Crimson Feb. 2011

Crimson

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Volume 70 / 02.9.11 / Issue 4

The Student Newsmagazine of Paso Robles High School

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Paso Robles, CA

801 Niblick Rd. Paso Robles, California

Polo players score in love

by Alicia Canales, Managing Editor, Nicolette Jolicoeur Culture Co-Editor, and Megan Rodrigues, News Co-Editor

Summer flings with that boy at the water park, or that girl in your Physics class usually don’t last more than a few weeks; however seniors Spencer Silva and Andria Posmoga have discovered it is possible to date for more than half a month in high school. The couple had their two year and 10 month anniversary on Jan. 12.

Posmoga first caught Silva’s eye during their freshman year in 2008 since they were both on the swim team.

Silva started talking to Posmoga and cleared up a misleading impression Posmoga had.

“I actually thought he was way different than what my impression of him was; but when I started talking to him, I just started liking him more. I thought he was somewhat of a bad boy, but then I found out he wasn’t,” Posmoga said, who thought Silva was a party boy.

Continued on Center pages 14-15

In-Depth 7 >> Graffiti Culture 17 >> Passport Profile: Haku Tsogbat

Fun & Games 25>> Cutest couples

Contents

Crimson

Feb. 9, 2011

Volume 70, Issue 4

photo by Maddison Coons

On the cover: Seniors Andria Posmoga, 18, and Spencer Silva, 17, are the love birds featured on front page and this months center-spread.

world

05 Fairbank wins national science award

24 Move over Disneyland San Luis Obispo is the happiest city in America

Physics and Chemistry teacher Mark Fairbank receives the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics andScience Teaching in Washington news D.C.

09 In search of new ground Out of 417 seniors, Caty Wallace shares her her story about her life now and what’s ahead.

feature

22 Sugar and spice is not so nice A comparison of a daily intake of Gatorade v. water.

health

27 Do you know Isaiah?

Who knows an athlete best? Family, friends, or coaches?

sports

2

Crimson 02.09.11

Paso Robles High School

Photo by Monica Patel

www.crimsonnews.org

Roads redirected

News

Rose steps down from athletic director

ALL IN A DAYS WORK: Mark Rose completed paper work during his last days as Athletic Director after 16 years. As of Feb. 4, students will see Stroud sitting in the same office as the new director. Photo by C.J. Prusi

by Torey Wise, Sports Editor Former athletic director (AD) Mark Rose knows all and sees all. He oversees all sports, making sure games have officials and announcers, the wounded have trainers, the teachers have substitutes, fields have lines, score board controls have technicians, snack bar have snacks, and the list goes on.

“It is a pretty big, overwhelming job, but I love it,” Rose said, who’s been athletic director for 16 years.

Rose attended athletic events four days a week from 3 p.m. to around 8 p.m.

“I try to cover all the home events. Some [football, basketball, soccer, and baseball] require more time than others. Bigger crowds need to be supervised,” he said.

His love for the hectic job lasted 16 years. But that road came to an end in mid-December.

Rose entered his last days as athletic director the week before winter break, stepping down from his position which now. After interviews,

School wide CST: Level jumping required Spring time means test time at PRHS, and Bearcats will be asked to step up their scores this May. The high school is implementing a new “student achievement objective” this year, involving California State Testing (CST) scores. Out of the five CST levels —Advanced, Proficient, Basic, Below Basic, and Far Below Basic— students are expected to increase one level per year. Those currently at Basic are to raise one level in two years.

“I’m pretty sure the majority of the school won’t be Proficient or Advanced,” freshmen Brylee Loya said, believing the test “easy to mess up” on.

Yet being able to score Proficient varies between subjects and grade levels. A freshman in Algebra I would have to get at least 58 percent of 65 questions correct, while a junior testing for English would have to reach 69 percent of 75. That would allow 27 and 23 incorrect answers, respectively.

These new goals come from being under careful self and state surveillance. PRHS is in its second year of Program Improvement under the 2001 No Child Left Behind Act, which leaves the high school responsible for monitoring graduation rates and CST scores. Most recent results of the CST show that PRHS’s 775 Annual Progress Index score had increased by 28 points, the second highest improvement out of all the high schools in San Luis Obispo county.

“The idea that any child with a normal brain should be proficient when graduating is a noble goal. And it’s fine to expect improvement. There’s always room for that. But what if some students’ best is reaching basic?” said English teacher Sean Pierce said. “It’s just hard to fight a bell curve.”

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­— Sinéad Schouten, Feature Co-Editor

Under aged drinkers can call for a designated driver and not be prosecuted Assembly bill 1999 Jan. 1. The bill “any person under the age of 21 years shall be immune from criminal prosecution where the person establishes the following: The underage person called 911 and reported that either himself or herself or another person was in need of medical assistance due to alcohol consumption.” The underage person must be the first person to make the 911 report. The underage person who reported it also needs to remain on the scene until medical assistance has arrived and cooperate with these assistants. These under-aged people can also bring or drop off the other underage person to receive the medical assistance they need.

Three-fourths of 12th graders and more than two-thirds of 10th graders claim to drink; and 22 percent of 10th graders and 29 percent of 12th graders claim to drink excessively, according to a recent survey put on by montoringthefuture.org.

“I think [the law’s] necessary,” Psychology teacher and FNL and Peer advisor Jeanne Neely said. “I’ve heard countless stories of [teens] thinking their friends are overdosed…but they didn’t tell.”

With the risk of getting all of your friends or other attendees of the party in trouble, one might hesitate to call; Twin Cities Hospital health supervisor Julie Berger stated since this law passed “no one has called in.”

—Nicolette Jolicoeur, Culture Co-Editor

the position is handed off to head varsity baseball coach Derek Stroud.

“I’ve done this job for so long because I love it, but as I have gotten older, the job is stressful and takes up a lot of nights. I am tired. I am ready for a break,” Rose said.

Rose plans to be a full time teacher where ever administrators need him. He has experience teaching in science, physical education, and health. When Rose came to PRHS 19 years ago, he was a coach for football and track; he plans to go back to coaching also.

Stroud will be filling Rose’s open position and feels “excited and nervous” about the new job.

The process in electing a new AD involved a board of interviewers from PRHS, the community, and an AD from another high school.

They selected two finalists, and PRHS principal Randy Nelson conducted the final interviews.

“Stroud was picked because he went to the high school, played sports at PRHS, and beyond. He knows the community and he knows what it means to be a good player and coach,” Nelson said.

Stroud also announced this will be his last season coaching varsity baseball due to the amount of time athletic director will take up.

“I will definitely miss coaching. It’s something I love, but right now it’s time for me to do something else,” Stroud said.

The position for head coach of varsity baseball will be open, and there will be interviews and applications to fill the spot.

As far as Stroud’s new career, it is “completely new territory,” but Rose will help him with the transition in the next couple of weeks. Starting next trimester on Feb. 28, Stroud will teach only two periods, be in the AD office the rest of the day, and after school savor his last season of coaching baseball.

Seniors nail EAP exams

After a good night sleep, nutritious breakfast, and lots of academic training, over 400 juniors arrived at the April 2010 league championships of exams: the California Standards Test (CST). They scored higher in English and remained steady in the math department on their Early Assessment Program (EAP) tests.

The EAP measures junior college readiness statewide.

It handed excuse slips to 120 high score students who can skip basic English and math courses their freshman year of college. On average, 60 percent of college freshmen need corrective education in English and math. The extra courses add to the cost and time of the college experience, according to calstate.edu.

English EAP scores jumped from 15 percent of students scoring “college ready” to 31 percent, equivalent to the SLO County average and surpassing the state’s 21 percent.

Sixty-four more students took the EAP math portion in 2010 compared to 2009. The past three years of math scores have

If we focus on [teacher collaboration, finding new ways to learn and prepare the students], the test scores will take care of themselves.” remained steady at around 70 percent of students being at least provisionally ready for college.

Paso Robles teachers have been working together for years to get news like these.

“It’s called ‘vertical teaming;’ middle schools and high school are working together to improve writing,” AP junior English teacher Sean Pierce said. The Bernincrease happened due to better training hardt’s . . . egaP txeN starting at younger ages and students cancer getting more familiar with EAP prompts, battle according to Pierce. “[The EAP English essay] was really easy.

I’ve taken the honors/AP route my whole life, so I’m used to timed essays,” senior Vanessa Stevens said, who passed the EAP. Compared to other schools in the county, college bound PRHS students are tied with Atascadero High School’s students in the English department. Meanwhile Templeton High School and Arroyo Grande High School have slightly higher scores than PRHS and AHS. In the math department, PRHS’s pass rate of 70 percent exceeds THS’s 60 percent and AHS’s 68 percent pass rates.

AGHS stayed ahead with a 91 percent pass rate.

“This is an example of what can happen when teachers collaborate together, prepare the students, and find new ways to learn. If we focus —Randall Nelson on that, the test scores will take care of themselves,” Principal Randall Nelson said.

Current juniors will take the CST this May, from which the EAP scores will be extracted.

>>

—Maria Petiy, World Co-Editor

Photo by Aryn Fields

Check out stories on crimsonnews.org:

Teachers overwhelmed and behind on grades: Students are critical Teachers not uploading grades to Aeries on a consistent basis causes students to stress.

Crimson bell schedule poll: Students call for advisement period While slightly more students favor changing the trimester system due to difficulty adjusting to the changes, there still isn’t a clear and prevailing majority opinion over the issue. www.crimsonnews.org

Paso Robles High School

Crimson 02.09.11 |

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News

‘Cancer can give you your life back’ Spanish teacher doing well with chemo

by Laura Callahan, News Co-Editor

While PRHS students worried about first trimester finals last November, Spanish teacher Linda Bernhardt had a much heavier burden to bear than grading tests. She was diagnosed with cancer.

Including Bernhardt’s diagnosis, four PRHS teachers contend with cancer, like AP U.S. History and Government teacher Gregg Williams.

Bernhardt found a lump on her groin in May 2010; however she didn’t have a biopsy until six months later in September. The lump turned out to be stage four squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). This is the second most common cancer found in skin and mucus membranes with 700,000 new diagnoses a year, according to WebMD. Multiple lymph nodes are involved in her case, but no vital organs have been affected. SCC can occur anywhere in the body, but in Bernhardt’s case, the origin is unknown. Bernhardt is a part of the 4 percent of people who don’t know where their cancer formed.

The five month process of chemotherapy began Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2010.

Chemo treatments include GEMZAR, an “easy breezy” chemo drug that causes cells to divide, according to Bernhardt. The faster the cells divide, the better chance for the chemo to work. Cysplatin, another Athletic drug, delivered every 28 days, kills the cells in order to prevent the director SCC from spreading. retires If Bernhardt can maintain her chemo schedule, she will finish in May or June 2011. In this case, she will be expected to return to PRHS in fall 2011. In the meantime, she misses her students dearly.

“What I really miss is interacting with [the students] regarding their daily lives. It seems like I have a wonderful opportunity to know my students personally, and I miss hearing about the challenges they face and how strong they are when they face them. I am often asked for advice or support, and I miss their human contact with me. One might think I would miss their willingness to show up every day or their success in Spanish. But the truth is I just miss them as people,” Bernhardt said.

A big change for Bernhardt’s Spanish students is having substitute teacher Amy Boggs while Bernhardt is on leave during the second trimester. Bernhardt and Boggs have never met, but

FIGHTING THE BATTLE: Bernhardt and chemo nurse, Cheri, at Coastal Integrative Cancer Care for treatments in San Luis Obispo. Bernhardt enjoys a film on a portable DVD player. Photo used with permission of Linda Bernhardt

Bernhardt thanks the world that Boggs could fill in for her.

Bernhardt relies on the prayers and messages from friends and family through her Caring Bridge website in order to stay strong. Support from her husband and former PRHS science teacher Ken Ward and the “Soup Brigade” (coworkers led by algebra teacher Jackie Masucci that deliver homemade soups to her doorstep) remind Bernhardt she is loved and very lucky to have such people in her life.

“I am a survivor. I know that God has a plan for my life to prosper me and not harm me, and in the future this will appear as a bump in the road. I am grateful for this side-trip to my life and pray that I can benefit others in the future from my experience,” Bernhardt said.

The best advice Bernhardt shares from her experiences is to eat healthy, rest eight hours a day, exercise daily, and spend quality time with the people you love. She sees life from an all new perspective and vows to live every day to the fullest.

>>

Love blossoms on the big screen Valentine’s Day movie to be held at Park Cinemas

by Shanna Dowling, In-Depth Editor Buttery kernels of freshly prepared popcorn are not the only source of heat at Park Cinemas Theater this February; temperatures will escalate for love-birds and solo moviegoers alike who flock to the theater at 7 p.m. on Feb. 13 for a special Valentine’s Day viewing. From across the 40 foot screen, glowing footage of 1951 romance adventure “African Queen” will be commanding the attention of attending eyes and ears.

Following the success brought on by the February 2010 screening of the 1964 classic “Send Me No Flowers,” the Paso Robles Downtown Main Street Association and Park Cinemas Theater are celebrating the timeless holiday of love with their sixth annual “Valentine Movie Night” fundraiser in the heart of downtown Paso Robles.

“It’s a fundraiser because at Christmas time, most of our activities are free; proceeds from this event help to fund Santa Clause, lighting the downtown, and many other festive holiday [attractions],” Executive Director of the Main Street Association Norma Moye said. For $12,

“African Queen” Feb. 13 at 7 p.m.

4 02.09.11 Crimson

participants can share sugary sweets and salty snacks with the choice of champagne and truffles or popcorn and soda to accompany the classic Katharine Hepburn film.

Park Cinemas General Manager Jim Reed appreciates the endorsement the fundraiser lends to prospective town activities.

“Around 150 people turned out for it last year. It’s definitely a worthwhile fundraiser; the money stays local and it promotes town events,” Reed said.

Whether you’re new to the strike of cupid’s arrow or a Valentine veteran, you can walk away from this romantically themed evening with a handful of prizes furnished by the Association including restaurant certificates, stuffed toys, or other “funny gifts,” according to Moye.

“We have prizes for who’s been married the longest or who’s been single the longest...maybe whoever the youngest or oldest attendee is—we just have fun with it,” she said.

Tickets for this amorous event can be purchased at the Main Street Office located at 835 12th street.

Paso Robles High School

www.crimsonnews.org

News

SEAL OF APPORVAL: Mark Fairbank receives the PAEMST signed by President Barack Obama on Wednesday, Dec. 15 2010 in Washington D.C. Used with permission of Mark Fairbank

Fairbank wins national science teaching award AP Physics teacher Mark Fairbank receives the PAEMST

by Maddison Coons, Managing Editor,and Monica Patel, Editor-in-Chief

Every weekday AP Physics teacher Mark Fairbank arrives in room 302 at 5 a.m. Students walk in first period to see him grading tests and interactive notebooks, checking e-mails, planning each class, and most importantly, helping the 17 students that come in on average to receive help in physics or chemistry. Fairbank is no average teacher, but an awarding winning one.

On Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010, Fairbank had a different kind of morning 20 months after he was nominated for a prestigious award.

He woke up in the Willard Intercontinental Hotel to begin a four day event honoring recipients of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST).

As a PAEMST recipient, Fairbank received an award signed by President Barack Obama; a paid trip for him and his guest, wife Jane Fairbank, to Washington D.C. to attend recognition events; and $10,000 courtesy of the National Science Foundation. The trip included discussions with policy-makers on how to improve mathematics and science education, professional development programs, an awards ceremony, as well as celebratory receptions.

One hundred and three teachers were recognized: 49 in math and 54 in science across the 50 states, Puerto Rico, and U.S. territories. The award honors the most outstanding pre-college teachers across the nation, alternating each year from kindergarten-6 grade to 7-12 grade teachers. In 2010, 7-12 grade teachers were available for nomination.

Fairbank and El Camino High School math teacher Sean Nank from San Diego were among the recognized teachers, representing California at the annual four day event.

The PAEMST recipients stepped out on a snowy day in D.C. to meet President Obama in the theater of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on Wednesday, Dec. 15 2010. Awardees went through extensive security, and upon entering, Fairbank entertained himself www.crimsonnews.org

with the White House’s mail system in the 1800s as the secret service swept through the theater for 20 minutes. Obama arrived with a warm welcome and a few kind words to say to the awardees.

“Your dedication to educating and inspiring the next generation of leaders is a gift, not only to the students with whom you work every day, but also to our nation. In particular, I appreciate your focus on the students in their later years of school. As you know, these are the years in which many students—including young women, minorities, and members of the other groups underrepresented in the sciences—may lose their interest in technical fields. Your commitment to keeping their interest alive as they prepare for college and careers provides a vital springboard for future success,” Obama said to the 103 teachers.

“Thank you for your tireless and commendable efforts to lift up the students of today so they can better serve our nation and the world of tomorrow.”

He shook each person’s hand and looked directly into their eyes with a smile and a warm congratulation. Obama neared closer until finally he shook Fairbank’s hand.

“I would like to have a basketball game with you,” Fairbank said.

“Do you throw your elbows?” Obama asked.

“No,” Fairbank lied.

Going on to shake the rest of the recipients’ hands, Obama was on his way out the door with one final good bye afterward.

“He is very genuine and sincere. I was impressed with his ability to look into each of our eyes and with honor congratulate each one of us,” Fairbank said regarding Obama.

The person who gave Fairbank the opportunity to shake Obama’s hand was Superintendent Dr. Kathy McNamara, who nominated him for the award. In McNamara’s 33 years in education, having worked at several districts, Fairbank was the first teacher she had ever Paso Robles High School

Positivity is

... powerful egaP txeN

>>

nominated for this award.

“His first and foremost greatest quality is a genuine love of teaching and students. He genuinely cares about his kids. He extends himself to his students regardless of anything else,” McNamara said.

“The Presidential Award is an honor that surpasses any of my expectations. I have put my heart and soul into teaching young people, and it is rewarding to see their excitement and enlightenment. My interactions with the students have provided me with a lifetime of memories. It is a privilege to be amongst so many outstanding teachers and be honored for something that is my joy and passion. I am humbled to receive this award,” Fairbank said, according to recognition.paemst. org.

He was very honored and humbled when he arrived in D.C. and met teachers of high caliber. The $10,000 he received will go towards the PRHS science department for a computer and equipment and his wife’s school, Trinity Lutheran.

When Fairbank came into McNamara’s office, he expressed his gratitude by thanking all the people who have helped him: the teachers he works with, his parents, siblings, and all the students who he believes have taught him. “‘This is because everyone else has helped me be who I am and do what I do,’” McNamara recalled Fairbank telling her. “He is one of the diamonds in the high school’s treasure chest.”

It is 5 p.m., the end of a work day. The teacher with the classic rimless glasses and unmistakable smile begins to walk out the door of room 302, convincing his dedicated students to go home. Fairbank’s 12 hour work day is proof he teaches to teach and inspires his students and other teachers alike at PRHS. The PAEMST award is just a token of appreciation for the work and time he’s put into his teaching.

Crimson 02.09.11 |

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Editorial

Positivity is a powerful thing PRHS is in need of an attitude adjustment

BEARCAT PRIDE: Bearcat mascots get into a friendly dance off in the in the quad at lunch during spirit week.

They show students what spirit is all about!

by Kathryn Wingfield, Feature Co-Editor

Photo by Emily Cone

The noise level rose from a murmur to a deafening roar as the crowd was packed like sardines into Gil Asa Gym on Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010. Friday Night Live’s 20 members had been preparing two weeks prior and were finally ready to Fairbank present their outreach against alcohol receives Next Page ... abuse to the student body. But despite PAEMST microphones and adamant pleas, the boisterous crowd proved incorrigible.

The assembly was stopped by advisor Jeanne Neely, but the disappointment lingered.

“At first we were blaming ourselves.

It was so disappointing,” junior and FNL member Alejandro Mendoza said. “When even a few people are disrespectful, it ruins it for everyone else.”

However, some students took responsibility for their disrespect.

“As far as the assembly, I had over 20 students come and apologize either for themselves or for others,” Neely said. “People really did feel bad;

they had a conscience, and they tried to make on their current projects and goals. it better.” Neely also took matters into her own “Hopefully it will help to bring unity to campus hands, choosing to view the negative situation as the clubs have a chance to appreciate each as positively as possible. other, even just to Staff Vote: AGREE 27 be in the same room “You address a difficult thing, you let it go, and then you make your own life. I all at once,” senior wish the whole world was more optimistic Kyleigh DePetro in their thinking,” she said, referring to this said, who is Associated state of mind as “the Teflon effect.”

Student Body President Staff Vote: DISAGREE 0 Neely made the choice to be the change and leader of the future she wanted to see. It’s time for PRHS to Student Senate. “When you follow suit. Too many students think of the get to see other groups all in the school negatively. A positive change requires a same room, you start to respect them and have pride positive perspective. As Neely’s example proves, a in where we are as a school. You get to see things positive outlook can truly make waves in the way of from a completely new perspective.” improvement.

DePetro advocates unity throughout PRHS and Leadership students with the help of Psychology believes a positive attitude is the key to a welcoming teacher Geoff Land and dance teacher Jennifer environment.

Bedrosian, deserve credit for this positivity “We’re teenagers. We always think that where we project. are isn’t good enough. But we have to take on a more Leadership’s latest project completely embodies global perspective,” DePetro said. this concept. The creation of a student senate which It’s ironic that students who think so negatively will unite clubs around campus monthly is in the about “ghetto Paso” are the least active in bringing works, though specific dates are yet unknown. The change. Our school is not a lost cause. But sitting club will invite presidents of clubs from Anime to idly by and spitting derogatory words all over California Scholarship Fund to update each other campus does nothing for the school or its students.

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Monica Patel Editor-in-Chief Center Co-Editor

www.crimsonnews.org 801 Niblick Rd. Paso Robles, CA 93446

Paul Cleland

Austin Ehrhardt

Kelly Munns

Sinead Schouten

Madison Butz

Emily Cone

Forest Erwin

Maria Petiy

Sarah Wilson

Reporter

Opinion Co-Editor

Opinion Co-Editor

Business Team

Reporter Circulation Manager

PR Manager

World Co-Editor

Feature Co-Editor

A&E Co-Editor

Laura Callahan

Sheridan Cook

Daniel Hipp

C.J. Prusi

Kathryn Wingfield

Andrew Chang

Caitlyn Curran

Amanda Hutchinson

Lindsay Reed

Torey Wise

Dakota Cleland

Shanna Dowling

Nicolette Jolicoeur

Megan Rodrigues

Jenna Wookey

News Co-Editor

Sci-Tech Co-Editor

Sci-Tech Co-Editor

6

Fun and Games Editor

Business Team

In-Depth Editor

02.09.11 Crimson

Health Editor

World Co-Editor

Culture Co-Editor

Food Editor

Reporter

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Managing Editor Web Manager

Alicia Canales Maddison Coons Managing Editor Front Page Editor

Managing Editor Center Co-Editor

Advisor: Jeff Mount

Kimberly Boswell Photo Essay Editor

Ethan Baietti

If we truly desire change, why aren’t we bringing it?

“You can’t wait for it to happen to you,” Neely said. “You have to go out and try to get it going. You walk through one door and a million more open.”

It isn’t up to a random act of fate to magically make PRHS amazing. It’s up to us, the student body.

We who are most affected are most responsible, and we need to relish that fact with pride.

“Change comes not from students thinking, ‘I’m just one.’ It comes from thinking, ‘I’m one of many, but I have the power to make a positive difference,’” DePetro said. “It starts mentally with positive thinking. It’s the old cliché of being the change you want to see. It’s the truth.”

Here’s a challenge: make a change within your own mind. Don’t look at every flaw as a failure, but an opportunity. How much positive change could occur if PRHS took on this viewpoint? What projects could be completed, seeds planted, days brightened? It comes down to us, and it comes down to now. Let’s start the change with ourselves, and witness firsthand just how powerful positivity truly can be.

Feature Co-Editor

Sports Editor

Culture Co-Editor

Crimson is an independently funded, monthly publication of the journalism class at Paso Robles High School. We publish monthly newsmagazines free to students and teachers. Subscriptions are available for US mail delivery for $15.

Editorials reflect the majority opinion of the staff and do not necessarily reflect the views of Paso Robles High School, t its faculty, administration, or students.

Crimson is an open forum for the exchange of ideas. We welcome feedback in form of letters or e-mails. Letters must be signed but names can be withheld upon request. All stories, graphics, typesetting, and layouts are completed by Paso Robles High School students. The staff actively pursues advertisement accounts but reserves Contributions from the right to refuse those deemed overly Aryn Fields controversial or aimed at illegal behavior.

Crimson is designed using Adobe In-Design and Photoshop and prints with Atascadero News Co. PRHS • 801 Niblick Rd., Paso Robles, CA 93446 • prhsjournalism@pasoschools.org www.crimsonnews.org (805) 237-3315 ext. 5601

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Painting outside the

In-Depth

Canvas

Administration seeks taggers responsible for $500 damage

by Lindsay Reed, Reporter, Shanna Dowling, In-Depth Editor, Austin Ehrhardt, Business Team

Enveloped in layers upon layers of dull beige paint are the once colored walls of smoker’s alley, a prime tagging region for PRHS students. With a recent influx of graffiti in both the public alleyway and school bathrooms, administrators have been cracking down on the colorful vandalism.

Tagging up PRHS with consequences

Teachers returning from winter break were greeted by an email from Assistant Principal Ed Brown calling attention to recent tagging in the 100, 800, and 400 bathrooms, including the reoccurring and unknown a c -ronym WPV. T h e suspect, assumed to be male, has marked only the boys bathrooms with one exception: a tag in the girls bathroom reading “Show me your t***.” The consistent red marker, evoking the notable color of northern California’s Norteños, has led administration to suspect gang affiliation.

During the week of Jan. 18, security staff locked multiple bathrooms in attempt to route the taggers to a single monitored restroom. Students were required to sign their names before entering the bathroom. However, the sting was unsuccessful and tagging went on, leaving Brown to admit they have little lead.

“If [the taggers] stopped today, we’d never catch them,” Brown said.

Graffiti is a costly art form

While graffiti has a decidedly negative face due to gang affiliation, to many spray-paint wielding vandals, it’s a form of selfexpression.

“They’re artists. They don’t think of it as vandalism,” Brown said. “But the truth is their ‘art’ has cost the district over $500.

And the kid found responsible will be stuck

with the bill.”

Ethnic Studies teacher Stan Cooper agreed there’s a fine line between expressing one’s self and infringing on property rights for the purpose of gang activity.

“There’s been an outbreak of alpha-male gang crap; they’re marking territory. I find it kind of amusing that the places these people are claiming are toilets,” Cooper said.

Cooper, who has led a student field trip to view San Francisco’s murals for over a decade, has witnessed the arguably more pure art form of graffiti and the destruction tagging can bring to it firsthand.

“It would tick me off when bangers, or wannabe bangers, would come in with spray cans and paint over these wonderful, sassy, satirical works of art—totally disrespectful,” Cooper said.

Through an anonymous source, Crimson was able to speak with the tagger who refers to himself as Lite. Lite maintained he is unconcerned with security’s new measures.

“It’s wrong to assume tagging is automatically involved with gangs. It’s also a form of self-expression—a.k.a. art,” Lite said. “A bare wall is a blank canvas.”

Solutions

“If someone feels the strong need to say something, there is always a proper way to do this… [tagging] is just being selfish, inconsiderate and blatantly disrespectful,” art teacher Mary Legleiter said.

Taking graffiti to a new level, Legleiter has worked together with local businesses, such as Studio on the Park Art Gallery, located in downtown Paso Robles, and the Paso Robles Police Department (PRPD) to provide the “artists” with a non-destructible outlet. Close friends of Legleiter’s, Studio on the Park manager Sasha Irving and artist Henry Ramos approached her with the idea of starting a mural project with the willing “at risk students” in an effort to unite them with the city of Paso Robles through channeling their art in a positive and productive way.

“My role was to facilitate, coordinate, and get interested students involved,” Legleiter said, who is currently aiding the involved students in transitioning from gang related graffiti to artistic symbols as a positive way of expressing themselves.

The project is themed “Peace, Safety, and Community.” Students will use symbolic drawings instead of tagging characteristics to express themselves.

“The freedom of expression, like everything else, carries much responsibility in whom it affects and how it is executed,” Legleiter said.

However, with graffiti maintenance costs escalating to over $200,000 in 2010, the PRPD Graffiti Unit has dealt with the increase in vandalism in a more ag-

gressive manner.

“Every dollar we spend on graffiti is a dollar we could have spent on something positive,” detective John Taylor of PRPD said.

As a result, PRPD has a new system to catch defacers in the act. When vandalism is reported to the dispatcher, Public Works Depart arrives, photographs the scene, cleans up, and sends pictures to the PRPD Graffiti Unit database. The collected photographs are used to convict arrested vandals so they can literally “pay” for their actions. Arrested vandals spend jail, probation time, and must also pay restitution: the exact amount of money spent by the city and its citizens to clean up their acts.

“Four years ago we arrested a couple of guys who had done $65,000 worth of damage. They had to pay restitution, spend nine months in jail, and spend three years under probation,” Taylor said. “In re- London Bass egaP ther xeN gards to the vandalism done at [PRHS], the money ... shows spent cleaning it up could be better spent on teach- sass ers, teacher’s aid, and books.Instead, the students [tagging] your school are wasting your parent’s tax money.”

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History Graffiti tagging originally was a means of making a statement by political activists or claiming territories. Though PRHS is getting tagged now, graffiti existed in the Mexican American Cholo subculture in the barrios (neighborhoods) of southern California in the early 1930s.

“It’s been a survival instinct,” Ethnic Studies teacher Stan Cooper said. “During the depression, hobos communicated that a town was good for a meal or had an evil cop, using tags.”

During WWII, the infamous tag “Kilroy was here” made it all the way around the world and appeared on bombs with phrases like, “Kiss my a** Hitler!”

Although there has been a rise in the prevalence of graffiti, it is by no means a new occurrence, according to Cooper. “[Mount] Vesuvius goes off [in] 79 AD and buries Pompey in a mountain of ash, and they just found 30 years ago that there’s graffiti that has survived 2,000 years. Some of it is sexual, some of it is body, so to assume it’s never been around is crazy,” Cooper said.

Notorious for graffiti-marked streets and paint splashed subway systems, New York is a crucial piece in the graffiti movement.

It’s considered “one of the newest innovative mediums of art,” according to an anonymous tagger. In 1971, taggers across the country took to the subways to evolve their stylized street art.

—Forest Erwin, Circulation Manager Photo illustration by Shanna Dowling

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Paso Robles High School

Crimson 02.09.11 |

7

Feature

Creating a fashion

Craze Junior brings a taste of Hollywood to PRHS

by Shanna Dowling, In-Depth Editor “It’s funny, I used to come [to Paso] to visit my vacation home and I’d say ‘I’ll never live here!’ But things happen. Never say never,” junior London Renee Bass said.

The small-town atmosphere of Paso Robles were quite a change for Bass, who moved this year from the fast paced city life of Los Angeles, California. With only two school trimesters under her belt, Bass is already making waves across campus through her love of fashion and experience in the performing arts. Despite being new, she was quick to immerse herself in all PRHS has to offer—as well as what it didn’t. A self proclaimed “diva fashion freak,” Bass hoped to bring a taste of her L.A. life to Paso Robles and share her areas of interest with her peers.

Graffiti scandal Next Page ...

From “Dr. Phil” to “Dracula”

“Coming to Paso has made me realize another side of life I’m not used to. When I came here from L.A., it was extremely different from looking at cities and buildings to looking at mountains and cows all day. It’s very humbling here,” she said.

The short span of Bass’ life has been filled with “rewarding experiences” from traveling to Paris to working towards earning a pilot’s license to being a fashion stylist for Lina. Calling Hollywood home, she has been an active participant in show business since the age of three, landing her first Toyota commercial at age four as well as working alongside her parents in the world of professional acting, editing and producing.

“I work on sets with my parents; mostly television shows like ‘The Obama Effect,’ ‘The Eve Show,’ and ‘Dr. Phil.’ It’s really great to get to be around the energy there, that’s what I want to do with my life,” Bass said.

Her first affiliation with the PRHS drama program was her role as assistant director for November’s performances of “Dracula,” where instructor Marcy Goodnow quickly noticed Bass’ unique energy and approach to living.

“She’s very courageous. I’ve seen the quality of her work firsthand.

She’s been around a lot; we’ve done everything from designing costumes for ‘Dracula’ to wearing sequin headbands and dancing and singing around the classroom; she reminds me of an adult,” Goodnow said.

With her love of performing and desire to connect with as many people as possible on a deeper level, Bass has impressed many students with her enthusiasm and determination.

“London is the dictionary definition of ‘fierce.’ The first few months of school, she was brave enough to get up on stage in front of everyone and sing. And by October of [2010], she planned this year’s biggest club activity. She has so many great ideas,” friend and fellow junior Jason Moscato said, who fondly remembers a time when Bass convinced her class group to forgo cinnamon in their cookies to avoid interfering with Moscato’s allergy to the spice.

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Making waves with Raw Craze

8

02.09.11 Crimson

high school and also get kids who wouldn’t normally go out for drama or choir to come in and try it out and explore a new side to themselves,” Renfrow said, who has spent plenty of time with Bass due to their parallel interests.

When she’s not focusing on setting fashion trends for her peers and setting performance dates for the Glee club, Bass writes and records her own music and is an executive producer along with senior Sheridan Cook of a soon-to-be reality show, New Era, that she has cast herself after being exposed to the students’ theatrical work.

New Era documents senior Brandon Ellsworth, juniors Lindsay Reed, Jason Moscato, Shannon O’Brien, Trinity Smith, and Renfrow as they pursue their zeal for music, theater, and dance and overcome obstacles along the way.

“It’s about talented kids and how they make a name for themselves; sometimes you’ll see someone and all of a sudden they’re a star and you never really get to see their journey. I’m taking the cast down to L.A., and we’ll film it there in my home town where they can be exposed to the lifestyle and everything. It’s not anything like ‘Jersey Shore,’” Bass said, who plans to pitch the pilot to her television mentors in L.A. Fashion. Music. Stage work. Bass is bringing it all and earning the respect of her fellow classmates who can feel her passion for people.

“What she truly cares about is all the people she can reach out and touch through her art, which makes London a true, beautiful role model whom I’m proud to call my friend,” Renfrow said.

With her varied interests and fervor for all things fashion, Bass has been able to keep herself motivated to try new things and to leave a lasting impression everywhere she goes.

Looking towards a “New Era” “When I’m here incorporating things at school, I’m able to do everyBass is also channeling her experiences as a DJ and love of music to initiate a Glee club on campus branching from Raw Craze that intends thing I like,” Bass said. “The things I’ve been doing at PRHS motivate me to know if I did that much, why can’t I do anything else.” to meet on Fridays with junior Monty Renfrow.

“We hope to build a stronger base for all the arts programs at the Bass is the founder and leader of PRHS’s first established fashion club, Raw Craze, which expands members’ knowledge of style, fashion, and entertainment as well as getting students involved in lunch-time activities and contests. In October, Raw Craze hosted a costumefilled runway show on the outdoor stage which drew an unexpected response, breaking the school record for largest lunch-time activity. Senior Nicole Todaro won the club’s first makeover contest in January, receiving a “shopping spree with the Glam Squad (a group of stylists, photographers, and make-up artists),” a professional photo shoot, and a spot on the cover of Raw Craze’s online magazine, The Scene. (www. openzine.com/rawcraze) Bass hopes upcoming events will spread the word and increase membership of the club, which currently harbors 15 members at their Wednesday gatherings in room 503. Along with efforts to meet fundraising goals of $5,000 for club field trips to Los Angeles to visit real studio lots and the design college FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising), she and Raw Craze are already organizing events for the upcoming months.

“There’s going to be a premier fashion show [in Paso Robles] in March,” Bass said. “We’ll be recruiting people [from PRHS] to be models and walk in the show. There will be ‘swag’ bags which include lots of free things, VIP seating, a red carpet—the whole Hollywood feel!”

General admission for the show will be $4 with VIP tickets, which include a VIP pass, a free picture deal, and even a celebrity meet-andgreet, selling for $18. The celebrity guest’s identity is “on the DL,” but it’s sure to be a “crazy cool” time, according to Bass.

Paso Robles High School

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Feature

In search

of

The next step of the journey begins soon for 417 seniors at PRHS who will embark on journeys into work, Cuesta College, university, service, or travel. It took 13 years of education to get to where they are.

Acceptance letters from the colleges and universities arrive anytime from March through April. Caty Wallace is one senior who shared her story through the demanding, time consuming, but ultimately rewarding college search and application process.

by Monica Patel, Editor-in-Chief, Maddison Coons, Managing Editor, and Paul Cleland, Opinion Co-Editor Fourteen percent of 2009’s college freshmen attended college more than 500 miles away from home, according to the annual survey of nearly 220,000 freshmen conducted by the Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA. Senior Caty Wallace sees herself in this category for 2011.

Having only applied to two Calif. schools out of six colleges, Wallace knows one thing is sure.

“I just want to leave California. It doesn’t really matter what ground I’m standing on, I’m still going to be the same person. I think it’ll be a good change for me,” Wallace said, who applied to San Diego State University and California Lutheran University as safety schools.

Her dream schools include: Duke University, North Carolina; Syracuse University, New York; and Boston University, Massachusetts. A natural traveler at heart, Wallace plans to double major in International Business and Mandarin.

“I feel like business is a very flexible major. I’ve flopped around for a while, but I think International Business will help me gain a global perspective on everything,” she said.

She began pursuing her interest in business at the first level any interested business major could begin: working. Wallace has had multiple jobs since the age of 15. She began as a cashier at Powell’s Sweet Shoppe located on 840 11th Street during the summers of 2008 and 2009 and later as a hostess at the nearby Paso Robles Inn in summer 2010. Though currently unemployed, she is on the search for a job.

For some students heading off to college, the idea of becoming an independent person comes into play. Wallace has grown accustomed to this thought since she already feels independent because of work schedules.

“I know I can take care of myself,” Wallace said, who thanks her www.crimsonnews.org

Dancer

... Makinzie egaP txeN MISS INDEPENDENT: Senior Caty Wallace is looking forward to the future no matter where it takes her.

Wallace’s independence and parental influence has lead her to search for new challenges and opportunities outside of California.

Smith

Photo by Forest Erwin

The people that I’m going to miss the most are the kids that have sat in my classes with me for the past 12 years and we’ve always been kind of there for each other—especially growing up in this town, you know everyone.” parents for providing her with the ability to transition smoothly into a life fully on her own.

Wallace sees both of her parents on opposite end of the spectrum. Her mother was one of the primary reasons she applied to prestigious schools in the east coast. She told Wallace that if Wallace really believes she can do something, she has to plan ahead and know she can attack and follow through, while keeping her composure. On the other hand, her father, whose chief principle is to be honest, wants her to the best person she can be while remembering where she came from and why she wants the things she wants.

“I feel like I’ve put into action my mom’s advice more than my dad’s—I feel like I need to follow my dad’s advice more,” Wallace said, who believes there’s harmony between her divorced parents.

“Even though they couldn’t work together, I’m still the product and perfect combination of them together in general—it works.”

Her college application essay was about the combination of her different parents. Even though she’s driven, she still has an appreciation for life. A large part of who she is is about balance and finding a happy medium between the two.

“I’m thankful for what I have today, and I’m not always thinking Paso Robles High School

about tomorrow or what my life’s going to be like in 10 years.

I appreciate what I have now—the people I have now. I think it’s easy when you’re a kid to lose sight of the importance of people that you have who are certain now but may not be in the future. I really try to be a good friend to people who are good to me. I don’t get close with a lot of people, but with the people I am close with, I am so loyal and committed to being there for them,” Wallace said. “But the people I’m going to miss the most are going to be the people that I knew—but never really knew that well. It’s not going to be the people that I was with every weekend... maybe it will be, but I think the people that I’m going to miss the most are the kids that have sat in my classes with me for the past 12 years and we’ve always been kind of there for each other—especially growing up in this town, you know everyone.”

Although Wallace admits her application process was tough, writing her college essay guided her to reflect upon her life and analyze who she really is. Wallace feels college is the time for students to grow as people, and it’s the perfect opportunity to see new things form as a human being. Though she doesn’t have a set concrete plan for the future, Wallace knows she’ll end up where she’s supposed to be; she’s not worried about it.

“There’s something to be said for that—like the kids that know the street they’re going to be living on 10 years from now, they have such a narrow path to follow. I like just looking out and seeing my whole future just wide open,” she said.

Wallace believes it’s really easy to be complacent here. She needs new ground under her feet—to immerse herself with the rich history the east coast has to offer and to experience other cultures.

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Crimson 02.09.11 |

9

Feature

Makinzie Smith

has happy feet

Senior puts her entire sole into dancing

by Jenna Wookey, Culture Co-Editor

Caty Wallace Next Page ... shares college dreams

ONE HUNDRED PERCENT: Smith dances her heart out at a Hollywood Connection competition. Smith’s dance teacher believes her constant dedication has led to her success.

focuses on what makes it First hating it at age three, all worthwhile. senior Makinzie Smith’s “I like that there is so feelings for dance turned around many different things at age six and by 17, she was I could just tell that was that you can do with auditioning for national television where she was headed, to be the [dance]; and you can dance shows. best.” just express yourself in Smith went with her studio to — Jennifer Bedrosian, dance teacher so many ways and create audition for the Paula Abdul Dance Show really cool things,” in Los Angeles in October 2010. Two groups from her studio auditioned: a tap dance group and a hip- Smith said.

PRHS dance teacher Jennifer Bedrosian believes Smith’s hard hop group, the one Smith was in.

Smith and her group auditioned first. The judges said their music work in practice appears when she performs because of her confidence and choreography was great and they all danced fantastically, but on the floor. There is a difference between being a very strong dancer they weren’t dancing together as a group. The team were good and a very confident dancer, but Smith is both, according to Bedrosian.

“She gave 100 percent every time we rehearsed. That showed me that enough though to be sent to audition for the producers of the show. she had the determination to be a better dancer than a lot of students In between auditions, the group worked on the judges’ advice.

“We went over every little detail; and by the time we got to the that were just taking [dance] as a casual class. I could just tell that was producers, we were really together, and it looked really good,” where she was headed, to be the best,” Bedrosian said, who had Smith as a student for three years. She also admires Smith’s work ethic.

Smith said.

Smith couldn’t take Advanced Dance this year because of her school Unfortunately, they did not make it past that audition, but Smith still works hard for an annual competition she goes to schedule, which includes AP statistics and Physics; yet Bedrosian still gave her an important role for dance of publicity to keep her involved called Hollywood Connection.

At Hollywood Connection, Smith and her group spend one day because Smith has great follow through and is very responsible.

With her commitment to dance and schoolwork, Smith stays taking classes from “outstanding choreographers” and participate in a competition. They have more classes the next day and another grounded by her support system. Smith explained her family and audition. This audition, however, is mainly meant to help improve friends, especially her parents, are her biggest fans.

To carry on her passion of dance after graduation, Smith plans on their audition skills.

On top of competitions and auditions with her studio, Smith is going with her dance company on a world wide tour, starting in New York City. If the tour does not end up working out though, she does have also part of the PRHS cheer squad.

Smith practices from 10-20 hours weekly, depending a plan B. Smith has applied to UCLA, Cal Poly, and SDSU, but has not fully on upcoming auditions and competitions. A week before a competition, she practices for 20 hours, which is equal to 17 decided yet if she would want to leave Calif. or stay local and keep on dancing while she’s still young and can. separate 70- minute class periods.

With this much time put into her dance, Smith constantly

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02.09.11 Crimson

Paso Robles High School

TINY DANCER: Makinzie dresses up for her first dance recital at age three.

Though she first resented dance, it grew to become her life’s passion.

RAZZLE DAZZLE: Smith’s “Turn Up The Peace” tour group poses with their choreographer, Fathlem. Smith’s next tour will begin in New York City. Photos used with permission of Makinzie Smith.

www.crimsonnews.org

Feature

Before

&

AFTER

by Sheridan Cook, Fun & Games Editor It was a dark and chilly night as senior Richard Curl sat on a wooden bench near the gazebo in the downtown park, waiting for his mystery date to arrive at 9 p.m. on Jan. 26. Suddenly, he heard a girl say, “Oh my god!” and turned around to see fellow senior Natasha Wright walking toward him.

When Curl realized who his date was, he groaned and exclaimed, “Are you serious? I just got done with this!” It was a reference to his recent stint as Wright’s purchased senior during PRHS’s Senior Sale Week. Déjà vu continued as the daters discovered their date for the evening consisted of finding outfits for each other at GoodWill that would have to be worn for the duration of the date.

“Oh no! I like how I concentrated on my outfit, and I’m not even going to wear it!” Wright said disappointedly, shaking her head.

However, the two seniors good-naturedly embarked. Five minutes later were busy perusing the racks at GoodWill.

While Wright focused on finding a classier outfit for her date, Curl had full intentions of inflicting pay-back for the embarrassment he suffered during Senior Sale Week.

“She deserves this,” said Curl, only half joking.

When the daters convened to officially disclose their final options, Wright revealed a Greyhound cheer T-shirt. Curl was horrified by the prospect of having to wear “Greyhound anything.”

“It’s like a devil worshiper wearing a cross,” Curl said disgustedly, hiding the fact he used to attend that very school.

However, clothing in hand, the daters headed for the dressing room, planning to make final decisions after trying on the outfits. Wright entered the rooms first, and it was less than five seconds before a squeal was heard within. Apparently the senior had walked in on another customer of the store who was halfway through pulling up a pair of jeans. Wright was only more upset as she emerged from another room, fully clad in a maroon fleece snowflake onesie.

“Dang! Payback’s a b****,” a resentful Wright said before changing into her Hawaiian shirt and ski jacket combo. Curl made no attempt to hide his gleeful laughter at her humiliating get-up.

After his date strutted her stuff in the second outfit, it was Curl’s turn to play dress up.

“This actually looks nice. I might even wear this to church on www.crimsonnews.org

RATE THE DATE What did you think when you found out who your date was?

Natasha: I was really surprised because I totally thought it was going to be someone I didn’t know, but I know Richard pretty well.

Richard: Crap!!! Not again!

What would you rate the date on a scale of one to 10?

Natasha: 7 Richard: 7 Why? Natasha: It was going pretty well, but Richard ditched us to get ice cream, and Torey Wise and I almost got abducted by weird British people.

Richard: It was fun and pretty chill.

What was the best part of the date?

Natasha: Trying to get him to wear a size medium Atascadero cheerleading shirt.

Richard: Her getting attacked by Brits.

Would you go on a second date?

Natasha: Date? No, but I would hang out in the future.

Richard: Maybe just as friends.

Sunday” was heard from within Curl’s stall before he opened the curtain to show off his “classy” attire: a beige blazer with a pink plaid button-up as the compliment.

“See! I told you I was being nice!” Wright declared as she laughed at the much-too-short arm length of his jacket. In an attempt to spare himself the horror of sporting a Greyhound T-shirt for the evening, Curl begged Wright to let him wear the suit jacket and even went so far as to barter with her for it.

“I’ll let you pick your outfit if you let me wear this,” Curl pleaded.

The offer was an enticing one to Wright, so she quickly agreed to his offer. Forty-five minutes after the date had begun, the daters checked Paso Robles High School

Photos by Torey Wise

THEY’LL NEVER KNOW WHAT HIT THEM: Seniors Richard Curl and Natasha Wright arrive at GoodWill. The daters sought revenge on each other by picking out horrendous outfits.

Seniors Natasha Wright and Richard Curl play dress-up for February’s Blind Date

LOOKING GOOD: Curl and Wright pose in their new outfits at GoodWill. The daters had fun and look forward to hanging out “as friends.”

out. Curl paid $12.50 for his tops, and Wright paid Solar panels $10.45 for hers. ... and egaPPG&E txeN Dressed in their new outfits, the couple was not looking forward to going anywhere public for their dinner.

“Can we just go to Marv’s?” Wright asked hopefully, to which Curl replied he had absolutely no objections to the idea of not being seen by any of his peers.

After ordering a large pepperoni to share with “one quarter mushroom” for Wright, the two sat down and began their first real conversation of the night. They discussed basic high school topics: who’s dating who, what’s going on in different classes, etc. But after about 10 minutes, the conversation turned to Curl’s life.

After Wright made the discovery that she was actually older than Curl, the teens discussed recent driving experiences. Curl even entered into an anecdote about one such time, perhaps in an attempt to impress his date.

“One time I got pulled over because I ran a red light,” Curl said proudly, to which his date gave a comedic response.

“Why, did you think it was green?”

Laughter ensued and the remainder of the date was spent in a similar mood. Wright attempting to supply humor, usually at Curl’s expense.

“When I first met you, you were mean to me,” Wright said at one point, trying to antagonize her date.

“What? No I wasn’t; I was just shy,” Curl claimed bashfully, though he was laughing while he said it. However, Natasha wasn’t letting him off that easily.

“No you were definitely mean to me! Nice to everyone else, but mean to me!”

Curl finally gave in and agreed if only for the sake of changing the conversation topic.

By the end of the date, both the daters were smiling and laughing and were completely comfortable with each other. With empty pizza plates on the table, the couple exited the diner and exchanged a quick hug before parting ways.

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Crimson 02.09.11 |

11

Sci-Tech

Solar saves money—and the environment Cal-Paso Solar Electric Company wants households to join the Meter Running Backwards Club

by Emily Cone, Opinion Co-Editor, with contributions from Forest Erwin, Circulation Manager

Since the dawn of time, the sun has controlled humans. It dictates schedules, crops, and even states of mind. Now, a local company is pushing for the sun to provide humans with energy.

Solar modules use the direct current from sun-produced photons which go in an inverter.

As long as there are 300 volts of power, the inverter will begin to make alternate currents which make electricity. Alternating current is the type of electricity homes and businesses typically use and get from the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E).

“The inverter matches the sine wave coming in with its own sine wave of energy; and that way the power can either Blind Date be used in the house or business.

Next Page ... Or if there’s no demand for power at that point, it can go actually through the meter, run the meter backwards, and feed power into someone’s neighbor,” CEO of CalPaso Solar Electric Jim Shepard said. “That’s why we have a meter running backwards club, so that people produce enough power so that it works their neighbor’s house if they’re not using power.”

Solar modules are designed to last for around 30 years and are installed on roofs that are going to last just as long. After those

years expires, the solar module community is in the process of finding a way for panels to be recycled.

But Shepard and Cal-Paso Solar Electric have made a stand about buying solar and buying it locally.

Last June, PG&E spend approximately $45 million in support of Proposition 16; the proposition would have required a two-thirds voter approval before “local governments provide electricity service to new customers or establish a community choice electricity program using public funds or bonds,” according to ballotpedia.com.

“PG&E really shouldn’t be telling cities that they can’t provide power. We thought that was a bad idea, and we think that if you really want to stick it to PG&E in some way or another, buy solar because ultimately they can’t sell you what you don’t use,” Shepard said, whose company can install an average home for $30,000-40,000. “The systems will pay themselves off quickly.”

Pacific Gas and Electric, who “provides electricity and natural gas to 40 percent of Californians and one in 20 Americans” promotes solar power and is even referred to as “the most ‘solar integrated utility’ in the U.S.,” according to pge.com.

Covering 5.1 million electricity

customers, PG&E has been serving 70,000 square miles since 1911.

“We buy tremendous amounts of energy from solar companies,” said Denny Doyoes, PG&E spokesperson. “Like any company we work to maintain our customers, but our goal is to provide the best product and service we can.”

“Any effort to reduce carbon emissions is good by me,” senior Devon Lambert said, who is president of Bearcats for the Conservation and Sustainability of the Earth (BCASE), a club that wants to “create a sustainable campus and community.”

Cal-Paso believes keeping your money local and your earth clean is a better option than buying electricity from PG&E. They have had customers from everyday home owners to Park Cinemas, who is planning on going solar in the upcoming year.

“If your energy bill is $150 or more, solar is for you,” Shepard said, “It’s a home-grown industry, we use American equipment and the money is spent here in the economy.”

>>

Illustration by Reilly Newman

Quick Solar Energy Statistics • • • • •

In the U.S., only approximately 10,000 homes are currently powered entirely by solar energy.

Our country’s demand for solar power has risen on average 30 percent every year for the last 15 years.

The U.S. is currently the fourth largest market for solar power in the world behind Germany, Spain, and Japan.

California is the currently the leading solar power state in the U.S. in terms of solar system installations and solar power generation.

The first solar cell was constructed by Charles Fritts in the 1880s.

• • • •

In just one hour, the earth receives more energy from the sun than the entire world uses during a whole year.

Currently, solar power provides less than 1 percent of all energy needs in the U.S. It would take only around 0.3 percent of the world’s land area to supply all of the planet’s electricity needs via solar power.

Wind is a form of solar power, created by the uneven heating of the Earth’s surface.

—Paul Cleland, Opinion Co-Editor All statistics used from solarpowerhomesusa.com and enerymatters.com.au

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02.09.11 Crimson

Paso Robles High School

www.crimsonnews.org

Love

Inside Look

through the eyes...

Cupid uses arrows to capture the heart of his lover Psyche.

People are celebrating relationships that have just begun or that have been together for years such as our feature couple: seniors Andria Posmoga and Spencer Silva. There is even a 20 question quiz that will show how you express and interpret love. Whether it be Taylor Swift’s love songs that create a love story or the dopamine that rushes through our bodies at the site of a crush, it’s February and love is in the air.

Photo illustration by Maddison Coons

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Paso Robles High School

Crimson 02.09.11 |

13

...of girls and guys

5

Love languages Broken relationships generally stem from lack of communication and understanding. Without knowing what language a significant other is speaking, comprehension is destined to fail. Pastor, speaker, and author of “The 5 Love Languages,” Dr. Gary Chapman, explains ways of expressing and interpreting love by dividing love languages into five main categories.

What’s your love language?

Words of Affirmation

Hearing the words “I love you” are important, but the reasons you are loved means everything. Compliments can make your day, but insults can greatly injure your heart.

Quality Time

Quality time is more than being in the same room as your partner, but holding their complete attention. You prosper on being actively listened to and feel especially hurt when you are ignored.

Physical Touch PLAYING AROUND: Seniors Andria Posmoga and boyfriend Spencer Silva enjoyed a day on the playground at Barney Schwartz Park on Jan. 29. Posmoga cracked up at her own joke while Silva looked at his girlfriend of 1,048 days as of Feb. 9, 2011. They laughed, they swung, and they slid in front of the setting sun. Photo by Maddison Coons

‘Polo players’ continued from front page Swimming brought the two closer together as long bus rides to swim meets occurred. Silva sat next to Posmoga on one bus ride, playfully took her phone away, and then lost it. Her brand new cell phone ended up sliding across the bus, and the two had to wait until all of JV and Varsity swimmers got off to find it. After they found it, Silva asked for her number and finally asked Posmoga out after two months.

“I did it after school on the little hill [near] the tree [over by the brick circle], and I gave her a kiss; then I walked away really fast. I was shy,” Silva said.

When Silva and Posmoga were official, their friends weren’t too surprised at the new relationship. In fact, Silva’s friends seniors Zane Harvey, Scotti Saunders, and Cole Idlemiller had made bets on when Silva would ask Posmoga out. Harvey observed that now the two “seem a lot more comfortable with each other.”

“You know how it is when you first meet a girl. You don’t want to do anything stupid, but now Spencer just acts like himself,” Harvey joked, who won the bet and $10. “He’s like mature but not afraid to be a kid still which is cool.”

The couple also admitted the chemistry isn’t the same as it was 34 months ago.

“You’re not nervous all the time. You still want to look good for him and everything, but you don’t spend like 10 hours in front of the mirror every day anymore,” Posmoga said However, they still surprise each other whether it’s with birthday parties or random gestures.

“Last year, when I was in water polo, I was really hungry after practice. I was telling her how hungry I was, and then I came to school and she had a muffin and orange juice for me,” Silva said.

Silva has his share of surprises as Posmoga’s friend senior Tori Sepulvada revealed. “[When Silva asked her to Prom last year], I had her over one day after school, and while we were in my kitchen he snuck around to my backyard. While he was back there,

14 | 02.09.11 Crimson

Receiving Gifts

Daily gestures and significant gifts are necessary for you to feel loved. The meaning and effort behind the gift means more to you than the quantity or quality.

Acts of Service When your partner eases the burden of your responsibilities, you feel most valued. Help is desired when it is not asked for, and you could feel offended if your partner makes more work for you to do.

Thrives on simple gestures like a touch on the shoulder, or an arm around your waist.

Presence means a great deal to you, and actions such as neglect or abuse may be unforgivable to you.

Photo illustrations by Maddison Coons and Monica Patel

Love under the influence

How hormones control our hearts Sophomore Mekenzie Prokop 8 Words of Affirmation 8 Quality Time 0 Receiving Gifts 4 Acts of Service 10 Physical Touch “I would say that it's pretty accurate, especially about receiving gifts. I hate receiving gifts. Words and gestures to show me how much you care are the best. That’s really all I need,” Prokop said.

Senior Alex Brown

7 Words of Affirmation 11 Quality Time 4 Receiving Gifts 4 Acts of Service 4 Physical Touch “Love for me is having people tell you ‘Wow you look nice today’ or ‘I’m glad were friends’ and really meaning it. Quality time is also a big thing for me. Having someone’s undivided attention is so powerful. When you and the person you love [you only want] to be with each other that’s when it means the most,” Brown said.

Go to 5lovelanguages.com to take the quiz!

—Amanda Hutchinson, World Co-Editor, and Kelly Munns, PR Manager

I made her go get some Rosemary from my garden…. she ended up going outside and he was sitting on the fountains edge with her favorite flowers acting like the prince she always wanted him to be! She was totally surprised! A perfect love story!” Sepulvada said, Posmoga’s friend of 12 years.

The two have had two classes this year together.

“We just work, and it’s like a normal class really…she just happens to be there,” Silva said.

AP Economics teacher Matthew Drake was impressed with Silva’s and Posmoga’s professionalism.

“I would say it was a pretty good [relationship]. I thought they knew how to give each other space when they needed to and how to focus on something such as AP Macroeconomics. They were able to prioritize,” Drake said, who had six couples in his class during the first trimester.

AP Statistics teacher Rich Schimke also has the two in his third period and periodically teases the couple but “it’s all in fun.” Schimke admitted the two are “just a cute couple” and handle their relationship well.

“I think it comes down to both people being allowed to have their space. You need time together, you need time for yourself…and I think too clingy is tough and they don’t seem like that; they just seems to be pals. Who knows where it’s going to go but it seems like it’s a pretty good relationship,” Schimke said, who married his high school sweetheart and is approaching his 20th anniversary.

For all of those aspiring to make a move, this dating duo has some advice.

“Just do it! Do it!” Silva exclaimed.

“Don’t be afraid the person won’t like you because you’re never going to find out unless you talk to them. And even if you have a first impression of someone…they could be totally different,” Posmoga said.

Paso Robles High School

Gender role characteristics PRHS students took a survey regarding which characteristic fit which gender the most. Although men and women may be labeled with stereotypes, people apply certain qualities based off of their belief of a traditional or modern relationship to a man or woman. Below are a list of descriptions that students named ‘male’ or ‘female’.

83% > 17% 10% < 90% 16.5% < 83.5% 66% > 34% 66.5% > 33.5% 65% > 35% 19.5% < 80.5% 77.5% > 22.5%

Aggressive Talkative Neat in Habits Adventurous Acts as a Leader Self Confident Wants a Family Competitive

46.5% < 53.5% 41.5% < 58.5% 52.5% > 47.5% 33% < 67% 15% < 85% 75% > 25% 31% < 69% 27.5% < 72.5%

Ambitious Tactful Objective Interested in Appearance

Sensitive Dominant Good with People Logical

—Ethan Baietti, Managing Editor, and Lindsay Reed, Reporter www.crimsonnews.org

by Sinéad Schouten, Feature Co-Editor, and Sarah Wilson, A&E Co-Editor

Men are from Mars, women are from Venus. At least that’s how the saying goes. We aren’t quite from different planets, but modern science has discovered that secrets of the heart are often found in the brain.

Simon Baron-Cohen, a developmental psychologist at the University of Cambridge, believes the male brain naturally likes to systemize. Systematizers want to break things down, explore ideas, and figure problems out on pure logic, according to Baron-Cohen’s article on psychologytoday.com. Whereas females, who are empathizers, want to put a finger on another person’s thoughts and feelings, reaching an emotional understanding to feel connected.

But a lack of heart-to-hearts doesn’t mean that men don’t feel the same feelings, when they in fact do.

“Despite stereotypes to the contrary, the male brain can fall in love just as hard and fast as the female brain and maybe more so. When he meets and sets his sights on capturing ‘the one,’ mating with her becomes his prime directive. And when he succeeds, his brain makes an indelible imprint of her,” neuropsychiatrist Louann Brizendine said, according to a CNN.com report.

It can take as little as 0.2 seconds to make that imprint, according to medguru.com.

“Recently the use of MRIs to map real time activity in the brain has revealed that several key neurotransmitters are linked to feelings of attraction and romantic love,” Psychology and Leadership teacher Geoff Land said.

When someone is in love, chemicals are released from the brain. Controlled by the hypothalamus structure in the brain, these chemicals— serotonin, dopamine, adrenaline, and oxytocin—are what send our nerves into a frenzy, according to Land.

Dopamine is released when someone feels pleasure and desire. Along with increased energy, concentrated focus, and a decrease in appetite, dopamine also spurs the release of adrenaline— created in the adrenal glands above the kidneys—to create a domino effect. The heart begins to beat three times its normal rate, and a rapid surge of blood travels from the areas around the stomach, hands and legs to the cheeks, causing someone to blush. Because the stomach feels vacant without blood, “butterflies” form, the hands get shivery, and the legs wobbly, according to healthtips.in.

Another neurotransmitter at play, serotonin, lets us experience attraction while also tuning our moods. Amorous feelings are usually caused by high levels serotonin in the brain. It’s known to affect hunger, memory, mood, and many other abilities, according to Land.

Sophomore Liam Hoagland has felt the effects before.

“I know [I have a crush on someone] when I can't get her out of my mind. My heart beats faster and my senses are more aware. It’s like things taste different, look different,” Hoagland said.

Teenagers in particular are affected by an unavoidable change, puberty. This natural growth results in an increase in the hormones that play a part in love, according to Brizendine’s article illustrating the process.

"If testosterone were beer, a 9-year-old boy would be getting the equivalent of a cup a day. But a 15-year-old would be getting the equivalent of nearly two gallons a day. This fuels their sexual engines and makes it impossible for them to stop thinking about female body parts and sex," Brizendine said.

While this definitely isn’t true in all cases, the male part of the brain that handles "sexual pursuit" is more than twice as big as a females’. Yet estrogen, the female equivalent to testosterone, is linked to dopamine and serotonin, and can be an emotional instigator in intimate moments, according to Land.

So Mars or Venus? The differences between the genders are actually chemicals and bodily hormones playing their part. When it comes down to it, perhaps the old Robert Palmer song was right: “You might as well face it: you’re addicted to love.”

Crimson 02.09.11 | 15

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Culture

Haku Tsogbat has spirit

Mongolian television star embraces a new setting

by Kathryn Wingfield, Feature Co-Editor Only in Mongolia can you tell someone they “suk” and mean it as a complement. The American insult of “you suck” translates to “you’re cool” in the remote country of Mongolia that foreign exchange student Haku Tsogbat calls home. But this unlikely contrast is only the beginning of a long list of differences between the United States and a country that once housed Huns.

“I love Americans! They’re way crazier than Mongolians,” Tsogbat said, noting the emotional difference between her home country and the one she’s grown to love. The change to cleaner air, less crime, and more space than her hometown of Ulan Bator, which boasts a population of 812,000, has Tsogbat proclaiming again and again, “I love America!”

The 15-year-old senior, who skipped fourth grade, was welcomed anew into the country on Aug. 21., but back home she is no stranger. She was featured on the Mongolian children’s television show “Friends” for over a year and has earned fame among the country’s youth.

“Sometimes kids will say, ‘Hey! It’s the girl from TV!’ But I’m not a celebrity.

Only a little,” Tsogbat said, who was also featured on a national commercial campaign advocating speaking out in politics. Since joining the PRHS Drama department, Tsogbat has been able to embrace this acting passion.

She appeared as an attendant in November’s “Dracula” and auditioned for the spring musical “Suessical.” Electives are not offered at her Mongolian high school; schedules are determined by the staff and are all academic classes.

“We have biology, history, mathematics—no fun classes. We’re also not allowed to wear make-up, nail polish, or wear our hair down. It’s very strict and all academic,” she said.

Tsogbat was forced to look to community programs for her art interests, which require fees and extra hours. The programs were mainly based around playwriting rather than actual acting, and the change to more interactive and physical teaching methods have been much more effective for the avid theater junkie. She has gratefully siezed the acting opportunities she has been given in the United Statess and was voted “Most Spirited” by her fellow “Dracula” cast members.

Tsogbat intends to bring this passion with her when she embarks for her

home country on Aug. 21, though her journey will be bittersweet.

“I miss my little brother who’s only 1 year old. One day he said ‘sister’ in Mongolian on the phone, [which is] ‘egch,’ and I cried for days.”

Though she’s eager to return to her family, Tsogbat said she will be a completely different person because of what she has learned—and tasted—in America.

Food has been a sweet change of pace from the Mongolian diet of “meat, meat, meat, meat, and meat.”

Fast food has left a lasting impact on Tsogbat, who has now been exposed to “cupcakes, pancakes… every type of cake.”

Attending an American college isn’t currently an option for Tsogbat, whose parents believe she is too young for a university; but after she graduates from the Mongolian system, she is eager to return to the U.S. Her newfound love for English and fine-tuned language skills have led her to the pursuit of a career in anything involving international affairs.

“I know so much English now, and I want to use my communication for my future,” she said.

But what Tsogbat has learned most from her experience in Paso Robles is the importance and value of being free.

“I was shy the first few days, but I think I’m outgoing now from being around so many outgoing people and such an open environment. I’m crazy now… no matter where I am,” Tsogbat said.

SHE’S GOT SPIRIT HOW ‘BOUT YOU: Tsogbat’s everradiant grin puts smiles on faces both in America and her home country of Mongolia. The child TV star has enjoyed the freedom of the U.S. Photo by Emily Cone

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Make way for a wave of kites

by Monica Patel, Editor-in-Chief

I took a few steps forward until I realized perhaps I should stop. The thin pink string, coated with broken glass and rice powder, didn’t exactly catch my eye; instead my brow ridge, leaving a puffy, yet lovely red cut did. Hundreds of these pink strings were attached to flying kites, creating some sort of almost-but-not-quite invisible labyrinth. That’s the first thought that comes to mind when I reminisce about my first authentic celebration of Uttarayan, otherwise known as Kite-Flying Day. The second memory consists of being blown away from seeing dancing kites filling the sky.

On my first trip to Gujarat, India, I stood on our veranda watching bursts of color sway with the wind in the middle of January while my first grade Paso friends were sitting in Mrs. Spencer’s class learning basic algebra back home.

If by now you haven’t thought of the novel “The Kite Runner,” you probably don’t know what www.crimsonnews.org

I’m talking about. If you’ve read it, remember when Baba sat on the rooftop watching his son, Amir, kite fight? Amir’s kite and the blue kite were the only ones left. Amir’s string, coated in glass, caught the blue kite’s string, sending it free falling. Like the rooftops of Kabul, Afghanistan, the terraces of every town in the state of Gujarat, India is filled with kite fighters from dawn to dusk on Jan. 14 every year.

Uttarayan is a festival that represents the sun’s journey towards the northern hemisphere signifying the decline of winter—the days become longer and skies clearer. It’s said after six months of deep slumber during the darkness of winter, the gods awake at this time to open the portals of heaven.

Crowded rooftops, kite-fighting competitions, and traditional Gujarati feasts highlight the thanksgiving holiday—a day when every family is seen enjoying the outdoors.

People fly kites on colored string coated with special glass powder and rice paste to cut opponents’ strings and set their kites loose.

Deceivingly simple, kite-fighting requires

aerodynamic skill and devotion. Even after dark, illuminated box kites are launched into the sky or hung along a string anywhere outside a family’s house. Known as tukkals, these kites add a touch of splendor to the dark sky.

Though many Gujjus enjoy flying kites on their own verandas, Gujarat’s premier city and kite capital, Ahmedabad, leads the way in celebrating Uttarayan by hosting the International Kite Festival since 1989. Master kite makers and flyers from all over the world demonstrate their unique creations and entice the crowds with highly unusual kites. The Patang Bazaar (the kite market), located in the heart of Ahmedebad is open 24 hours a day during Uttarayan week.

No matter where on the world map, any one person is able to attend an International Kite Festival to dip their feet in a pool of culture.

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NIGHT KITES: In Gujarat, India, the night sky is lit up with lantern kites called tukkals. Families enjoy the outdoors during Uttarayan. Photo used with persmission by Prina Patel.

Crimson 02.09.11 |

17

Opinion

Illustration by Reilly Newman

Fighting the frenzy

Social Network site siphons too many hours from teens

by Emily Cone, Opinion Co-Editor As of Feb. 9, I’m cancelling my Facebook account. Maybe for a month, maybe longer, but it’s a much needed lifestyle change.

Our lives are constantly being documented. From school pictures to social security numbers to credit scores, people are leaving a trace of who they are in the world. Facebook has become just another facet of the documentation of our lives—and an obsession at that.

I spend too many hours on Facebook. While I could be reading or spending time with my family, I’m chatting with friends and posting new statuses. It seems I’m not the only one: 57 Kite percent of people talk to people more online compared to in celebrations person, according to failbook.com.

But people are not built for computer screen relationships.

Christmas, birthdays, and Spring Break don’t happen over statuses and notifications and wall posts; it’s in the comfort of our own homes—with the people we value the most.

Keeping friends and family updated used to be a phone call away, but now we can just assume they’ve read our Facebook lately and skip the uncomfortable phone calls.

Established in 2004, Facebook has exceeded 500 million users in

the last six years, according to socialmediatoday.com, thus making it the most popular social networking site in the world. Americans have happily jumped on the Facebook train, being on Facebook three times longer than Google —approximately four hours and 39 minutes, according to mashable.com.

Junior Megan McManus was one of those statistics, spending her summer days soaking up vitamin D and “liking” and posting. “[I was on Facebook] all day; I had it logged on all the time,” she said.

We all know who the Facebook kings and queens are­­­—who are constantly on and perpetually sharing their lives. I know more about people’s lives via Facebook than I ever could before, unless I was within their close circle of friends. It’s almost become a contest to see who has the most fun in their lives, or who is seemingly the most interesting.

Pictures of events we’ve been to and people we’ve hung out with are now taken to show the rest of the world.

This has gotten ridiculous. We as a culture care too much about what people think, and Facebook has contributed to our image obsession.

“I think most of us spend a good portion of our time on Facebook.

Especially me, while my computer is on I am logged on to Facebook,” senior Obed Elenes said.

Of course, Facebook has practical applications, like getting homework assignments or asking friends for school-related help; but

that doesn’t take hours and hours to do.

“Teens in general, [spend too much time on Facebook]. However, Facebook can be used productively, like asking people about schoolwork missed, or catching up on homework,” senior Conner Burggraf said.

Facebook has become, unfortunately, a way to live vicariously. For every hour spent on Facebook, we could be experiencing the real world, forming our own opinions and talking to people face to face.

“I feel like teens spend hours on Facebook to feel connected and be able to snoop without having to around and actually talk to people. All we have to do is ‘Facebook stalk’ them and we know everything about them. It can get pretty pathetic the way we rely on Facebook so much,” one freshman student said.

When you peel back someone’s Facebook profile, there lies an actual person. Someone who just need to spend time with their loved-ones in real life­—and doesn’t tell Facebook about it.

It’s time for us to join the real world again, for us to break our addiction to our image and our need to always be in the know. We should be spending time with people face-to-face, learning how to live without always showing everyone, in detail, what we’re up to. It’s time for teens to learn the valuable life lesson of quality: the quality of face time and the quality of relationships.

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Button

Taking today’s hot and controversial issues, “Hot Button” rates the current flammability of odd discoveries, political incorrectness, and just plain slip-ups.

British Prime Minister David Cameron recoiled after Obama claims France is a “stronger friend” than Britain.

— The Guardian

WHITE HOT

Former Bush speech writer David Frum blamed actions of Arizona gunman on weed, saying, “The Tucson shooting should remind us why we regulate marijuana.”

—Associated Press

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02.09.11 Crimson

Political commentator Bill Maher questioned the Tea Party’s alleged regard for America’s Founding Fathers, saying they "were everything [the Tea Party] despises. They studied science, read Plato, hung out in Paris, and thought the Bible was mostly bull****."

— The Guardian

Paso Robles High School

Japanese scientists researching conductors, metals used to transfer electricity, accidentally discovered red wine and commercial spirits, like vodka, significantly improve performance of superconductors.

The “accident” occurred during an alleged party at the laboratory.

—Current

BLACK COLD —Austin Ehrhardt, Business Team Photos used with permission of AP Images

www.crimsonnews.org

CE

ST EM

S

Opinion

Beneficial blastocysts Stem cell research: more good than harm

by Madison Butz, Business Team and Caitlyn Curran, Reporter A survivor. A media sensation. Timothy Ray Brown: a man labeled by scientists and the press as the “Berlin Patient.” Is he a fluke caused by natural AIDS resistance? A recipient of a miracle cure effective only because of innocent deaths? Or is he a breakthrough of medical science enabled by stem cell research?

Doctors in Germany carried out a stem cell transplant on Brown, an HIV-infected man, with leukemia in 2007. Doctors now say they believe Brown has been “cured of HIV infection as a result of the treatment,” which introduced genetically fortunate HIV resistant stem cells into his system.

Brown received bone marrow from a donor who had a rare natural resistance to HIV infection; this was due to a genetic profile that had to be searched for in millions of volunteers. This mutation almost completely protected him against infection.

In this situation, the stem cells Brown received were taken from an adult donor. However most groups concerned about stem cell research are worried about this cure for a different reason: stem cells are also taken from embryos, or embryonic stem cells.

Embryonic, the most controversial form of extracting stem cells, begins the process at the blastocyst, beginning only five days after conception. A picture of a blastocyst, which contains about 100 cells, shows random germ-like clumps, which within months become a baby.

Yes, an aborted fetus can be used as a source for stem cells, but the most common way of procuring a blastocyst is through growing them in labs, with eggs and sperm taken from donors. In no way is this source of stem cells a child, or even a fetus. It is not grown within a woman’s body, and the resources taken to grow blastocysts have been given by willing volunteers.

Stem cells are special because of their ability to grow into almost any other cell. Although most activists are concerned with embryonic stem cells, there are virtually unlimited means to obtain them in far less controversial ways. The umbilical cord, rather than being disposed after birth, can be saved and stored in case of necessary stem cell extraction later in life.

If the child had brain trauma, spine damage, or cancer destroyed cells, the child’s stored umbilical stem cells could replace the damaged cells. Amniotic fluid can also be used to obtain blastocysts; and stem cells can be extracted from adults, albeit painfully, for stem cells are found plentifully in bone marrow.

“Adult stem cell research doesn’t harm human life. They protect human beings,” Reverend Tomasz Trafny of the Vatican’s Pontificial Council for Culture told FoxNews.com. Reverend Trafny compares embryonic stem cell extraction to cloning, but obviously the cells never reach maturation. These pure stem cells double in number daily and offer an abundance of potential for science.

Some of the top diseases projected to be cured with stem cells include heart disease, diabetes, deafness, sickle cell anemia, and many types of cancers, including leukemia. Many of the conditions that can be cured by stem cells are represented by students or teachers here at PRHS. Even lesser-known illnesses like Crohn’s disease have claimed victims in Paso.

Senior Ben Zucker thinks the benefits far outweigh the disadvantages.

“I think [stem cell research] is a good thing. If it keeps improving, it can help a lot of people. Stem cells can cure diseases and can even help re-grow organs when people need them,” Zucker said, who believes the science is important, no matter which way stem cells are extracted.

If a woman chooses abortion, what more harm would be done if the cells be used to further science and possibly be used to develop technology that could save millions of people suffering from cancer and AIDS? It’s not an issue of whether abortion is wrong or right. Given that abortion is legal, why not advance our science and technology to help those who need it? Fetuses taken through a medically legal and safe abortion are not taken against the mother’s will. Release forms have to be signed and voluntary processes gone through to allow the the fetus to be used for research. If the mother agrees to donate the product of her body, who are we to stop her?

Even people getting a driver’s license can offer their own future dead body to medical science, so when doctors offer a medical release form presenting the option of donating the aborted fetus’s body to science, how is that any different?

Though the life never had a chance, it may give many chances to others that suffer in life.

Pro

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Life everlasting

A look at the drawbacks of stem cells

Used with permission of AP Images

by Kim Boswell, Photo Essay Editor There are over one trillion cells in the human body—but skin, red, white, and brain cells need constant replacing. The cells that do all of the replacing are Chris Vinson known as stem cells. Those cells are at the epicenter of constant controversy. on dubstep Timothy Ray Brown, an HIV positive American living in Germany, received a stem cell transplant that effectively “cured” his HIV in 2007. Brown had to undergo an extremely risky and painful surgery after an intense round of chemotherapy for his leukemia. The stem donor had an extremely rare inherited gene mutation which made the man virtually immune to HIV, resulting in Brown’s cure.

“It’s hard enough to get a good compatible match for a transplant like this,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told FoxNews.com. “But you also have to find a compatible donor that has this genetic defect, and this defect is only found in 1 percent of the Caucasian population and zero percent of the black population. This is very rare.”

The rarity of the gene mutation, high cost, and risk involved in the stem cell transplant make the procedure impractical for the stage that science is currently at. The surgery has gotten rid of Brown’s antiretroviral drugs used to treat his HIV, but he has to take immunosuppressant drugs now to prevent the rejection of his transplant cells.

Though Brown was effectively cured of his HIV, it is not as though every HIV positive patient could or would want to endure the major physical and monetary burdens resulting from the surgery.

There are two types of stem cells: adult cells, taken from willing adults and children with no physical harm; and embryonic stem cells, taken from fertilized unborn embryos. Embryos are undeveloped fetuses in the early stages of development. In the lab, donated embryos are disposed of after their purposes are fulfilled. Disposing of the embryo kills what would have grown into a person, equivalent to abortion. Initially, the National Institute of Health set guidelines prohibiting the federal research funding that would destroy or harm embryos.

The stem cell industry has cost Californians an estimated $6 billion in taxes from the 2004 Proposition 71, which was meant to fund and provide facilities for stem cell research but has not produced any results in the United States since the discovery of the cells in the 1800s. The California debt will take an estimated 30 years for voters to pay-off.

Over two centuries have passed and still there are no cures for diseases as promised, according to Deborah White from usliberals.com. The initial purpose for the stem cell industry was to cure spinal cord injuries, diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, heart disease, and hundreds of rare immune system and genetic disorders.

Of all of the possible results from stem cells, human cloning has brought forth the most controversy. People like Simon Smith of humancloning.org believe cloning would in a sense, be reversing age back to zero, making eternal life possible.

In order to utilize the cloned organs and stem cells, the clone would have to be destroyed, which constitutes as murder, according to student.biology.org. The creation of “super humans” would also take personality out of a clone’s life; they would be literally living up to the person that they are a clone of, never having their own life.

“If we ever managed to create a living clone, it would probably do more harm than help. There would be debates over their individual rights among other issues. There's already more people on Earth than we can care for; we should take better care of the humans that got here the ‘old fashioned way’ before we start artificially creating more,” junior Shannon O’Brien said.

"Ultimately, I cannot guarantee that we will find the treatments and cures we seek. No President can promise that,” President Barack Obama said in March 2009 after he lifted the ban on federal funding of stem cells research.

Con

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Crimson 02.09.11 |

19

A&E

Making people jump Senior Chris Vinson immerses himself into dubstep

by Emily Cone, Opinion Co-Editor

Flashing lights, pulsing beats, and crowds of dancing people are things usually associated with dubstep, a genre of music that senior Chris Vinson has grown Stem cells to love.

About a year and a half ago, Next Page ...

Vinson started to create his own dubstep songs on his computer.

His first titled “Fishy” took about 15 minutes to make.

“I’ve always wanted to produce some type of music, but I just really liked dubstep, and it’s really not that hard to make,” Vinson said, who has produced eight songs each roughly three minutes in length. Vinson, whose dubstep experience started by listening to Druley,

learned how to produce dubstep on his own by talking to other producers on forums online.

Although he has not yet DJ’d for a crowd, Vinson plans on creating a DJ company with friend and alumni Zach Harvey.

“A lot of people think [dubstep] just sounds the same but if you actually know it, it’s totally different every song, so that’s what I like about it. Every song is unique,” Vinson said, who produces with programs Fruity Loops and Massive, roughly a combined $450 in cost.

“Well [raves] have a really bad reputation of just sex and drugs, but it’s actually not all like that. A lot of people do actually [go for the music]. Everyone I know [does]. They’re just so much fun,” Vinson said, who has been to 12 or more raves. Another art form Vinson

enjoys is light shows, which are displays of light from gloves that have colored lights in the tips.

Vinson is sponsored by Liquid Emotions, which supplies him with gloves and other apparel.

“Well [light shows] all started out [when] I saw some guys doing them at EDC (Electric Daisy Carnival), and I was like, ‘oh, that’s pretty cool,’ so I started doing it. It’s an expression of music through light shows, and it’s just fun,” Vinson said, who has given light shows to approximately hundreds of people.

Vinson looks to expand on his DJ experience in college by performing.

“To make a living [producing dubstep], you’d have to be really big. Most dubstep artists don’t really get that far. It’d just be a side job,” Vinson said. “I want to make people jump.”

LIGHT SHOW: Chris Vinson entertains audiences with a light show created by multi-colored lights on his fingertips.

Vinson creates his own music to go with the show. Photos by Forest Erwin

>>

The will to live captivates audiences ‘127 Hours’ elevates desperation to its peak

by Dakota Cleland, Sci-Tech Co-Editor The breaking point. The exact point when discipline and endurance cracks into irretrievable pieces.

Everyone varies on the spectrum of how much pain they can take. But for Aron Ralston, the main character of the biopic “127 Hours,” his breaking point is pushed to an unimaginable high.

While this limited release film didn’t have a great amount of exposure, it is surely one people should and will hear about in the future. In some ways, “127 Hours” is truly a hidden gem of a movie to behold.

Portrayed by James Franco from the “SpiderMan” series, Ralston is as talented and ingenious of a

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02.09.11 Crimson

mountaineer and risk-taker as he is jovial and cocky. His personality is one people can like and be entertained by. However his daredevil nature led him into the predicament he landed in. Actually, it’s more like the predicament landed on him. While adventuring in the Blue John Canyon in Robbers Roost, Utah, he slips up and an 800-pound boulder lands on his right arm, trapping him between the narrow canyon walls.

You would think people would go out and try to find him, right? But this isn't the case because he accidentally forgot to tell anyone where he was going. But true to his nature, Ralston reflects on this whole mishap as an “oops” moment.

From here on, the film gets very heavy. It's a visual and psychological experience to witness because the movie sucker punches you in the gut and lets you feel it over and over without letting up at all. You see Ralston struggle to

Paso Robles High School

escape many times, but all without success. Realizing he couldn’t immediately escape, he knew he had to do what any normal human being wouldn’t be able to stomach.

He decides to amputate his arm in order to free himself.

But he doesn’t do it with any normal blade. He does this with a dull, cheaply made multi-purpose tool, making the task even more daunting and gruesome. The scene itself is cringe-worthy, but it is definitely one of the most memorable scenes I have ever seen in a movie.

All in all, this movie executes everything with excellence. The cinematography is innovative and top notch, presenting you with camera angles that you’ve probably never seen before, giving this movie a very sleek presentation. The suspense is like no other, and it leaves the viewers wondering what in the world is going to happen next. This movie is simply a masterpiece. I give it a flawless five stars!

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Seussical the Musical A

on the 201 t h g i l t o 1 sp sp

Drama tracher Marcy Goodnow welcomes you to a world where anything is possible. A place where the slightest change in the imagination has the power to alter lives. What is this place?

Whoville, of course! Meet Horton the Elephant, a kind-hearted giant with an even bigger heart. Horton’s newfound friend is JoJo, the son of the mayor of Whoville, a speck of dust on a clover. Horton is beset with the quest of protecting the speck from all of the dangers of the Forest of Nool: Sour Kangaroo, the Grinch, Thing One and Thing Two, and Yertle the Turtle.

And the Cat in the Hat is there to give his guidance. When the speck is stolen

The people behind the curtain The Cat in the Hat will steal the spotlight in the drama department’s production on April 8-10 and 16-18. Yet who is the man behind the spotlight? Or in that case, who clothed the Cat, painted his whiskers, set up his mic, and gave him a stage to perform on? Volunteer students work behind the scenes to bring “Seussical” to life. Veteran members will teach volunteers how to work behind the scenes.

Since the audition process finished, Marcy Goodnow is still working on costume designs, sets and props, music, hair and make-up plans. She Freshman Logan Ferry will be receiving help freshman and Stage Manager stage director Logan Ferry and adult volunteer Jennika Snider on set designs. Goodnow stated she would like the cost to be minimal and plans to recycle props and sets from previous shows.

“Most of the props will take a lot of time because they will all have to be created. Dr. Seuss did nothing normal. A lot of research goes into it,” Goodnow said, who had her team study 11 Seuss books.

As of now, the light usage is settled. The future light crew will be using five “intelligent lights” for the first time since former director John Lambie left PRHS. “[The lights] will add a whole new level to ‘Seussical.’ It’ll be more like a Broadway show or Vegas,” senior Grant Larsen said, who worked the light system for the 2010 production of “Fiddler on the Roof” and “Dracula.”

Though everything is still up in the air, Goodnow has high expectations for the show.

“Everything will be really true to the characters in the books…It’ll be very colorful. It’s going to be fun. [There’ll be] lots of sequins, glitter, feathers, big.

It’s going to be big. It’s going to be fun!” Goodnow said.

—Alicia Canales, Managing Editor

ring musical

from Horton by the Wickersham Brothers, Horton must protect it from further harm. Yet Horton agrees to sit on Mayzie LaBird’s egg while she goes on vacation, halting his search for the speck. Horton is then sold to the Circus McGurkus and travels the country, dutifully remaining perched atop the egg. All the while, the Mayor enlists JoJo in the military and sends him to the war. Outraged by the reasons of the war, JoJo leaves the military with a bang. Through a whirlwind of song and dance, and with the help of his friends Gertrude McFuzz and JoJo, Horton finds family in the most outrageous of places. —Kim Boswell, Photo Essay Editor

Classes by day, auditions by night Dressed in his black, pinstripped slacks, brown dress shoes, and tucked-in shirt, sophomore Alex Delbar, who was cast as one of the five leads as “The Cat in the Hat,” was one of about 40 students that auditioned for “Seussical” Feb. 1-4.

“I was a little nervous [for the audition] but being nervous keeps you on the ball,” Delbar said.

Along with Delbar, juniors Trinity Smith, Lindsay Reed and London Bass were cast as the lead “Jungle of Nool” creatures.

Students made appointments for their audition with director Marcy Goodnow. Singing auditions were held on Tuesday, Feb.1; monologue auditions

on Wednesday, Feb. 2; dance auditions plus call backs on Thursday, Feb. 3; and the list was posted Friday, Feb. 4.

In the singing audition, performers sang 32 bars of a broadway song. The song had to be rehearsed and memorized.

Students needed to bring their sheet music and perform it as a singer and an actor.

“They need to be an actor [during their singing audition]; I need to see a character within their song,” Goodnow said.

A 60-90 second monologue was included in the audition.

For the dancing portion of the audition, students were taught the dance that day. They were expected to learn the

Gatorade v.

egaP txeN material, practice the steps, and ... water perform the dance. After the audition, there were callbacks based on the three different performances.

“I look for confidence, diligence, hard workers, [and] people who have proved themselves. And so I am not just looking for advanced students, I’m looking for anyone,” Goodnow said.

At a chilling 34 degrees, anxious students jumped and cried for joy as they saw the awaiting Seussical cast list.

—Kelly Munns, PR Manager

>>

Teachers jump into the fun Lights, camera, teach! AP English teacher Aaron Cantrell and Algebra 2 and AVID teacher James Steaffens join the cast of 30 students for “Seussical” this April.

Math teacher Jim Steaffens Yertle the Turtle, Week 1

“I’m doing this and I have no idea what I am getting myself into,” Cantrell said, whose last appearance on-stage was 24 years ago during his senior year of high

English AP teacher Aaron Cantrell Yertle the Turtle, Week 2

Photos by Alicia Canales, Aryn Fields, and Emily Cone

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A&E

Paso Robles High School

school.

Cantrell and Steaffens are both playing the part of Yertle the Turtle.

“I know I’m Yertle, I’m a turtle, I’m a Judge, and I have rendered a sentence to possibly annihilate an entire planet of people.... That’s way too much responsibility to lie on the backs of a high school kid,” Steaffens said.

Steaffens played two comic leads and Bilbo Baggins in his high school.Steaffens will be playing Yertle the Turtle the first week and Cantrell the second week. This is the first time teachers have been a part of the student musical.

—Ethan Baietti, Managing Editor

Crimson 02.09.11 |

21

Health

Sugar and ice is not so nice

Research shows sporty thirst-quenchers are an unhealthy alternative to water

by Daniel Hipp, Health Editor, and Maria Petiy World Co-Editor

After finishing seven hours of school, completing physics homework, and whooping rivals in sports, some PRHS students may not realize they are consuming high amounts of sugar and calories through popular sports drinks at the end of the day.

Sports drinks are consumed so often that many students don’t stop to take a real look at what they are drinking. Sports drinks have on average more sugar than the daily recommended amount for teens, which promotes obesity and diabetes.

Although sports drinks have electrolytes and vitamins, these nutritional benefits can be taken in through healthy meals.

“I would rather eat a banana before my competitions to get my electrolytes than drink Gatorade,” sophomore Brooke Treatch said, who is a varsity golfer and swimmer.

Many vitamins found in sports drinks can be replaced with less Suessical the sugary alternates. Vitamin C, Musical commonly found in PowerAde and Vitamin Water, can be replaced easily with strawberries and oranges.

Vitamin B, vital for the breakdown of carbohydrates into glucose, can be found in cereal and eggs.

Consuming a sports drink a day

can lead to an average of 2850 extra calories a month. Even with a zero calorie drink, an athlete could be consuming on average 4.29 grams of sodium and 570 grams of sugar. Over time this could cause sodium buildup, heart failure, and kidney disease; while the extra sugar could contribute to obesity and diabetes. If a person drinks 20 ounces daily for a year, they can gain as much as 13 pounds, according to UC Berkeley.

“If the stuff I drink is the same color I use to wash the dishes, then it’s not a good thing!” sophomore and cross country runner Nick Stair said jokingly.

“Is it a better way to hydrate? Not true. Sports drinks hold a few benefits, but overall athletes benefit more from drinking water,” health teacher and freshman boys basketball coach Brian Kerr said. “People [who] don’t drink sports drinks to hydrate but just to drink... could lead to [having] health issues.”

Public health activists state sports drinks have become more common over the years. In fact they are pushing for a ban on the sports drinks and flavored water, according to healthy.net.

After a long Bearcat day, research shows water is just the right fuel to keep you on top of your game.

BY THE BOTTLE: Although the bottle of water is taller, Gatorade holds a much larger calorie count. A sports drink each day can lead to 2850 calories per month. Photo by Forest Erwin

>>

Don’t become a statistic

Sex safety is becoming increasingly important in young people

by Caitlyn Curran,

Business Team

Though PRHS ranked third in CST scores compared to Templeton High School and Atascadero High School, PRHS takes first place in the county for Chlamydia and birth rates.

Seventy-one live babies were birthed to teen mothers ages 12-19 in Paso Robles in 2007, exceeding all other cities in the county, according to San Luis Obispo County Public Health Department Vital Statistics and State Department of Health Services.

Young pregnancy isn’t the only lifelong consequence of sex, however, as approximately two out of three Americans who contract a sexually transmitted disease (STD) are under the age 25, according to the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

“I don’t think Paso is any more

22

02.09.11 Crimson

promiscuous than SLO, but we have a lower socio economic population and therefore less education. Education gives people clearer goals for the future, lessening the risk for STDs, STIs, and pregnancy,” Advanced Peer and Psychology teacher Jeanne Neely said.

“Abstinence is the only guarantee against pregnancy. If teens are going to have sex, the safest way is a hormonal birth control method and a condom, every time.”

In danger of sounding like a freshman health teacher, the smart and healthy choice is obvious: before intimacy with anyone, both individuals should get tested. Free and confidential help can be found at the Family Planning Clinic on 723 Walnut Dr., Paso Robles.

A student at PRHS was diagnosed with an STI at the Family Planning Clinic

earlier this school year.

“I was experiencing pain when I had to pee; it was really bad. I really didn’t know what was wrong. I wish I had known more because I would have gone to the clinic earlier. Luckily, it was curable and I’m fine now,” she said.

An estimated 80 percent of adults have oral herpes and 25 percent have genital herpes, both of which diseases are permanent. This number may even rise as the majority of people diagnosed with an STD or STI are younger than 25. High school students are a large demographic of those under 25; as diseases, infections, and pregnancy are all preventable, a more aware PRHS correlates to a healthier campus.

Paso Robles High School

CHLAMYDIA Q & A

What type of STI is chlamydia? Chlamydia is a bacterial infection.

How do you become infected? Sexual contact with infected person through oral, anal or vaginal sex, or sharing sex toys.

What are symptoms of Chlamydia? Frequent and burning urination, itching, or tingling in the vagina or urethra. May or may not have discharge.

How long untill you see signs of infection? There have been cases where no symptoms show at all, but can show as early as 7-21 days (symptoms can come and go).

How do you prevent infection? Both partners should get tested and use condoms during all risky behavior.

How do you get tested? Visit the local clinic, start by calling (805) 237-3050.

Is it treatable? Yes. Complications if not treated? Can cause infertility, damage to reproductive organs, or chronic pelvic pain.

— Forest Erwin, Photographer Source from Lambda Medical Group

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Health

Medical malpractice wreaks mayhem for many Misdiagnosis of rare diseases prolongs sickness

Illustration by Reilly Newman

by Paul Cleland, Opinion Co-Editor and Madison Butz, Reporter

Fever. Aching joints. Headache. Anxiety. These could be simply symptoms of the common flu. But these could also be symptoms of impending death.

With thousands of diseases, conditions, and disorders, a doctor’s job of diagnosing can be extremely difficult. Sometimes doctors get it wrong, even after years of experience. Yet curing patients’ illnesses is part of most doctors’ jobs, and if this isn’t done well, it can have devastating repercussions for the M.D. and the victim.

With an estimated 98,000 patients killed each year in hospitals as a result of medical errors alone, according to a recent study by the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, it is clear that suffering patients aren’t always getting proper aid.

Especially disconcerting is the recent rash of for a Lyme infection that persists and continues misdiagnoses concerning Lyme disease. to sicken in spite of the recommended “I don’t think of it as a mysterious disease that causes treatment, according to latimes.com. A panel a lot of vague symptoms,” Dr.. Allan Steere of Harvard from the American Academy of Neurology Medical School, who discovered Lyme disease, said to came to the same conclusion: The diagnosis is the LA Times. “It doesn’t.” suspect, and treatment with antibiotics longLyme disease, a bacterial infection, is transferred term is simply dangerous. through infected deer tick bites. Its symptoms are Lyme can be cured effectively with a round ambiguous: rashes, swollen and aching joints, inflamed of antibiotics, but the issue with treating nerves, and fever. It’s easily mistaken for a common flu “chronic” cases with years of I.V. drips is the or another less dangerous ailment. potential of life-threatening side effects. In one “I warn my students on hikes to look for [ticks] on study cited by the LA Times, one-fourth of the their bodies, especially their scalps,” GEO teacher patients suffered severe problems linked to the Mark Dimaggio said, who has been bitten by many treatment, including blood clots, infection, ticks himself. “In the mid-90s I actually had a student and loss of the gallbladder. who was diagnosed with Lyme disease. She was sick There is also a strong possibility of creating for years—lost weight [and] was chronically tired. It antibiotic-resistant “superstrains” of the took at least two years for her to rebound.” bacteria. When populations of bacteria are EYE: Shown is a possible rash pattern due to the Some doctors believe wholeheartedly that Lyme BULLS exposed to an antibiotic, some of them may contraction of Lyme disease in a patient. Lyme disease is spread disease, even a “chronic” form of it, is a widespread and through infected deer tick bites. Photo used with permission of AP Images survive, due to lucky natural resistance. These serious disease. This movement has gained so much bacteria, now naturally predisposed to be momentum that “support” groups have appeared able to fight off antibiotics, start to multiply. across the country. Others are mere charlatans, The more antibiotics a person is exposed whose aim is to make money from extensive to, the more generations of bacteria can antibacterial treatments delivered intravenously, start to develop an automatic resistance to I warn my students on and are attempting to pass legislation encouraging antibacterial treatments. hikes to look for them doctors to treat patients with lengthy, dangerous The problem with most honest patients [ticks] on their bodrounds of antibiotics. is telling the difference between an honest ies, especially their “… [L]egislating treatments sets a dangerous mistake and a doctor who is trying to scalps.”

—GEO teacher Mark DiMaggio prescribe unnecessary, expensive medicine. precedent. When advancements are established in treating diseases, do we really want to be in a position In the end, doctors are human too, and in of having to change state laws accordingly?” said Dr. James A. Goodyear, stressful situations they are occasionally going to make mistakes. The bottom member of the Pennsylvania Medical Society. line to prevent a misdiagnosis is being knowledgeable about the body: be In fact, the Infectious Diseases Society of America examined evidence on educated, do research, and be aware. The more information that enters the “Chronic Lyme” and concluded that there’s “no convincing biologic evidence” doctor’s office, the more likely it is that the diagnosis will be right.

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Paso Robles High School

Happiest

... place egaPintxthe eN

U.S.

>>

Crimson 02.09.11 |

23

Wo

World

rld

Pie

ce

ts e p nip

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Et

Photo by Lindsay Reed

Christiaan J. De Nysschen: Ox tails and weekly ‘Thanksgivings’

OH SLO HAPPY: An aerial view of San Luis Obispo from the top of Bishop’s Peak on a January day. SLO was named one of the happiest cities in “Thrive.” Photo used with

Lyme disease Next Page ...

permission of Shannon Nelson

Move over Disneyland San Luis Obispo is happiest city in America

by Madison Butz, Reporter

>>

The idea of listing the happiest places to live has been around for a long time. Men flocked to California in 1949 for the gold rush, hoping to make their fortune. Young women today still take one-way bus rides to Hollywood, hoping to be discovered.

There has always been a dream there is a place where just being there automatically makes your life better. Nowadays, “happiness” is computed using millions of data points, thousands of surveys, and years of investigation, all of which is eventually distilled down to a “top ten list” in a magazine or book.

In his National Geographic book, “Thrive,” released in fall 2010, writer and researcher Dan Buettner named San Luis Obispo as the “happiest city in America.” Buettner defined SLO as a “vitality city… a city of strength, energy and vigor, where it all seems to work because its leaders and citizens share a bond of great purpose.”

Buettner documents the happiest people on earth in the first book to identify demographically proven “happiness hot spots” worldwide and reveals how “we can create our own happy zones.”

Based on a five year global study and thousands of surveys, Buettner identified four areas of the world which are each known for their high happiness levels: Denmark; Singapore; Monterrey, Mexico; and San Luis Obispo, California. Buettner identified these places as “the happiest in their region.”

According to Buettner’s advisory team, the average person can control about 40 percent of his or her individual happiness by optimizing life choices. These aren’t unreasonable demands on a person’s lifestyle, and they often require only slight changes. They fall into three categories that make up the way we live our lives: the food we eat, the way we exercise, and the social networks we foster.

Former Bearcat Shannon Nelson has found that perfect lifestyle in SLO. “It’s a great and beautiful city, no more I could ask for. So many young people, and everywhere you go you fit in,” Nelson said, who graduated PRHS in 2007. Nelson is attending Cal Poly for the fourth year.

Buettner may have identified SLO as being the happiest city in America, but he isn’t the only one who recognizes its unique charm. “The Oprah Winfrey Show” visited San Luis on Sunday, Jan. 15 to film an episode. The 3-minute segment featured actress Jenny McCarthy and camera crews, who checked up on Buettner’s claims. The episode aired on Wednesday, Jan. 26, at 1 p.m. eastern time; Cheers came from SLO’s residents, who view the episode as the recognition San Luis deserves.

Oprah wasn’t the end of San Luis’s positive attention, though. The web traffic to the SLO Chamber of Commerce website has increased by 749 percent, compared to the same time last year, according to Whitney Diaz, Internet services and publications director. The city has been visited by Parade Magazine, Delta Sky magazine, and Yahoo travel in the past two months, according to Lindsay Miller, director of marketing for the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce.

“Oprah has 30 million viewers,” Miller said. “I don’t even think we know what this will do to San Luis Obispo.”

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02.09.11 Crimson

Paso Robles High School

by Lindsay Reed, Reporter Pack up the family at 5 a.m. while the sun is still dreaming and set off west from the sleeping city of Boksburg for a day at the beach. Despite the sleep dust in their eyes, the two young boys in the back seat are bright eyed with excitement for the adventures ahead. As the family make their way up the steep, winding mountains, they find themselves above the clouds in time to marvel at the changing color of the golden clouds at sunrise, from a literal, bird’s-eye view. This is South Africa, the homeland of PRHS junior Christiaan J. De Nysschen.

Four years ago, 12-year-old De Nysschen and his family moved to America in search of better opportunities for the two children, like better education, higher income, and a safer environment in which to grow up.

He recalled a memory when, at six years old, his house had been broken into. Luckily only his backpack was stolen.

“We don’t know how he [the burglar] got over the fence; it was pretty high. We even had bars in front of the window. He actually got through those,” De Nysschen said.

Upon arriving in the U.S., his primary concern was school. Having never fully learned English at his private school, Leeuwenhof Acadamie, in Boksburg, “I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to adapt.”

However, on his first day at Flamson Middle School, current PRHS junior Zach Mondo, who was also new at the time, befriended De Nysschen almost instantly, helping him become accustomed to the education system. “We’ve been friends ever since,” De Nysschen said.

With South Africa’s warm, easy-going, family-based atmosphere, spending as much time with loved ones as possible is a common occurrence.

For the De Nysschen family, all dozen-plus members would gather once a week to catch up on each other’s lives.

“It is kind of like a Thanksgiving meal you would have here, but instead of it being once a year, it’s every Sunday,” De Nysschen said.

The cultural flavorings of De Nysschen’s Sunday “Thanksgiving” dinners follow suit with common American flavorings in cuisine as well.

Among De Nysschen’s favorites are: Boere Wors, which is much like the German bratwurst or sausage; Bebotie, ground beef, curry and eggs served on top of rice; and the particular cookery of Potjiekos. Similar to a stew with minimal water, Potjiekos is Ox tail covered in multiple vegetables, cooked in a black cauldron called “Drie-pot.” “It’s an acquired taste,” De Nysschen quickly explained.

Aside from family, friends, and cuisine, De Nysschen admits the wonders of the South African wildlife and geography are what he misses most. South Africa crawls with exotic wildlife found on reservations used for conserving animal habitats and tourism. The largest wildlife reserve on the African continent called Kruger National Park is approximately 7,350 square miles, consisting of 147 mammalian species, 517 bird species, and 114 reptile species, according to krugerwildlifesafari.com. De Nysschen’s grandparents just happen to live next door to the park, so close that warthogs and zebras roam the grandparents’ yard.

“I would like to [go back to Boksburg] but it is too expensive… I would love to go back to friends and family. Just have a ball and see what’s going on there. I keep in touch with friends on Facebook, but it’s not the same,” De Nysschen said.

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Cupid’s cutest couples

Fun & Games

Love is in the air this February, and it’s time to highlight some of PRHS’s twosomes.

nd 1a h, 1 2 i r t e, 1 mb a r t La u l ex G A l erald G

Together since Feb. 20, 2010, senior Gerald Gularte and junior Alex Lambirth have had 341 days to strengthen their relationship. Gularte loves Lambirth’s blue eyes, and she finds his dimples adorable. They also enjoy each other’s personalities.

“She makes me smile,” Gularte said.

12 es , Re ah 12 nn a, va i n S a y le P K

Seniors Kyle Pina and Savannah Rees became a pair on June 9, 2007. They are still walking hand in hand 1,340 days later.

“She’s really fun to be around, and to make fun of,” Pina said, whose smile is one of Rees’ favorite things about him.

d an

d an , 10 re z 1 m i la , 1 R a dil yla Pa K a r ia n Ad

Sophomore Kayla Ramirez and junior Adrian Padilla have been happily together since Oct. 8, 2009.

“He makes me laugh—he makes funny noises,” Ramirez said. Padilla loves her “fun” personality. The two love birds enjoy bowling as a couple.

—Nicolette Jolicoeur, Culture Co-Editor and Laura Callahan, News Co-Editor Photos by Emily Cone

nd 2a 2 z, 1 z, 1 no que Mu a r xa n M A l e a m ie D

Seniors Alexa Munoz and Damian Marquez celebrated their two year anniversary on Jan. 20, 2010. They met in sixth grade and love the humor each of them brings to the relationship. “We like to travel; we do things together whenever we get the chance,” Munoz said.

New additions to Hall of Fame

>>

A good journalist is never supposed to take quotes out of context.

Why? The following will answer.

Crimson took three quotes overheard from conversations in January and showed what happens when certain sentences are isolated.

— Austin Ehrhardt, Business Team

“This essay is verging on AP-ness.”

This was proclaimed enthusiastically by an anonymous English teacher much to the amusement of a few giggling students. His joyous and perhaps indiscreet proclamation was in response to an exceptional essay. To those unfamiliar with the acronym AP, it stands for Advanced Placement. The College Board, administrators of the AP Exam, does not promote the addition of the suffix “ness” to the acronym.

“The ocean is like wine. It’s really… good.”

d an 10 dy, 0 r Ju s, 1 nte oop Hu ick H N www.crimsonnews.org

“There are so many things [that I like about Hunter],” sophomore Nick Hoops said of his girlfriend, fellow sophomore Hunter Judy. The two have been together since Feb. 18, 2010. Judy loves Hoops’ ability to maker her laugh.

GEO teacher Mark DiMaggio prefaced a unit on the state of the world’s oceans with this awkward monologue. A disclaimer immediately followed: “That came out sort of weird. I actually don’t even drink wine very much.” Nonetheless, his class of seniors agreed the ocean is indeed good. Unfortunately, it will be a few years before they can legally compare it to wine.

“You guys really shot your whole wad on Brandon Ellsworth.”

AP English teacher Aaron Cantrell commented without hesitation on seniors Sheridan Cook and Aryn Fields’ purchase of senior Brandon Ellsworth in the Senior Sale on Jan. 14. They bought him for $76, the highest bid placed for a solo senior.

Paso Robles High School

Crimson 02.09.11 |

25

Sports

Sports

Locals become legends

PRHS alumni get into the Bearcat Hall of Fame

by Alicia Canales, Managing Editor PRHS alumni Tiffany Goudy and Don Parish were inducted into the Bearcat Athletic Hall of Fame at the halftime break in the Nov. 5 varsity football game against Righetti High School. Goudy and Parish were nominated due to their successful in high school and college careers and were reviewed along with about 75-80 other nominations by a committee of community members, according to former athletic director Mark Rose. The two received a plaque listing their achievements and a similar plaque is in the foyer of the Gil Asa Gym.

Softball queen

Cutest couples Next Page ...

ALL SMILES: Goudy smiled to the crowd after receiving her award at the half time of the senior night football game. She played varsity softball and volleyball at PRHS.

Goudy grew up in an athletic family. Her parents were racecar drivers, her brother wrestled and played tennis, and her sister played volleyball and softball.

Goudy started her athletic career at age nine with softball and age 11 with volleyball.

“Softball was my passion.… I enjoyed softball the best because of the adrenaline I had before pitching a game, the discipline it took to excel, and the opportunities I had to go to college…Volleyball was a sport I enjoyed playing,” Goudy said, who also tried soccer, basketball, and tennis.

Goudy attended PRHS from 1994 to 1998. Goudy was on the varsity softball team all four years and was team captain her senior year. She was MVP as a freshman and sophomore and of the Los Padres League as a senior. She received the County and Los Padres League Player of the Year award in as well as female athlete of the year in 1998. Goudy also played on the varsity volleyball team for three years.

“Tiffany was awesome. She was very humble and always treated everyone with respect. Students, teachers, and coaches alike adored her positive attitude and fantastic work ethic. She was a one of a kind student-athlete, who went on to have a great career in college as well,” Rose said.

During her senior year, she went on a recruiting trip to University of Michigan, University of Hawaii, Pacific University, Colorado State University, and Fresno State University. Goudy attended Colorado State University with a sports scholarship and played softball for one season as a freshmen as “the Rams’ top

pitcher with a 12-11 record and 2.74 ERA [Earned Runs]” in 1999, according to goaztecs.cstv.com.

Goudy transferred to San Diego State University with a sports scholarship in 2000. Goudy played on the Aztec softball team for San Diego State University from 2000-2002. As a college sophomore for the Aztecs, she played in 39 games, had 13 appearances as a pitcher, and had 103 at-bats with a .291 batting average. She also made the all-tournament team at the Texas Tech Red Raider Invitational,” according to goaztecs.cstv.com. Goudy started all 64 games in 2001 in right field. She had 19 Runner-Batted-In and 26 hits in March 2001. “[College sports is] a lot more hard work and dedication. In college everyone is good, and you have to put a lot of time and discipline into the sport. You earn a lot of respect from the student body and the surrounding community when you are a collegiate athlete,” Goudy said, who also had a .382 batting average in March 2001.

After graduating from San Diego State, Goudy pursued a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at New York University. However, she did not play for the softball team. She graduated in 15 months and became Registered Nurse.

Nowadays, Goudy just “tries to stay in shape” with her husband and Paso native John Rede and their two “momma’s boys:” two-and-a-half-year old Jackson Allen and 16-month-old Blake Bear.

In retrospect, Goudy stated playing in college was “one of the best times of my life.”

Football hero

Parish attended PRHS from 1962 to 1966 and played on the varsity football team. He received a full ride scholarship to Stanford University, according to Rose. He became a professional NFL player and played as a line backer for the Denver Broncos (1972), St. Louis Cardinals (1972, 1971, 1970), and Los Angeles Rams (1971).

“Don was before my time, but I had heard of him even down in Southern California…I met him for the first time at the Hall of Fame induction, and he was a very soft-spoken and humble person,” Rose said.

Photo by Emily Cone.

Winter varsity sport stat update

>>

Boys Basketball:

Girls Basketball: Boys Soccer: Senior Chelsea Kuhns

Senior Josue Gutierrez

Girls Soccer:

League:

League:

League:

Overall:

League:

Overall:

15-2-3

4-0-4

15-2-4

Senior Jacob Murray

Overall:

2-6

8-13

Best Match: Beating Pioneer Valley at home on Jan. 26.

Player Quote: “Our team strategy is to try our hardest for every single match and to never give up.”

26

02.09.11 Crimson

Overall:

2-6

9-12

Best Match: Beating Pioneer Valley at home on Jan. 3.

6-1-1

Best Match: Beating Righetti at home on Jan.14 (won 14-2).

Player Quote:

Player Quote:

“I think the best part about this season is the way our team has come together. We have really learned how to play together and feed off of each other. When one person is down or not scoring, someone else will come and pick up the slack.”

“The team’s overall winning strategy is working as one unit, and everyone helping each other out to gain stronger selfconfidence. And as I’ve heard before [from Nelson Mandela], ‘it always seems impossible, until it’s done.’”

Senior Maddy Cline

Best Match: Beating Atascadero at home on Jan. 28 (won 6-4).

Player Quote: “The handshakes. Colby [Yarborough] and I have a sweet handshake we do before every game, followed by mine and Krista [Broderick’s], and then Krista and Colby’s. It starts the game off with a positive vibe which shows throughout the field.”

Paso Robles High School

Girls Water Polo: Wrestling: Senior Andria Posmoga

Senior Ryan Miller

League:

League:

Overall:

4-6

7-7

Best Match: Our loss to San Luis Obispo at home by 1 point on Jan. 27.

Player Quote: “At the New Berry Park tournament down south in Thousand Oaks/West Lake, we were the last game of the tournament; and we were playing A-town and we ended up beating them 5 to 3! The tournament was a great bonding experience.”

Overall:

5-1

9-1

Best Match: Beating Pioneer Valley on Feb. 1.

Player Quote: “Our most surprising team moment was placing in the top five this season at the Bash.”

—Paul Cleland, Opinion Co-Editor Photos by Paul Cleland

www.crimsonnews.org

Do you know Isaiah?

Senior Isaiah Jackson, varsity football and basketball player, sets the challenge to see who knows the most about him. Weighing in are friend and teammate senior Jesse Felgenhauer, Jackson’s Father Mike Jackson, who Jackson says he spends a lot of time with when they are at home, and varsity basketball coach Scott Larson, Jackson was in Larson’s AP U.S. history class and has been Jacksons coach for the last two years.

Sports

Rountree and Stokes receive state recognition SLO Tribune awards junior and senior Athlete of the Year in football and volleyball

by Paul Cleland, Opinion Co-Editor, and Shanna Dowling, In-Depth Editor

Photo by Shanna Dowling

Isaiah Jackson

The Friend: Jesse Felgenhauer

Whats your favorite thing to do in free time?

Eat Eat food Something you say a lot?

Like Like Who is the funniest player on the basketball team?

Jesse Me Worst nightmare ?

Getting my clothes or shirts dirty Has nothing to wear in the morning Characteristic of the perfect girl?

Thick, smart, cute, athletic Thick, brunette Favorite TV show?

The Middle, Sports Nation Dream career?

Chef Any weird obsessions?

Clothes and shoes Favorite movie?

“Book of Eli” Genre of movie you hate the most?

Chick flicks

Total: www.crimsonnews.org

The Dad: Mike Jackson

The Coach: Scott Larson

Video games

Eat

Like

Like

Jesse

Ben Oliver

Bad hygiene

10 minute tip drill

Booty, cute, athletic, and smart

Brains

The Middle, Sports Nation The Middle

Anything on the History Channel

Chef

Working for his brother

Sports talk show host

Clothes and shoes

Scottish music

Lemons and lemonade

“Book of Eli”

“Book of Eli”

“Hoosiers”

Horror movies

Chick flicks

Chick flicks

8 out of 10

6 out of 10

4 out of 10 —Torey Wise, Sports Editor

Paso Robles High School

Elias Stokes

Junior Elias Stokes fought his way to victory on the football field and into the esteemed title of 2011 prep football San Luis Obispo County Player of the Year. Stokes, who already held the position of PAC 7 MVP, ascended as a leading JV player his freshman year and moved up to Varsity for the 2008 playoffs.

The honor of Player of the Year did not come as a complete surprise to Stokes, whose overall touchdown count reached 28 and his point per game average was 12.9, according to maxpreps.com.

“I knew it would be a toss-up between me and [Templeton senior] Tyler Gray, so I was kind of shocked, but I mean I had a good year. The team really helped get me there,” Stokes said.

Stokes’ proudest achievement of the season is when he broke 1,000 yards receiving with assistance from senior quarterback Jacob Searcy and senior kicker and Photo essay receiver Aleksander Koch. ... egaP txeN “I owe a lot of my success to working hard [during] summer with the Shake Weight and Wii Fit. [Junior] Tanner Berry’s calves also motivated me when we were down and out,” Stokes joked.

The three-year PRHS athlete has an impressive sports reputation behind him and finished out the season strong.

>>

Tess Rountree

Photo by Torey Wise

Senior Tess Rountree has bumped, set, and spiked her way to a prominent reputation in PRHS volleyball. With a 10-2 team record her senior year and 4.1 kills per set average, Rountree has emerged with a fifth rank standing in Division 1A of the CIF Southern Section and has earned The Tribune’s San Luis Obispo County Player of the Year.

“I thought she was the difference for Paso,” Arroyo Grande coach Ernie Santa Cruz said to SLO Tribune regarding Rountree’s performance in the PRHS team’s second victory over Arroyo Grande.

“Tess kind of carried that team.”

Rountree also led the PAC 7 her senior season in hitting percentage and aces with 28.1 percent and 47 in 68 sets (a 0.7 average) respectively. This season has followed all-league first-team honors in both her sophomore and junior years.

“I really wanted to be [Player of the Year] and my goal was to be league MVP. I was excited,” Roundtree said.

Whether breaking the Paso Robles record of 6 feet 5 inches on the high jump in track and field or earning Player of the Year on the volleyball court, Rountree has set new standards in PRHS sports.

Crimson 02.09.11 |

27

SNAPSHOTS

A look into the lives of PRHS Bearcats CAHSEE SESSION (BELOW): Students gathered on Feb. 1 to retake the -California High school Exit Exam in the Activity Center.

 Do you know Isaiah?

Next Page ...

>>

DODGEBALL BATTLE (ABOVE): The annual PRHS dodgeball tournament took place during the week of Jan. 28. The winning team, PR Empire, was composed of Trever Dunn, Anthony Collins, Jeremy Record, Rob Phillips, Jesse Felgenhauer, and Spencer Brock. Isaiah Jackson and Adrian Jauregui were not on the team, but were happy for their friends.

Photos by Kim Boswell, Emily Cone, Katie Wingfield, and Caitlyn Curran

SENIOR SALE: Seniors Krista Broderick and Amanda Searcy were two of the many seniors sold for the annual Senior Service Sale Week. All proceeds were donated to the Paso Robles Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Shelter.

28

02.09.11 Crimson

SKILLS USA: The PRHS auto class had their Skills USA contests in the categories of mobile electronics, motorcycle tech, automotive, diesel, collision repair, and power equipment technology during the week of Jan. 31. Senior Ethan McCoy was one of the 17 students involved.

McCARTHY: On Feb. 4, 2011 students filed into the Activity Center to listen to Congressman Kevin McCarthy, a representative of the 22 district, which includes Paso Robles. ASB President Kyleigh DePetro introduced McCarthy who went on to speak for 15 minutes followed by student questions. Topics included the health care bill, shark finning, and light hearted remarks about the Super Bowl.

Paso Robles High School

www.crimsonnews.org