Dragons Tale

Shop Sonoma Page 4-5

www.sonomadragonstale.com December 2011 - Volume 21 -Issue 3 - Sonoma Valley High School

News Flash

Chistmas cupcakes Page 6

Back on the court Page 7

First freshman convention Page 8

SVHS alumni Occupied at Davis:

Responses to the on-campus protest
By Liam Casey and Jamie Ballard Call it the shot of pepper spray seen around the world. The video footage of a campus officer at UC Davis pepper spraying students has gone viral, accumulating more than a million views on YouTube since its posting. The video (and photo, right) shows a campus police ofcer pepper spraying a group of peaceful Occupy UC Davis protesters seated in the campus quad. The incident has since incited debate regarding UC Davis Chancellor Linda Katehis resignation, the role of campus police forces, and the appropriate use of chemical weaponry. Many students and UC Davis faculty members have been calling for Chancellor Katehis resignation in protests and general assemblies, some of which Katehi herself has attended. She apologized to students, explaining that she was worried that protesters who had erected tents on the campus quad were in violation of health and safety codes. She insisted My instructions were for no arrests and no police force. I Many UC Davis students as well as people around the country feel outraged at what they consider to be unwarranted police brutality. Many students reacted to the incident (as well as the tuition increases which partially led to the protests) by attending a rally held on Nov. 21, where it was decided that many students and faculty would stage a walk-out strike on Nov. 28. Caity Tremblay, SVHS alum and freshman at UC Davis attended the Nov. 21 rally. There were so many people that the ampliers werent loud enough to carry the sounds to everyone, so the speaker asked everyone in the front to please sit down so those at the back could hear. I was about four feet from the stage; I turned around and saw wave after wave of people sit on the sodden grass with nary a grumble; there was an incredible sense of unity in the crowd, heightened by the chilling yet empowering narrative from the many speakers on stage. She added, Everyones been talking about [the pepper spray incident], and about the subsequent issues of police brutality, budget cuts, and the future of higher education in California.

Library Sleepover
The SVHS Book Club sponsored a school library sleepover Dec. 9, raising $125 for the SVHS library program. Twelve students stayed up late into the night reading, eating pizza, watching Harry Potter, playing chess, and participating in a brain puzzle contest that Joe Wilson, junior, won. The students woke themselves early in order to view the lunar eclipse and informed that the night was both intellectual and fun.

ACE Assembly
The Alliance for Climate Education Assembly, featuring speaker Ethan Burke, took place in the Pavillion Dec. 2. It began with a cartoon that explained how much space an individual takes up between their room, house and resources. Burke, explained the function and removal process for mankinds most consumed resources- oil, coal, and natural gas. Burke discussed real-life examples of climate change: deserts drying up, ice-laden areas melting, and 30% of all existing species going extinct. An Imaginary time allowed the students to enter a hypothetical future where things are changing, and the earth is becoming steadily more balanced. Burke revealed that it wasnt so imaginary after all; the world is changing for the better, one small step at a time. Burke asked all the students to choose their one small thing that would help change the world for the better, and asked them all to join Earth Club.

Photo courtesy of Google Images Davis police ofcer pepper sprays demonstrating students at UC Davis. explicitly directed the chief of nette Spicuzza has since been put police that violence should be on leave, as have the two ofcers avoided at all costs. who pepper sprayed the students The campus Chief of Police An- just inches from their faces.

Fond farewell to Ms. Cunningham

By Selena Caruso Shes the smiling face behind the Student Activities window, welcoming everyone with a warm Whats up kiddo? and What can I do for you darlin? This, as always, was the greeting I received when I met with Maggie Cunningham to interview her about her retirement from SVHS. Students and staff will return to school on Jan. 9 after winter break without Ms. Cunningham, for she will serve her last day as Student Activities Director at SVHS on Dec. 30. My retirement is nothing against anybody or anything, claried Ms. Cunningham. Retiring half-way through the year just affects my retirement plan. As Student Activities Director, Ms. Cunningham assists students and staff with everything from school sports, to clubs, to Leadership events. In fact, the SVHS website simply states that She can answer any questions you may have. A question of mine was What will you miss most about SVHS? The kids, Ms. Cunningham replied. Im going to miss the students, as well as the parents, and of course, the staff. I dont want to be corny, but I love the feeling [I get] when a student, staff member, or parent comes here needing something. Its the greatest satisfaction that I can help them. Ms. Cunningham plans to continue lending her help to SVHS during her retirement by volunteering at school and becoming involved with Boosters. Ill still be around to help with things here, she promised. She also hopes to spend more time with her family in Washington. Ms. Cunninghams replacement is yet to be decided. Job posting for her position -- which attracted a few faculty members from campus -- closed on Dec. 6. Its advertised as a 12 month job and there arent that many of those in the district, explained Ms. Cunningham. One qualication for the position, however, is clear: You have to love the kids to do it.

Winter Dance/Carnival
The holiday themed Winter Dance was held Saturday Dec. 10th in the Pavillion from 7 to 11pm. An estimated 200 students attendees enjoyed the customary dancing along with a mini chocolate fountain and other sweet treats. The Carnival took over the H-Wing Friday Dec. 9th. with games like Find the Gumdrop in the Whipped Cream, a Cakewalk, Pin the Carrot on the Snowman, and a present wrapping race. Various student organizations sold food and sweets, including crepes from French Club, sorbet from GSA, and Marys pasta from the senior class.

Photo by Jessica Marioni Ms. Cunningham in her faithful position behind the window.

Occupy the classifieds instead

By Maddie Connors Confused, frustrated protesters took to Wall Street in the Occupy Wall Street protest that began early September. Since then Occupiers have taken over cities, parks and become the forefront of the media with the slogan, We are the 99 percent. Protesters believe that one percent of the population has monopolized 99 percent of the wealth. However, wealth in America is not divided in this fashion. Forbes magazine estimates out of 400 of the worlds richest men, 70 percent are self-made. Capitalism makes the American dream possible. Warren Buffet began his entrepreneurship by selling chewing gum at a convenience store, Steve Jobs claimed to literally sell the shirt off his back to keep his Apple dream running. While hedge-fund manag ers and corporate executives may have benefited from a poor economy while the middle class plummets, the core of the problem remains in the economics of the country. The middle class primarily invests its money in the housing market, which was the first to crash in the economy and the heaviest. The Stock Market, investment companies, and other investment firms of Wall Street crashed later and were less affected. Part of the reason banks are so wealthy is because penalty and interest fees on unpaid checks amount to 92 billion or outcome Wall Street protesters are making little progress. Protesting corporate greed is as futile as protesting other abstract ideas. If protesters are Protesters in America are met with pepper spray at worst; protesters in Rome are met with violence, beatings and deadly security forces. Protesters should be reminded that the police force is in the 99% and some e v e n a g r e e with the values of the protests. Most protesters would agree that they are having a wonderful time promoting social change. Rufus Wainwright

Opinion - Editorial

dollars a year. America has a buying problem that is putting money in the corporations they detest. While the issues of Occupy Wall Street are valid, it lacks a central ingredient in any movement - accountability. Would the protesters retreat if executives apologized to those who work under them? Would the streets be cleared, if managers of Wall Street were arrested for financial crimes? Do protesters assert that with financial success comes a burden to share the wealth? With no clear plan

infuriated by the legislation that provides bail-out to corporations, they should protest Congress and politicians who are accepting bribes at the expense of the middle class. The claim that Occupy Wall Street has become an international movement in Syria, Egypt and Italy is equally incorrect. Due to the American right to protest, America is a low risk environment to protest with little interference from police force. The protests in Syria are against a dictatorship, with little relation to Wall Street.

held a concert for the protesters in Zuccoti park. Susan Sarandon, Lupe Fiasco and Kayne West have each made appearances at the protests to show support for the movement, most likely while sporting luxury town cars and 5- star hotels- as part of the 1 percent. Dance parties, concerts and socializing that broke out at the protests have made them analogous to a Mardi Gras festival in New Orleans. The population is composed of homeless, unemployed and hippies wanting to relive the sixties and live in tents. As winter sets in, the Occupy Wall Street movement has little chance of surviving harsh snowfall, blizzards, winds and rains in the near future. For most, the movement will die without a sense of direction and leadership.

Super fail Congress

By Sean Hall Americas so-called Super Committee failed to reach a bipartisan decit reduction package on Nov. 21. Its failure to cut a paltry $1.2 trillion from the projected $44 trillion of debt America is projected to accumulate over the coming decade creates a dangerous precedent. As usual, the sticking point was taxes. Ninety-eight percent of Republicans in the House of Representatives and the majority of those in the Senate have signed a pledge by Grover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform: under absolutely no circumstances are they allowed to vote for any sort of tax increase. The pledge is not binding, but should a free-thinking Republican break it, he will nd himself the scorn of conservative media, and a well-funded Tea Party opponent set to unseat him in the primaries. Thus, to keep their jobs, most Republicans take the pledge to heart over fair compromise and the welfare of their nation. This approach has serially led America to the brink of disaster since the 112th Congress was inaugurated in January. Ferocious battles over the federal budget and debt ceiling have brought America to the brink of government shutdown and default. What has the nation gained from this partisan brinkmanship? Americas pristine credit rating was downgraded in July, and few Americans feel secure in their future. And now, with the failure of the Super Committee, draconian sequester cuts will automatically be enacted starting 2013, axing almost $600 billion dollars from the military and entitlements (Social Security and Medicare) each. But the Republicans can take pride: not a single penny of tax increases has been won this year. Of course, the right is not fully to blame for the impasse; merely the vast majority. However, the left has not made Washingtons job easier with its reexive reluctance to effect the reforms necessary to trim ballooning entitlement costs. Furthermore, President Obama made a critical error in ignoring the recommendations of the bipartisan decit committee he himself appointed, which included substantial revenue increases. Nonetheless, even the Congressional Progressive Caucus has demonstrated openness to changes in entitlements and thus the lions share of the blame must fall upon the intransigent conservatives. Congress is utterly broken, and the American people couldnt be more aware of this fact. A recent Gallup poll put Congresss approval rating at 9%, below the IRS (40%), Paris Hilton (16%), and America going communist (11%). But it doesnt have to be that way. Volunteer your time for candidates open to compromise, and if youre 18, vote. The Do-Nothing Congress is back, and it is endangering our future.

Inevit ab le c h a n ge
By Liam Casey Among the many aws and systematical snags that Americas dual party political system is saturated with, fault also lies in its economic policy, which has justiably led to social uproar, and popular protest. Occupy Wall Street protesters have been dubbed as aimless vagrants, and politically have been abused by the Tea Party and other misinformed bureaucratic outlets. Additionally, many anti-occupiers argue that the movement is lacking in fundamentals. The Occupy Wall Street movement intends to break the bond between nance and politics, by targeting nancially manipulative corporations, and petitioning the U.S. government to return to Clinton-era tax rates change. There are problems inherent to the relationship between nance and politics. This is exemplied by the nancially declivating status of the lower and middle classes, contrasted against the fact that members of Congress are running for re-election and amassing massive sums in campaign donations. Furthermore, Congress deems it appropriate to pass bills such as the stimulus package, which featured a metaphorical 800 billion dollar nancial hypodermic needle that was intended to revitalize the American economy. However, the stimulus packages success was limited, as unemployment continued to rise following the implementation of the bill. Protesters nd themselves at the blunt end

Dragons Tale Staff

EDITOR IN CHIEF - Jamie Ballard COPY EDITOR - Grace Bon NEWS EDITORS - Selena Caruso, Sarah Summers OP-ED EDITORS - Arianna Maysonave, Liam Casey FEATURE EDITOR - Lindsey Jasperse CULTURE EDITOR - Sebastian Amara PHOTO & TECH EDITORS - Jessica Marioni, Matthew Amatori SPORTS EDITORS - Alex Conner, Gabby Petersen BUSINESS MANAGER - Gianna Biaggi REPORTERS - Sebastian Amara, Liam Casey, Grace Bon, Gabby Petersen, Alex Conner, Maddie Connors, Sarah Summers, Matthew Amatori, Chelsea Krause, Natalie Minuzzo, Lindsey Jasperse, Ellen Angeloni, Alex Arellano-Halford, Jamie Ballard, Gianna Biaggi, Selena Caruso, Erik Castillo, Connor Griggs-Demmin, Anneliese Koch, Jessica Marioni, Arianna Maysonave, Sean Hall PHOTOGRAPHERS - Maddie Connors, Jessica Marioni, Lindsey Jasperse, Chelsea Krause, Ellen Angeloni, Natalie Minuzzo, Gianna Biaggi, Gabby Peterson, Connor Griggs-Demmin ART & GRAPHICS - Alex Arellano-Halford, Sebastian Amara, Sean Hall ADVISER- Alison Manchester

of negative social commentary they are recurrently ridiculed because of their unemployment, and their supposed inability to t succinctly in society. To focus solely on these questionable aws in occupants, would be analogous to calling every Republican an idiotic, bumbling Tea Party sympathizer. Why is it that many impoverished occupants are ridiculed by the bureaucratic system that failed in its ability to guarantee the sanctity of the nations economic infrastructure? Politicians have engineered a system that will continually adhere to the needs of the political and nancial elite, while simultaneously engendering nancial strife and uniform discontent for those occupying the lower and middle classes. Change is a necessity, and just as Gaddas regime was obnoxiously persistent, the continual implementation of Americas misaligned economic system will similarly catalyze social outrage and inevitable change.

Editorial Policy

The Dragons Tale is a public forum newspaper produced by the Sonoma Valley High School Newspaper class. The newspaper attempts to inform its audience in a broad, fair and accurate manner on all subjects, and to encourage an exchange of ideas and opinions on issues of prominence to the readers. The newspaper staff encourages letters for opinions and responses on the content of the publication. Only signed letters will be considered for publication. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit all letters for content. No material, opinionated or otherwise, will be printed which is libelous, irresponsible, advocates an illegal activity or which the editorial staff deems in poor taste. Editorials reect the collective views of the staff and will not contain bylines. Other opinionated pieces will include editors columns, feature columns, letters-to-the-editor, and entertainment reviews. If the staff discovers that a mistake has eluded the editors, a correction will be printed in the next issue.

Dragons Tale

Page 2

December 2011

A doughy dose of vegetables

By Arianna Maysonave Delightfully greasy, articially stimulating, delectably doughy, and ridden with hearty toppings society is well aware that pizza has become the go-to guilty pleasure for millions of Americans, but Congress now asserts that this unctuous indulgence is essentially considered a vegetable. As of mid Nov., the gooey tomato paste that forms the basis of quality pizza has been promoted to ofcially qualify as a serving of vegetables. Specically addressing the issue of cafeteria lunches, Congress ruling has evoked uproar in the controversial environment of nutritional awareness. Recently, the Obama administration made laudable efforts in eliminating french fries, pizza and other unhealthy choices from school lunch lines, but Congress Nov.14 ruling has placed personal interests over the welfare of the next generation. According to the L.A. Times, the current nutrition standards for school lunches are based on federal dietary guidelines from 1989. In 2005, a renewed report from the Institute of Medicine prompted the USDA to develop a plan to reduce sodium, saturated fats, and total calories while furthering accessibility to fresh fruits and vegetables. The ultimate motive was to improve lations state that an eighth of a cup of tomato paste is considered the nutritional equivalent of a half-cup serving of vegetables, as it requires this amount of tomato for production. However, USDAs proposal While technically deemed a vegetable, resist the urge to trade in your organic leafy greens for a slice of obesity in disguise. The supposed vegetable may contain tomato sauce, which includes welfare of todays children. The Hufngton Posts David Katz argues that we cannot dismiss the pertinence of this issue at a time when what used to be adult onset type 2 diabetes becomes ever more common in children under age 10. Not at a time when cardiac risk factors proliferate in pre-teens. Not at a time when a reported 35 percent increase in the rate of stroke among 5 to 14 year-olds demand nothing less than a crisis response. Society must take a stance and stick to it: we must refuse to conveniently submit to superintendents, school boards, principals, and school food service directors. The dire prognosis facing the children of today is revolutionarily malevolent, and the option to simply sit back and bicker will not sufce in alignment with the nations current state of priority distortion. The warped nutritional tendencies being instilled into the children of today will merely precipitate in dietary demise once students are released from the supposed learning environment of the school cafeteria and forced to make decisions in the real world. The catalyst in a potentially irreversible chain of detrimental outcomes, Congress corrupt verdict to entirely reclassify this age-old processed junk food as a vegetable is almost comical. After all, a tomato is a fruit, right?

Opinion-Editorial

nutrition and aid in stemming the tide of childhood obesity. In Jan. of 2011, the USDA introduced a proposal that would gradually decrease the amount of sodium acceptable per week, integrate whole grains, and offer increased variety of fruit and vegetable choices. And tomato paste? Current regu-

does not grant other pastes and purees the same treatment they receive credit solely for the actual volume as served. This loophole is the assertion that allows a slice of pizza to count as a serving of vegetables, admits Margo Wootan, director of nutrition policy at the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

By Sarah Summers

Disney shackles Muppets spirit

between the Muppets, rst introduced when interracial marriages in the real world were at the height of their controversy, are noticeably downplayed. Gonzo and Loretta the Chicken have only a few unromantic moments on screen together after Gonzo agrees to abandon his plumbing business. Meanwhile, Miss Piggy audibly fantasizes about the tadpoles that she and Kermit might have raised together, throwing out the

The Most Sensational, Inspirational, Celebrational, Muppetational Muppets returned to the screen for their most recent comeback movie, this time fueled by the all-too-familiar Disney powerhouse. Old fans and new fans alike were charmed by the simple charisma of the newest Muppet and main character, Walter, whose obsessive desire to visit Muppet Studios slowly drives what is revealed to be a limp and uninspired plot. Disneys notorious inuence is evident, clearly over-sanitizing and homogenizing the rawness of the original Muppets, channeling them instead into the connes of a dismally clich nding yourself story. Being a devout Muppet fan, I found myself sitting through the movie comparable to the time my friend and I went through a box of Hostess white powder donuts; it was sweet at rst, but soon I was ready to throw up. However, most viewers and reviewers lapped it up, calling the lm, Clever, charming, and heartfelt. Even adults who grew up with the Muppets during their infancy in the mid-70s and early 80s bought into the imsy Disney conict. Besides the overall dullness of the movie, Disneys censorship removes many key themes and character relations that were once vital to the cutting-edge identity of the Muppet family. Here are a few aspects in the lm to ponder: The cross-species relationships Dragons Tale

time-old dramatic irony that their offspring would resemble alien pig-frog hybrids. The Muppets teamwork is uncharacteristically infallible. Inconsistent with his normal anxiety attacks, Kermit plays the role of the perfect Yes, Sir company man, while the rest of the clan follows his lead with unfaltering enthusiasm. The Muppets are no longer the felt-padded anarchists known for vaudevillian high jinks as remembered by Mark Guarino of the Christian

Science Monitor, but servants to the Disney dogma of passively whistling while you work for the sake of good business. Finally, throughout the lm, the Muppets -- collectively resembling the Starving Artist -- have to clean up the rubble left behind by corporate America. Their own studio has been reduced to cobwebs and broken lights after the company can no longer afford the rent, and the ground beneath it becomes a target for the Evil Oil Investor, who ghts maliciously to overthrow the Muppets in their attempts to reclaim their working space. With this plot, Disney seems to be seeking some atonement from their ugly corporate history, so similar to the oil industry, as a prime exploiter of sweatshops, mass employer of underpaid children in povertystricken nations, and champion of tasteless, ecologically harmful developments. Regardless, the oilman gets away with everything by the end of the lm. For motives beyond the comprehension of its primarily young audience, Disney manipulates the Muppets to satisfy their own marketing agenda, removing the artful and progressive wit that denes this band of characters. However, perhaps in this day and age, where Facebook chat constitutes conversation and Rebecca Blacks Friday had over 167 million hits on YouTube before its temporary removal, sophistication is too much for the modern audience to absorb. Page 3

more added sugar than chocolate syrup, but when adorned with the greasy goodness of pepperoni, sausage, and cheese, pizza becomes merely another malicious dietary slip. Congress may have made a decision lacking utilitarian consideration, but we the people the students, parents, and educators of the twenty-first century-- need not passively succumb to this disgusting, manipulative decision. It is not benecial to idly criticize because commercial preferences override concern for the

By Maddie Connors

You see tuition change

The Department of Education predicts that 3.3 million high school students will graduate in the spring of 2012, turning the college admission process into a brutally competitive locked arms race. Students are working harder than ever to out-do their peers with SAT preparations, Advanced Placement classes and aggressive sports training. However, in the midst of record-high California applicant pools, education funding in the state is being cut heavily. Economic turmoil has families sending their students closer to home, causing the number of instate applicants to rise. While the UC system makes it easier for in-state students to be granted acceptance, UC receives less tuition per each in-state applicant. This makes it easier for out-of-state students to be admitted, because they pay a much more substantial tuition. The budget cuts also infuriate the campuses, exemplied when hundreds of professors at UC Berkeley and UC Davis walked out, claiming, The walkout is to protest the budget cuts, layoffs, furloughs and increased fees that have been implemented in response to the states dramatic cuts in funding for the university. Budget cuts will also expedite the process of weeding out applicants.Will students applications be glanced over carelessly and abruptly? Alyssa McDougle, senior, who applied to UC Santa Cruz explained, The essay is very important to me. I would be worried if they didnt read my essay, because it helps me stand out as an individual. The recent budget could potentially cut the amount of time a reader will spend in half, and combined with the increase in applicants, chances are that

most personal statements will be skimmed at best. In recent years, the UCs have utilized a holistic evaluation of the application, meaning that essays and personal qualities are equally weighted with academic achievement. UC Berkeley and UCLA have already adopted this system, viewing personal experience and academic measure as one instead of a piece of the bigger picture. The arms race is becoming exponentially more vicious as students begin to compete on a global level. Recent studies conducted by Northwestern report that the average student in China earns a 703 out of 800 on the math section of the SAT, while in America the average score is 518. Coming from an impoverished background, being an immigrant, or being a rst generation college student are all aspects that aid applicants in acceptance. A new age is dawning in college admissions as coming from a middle class, Caucasian background is fatal in applying to college. In recent news UC Berkely hopes to correct the shrinking middle class student body by. Families will pays only 15% or their earning rather than instate tuition-$32,634. The campus will only provide $8,000 and hopes that students work the other amount of with a campus job or a loan.Chancellor of UC Berkely, Robert Birgeneau declares, Were trying to do the very best we can so that every qualied student will be able to attend UC Berkeley, The new plan will cut 10 million to 12 million dollars and will benet 6,000 students. However, this means that the university will accept 500 less in-state students then in previous years, a nancial strategy that has been heavily criticized in the past. December 2011

Feature

Going green on Black Friday

By Natalie Minuzzo and Ellen Angeloni Have you heard that green is the new black? Black Friday, the day following Thanksgiving, is the perfect opportunity to go green. On this day, most major retailers open bright and early, offering promotional sales to kick off the shopping season. Considering the state of the countrys economic crisis, it came as a surprise to many when sales hit record numbers. Retail sales on Black Friday climbed 6.6 percent this year to an estimated $11.4 billion, according to CNN news. Although Black Friday is an occasion that promotes sales and helps boost the economy, Black Friday will likely have a negative impact on the environment with more than 200 million participants in the unofcial shopping holiday. I think that it is really good for the economy that we are shopping and spending because that means that people are not as afraid to buy things. But I can also see where it is bad for the environment, consuming and wasting money on so many unnecessary items, explained Briana Bingham, senior. However, there are many ways to go green on Black Friday. One option is carpooling to the mall in order to save gas and reduce carbon footprints. Another alternative is buying American-made products. It reduces the chance of purchasing lead-laced toys, or lead jewelry, as well as reducing the personal carbon footprint by not buying products shipped from different countries. These products must be shipped by plane, and planes require a lot of fuel to keep them up in the air. These fuels used to power the plane are responsible for the planes carbon dioxide emissions which pollute.

Lastly, bring your own bags which will reduce the distribution of plastic. Plastic bags are not biodegradable and eventually end up in landlls that may take many years to break down. Inexpensive reusable shopping bags are easily obtainable at local grocery stores. Although benecial to the economy, the long term effects of over consumption can harm the Earth. This Christmas, create new environmentally friendly ideas to help both the economy and the environment.

Spotlight on an eco-friendly Christmas

By Eric Castillo The holiday season is a time of celebration and indulgence, from sweet treats to festive decor. In this storm of merriment, however, it is easy to wasteful. This list was designed to help people be environmentally friendly as wel l as safe during the holiday season. Holiday lights are a truly favorable seasonal decoration, but an electricity indulgence at that. LED lights are a more eco-friendly option: they use 95 percent less energy - just .04 watts per bulb - compared to the bigger and bulkier original lights that use 4 watts per bulb. One must also be aware that multiple light strings should not be connected to the same outlet, as it can only manage 3 or 4 strands : any more would cause the fuse to blow. Before connecting the strands, it is advised that each strand be heavily examined for any frayed or exposed wires. If any defects are found, patching it up with tape is always a nice, simple solution. Moisture is another factor that is not to be overlooked, as it will most likely short-circuit any electric strands. With Christmas just around the corner, make the ecological choice to invest in untraditional alternatives.

O green Christmas tree

The articial tree may be able walk the walk, aunting its glitzy, glittering lights, but the real question is if it can talk the talk, evenly fullling the role of a traditional Christmas tree while remaining environmentally and economically friendly. Nothing marks the holiday season more than the fresh smell of pine needles on Christmas day, but as more and more families begin the quest to go green, consumers are faced with a question; Is it more environmentally responsible to buy an articial tree or to buy the real thing?
By Lindsey Jasperse While chopping down a living tree may seem like the most non-environmentally friendly thing you can do, it may appear to be the greener choice in certain aspects. According to Lori Browns article, Real vs. Articial Christmas Trees, approximately 33 million real Christmas trees are sold in North America each year, and 93% of those trees are recycled through more than 4,000 recycling programs. This process, known as tree-cycling, is one of the leading reasons as to why experts agree that the real tree outshines the fake in terms of environmentally friendliness. Throughout its lifetime, a single farmed tree absorbs more than 1 ton of CO2. The yearly amount of carbon withdrawn, associated with more than 350 million real Christmas trees growing in tree farms alone, results in an amount that one can imagine to be absurdly high. In about one acre of trees, enough oxygen for the daily needs of 18 people is produced. The real versus articial debate not only deals with the environmental arguments, but an economic consideration proves pertinent as well. According to the National Christmas Tree Association, the Christmas tree industry employs more than 100,000 Americans. Some trees may have to travel hundreds of miles in order for it to reach the lot, notably impacting the environment and costing a greater deal of money. In terms of maintaining tree population, Christmas tree farming in fact protects, maintains, and in several instances, benets the population. This Christmas, the most practical solution for earth-friendly families who are interested in continuing to use a real tree, is to look for a locally grown tree.

Photo by Chelsea Krause Red sales tags ll the room in McCaulous Womans Department , attracting local Small Business Saturday Shoppers on their busiest day of the year.

By Natalie Minuzzo and Ellen Angeloni

Supporting Small Business Saturday

your own community as well as travelling less and requiring less things to be shipped. In addition to wasting land resources, chain stores pull traffic out to the edges of town, creating more reliance on driving and resulting in more dependence on cars. M o s t new retail outlets are not pedestrian or bike-friendly and many strain already underfunded public transportation by adding miles and miles to their routes pulling shoppers and workers further from their communities. However, McCaulous Black Friday and small business Saturday sales brought good fortune for the store. Surprisingly it was really busy, but we had more costumers on Friday than Saturday, stated a McCaulous Juniors department employee. Within the junior department, McCaulous clothes were on sale, with an extra 20 percent off in the clearance section. The Toy Shop also prospered in this years post-Thanksgiving sales. Great deals were offered on an array of toys perfect for children. At 50 percent off all

Real vs. fake

The thought of cutting down a new tree each year can sure put a damper on the holidays for those with an environmentally concerned conscious, leading to a popular trend in investing in an articial tree. In addition, environmental impact, cost and the sake of convenience are other reasons many consumers opt for an alternative. Given the current economic and environmental issues, articial trees may appeal to many for the value of their investment compared to the annual expenses of the tradition tree. Although certain aspects of the fake tree prove to have a greater efciency, many experts believe that they may in fact have considerably large list of negative environmental impact when all the processes are considered. According to Brown, todays articial trees are commonly manufactured with a non-biodegradable, petroleum-derived plastic, metal and polyvinyl chloride. Many of these older varieties may contain lead, which is used as a stabilizer in the manufacturing process. Producing PVC greatly contributes to todays pollution and is a difcult plastic to recycle. According to a report in the Journal of Environmental Health, lead levels are about a third higher in order articial trees, ranging in age from about 7 to 17 years). Following this up, tests have revealed lead levels are signicantly higher than the safe daily exposure level for children. . If they have a better price, look practically the same, are reusable, and prevent the need to cut down a living tee, should we all be lining up to purchase an articial tree this Christmas? Well, there a few more cons behind those fake pines than it may seem.

As Black Friday faded into the dark, small business Saturday successfully lit up the local community on Nov. 26. On this years small business Saturday, Sonoma shops celebrated holiday spirit with the proper decorations and sales. We see and hear the omnipresent ads of corporate chains everyday, but are jointly under-informed about the many important values shopping locally at independent businesses provide our environment and community. Shopping locally is important for environmental and economic sustainability. When you shop locally you are supporting members of

Our customers have always been loyal and supportive of our store.

toys, the Toy Shop was an excellent place to get Christmas shopping done in an eco-friendly way shopping locally. Buying locally reduces overall shipping costs: the cost in fuel, energy, and time shipping long distances requires. Shipping long distances requires more fuel, releases more toxicity into our air, and takes more time. Think first of the time, money and energy it takes to ship an item from a factory in China, to a warehouse in the US, to a department store, and then to you. Alternatively, try buying directly from the local businesses in your city. Theres no middleman involved; and the overall costs in fuel, energy, and time are much lower.

R e c y c l e , Wr a p , R e u s e
There are plentiful ecofriendly and cost efficient alThe quintessential Christ- ternatives to wrapping paper. mas morning: children glee- Two captivating options that fully playing with their new can be utilized are newspapers and outdattoys to the ed maps. irreplaceI n s t e a d able beat of buying of Christwrapping pamas music per that will as wrapjust be torn ping paper to shreds is fervently by anxious shredded Christmas and dismorning missed. participants, The countone can simless yards Photo courtsey of Google Images ply wrap the of ink, paGet crafty and wrap your gifts in newspaper. presents in per, and glittery goodness that adorn the used newspaper or maps that presents is thrown carelessly in will be recycled or thrown the heat of the moment. In the away. This not only saves remidst of a glory filled holiday sources but also can add an rush it is convenient to ignore effective, original flair to the the economic and ecological boxes beneath the tree. Another enthralling option is waste of wrapping paper. By Chelsea Krause Page 4 & 5 using an outdated calendar. The calendar provides a visually appealing effect that eventually resembles a collage. Old comic books also prove to be an equally charming alternative. Not only does it make the

Lastly, a more traditional option is to utilize the classic tissue paper and gift bag. One can reuse the bag and tissue paper as many times as needed, as they are not ruined in the opening process. In other words, it can be recycled for continued enjoyment. There are also many designs as well as solid bags, so they can be used specifically for Christmas or other general holidays. So instead of putting yet another item on the shopping list, look around at Photo courtsey of Google Images home for some old Use old crossword puzzles to wrap your presents this holiday newspapers, maps, season. or even calendars present appealing, but also pro- for reusable gift-wrapping alvides the recipient with a gift ternatives. Start a trend, make a that can be appreciated before it change, and commit to living an is torn open. eco-friendly life.

Dragons Tale

December 2011

Culture

Monroe is back for the holidays

By Maddie Connors It isnt easy being Marilyn Monroe, as portrayed by the new movie My Week with Marilyn. Even 50 years after her death by drug overdose, she has never departed. While Marilyn Monroe left an iconic legacy, little biopics and lms have been created about her life. It is disappointing for this movie only to show a week of her life, especially as her early life was so troubled. But the time lapse of the movie was poetic, and showed a Marilyn the world had never seen before. The lm portrays her trip to England at the height of her fame, where she worked with an extremely demanding director on a lm. The lm process quickly turns into a battle of egos and tangled relationships. The lm takes place from the point of view of an assistant, (Eddie Redmayne) who had an affair with Marilyn Monroe. One of the greatest accomplishment of the lm was Michelle Williams incredible acting. Williams essentially became Marilyn Monroe, posing, winking and blowing kisses. She was able to show two sides of Marilyn: A glamorous sex symbol who loved attention and an insecure, scared drug addict struck by loneliness. No matter what prior opinions the audience may have on Monroe, the lm evokes a mourning of a woman who was clearly taken advantage of by Hollywood and victimized by powerful men. Williams commented on playing Marilyn, Youd think playing Marilyn Monroe youd be in full-on goddess mode. When I washed my face and took my makeup off at the end of the day, there was some sort of horrible Frankenstein staring back at me. Other brilliant cast members included Emma Watson, who plays a costume designer on the lm set and Eddy Redmayne, the starstruck boy with dreams of marrying Monroe. The movie comes alive with an uplifting soundtrack that mirrored the lovestruck 23- year old and the lost Marilyn Monroe. While the director tries to resurrect Marilyn Monroe as a person over a sex symbol, scenes of her with nothing by a towel, swimming naked and bathing seemed contradictory to the point. Regardless, audiences will appreciate the chance to see Marilyn in a new light as she battles sexsymbol stereotypes. The movie ends with a subtle melancholy as it is evident Marilyn is strutting toward tragedy and doom but also with an appreciation for the star that she was. As perfectly stated by Marilyn at a point of despair, People always see Marilyn Monroe. As soon as they realize Im not her, they run. Dragons Tale

Cupcakes delight both naughty and nice

By Anneliese Koch For those of you who feel stressed this holiday season, turn that word around with these holiday desserts. Kick off the holidays with these white chocolate peppermint cupcakes that offer the typical array delicious holiday avors. To bake these minty treats you will need: 2 oz. of melted white chocolate, 1 of cups all-purpose our, 1 tsp. of baking powder, tsp. of salt, cup milk, 1 tsp. of pure vanilla extract, 1 tsp. of pure peppermint extract, cup (1 stick) of unsalted butter, at room temperature, 1 cup of granulated sugar, 1 large egg, 1 large egg white. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, then line mufn tins with paper liners. Then melt the white chocolate over a double boiler, and stir frequently but do not overheat, as chocolate burns easily. In a medium mixing bowl, combine our, baking powder, and salt with a whisk, and then set aside. In a small mixing bowl stir together the milk, vanilla extract, and peppermint extract and set that aside as well. Then in an electric mixer bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and uffy. Following this, combine both the egg, and egg white, and beat until it is fully mixed. With the mixer on low speed alternate between adding the our and milk mixtures, scraping the bowl on between the intervals. Stir until completely blended. Spoon the batter into the cupcake liners, and bake for 17 to 20 minutes, rotating the pan half way through. Allow cupcakes to cool completely on a wire rack before frosted. For classic vanilla buttercream frosting, you will only need a few simple ingredients: 1 cup of unsalted butter at room temperature, 3-4 cups of sifted confectioners (powdered) sugar, 1/4 tsp. of salt, 1 Tbs. of pure vanilla extract, 3 Tbs. of heavy cream or milk. In an electric mixer on medium speed with the paddle attachment,

Photo by Anneliese Koch White chocolate peppermint cupcakes make for a tasty holiday treat.

beat the butter. Combine the confectioners sugar with the butter until the sugar as been incorporated. Increase the mixer speed slightly and if the consistency of the frosting is too thin, add remaining sugar. However, if the frosting is too thick, add the remaining milk one tablespoon at a time.

Frost the cupcakes once they are completely cooled, and crush peppermint candies to decorate these scrumptious holiday treats. Store in the refrigerator, or covered at room temperature. Charm your guests with these scrumptious holiday cupcakes, or leave then out for jolly ol Saint Nick.

NaNoWriMo brings the novelist out of McRice

By Sebastian Amara SVHSs Travis McRice, senior, exploits his intellectual prowess to create an original novel. Currently, McRice has finished a first draft of his novel that exceeds 63,000 words. McRice claims that he plans to make it 75,000 when finished. Motivated by his enjoyment of writing and the National Novel Writing Month, an annual Internet-based creative writing project, McRice writes a clich young adult ction novel about a girl from New York. In this excerpt from the rst chapter of his novel, McRice depicts a frightening scene while also incorporating his witty humor. It was lateso late you could call it early. And I was driving down an empty highway that looked the same as it had two hours agodark, endless, and boring despite the trees that guarded either side. Then, as if someone had switched the channel, it all faded away. I was suddenly watching a needle, the size of ball point pen, plunge toward me while sharp claws pressed against my skin and cold metal coiled around my legs. I hated this nightmare, Id been having it for the last two years, but that wasnt the point. The point was why was I having it now? A car horn penetrated my thoughts and my eyes ew open to headlights glaring in my face. I jerked the steering wheel right, sending my VW Bug off the road, straight toward a ditch. Oh my god! I screamed as I slammed on the brakes, barely missing a tall, wooden sign post. Shocked, I sat there a moment, my hands shaking so much I couldnt even pick up a burrito that had rolled onto the oor. Id nearly been crushed like a bug no pun intendedwell maybe a little. Humor had always been my best defense against unpleasant things, I thought, leaning forward to look out the window. I was inches away from the ditch, which was disguised as a cliff that was probably the Grand Canyons distant cousin. Sh*t! I blurted, looking down into the deep, dark crevice. If Id stopped two seconds later, my old car would have been totaled and I would have been starring in a Drivers Ed video on what not to do. I leaned back in my seat and took a deep breath. I was alive. McRice has nished his novel but plans to revise and edit for a year, before he will try to get it published. McRice added, When I wrote the last sentence it was pure, udder relief. National Novel Writing Month challenges more than 300,000 participants to write 50,000 words of a new novel between Nov. 1 and Nov. 30. Although titled National, NaNoWriMo challenges writers from around the world. December 2011

Photo by Brinkley Capriola Ella Krikorian and Ari Encrnacion, juniors as well as Emily Bachelder, senior, of the Concert Choir sing thier Cristmas carols at the Winter Concert.

Moore brings holiday sounds

By Sebastian Amara The SVHS music department lled the theater with holiday spirit through classical Christmas compositions as well as jazzy holiday songs at their Winter Concerts on Dec. 14 and 15. From the Concert and the Jazz Band to Choir and Madrigals, the festive performance featured nearly all of SVHSs music department. The students have most denitely improved. They have gained condence and ownership of their art, boasted Mr. Moore, Music Department teacher and director of the show. The concert began with the Concert Bands performance excerpts from The Nutcracker along with other holiday classics. Their performance seemed unorganized and slightly out of practice, however, the band managed. Victoria Jarvis, freshman, impresses the audience with a ute solo of Reverie that demonstrated her developed talent. Next, the Jazz Band took an upbeat pace with colorful holiday songs and a improvised solos by Hank Anderson, sophomore, Jeff Peterson, senior, and Ryan Wilbanks, freshman. Buster La Haye, junior, caught the audiences eyes with his rocking, nodding and thrusting to the beat as he swayed around with his bass. The Festival Band (both the Concert and Jazz Bands combined) performed the last instrumental act of the show that featured A Christmas Trilogy. After a short intermission, the show continued with the Madrigals (also known as advanced choir) performance of famous Christmas carols such as Let It Snow and We Three Kings. The harmony among the female voices produced a melliuous sound that brought the warm feeling of the holidays. Ella Krikorian, junior, led the group with her radiating voice that lled the theater. She also demonstrated her experience as a singer with her captivating solo of Christmas Lullaby. Finally, Concert Choir took the stage and concluded the show. Within their performance of Deck the Halls, Jessica Hood and Macy Crawford-Roberts, juniors, as well as McKenzie Lawrence, senior, took the spotlight as they sung the descent. The SVHS Music department instilled holiday day spirt within their audience with their classical yet lively performance. Page 6

Review

Sports

December Sports Update

By Alex Conner, Connor Griggs-Demmin, & Gabby Petersen

Opinion

Wrestlers pin preseason

Wrestling
The Dragons began their varsity season on a strong note as they wrestled their way to a ninth place nish in a eld of 39 teams at the always-competitive Golden Gate Invitational Dec. 10 in San Francisco. Sonoma was led by its trio of standout juniors- Aidan Lacy, Giordi Serani, and Sam Denning. Serani paced the Dragons, nishing second in his weight class while posting a 3-1 record. Lacy came in third with a 2-1 record while Denning nished fth with a 3-1 record. preseason play. Led by senior captains Kevin Gomez and Kyle Simmons, the Dragons scored a big win over Pioneer High School in a tournament. The leading scorers are JoJo Sanchez, Kevin Gomez, and Kyle Simmons. Led by veteran play the Dragons look to recover their season in league play.

By Alex Conner

Tebow Mania

Girls Basketball
The Lady Dragons kicked off their season with rocky play, but a promising overall record of 5-2. The team is led by captains Annie Studdert, Arianna Schill, and Emily Edwards, all seniors. The captains have been playing alongside consistently strong shooters, but continue to have low scoring games that demonstrate their power-house defense. An early ankle injury led pointguard and captain, Edwards, to sit out for the rst few games but is expected back. Meanwhile, junior standout Kendall Ashe held her position well.

Boys Basketball
The boys basketball team began its season with promise and new beginnings, but have found themselves with a 2-6 record in

Tis a basketball season after all

By Gabby Petersen 149 days of dispute and a hefty $3 billion dollars later, the NBA lockout has nally ended with a tentative agreement from the owners as well as the players. The players were led by Lakers point guard Derek Fisher, a league veteran and long time leader of the players. David Stern, the commissioner, favored the owners. For those who are unaware, the dispute has been primarily centered around the battle between players and their respective owners over players salaries and the minimum age for players just entering the league, as well as other areas of conict. Now, after many days of mourning from fans awaiting a consensus from lawyers, the businessmen have all come to an agreement. Over the next 10 years, the players will lose a collective $3 billion dollars due to the prolonged negotiation. It would be expected that the fans would have been amongst those suffering the most for the ordeal; however, basketball is not known for its rst game hype. For most avid NBA fans, the regular season is generally considered less important while the season becomes serious during playoffs. Nonetheless, the season is going to commence with a highly advertised opening day. We have reached a tentative understanding, NBA commissioner David Stern claimed the night of the settlement. Were optimistic that the NBA season will come to pass on Dec. 25, Christmas Day, with a triple-header. The preseason was already plagued by the rift between players and owners as the league vetoed a trade between the Hornets, Rockets, and the Lakers.

Photo by: Gabby Petersen Kevin Gomez, senior, guards an opponent from Elsie-Allen at the game on Dec. 9

Conner sprints to 6th in state

By Connor Griggs-Demmin In three successive postseason cross country races, the level of competition jumped, and in each of these three races SVHSs senior standout Alex Conner rose to the occasion. Conner led the Dragons to a Sonoma County League co-championship, winning every league race as well as claiming the SCL individual title. I trained through the league races, not resting before or after, reected Conner. These races were little more than practice for Alex, whose true test would come in the upcoming, larger races. For NCS, I rested a bit more in order to qualify for state, elaborated Conner. The NCS meet in Hayward provided a challenge, but SVHSs top runner was ready. He raced to an impressive third place nish with a 15:17 time, just behind the leaders and earning himself a bid to the state meet in Fresno. Page 7

The Lakers would have landed all-star Chris Paul, the Rockets would have acquired Pau Gasol, and then the Hornets would have received some younger players and a draft pick The NBA took far longer than the MLB in a similar situation which publicly displayed the separation of wealth within professional sports overall. Many fans were able to witness the disputes between millionaires when others are working hard to stay aoat. Its easy to conclude that the holiday season will be worthwhile nancially for those deeply involved in basketball.

Courtesy of the Press Democrat Alex Conner, senior, completes the NCS Cross Country race with a time of 15:17

The ultimate challenge came on Nov. 26, when Conner headed to a tough, hilly course in central California, prepared to face the best runners in the state. Conner did not disappoint and earned a sixth place nish, posting a solid 15:37 time. I was really happy with how I placed, but I wasnt thrilled with my time, reected Conner, but, nevertheless, his performance was unparalleled in SVHS history. Conners recent success are due primarily to a summer devoted to training. I trained the most I ever have and having that base gave me the edge, reported Conner. Included in his training was the Stanford Invitational in September, where Yale Unversity coach Paul Harkins noticed Conners standout performance. Along with his academic successes, Conners running abilities granted him admission into one of the most prestigious universities in the country. He hopes to continue his run of success next fall in Connecticut.

If you havent heard, Tim Tebow has been lighting up the NFL in every sense. His gritty, sloppy, and winning style of football has launched the Broncos to the top of the AFC West. He has also been catapulted to the number one story for ESPN to cover. Tebows prestigous career began in Florida, being a part of two national championships and winning the coveted Heisman Trophy as a sophomore. Coached by legend Urban Meyer, the nation learned that Tebows devout Christian faith and dedication drove his success. He famously made inspirational speeches after their one loss his junior year to Ole Miss and during halftime of their eventual National Championship victory over Oklahoma. He was selected 25th in the 2010 NFL draft by the Denver Broncos. Tebow got the nod on week 7 after the Broncos got off to a mediocre 1-4 start. He immediately made an impact, tallying up a 7-1 record since he took the starting QB position. The Tebow controversy lies not in what he has done, but how he does it and if will he continue to do it. He is a new-era QB for the NFL, with a run biased mindset and awed pass fundamentals. His QB rating is one of the worst among starters at his position and at times can barely even get the ball in a spiral. In their week 10 win over the Chiefs, he threw 2 completions. However, he wins. He is 7-1, making odds-defying comebacks in the 4th quarter and rallying his team to wins through his unparalleled emotional leadership and insatiable appetite to win. He led the Broncos offense to score 10 points in two minutes without a timeout against the famous Bears defense. He capped that with a textbook drive to set up a eld goal in overtime. He wins with the help of a stellar special teams and defensive unit that simply does not receive enough credit. In Sundays comeback, Tebows resurgence was due to the defenses ability to hold the Bears offense to a mere 13 points. In terms of the Broncos future with Tebow, it can only get better. His can-do attitude and work ethic will always be his best features, but with an offseason of work on QB fundamentals, like throwing motion and pocket presence, he can acquire the skills most successful NFL QBs have. The critics will say what they want about Tim Tebows passing capabilities and potential as Denvers long-term QB, but he knows how to win and always will. December 2011

Dragons Tale

News

First freshmen-only rally to elect class ofcers

By Jamie Ballard and Selena Caruso The inaugural Freshman Elections rally entered SVHS in a whirlwind of fun costumes, obstacle courses, and secret handshakes. With Leadership students dressed as various member of the Justice League, students knew upon entering the gym that the rally would be a memorable one. This year, Leadership organized an entirely separate, freshmenonly rally to present the candidates to their classmates. Freshmen voted for one of the president and vicepresiden treasurer duos, electing ofcers for the spring semester. Mia Castro and Paige Knef ran for president and vice-presidentTreasurer, respectively, appealing to the student body with their plans for an underclassman-only dance as well as better choices in the cafeteria. The Guidettes represented team Mauna Kea and performed a dance routine to This is Why Im Hot, originally by MIMS. Castro and Knef explained We should win because we care and we have good ideas. In addition to the underclassman dance and better cafeteria choices, we also hope to promote spirit and unity. We want there to be more ways to be involved. Raegen Hedley, presidential candidate, and Christen Silkey, potential vice-president-treasurer, dazzled the crowd with Hedleys rendition of Lighters by Bruno Mars and Silkeys juggling abilities. The duo, representing team Olympus and decked out in Harry Potter garb, also performed a dance routine to Shake Senora. Hedley and Silkey shared a bit of personal information before launching into their plans for better cafeteria food and car washes. They also hope to instill a fundraiser at Tiddle E. Winks in which 20 percent of a given days proceeds benet the freshman class. We also hope to bring school spirit up. Were not the most popular ones, were the ones who are right for the job, explicated Hedley. She later remarked that The rally was fun. I didnt think a lot of people would be cheering, but they were. We all got to do our own thing without being booed by older classes. Rosalio Lopez ran for president alongside his longtime friend Brian Casillas, who hoped to claim the position of vicepresident-treasurer. They performed a lively dance routine to Electric Avenue and eventually brought their team, Mount Fiji, to victory in the Sonoma cheer competition. Sporting glittering fairy costumes, they appealed to the student body with their plans to install a suggestion box and hopes that iPods will be allowed at break and lunch. Karissa Hess, head of the freshman election committee remarked, It was interesting because it was the rst year weve ever done something like this. Leadership students have tallied up the votes and will announce the winners on Fri. Dec. 16.

Caught in Thought

What is your New Years resolution?

Adam Curry, freshman To be more awesome than I already am.

Janet Silva, sophomore My New Years resolution would probably be to get along with my sister more.

Moon Mountain Christmas Tree Farm

Open Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays (Last day of operation is Dec. 18th) Closed Monday thru Thursday Hours: 9 to 4:30

Dominic Carafa, junior To try harder in school.

Katelynn Gradolph, senior To get out of Sonoma, and go to college.

Dragons Tale

Page 8

December 2011