some personal interests, hobbies, and projects. Interviewer: That sounds like a great balance of time. Speaking of time, what do you do in your spare time? Christopher: In my spare time, I like to play with my golden retriever, Mocha, listen to music, and play squash. Interviewer: Fun activities! Tell me about an accomplishment you

are proudest of. Christopher: Being Louis’s friend. Interviewer: Bonus question — would you rather have a pause button or rewind button in your life?

many of their components. Koehler also shared some of his key takeaways from school. He emphasizes the importance of treating English as a first language in high school, since it is crucial to have the ability

Christopher: I would probably rather have a pause button

to speak and write eloquently. Furthermore, he states that

because it allows you to still live in the moment. Having a rewind button would provide too much flexibility for me, and I wouldn’t trust myself with that much power. The pause button would allow me to take a breather

developing leadership skills and work experience is a key factor of an individual’s success and taking on part-time jobs or internships is a great way of expanding your knowledge

when I need it but still allow me to proceed with life in chronological order.

IN RETROSPECT: CAREER FAIR By Louis Lu Have you ever thought about what profession you want to take on in the future? What field do you want to pursue? Career fairs are events that provide students with opportunities to learn about different fields of study and meet potential employers. Recently, I attended BASIS Independent Silicon Valley Key Club’s career fair and listened to the career experiences of ten talented individuals. Out of the ten speakers, two stood out the most. The first speaker who caught my attention is Chip Koehler, a Materials/Aerospace Engineering major. Koehler’s career began with an internship at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, where he focused on the research and development of first generation lithium batteries. After completing his internship, he helped develop the Ni-H2 battery, used to power the INTELSAT V satellites in space. He then pivoted his research to lithium ion batteries for outer space applications. The International Space Station is transitioning to lithium ion batteries to power

base. The second speaker who stood out from the rest is Ananya Pachal, a junior at Boston University as a Journalism Major and Criminal Justice Minor. What’s so special about this speaker is that Pachal herself studied at BISV! She even started BISV’s own newsletter, The Quill! She is currently an editor for The Daily Free Press, an independent student newspaper at Boston University. Pachal described her daily routine as an editor for The Daily Free Press, which consists of attending editorial meetings, writing, and editing. She thinks of journalism as a collaborative job where everybody is willing to help others. Once an article is finished, editors must complete rigorous fact-checking procedures. Pachal said that she set herself up for this path in high school because she already knew that she wanted to become a journalist. Overall, the BISV Key Club’s career fair was eyeopening and informative. It gave me and many others greater insight into the steps I should take to maximize my future success.

VOL. 1, NO. 4

KWANZAA

BAIL BONDS & HOW THEY WORK

By Aarav Kumar Kwanzaa is an annual celebration of African culture that starts on December 26th and ends on January 1st. Kwanzaa was created here, in California, in 1966 by Maulena Karenga, an African-American professor and activist who sought to give blacks a chance to celebrate themselves and their history. He created the 7-day festival after a series of protests, known as the Watts riots, in order to strengthen the sense of community between African Americans. Kwanzaa is celebrated in many different ways including music and libations. On the sixth day of the celebration, a communal dinner is usually held, called the karamu. Each of the seven days of the celebration is dedicated to an unique principle:

1 UMOJA

To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race

unity

KUJICHAGULIA

UJIMA

UJAAMA

self-determination

and speak for ourselves

To build and maintain our community together and make our

collective work & responsibility brothers’ and sisters’ problems our problems and solve them together

cooperative economics

To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and profit from them together.

NIA

purpose

To make our collective vocation the building and development of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.

6 KUUMBA creativity

To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves,

IMANI faith

To always do as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it. To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle

Kwanzaa puts on full display what it means to be African in the fullest sense. Since its origination in Los Angeles, California, the tradition has spread outside the United States to many corners of the world and continues to pass down the many values of what it means to be African.

By Olivia Ma We often hear people say “the judge has set the bail at X dollars”, and “his/her bail’s been posted.” But what are bail bonds? And how do they work in California? Simply put, bail refers to funds/amounts paid by the defendant or a third party so they can avoid custody up until their trial. Bail is designed to ensure that the defendant/accused will show up to all future court meetings. It can be paid in cash or in the form of a bond secured from a bail bondsman. Bail is not posted on all criminal offenses, and it can be changed by a judge, depending on the information and severity of the offense. To determine the amount of the bail, a third party or a professional bail bondsman can review the bail schedule. At a defendant’s arraignment, the first court appearance after being arrested, the judge decides whether to maintain or change the bail previously set. However, the defense attorney can also request a hearing on the defendant’s bail 2 days after the arraignment to challenge the bail. The defendant can also be released on their own recognizance (OR). OR is used to release defendants when they have committed low misdemeanors, but they are still required to sign and show up at court appearances. Terms and conditions are typically written by the court, even if you are released OR. Some common conditions include house arrest, no driving under any amount of influence, and not allowing the defendant to leave the state. So how is bail handled after everything is set? Of course, the easiest way to post bail is to pay the full amount. Bail funds are returned to the defendant after all court proceedings, only if the defendant has met the conditions of the bail and has shown up to all court appearances. Paying the bail amount can also be done by having a certified or cashier’s check, money order, traveler’s checks etc. A court clerk will accept a range of payment forms, so the defense attorney typically clarifies the method of payment beforehand. Another method of posting bail is to post a cash bond. A cash bond is "cash held as a guarantee of payment”. When bailing someone out of jail, the most popular and typically easiest option is to post the full amount in cash. If someone posts a cash bond, the bond court holds the full amount paid by the defendant or third party to ensure that the defendant shows up to the court dates. Therefore, it is crucial for the defendant to arrive at court appearances. If they fail to, not only could the bail amount be increased, the defendant could also be charged with another felony. A common controversy surrounding bail is that many defendants simply cannot afford the bail, while rich and well-off defendants can easily pay it and get out of jail. This could curate an even more elitist society, which is one of American Capitalism’s many critiques. The rich essentially have a get-out-of-jail-free card and have the accommodations to show at court, allowing them to continue their lives outside. However, those lower in socioeconomic status cannot meet the bail amount as easily, and must pay much worse dues to escape jail than those who committed the same misdemeanors but are more wealthy. Therefore, many people ask, are bails needed, and are they really that good? But, for now, the American Justice System lives with bail as one of its core functions, and will continue to do so in the near future.

VOL. 1, NO. 4

SURVEYS & POLLS

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE PRE-COMPS?

By Vivian Sun & Ariana Yi

As the holiday season approaches, it’s time to get into the festive spirit. But of course, we must know all of your favorite holidays! Starting off with some entertainment to really get the spirit rolling, we asked you for your favorite movies. Now what’s a real movie experience without some snacks? After surveying some of your favorite holiday snacks, we learned that the true best way to watch a movie was alongside a plate of cookies! No surprise there. Cookies are definitely a favorite treat for this time of the year. We all know that time is flying by, and pre-comps are just around the corner, so we asked students how they felt about it. Most of us are definitely nervous, but just remember to not panic and study hard. Keep calm, and you will do great!

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE HOLIDAYS? 40

STUDENTS

0 CHRISTMAS

HALLOWEEN

NEW YEARS

DIWALI

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE HOLIDAY MOVIES? 25

STUDENTS

HOME ALONE

THE GRINCH

CHRISTMAS NIGHTMARE THE POLAR CHRNOICLES BEFORE EXPRESS CHRISTMAS

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE HOLIDAY TREATS? 15

STUDENTS

HANUKKAH THE JEWISH FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS By Sachit Parekh It is common to see menorahs, a seven-lamp lampstand, during the Americanised “holiday season” between November and January. This is one of the main features of Hanukkah (nowadays spelled in Hebrew as ‫ חֻנכה‬and traditionally pronounced like khanukah), an 8-day/night Jewish holiday that occurs during the months of November, December, and January, with the dates changing yearly. The holiday is dependent on the Hebrew/secular calendar, which is based on the phases of the moon. This year, Hanukkah took place from November 28 to December 6. Next year, it will take place from December 18-26. The first day of the holiday is the 25th day of the month of Kislev, the third month in the Jewish calendar. The holiday is comparatively less important traditionally, compared to other Jewish holidays, such as Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashonah. However, Hanukkah’s story does have some religious significance, as it marks the day when Jewish priest Mattathias and his sons rebelled against the Greek Seleucid emperor Antiochus IV and regained control over the Second Temple in Jerusalem. After reclaiming the temple on the 25th of Kislev in 168 BCE, the Maccabees (those who rebelled against the Greeks) immediately lit the holy lamp, the menorah, inside the temple, with only one night’s supply of holy oil, yet it burnt for eight days. Hanukkah is celebrated in many different ways across the globe. However, some universal traditions include lighting the menorah and an eight-night celebration. Recently, gift-giving and exchanging have been incorporated. There are countless amounts of different meals traditionally cooked during the holiday, and some include latkes and sufganiyot, which are both fried pastries. Here in the Bay, we usually celebrate with large, public menorah lightings, light celebrations, and food. Large-scale celebrations take place everywhere around the bay including Oakland, San Jose, Fremont, and San Francisco. One who participates in the festivities of the holiday will definitely enjoy their time, no matter where in the world, as Hanukkah traditions around the world are unique in their own ways.

STAFF:

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Teacher Advisors: Ms. Abdelaziz and Mr. Betcher Student Advisors: Julee Jiang and Olivia Ma Editors: Christopher Chen, Julee Jiang, Winston Gu, and Olivia Ma Club Members: Bella Alcaine, Katherine He, Kylah Kao, Aarav Kumar, Vera Lin, Ryan Liu, Louis Lu, Sachit Parekh, Vivian Sun, Caroline Wang, Amber Wang, Ariana Yi, Olivia Ma, Julee Jiang, Winston Gu, and Christopher Chen