VOLUME XXVIII, ISSUE III

The Bulls Eye

INSIDE THIS ISSUE
GENES DONT LIE Theres no denying itparents affect their childrens future. Find out how parents influence their childrens academic choices. Please see page 4. MAN VS MONEY In this current economy, students cannot afford to be extravagant. Read about how long two people can survive with just $20. Please see page 8. PAY-PER-HULU How would you feel if you had to pay for movies and television shows that were originally free? Read more about Hulus plan for 2010. Please see page 9.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

DIAMOND BAR HIGH SCHOOL

Brahma Foundation Hosts Evening of the Arts

SHOWCASE: Auctioned items included a cello, private violin lessons for two months, tennis lessons for four months and a gift basket, professional Christmas lighting, and Christmas dinner. Elizabeth Lee Asst. News Editor The Brahma Foundation hosted its 3rd annual Evening of the Arts at the Royal Vista Golf Club on Friday, December 4, from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. The main purpose of the event is to raise money for the [Diamond Bar High School] Performing Arts Academy, and to also feature the outstanding young musicians of the academy, stated Instrumental Administrative Assistant Angela Johnson. She added, This year, we also honored Diamond Bars former mayor, Jack Tanaka, and his wife, Wanda Tanaka, for all of [their] outstanding work within the community and their continued support [for] the Performing Arts Academy. The Evening of the Arts event showcased the talent of the Performing Arts Academy at DBHS, including choir, band, and orchestra. [This event was] an opportunity to connect our top performing arts students with leaders in our community, explained Performing Arts Director Steve Acciani. The DBHS Chamber Choir and Marquis performed several

THE LAST LEAF The fall sports players finished their season off with a bang. Find out more about how the Brahmas dominated their games. Please see page 12.

Annual Choir Concert to be Held Tomorrow

SING: Presale tickets will be sold at lunch in the choir room office and will cost $7 for students and $9 for adults. Ticket prices will cost $8 for students and $10 for adults at the door. Laura Moffitt Staff Writer Diamond Bar High Schools choir department will host its Peace on Earth choir concert tomorrow, December 10, and Friday, December 11, in the DBHS theater, at 7 p.m. All five DBHS choirs: Chamber Choir, Diamondaires, Diamondtones, Marquis, and Solitaire will be performing at the concert. We have a large variety of songs about the holidays; some of the songs at the concert are even in different languages. Theres dancing and costumes to get everyone into the holiday spirit, the concert should be a wonderful experience for everyone, commented sophomore Diamondaires member Renee Danner. The concert will feature songs such as Breath of Heaven, Carol of the Bells, and Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree. All five choirs will perform three songs together. These songs will include Yuletide Fanfare, Christmas on Broadway, and the Hallelujah Chorus.

Flick and swish... Senior Henry Liu conducts the Symphony Orchestra in their performance of Greensleeves. Elizabeth Lee pieces that included Cantate Domino, and Its Christmas Time. The DBHS Symphony Orchestra played a variety of pieces, including God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, The Holy and the Ivy, and Stille Nacht. Several solos were also featured throughout the night. These included solos by senior choir member Tiffany Lanning, junior cello player Sydney Moss, freshman flute player Michelle Sung, and sophomore pianist Austin Chen. Senior Henry Liu conducted [Please see PERFORM on page 3]

Walnut Valley Unified School District Addresses Budget Crisis

During the forum, a total of 12 ideas for generating revenue and helping out school budgets were created. The ideas ranged from a used textbook sale to a WVUSD 5K run-a-thon. Sharon Lin Editorial Editor School budgets have suffered and are continuing to suffer severely during this economic downturn. This trend in the economy has called for immediate action to solve the budget problems that schools have been left with. The Walnut Valley Unified School District hosted a forum discussing school budget problems in the multipurpose room of South Pointe Middle School on Saturday, November 14. Dr. Cyndy Simms, the WVUSD superintendent, hoped that the forum would accomplish three things: inform parents about the budget challenges schools are facing, gather revenue-raising ideas, and create plans that will generate revenue in order to maintain the quality of the WVUSD. As enrollment continues to decrease, will we have a school thats no longer needed? Thats the magnitude of these problems, stated Simms regarding the school budget problems. The school districts budget [Please see BUDGET on page 2]

COLUMN ONE

Winter Dance Concert Held in DBHS Theater

SPIN: Dance students helped organize the concert and were responsible for selling tickets. Costumes were purchased, borrowed, or made for the concert. Megan Quiamas Staff Writer

Diamond Bar High Schools Dance Department held its annual winter concert, Dancers at Work, in the DBHS theater on Thursday, December 3 and Friday, December 4, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Performers included students from the Dance Team, the All Male Dance Crew, and students from the advanced and intermediate dance classes. All the dances were choreographed by students. This concert was to show the progress of the students and what they have been working on. This was also for a grade. [The dancers] showed me their

dances that they have been preparing all semester, and they have improved over time, explained dance teacher Janna Lindenberg. A total of 100 students performed at this event. There were 23 performances, including three solos performed by senior Krysten Dorado, senior Briezy Rodriguez, and sophomore Becky Traynor. [The dancers] worked really hard on perfecting their performances. What I enjoyed the most was the collaborative spirit among the students. It is not just a show made up of individuals, but a group of dancers that have a shared passion and support each other every step of the way, commented Lindenberg. Tickets cost $8 for both students and adults and were sold in the dance room. Tickets were also available for $8 at the door.

City Presents Annual Candy Cane Craft Fair at the DB Center

They will also perform a few songs about Hanukkah. The songs we have prepared, and the concert in general, will delight the audience and fill them with Christmas spirit! The show should be jubilant and enjoyable for everyone in the audience, said freshman Diamondtones member Adriana Ong. Presale tickets will be sold at lunch in the choir room office and will cost $7 for students and $9 for adults. Tickets will also be available for purchase at the door and will cost $8 for students and $10 for adults. Sophomore Marquis member Charlie Luber commented, The winter concert is a challenge for everyone in choir because there are so many unique and difficult songs to learn, and we are only given a brief time to learn them. The theater and the lobby will be decorated with holiday decorations and the backdrop of the stage will feature a winter scene. Performers will wear winter holiday apparel. Each choir will have an additional costume item varying from a Santa hat, a scarf, or a Christmas sweater. [The concert] is a unique experience that the audience as well as the performers will love, commented senior Marquis member Simone Moss.

Dancin in the limelight... Taurian Co. dancers performs to Twice by Little Dragon. Courtesy of Diana Romero

Deck the halls... A vendor sets up a table of handmade accessories for attendees to purchase. Ashley Chen ART: Members of Leo Club Every good has been There was another station sold handmade goody bags handmade by the crafters and is for attendees to take pictures and handmade angels used for therefore unique, commented with Santa Claus. I love Christmas decorations, which Andee Tarazon, the Community taking pictures with kids. Kids cost $1 and $3 respectively, to Services Coordinator for the City are the main reason we have raise money. of Diamond Bar. She added, Christmas, said Roger Myers, All the vendors were were the Santa Claus at the event. Eric Lee run by local crafters, and we Various clubs from Diamond Asst. News Editor are helping them by providing Bar High School attended the The City of Diamond Bars [an opportunity] for them to Candy Cane Craft Fair. DB 4th annual Candy Cane Craft showcase and sell crafts. 4Youth sold snacks, such as Fair was held at the Diamond In this years Candy Cane donuts, hot dogs, and nacho Bar Center on Saturday, Craft Fair, a new station called chips. December 5, from 10 a.m. to 5 the Santas Workshop was I felt excited to be helping p.m. added to the event. The station out with the Candy Cane Craft Over 70 local vendors was recommended for children Fair. Its starting to feel like featured hundreds of handmade ages five to 12. The children Christmas due to this event, seasonal items for purchase, were able to create bracelets, commented Melanie Rodriguez, [Please see CRAFT including candy, jewelry, and ornaments, bookmarks, and on page 3] Christmas decorations. reindeer ears.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

News

THE BULLS EYE

News

On Target
RENAISSANCE REWARDS Are you tired of bringing that same, boring sandwich you hastily pack the night before? How about buying that same costly lunch that seems to be a burden on both your time and your wallet? Well, mark your calendars because a Renaissance Give Away will stop your boring lunch routines for just a day. You dont want to miss out on a tasty giveaway, so dont forget to bring your ID card! Renaissance Give Away is on Tuesday, December 15. HOLIDAYS HELPING HAND Face it, youve been begging for another vacation ever since Thanksgiving ended and school started. Thanks to the holidays, you will finally have that mini-vacation and some leisure time to catch up with your friends, schoolwork, and that precious sleep you never seem to get enough of. Winter break is coming around the corner to save you from becoming overworked, not to mention the extra gifts that you will receive. However, dont forget to also do that holiday shopping beforehand! Minimum Day is on Friday, December 18. Winter Break is from Monday, December 21 to Friday, January 1. FINAL CHANCES Are you satisfied with the grades you have in your classes yet? If not, you better raise them as quickly as you can, becausebelieve it or notthe end of the semester is already approaching. Before these grades become permanent records, here is your last opportunity to change that borderline B to an A. It will not be a wise choice to slack off at this time. The good news is that youll get to relax and have fun with your friends during the three-day weekend! End of the semester and Non-Pupil Day is on Friday, January 15. SNOOZE BUTTON Has schoolwork been filling your days with tons of work and stress? Fear not, another late start day is coming! This is your chance to sleep in and relax. You can begin your day by getting out of bed without being rushed by an alarm clock. However, if your parents force you to leave the house at the same time you usually do, console yourself with the fact that you actually have time to stop by Starbucks for an early morning pick-meup! Late start is on Tuesday, January 26. Rock n Read... Sophomores Kenny Schmitt and David Chang play their electric guitars to entertain customers. Ashley Ahn

Barnes and Noble Book Fair Raises Money for DBHS Textbook Fund
PURCHASE: DBHS students performed throughout the day. The two main locations for the performances were the areas near the caf and next to the cash registers. Andrew John Asst. Sports Editor Diamond Bar High School hosted a book fair at the Barnes and Noble bookstore in Chino Hills from Saturday, November 21 to Friday, November 27, to help raise money for the DBHS librarys textbook fund. From this event, DBHS received nearly $4,000. Barnes and Noble donated a portion of every purchase that was made with a mention of DBHS. In the end, the store donated about 25 percent of the sales made. The library will store the money and spend it only when there is a shortage of books. It was a smashing success. We almost doubled what we thought we could do, commented Pam Hunter, school librarian and organizer of the event. On Saturday, various groups from DBHS held performances at the store throughout the day to promote business. It wouldnt have been half as good if the students had not given the time they did, said Hunter. The Drama department presented about half of the first act from this years fall play, Dear Brutus. Early in the afternoon, Choir performed at Barnes and Noble, practicing many of the songs that it performed at its Winter Winds concert on Saturday, December 5. Most of the songs sung by Solitaire had Christmas themes, such as Sleigh Ride and Winter Wonderland. A trio consisting of senior Tiffany Launing, senior Alyssa Navaro, and junior Emily Tournie then sang How Can I Keep from Singing? Its hard to sing in a new place. Its their first time singing these songs in front of an audience, so its good practice for the concert, commented choir instructor Patty Breitag. Students from Pei-Ying Chais Chinese classes performed a few minutes after Choir finished. The Chinese students played instruments unique to Chinese culture. Sophomore Rachel Chen played a guitarlike instrument called a pipa in which she used picks on all of her playing fingers to play. Sophomore Kevin Su played a Chinese version of the dulcimeran ancestor of

Friendly Reminders
Please do not stop or park your cars on Evergreen Springs Drive from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on school days. Police are handing out tickets to those who do not abide by the traffic laws. To pick up or drop off your student, drive futher down Evergreen Springs. The Sheriffs Department has indicated that they have begun issuing tickets to jaywalkers on Brea Canyon Road.

Pathways Hosts Annual Canned Food Drive

GIVE: PCA has held this event for four years and has delivered the canned food to the needy families directly. Students not in PCA were encouraged to donate canned food as well. Nicole Ongpoy Staff Writer Diamond Bar High Schools Pathways Communications Academy held its annual Canned Food Drive, from Thursday, November 12, through Tuesday, November 24. All cans and packaged goods were delivered on Tuesday, November 24 to needy families. Turkeys were also donated by staff members. PCAs goal was to donate at least a gift basket to each of the families, and managed to give two baskets. Each donated basket consisted of traditional Thanksgiving dishes such as turkey and vegetables. Gift certificates to local grocery stores were also given. [I want the students to] gain a sense of responsibility and a sense of commitment to the community, commented PCA teacher Julian Rodriguez, who supervised the canned food drive. PCA plans to donate two more baskets to two other families during the winter holidays. I have everything and [the less fortunate families] dont, so I feel its really important to help

the modern pianoby tapping strings with two wooden sticks. French teacher Anthony Tietz played the guitar and seniors Camille Tecson and Navaro provided the vocals for two French songs, Dernire Danse and Comme des Enfants. The All Male Dance Crew and the Taurian Company dance team later performed their rally routines. In the afternoon, members of the DBHS Orchestra and Performing Arts Academy played in the store. The performers included a string quartet, a string trio, and solo guitarists. Senior Elmer Wu conducted a chamber orchestra. The last musical group was a flute ensemble led by junior Han Kim. The Barnes and Noble representative told us that it was the best book fair they had ever had, stated Hunter.

Continued from page 1 BUDGET: Simms invited school board members, administrators, and everyone in the community. comes from two sources: enrollment and state funding. However, revenue from both of these sources is declining. This year, there are only 593 kindergarteners in the district, but there are 1,514 high school seniors. Even the base revenue, the amount of money a school receives for each student, is declining. Schools are receiving about $680 less for each student. In addition, the district is receiving more than $11 million less than it received last school year. These reductions in school budgets create an unstable future for the district. The accumulated financial losses this school year have emphasized the need for the community to step in and help raise revenue. In an attempt to resolve the budget problems, Simms invited school board members, administrators, and everyone in the community to the forum. During the forum, a total of 12 ideas for generating revenue and helping out school budgets were created. The ideas ranged from a used textbook sale to a WVUSD 5K run-a-thon. All the ideas created during the forum have the potential to help the school district out of its current financial rut. However, revenue from these events cannot cater to every school in the district for the entire school year. In order to permanently solve the budget crisis, the district needs to find a way to continuously generate revenue. Overall, the forum was successful as it accomplished its main goal: to come up with ideas that will help raise revenue. Though the outcome of the ideas created during the forum has yet to be seen, the fact that so many ideas have already been created slightly eases the budget crisis. Sometimes when we talk about budgets, we just sink lower and lower in our chairs. Its wonderful to see that the community is so strong and powerful, said Susan Arzola, the principal of Cyrus J. Morris Elementary School. The forum was also a step toward a more stable future for the WVUSD. I was so pleased with our parents and our staff members that were here. There is lots of hope for our school district, commented Simms.

Food for thought... Juniors Monica Salib and Landis Evangelista collect boxed and canned food for the PCA Canned Food Drive. Nicole Ongpoy the families, said junior Monica Salib, an organizer of the drive. She added, We collect cans from the teachers and bring them [to Rodriguezs room] to organize them in baskets. Students not in PCA were also encouraged to contribute to the canned food drive by donating their food items in the collection boxes of PCA teachers. The importance is to garner respect for community and for service-learning to help those in this economic crisis right now. [It is about] helping those who are less fortunate, who may not be having a Thanksgiving, stated Rodriguez. Youre either helping, or not. Theres no in-between. We have so much that we need to share, and you get a good feeling on the inside when you know you gave somebody else your food, said PCA teacher Christian Calero.

Famous Last Words... A WVUSD parent spoke to the attendees participating at the forum. Sharon Lin

News

Holiday Gala Fundraises for the City of Diamond Bar

DINE: There was a silent auction to help raise money for the community. Over $20,000 was raised through the Holiday Gala. All proceeds will go toward the City of Diamond Bar. Christine Song Staff Writer The Diamond Bar Community Foundation held its 6th annual Holiday Gala Fundraiser, with a theme of The Stars of Diamond Bar, at the Diamond Bar Center on Saturday, November 14, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. This event raised money to purchase sports equipment for Diamond Bar schools and to sponsor scholarships for students. Money was also raised to support Diamond Bar events such as the summer Concerts in the Park series, and programs such as the DB 4Youth. The Holiday Gala is kind of our signature event for the Diamond Bar Community Foundation and we have established ourselves by elegant sit-down dinners. Overall, I think [the Holiday Gala] was very successful, said Jody Roberto, the organizer of this years Holiday Gala and the president of the Diamond Bar Community Foundation. The event featured Diamond Bar High Schools Orchestra, and a jazz band called Pat Longos Hollywood Big Band. Mariah Wilson, a fifteen-year old Diamond Bar resident who was featured in the movie Dreamgirls, also sang

News

THE BULLS EYE

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

news bits
Four men in Brisbane, Australia, were found washing themselves in the nude at a local carwash while their female companions took pictures of them. The wash was fully paid for, but the men have been charged with indecent exposure and disturbing the peace. They will appear in court next month. The phrase Meep! has been banned by administration at Danvers High School in Danvers, Massachusetts. The meaningless word originated from the lab assistant, Beaker, of The Muppet Show, and students waged a campaign on Facebook to encourage fellow students to used the word. It has been deemed a distraction by Principal Thomas Murray. Any student caught saying Meep! on school grounds will be considered for suspension. Cheng Saelee, a 27-yearold man from Anchorage, Alaska, was caught by police holding a gun to his mothers head because she refused to help him pay the fine for his $430 parking ticket. Saelee then tried to call his mother from jail without permission from the police and ask her to drop the charges against him for threatening her. If convicted, he faces up to 11 years in prison.

Continued from page 1 CRAFT: Over 70 vendors sold handmade items at the fair. a DB 4Youth member. Diamond Bar High Schools Leo Club also attended the fair. Members of Leo Club sold handmade goody bags and handmade angels used for Christmas decorations, which cost $1 and $3 respectively, to raise money for the Diamond Bar Breakfast Lions Club. [DBHS] Leo Club is helping out Diamond Bar Breakfast Lions Club. The crafts that we sold are all handmade by Leo Club members, explained Jack Tanaka, a Diamond Bar city councilmember. [Candy Cane Craft Fair is] such a festive and wonderful event. It starts the Christmas holiday season in Diamond Bar, stated Tarazon.

Night at the Gala... Attendees gather at the Diamond Bar Center to fundraise for the Diamond Bar Community Foundation. Ruby Hwang the national anthem. The attendees spent their night listening and dancing to music. Its been a well-attended event. The money goes to all these well-intended causes in the community. [The Diamond Bar Community Foundation] raised a lot of good money for important causes in the community. One of the good things about this event is that the money raised stays in the community rather than going out of the community, stated Ed Hilden, the president of the Walnut Valley Water District. The attendees included representatives of the companies who had donated to the Diamond Bar Community Foundation, several city officials, and Diamond Bar residents. The princesses and queen of the 2009 Miss Diamond Bar Pageant also attended this event. The tickets for this event cost $100 for a single person, $175 for a couple, and $850 for a table of ten. It is a great event in Diamond Bar and I hope that this event can keep getting better by year, said Ling-Ling Chang, a Diamond Bar council member-elect.

Continued from page 1 PERFORM: The Performing Arts Academy at Diamond Bar High School showcased their talent throughout the night. the Symphony Orchestra during their performance of Greensleeves. A live and silent auction was also held during the night. The proceeds raised through this event, from the silent auction, live auction, and ticket sales helped to fund the [Performing Arts] Academy, explained Johnson. An awards ceremony was held to honor several important families of the city of Diamond Bar. The awards were presented by DBHS Principal Denis Paul and Assistant Principal Catherine Real. The Brahma Foundation arranged ticket sales and company sponsorships. Tickets cost $50 per person and $450 for ten people. The tickets were sold by Jack and Wanda Tanaka, DBHS administration, and students or staff within the Performing Arts Academy. [This event] was excellent. It surpassed our wildest expectations, commented Brahma Foundation Vice President Alex Stewart.

Senior Named Siemens Semifinalist

ACHIEVE: Derek Chang won a prize bag containing a Kodak camera, a Siemens folder, a Siemens Newsletter, a Universal Serial Bus flash drive, and a Siemens Competition t-shirt. Matthew Hapenney Contributing Staff Writer Derek Chang, a senior at Diamond Bar High School, was announced a semifinalist in the 2009-2010 Siemens Foundation Award in Math, Science, and Technology on Sunday, November 29. Out of the more than 2,000 high school students that entered the Siemens competition, an international original research competition in math, science, and technology, only 318 students were honored as semifinalists, including Chang. There were 96 students that moved on to be named regional finalists. Together, these 414 contestants came from 34 states and the District of Columbia. When I finished the research paper I was overjoyed and relieved. Just reaching this point was an added plus in itself, said Chang. Changs paper was titled The Role of Ammonia in

Aerosol Formation through SO2 Oxidation: A Computational Quantum Chemistry Study. For 16 months, from the summer of 2008 to the fall of 2009, Derek conducted laboratory research at Cal State Fullerton to find the most efficient method to decrease sulfur dioxide emissions. There were a lot of ups and downs. I felt so confused at first, but [the project] came together well at the end, commented Chang. The Siemens Competition, a signature program of the Siemens Foundation, is administered by the College Board and can award scholarships of up to $100,000 for exceptional scientific research. Students submit either individual or team research papers. The papers are then judged to see which are most scientifically influential to the world. We do independent research on our own and then submit it, said Chang. He added, All of my results came together and I could find a conclusion for my research. What I regretted was not being able to find time during the school year to work on the project, but overall [the competition] was definitely worthwhile, stated Chang.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

THE BULLS EYE

Editorial

Editorial
Colleges seem to be expecting more and more from their applicants as the years go by. They look for well-rounded students with perfect grade point averages and a plethora of extracurricular activities. For the most part, college applications are very straightforward and give all applicants the same chance at admission, but there are a few loopholes in the applications. The most irrelevant component of the applications is the part that asks for the applicants family education background, a factor that plays unfairly into an applicants chances at admission. Having alumni in the family usually works in favor of an applicant who wishes to attend the alma mater because colleges feel that by having more family members attend the same school, there is a bigger chance that the family will donate larger sums to that college and that future family members will also be encouraged to attend the same college. This legacy preference, however, is not a reection of the applicants abilities or work ethic. On the other hand; applicants who are the first generation in their families to attend college are also favored. Though the system of admitting legacies and those who lack a family education history benets some applicants, it puts every other applicant at an unfair disadvantage. Applicants cannot control their family history. The entire process of favoring applicants based on their family education

Eye of the Editors

history puts applicants who are qualied to attend the school but do not have such relations at a blatant disadvantage. According to the Education Department Office for Civil Rights, a federal government organization, legacies are usually less qualied than nonlegacies and tend to be less academically driven. Because rst generation college students are usually minorities who come from poorer backgrounds, colleges favor such applicants in order to ensure that education is fairly distributed among all social classes. This, however, ultimately decreases the chance of a college education for those who are not the rst generation in their families to attend college. Both processes are contradictory to the ideals that modern colleges ought to embody. When an applicants family education history is taken into consideration, the chances of admission are not equal and focus more on the colleges potential nancial benets rather than the students chance at a well-deserved education. The processes are harmful to college reputations and to applicants alike as they give admission to applicants who are sometimes less qualied than those who do or did not have relations at the college. Colleges should focus on an individuals accomplishments and potential for success rather than an individuals family education history, or lack thereof, in order to ensure that all applicants are fairly admitted.

85% of DBHS students have parents or siblings who went to/go to a college or university

15% of DBHS students do not have parents or siblings who went to/go to a college or university

Of these: 67% are motivated to work harder 7% are not motivated to work harder 27% are not affected

My parents and siblings went to college. It is kind of intimidating because there are expectations to be better than them. It makes me nervous that I wont be able to excel. Annemarie Branks, Freshman Even though my parents went to college, I am not affected at all. I know its good to follow in peoples footsteps but I believe being an individual is more important. Alex Wu, Junior My mother and father went to college and because they went, they put more stress on me to do better and it encourages me. Tess Charng, Sophomore

Of these: 70% are motivated to work harder 3% are not motivated to work harder 27% are not affected

Results are based on a survey of 448 students.

My sister graduated from the University of the Pacic and since this is my dream school, it encourages me to do better and be just as successful as my sister. Parth Kansagra, Senior

A Shameful Surrender
CY Tan Contributing Staff Writer On November 5, the president of the Palestinian National Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, declared indirect resignation by calling for presidential elections and subsequently announcing that he would not rerun for ofce in the upcoming election. A golden opportunity for Israeli-Palestinian peace will conceivably come to an end with Abbas departure. Past political irresponsibility from both the Obama administration and Israel are to blame for Abbas resignation. In past years, Palestinian refugees, displaced by Israels rapid and illegal settlement expansion, have been forced to live in camps in the West Bank, Gaza, and neighboring lands. As a precondition to negotiation and peace, it was concluded that Israel needed to freeze its settlement construction. The Obama administration rst supported this demand that Israel should impose a full settlement freezeand then irresponsibly backpedaled on that requisite, leaving Abbas with an uncertain future by forcing him to return to the negotiating table. With such a spontaneous change of American policy, the frustrated president has been forced out of ofce after becoming an embarrassment in front of his people. Although President Obama agrees with the outlawing of Israels settlement construction program, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton changed the administrations previous position by recently favoring Israel. Clinton praised Israeli Prime Minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, for showing constraint on his illegal Israeli settlement building even though zero tolerance was the policy. After agreed conditions have been lost because of the Obama administrations sudden change in stance, Abbas suffers a decline in political credibility, all because of American inconsistency. Some say that Abbas threat of resignation may only be a political maneuver to force the Obama administration to readopt the Palestinian precondition of a settlement freeze. However, being at a political dead end, Abbas is prepared to act on his words while acknowledging that his leave will likely lead to the collapse of the Palestinian National Authority, Israels and Americas principle negotiation partner, and give more radical leaders the opportunity to rise to power. In his announcement speech, Abbas made it clear that although he was encouraged by the Obama administrations original policy, he is now surprised by the American inconsistency on the issue and sees his efforts as a lost cause. Abbas is unable to ll the role of directing Palestine toward peace due to the rejection of the agreed upon preconditions. As a pivotal but unsuccessful leader, the hope Abbas had brought initially into ofce and the burden he has created from leaving it have both become heavy issues that the Palestinian people, as well as the international community, must bear.

Weeding Out Weed

Eric Lee Asst. News Editor In the 21st century, marijuana has been rmly established as an illegal drug and is shunned by society. Since the Obama administrations announcement in March that medical marijuana dispensaries that strictly follow the state law would not be investigated by federal agents, numerous legal marijuana stores have opened up in the cities of California. City ofcials now fear that a concentration of dispensaries will in fact attract criminals. This boom of dispensaries may be detrimental to the cities and may be illegal as well, and therefore must be closed down immediately. In 2003, a California ballot measure specified that marijuana could be cultivated and distributed to prescriptionholding patients through nonprot collectives. Ever since President Barack Obama took a softer stance on medical marijuana, telling federal attorneys not to prosecute individual users or dispensaries in states where marijuana has been legalized, numerous dispensaries have grown signicantly. The negative aspect of the decriminalization of marijuana is that there is zero law enforcement to regulate the number of dispensaries. And without any restrictions set by the laws, a rise in the crime rate is likely to occur. Californias city ofcials are beginning to sue dispensaries in order to drive them out of their cities. One of their main reasons is that most, if not all, of the dispensaries are operated to gain prots. Under state law, growing and selling medical marijuana in order to gain prot is strictly forbidden. The owners of marijuana dispensaries, however, argue that their profits come from donations given by their customers. The fact that law enforcement officials cannot prove that these funds are truly donations and not prots made from selling marijuana may simply allow the owners to be legal drug dealers. According to some reports, some dispensary managers admitted that most of their clients simply want to abuse marijuana. One owner stated that the quality and prices of his products attract the drug addicts on the street. The legalization of smoking medical marijuana allows addicts to smoke without fearing prosecution and encourages non-users to start. Another loophole in the legalization of medical marijuana is that the customers simply need to provide marijuana prescriptions in order to make a purchase. A man interviewed by a reporter from The Los Angeles Times insinuated that only one percent of his clients have a genuine hospital note and the other 99 percent come from doctors who set up ofces for the purpose of issuing marijuana prescriptions. Furthermore, these owners are not pharmacists and cannot even identify whether or not the buyer is sick; their job is only to supply customers with marijuana. Therefore, if an individual brings a fake prescription, the individual will be able to purchase marijuana as easily as a child purchasing candy. Once people begin to manipulate this negative aspect of dispensaries, the public will be granted a simpler and easier access to marijuana than an illegal marijuana trade. Disturbingly, this method will be completely legal. To allow marijuana in the already drug-infested community is ridiculous, considering the window of opportunities it offers to drug dealers and marijuana addicts who seek to escape the law. Especially in California, a state full of drug deals, medical marijuana dispensaries should not be legalized and must be banned in order to prevent crime and protect the population from the dangerous drug.

Peace, Not War

Ruby Hwang Staff Writer An unnecessary naval clash occurred last month between North and South Korea along the western sea border of the two countries. It was seemingly caused by an unauthorized border crossing by the North and has heightened tensions between the conicting countries. Considering the already precarious political situation of the two countries, both the leaders and the civilians should be working on a way to nd peace instead of quarreling over insignicant dilemmas such as a border dispute. A current territorial dispute leaves North and South Korea in a very unstable state, and even a small disturbance could lead them into battle once again. It would be unreasonable to risk breaking the current truce between the two countries for anything as trivial as a mistake in territorial sea borders. As the rst naval battle in seven years, it is evident that the clash could have been avoided as has been done in the past.

The idea that such a dangerous battle occurred simply because a North Korean ship entered naval territory that may or may not have belonged to South Korea is completely unreasonable. The naval battle has prompted the strengthening of South Koreas security,

which might initiate a Northern reciprocation. Thus, it is vital that North and South Korea create peaceful ties in areas like trade and travel between the countries, to encourage a peaceful relationship.

Because trade between the countries has been possible, an official end to the Korean War requiring the countries cooperation seems just as feasible. However, since the war has not ofcially ended, the North and South must continue to make attempts at acheiving the goal of peace. Despite tension in both North and South Korea, an official end to the Korean War is still possible. If the two countries put in effort to achieve it, they can put this decades-long animosity behind them. Nonetheless, peace is only possible if incidents like this naval battle are prevented from happening again through mutual understanding and trust. In spite of the ongoing enmity, the North and South could work to form stronger ties and relationships through acts that require close, nonviolent contact

to achieve lasting peace. Reportedly, the naval battle began after South Korea issued a warning shot to the North. While many argue about who was to blame for starting the battle, it is not an issue of who started the gunre exchange that led to the naval clash; that fact has yet to be determined. The responsibility was in the hands of the naval crew of both countries to understand the danger of such a battle and to hold back their forces. To do anything else was simply reckless. Peace could be gained by talking through issues instead of battling through them. Through steps like building stronger relationships, violence between the North and South could be put to an end and their civilians could live without fear of a war. The time has come to discuss a lasting peace treaty to end enmity between the countries. Until they nd a way to negotiate peacefully, the North and Souths relationship will remain an unsettled issue impeding both countries economic and political progress.

Editorial

THE BULLS EYE

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Editorial
Out of the Box Last years main store for Christmas shopping: Walmart. This years: 99 store. Hooray for progress! Katie Lee Tramplings and laxatives...all in the name of Black Friday. Elizabeth Lee

The Editorial Board invites The Bulls Eye readers to submit original commentary based on current events. All submitted work should be in accordance with the Editorial Policy in the staff box. Selected entries will be published in a subsequent issue of The Bulls Eye.

Op-Ed: Fort Hood

Andrew John Asst. Sports Editor America has experienced several domestic acts of violence that have caused its people to begin doubting their safety and their government. Learning from past experiences, the government has taken some initiative to improve communication within government agencies, but it still lacks an effective governmentwide system to share unclassied information. The recent tragic shooting at Fort Hood has emphasized the need for an effective system of communication; army psychiatrist Nidal Hasan opened re, killing 13 and wounding 31. Before the shooting, Hasan had expressed suspicious views against the war in the Middle East during his time at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland and had received mediocre performance evaluations at Walter Reed Hospital, leaving many wondering how Hasan had made it to his important position. However, no reports on his unstable personality and views were ever led, and ofcials at Fort Hood failed to recognize Hasans average profile. Any other military base could make the same mistake, and another disaster could result. Former president George Bush attempted to improve communication among government agencies after the attacks on September 11, 2001 through the Homeland Security Act and the Intelligence Reform Act. Bush later established the

Information Sharing Environment and the Information Sharing Councilforums that were to link different organizations through an accessible network of stored information but have not yet yielded positive results. For example, comments on Hasans questionable behavior were never filed in the network of information by his Army-afliated schools, thereby making them inaccessible to ofcials at Fort Hood. Although all of the measures taken to improve communication between government agencies appear optimistic, much progress has not resulted. This is partly because the responsibility for establishing government-wide policies of communication has shifted between various agencies. Agencies originally selected by Bush passed the responsibilities to other agencies that were to incorporate some system of effective communication. The other obstacle that has hampered progress is the inconsistency of information designation. Hasans poorly evaluated profile was an example of inconsistent classication; soldiers stationed at Fort Hood would have probably emphasized Hasans poor work ethic, though his schools had not put any emphasis on it at all. The various departments that are responsible for executing the information-sharing policies need to start improving the way information is relayed from agency to agency. American lives are at risk as long as government organizations cannot communicate effectively among themselves.

Pro: Terrorist Trial in Federal Court

Marcel Boubion Staff Writer Attorney General Eric Holder announced that Khalid Sheik Mohammed and four other alleged 9/11 conspirators would be tried in a federal court. Holder made this decision with the understanding that the ve accused terrorists are not combatants, but criminals, and should be tried accordingly. The terrorists are not soldiers, and should be tried in a federal court where a verdict as severe as the death penalty will be better validated. Holders decision is the only just choice. Rather than trying the terrorists with a military tribunal, Holder is choosing to allow Americas justice system to handle the punishments. Bringing the trial to New York may seem rash and insensitive at rst to those still gravely affected by the attacks on September 11, but once the choice is more closely examined, it becomes apparent that it is dignied, as it reects Americas Constitution in the best possible way. A military trial should be reserved for soldiers who have committed a crime in a wartime situation. These terrorists have not done that and only warrant a federal trial. The Department of Justice will prosecute the terrorists with a judge, a jury, and a lawyer; these three components of a federal trial will eliminate bias from the nal sentencing. A military hearing will have a military ofcer who acts as both the judge and a juror, and produce a ruling of questionable equity. The judgment made by Holder is backed up with the belief in the strength of the American judicial system. The ve 9/11 conspirators deserve a fair, civilian trial where they will be granted their Constitutional rights. It is a triumph for American law and should not be shadowed by disdain held by a fear of terrorism. Those who doubt the effectiveness of a federal trial have yet to realize the power of a fair and just trial. A federal trial will present all the evidence before a judge and a jury whereas the lack of multiple opinions in the courtroom of a military tribunal

will inevitably create a biased ruling, leading to questions and eventual skepticism about the validity of any verdict. Holder s choice mirrors Americas impartiality toward all situations. The decision is a fair-minded alternative to the hasty decisions of a military hearing and will also promote the American law system on an international level. A military tribunal might seem like an easier choice, as the trial would be quicker and more discreet; but Americans need to take into consideration the choice that is both ethical and faithful to the Constitution: allowing the federal system to determine the role played by the conspirators in the 9/11 attacks.

Con: Terrorist Trial in Federal Court

Ashley Ahn Asst. Feature Editor The terrorists who perpetrated the attacks on September 11, 2001, will be tried only blocks away from the epicenter of the incident in a federal court. Holding the trial in a federal court is a situation that could potentially let the terrorists get away with murder. Holding the trial in a military tribunal would be a much more effective and economical alternative. To keep the trial as efcient as possible, the terrorists should be tried in a military tribunal, and not a federal court. Having had experience with terrorism, the military men who would prosecute the terrorists would pursue the fairest punishment, a castigation that the men rightfully deserve for murdering thousands of innocent people. For example, the Nuremberg Trials, which tried Nazi leaders after World War II, were handled by a military tribunal and the suspected criminals were given a fair trial. The tribunal also saved thousands of people from the pain of seeing the murderers of their family and friends treated like petty criminals. Unlike civilians whose opinions could be swayed while in federal court, the military men will hold to their convictions because of their rsthand experience with terrorism. Not only will the people of New York be emotionally unready to look upon the men who murdered thousands of people in their city, but there might also be violent repercussions to holding the trial in the city. Terrorists could be tempted to strike the city during the high-prole cases; vigilantes could be driven to the extreme and threaten the lives of the defendants. There is a chance that innocent people will be hurt, and that emotional citizens will take the law into their own hands, undermining the American judicial system in the eyes of the world. The time and effort it would take to provide security for the city as the trial takes place in federal court would become a huge issue all on its own. With an enormous cost to taxpayers, having to worry about public safety, city safety, and the safety of the terrorists would cost large sums of money and take a lot of unnecessary resources to

coordinate properly. If the government truly is as smart as it makes itself out to be, the September 11th terrorist case would be held at a military tribunal. Holding the trial in a federal court might cause conict and the people of New York could be put into danger. If the trial were to be held in a military tribunal, the location would be away from that of the disaster, saving everyone from worrying about these issues. A military tribunal would allow disciplined military men to conduct this trial fairly. While the terrorists are hated, discriminated against, and unfairly treated by the majority of the American population, the military men would put any biases aside and see the case for what it truly is.

Blazing Trails of Satire

A Smart Process for Smart Choices

Katie Lee Asst. Editorial Editor Cracker Jack, Froot Loops, and Coca-Cola are only a few of the superbly healthy choice suggestions made by the Smart Choices program for consumers. Recently, there has been a halt in this awless Smart Choices program because members of the Food and Drug Administration claim that the system of approving a product for a Smart Choices label may mislead customers. The following will include an elaboration of the three-step process in order to repudiate any skepticism that may arise. Step 1: Judges make an initial list of products based on bribery. First, judges choose each product wisely according to a list of industries that have paid the most money for their products to be marked as a Smart Choices product. At their own discretion, judges will also choose products that will benet the Smart Choices program the most and have those products approved, even without going through steps two and three. The more money an industry offers means more loopholes in the threestep process because money isand ought to beeverything to a company. Besides, as long as the companies are satised, so are the customers, because customers only shop and purchase products with one purpose in mind: to help increase the rich companies immense satisfaction. If the oils and sugars of a product amount to under 92 percent, the product will not be approved. As a solution, judges use a fat-injector and apply with pressure to puncture the product until the percentage of oils and sugars reaches at least 92 percent. However, on some products, the judges may use the fat-quick injector to go over 92 percent in oils and sugar to create a wider grin on the customer enjoying their fat-basked and oily products. Of course, making the soul happy with extravagant tastes and wonderfully oily sugars takes priority over making the body healthy. Step 3: Ingredients of each product are listed and tabulated to make sure ingredients do not go over the budget. It is essential to keep the companies happy even if it means redening nutrition. If

THE BULLS EYE STAFF

Editors-in-Chief Adeel Mohammadi Desiree Wang News Editor Iris Li Asst. News Editors Elizabeth Lee Eric Lee Editorial Editors Sharon Lin Adeel Mohammadi Asst. Editorial Editor Katie Lee Feature Theme Editor Justin Kong A & E Editor Jane Park Asst. A & E Editor Kevin Kang Feature Editor Desiree Wang Asst. Feature Editor Ashley Ahn Diamond Bar High School 21400 E. Pathnder Rd. Diamond Bar, CA 91765 Sports Editor Ryan DeVore Asst. Sports Editors Kevin Acciani Rachel Halpert Andrew John Photo Editor Ashley Chen Asst. Business Managers Andrew John Eric Lee Editorial Cartoonist Katie Lee Staff Writers Marcel Boubion Ruby Hwang Laura Moftt Nicole Ongpoy Megan Quiamas Christine Song Advisor Connie Chen

prots. Step 2: The amount of oils and sugars in each product are then measured. The level of oils and sugars must be very high in order to ensure true customer

the ingredients of a product total up to a cost of more than 99, then judges take out some of the unnecessary ingredients. Green vegetables and fresh fruits are usually the rst ingredients to go if the cost is over the set budget because they are unnecessary and easily replaceable with cheap, articial, and fatty ingredients. Quality in nutrition must be compromised for the better well-being of the company budgets. The Smart Choices program clearly works hard to thoroughly check the legitimacy of each product. By following these steps before adding the label onto the product, the program creates an efficient list of products that are made for customer satisfaction, guaranteed. Every time there is a product marked with a green checkmark labeled Smart Choices at the neighborhood grocery store, it should be put into every customers shopping cart with the utmost condence and trust in the reliable nutrition-checking program. All consumers are now assured that they are truly making a smart decision in picking these Smart Choicelabeled products.

Editorial Policy The Bulls Eye is a public forum that welcomes the views of our readers. Letters to the Editor will be accepted only if they are signed. The author may, however, request anonymity. The staff reserves the right to edit letters without changing content. Forward letters to Ms. Chen, Room 250.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Moms $20
Ashley Ahn Asst. Feature Editor Marcel Boubion Staff Writer

Feature

THE BULLS EYE

Feature

overheard in

High school students live their lives, Monday through Friday, on budgets that are generally too small to realistically get them through the week. Lunch money, school supplies, and tickets to school events are all expected to be paid for with this miniscule budget. But how much does it really cost to get a student through the week? Ten dollars? Twenty? We sent two students with twenty dollars in hand to nd out if that was enough to get them through the week.

DB

Every month, we will bring you some of the most ridiculous, hilarious, at-out idiotic, and sometimes insightful things we hear around campus. So bewarewell be listening. Girl: Im sure theres someone in the world that loves her, but I dont. Girl: I can beat you up with my left foot! Teacher: I looked around and I saw all the white people and thought to myself, Im not used to being in the majority! Girl: Drinking milk with a straw up your nose is fun. Teacher: This is the rst time I used a bad word. Class: Really?! Teacher: Yeah, in the last ten minutes. Girl: I have to eat goldsh in pairs or they get lonely. Boy: I waited six hours in line on Black Friday to steal something. Boy: My best pick-up lines are for guys. Girl: Youre not fair! Teacher: I am fair. I teach you all poorly. Boy: The gym doesnt work, dont get scammed. Boy: Albinos are so unattractive! Boy: Whoever said winning isnt everything must have lost. Girl: I have to pass this class with an F. Girl: Dolphins make milk? Teacher: Yeah, only the male ones. Girl: Macbeth killed the Power Rangers. Boy: Hating cheese is like hating sunshine. Boy 1: I found out I can count all my teeth with my tongue. Boy 2: Cool! Girl 1: Are you using Bump-Its? Girl 2: No, why? Girl 1: Because your hair is verybumpin. Boy: Our substitute teacher looks like a white Obama. Boy: Is Thailand in India? Boy: Ahh! Radishes scare me! Boy 1: Look at him! His face is white! Boy 2: Your face is white! Teacher: Stop it you two, both of you are beautiful.

Ashley-Monday
First day of the $20 challenge and Im excited as can be. Its a coincidence that my Mom would make me buy lunch today because I usually never buy anything with her money. Its almost like she wants me to use it all. Goodbye $2.50. Hello spicy chicken wrap!

Marcel-Monday
I came to school Monday with an empty stomach. At brunch I was hungry as ever and decided to spend $1.50. I got hungry again, so I said good-bye to another $2.50 and said hello to my lunch. At the end of my day all I could do was shrug at my expenses, telling myself they were all necessary.

Ashley-Tuesday
Today, things are back to normal, Ive brought my lunch to school and I now have no reason to spend my leftover $17.50. That was until my brother came along. He looked at me with that hungry face, and being the great sister I am, I gave him $5 for lunch. $12.50 left.

Marcel-Tuesday
With $16 left and four days to make the most of it, I figured it was just enough to get me through the week. Wrong. I hadnt realized that I needed to buy a ticket to the choir concert, which cost $7. After buying breakfast and lunch for a total of $4 in spending, it dawned on me that $20 might not be enough to get me through the week.

Ashley-Wednesday
Third day of the challenge and I have $12.50 left, still going strong. Ive brought lunch to school as usual and although I was contemplating an ice cream purchase, I remained strong and refrained. I was craving ice cream like mad, but I remembered that I was on a diet.

Marcel-Wednesday
When I woke up on Wednesday I knew I didnt have the money to make it through the week, let alone buy breakfast at school. So, I grabbed a piece of toast before I left for school. This saved me $1.50 allowing me to only spend $2.50 for lunch.

Ashley-Thursday
Ive made it this far with $12.50 and I could see the light at the end of the tunnel. I was feeling good about this challenge, so good that I decided to donate a dollar to a cause helping families receive Thanksgiving dinner. $11.50, I got this in the bag.

Marcel-Thursday
I was down to $2.50 to spend for both Thursday and Friday. When lunch arrived on Thursday, I had a tough decision to makeshould I save my money for Friday or spend it now? I listened to the grumbles of my stomach and I chose to have lunch on Thursday.

Ashley-Friday
but, wait! Ive just realYes! Im almost done with the challenge but ized that I owe my friend $12 for buying my tickets to New Moon. Negative fifty cents, and now Im using my own money. Well, anything to see Taylor Lautner without a shirt on. I thought for sure I wouldnt spend anymore, but I caved in and bought a cookie.I need stronger will power.

Marcel-Friday
I found a surprise Friday morning as I went to turn my alarm off. My dad left me $4 to cheat on my $20 challenge. My final conclusion: unless I start brown bagging my lunches, I have to think of some way to get through the week with only $20.

Out of This World

Prisca Kim Contributing Staff Writer Are you ready to travel to space for a four-day vacation? Well, pack your bags; the Galactic Suites in outer space is set to open in 2012. Take vacationing to the next level by leaving this planet. A four-day stay in this outer space wonder will cost about $4 million. Because the hotel is rather far (try outer space), and not to mention expensive, the Galactic Suites will only take guests for four days at a time. The space hotel has a pod-like structure with Velcro walls inside for your sticking pleasure. Because there is no gravity in space, you can have the experience of oating around in a nice Velcro suit to stick to the walls. You can nally be the superhero you always wanted to be. Each day, you are able to see 15 sunrises just by looking outside your own personal pod window. In addition, the hotel travels around the entire world every 80 minutes so youll denitely get your moneys worth. Cleaning yourself wont be a problem because when youre in the Galactic Suites, you can just enter your spa room and oat around in the anti-gravitational bubbles. To get to space, you will need to take a space shuttle to take you to the Galactic Suites, located about 280 miles above the Earth. But before you go, you must attend an eight week

training program on a tropical island in the Caribbean to prepare yourself for your trip. Here, you can buff up and get t so that your body can survive in a hotel lacking gravity. Dont worry; this training program is included in the cost of the entire four-day vacation. The richest of the rich have already planned their trip to the Galactic Suites. Reservations have been made for the next three years. It may not seem realistic for a middle class family to go on this extravagant vacation, but one can dream. Who knows, maybe one of us will nd the cure to cancer, make billions of dollars, and take a trip to the Galactic Suites in the future.

Think: Would you pay $4 million to stay in space for four days?

Unwrapped
Elizabeth Lee Asst. News Editor Christmas is right around the corner and with the current economy, students cannot afford to shop for each of their friends. A practical way to survive the holidays without breaking the bank is to make homemade presents. Though it sounds like a cheap idea, homemade gifts are more economical and personal. Handcrafted presents can be edible, decorative, and practical. Though cake balls are easy to concoct, many people do not have the opportunity to enjoy them and have often never heard of them. Cake balls are derived from the simple concept of having round balls of cake covered in chocolate. To make this treat, you will need an already baked cake, cream cheese frosting, and chocolate. To make them, mix together the baked cake and cream cheese frosting, scoop little balls of the mixture with a cookie scooper, and place the individual balls on a cookie sheet. After refrigerating the cake balls, take them out, and individually roll them into melted chocolate. Put the cake balls back in the refrigerator to harden the chocolate. You can mix and match the cake avor and type of chocolate in order to create your own, original batch of cake balls. Whether you choose to make your batch simple or ornate, they are sure to please any sweet-toothed friend! If you are more of an aesthetic individual, scrapbooking is another simple solution to your Christmas shopping dilemmas. Though it is more complicated than writing a simple card, it is more personal and only requires scrapbook cardstock and pictures. The rest is up to you and your creativity. Experienced designers can decorate pages with quotes, glitter, and ribbons. But for the artistically challenged, pasting shapes and drawing borders for pictures are just as visually appealing. Remember: a picture is worth 1,000 words! The winter season is known for its chilly temperatures. Why not give the gift of warmth? Hand warmers are surprisingly simple to make. All that is needed is cloth, some ceramic pie weights, and the ability to use a needle and thread. Hand warmers are as useful as they are easy to make. Your friend simply needs to microwave it!

Puppet Avenue
Sharon Lin Editorial Editor Big Bird, Elmo, and the Cookie Monster are only a few of the names that have been wired into our heads since the day we were born. The cast of Sesame Street has been a vital part of our childhood, and most of us probably owe our early education to the fuzzy characters. Last month, Sesame Street, the longest running childrens television show in the United States, celebrated its 40th anniversary. Although the shows main goal remains the same, a few major changes have been made throughout its 40 years in the spotlight. 1. Cookie Monster and Obesity: Who knew that in 2005, the Cookie Monster would have to adopt a better diet due to the reports of the Cookie Monsters infatuation with cookies encouraging childhood obesity? The cookie-loving monster now calls cookie a sometime food. There was even talk about changing the Cookie Monster to Veggie Monster to promote better eating habits. This is a big change from the rst few episodes of Sesame Street which showed the Cookie Monster gobbling what he thought was a cookie, but was really a pipe. 2. From Grover to Elmo: Back in the day, Grover was the most popular character on Sesame Street and Elmo didnt even exist. Now, Elmo is the favorite character and even has the ever-so-popular Tickle Me Elmo modeled after him. 3. Story time: Sesame Street used to tell a single story throughout its one hour time slot, but as the years went on, it became obvious that a childs attention span has decreased. Sesame Street now tells a story in a 10-minute session followed by small segments such as Elmos World. 4. Setting: Sesame Street was originally created for inner city kids who did not attend preschool. The rst few episodes were lmed in dark and musty settings so that the inner city kids could easily relate. Now, the streets of Sesame Street have been cleaned spotless. 5. Cast: Over the years, numerous special guests have been invited to join the show. From Jason Mraz to Julia Roberts, the guests on Sesame Street are proof of the shows rising popularity.

A&E

THE BULLS EYE

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Arts & Entertainment Show Me the Money TEZUK-ART Techmas

Megan Quiamas Staff Writer As one of the most popular online video websites, Hulu has given countless hours of entertainment to its viewers. Hulu has television shows, such as Family Guy, and movies, such as Speed Racer, available on demand for viewers to watch at their convenience. Traditionally the content has been free, but the site is going to start charging its viewers beginning in early 2010. The prices have not been announced, but the decision to charge is permanent. This past September, News Corporation, co-owner of the site, held a press conference in New York. The companys Deputy Chairman, Chase Carey, explained that Hulu will begin charging viewers to watch its content. However, he stipulated that although viewers would have to pay to watch most videos, some content should still be available to for free. While Hulu would like viewers to enjoy and appreciate the websites content, it also wants viewers to capture the real value of their videos as the free content can be construed as a cheapening of the high quality material. Currently, the only thing that is keeping the website running is the money it gets from advertising. Nevertheless, with the adoption of viewing fees, the advertisements will not be gone completely; the number of ads, however, will decrease. Avid users of Hulu know that the numerous advertisements interrupting shows are tiresome. Though viewers will have to pay, the decrease in the number of ads will be a welcome change to those who choose to pay. When Hulu does begin to charge viewers, it is predicted that the number of viewers will drop. Hulu has a large audience, with the average show receiving over 10 million views, but when they start charging, the numbers will see a sudden decrease in viewers. The magnitude of the drop, however, is impossible to predict until the fees are implemented. Such a drastic change to one of the most popular video websites may or may not be accepted by its loyal viewers. Because Hulu will be competing with other companies such as Apple, which sells shows and movies to be put on its products, the future and success of Hulu is uncertain. Tezukas dark childhood became the rst animated show, had an overwhelming impact or anime, in Japan to play in on his art. In his youth, he color. Kimba the White Lion Despite his major impact was constantly on pop culture, Osamu Tezuka, ridiculed by his a prominent Japanese artist, peers for the remains a mystery to many. way he looked. However, Helen McCarthys H i s m o t h e r , biography of Tezuka, The Art of h o w e v e r , Osamu Tezuka: God of Manga, encouraged him aims to shed some light on the by taking him to father of manga. The book is not the Takarazuka only packed with never before T h e a t r e i n seen pictures of his work, but Tokyo, where he it also is packaged with a forty- found inspiration ve minute documentary titled for much of his The Secrets of Creation. The future works. film was created in 1986, but Tezuka found was never shown or released comfort through until now. Tezukas impact on d r a w i n g a n d , the world was phenomenal and b e f o r e l o n g , now with McCarthys biography, knew that he he will earn his well-deserved would pursue an artistic career. Flying High... While ghting crime. fame. After World Known as the Walt Disney of Courtesy of www.animeforum.com War II, Tezuka created his rst is also said to have been the Japan and as the father of manga, Tezuka has forever changed manga, Diary of Ma-Chan. Diary inspiration for the popular Disney Japanese culture with his manga, of Ma-Chan never became very movie, The Lion King. After his or Japanese cartoons. His most well-known, but it helped launch work with Kimba the White Lion, the start of Tezuka created his legendary Te z u k a s manga, Astro Boy. Astro Boy, p r o l i f i c which ultimately led to the rise career in in popularity of anime in Japan, m a n g a . began as a manga in 1952. Astro Although Boy, which revolves around an T e z u k a android named Astro Boy who d r e w ghts crime, instantly became hundreds a success and was made into a o f c a r - television show. By the 1980s, toons, he it crossed the language and gained the cultural barrier when it became a most fame hit in the United States. This past through his October, Astro Boy was released two works, as a 3-D animated lm. Even after a lifetime of Astro Boy The Circle of Life... In the paws of Kimba the Lion. and Kimba achievements, Tezukas life Courtesy of www.kimbawlion.com the White remains unknown to many. As notable characters include Astro Lion. the creator of such inuential and Boy and Kimba the White Lion. Kimba the White Lion , original work, his immortalization Yet despite his extraordinary created in 1950, revolved around is justied. His biography will inuence on Japanese culture, an African lion, Kimba, who undoubtedly shine some light Tezukas name is still unfamiliar tried to live peacefully with all on the impressive but illusive to many, even manga fans. the other animals. It eventually life he led. Kevin Kang Asst. A&E Editor Kevin Acciani Asst. Sports Editor In todays technology-based world, one of the best gifts you can give a loved one, especially if he or she is a teenager, is a video game. Be careful: give them a bad one, and they may not be friends with you anymore. Here are a few of the top new video games that are denitely sure to make your friends love you even more. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (released: Nov. 10): Only one word can describe this game: EPIC. The game play is nearly awless, as the

Good Mouse Gone Bad

Ashley Ahn Asst. Feature Editor Red slacks, yellow shoes, and white gloves, all accompanied with a smiling face. Who else could it be but Mickey Mouse, one of the most familiar icons in the world? This character has been catering to generations with his goofy laugh and quirky ways. However, as the morals of generations change, so does Mickeys popularity. To prevent Mickey from

but well-known characters and scenes will be shown in a different light. In Donald Ducks case, he will be shown as disemboweled and robotic. The beloved Disneyland ride Its a Small World will also be portrayed with a darker perspective. Hoping to supply the younger generations with a new take on an old character, the Walt Disney Company is eager to increase Mickey merchandise sales in the United States. Changing Mickeys whole

battle scenes and graphics are amazingly realistic. In most cases, designers focus too much on those two aspects of the game, causing the plot of the game to suffer; that is not the case for Modern Warfare 2. The storyline is engaging to the point that it could probably be made into a successful movie. The game will leave you guessing with all of the twists and turns embedded in the story. Be warned, you will become addicted. Guitar Hero Van Halen (release date: Dec. 22): Van Halen is arguably one of the

Everybodys Fine
Katie Lee Asst. Editorial Editor

Welcome to the dark side... Mickey Mouses epic tale. Courtesy of www.gamedaily.com losing his appeal, the Walt outlook in the game is only their Disney Company has given rst step. Disney is considering Junction Point, a Disney-owned starting up a project even larger game company, the go-ahead than Epic Mickey. They are to show a darker side of Mickey considering rethinking every and feature him in a game ber that makes up Mickey. called Epic Mickey. This game, The characters personality, made for the Nintendo Wii, will appearance, and way he carries be available in stores sometime himself are all up for discussion. next fall. How he will be portrayed on Epic Mickey will show the television and even in theme cunning and selsh side of parks is being rethought. Mickey that has never been Ultimately, the goal of the seen before. The new naughty Walt Disney Company is to rake Mickey will be represented as in a larger prot. Although Epic bad-tempered and mischievous Mickey is denitely on its way, as he travels around a cartoon the permanent reinvention of wasteland where the forgotten Mickey is still in its brainstorming creations of Disney waste process. Only time will tell how away. Not only will the forgotten successful this revamped iconic characters be seen in the game, character will be.

and pity. Though the beginning of the lm moved slowly with many unnecessary scenes, in Everybodys Fine, released the end, the movie was still a on December 4, is the story of success. a good-hearted, lonely father, In contrast to the new hype of Frank Goode, who wishes to imaginary vampires and heated reunite his broken family after werewolves, the film takes a the loss of their realistic, understanding refreshing, m o t h e r . and different Director Kirk focus on family Jones cleverly togetherness, portrays a the precious beautiful value of life, journey of and the true reality and true meaning of happiness that success. the father nds Robert De as he travels Niro, who around the plays Frank world to visit Goode, does each of his a phenomenal children. j o b o f After years exhibiting of keeping a dynamic d i s t a n t character that relationships undergoes with each of Looks like everybodys ne... Except for Robert De Niro. an internal his children, Courtesy of www.allmoviephoto.com epiphany. He Frank is inspired to reconnect Jones masterfully weaves takes the audience into the with the rest of his family. He aesthetic and picturesque heart of his miseries with each is driven by the obligation and images with mellow, sweet, element of the plot. duty that he feels has been and always appropriate tunes Unlike the clichd happy passed on to him after his wifes to sweep the audience into the endings of all fairy tales, Jones death and also by his desire same three-dimensional moods creates a satisfying yet realistic to feel the loving comfort of and emotions that the actors so ending to the story of a true his once young and innocent awlessly present. Moreover, family that is imperfect. But still, children. Frank, a hardworking in some cases, a chillingly silent because they have each other, and retired utility pole engineer, background to the meaningful as the title suggests, everybody is isolated in the past as the scenes further deepens the pain is ne.

THEBUZZ
reality of his childrens seemingly perfect lives catches up with him. He eventually realizes that he had created and pushed his children to an unattainable level of success, which is ultimately the cause of the shattered relationships.

most popular rock bands ever and they are coming to your living room! With Guitar Hero Van Halen, you can play some of the bands biggest hits spanning over three decades. In addition, you can also play songs by Queen, Weezer, Blink 182, The Offspring, and Queens of the Stone Age. Assassins Creed II (released: Nov. 10): As a sequel, Assassins Creed II hopes to build on the success of

its predecessor. The Assassins Creed series has a very loyal fan base and, so far, this game has proven to be even better than the rst. With a more uid game play and a greatly improved storyline, Assassins Creed II is denitely a step up from its original, which was a very good game in itself. This is denitely a game worth purchasing for any loved one.

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THE BULLS EYE

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

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Athlete of the Month: Tim Huang
Rachel Halpert Asst. Sports Editor Senior Tim Huang is a determined, hard-working, and well-rounded student. As the captain of the varsity cross country team, he is able to balance athletics with academics and community service. Bulls Eye: When did you start running cross country? And how did you become interested? Tim Huang: Freshman year. I heard a lot of stories and thought it would be fun. BE: How many years have you been on varsity? TH: For three years. BE: What do you do to prepare before the season? TH: Run. Its a year-long sport, so in the summer, we run about ve to six miles for practice. We run up to 11 miles. BE: What is your best personal time? TH: For three miles, my best is 17:01 and, for one mile its 4:58. BE: Do you run races outside of school? TH: Ive run two halfmarathons and I run in 5K and 10K races. BE: What do you think is the best part about cross country and running in general? TH: It trains you to push your boundaries. Its a battle of the mind, a mental challenge. BE: How has cross country changed other aspects of your life? TH: It has given me the ability to focus. It helps me work hard on my grades. BE: Are you involved in any other sports or clubs at school? TH: Ive been in track for all four years and on varsity for three years. Im in Leo Club and was in Link Crew last year. BE: Do you have any other interests outside of school? TH: Im the president of Leo District; it runs 15 Leo Clubs in Southern California. Im in Project Access where I volunteer to tutor low income students. I have a passion for service. Ive played piano for nine years now. BE: Do you ever want to run a marathon in the future? TH: Once I go to college, I will run a marathon. Either [the] LA Marathon or San Francisco Marathon. BE: What college are you planning on going to? TH: [The] University of Pennsylvania or Stanford; any college that will accept me. BE: How do you manage to keep your grades up during cross country season? TH: I set goals and eat healthily. I know it sounds like it doesnt help, but it really helps. BE: What have you learned from your cross country experience? TH: Ive learned how to be a leader; you can push yourself to grow and you can always try harder. BE: What have you learned from your high school experience? TH: Ive learned to follow your passion. BE: What are you most proud of? TH: Im most proud of how we work together, we make big things happen.

For the Love of the Game

Kevin Acciani Asst. Sports Editor Is there anything more exciting than watching football? Football is one of the few things that can bring many different types of people together. However, many of these people are split over one hotly debated issue: which is better, college football or the National Football League? While the NFL may be the revolutionary apex of the sport due to its high level of talent, college football is much better for multiple reasons. 1. Money: Unlike their professional counterparts, college football players are not getting paid to play. Due to this fact, most players are playing for the love of the game instead of playing for money. Sure, many players are playing their best to earn themselves an NFL contract, but many more players have no chance to play professionally. Why, then, do those who are not NFL prospects play? They play for no other reason than the fact that they are addicted to the sport. Because of this. they will always play their hardest, making games much more exciting. 2. C o m p e l l i n g Improvement: In college football, the game reinvents itself every year. New players come in every season, all hoping to become the next big star. Any team can change its scenario with a solid recruiting class, propelling itself to the upper echelon of college football. A good example of this is Stanford University. Until this season, Stanfords team has been mediocre at best. Thanks to coach Jim Harbaugh and a few good recruiting classes in a row, Stanford has propelled itself into the top 20. A major reason for this jump was Stanfords upset win against perennial powerhouse USC. In professional football, it is truly the rich get richer, as teams like the St. Louis Rams and the Detroit Lions have been bad for years now, with no signs of improving. 3. Stadiums: The best pilgrimage one can make is going to a storied stadium such as the Swamp in Florida or Michigans Big House. The intensity in those stadiums is one of the most amazing things one can experience, The few professional games that have sold out in the past, mostly had wealthy businessmen and celebrities that usually do not care about the game. Besides, does the NFL have anything quite as cool as the Gator Chomp that is commonly done at the Swamp? 4. No Room for Error: In college football, a single win can take a team out of National Championship contention. Just one more loss can derail an entire teams season. Such pressure causes teams to ght for every inch of every game. In the NFL, many teams that are losing late in the game just give up--they know that one week will not make a huge difference. 5. Notable Players: In the NFL, stadiums are usually named after major corporations, such as New Englands Gillette Stadium and Pittsburghs Heinz Field. In general, college teams do not name their stadiums after major businesses. Instead, they choose to honor notable persons, usually alumni. For example, Florida State Universitys stadium is named after their famed running back Doak Campbell. In general, college football is a much more exciting game than the NFL. With all of the emotion from both players and fans alike, there is nothing better than sitting around on a Saturday watching college football.

Nations Favorite League

Laura Moftt Staff Writer Since the National Football League was established in 1920, fans have argued amongst themselves whether the NFL or college football is the preferable football league. However, the NFL is clearly the victor, surpassing college football due to these top ve categories: 1. Player Talent: The level of talent shown on the eld is undeniably greater with the NFL than with college football. This is because the NFL picks only the top players from the college teams. By choosing the best of the best, the NFL is able to eliminate the players that dilute player talent in college football. Also, because the players have already played high school and college football, they have more experience by the time they reach the NFL. 2. Playoffs: The playoff system is a necessity in all sports because of the fact that it showcases a teams improvement throughout the regular season. By using the Bowl Championship Series to decide who advances to the championship in college football, the fun is taken out of championship games. The BCS makes it impossible for teams that have improved throughout the season to participate in the championship. The BCS eliminates the opportunity for the underdog to rise to the top. 3. Amount of Teams: The smaller amount of teams is another benet of the NFL. College football has too many teams, with too great a difference in the level of ability of each team, making college football difcult to follow. By having fewer teams, the NFL enables each team to garner more fans. In addition, fewer teams hold signicant economic value. Because each team in the NFL has a greater fan following per team than college football, they are able to sell more merchandise. This in effect, allows each NFL team to receive more funds. 4. Entertainment: The NFLs half-time shows on major holidays also appeal more to the fans than college footballs halftime shows. The NFL provides higher quality entertainment during its half-time shows with performers such as the Jonas Brothers, Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake, and The Who. 5. The Draft: The draft is another plus for the NFL. By allowing the lowest placing teams from the previous year to choose their new players rst, the NFL is able to balance their teams and keep the season interesting. Not only do fans get to witness their team turn its newest member into a top player, fans also get to watch players stress as they wait to see what team they will be playing for. Football fans have argued over the NFL and college football for years. However, it is clear that the NFL is undoubtedly the champion because of its player talent, number of teams, playoff system, entertainment, and draft.

L.A. Lakers Greatest Moments

Megan Quiamas Staff Writer The Los Angeles Lakers franchise is lled with great moments but it is difcult to select the greatest one of all. The team has provided entertainment with their talent for generations, having had players like Earvin Magic Johnson and now Derek Fisher, both of whom gave fans goose bumps with their amazing plays. Here are the seven most memorable moments in Lakers history. Magic Johnsons Junior, Junior Sky-hook Shot: Johnsons dramatic hook shot with two seconds left in the game gave the Lakers a 107-106 victory and a 3-1 lead in the 1987 National Basketball Association Finals against the Boston Celtics. The winning shot came after Bostons Kevin McHale put the ball out of bounds, giving the Lakers the opportunity to score. Kobe Bryants Behind the Backboard Shot: Bryant put another one in the highlight reel against the Oklahoma City Thunder on November 22 of this season. Late in the rst quarter, Bryant was cornered at the baseline against Oklahoma Citys rookie James Harden. He then made a shot which went over the backboard, thrilling the crowd. Kobe Bryants 81 Point his own magic during the 2004 Game: The matchup between Western Conference Seminals the Lakers and the Toronto against the San Antonio Spurs. Raptors in 2006 is a night that With 0.4 seconds left on the will be remembered for quite clock in Game Four, with the some time. With the Lakers Spurs leading 73-72, Fisher capturing a 122-104 victory. caught a pass by teammate Bryantss 81 points gave the Gary Payton and scored the Lakers a sure win over the winning shot as the buzzer went Raptors and became the second off. This gave the Lakers the win highest single-game points total at 75-73 and the win advanced in NBA history. Bryants feat was them to the NBA Finals. a surprise to all in the country, Lakers Three Peat: including himself The Lakers pulled off three Robert Horrys Winning consecutive championships Three Point between 2000 to Shot: Robert The team 2002. The team Horry gave the defeated the Lakers a stunning has provided Indiana Pacers, victory over the the Philadelphia Sacramento entertainment 76ers, and the Kings in 2002 New Jersey Nets. with time with their talent To advance to the expiring during NBA Finals the the Western for generations... Lakers had to beat Conference the Kings. Their Finals. The Lakers were trailing streak ended when they lost the Kings 98-97 during the to the Detriot Pistons following fourth quarter when the Kings their improbable run. turned it over near the end. The Magic Johnsons 42 point Lakers ran the ball across the game: On May 1980 in Game court trying to beat the clock. As 6 of the NBA Finals, the Lakers Vlade Divac of the Kings tipped played the Philadelphia 76ers. the ball out to the top of the key, Rookie, Johnson started as Horry grabbed the loose ball center but by the end of the and made the winning three- game he played all ve positions pointer as the time expired scoring 42 points. Johnson Derek Fishers Three became the only rookie to win Point Shot: The Lakers current the NBA Finals Most Valuable point guard Derek Fisher made Player award.

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