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A Year In Review
Var Com ela mu nic Acaatio demns y
View p oints F rom th e E d itors
Senior Edition
Hits and misses Having a Viper Day.
Megaphones. Just. Megaphones.
Stifling restrictions on uniforms and use of technology. There are bigger wars to wage.
Having something this difficult to say goodbye to. Vipers - from students to teachers - are the best.
Best Buddies’ delectable cookies. How are we supposed to survive without those?
Our steadfast devotion to an increasingly standardized life. We are not defined by boundaries.
A final letter from the editor I walked into room 228 as an anxious freshman hiding behind her bangs. By the end of that year, I had fallen in love with journalism and forged what would become life-changing friendships. I realized early on that I was in it for the long run. Four years, several struggles and innumerable changes later, I’m writing my final farewell to the publication. This is where normality ends. I’ve grown so used to this routine of late nights in newspaper that finishing my last issue just feels wrong. I’ve poured too much into this newsroom to ever leave it. But it’s still an inevitability. Even as I write this letter, the reality of goodbye has yet to sink in. A big part of me hopes it never does. As I go forward from this moment, I know there is only one way to close this chapter in my life. Now and for a long time to come, I have
thanks to give: To my parents, for their unwavering support, constant car rides and unconditional love. To every teacher who has ever let me out of class in the name of meeting a deadline. To every teacher who has offered us their support. To every source who has sat down with us and made this publication come to life. To the Florida Scholastic Press Association, for the passion and growth it fosters. To Mr. Joe Humphrey, for being one of the best teachers I never had. To every journalism friend I’ve made throughout the state. To every fellow Viper Vibe staffer who has shared this publication with me. To the Communications Academy advisers who were always there. To Giovanna Navas for absolutely everything. And, time and time again, to Mrs. Elizabeth Cardenas, whose tireless love, mentorship and wisdom has shaped me from that unreliable, timid freshman into somebody I hope she can be proud of. It’s been an honor. It’s been everything. DFTBA, Claudia Morales // Editor-in-Chief @ravenclawdia
volume 12 May ‘13 Editorial Board EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Claudia Morales LIFESTYLE EDITOR Giovanna Navas SPORTS EDITOR Suzanne Pontillo VIEWPOINTS EDITOR Ciro Salcedo MANAGING EDITOR Janelle Malagon
Staffers
Taylor Daley Katie Ewald David Murray Jean Oliveros
Adviser
Elizabeth Cardenas
Editorial Policy The Viper Vibe is the student newspaper of Felix Varela Senior High (15255 SW 96 St. Miami, FL, 33196). It is an open forum for student expression. The opinions expressed in the publication do not reflect the official opinions or policies of the school. The Viper Vibe welcomes letters to the editor, but requires that they be signed and reserves the right to reject, edit and condense letters. The staff and davisor can be contacted at 305-752-7900 or thevipervibe@gmail.com
Ads The Viper Vibe solicits advertising but reserves the right to reject any material deemed obscene as to minors, defamatory or materially and substantially disruptive of school activities.
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View p oi nt s F rom the Editors
We Say:
a farewell from viper vibe seniors
This is the editorial we never wanted to write. For over a decade, every year of the Viper Vibe has been punctuated with a final editorial - a farewell from the departing seniors. Seeing our older friends make one last deadline has become a tradition. But we were never supposed to have to write this for ourselves. At one point or another, we walked into room 228 for the first time. Whether we were timid freshmen or ambitious juniors, crossing that threshold was pivotal. There have been days where we’ve stayed here so late that the night janitors have looked at us with pity. We know how to microwave popcorn to perfection, fix up the best coffee ever, and order Chinese takeout like nobody else. These are the minutiae that you pick up after years of dedication. They stitch together stretches of deadline stress and everyday monotony, tiding us over until the next adventure. And the adventures have been plentiful. We’ve pulled missions to get interviews and had our fair share of disputes with just about every authority figure in the school. We’ve discovered that the hallways go hauntingly dark after 8pm and the library’s carts make excellent magic carpets. This publication has brought us closer to the school. Facing single digits on the graduationcountdown, we are left with this: we are insurmountably indebted to what Varela has given us. To the students who we’ve shared classes and stories with. To the janitors, security guards and faculty who keep Varela running, often without thanks. But 4
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more than anything, to the teachers. To Mr. Daniel Reyes, whose genuine enthusiasm and dedication beyond infectious. To Ms. Raisa Garneff, whose zany personality and grandmotherly affection never fail. To Mr. Rey Bode and Mr. Ozzie Quintana, who give their drama kids a place to belong and make memories for all the school to share. To Dr. Roberto Vichot, whose ceaseless helpfulness and brilliance can inspire anybody. To Ms. Roxanne Sanders, whose unwavering support has kept many of us going. To Ms. Vivian Guerra, whose passion for broadcast journalism is evident every single morning. To Mr. Carlos Escobar, who we will never admit impacted us as deeply or lastingly as he did. To Ms. Zoila Garcia, who we could always rely on in our abundant times of crisis. We can’t count how many times she’s saved the day or offered us comfort. To Ms. Kristina Garcia, whose bold wisdom and unique way of caring was always a presence in our newsroom. We can’t really imagine weekdays without in-depth discussions about The Walking Dead or hilarious sarcasm. In all honesty, we really don’t want to. From advising an incredible literary magazine to always chiming in with prolific guidance when we needed it the most, she’s given Albus Dumbledore a run for his money. And to Ms. Elizabeth Cardenas, our newspaper adviser and “school mommy.” This is the hard part. This is where, even as journalists, we must admit that words fail us. Mrs. C is unparalleled. She has a ferocity to rival Severus Snape’s but a genuine love and kindness to challenge Molly Weasley’s. She’s Gryffindor
through and through, bold in her beliefs and always ready to defend us. She knows how to offer us her unconditional support one moment and put us in our place the next. Her iTunes library has become the soundtrack of our adolescence, interrupted only by deadline nagging and accusations of blue pen theft. Mrs. C: We don’t know how to thank you. We don’t know even how to communicate to those outside of our newsroom how much you’ve meant to us. So we hope that the absence of words says enough. High school is a formative experience. From freshman year, we start becoming the people we want to be. What we don’t expect in those wide-eyed beginnings, however, is the role the school plays. When that realization finally hits, we are left with this: the hope we gave something back. As we peel our superhero posters off the newsroom walls and take home the cardboard TARDIS that stands in the corner, the only physical proof of our time here will be the archived issues we once slaved over. A new staff will take our place. Memories will be made without us around. And even as we try to move on and pretend high school meant nothing, we will look back on our time here with a jarring nostalgia. But if there are staffers still stealing blue pens in our wake, readers still grumbling about our opinions and teachers still recalling our oddities from time to time, then we’ve done all that we could. Thank you for everything, Varela. Mischief managed.
Viewp oints Op in ions
varela offers valuable experiences
by Claudia Morales Editor-in-chief @ravenclawdia “When adults say, ‘Teenagers think they are invincible’ with that sly, stupid smile on their faces, they don’t know how right they are. We need never be hopeless, because we can never be irreparably broken. We think that we are invincible because we are. We cannot be born, and we cannot die. Like all energy, we can only change shapes and sizes and manifestations. They forget that when they get old. They get scared of losing and failing. But that part of us greater than the sum of our parts cannot begin and cannot end, and so it cannot fail.”
Alaska Young Looking for Alaska by John Green
I used to respond to the adage that “High school is the best time of your life” with “It better not be.” As graduation approaches, though, my retrospect is rose-tinted. I do hope for better days, but I know that if anything outdoes my time here, I’ll be lucky. Varela has been good to me. In my four years as a Viper, there have been downsides. I’ve failed my fair share of classes, seethed over perceived
injustices and grown disenchanted with our education system. There have been bad days and worse years. But hard times fade quickly. The bulk of my memories are the best ones. There are things I fear forgetting-deadline delirium and caffeinated rambles. Riding distribution carts down the hallways and chasing sources for interviews. Running around Orlando hotels and being on a first name basis with Magic Wok management. And even if newspaper was the focal point of my experience, other memories were made elsewhere. Attending a school so bold in its passion has been infectious. We are not a community that exists meekly between 7:20am and 2:20pm. We thrive after the final bell rings, putting in far more time than is asked of us. More than anything, it is this passion that will stay with me. My favorite classes have been defined by enthusiasm. There’s really nothing like seeing Mrs. Nadaskay talk about history, Mr. Bellon about math or Mrs. Rogers about literature. I never excelled in any of those classes, but I enjoyed every minute. And then there are classes that have left their mark in the most lasting ways. I chose Contemporary Literature class as a senior year elective on a whim. Then I walked into the class in August and found myself in an all-girl class led by Mr. Escobar, whose vaguely terrifying reputation preceded him. From that first day, it’s been one of the best experiences in my life. The class is made up of such brilliant, driven minds that I often question why I’m allowed to be there. Between reading lifechanging books and participating in marriage proposals, we’ve grown alarmingly close. I feel indebted to those twenty-something girls and that unparalleled teacher. I’ll fight tooth and nail to deny this, but I’m going to miss Mr. Escobar’s relentless teasing almost as much as I’ll miss his unwavering dedication to his students and his poorly-concealed emotions. I’ll carry the things that
newspaper, Contemporary Literature and Varela have given me everywhere I go. These, then, are my parting words: Cherish the opportunities this school will give you. Know that your favorite teachers are unparalleled. Know that you’ll one day miss this. Don’t make your high school experience a passive one. You don’t have to go to dances, games or parties if that’s not your thing. You don’t have to participate in spirit week. But find a niche, pursue your passions, and make a place for yourself in this school. Sure, detachment makes for easier goodbyes. If you stay a 7:20am to 2:20pm student, you might not cry when seniors graduate or even when you do. That’s a stark contrast against the pain of leaving a place you love before you want to, but the latter is worth it. There are memories to be made here, adventures to go on, friendships to forge. Make the most of your time here. Be boundlessly, ceaselessly passionate in everything you do. And, as they say in my hometown of Nerdfighteria, don’t forget to be awesome.
Imagine what you could create with guidance from Art Institutes faculty, industry-standard technology, and a collaborative community of creative thinkers like you. There’s a world of opportunity and we’ll help you prepare for it. Take the next step and contact us today; there’s a school near you.
800.225.9023
aiadvantage.com
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Viewp oi nt s Op i n ions
top seven terrifying disney incidents by giovanna navas lifestyle editor @gioomaria While theme park accidents are not limited to Disney boundaries, some of the most gruesome incidents have occurred within its magical walls. And because we here at the Viper Vibe are suckers for irony, here is a list of the top seven most terrifying Disney accidents.
7. Mission: Space - Florida Soon after Epcot’s Mission: Space opened in Epcot, two incidents occurred. The first including a four year old boy with an unknown heart condition and the second a 49-year-old woman with high blood pressure. Yes, both victims had pre-existing conditions; however, both were amplified by the intensity of the ride’s G-forces. As a result of these incidents, a less intense version of the ride was opened in which the pod does not spin. In addition to this, many people have claimed headaches, dizziness and nausea after riding.
6. Monorail - Florida Negligence on the part of Disney World monorail operators in Orlando, Florida caused a mix-up in the track system. Monorail Pink and Monorail Purple were operating on the same track, coming at each other from opposite directions. The two trains collided, totaling the cockpits, injuring over 20 people and killing one of the operators.
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5. Big Thunder Mountain - California The ride in Disneyland derailed when a locomotive separated from the train while in a tunnel. One rider bled to death and 10 others were injured.
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4. Monorail - California After the 1966 Grad Night at Disneyland, 19-year-old Thomas Guy Cleveland thought it would be a good idea to sneak back into the park via monorail track. He was spotted by a nearby security who signaled to him to get down, who he ignored. What Cleveland didn’t know, however, was that this security guard was actually trying to warn him of an oncoming train. He was struck, run over, and dragged across the track. His body was dismembered. 3. America Sings - California Florida park-goers may know this attraction as the Carousel of Progress. California’s Disneyland Park was the original setting for the Carousel until they transported their animatronics to Orlando’s Magic Kingdom in order to change their own rotating theater to an attraction called America Sings. Deborah Gail Stone worked the ride as a hostess, greeting the audience before the show was to begin. The attraction consists of six rotating seating areas around a stationary stage. The incident occurred when Stone stepped too close to the edge of the floor and fell in between a rotating wall and a stationary one, crushing her to death. Ride operators were only notified when audience members from an adjacent theater heard her screaming. Since then, the ride installed a light that notified ride operators whenever a cast member stepped too close. In addition, the solid walls were replaced with breakaway ones. 2. People Mover - California Seventeen-year-old Ricky Lee Yama thought it would be funny to jump from one car to another on the slow-moving People Mover. As a result, he was run
over by an oncoming car and dragged slowly down the track until his skull was allegedly split in half. Naturally, after this incident, another teenager wanted to try it. High school senior Geraldo Gonzalez tried a similar stunt during his Grad Night in 1980. He came to a similar conclusion. It is rumored that his torso was detached from his body. 1. The Matterhorn - California The incidents on this ride are a result of negligence on the part of the rider as well as poor restraints. Disneyland’s Matterhorn was subject to two gruesome deaths. One being from a teenaged boy who decided to stand up when the ride hit its peak. The boy was then thrown off the ride and onto the tracks where he died from a crushed skull. Similarly, 48-year-old Dollie Young was thrown onto the tracks about two-thirds of the way through the ride where she was then run-over by the coaster. Being dragged down the tracks, tangled in its wheels, Young suffered gruesome chest mutilations and head injuries. Most of these accidents were caused by rider negligence. So if you don’t want to be the next Disney Park statistic, follow the safety instructions. If you have a preexisting heart condition, do not go on rides that warn you otherwise. Disney parks are fun and magical and bring out your inner child. So enjoy them. Just do it safely. SOURCES Los Angeles Times Bonaventure Press Los Angeles Herald-Examiner Orlando Sentinel Snopes.com
news
WHITE HOT: Varela was selected to represent Miami Heat fans on national media. NBC and WSVN reported on the school’s enthusiastic fan culture on May 24. The day prior, they were encouraged to wear white in support. (photo by Taylor Daley)
Dr. Vichot Q: What will you miss most about the class of 2013?
I had some iPrep classes so that was a unique experience with those students. There was the Mr. Varela competition was rather unique this year, we had good competitors. I had excellent philosophy classes that are probably one of the best as far as participation and engagement. And of course there is the experience of the individual students that I have had.
Q: What will you miss most about Varela?
Sarah Figueira
“Definitely my friends that I’ve made over the years.”
Carlos Cortes
“I’m going to miss drama the most.”
Jasmine Solomon
“Troupe 6162 and performing.”
News
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2012-2013 in review Day in and day out, Vipers put in long hours and notable effort toward their individual programs. There are days where the school is liveliest long after the final bell has rung: the Band of Mystery practices, Drama rehearses, athletes work out. Many of these students go on to compete in their respective fields, and have the awards to show for it.
Njrotc
Navy JROTC Unit Achievement award for the ninth consecutive year. Only school in Dade County given this Stars and Stripes Field Meet at Flanigan HS 3rd place unarmed basic drill 3rd place unarmed exhibition drill 5th place armed exhibition drill 4th overall in drill events
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Brigette Carrillo 1st Place - Financial Accounting John Stephan 1st Place - Information Technology Angelica Garces 1st Place - Child Care 2nd Place - Word Processing Raul Tablada 1st Place - Bank and Finances 4th Place - Human Resources Karina Gonzalez 2nd Place - Legal Office Procedures 5th Place Career Skills 6th Place - Civic and Government Rodrigo Hinojosa Honorable Mention - Customer Service
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Performing Arts All-State Jazz Band 1st sax Fernando Ferrarone one of two students from MDCPS Grammys Schools Jazz Band NFAA Merit Award with the Young Arts organization
Communications FSPA Individual Evaluations at the state level 29 - Honorable Mentions 14 - Excellents 10 - All Florida 2nd place Adrian Morales - Hand Drawn Illustration Anthony Ramirez - Lit Mag Writing 1st place Claudia Morales - Storify Mehgan Espinosa - Hand Drawn Illustration Best of the Best Claudia Morales - Profile Claudia Morales - Editorial Connor Nelson - Prose Honorable Mention Suzanne Pontillo - Short Story
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Notable Vipers art Antonia Jimenez Dade Counseling Association High School Counselor of the Year Taylor Blumingold 2012 Homecoming Queen Dr. Roberto Vichot Teacher of the Year Ms. Karina Rodriguez Rookie Teacher of the Year
Award Winners
Nyamekye Smith Prom Queen “It feels incredible because [Prom King] Rashaud and I have actually been planning to run since freshman year.”
Winners of the Congressional Art Competition Jose Rivero Paula Galvis Laura Aldana Tiffany Arias The following students were accepted to the 2013 Beaux ArtistStudent Artist Showcase: Jessica Cuadra Bridgette Remmen Allison Taylor
Vet
Dairy Goat and Rabbit Showmanship South Florida Fair 12 awards FFA District Completion 6 awards 2013 Ag. Mechanics CDE Preliminary 1 award State Fair 9 awards Miami-Dade Fair 9 awards Districts 5 awards
Fatima Ramis Silver Knight Honorable Mention “I’m very proud of myself that I was able to accomplish something, even though I wasn’t really going for the award.”
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News
A ro u n d V arel a
Test training merges studies and athletics by Taylor Daley staff reporter @thevipervibe
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In an effort to help students do well on the FCAT and End of Course (EOC) exams this year, the administration came up with the idea of merging cross fit training with reviewing for these major tests. Freshmen and sophomores were invited to get additional help in FCAT Reading, Biology EOC, Algebra I EOC and Geometry EOC exams. Students were expected to attend sessions scheduled for Saturday mornings in April and May. “I felt terrible waking up. I didn’t want to go. I wanted to sleep, but it’s better to go,” said freshman Julian Rivas. Other students didn’t have the problem of waking up in the morning to go to school “I usually wake up around eight anyway, so it was okay,” said freshman Devan More. Academic CrossFit was the brainchild of Assistant Principal John Galardi and SPED teacher Illiette Ojeda. Topics for the reviews came from Interim data. Teachers looked at students’ weaknesses, where there was the most struggle, and encouraged them to come to the reviews. “It’s hard to have a teenager come in on a Saturday and sit still for an hour, “said Galardi. “It allowed the students to focus, to get the oxygen flowing and the blood pumping. It’s important to be mentally healthy and physically fit.” Ojeda, who is an L1 CrossFit certified trainer coaches adults and teens. “With CrossFit, learning of skillset in short sessions is the primary component in seeing successful progress,” said
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Ojeda. “Having the students in short sessions learning a specific skill would in turn maintain engagement and quality productivity - that is the goal.” For the FCAT review, approximately 300 students met in the cafeteria where they were given their review packet and then divided up into groups. Each group moved through five different sessions covering topics such as vocabulary and text features. Classes were held in the iPrep building, but to the surprise of many students, there was an actual physical workout period held in the gym. There were personal cross fit trainers that explained the new “My Plate” design made by First Lady Michelle Obama. This design will take the place of the old food pyramid. The trainers had five different stations where students worked out for about three minutes each, repeating the cycle twice. “We did lunges, burpees and running,” said freshman Barbara Garcia. The Algebra CrossFit review was held in the main school building on the first floor in the math wing, unlike before when it was in the iPrep building. This time around it was harder for Vipers to keep up. The physical exercise program changed using aerobics so that students worked out their cores. “It was hard. I had tight jeans on,” freshman Katie Carmenaty said. The Biology Cross fit had about 200 students participating in four sessions that dealt with meiosis and mitosis, photosynthesis and respiration, cell structure and DNA.
“The timing was bad because many of my students had an Advance Placement review that morning,” Biology teacher Nicholas Oehm said. “I think more people would have shown up if there wasn’t a [scheduling] competition.” According to Biology teacher Sara Tosada, there were “hands on activities,” such as creating a flip book for meiosis and mitosis as well as cutting out the equations for photosynthesis and respiration and rearranging them on desks. Like Algebra, the Geometry CrossFit took place in the math wing. They covered topics such as special right triangles, tangent lines, quadrilaterals and circles.Besides acting as a review for FCAT and EOC’s, many teachers offered extra credit to students who attended the Saturday sessions. “I really went because I needed help,” said freshman Andrea Linares. “They actually showed me things that helped me remember.” While some students went because they needed the help, others had ulterior motives. “I only went to the cross fit because of the extra credit,” said freshman Celine Cabrera. Linares went to both the FCAT and Algebra CrossFits. “The cross fits did help me,” Linares said. “I couldn’t remember everything on the test but [the review] helped me remember some things.” According to Galardi, response from the students was good and they plan on continuing with the Academic Cross fit training next year.
the sitch Students from Varela’s Global Studies magnet took home first place in the Haitian Revolution History Bee. The competition, which was conducted Family Feud style, took place at the Little Haiti Cultural Center on Saturday, May 18. Accompanied by social studies teacher Daniel Vinat, freshmen Taylor Daley, Izka Edmond and Emily Marin battled it out in three rounds, finally defeating Miami Edison High School for the win.
Seniors Arianna Brito and Maria Mesa and sophomore Ryan Bauta, with adviser Elizabeth Morales, participated in this year’s Speak Your Peace: Youth Empowerment Summit. Varela held its summit on Thursday, May 16, in the auditorium. Brito, Mesa and Bauta presented a powerpoint on bullying, sharing statistics and contact information for helplines. The Drama program performed a scene from their show Bang Bang Now You’re Dead.
On Wednesday May 2, a meeting was held in the auditorium to discuss the Bond Referendum that had just been passed. This bill, which 70 percent of county voters investing over 1.2 billion dollars in a General Obligation (GO) Bond for renovating facilities, updating technology, building school replacements, expanding student capacity, and enhancing facility safety. Superintendent Alberto Carvalho came to speak at the meeting, talking about how the voting process was fast and he hopes that students in the district are accepting of it
Trying something new Varela to participate in exchange by Jordan Cline Staff Reporter @Thevipervibe While most teachers have the summer off to relax and recharge their educational batteries, English teacher Natalie Castillo will be participating in the International Students Academy (ISA) Program. Castillo will be traveling to Shenzhen, China to prepare students that will be coming to the United States where they will finish high school and attend college. Miami-Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS) will be receiving 30 senior students from China, some of which will be assigned to Felix Varela. Last year, the Chinese government approached MDCPS Superintendent Alberto Carvalho with the proposed program. He in turn sent them information about all of the high schools in our district. The Chinese government chose seven schools to host their students. Varela’s students will come from a school in Beijing. Our principal, Ms. Nery Fins, met with the headmaster of the sister school. “The Chinese government is trying to expand its opportunities for university for students,” Castillo said. MDCPS received approximately 300 applications from teachers to participate in this program. Of those, 60 teachers were interviewed, but only three were chosen. Castillo will travel with two other teachers from G. Holmes Braddock Sr. High and Dr. Michael Krop Sr. High. They leave on June 14, and return on July 27. While she is there, Castillo will be teaching critical thinking skills.
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The experience these students have in MDCPS will differ greatly from their education back home in China. Students in China are only required to stay in school until they are 15 which is when they enter high school. If a student continues into high school, parents are required to pay small fees. The students coming to Varela will already be able to speak English, with varying degrees of fluency. According to Fins, their senior schedules will probably include Language Arts, Calculus, a high science and American Government and Economics. They will have the opportunity to select two electives just like other students. While they are here, students will be living with host families. These families are located in the neighborhoods of the selected schools. This program is gradually expanding. Currently, Varela has students from Germany. Eventually, we will also be receiving students from Brazil. The Brazilian students will be juniors and have a modified school year. “The kids from Brazil have a really special thing because their seasons are reversed, like their our summer is their winter,” Castillo said. “They will only be here for half the year and then they spend the other half of the year in New Zealand.” “We are now an International Student Academy,” Fins said.” So next year we may get like 15 Chinese and 15 Brazilian and four German, so we are going to start seeing a big group. The first year’s always small because they start small but I would figure by two or three years we’ll probably have a good 50 to 60 maybe even 100 international students here.”
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t h ev i p er vi b e . t u m b l r. com
lifestyle Some of this generation’s most beloved open-world games are riddled with bugs. The sequel “Dead Island Riptide” suffers the same affliction. (photo with permission MCT)
New ‘dead island’ game is not worth price by ciro salcedo viewpoints editor @cj_fett_salcedo Dead Island: Riptide opens with a cargo ship that gets caught in a storm and crashes onto a beautiful island that is full of the undead. This is exactly how I felt after playing this game. I was lured in thinking I was going to have a great time, only to have my expectations die like most of the characters in this game. Yes it’s a fun game to play, but graphical issues and terrible storytelling hold it back from being anything special. Dead Island: Riptide wastes no time in showcasing its biggest problem in the first six minutes: it doesn’t have an interesting story. The game begins with a short recap of the events of the first Dead Island, telling the story of exAmerican football player Logan Carter, rapper Sam B, Hong Kong police officer Xian Mei, and Australian bodyguard Purna, four survivors who are immune
to the zombie plague. They meet a new survivor and land on an island overrun by the undead. Pair this story with a George Lucas-quality script and you have something that is much scarier than any zombie you’ll ever encounter. It doesn’t help that the game doesn’t look nice either. It manages to look a lot worse than the first. PC players enjoy better textures and much better looking character models, but it still looks pretty ugly. Characters look more dead than than the zombies do, with nothing more than the occasional half smile, half frown. Lip-synching is hilariously bad. It’s funny just to watch the characters’ mouths catch up with the words they said only seconds before. Not that anyone would like to listen to the dialogue since the voice acting is terrible. Riptide is also littered with bugs and glitches. Enemies get stuck in midair, limbs have minds of their own and the occasional gameplay breaking glitch that forces me to start over. Gameplay wise, the game does a pretty good job. I found myself enjoying
hacking and slashing my way through hordes of the undead. Although I dreaded the 20 hour campaign, it was impossible to stop playing after the main story was completed. The replay value lies in the robust leveling system. People who played the first game and were tricked into buying this one have a choice of importing their characters here to get a head start in leveling up. Even with great gameplay, the game feels too much like the first. Dead Island: Riptide is a deeply flawed game. That’s really it. It’s fun to play but that is no reason to even consider buying it. I recommend picking up the Dead Island: Game of the Year Edition for $20. This is the first game that comes with all the downloadable content (DLC) for a pretty good price. As far as this one goes, I would recommend renting it - if that. There is no reason that anyone should pay $50 for a $20 experience.
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Summer movies Whether you’re into action, comedy, fantasy, or post-apocalypse, this summer has a film for you to look forward to. Here are the editors’ picks for the most anticipated cinematic events of the summer.
Man of steel
June 14
Man of Steel plans to reboot Superman into a much darker and realistic universe. The first in a shared fictional of DC Comics characters, the story follows Clark Kent’s (Henry Cavill) origin as he learns about his powers and uses them to protect his new home from General Zod (Michael Shannon), a Kryptonian general with the same superpowers as Superman. With a duo like Christopher Nolan and Zack Snyder, there is no denying that Man of Steel will be the best comeback for one of DC’s greatest heroes.
The Great Gatsby
by tiffany balz
When it comes to film adaptations of highly acclaimed novels, it needs to be understood that they are two completely different entities. The Great Gatsby is based off of an American novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald that has become a staple in classrooms and a classic piece of literature worldwide. The story is set on Midwesterner Nick Carraway who is lured into the lavish world of his neighbor, Jay Gatsby. Subsequently, Carraway sees through the cracks of Gatsby’s nouveau riche existence, where obsession, madness and tragedy await. Films had already been made based off the story, but now it was
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World War Z
June 21
It doesn’t seem as though the book-to-screen adaptations movement is going anywhere anytime soon. Based off the same-title novel by Max Brooks World War Z, has been a topic of discussion since the novel’s film rights were acquired. In this apocalyptic movie, Gerry Lane (Brad Pitt) is asked by government officials to leave his family to travel the world in an attempt to track information to stop the zombie virus. If the film is anything like its deriviative novel and stays true to its explosive and beautifully constructed trailer, it will be one of the best films of the summer.
Baz Luhrmann’s turn. This director, known for movies such as , Moulin Rouge and Australia, is famous for his vivid, artistic screenplays and visual effects. The visuals of the exuberant and roaring New York of the 1920s were grand and vivacious, the actors portrayed the characters perfectly, the soundtrack was modernized for less time period detachment, and for those who do care about how the novel and film align, the changes were minor. The soundtrack featured a wide variety of current artists such as Jay-Z, Lana Del Rey, DJ Nero, The XX, and many more in order to give the film Luhrmann’s modernized twist, though, this didn’t hinder the film’s faithfulness to the time period. DiCaprio was a spitting image of the mysterious, obsessed, melancholic Gatsby and his connection to Mulligan’s portrayal of Daisy was exactly the spark their deep relationship expressed. Maguire was awkwardly charming as Carraway and it was lovely to watch. This movie is very well executed, a delight and is worth the time and money to go see it.
A-
contributing writers: Giovanna Navas, Janelle Malagon, Ciro Salcedo, and Suzanne Pontillo
to watch in 2013 city of bones
Kick Ass 2
August 21
june 28
Kick-Ass 2 follows two high school superheroes Kick-Ass (Aaron TaylorJohnson) and Hit Girl (Chloe Grace Moretz), who decide to work together after the death of Big Daddy (Nicholas Cage). Now public figures, they gain a fanbase that yearns to be just like them. But when citizens start fighting crime, problems arise. Meanwhile, Red Mist (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) plots his revenge on the protatonists and the government, tired of masked vigilantes, decide to put a ban on costumed heroes. This starts a rebellion full of ridiculously costumed “heroes.” Joining the growing list of vigilantes is Colonel Stars and Stripes (Jim Carrey). It seems like a promising concept. Let’s hope it does justice to its predecessor.
the lone ranger july 3
Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter are in a movie together and Tim Burton isn’t directing it. This time, Gore Verbinski (Pirates of the Carribean) is giving the actors a spin. Very much like the Pirates franchise, The Lone Ranger is a darker and edgier family film with a balance between humor and action. In this, a Native American warrior (Depp) recounts the untold story of how a masked hero (Armie Hammer) went from a man of the law to a beacon of justice.
Iron Man 3
by suzanne pontillo Iron Man 3 follows the events of The Avengers - superheroes fight, get together, kill aliens, destroy New York and then go their separate ways. As a result, Tony (Robert Downey Jr.) struggles with anxiety attacks triggered by memories of the events. These aftershocks, and those of a big mistake Tony made during his infamous playboy days, is what the film is centered on. The film’s characterization is guaranteed to tug at the heartstrings. From seeing the cocky, confident Stark break down to the scenes with Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow). She and Stark had an incredible and distinct chemistry that is not often seen in movies. Joining the cast for this installment is Killian Aldrich (Guy photos courtesy of Disney, Paramount Pictures, Disney Pixar, Screen Gems, Warner Bros, Universal Pictures, Legendary Pictures, Plan B Entertanment, Silver Bullet Productions.
Katniss Everdeen isn’t the only fiery young heroine hitting the big screen this year. The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones follows fifteen year old Clary Fray (Lily Collins), a headstrong Shadowhunter hellbent on rescuing her mother (Lena Headey) while still trying to adapt to the terrifying world of angels, demons, vampires, faeries and werewolves. It’s a movie with a little bit for everyone: wit, romance, breathtaking sets, and heart jogging action. A definite breath of fresh air from the mundane (no pun intended) Young Adult fantasy film adaptations recently released.
Pearce) and the Mandarin (Ben Kingsley.) These two, who inevitably put on an amazing performance, are possibly the creepiest and funniest villains in Marvel film history. They’re also one of the riskiest villains due to the their heavy CGI and the fact that they pull a big trick on the audience that would leave them either seething in anger or laughing in approval. Marvel is making good use of their increasing budget by implementing it in the special effects department. Iron Man 3 had dozens of Iron Man suits flying around, a plethora of explosions, and humans whose entire beings were filled with fire. In Iron Man 3, director and co-writer Shane Black (Kiss Kiss Bang Bang), shows his notoriety for fast paced witty dialogue between characters and over-dramatic action shots. The banter between Stark and Harley Keener, (Ty Simpkins), is one of the best examples of this. Marvel fans are going to enjoy Iron Man 3. Hopefully, the rest of the movies in Phase 2 are just as good as this one.
A-
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L i f est y le E nt er tai nment
Cold war kids stray from MUSICAL honesty by janelle malagon managing editor @janbydesign
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With three albums already under their belt, fans of Cold War Kids would figure that they’ve nailed down a sound that they and their fans could be happy with. At least, that’s what I had hoped for. People who have never listened to this great band before will probably fall in love or at least tolerate it. Cold War Kids fans however, will probably be just as disappointed as I am, questioning the future of this band. This is possibly due to the fact that Cold War Kids lead guitarist Jonnie Russell left the group prior to Dear Miss Lonelyhearts’ conception, leading to Dann Galluci replacing him. Dear Miss Lonelyhearts sounds like a mix between an updated soundtrack to the 1982 sci-fi film, TRON and it’s successor, TRON: Legacy. If Daft Punk and OneRepublic got together and rediscovered the power of 80s synthesisers and put out an album, they may have called it Dear Miss Lonelyhearts. Because that’s exactly what it sounds like. On the bright side, fans can be assured that Gallucci is perfectly capable of writing what he promises, since the album does sound “spacious,” as he stated in an interview with Australian news source, the Herald Sun. So spacious, in fact, that it sounds like it was recorded in an empty warehouse with no echo correction. One thing Cold War Kids kept consistent throughout the album was the painful amount of instrumental layering. What happened to straightforward composition? Where did the originality from Robbers and Cowards - which resulted in one of the featured segments sounding bicycle spokes being tinkered with - go?
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Some songs are bearable if I ignore who allegedly put out this album. One of their lead singles, “Lost That Easy,” is a standalone alright song, if one were to ignore the fact that it is a Cold War Kids production. As I listened to their lead single “Miracle Mile,” I actually stopped what I was doing, opened up Spotify and made sure I had not started my OneRepublic playlist by mistake. According to lead singer Nathan Willet, Cold War Kids found their new sound in “Lost That Easy” and the third track of the album, “Loner Phase.” Well that doesn’t sound promising at all. Especially since “Lost That Easy” would pass for an audition to be featured on the TRON 2 soundtrack. “Loner Phase” is the pinnacle of over-layered music. With the overpow-
photo courtesy of Downtown
ering electronica back-tracks, Willet was nearly impossible to appreciate, as was Gallucci’s playing. All in all, it was very difficult to gauge how good Gallucci actually is because, despite their excellent history of guitar-composition, Gallucci seems reluctant to write his own instrument into a song. The only consistency that what I’ve now come to call the “post-Russell” era of Cold War Kids has from the “pre-Gallucci” era is the outstanding percussion beats. Drummer and percussionist Matt Aveiro is a knock-out in almost every song, as he always is. Aveiro is the saving grace of the album because there is very little overall musical diversity. The only real diversity comes from Aveiro and his percussive beats. Although, to be quite honest, when
Lifestyle E nter tain ment “Fear & Trembling” first started playing, I thought I was accidentally listening to the theme song from Goron City from Ocarina of Time. My greatest issue with Dear Miss Lonelyhearts as a whole is the fact that it sounds nothing like the band that produced it. Certain songs, on their own, are bearable. They are not necessarily good, but I can listen to them without mourning the death of my favourite band. Jeremy Lukens of Glide Magazine got it right when he asked, “why is there a dance floor when we’re at a Cold War Kids concert?” I really wish I had an answer for you. The champion and saving grace of the album is “Jailbirds.” Unfortunately, it’s the shortest song of the album. Whereas “Bitter Poem,” which is in need of lyrical rewriting, is needlessly five minutes long. “Jailbirds,” though bringing in some of that TRONtastic flare, remains somewhat true to the sound that attracted swarms of loyal fans to this group back in 2007 with their debut. Lyrically, it seems that the boys have given into the popular trend of three stanzas repeating for a song that goes on too long. The lyrics are a stark change from their previous works, becoming more personal and less in-yourface. Frankly, the album is composed of depressing lyrics on the whole, especially in the lead track, “Miracle Mile.” If I wanted to listen to a band singing about their sadness and not be assaulted by vocal layering and synthesisers but rather by good voicings and great compositions, I’d listen to Three Days Grace. All in all, I wish this was just the upset ramblings of an angered fan, but despite the anger - as a musician - this album is below average at best. It will likely be a hit with people who follow the quickly emerging fascination with a combination of rock, pop and electronica, but for everyone else, pretend it never happened.
D+
clockwork princess Cassandra clare by giovanna navas lifestyle editor @gioomaria The final installment of Cassandra Clare’s Victorian fantasy trilogy The Infernal Devices has finally been released and it is guaranteed to render its readers an emotional wreck. However, the urge to give Cassandra Clare a special seat on the Council of Sadistic Writers (along with JK Rowling, Hunger Games author Suzanne Collins, and John “I give terminal illnesses to wonderful characters” Green) isn’t the only thing readers are going to be able to take away from this novel. It didn’t rely entirely on depressing the reader as much as possible. In truth, Clockwork Princess is an honest-to-god good book. The story takes off with a suspenseful tension that immediately lets the reader know that this isn’t a story that’s going to take any breaks. And it doesn’t. The plot is constantly in motion, whether it be the central conflict between the genocidal, dark mechanic Mortmain and our Shadowhunter protagonists, or the substantial character subplots. One thing to always expect from a Cassandra Clare novel is its immersing quality. She has created this Shadowhunter universe so effortlessly well that a reader can go years without picking up one her stories and then be able to jump right back into it, feeling as if they’d never left. It feels as genuine as our own world. Her characters are crafted with such realism that they don’t even feel like characters. They feel like friends. Friends that Clare has developed profoundly over the past three Infernal Devices books. Though, there was very special focus this time around on Jem Carstairs, an altruistic young Shadowhunter dying of a terminal demon illness. In this book, we truly see a shift in Jem’s priorities, and the choices he makes for himself and those he loves
photos courtesy of McElderry Books
are ultimately shocking. We are also given insight on characters that were glazed over in the previous installments, such as the bitter and resentful Gabriel Lightwood and the fiery Cecily Herondale. With these wonderfully complex characters, there is a chemistry that is so genuine, it’s literally impossible to dislike. Clare has somehow managed to create the only love triangle ever known to Young Adult literature that didn’t make me want to gouge my eyes out. This love triangle actually makes the reader feel just as conflicted as the characters. What makes it so frustrating is the fact that it isn’t two guys fighting over the girl. Rather, it’s three people who love each other equally and unconditionally. Among all this, there is consistent action and suspense. While book one, Clockwork Angel was action-driven and its sequel Clockwork Prince was more emotionally based, the final novel was like an intense mixture of the two. It’s jagged, unpredictable and so gripping. The book is about 550 pages long, yet readers will devour it in no time at all. It seems impossible that a story so fleshed out is as fast as it is, but the pacing is remarkably suspenseful. In the end, Clare manages to tie up every loose end and completely void the story of any potential ambiguity that some authors frustrate readers with. (Mockingjay, anyone?) And it is shockingly satisfying. Despite having a story so absolutely conflicting, it is satisfying. There are just so many wonderful things to say about Clockwork Princess. It was emotional, it was immersing, it was painful, but it was so beautiful. The Infernal Devices is the best Young Adult fantasy series in existence. I can say that with no hesitation. While the pain was excruciating, it was worth it. Cassandra Clare’s stories are worth it.
A+
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S port s | I n V arel a
spring sports come to a close Tennis This season was rough for the tennis team; however, Head Coach Judy Kubit hopes to have a better season next year and rebuild the team.
Baseball The Varela Vipers baseball team finished this season with a final record of 11-7, making it to the playoffs for the first time in four years, but unfortunately falling short to South Dade, 3-8. Seniors Frankie Rodriguez and Juan Pimentel have been chosen to play in the All Star Game. 18
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Track The track team had a great deal of runs in districts, regions and states. Seniors Arthor Alcuria and Lea Tardineo became district champions; Alcuria finished 2nd in regionals. Senior Angeloes Serna came out 9th in the mile at states.
Boys Volleyball With a record of 5-1, the boys volleyball team qualified for the district tournaments. Once there, they lost to their district rival, the Sunset Knights, making the final record 5-2.
Badminton Senior Samantha Cruz made her way to the badminton county finals, where she lost, but became all county runnerup. The team is ending the year with a record of 7-1.
Softball The softball team ended the year with a record of two wins and 11 losses. Junior Giselle Mesa pitched most of the games for the Vipers and finished the season with 60 strikeouts.
Contributing writers: David Murray, Kristian Quincosa and Suzanne Pontillo
Sp or ts | I n Varela
Scholar-athletes of the year Scholar-athlete [skol-er ath-leet] adjective : Student atheletes that have excelled both in sports and academics and are recognized in the county.
athletic scholarships Name: Juan Pimentel Sport: Baseball School: Indian River State College Major: Business Administration “I’m not stopping [at college baseball], I plan to continue professionally. I don’t care what team I’d play for, as long as I’m playing.“
Name: Zachary Deerr Sport: Football School: Mount Union University Major: Anesthetics/Exercise Science “It’s my way of getting out. Everytime I think about it, I picture myself on the field and I get excited. “
Name: Sarah Palomba Sport: Girls Soccer School: Illinois Greenville College Major: Criminal Psychology “This scholarship means a lot. I got a full ride so my parents don’t have to worry and I’m going to get a great education.“
Name: Raul Cappiello Sport: Football School: Ventura College Major: Marketing “Football is my life. To get the opportunity to play for a college and being able to pursue football is incredible. “
Name: Sean Vilmenay Sport: Football School: Mount Union University Major: Business Administration/ Financing “If the opportunity presents itself, [I will pursue this as a career]. That’s my goal.“
Name: Lea Tardanico Sport: Cross Country School: University of North Carolina at Pembroke Major: Undecided “It’s exciting. I get to achieve more goals like running faster times. It’s really special.“
Name: Jordan More Sport: Football School: Southeasten University Major: Business Management/ Sports Management “I fell in love with the campus since day one. I’m excited to be the first entering football class.“
Name: Jose Orellana Sport: Football School: Webber International University Major: Business Administration “I’m excited to have new teammates, meet people and compete at the next level.“
Photo courtesy of Foxmar
Maria Chicuen, 12 Girls Volleyball & Badminton “I felt good because I worked really hard this past four years in school and in my sport.”
Name: Kevin Gray Sport: Football School: Webber International University Major: Business Management “I’ve been playing since I was six or seven years old. This is my opportunity to shine. “
Name: Jazman Brown Sport: Basketball School: St. Thomas University Major: Criminal Justice “[I’ve been playing since] maybe 3rd grade. It’s my passion. Sadly, I only realized that and started playing two years ago.“
Santiago Gonzalez, 12 Boys Soccer & Boys Volleyball “I felt very accomplished knowing I could represent the school both academically and athletically.”
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