tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64661638547653315572024-02-22T06:53:11.298-08:00The UnionThe Unionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15209676660147767143noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466163854765331557.post-69553602195135102612011-05-07T15:08:00.000-07:002011-05-07T15:08:00.784-07:00MHS wins DeJesus baseball tourney<i>by Y-Dan Bui</i><br />
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<span class="large"><span class="big">T</span>he Milpitas Trojans Varsity Baseball team</span> began the season by winning three games to take home the Michael DeJesus tournament, according to Coach Chuy Zamudio. The tournament, which took place February 22-26 this year, annually honors Former Player Michael DeJesus who was killed in 2005.<br />
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The Trojans were able to win due to the team’s ability to limit huge mistakes and play sound defense, Zamudio said. It was important for the team to start off strong right out of the gate.<br />
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“It was crucial for us to get off to a good start,” Zamudio said. “It makes everybody know that ‘hey we have something special that we can do this year.’”<br />
Even though they won the Michael DeJesus tournament, Senior First Baseman Kevin Tu said the team can do better. They are on the way to reaching their potential though, according to Tu.<br />
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“We expected to be a little better than we are right now but we’re getting there,” Tu said. “We just haven’t put together a full game yet.”<br />
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The team’s hitting and pitching were good enough for them win the tournament, according to Senior Shortstop Alex Herrera. As a senior, Herrera said he hopes to be a leader in his last year.<br />
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“My goal is to lead the team on offense and on defense,” Herrera said. “And I am also going to try to be a good role model.”<br />
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The team has always had a positive attitude, Pitcher/Third Baseman Ronnie Reed said. Reed, a freshman on varsity, described a relatively new feel being on a team with leaders.<br />
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“I’ve never been on a team with older leaders that actually pick up people since I was a little kid,” Reed said. “It’s an honor being a freshman on varsity. At first I didn’t want to do it because I thought gonna be too challenging but I love a challenge.”<br />
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The team’s goal is to win their league and the first championship in twelve years, according to Zamudio. At the early point in the season, Zamudio said he liked his chances.<br />
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“[Our chances] look pretty good,” Zamudio said. “There is no one team that is going to run away with this.”The Unionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15209676660147767143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466163854765331557.post-41379424610664533142011-05-04T15:34:00.000-07:002011-05-04T15:34:00.781-07:00Plot complicated by Limitless ideas<i>by Mary Kay De Guzman</i><br />
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<span class="large"><span class="letter">T</span>hough it is not true that human beings do not use the full capacity of their brain power,</span> the film Limitless directed by Neil Burger takes on the challenge of having a person be able to tap into the 80% of the mind that is left unused. Based on the novel The Dark Fields by Alan Glynn, the film chronicles a man’s life at the moments before and after he begins taking a special drug that taps into the brain’s full potential. <br />
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In Limitless, Eddie Morra (Bradley Cooper) is a copywriter stuck on his blank document as he attempts to write a book. He remains in his room, unkempt and uninspired, until his significant other, Lindy (Abbie Cornish), admits that their relationship is not working out. Morra then finds himself depressed as he walks down the street, where he runs into his ex-wife’s brother, Vernon (Johnny Whitworth). Though Morra is unexcited to see him, Vernon takes a special interest in Eddie and offers him a new drug that could enhance his life: NZT. Vernon leaves him with a sample, and Morra ends up taking the pill, which brings a whirlwind of conflicts into his life.<br />
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The simplicity of the story--a man’s struggle to deal with the internal and external effects of an all-powerful Adderall-type drug --seems to get lost in everything happening around him. Everything just seemed to belong in a 30-minute episode in order to further push the impact of Morra’s struggle. The morals of being careful knowing the side-effects and knowing your limits seem to get lost in the cinematic blurs. <br />
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Simply put, Limitless should have limited itself to less Hollywood and more focus on the story at hand. There seems to be a limitless supply of imagination and concepts mashed into one movie. If anything, the film should be limited to the Blu-ray and DVD players that can handle the story’s constantly unresolved mood swings.The Unionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15209676660147767143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466163854765331557.post-62766706072089649662011-05-03T15:06:00.000-07:002011-05-03T15:06:00.377-07:00Badminton season starts; freshmen have ‘potential’<i>by </i><br />
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<span class="large"><span class="big">T</span>his year’s badminton season officially started</span> on March 21 at Monta Vista High School, Head Coach Jonathan Huynh said. According to Huynh, he hopes to have everyone play well this season. <br />
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Huynh encourages the athletes to play with confidence. He wants to make sure the players know that he can help them, Huynh said.<br />
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“[I don’t teach] because I love the sport,” Huynh stated. “It’s because I love to teach and to see kids succeed in what they love to do.”<br />
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Tryouts were strenuous, Junior Eric Chang said. The badminton team’s training is a composition of rigorous conditioning, advanced drilling, and intellectual discussion, according to Chang.<br />
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“There is an emotional distance between players,” Chang said. “We are aloof from each other. We should be closer as a team.”<br />
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The team has potential to do better than last year, Senior Kevin Yao stated. They lost a lot of seniors last year and those players were really good players, Yao said.<br />
“We have more potential, but we are weaker,” Yao said. “We have a lot of freshmen that train and they have good technique.”<br />
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A team goal this season may be to have fun no matter what, Junior Michelle Cheah said. According to Cheah, she hopes to try harder, work harder, and play harder this season.<br />
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“There is going to be a lot of hard competition,” Cheah stated. “Since a lot of seniors left, we have to work harder this season.”<br />
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Some of the freshmen are too confident, Yao stated. The freshmen do not understand how hard playing badminton is, Yao said.<br />
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“Badminton is a lot of work,” Yao said. “[The freshmen] are underestimating the sport.”<br />
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The team has a strong bond and the members are there for one another, Cheah said. However, the team gained a lot of new players, such as underclassmen, this season and those new people do not have the technique to play as well, according to Cheah.<br />
“The new people have potential,” Cheah stated. “When you start anything for the first time, it’s hard. So, I think that [the freshmen] will get better once [they] get used to [playing] more.”<br />
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A lot of seniors that have graduated were strong, Senior Larry Chan said. The team has higher expectations because they have to meet up to the standards that the previous seniors set, Chan added.<br />
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“Next year, they are going to have a lot of work,” Chan said. “I think [the JV team] in general, is a pretty good group. They can hit unlike previous years and they have the potential to develop more.”<br />
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The team’s goal this season is to improve, Chan said. He hopes to do well during the season personally and to place in CCS, Chan added.<br />
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“I joined badminton because my sister got me into badminton,” Chan said. “The sport is fun and it’s a passion.”The Unionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15209676660147767143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466163854765331557.post-36226328631759062652011-04-26T15:00:00.000-07:002011-04-26T15:00:01.299-07:00Golf ‘off to good start’; team gains ‘experience’<i>by Bonnie Cheung</i><br />
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<span class="large"><span class="big">T</span>he MHS Golf Team is off to a good start</span> this season with a league record of 6-3. In comparison to last year, the team is more mature as they have gained more experience, according to Coach Nathan Dixon. <br />
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Dixon’s goal for the team this year is to have the team’s top two golf players win the league, so they can go to the league tournament. However, it is more important to have as much fun as possible, Dixon said. <br />
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The team’s biggest strength is that they are hardworking, according to Dixon. They practice a lot, Dixon said. <br />
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“Our biggest weakness is definitely confidence,” Dixon said. “I know the players are better than they think they are.” <br />
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Dixon would like more people would try out for the golf team, he said. He tried to get the word out and promoted the sport this year.<br />
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Senior Joey Jirasevijinda has been on the team since his freshman year. He hopes the team wins the league championship this year. His dad encouraged him to join golf because it requires great discipline, Jerasevijinda said. <br />
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“We have a pretty great team this year, so we should be able to do that,” Jirasevijinda said. <br />
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Players are required to attend practice every day from Monday to Thursday for three hours. There is also optional practice from Friday to Sunday, according to Dixon.<br />
“It gets a little stressful at times, but it’s still doable,” Junior Jason Kuo said. He has been on the team for three years. <br />
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Kuo says that the team has definitely improved from last year. In order for them to make league championships, the team should practice more and make smart decisions, according to Kuo. <br />
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Dixon looks for certain qualities in players when they are trying out. “Besides knowing how to play the game, they have to be hardworking, reliable, and trustworthy,” Dixon said. <br />
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Currently there are no girls on the golf team, but Dixon hopes girls will try out for the team. He aspires to get enough girls in upcoming years to make a girls team. <br />
Dixon chooses to coach golf because he gets to play free golf. The sport also teaches students a lot about life, according to Dixon. <br />
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“Golf is a lot like life,” Dixon said. “ When things go wrong, its going to snowball, but you’ve got to stay positive in order to keep playing the game.”The Unionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15209676660147767143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466163854765331557.post-23739988663051963932011-04-20T15:18:00.000-07:002011-04-20T15:18:00.751-07:00Classic tale of knights comes alive in Merlin<i>by Kewa Jiang</i><br />
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<span class="large"><span class="big">T</span>he vivid and vibrant Arthurian world</span> comes to life in the show Merlin, which has already ended its third season on the BBC and had premiered in the US two years ago on NBC. Merlin, unlike previous adaptations of the legend, begins with an arrogant Arthur (Bradley James) as a prince while Camelot is ruled by King Uther Pendragon (Anthony Head), his father. Merlin, likewise, is not a sagacious, old wizard, but a young man who becomes Arthur’s friend and man servant after saving his life. Many other well known characters from the legend appear, but with a twist. For example, Guinevere (Angel Coulby) is a servant girl in the castle and not a damsel-in-distress Arthur saves. Moreover, Lancelot is introduced as a commoner who wishes to be a knight, but cannot because knights must be of noble birth.<br />
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In this version of Camelot, magic has been outlawed by King Uther, thus Merlin must keep his powers secret while under the tutelage of the local healer, Gaius (Richard Wilson), who possess a vast knowledge of magic. Morgana (Katie McGrath), a ward of King Uther and before she is known as Morgan La Fay, also has magical abilities of her own that she keeps hidden. Throughout the different episodes, Merlin, Arthur, Guinevere, and Guis battle a spectrum of magical creatures, spells, and villains, such as trolls and love potions. While Arthur is outwardly the princely savior, it is always Merlin who clandestinely saves the day with his magic. Moreover, under Merlin and Guinevere’s guidance and scolding Arthur evolves from a haughty prince to a true leader. <br />
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Merlin has excitement and adventure, but it is also full of heart and laughter. The characters have genuine bonds and are complex with their own motives, passions, and vices. In addition, the love that blossoms between Arthur and Guinevere is natural and there are difficult obstacles preventing them from being together. However, not all the episodes are great, some have fallen short of expectations as the writers resorted to cliche plot devices. In general, the series has been worthwhile and I truly recommend it to those who have enjoyed Arthurian legends or those who like the fantasy genre.The Unionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15209676660147767143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466163854765331557.post-15711109268282601852011-04-18T14:42:00.000-07:002011-04-18T14:42:00.585-07:00Spring trends at MHS<i>by Hanna Tran</i><br />
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<span class="large"><span class="letter">A</span>s the season changes from winter to spring,</span> the warmer weather calls for fewer layers and new styles to add to one’s closet. Many new trends have popped up recently in the fashion industry to prepare the masses for the coming of this new season. <br />
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One idea that fashion designers and vintage stores are promoting is the fact that Letterman jackets are not only for athletes anymore. Loose-fitting and comfortable, Letterman jackets, or varsity jackets, have soared in popularity for men and women this spring season. The versatility of these sporty jackets can be worn day or night and for any occasion. Paired with jeans and a contrasting t-shirt, one can spend a casual day out with friends. However, wearing a Letterman jacket with a solid or striped sweater and khaki pants can suit as wear for a more formal night out. <br />
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If sporty Letterman jackets are not the style of choice, denim wear such as jackets, button-up shirts, and dresses are also making a comeback this spring. Fashion designers are promoting the pairing of denim jeans with other denim items, a style choice not encouraged in the past. Fabrics that are similar to denim and have similar blue hues also fall under this category.<br />
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Besides blue, neutral colors are becoming more prevalent as well. Neutral colors such as shades of browns, blacks, whites, tans, grays and other calm colors reflect the gentleness of the weather as it warms up after the harsh coldness of winter. Floral patterns reflecting the emerging flower buds of spring are also gaining popularity in girls’ clothing. These patterns also add a vintage look to an outfit.<br />
In the area of pants, high-waisted trousers are being worn by top women models for spring this year. Specifically, cropped capri trousers, of which have trouser legs that end several inches above the ankle, are the new alternative to skinny jeans. Trousers that have rolled-up pant legs to fulfill this cropped length are also a hot cut for these capris this year. They are most often seen in the colors of khaki, army green, gray, black, brown, and navy blue.<br />
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As for footwear, military-style combat boots have come into style recently. With rounded toes and laced up or buckled straps, these leather boots add a hint of military-chic and vintage to any outfit. They can be dressed up with a biker jacket and leggings or jeans to create a tough, rocker look, or sweetened down by pairing them with a floral dress and added jewelry.<br />
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As one can see, old styles are once again gaining popularity this spring, albeit with different fashion twists specific for this year. Make sure to stay fashionable and stock up with these essentials this spring season.The Unionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15209676660147767143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466163854765331557.post-18877587560254564562011-04-12T14:46:00.000-07:002011-04-12T14:46:00.260-07:00Boys’ Tennis ‘slowly improving’<i>by </i><br />
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<span class="large"><span class="big">T</span>he Boys’ Varsity Tennis team</span> has started off the season with a ?-? overall record, according to Head Coach Bill Conley. The team has a 5-3 record in the El Camino League, Conley added.<br />
This year’s team is more balanced than last year’s. Although the team is inexperienced, team members have been helping each other to get better, Conley said.<br />
“We’re practicing really well,” Conley said. “Every day we see our team getting better on the court.”<br />
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One of the team’s weaknesses is a lack of experience, Conley said. In particular, the team lacks any USTA (United States Tennis Association) players, according to Conley.<br />
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“We don’t have a lot of USTA players, which is something that hurts us. Our guys don’t play a lot of tournaments outside the tennis season,” Conley said. “That doesn’t give us as much experience as some of our competition.”<br />
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Despite losing experienced seniors, this year’s team is still strong, Conley said. The leadership of returning players has helped a lot this year.<br />
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“Because of the leadership that I’ve had this year from players, I’d say that we’re actually more balanced from our highest position to our lowest position,” Conley said. “[The team has] been helping one another get better. The doubles teams are playing really solidly this year.”<br />
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Senior Brian Nguyen has been on the Varsity team for three years and this is his first year as the team captain. Being the captain means that he has to focus on strengthening a new team as well as himself, Nguyen said.<br />
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“I’ve never had to coach anyone before. I’m spending most of my time training the team instead of working on myself,” Nguyen said. “I want to get everyone better for next year because it’s the first time playing on Varsity for a lot of people.”<br />
The team had to adjust to having many new players in the beginning of the year, Nguyen said. However, the team has become closer as the season has progressed, according to Nguyen.<br />
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“In the beginning of the season, I didn’t know any of the new players,” Nguyen said. “Our teamwork is slowly improving day by day though. We’re becoming more of a family instead of strangers.”<br />
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Junior Mateus Cirino is a first-year Varsity player. The team is dedicated, but there is still a lot of room for improvement, Cirino said.The Unionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15209676660147767143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466163854765331557.post-14036665061556055792011-04-11T15:11:00.000-07:002011-04-11T15:11:00.095-07:00Pokémon embarks on new journey<i>by Kevin Nguyen</i><br />
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<span class="large"><span class="big">C</span>urrently one of the most popular game series</span> for the Nintendo DS platform, Pokémon Black and White was released this March after much anticipation. As the fifth installment in the series, the role-playing game elements and turn-based fighting are still intact, but feature many developments that add new dimensions to the game, creating a new Pokémon adventure of its own.<br />
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The protagonist is on a quest to be the very best, like no one ever was. Though an oddly familiar statement, this goal should, and will always be, the premise behind every Pokémon game. As usual, the featured Pokémon trainer must choose from one of three starting Pokémon. Using this one starter, the trainer will catch more Pokémon to train and eventually build a solid team that will help them earn eight gym badges and defeat the Elite Four and its champion. However, this journey will be interrupted by Team Plasma, an organization with plans that threaten the Pokémon world, though the antagonist’s structure is much more dynamic than in other series.<br />
Visually, Pokémon Black and White’s graphics are levels beyond its predecessors. Sprites are fully animated and dialogue is now presented in speech balloon format, allowing multiple characters to speak at once. During battles, the camera highlights important events rather than remaining static. The addition of seasonal weather is aesthetically pleasing and adds notable effects to terrain. The old Pokémon Contests that have served as an alternative to battling have been replaced by Pokémon Musicals, a modified version that focuses on props for Pokémon.<br />
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With 156 new Pokémon introduced in Generation V, a total of 649 Pokémon are now able to be used regardless of which version a consumer may have. Though there may be Pokémon encountered in-game specific to each version, active players can easily overcome this limitation using new multiplayer features such as C-Gear and Global Link that offer new functionalities that expand the Pokémon universe and allow players to interact online. The sheer number of Pokémon leads to a unique battling experience with so many diverse and effective line-ups.<br />
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Competitive players will find that the metagame has changed dramatically with the introduction of the new Pokémon Dream World, which allows Pokémon to interact online and obtain new abilities. Pokémon that were once deemed useless may now have stronger synergy and have important roles on line-ups. Additionally, many new moves have been added and older ones have been revamped.<br />
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Given the attention to detail and absorbing gameplay, with Black and White, it will never be too late to catch them all.The Unionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15209676660147767143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466163854765331557.post-72302525641344401912011-04-08T15:48:00.000-07:002011-04-08T15:48:00.241-07:00GoodSearch generates revenue for MHS<i>by Zoe McCracken</i><br />
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<span class="large"><span class="big">G</span>ood Search is a search engine</span> that donates a penny to Milpitas High School with every search, said Principal Ken Schlaff. It is a great way to raise money for the school with minimal effort put in, said Schlaff.<br />
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To use the site, students choose Milpitas High School as the charity and type what they want to search for in the text bar, Teacher Michael Bautista said. However, the site does have some restrictions in regards to the search engine.<br />
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All searches must fall under the “honest” search category in order for the school to receive a penny. “An honest search is one where you don’t search random things,” Bautista said, “When you keep searching random things, [goodsearch.com] blocks your search.” <br />
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Good Search has already benefited Milpitas High School with the Digital Business Academy alone, Bautista said. With only those students, 10,000 searches have been made raising the school $100.<br />
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If goodsearch.com were to be spread to the whole school, the money raised for Milpitas High School would become even greater. “Good Search’s potential is unbelievable,” Bautista said, “People are the key.”<br />
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If every student were to make ten searches on goodsearch.com, the school would make more than $300 that day alone, Bautista said. If all the students were to continue this for an additional 185 school days, then this value would go up to $55,000.<br />
Milpitas High School is not the first to use this site, which Bautista heard about at a PTA meeting. “Some schools make a couple hundred dollars off of Good Search a month,” Schlaff said.<br />
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Off of this yahoo based search engine is another site, goodshop.com. Much like its sister site, Good Shop benefits the school with every use, but it can raise even larger sums of money.<br />
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Goodsearch.com is a site that is linked to hundreds of shopping sites, including retailers such as Target and Amazon.com. With every purchase made through the site, Milpitas High School would be donated a portion of the cost. This percentage depends on the retailer, Bautista said.<br />
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Students who regularly use goodsearch like it for not only its benefit to the school, but how it’s easy to use. “I like how it’s a large search engine,” Junior Kevin Castro said, “It’s just like Yahoo.”The Unionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15209676660147767143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466163854765331557.post-11323498069925320122011-04-07T15:27:00.000-07:002011-04-07T15:27:00.118-07:00Student written plays adapt well<i>by Laura Cosgrove</i><br />
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<span class="large"><span class="big">D</span>isney happily-ever-afters,</span> the comical warmth of Pixar, and Salinger’s signature anthem of disenchanted youth: each graced the Milpitas High stage this March. The plays Diary of a Princess, Before They Went Up, and Phonies comprised Adaptation, a two-week festival of student-written and student-directed productions.<br />
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Diary of a Princess, written by Senior Emma Cozens and directed by Junior Kendra Nielsen, adapted the stories of the three Disney princesses Snow White, Pocahontas, and Belle. The princesses, renamed Bianca (Junior Dorothy Van), Naomi (Senior Heather Boyd), and Izzy (Junior Rosemary Barrass), told their stories in interspersed, half-hour soliloquies. Overall, the play was cute, included a bit of comic relief amidst the drama, and was bolstered by the actresses’ admirable performances. It was very Disney, in optimism as well as depth; heartwarming and worth watching, its only issue was that it offered only Disney naivety to those hoping for a more realistic, modern adaptation.<br />
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Before They Went Up, written by Junior Atorina Samuel and directed by Senior Bryan La, was adapted from Disney-Pixar’s Up as an account of Carl and Ellie’s high school relationship. It shared Princess’ heartwarming traits, but combined them with a more lighthearted approach that did well for the play’s enjoyableness and comedic value. Enthusiastic and believable performances gave life to the simple story of high school pressures and misjudgments. It is a victory for the good guy, a happy, optimistic story of two likeable teenagers ultimately reunited as is their fate as soulmates.<br />
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Phonies, written by Senior Heather Boyd and Senior Mark Madrid and directed by Senior Lena Parodi, digressed far from the other plays’ optimism to venture into Holden Caulfield’s turbulent, timeless story. The play was a near-complete retelling of J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye; it adapted the stream-of-consciousness writing well to the stage. It was a pleasure for both those familiar and unfamiliar with Salinger’s novel to hear Holden Caulfield’s (Freshman Jared Pati) famous witticisms and insights. Pati’s humor and charisma gave a spark to the production, which, overall, did justice to Salinger’s work.The Unionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15209676660147767143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466163854765331557.post-51205474447126988142011-04-06T15:32:00.001-07:002011-04-06T15:32:48.568-07:00Spring break offers valuable time<i>by Sylvia Yu</i><br />
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<span class="large"><span class="letter">O</span>nce again, spring break has arrived.</span> As much as you’d like to think your break is jam-packed with fun-filled activities every minute, chances are you are going to hear a lot of crickets chirping. However, within nothingness, there is always endless possibility. There are so many ways to make your spring break the best time of your life!<br />
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From an educational standpoint, spring break is the perfect time to catch up on the work you have been falling behind on. For seniors and even juniors, this is the ideal week to apply for scholarships, and to crack down on studying for those pesky SATs, ACTs, and of course, AP classes. Or, you can always pay the library a visit, where you can check out a stack of books from the library, lie around on the grass, and just read your heart out.<br />
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For all you jet-setters who are itching to explore the world, you don’t have to buy a plane ticket, nor should you mope around the house for a week. You don’t have to be a senior to go on a road trip and visit colleges. You can fly cross-country to visit East Coast universities, or for those who are cash-strapped, drive to local colleges for campus tours.<br />
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Money-wise, spring break is 168 hours of time to either get a job or work more hours, if you already have one. Yes, it is work, but the money earned should be well-worth it. No job? No problem; a little community service never hurt anyone!<br />
Okay, let’s get physical everybody! Go out and exercise! With swimsuit season around the corner, if not already here, spring break can be an entire week dedicated to toning those thighs, burning off the belly fat, and losing those lovehandles. <br />
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Lastly, take up new hobbies or cultivate your existing ones. And even spending time with those you love is a good way to spend your spring break. Go window shopping, go people-watching, go bake a cake; heck, drive around and scream on a whim. Spring break is the best time to do something.The Unionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15209676660147767143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466163854765331557.post-18747253981759437282011-04-01T20:13:00.000-07:002011-04-06T15:33:19.486-07:00Varsity Softball improving<i>by Ann Hoang</i><br />
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<span class="large"><span class="big">G</span>et your foam fingers ready!</span> The MHS Varsity Softball team is in the midst of their season and has a record of 3-5, according to Softball Coach Joanna Butcher. The team has been improving in various ways all throughout the season, Butcher said. <br />
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The team has gotten better in running bases, and the players are now more willing to try different positions out on the playing field, Butcher said. In one game, the team completed a double play successfully, Butcher said. The players are also more positive and coachable, according to Butcher. <br />
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“[However], they’re too nice on the field, and sometimes, it’s hard to turn that off in game situations,” Butcher said. “They need to have a little more of that intimidating look.”<br />
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Some of the players also see improvements in their game that will lead to a better season. Senior Kelsey Wilson, one of the team captains, said that she feels confident the team will do well this season. The team’s goal is to make it to CCS, according to Wilson. <br />
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“[This season], we’re more like a family and have an unbreakable bond,” Wilson said. “But we need to keep our heads up and learn how to communicate on the playing field just as well as we do off the field.”The Unionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15209676660147767143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466163854765331557.post-82994247397093250152011-02-11T06:23:00.000-08:002011-02-11T06:23:00.302-08:00Avoid "circus" look this Valentine's Day<i>by Zoe McCracken</i><br />
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<span class="large"><span class="letter">B</span>eauty: a word that has plagued</span> any girl’s subconscious since the beginning of time. Nowadays, to achieve this standard girls have been turning more and more towards makeup. This is no exception on Valentine’s Day as everyone is getting ready to meet the girl or guy of their dreams.<br />
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On this special day, people think that to impress someone, they have to play up their image with excessive amounts of makeup. In this frenzy, girls typically end up looking overdone. However, no one is ever going to be impressed with someone who has eye shadow up to their brows and blush that looks like they’re going to the circus. <br />
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All this over excessive makeup conveys that one is trashy and easy, which if that’s fine then go ahead. This is definitely not a turn on though when one is looking for a long term commitment which is usually what one is aiming for on a Valentine’s Day.<br />
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If you are looking for a look that says “hey, let’s carry on a relationship that will last past the end of February,” then perhaps a little more natural amount of makeup should used. Makeup is meant to play up features, not cover them.<br />
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To create that natural look, only accent the eyes with eyeliner and mascara instead of caking on blue eye shadow. Instead of adding on heavy amounts of blush, use only a touch to give a natural glow. If you want to step it up, add some nude eye shadows that help contour your eyes. Remember, with makeup less is more.<br />
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Next time when you are in front of the mirror getting ready for the date of your life, don’t reach for the eccentric blues and greens. Give yourself a natural touch of beauty, not one meant for a night out but a day with someone special. Though this may sound as sappy as a candy heart with “i love u” printed on it, it’s the beauty on the inside that counts.The Unionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15209676660147767143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466163854765331557.post-80056857657671393272011-02-09T06:21:00.000-08:002011-02-09T06:22:16.741-08:00Super Bowl ads utilize social networking<i>by Luis Descanzo</i><br />
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<span class="large"><span class="letter">T</span>he Super Bowl tradition of creative advertising</span> continued on the February 6 telecast of the live game on FOX Network. Super Bowl XLV featured commercials from veteran companies which have aired commercials for decades and from companies which ventured out into the world of football advertising for the first time. The use of consumer-made videos and social media networks to attract public attention are 2011’s biggest themes.<br />
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Doritos, which has been popular since its 2007 debut, continued its tried and tested gimmick: letting creative consumers make their own commercials. One of these three commercials showed a man who taunts a pug dog with Doritos chips and is promptly struck by a glass screen which had initially protected him from the hungry animal. USA Today’s Ad Meter, which compiled real-time audience responses to all Super Bowl commercials, listed this commercial – along with a Budweiser commercial which also featured dogs – as the most popular advertisements this year. <br />
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Many commercials took advantage of social networks to create widespread interest over new products. Audi’s ingenuity appeared at the end of its advertisement when it challenged viewers to complete the phrase “Progress is…” on Twitter as part of its Progressive Luxury Trade-Up contest. According to Audi, the ten Twitter users who receive the most responses out of the tweet, whether they be from YouTube, blogs, or other social networking sites, will be eligible to win prize packages worth over $25,000. <br />
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Similarly, Lipton’s Brisk promoted its Brisk Stories contest by asking viewers to visit the product’s page on Facebook. The commercial featured Eminem in a stop-motion animation sequence wherein he explains his reluctance to endorse products. Other candid interviews with celebrities like Ozzy Osborne were posted at Brisk’s Facebook page.<br />
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One other popular advertisement was centered on an arrogant boy clad in a Darth Vader costume who believes he has the power to “use the force” by will of his mind. This commercial was actually leaked out by its maker, Volkswagen, a week before the game. By allowing the commercial to be viewed online, Volkswagen received much attention over Twitter and had a whopping 13 million YouTube views just before kickoff.<br />
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Overall, 2011’s Super Bowl was marked by an eclectic mix of commercials which encouraged audience interaction. While companies spent up to $3 million dollars for each 30 seconds on air, the attention gained during the Super Bowl will surely reward social-media-savvy investors for months to come.The Unionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15209676660147767143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466163854765331557.post-49438835308769262672011-02-06T06:13:00.000-08:002011-02-09T06:21:51.491-08:00Spotlight: Robotics Club<i>by Brian Khau</i><br />
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<span class="large"><span class="letter">F</span>or those who are interested</span> in creating programs, building robots, or just engineering in a team should consider Milpitas Xtreme Robotics. Milpitas Xtreme Robotics, also known as Robotics Club, participates in various robotics competitions throughout California, Coach Charles Schletzbaum said. Scheltzbaum is one of two coaches for the Robotics Club.<br />
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The club has started since the 2003-2004 school year, and has existed since, according to Scheltzbaum. While building a robot may seem relatively simple, it is no small feat, and not to be done in one day, Coach Nate Dixon said.<br />
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“Robotics is extremely team-oriented, requiring analytical thinking skills to create a robot,” according to Dixon. Some students know how to program, others are handy with power tools, and others can just build, Dixon explained.<br />
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As of the 2010-2011 school year the club has participated in two major competitions this year. The first was the Menlo First Tech Competition (FTC) Qualifier on November 20th, 2010, where approximately 35 schools participated in, Treasurer Ryan Nguyen said. Nguyen is currently a junior at MHS.<br />
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“For the qualifiers, MHS placed first with Jefferson Tech, it was a really good robot and team that we had,” Dixon said. Placing first automatically qualified them for the national qualifiers, which took place on January 9th, 2011. Unfortunately, MHS did not do well enough to qualify for the next level of competitions.<br />
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Currently, the club is preparing for the First Robotic Competition (FRC) which will occur in the near future and will include about 30 schools, President Michael Lau said. Lau is a senior at MHS. In the meantime, the club is building a go-cart for fun, according to Lau.<br />
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Robotics Club is always open to students who would like to participate. “For those who are interested, come to room K-5 on Fridays by 3:00,” Dixon said.The Unionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15209676660147767143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466163854765331557.post-16887613628337935012011-01-28T18:31:00.000-08:002011-02-09T06:32:50.662-08:00The magic number 18<i>by Sylvia Yu</i><br />
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<span class="large"><span class="letter">R</span>emember when were all little children</span> dreaming of the day we would turn eighteen and magically transform from teenagers into adults? We felt as if a more mature version of us would emerge like a butterfly from a cocoon and we would suddenly be able to vote, get inked and pierced, and buy packs of cigarettes to go with your scratchers. However, as many seniors are celebrating their eighteenth birthdays, they find that it is not as glamorous as it is hyped up to be.<br />
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Senior Joann Chau recently celebrated her birthday on January 26 but found that turning eighteen felt no different than the rest of her birthdays. “There’s nothing [different]. I think it’s the same thing. I still live under my parents’ house,” Chau said. Chau celebrated her milestone birthday by opening her own bank account. Chau is not politically involved yet, but plans to vote for the upcoming election. I can go into Dave & Buster’s and gamble at some casinos now, according to Chau.<br />
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Senior Dorothy Hoang celebrated her birthday on January 18 with a dinner out with her family. Turning eighteen felt no different than being seventeen, according to Hoang. Like Chau, Hoang also opened a checking and savings account at the bank.<br />
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Sophomore Alex Pham is currently fifteen years old but is excited to turn eighteen. I look forward to getting my driver’s license for real and being able to vote, according to Pham. It feels like you can really contribute to what’s happening in society [when you turn eighteen and can vote],” Pham said. Before Pham turns eighteen, he hopes to be able to tour Europe and get into a good college.<br />
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Society has made the journey into adulthood a rather glamorous occasion and has placed a special importance in turning eighteen, but in reality, to most, it is just another birthday with another candle atop your cake. “[Turning] eighteen is no big deal. I can’t wait until I’m 21!” Hoang said.The Unionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15209676660147767143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466163854765331557.post-10871009835066873282011-01-25T14:51:00.000-08:002011-02-09T15:04:10.385-08:00Driver's licenses receive makeover<i>by Ann Hoang</i><br />
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<span class="large"><span class="letter">T</span>he California Department of Motor Vehicles</span> (DMV) is now issuing newly designed driver's license and identification (ID) cards for all of those who apply after September 30. The new changes are intended to protect the documents against fraud, tampering and counterfeiting.<br />
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The most significant change is most noticeable for people younger than 21. These cards will have a vertical layout instead of the usual horizontal. This will make it easier to distinguish between those under and over 21. The new ID cards also feature a raised signature that can be felt by touch, a 2D barcode that verifies information on the front of the card, images that can only be seen with the use of ultraviolet lights, and an outline of the California Brown Bear. <br />
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“The new security features, coupled with advanced technology, make California driver's licenses and identification cards one of the most secure identification documents in the country," DMV Director George Valverde said, according to the California DMV website (http://www.dmv.ca.gov.)<br />
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Because the DMV issues 8.25 million cards a year, security is of the utmost importance in the design of the cards. The cards will be more difficult to counterfeit or replicate with its UV images and the perforated outline of the California Brown Bear. <br />
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“I don’t think it’s completely fool proof. I think there will be a way to exploit it later on,” Senior Michael Li said. “But if that’s the case, the cost for fake IDs is going to rise.”<br />
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Li believes that this will not stop fake IDs and does not like the new design. The new version is much more complicated, but it only adds two more pictures of the card holder, according to Li. <br />
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There is not a hurry to apply for a new license or ID card. Those who have an existing ID or driver's license may keep their current card until the card expires. The DMV will then issue a new card upon renewal. <br />
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The new cards will cost slightly more to make than the old cards, at about $1.38 cents to produce, as opposed to 75 cents for the older version. “[The new version] is stupid and a waste of money,” Sophomore Jewel Lazo said. “It might stop fake IDs, but it’s pretty pointless.”The Unionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15209676660147767143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466163854765331557.post-38146857910981804572011-01-11T14:24:00.000-08:002011-01-11T14:24:31.830-08:00Farmer's market promotes healthy eating<i>by Kewa Jiang</i><br />
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<span class="large"><span class="letter">T</span>he Milpitas farmer’s market</span> located at the Indian Community Center, ICC, on Los Coches Street provides a way to buy inexpensive fruits and vegetables that are organically grown. The farmer’s market is open rain or shine all-year-round on Sundays from eight o’clock to one o’clock in the afternoon, according to the PCFMA’s, Pacific Coast Farmers' Market Association’s, website. The PCFMA works in partnership with the ICC to organize the farmer’s market. <br />
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Similar to conventional grocery stores, the farmer’s market sells tomatoes, lemons, oranges, apples, and other produce. But unlike a grocery store, the farmer’s market features mostly seasonal produces. For example, as the weather moves into autumn and winter, squashes, yams, and carrots take the place of summer fruits and vegetables. <br />
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The farmer’s market is not only economical, but a healthy alternative to mass-produced produce found in grocery stores. The fruits and vegetables sold at the market are picked when they are ripe. In contrast, the produce found in grocery stores are picked before they are ripe to prevent them from spoiling while being transported to stores. Fruits and vegetables eaten when they are at the peak of ripeness provide the most nutrients.<br />
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The farmer’s market also provides much more than just fruits and vegetables. There are vendors who sell eggs, bread, pastries, kettle corn, organic honey, and hot food. Moreover, on some Sundays local musicians play at the market. In addition, the farmer’s market is a way to explore and experience new fruits and vegetables not commonly found in grocery stores. For example, duck eggs are sold at the market as well as long stalks of sugar cane.<br />
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By going to the local farmer’s market, you also help the environment. When you buy directly from the farmers, it helps reduce carbon dioxide emission. The reason is that it reduces the miles the produce need to travel in order to arrive at its final destination. Moreover, it decreases the amount of plastic used to package the food. Buying from the farmer’s market also helps promote more environmental production methods, such as not using pesticides. <br />
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In addition, numerous students or relatives of students from MHS go to the farmer’s market. One student who used to go to the farmer’s market was Junior Lordesa Fok. She went every Sunday until this past summer. When asked about her favorite aspect of the farmer’s market, Fok said, “I liked the samples and the fruit was pretty good too.”<br />
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Going to the farmer’s market not only helps the environment, but your health as well. The farmer’s market is a cheaper way to get all the fruits and vegetables you need to have a balanced diet.The Unionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15209676660147767143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466163854765331557.post-73374333937553936632011-01-10T14:27:00.000-08:002011-01-10T14:27:23.215-08:00Team WeCanDigIt wins intramural volleyball<i>by Zoe McCracken</i><br />
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<span class="large"><span class="letter">I</span>ntramural Volleyball season has ended,</span> with Team WeCanDigIt winning first, said Activities Director Joanna Butcher. WeCanDigIt competed against seven other teams, including a staff team, Butcher said.<br />
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WeCanDigIt consisted of seven players, whch included Seniors Kevin Miranda, Brian Trinh, Jonathan Quibuyen, Steven Corpez, Rhodan Muyot, Keven Cateip, and Richard Viray. The staff team, The Regulators, also did well in this tournament receiving third, said Senior Courtney Caglia-Hilty.<br />
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With an estimated number of 50 players participating in this lunch time event, it was a success. “Even if only one student has fun doing it, it’s worth the effort,” Butcher said.<br />
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This is the first year that there has been an intramural volleyball tournament at MHS, said Butcher. Last year, Homecoming and the Physical Education class had interfered with the event. An intramural volleyball tournament is planned for next year.<br />
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Many other intramurals are taking place this year at MHS, too. These include a badminton and rock paper scissors tournament. According to Butcher, the top teams from the rock paper scissors intramural will compete at an upcoming rally.The Unionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15209676660147767143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466163854765331557.post-79514065237970097162010-12-20T12:00:00.000-08:002010-12-20T12:00:09.854-08:00Nguyen: High school expensive for kids<i>by Kevin Nguyen</i><br />
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<img src="http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff392/mhstheunion/mug-kevin-1.png" style="float: left; padding: 10px;" /> <span class="large"><span class="letter">M</span>aterial wealth is overrated.</span> That being said, money is often used to serve that end and should not be a primary pursuit of an individual. However, as a high school student, I could definitely use some more considering the expense of high school.<br />
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As preparation for every school year, students need to buy necessary materials: pencils, pens, erasers, paper (including the printer and construction variety), tissues (those five extra credit points come in handy), a calculator, folders, and binders. The backpack from last year is torn here and there, so might as well buy a new one. Ideally, this checklist is about $50, and that is excluding the arts and crafts. These fees are essential, so no serious complaints here.<br />
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The year starts to roll, and to stay informed, a $5 agenda is a necessity with its school calendar, the ASB constitution, and schedule, all conveniently located in one place. You see the first football game right around the corner, so you buy your $3 ticket for that. Oh wait, there is the Homecoming dance too, make sure to get that ticket for $10. Even if the games and dances continued to stack, the total would be affordable. But to climax, the Junior Prom and Senior Ball are sure to make you broke, with a minimum of $200 between couples. Of course, there is no requirement to go, but I feel it is a worthwhile high school experience.<br />
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As you contemplate about these expenses, you become nostalgic about your childhood fantasies of wrestling. The idea of grappling, executing captivating moves, and performing in the eyes of the crowd in a dimly lighted room motivates you to join the team. As the practices progress productively, you hear the news: a $100 transportation fee. Sighs of despair fill the room. The price of necessary equipment adds to the dismay. With every additional sport a student joins, there will always be an additional $100 to accompany it.<br />
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Now consider the fees associated with academics. For those students who are interested in taking a more rigorous academic course, AP classes are plentiful, with an $87 dollar fee per. The SAT I ($45), SAT II ($20, +$9 for each regular test, and ACT ($48 with writing) are sure to bring delight, especially when the average student takes it multiple times and absent-mindedly registers late a few times (an additional $23 for SAT, $21 for ACT). Those who would like to prep with a business will reluctantly lay down at least another $250.<br />
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Of course, there is no requirement to participate in any of these activities with a fee attached, but I feel each one adds to the high school experience. Though there are waivers, these discounts can only reduce so much as a student with no income. To consider public education free is a joke.The Unionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15209676660147767143noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466163854765331557.post-11832884467906984602010-12-17T19:35:00.000-08:002010-12-17T19:36:20.574-08:00December ComicsView the full post to see the comics. Click on any image to enlarge it.<br />
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<span class="large"><span class="letter">T</span>he graduation ceremony procedure</span> for MHS seniors will likely be changed back from alphabetical to teachers reading names, according to Principal Kenneth Schlaff. The change is a result of student action, Schlaff said. <br />
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Seniors Mariel Soriano, David Nakonechnyy, Irum Sattar, Bryan La, and Mary Kay De Guzman formed a group and met with Schlaff multiple times about the policy, according to Schlaff. Problems with the graduation and possible solutions were discussed, Schlaff said.<br />
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“Partnership is the way to go,” Schlaff said. “The students, the teachers, and the administration all have to work together if we want to go back.”<br />
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Schlaff stated that he wanted the experience to be traditional, memorable, and consistent, as well as to have timelines and deadlines that the students would have to follow. He also said that he hopes to find a middle ground with the students.<br />
“It doesn’t really matter to me,” Schlaff said. “But the personnel are overburdened, and the ceremony has been something other than what was intended. We want to support Ms. Rivera. We want to reach some amenable solution.”<br />
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The logistics and subpar tenure of the ceremony as well as the fact that it was more of a party than a ceremony were problems with the previous procedure, noted Schlaff. A teacher component and a timeliness component will need to be implemented to fix these problems, Schlaff said. <br />
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“At this point, it looks like [the ceremony] will revert back to the original,” Schlaff said. “We want to create a ceremony that the students will be happy with.”<br />
The group of senior will continue meeting with Schlaff until a final solution is achieved, according to De Guzman. She also stated that this is the last chance for the policy to be reversed.<br />
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“More student involvement was needed, so we’re getting involved,” De Guzman said. “We, as students, would get the word out. It’s Ms. Rivera’s job, but we’re helping out instead of idly participating.”<br />
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One possible change in the ceremony would be the introduction of a student and a teacher pledge, De Guzman said. Turning in cards with teachers’ names, as done in previous years, would also be a more serious and controlled affair, according to De Guzman.<br />
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“Seniors need to understand why it’s important for them to behave properly,” De Guzman said. “This is our last chance to go back.”<br />
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Vice Principal Brian McGarry agreed with Schlaff on the policy. He also noted that all points of view need to be taken into account. "What people need to realize,” McGarry said, “is that the whole graduation experience is what is important, not the actual name reading itself.”<br />
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Senior Victor Hernandez stated that he likes the possibility of policy regression, and would be willing to follow any rules the administration laid down in order to revert the policy. He also expressed dislike for the alphabetical policy.<br />
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“I can see that it’s easier for the staff, but I don’t like having to sit by last name.” Hernandez said. “I don’t know anyone, and I’d rather be with my ‘bros’. I can see the point [in changing the ceremony], but it’s our last day at high school! We should be allowed to have some fun.”The Unionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15209676660147767143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466163854765331557.post-11827182805762765292010-12-02T21:51:00.000-08:002010-12-02T21:59:05.903-08:00Enterprising club designs clothes for campus groups<i>by Maggie Blackburn</i><br />
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<span class="large"><span class="letter">L</span>ooking around MHS,</span> there seem to be different sweaters for every club, event, and group on campus. The trouble with all of these sweaters is that someone has to design them. <br />
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Need a sweater design? No problem. The Fashion Club here at MHS has got you covered. They design the sweater and even take care of the order, but not without a price.<br />
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After Fashion Club merged with Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising Club (FIDM), the two clubs put their heads together to come up with a fundraiser. This fundraiser not only allows the club to earn money, but it gives them a way to expose their creative ideas to the student body by designing different designs for group sweatshirts or t-shirts.<br />
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Senior Nelson Pham, the President of Fashion Club, said that Fashion Club talks to the club presidents about designing their sweatshirts. If the presidents want the club to design their sweatshirts, they give out a set criterion of what has to be on the sweatshirt—such as color, names, or titles. The Fashion Club then designs the sweatshirt for that particular club and it then pays Fashion Club if it decides to use it.<br />
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Everyone in the club participates in making a design. They submit all of the designs to the club or group that they are making sweatshirts for because they do not want to turn down anyone’s design in the club. “We all make different designs, and the club decides which one they want,” Pham said. “If they want it, five dollars goes to us.” <br />
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The Fashion Club has already helped order the sweatshirts for the Clarinet section in the Marching Band, earning $40. The club is in the process of working with DBA to make their design, Pham said. The Fashion Club can earn about $700 if DBA accepts their design, according to Pham.<br />
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The club has a plan for the money they make. The money that the club earns from the sweatshirt designs goes to pay for various field trips and projects, in addition to fashion shows and donations to an orphanage.The Unionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15209676660147767143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466163854765331557.post-90934988170492197812010-12-01T21:36:00.000-08:002010-12-02T22:00:13.826-08:00MHS faces termites, cockroaches<i>by Brian Khau</i><br />
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<span class="large"><span class="letter">D</span>ue to the cold weather and the rain,</span> subterranean termites are now flying about, according to Physics Teacher Bruce Fowler. But the biggest problem at school is cockroaches, Principal Kenneth Schlaff said.<br />
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Assistant Principal Brian McGarry said that he was aware that there were termites around, but said that there were no problems. “Two years ago there was a hole on a board, and it was probably caused by some termites, but I have not heard of any building infested with termites, and I have not heard of a foundation bringing down the building of anything,” McGarry said. <br />
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Fowler said that the termites naturally reproduce through their flying reproductive stage, and that he had one flying in his room before. “I don’t think [the termites] are a big deal. The L building is mostly concrete, and if these are subterranean termites then there shouldn’t be a problem,” Fowler said.<br />
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Because MHS is made of a wood structure, there may be termites, but they have not caused structural damage as of this year, Schlaff said. Furthermore, they are not as big of a problem as cockroaches, he added, which have always been prominent at MHS, especially when students drop food. The crumbs on the floor attract cockroaches and other bugs, Schlaff said.<br />
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“I’ve even just recently been in classes observing, and it was after break and I think more was eaten in the class than the food that was eaten on break,” Schlaff said. Schlaff named food as the number one cause of pests, especially ants and cockroaches. Schlaff listed two things that brought bugs to classrooms: food being made and not stored properly, and food that was dropped by students.<br />
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There are cockroaches in the kitchen area as well as in classrooms, according to Schlaff. “People would either make food in a classroom, where they would have a refrigerator and a microwave and they would have food, and they would drop food. [The teachers] allowed food to be eaten in the class by kids.”<br />
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Fowler expressed his concern with students dropping food. In addition, he stated that it is impossible to avoid cockroaches, as they are everywhere. <br />
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“Sometimes students leave junk all over, especially after break or lunch, and that attracts the roaches and other bugs. I once found a carton of spoiled milk and I had to clean it up,” Fowler said.<br />
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Both Schlaff and Fowler concede that there have been fewer problems with cockroaches and other pests this year, however. The custodians keep the classrooms clean, Fowler said, though students need to pick up their trash.<br />
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“It’s been pretty good this year, I haven’t gotten a call or email yet,” Schlaff said. “Usually by this time of year the call or email would come in, and I’d have to go and I’d have to talk to [Maintenance Operation Transportation].”The Unionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15209676660147767143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6466163854765331557.post-23387432604874741022010-12-01T21:16:00.000-08:002010-12-02T22:02:23.487-08:00Students oversee polls on election day<i>by Victoria Do</i><br />
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<span class="large"><span class="letter">O</span>n November 2, thirty-three MHS students</span> received the opportunity to observe firsthand the voting process by becoming student election officers at local precincts. Each precinct was manned by four adult and student election clerks who set up the polling place and instructed voters on how to mark their ballots correctly.<br />
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“It gives students first-hand experience of how democracy works. Democracy is messy. It’s good for students to deal with some of the problems that come up,” U.S. Government Teacher Carol Weiss said. Weiss is in charge of the application forms for the Student Election Officer Program for MHS.<br />
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Despite the slow trickle of voters at some precincts, there were minor problems that students helped to sort out. Some people were confused by the ballots, according to Senior Iman Malik. Voters had to connect an arrow pointing to the candidate of their choice using a single thin line, a change from last year’s ballots. The adult clerks appeared to be inexperienced, she said, and they had problems with the voting machines. <br />
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“A lot of people had to vote provisionally because their precinct changed, and they didn’t want to go to the right one,” Senior Yasin Hosseinpur said. People who are not on the polling place’s roster must fill out a provisional ballot, which are counted a week or more after the election takes place.<br />
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Election clerks receive a county-funded $125 stipend for a full day, or $77.50 for a half day, with an additional $5 if the clerk is bilingual. Alternatively, they are given the option to donate their stipend to charity, and students may opt to receive community service hours instead. Students do not have a separate budget, and are paid the same stipend as adults. Students are expected to receive their stipend or community service letter by December 1 this year, according to Student Election Officer Program Coordinator Lance Nottle.<br />
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“It was my first paid work experience,” Senior Kristen Elizarde said. Elizarde was assigned to Precinct 4416 at Joseph Weller Elementary School. She added, “It made me feel like everyone’s important, and they should vote when they turn eighteen.”<br />
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Students are accepted into the program on a first-come, first-serve basis. This year, over 530 Student Election Officers were placed in polling sites across the county, according to Nottle. The number of students accepted is determined by projected voter interest, number of mail-in ballots, budget constraints, and the total number of polling sites. In the June 2010 Primary Election, 300 students were placed, while in the November 2008 Presidential Election, 1800 students were placed.<br />
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Senior Arielle Calara said that she found other benefits of the program that would help her in future jobs. “I learned good customer service and how to speak to people comfortably.”The Unionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15209676660147767143noreply@blogger.com0