Dragons Tale

Salander-inspired page 6 Winter rally heats up page 8 Lady Dragons nish strong page7

sonomadragonstale.com February 2012 - Volume 21 -Issue 4 - Sonoma Valley High School

Dragon artists page 4-5

Slate preview
Convention 2012 will be held March 9th in Golton Hall. This years Slates are: Slate 1: Matthew Charleston Leanne Woods Raquel Rios-Gomez Slate 2: Grifn Hill Jose Heredia Jamie Ballard Slate 3: Liam Casey Laura Amador Connor Griggs-Demmin Slate 4: Nawang Sherpa Kerusha Naidoo Alexis Krouzkevitch Slate 5: A.J. Lemaire Anneleise Koch Taylor Copple Slate 6: Steven McVeigh Joe Cotter Keenan Tuohy

News F l ash

Bachelor Ben searches Sonoma for love:

By Jamie Ballard and Gianna Biaggi

Sonoma Plaza and community host Episode 2, Season 16

ranging from models to PhD candidates. These twenty ve women got to experience the city of Sonoma thanks to Flajnik, who brought them to his hometown to participate in a play written by local Sonoma elementary school students. Several children, including many Sonoma Valley High School siblings were invited by Diana Rhoten, the owner and manager of Sebastiani Theater, to participate in both writing the play and auditioning the various women. The children were also invited to share their reactions to the auditions with the viewers. After rehearsing the play, with the children directing, the women performed it for various members of the community, as well as many SVHS students. Heather Villasenor, senior, was invited to watch the play. She commented, Its really staged, we saw the play, and it took a long time, but on television it was much shorter. In addition to participating in the pro-

Cunningham Replacement
Mrs. Cunningham, the zealous head of the Student Activities Ofce for 30 years, has turned the job over to Jo Fichtenberg, a veteran to the SVHS administration and a familiar face in the ofce. Fichtenbergs previous position was Head Secretary at the front desk. Fichtenberg hopes to maintain the optimism so familiar to Mrs. Cunninghams post and is really excited to work here.

Who knew that bubbling under the exterior of our very own Sonoma Valley lay a steamy hotbed of romantic interludes just waiting to be discovered by bachelor Ben Flajnik and his very own entourage of bachelorettes? After proposing to Ashley Herbert on the 2010 season finale of The Bachelorette, and being turned down, the 28 year-old Flajnik decided to search for love via the popular ABC television show, The Bachelor. The show features one man, the Bachelor and 25 different women, all of whom believe they are the bachelors soul mate. The women enjoy various group dates, and compete in various tasks proposed by the Bachelor in order to prove their love and commitment to him, in the hopes that in the season nale, the bachelor will choose to propose to them. This years Bachelorette ensemble is comprised of twenty ve women from around the country, with careers

Photo by Robbi Pengelly/Index-Tribune The Bachelorettes await instruction in the Plaza amphiteather. duction, Flajnik accompanied bachelorette Kacie B., an administrative assistant from Clarksville Tennessee, to the Plaza on the first of Flajniks individual dates. The couple visited popular Sonoma tourist destinations such as Tiddle E. Winks, City Hall, and the Ledson Hotel. The duo dined at the Girl and the Fig, then visited the Sebstiani Theater where they viewed home movies provided by each others parents. The night ended in Flajnik giving Kacie B. a rose, allowing her to continue competing on the show. Although the bachelor and his bachelorettes have since vacated Sonoma, they will continue their quest for true love elsewhere, all under the probing eye of a television camera. The Bachelor airs Mondays at 8 p.m.

Road to Reality under construction

By Madeleine Conors Reality starts now. Seniors learn about playing less and working more in Road to Reality. The Soroptomist group of Sonoma put on presentations about nances, business and growing up. Students dressed in business attire at the Veterans building. Valerie Pistole, a local attorney, gave a presentation about legal liabilities, drinking and sex. Valerie claimed, Everyone was courteous, dressed professionally, actively asked questions and were practically adults-energetic adults. I was happy to be there. Another seminar about starting and managing businesses was led by the producers of Bottle Shock, who highlighted the importance of business evolving in a changing market. SVHS alumni, Bianca Rose accompanied by other Sonoma State students discussed life in college such as balancing studying, jobs and social life in college. Maddie Goertzen admitted, I feel like some of my concerns for the future has been eased. Seniors shufed out in the afternoon with a handful of nancial spreadsheets, information and eagerness for the future.

By Selena Caruso and Sarah Summers

Seniors embrace early decisions

Prom preview
The location of the SVHS 2012 prom has been royally declared the Westin St. Francis hotel, just off San Franciscos Union Square. Ticket prices will be slightly less expensive than previous years and an assortment of hors doeuvres will be served in lieu of the usual full meal. The central theme of the night will be the very tting Year of the Dragon. Tickets will not be sold until spring.

Ms. Feuer
Ms. Peggy Feuer, SVHS Art teacher, will be on leave for the rest of the semester. While her students will miss her dearly, they welcome Mrs. Conner, an SVHS parent and former Adele Harrison Middle School Art and Leadership instructor. Mrs. Conner will be available to her students in room H11.

Photo by Andy Mitchelle Valerie Pistol, local attorney, speaks to seniors about the perks and precautions of being a legal adult at Road to Reality.

After a gut-wrenching, mindbeating, tear-streaming, and ultimately spirit-breaking Fall semester, several SVHS seniors begin their home stretch of high school, knowing that there is indeed a light at the end of a tunnel. A great number of this years seniors have already been admitted to colleges, sparing themselves the agony of waiting until March, when most acceptance letters arrive in the mailbox. A lucky few have even been admitted to their top choice and are ready to sign the dotted line to commit. Chloe Davis is one such senior. Davis has committed to The Kings College in New York City, where all classes are held in the Empire State Building. Their mission is to create future world leaders in strategic institutions of the world, commented Davis. I want to be a writer. I want to make an impact. Ronald Kohut recently sent in his housing deposit for University of Oregon, his rst choice school to which he was accepted in December. Kohut, a prospective business major, looks forward to the athletic

and outdoorsy Duck vibe and feels relieved to nd out before the end of the school year. Meagan Durfee, senior, also feels ready to jump on board with the school of her dreams. She will be attending Mills College in Oakland, where she hopes to explore nursing and gender studies. Durfee has already received a $15,000 merit-based scholarship from Mills, renewable for four years, and is delighted to call the beautiful Mills campus her future home. Many of the accepted students owe in part their success stories to Mrs.. Kathleen Hawing and Mrs. Mary Klenow of the College and Career Center, who encouraged students to apply early. It certainly relieve the stress, conrmed Mrs.. Hawing. I would recommend that students look for at least a few schools that offer Early Action. While the Class of 2012 hopes to savor the sentiment of their last remaining months in Sonoma, it is with great eagerness and alleviation that many approach the next chapter in their young lives. Juniors are encouraged to start their college search now, so that they have time to sift through the countless possibilities.

Press Democrat Sold

By Jamie Ballard Though many are still entranced by the intoxicating smell of ink and the texture of newsprint beneath their ngertips, a rapidly increasing number are becoming drawn to the inviting glow of an e-reader or smartphone. This has precipitated an intense struggle in media outlets around the world as newspapers whittle themselves down to cut costs by whatever means possible. The struggles of The New York Times in particular have been heavily chronicled in recent years, and show no signs of stopping anytime soon. The New York Times Co. recently sold 16 of their regional papers - including the Santa Rosa Press Democrat - for roughly $143 million dollars to Halifax Media Holdings, a Florida-based media corporation. The Press Democrat, The Sarasota Herald-Tribune in Florida; The Star-News in North Carolina and The Tuscaloosa News in Alabama were all part of the NYT Regional Media Group, which the company felt was a detriment to prots. The groups revenue - more than a tenth of Times Cos overall sales - fell nearly 7 percent to $190 million in the rst nine months of 2011. Analysts claim that this drastic drop can be attributed to the reliance that regional papers have on local advertisers. Conversely, the NYT has access to international advertisers. The New York Times Co. plans to focus their attention on the increasingly popular online media world in addition to strengthening The New York Times itself. In an attempt to appeal to a wider viewership (an obviously understandable decision), The NYT is now available online or as an iPhone app. The increased focus on the crown jewel of the New York Times Co. is justiable. However, what doesnt necessarily add up is the claim that the company is selling the Regional Media Group to cut costs, particularly given that the company spent almost $20 million in buyouts to cut 14 jobs (13 newsroom jobs and one CEO) in December. These buyouts essentially give up to two years of salary to veteran members of the Guild (the union of news professionals) and one year for non-members. With such astonishing costs, (and these numbers are just the rst 3 quarters of 2011) one must question whether or not making cuts is actually an economically wise decision. Thus far, the Press Democrat itself appears to be moderately unaltered in terms of staff, and subsequently quality. However, the fact remains that the New York Times Co. is spending exorbitant amounts to eliminate staff, a choice that seems to hurt more than help, seeing as the newly unemployed journalists are often veterans who have been in the newsroom since the 1970s. Being an aspiring journalist myself, I appreciate that the NYT is eager to adapt to the rapidly changing media landscape. But who will be left to teach the next generation of journalists if the older and wiser are eliminated? Will we face a generation lled with technologically savvy but media-uneducated journalists? Without experienced editors, writers, and managers, there is a veritable threat of decline in the quality (and accountability) of modern media. Dragons Tale

Apocalyptic fervor reigns

By Arianna Maysonave Doomsday, the Apocalypse, the Armageddon, the Illuminati Hoaxregardless of which ominous title one associates it with, the end of the world is a rapidly approaching entity wreaking havoc on the fear-based 21st century society. Perpetuated by Hollywoods ination of a chaos-ridden planet in the sci- disaster lm 2012, humanity has become understandably bewildered in a myriad of incomprehensible theories. The media has bombarded society with countless Doomsday claims, provoking some to turn a blind eye, others to tremble in terror, and most to snicker at the absurdity of such ludicrous prospects. Most commonly, the ill-omened ending of the Mayan Calendar on December 21, 2012 has been linked to the demise of the human civilization as a whole. But who says this foreseen disaster is any more credible than the widely advertised Judgment Day of 2011, which passed quietly despite the hype of Harold Camping and his comrades? The Mayans, possessing astronomical and mathematical knowledge beyond their years, boasted the use of a long-count calendar that can be manipulated to predict auspicious occurrences. It delineates that the world is to last for exactly 13 tion. Nevertheless, this ancient calendar has captured the imaginations of the modern world. The Mayans are not the only ones foretelling mayhem on Earth this year. Astronomically aligned individuals have toyed with the potenera of consciousness. Despite the constant hum of fright as 2012 believers hoard survival packs and prepare for disaster, the masses of humanity have resisted the urge to succumb to a proposal with such unreliable rudiments. NASA researcher Don Yeomans admits, I, for one, enjoy a good movie, but the stuff ying around through cyberspace, TV, and Hollywood is not based on science. The scientic community asserts Mayan calendar interpretations as pseudoscience, declaring that nothing signicant, transformative, or apocalyptic should be expected to occur in 2012. Investigators have discovered that very few modern day Mayans even use the Long Count calendar, and Mayan elder Chile Pixtun claims, Apocalypse is a western concept that has nothing to do with Mayan belief. After all, the end of the calendar does not necessarily mean the end of the worldthe Mayans technically never predicted that Doomsday would prevail. A numerical coincidence of correlating calendars or a melodramatic Hollywood hoax, 12-21-2012 is approaching whether the world is ready or not.

Opinion-Editorial

baktun cycles, or 1,872,000 days. This point-zero when time expires, according to Survival Guide 2012, speculates some sort of cataclysmic event that will ultimately conclude the reign of man on Earth. Hypotheses range from mega-tsunamis and black hole collisions to ice ages and extraterrestrial interruptions. However, nothing is certain; no one can awlessly interpret the Mayan perspective or the reason for their numerological predic-

tial for a large solar are manifested by an outside orbiting planet referred to as Nbiru or Planet X. Others contend that this winter solstice could see a rare planetary alignment that will signal a shift in the magnetic poles, while others argue that galactic alignment is the epitome of our doom. Conversely, New Age groups proclaim that 2012 will spark positive physical or spiritual transformation, professing that this change may mark the beginning of a new

Boys basketball commits foul

By Maddie Connors Boys basketball will live in infamy as the team that can shove sexual, gender slurs into an innocent rap. Making homophobic and sexist jokes is never a good idea, but making those jokes in a jury of your peers certainly exceeds the limits of acceptable. The winter sports rally went beyond provocative and into a full-on fury of offensive, sexual jokes. The onslaught began with the sports rally rap, which included both the girls and boys basketball teams as well as the wrestling team. Comments were made about the wrestling players sexuality, inferring that participating in wrestling can make one gay. With so many gay teen suicides making headlines recently, one would assume that homosexuality in high school is a sensitive issue. The central problem is that the comments were not only offensive but also morally incorrect. Gay should not be used as an insult. Even if the entire team were amboyantly gay, would this preference undermine their masculinity? The roasting of the girls basketball team followed. The boys basketball team demeaned the talent of the girls, claiming, They are just a womans sport. followed by the classic, ignorant line, make me a sandwich. These are the same girls who zealously support their male counterparts. Even if only for the sake of jokes, misogyny is still all too prevalent in youth sports culture. During adolescence, phrases like, clean the kitchen, and make me a sandwich are thrown around without weight. Regardless, belittling women in the presence of a partially female audience can be considered a suicide mission. One of the green men - who are supposedly the embodiment of Dragon pride - went on to crack a dumb blonde joke, even after he witnessed the poor-reception of the homosexual slander. With the shaking of the administrations head and blank looks from the freshmen, the air was uncomfortable and tense. After the incident, the administration intervened and requested that the team apologize to the school on the daily bulletin. On Tuesday, Jojo Sanchez, captain of the basketball team and senior class president, claimed that the comments, were not intended to offend anyone. What, then, were they intended to do? Poking fun at a basketball players height is harmless fun, but attacking his gender and sexuality crosses the line. If the boys basketball team thought their comments would be taken lightly, they should have considered the womens struggle for equal pay. The repercussions of the rally will overshadow the rest of the year with censored speeches at Conven-

tion, with the administration carefully overseeing student activities. Students will have close and personal contact with a mini-SOPA censoring act, which forces them to minimize the crude humor that overtakes youthful minds and instead deliver dry, politically correct comments to their peers. The only proud point was when the rap was not well-received by the audience. When being homophobic, sexist and ignorant, there is no harmless fun. Causing outrage about homosexuality and misogynistic comments is ignorant and rude. The rally was not the rst outbreak of hate; the campus is swimming in uneducated comments with insults to gender, nationality and sexuality. Centuries of sexism and prejudice can not be bandaged by a small apology over a broadcast, most likely written on scraps of binder paper in several seconds. Hopefully, next time the Dragons can keep the offense on the court.

Weed out the cartels, legalize Marijuana

Editors note: This is part one in a two part series examining the issues surrounding legalization of marijuana and how it affects the Sonoma Valley and its students. By Maddie Connors and Arthur Morgan When a few teenage hikers set out to explore the Valley hillside the last thing they thought they would encounter was a tripwire, but such scenarios are becoming common as Sonoma countryside marijuana growers are setting up shop and xing tripwires, defenses against any unknown that could intrude into their coveted marijuana crop. As marijuana production has skyrocketed to meet demands, increasing numbers of people in the public are being thrown into danger, a problem that beckons, perhaps, for the legalization of marijuana. Marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug in the United States, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health; ninety ve million Americans age 12 and older have tried pot at least once, and three out of every four illicit drug users reported using marijuana within the previous 30 days. With such a high margin, production is necessary in supply and demand economics, and often, a local supply is more effective than a foreign one. For this very reason, home growers, and the more dangerous Mexican drug cartels, have brought their product into local Californian hillsides in an effort to bring the product to the customer and the consumer. Increases in drug production often merit increased worry for the safety of the public. For every grower trying to protect his crop there is a common hiker or bicycler navigating the Sonoma hillsides. When these parties meet in confrontation, the situation can often becomes hostile. Injuries and fatalities in the public due to drug-related mishaps have grown exponentially in the past few decades according to the FBIs uniform crime reports (UCR), as marijuana and drug related arrests have exploded over Page 2 460.2% from 1973-2007. If marijuana continues as an illegal enterprise, expect a steady increase in arrests as well as a steady increase in drug related fatalities. More than ever, the governments considerations for marijuana legalization are seen as an opportunity to bring the Mexican drug war to a screeching halt. If only deep-rooted conicts were that easily resolved. The New York Times estimates that marijuana contributes only 60 percent of the drug cartels in Mexico. Also, like many organized crime groups, the drug cartels get their hands dirty in other ways such as kidnappings, punishing, murder, ransoms and revenge- which is why it is a war. Undoubtedly, the Mexican drug war is lled with entrepreneurs and businessmen who enter the legal market to become drug suppliers for Americans. In the legal market, they would have more control than ever- allowed to prot in broad daylight. This could attract their drug ventures to Sonoma and other rural California locations that demand marijuana. Cartels achieved extra sources of revenue with oil theft and pirated goods. Pemex, a major oil company, reported losing hundreds of millions of dollars from gangs who tapped into oil pipelines. In addition to drugs, many cartels also prot from pirated goods such as movies and CDs. As Cartels have a diverse source of income, legalizing marijuana would hardly make a dent in the drug war. As any successful business does, the drug cartels and gangs would evolve with the changing market. However, if legalization did occur, would it ensure a safer environment for the public while bringing in ever-important tax dollars to a strapped for cash state? And if so, how would the debate between federal and state laws affect the legalization of marijuana? Harnessing the values of a cash crop in order to meet the public demand and insure public safety while generating revenue seems logical, a tting step towards securing the safety of the public, of our valley, and of the state. February 2012

Opinion/Editorial

Washing our hands with SOPA

By Arthur Morgan When Texas Republican Lamar Smith announced the SOPA or Stop Online Piracy Act in late Oct, he knew it would spark uproar and outcry, but this much? Since Oct, the bill - and its passing - have taken the Internet by storm, showcasing a public opposition to Internet-based legislation that harks of the 2003 political debate over copy protection in PCs and even the infamous blue ribbons of the mid-1990s protesting the Communications Decency Act. Since SOPAs conception in October, high-prole companies have rallied together in opposition coming to a climax on Jan. 18, or Internet blackout day. On what would become an unprecedented act of Internet cohesiveness Google, Wikipedia, and Firefox and a myriad of smaller companies posted black censorship boxes and links to a Internet based petition titled: Tell Congress: Dont censor the Web. Furthermore, such urban centers as New York, Seattle, and San Francisco drew waves of protesters, hundreds rallying for anti-piracy legislation at the San Francisoco Civic Center. Crowds congregated in favor of nixing the bill with signs that read dont break the internet and who are you to dictate my life. Brewster Kahle, internet archive co-founder, was on scene to pump up the crowd, dictating We the people who have built the internet are not getting much of a vote in Washington compared to the Hollywood copyright cartels. To this, a urry of cheers and woohoos, another demonstration of public opposition to a bill now labeled, the most controversial bill of 2011. However, before completely disregarding the bill as wrong and ridiculous, lets look at the justications. The bill, which is primarily endorsed by Hollywood, calls for a complete reformation of the Internet; eliminating what Hollywood calls Rogue sites. But what exactly are rogue sites? Rogue sites are web sites located in nations that have more liberal views on web restriction and censorship; culminating in web sites that are able to infringe upon American copyrights. Because the target isnt located in the U.S., a lawsuit against the owner would be dropped in a court of law. Under SOPA, the entertainment industry can demand court orders to have the entire website taken down. No site with any amount of depth that gives its users any amount of freedom can constantly monitor every single link they post. The entertainment industry is unlikely to want the bad press of taking down sites like Google, Wikipedia, and Twitter, but they will lose much of their vibrancy as they enact strict controls to prevent any possibility of their users reaching pirate websites. In a letter to the New York Times, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce put it this way: Rogue web sites that steal Americas innovative and creative products attract more than 53 billion visits a year and threaten 19 million American jobs. Thus, the justication is understood in terms of employment. But what if the goal is pure, and the means corrupt? Thats what millions of Internet users are arguing; that at its root SOPA attacks and defends logical causes; but that it simply goes about it the wrong way. SOPA doesnt just eliminate rogue sites, it puts any website out of business that posts any content related to a rogue site. Imagine your favorite website like Youtube, Google, and icanhascheezburger.com being taken off the Internet or censored simply on the basis of being potentially regarded as a rogue site. What would happen then? With such strong opposition, SOPA has since been put on hold. This doesnt mean the argument is gone forever though. Internet censorship is a hot topic, and the rift between media companies like Hollywood and the public has grown to unprecedented heights. So you decide: is SOPA a noble effort to restrict online piracy? Or does it go too far?

Keep Me Forever, Uncle Sam

By Sean Hall Presiding over one of the more tumultuous periods in American history, Barack Obama will be remembered for a myriad of reasons. Future generations will look fondly upon his repealing Dont Ask Dont Tell and killing Osama bin Laden; his stewardship of the economy will be recalled as more of a mixed bag. And he will be forever known as the president who continued the subtle erosion of our civil rights in signing the indenite detention of American citizens and furthering of the military state into law. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2012 was passed in early December by the House of Representatives and the Senate with broad bipartisan support. Despite initial veto threats, Obama relented and signed the bill into law on December 31, 2011. NDAAs are not, in themselves, bad; Congress passes one each year. They authorize the agreed-upon spending for everything under the realm of defense for the coming year, from foreign aid to military bases to the war in Afghanistan. It is vital that Congress pass an NDAA each year, lest our nation be crippled defensively. However, an egregious provision of this years NDAA merited the bills wholehearted rejection until its removal. Under Section 1021 of the NDAA, foreign nationals who are merely suspected of acts of terrorism, providing support to terrorist groups, or even sympathizing with their aims can Dragons Tale be held indenitely in military detention. They are not entitled a trial under the NDAA, due process and habeas corpus be damned. Though the bill specifically targets foreign nationals, American citizens are not excluded, and are thus fair game. That means the NDAA affects you. Wait, you may protest, but Im not a terrorist! No, you arent, and you probably ently his Administration has fully acquiesced to the equally-unconstitutional indenite detainment of foreign nationals. There are serious ramications to this misguided legislation. These could come to light if America falls into war with Iran within the next few years as has become increasingly possible as of late. We list the Islamic Republic of Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism, so all Iranian-Americans who approve of their government could be construed as terrorist sympathizers. In a desperate time of war against a nuclear-armed Iran, Section 1021 could easily be invoked against thousands of Iranian-Americans in the name of national security. Disturbing images of World War IIs Japanese internment camps come to mind, except now the NDAA would provide a legal justication. Fortunately, Americans are not staying mum at this unprecedented assault on their civil liberties. The ACLU promptly led suit upon the passage of the bill, and Representative Ron Paul (R-TX) has introduced a bill to repeal Section 1021. However, the courts have rarely shown themselves sympathetic to these challenges, and Congress usually derides Mr. Pauls legislation as extremist. Ultimately, until the people show an unprecedented willingness to protest and vote against the politicians who regularly ignore the Constitution, such laws will be commonplace and expanded. The NDAA should give even the most steadfast of Obama supporters pause. Page 3

In God we vote
By Liam Casey One nation, under god, cloyingly saturated with religion and a tted with a misaligned political scheme which has grown into something resembling a popular game show -is this the land our founding fathers envisioned? Many boast that their respective religious tenants warrant their election to the most powerful political position on earth, as the four year cycle elapses and citizens are reminded of the many pathetic tactics which candidates employ to secure the popular vote; least of which utilized, is by far, not religion. Why are Americans infatuated with the notion that they can determine the quality of a candidate based solely upon the theological beliefs and reservations of the individual? Why is it that the pious of America believe themselves to be morally superior to those whose faith is not grounded in religious doctrine? In a recent poll, 56 percent of Americans purportedly consider it prevalent that the next resident in the oval ofce have moderate to strong religious beliefs- and what was it which recently surfaced that Newt Gingrich had asked of his wife? The problem which manifests itself in the electoral mentalities of Americans, is the error of presupposition. Those who are of legal age to vote lean upon a crutch of righteous pre-determination, which deludes them into thinking that Individual X has a better moral grounding, and is therefore a better candidate, than Individual Y. Similarly with religion, presupposition was, and is still used today to explain the many intricacies of the universe -and of ourselves- which to humans, defy intuitive explanation. Essentially, those which embodied the 56% of the poll, who plan to vote for a candidate based upon religion are doing so because of a warped moral sense of proportion, coupled with a phenomenon which bridges uncannily close to that of stubborn gambling- presupposition. Currently, with our failing economic infrastructure, and mass social displeasure in both the nancial and legislative regulation of this countryembodied by the Occupy wall street demonstrations- is it wise to consider a presidential candidate, such as Newt Gingrich, who fails at managing even a domestic relationship? Are Americans egressing from a habitual system of logically placed votes, to one which determines a candidate based upon perceived secular superiority? Do these candidates, or the 56% of Americas electoral populous, believe that an invisible man in the sky will weld the shattered pieces of our economy whole, or even perhaps that Jesus can punish all of those guilty of corporate greed and nancial manipulation? Frustration builds upon itself once religion is seen as it should be- an institution which sits upon a throne of unfalsiability. As the great Cristopher Hitchens once claimed, Religion is an innitely elastic airbag: it can never be dis-proven as myth, so much as it can never be proven as logical fact. To all those who read this article, and are either of, or soon to be of voting age, remember to evaluate the attributes, and relative intellect of an individual over their respective religious tenants. This world already has nations based upon religion- the Islamic republic of Iran for instance- which are awed in every logical sense of the word, and as a result fail to succinctly function. As the next generation, our mission - no pun intended- is to ensure that America elect its leaders based upon tangible traits, not those which hold no weight within our modern, progressively disposed world. Dragons Tale

will never see the insides of a Guantanamo cell. But remember, terrorism exists outside of the Islamic jihad variety. Actions such as, say, faking a bomb threat in the middle of school fall around terrorist denitions. Though these actions were certainly reprehensible, would you really support the students responsible going to jail forever? Barack Obama asserts that his Administration will never authorize the indenite detention of American citizens, as though that were justication. But Obama will not be president forever, and some of his successors will be more open to indenite detention. Given Mitt Romneys relatively strong polling numbers, he may be replaced within a year. This is assuming he keeps his word, anyway, but Obama has shown himself to be hardly immune to changing his mind. And appar-

Art Spotlight at SVHS

Independence reigns in Art Lounge:
Students enjoy freedom over set curriculm
By Erik Castillo and Weston Updegraff Imagine a period devoted entirely to expressing your artistic side without the restricting binds of an average classroom schedule. Individualized study for art was developed so that juniors and seniors can go beyond Art 1 and Art 2. Many students prefer individualized art programs to an Honors Art class because they nd the curriculum to be too restricting, not allowing the students to do their own projects. The individualized study program is able to follow some of the AP Art and Art 3 curriculum. One of the many opportunities for individualized study art students is the Culture and Fine Art Awards. Students who submit their best work have the rare opportunity to pursue a grand prize of $2,000. Mr. Tuttle, one of the art teachers at SVHS, was chosen as a sponsor for this years Art Awards Ceremony. He admitted, Its wonderful that Sonoma County has taken interest in those possessing an innate passion for art, and I hope that this skill will assist them on their journey to a successful future. Applicants for this award are only required to meet basic criteria: they must submit a portfolio with five of their best works, a DVD showcasing their talents, and a 200 word letter explaining their passion for the arts as well

Feature

I enjoy being a part of independent art because it allows you to exercise freedom with your abilities.
as the reason they deserve the award. Hans Olsen, an individualized study art senior and applicant,

1.

2.

3.

Photos courtesy of Mr. Tuttle 1) Sarah Summers, senior, uses colorful strokes and ne lines to dene the features of a child in Ecuador. 2) Olivia Merano nishes her sketch in order to prepare it to be painted. 3) Katie Durkan, senior, completes a watercolor portrait of a young chlild.

By Natalie Minuzzo and Lindsey Jasperse

Painting a face, changing a life

unteer work in Guatemala sparked his vision that having portraits made by art students would be a way to connect and intertertwine two different cultures through a common practice - art. In the fall of 2004, Schumakers idea was brought to life and the Memory Project was officially started. The Memory Project is a unique program in which art students create portraits for orphaned children and teens around the world. The students receive photos of the orphaned children and work for several months until a nal product is produced, which are then delivered to the kids as a friendly gift. The goal of the project is to inspire a caring and positive foundation for worldwide peace. The project was institituted at SVHS as a result of Mr. Tuttle contacting Schumaker through his online web page, as well as Mr. Donnelleys generous sponsorship. After two years of participation, SVHS plans to continue the honorable tradition. This year, 25 photos of children from Ecuador will be painted with a purpose. In order to fully capture the essence of their culture, students will add the Ecuadorian flag, colors, volcanoes, and the traditional rose to the background to their portrait. Sarah Summers inspired the Memory Project participants to take it beyond a simple portrait and incorporate these customary elements, praised Mr. Tuttle, art teacher. The students have been rigorously working for over three months, and having gone through the process of turning the grey

Who knew that something as simple as a painting could potentially change a life? Who knew that a High School student could influence the life of a child across the world? Who knew that such a small gesture could be of such importance? The Memory Project was developed by Ben Schumaker, a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin. In 2003, Schumakers vol-

They have lost their culture, theyve lost their identity, they have nothing, but now they have a portrait.
scale sketch to color. The Memory Project has not

only beneted the children receiving the portraits, but also the SVHS students creating them. Many students at SVHS tend to take things for granted, but these children have practically nothing, stated Kayla Wilson, senior. And a portrait would mean a lot to them. Inspiring SVHS students to be more civilly minded, the project itself has fabricated a desire to help those in need, and to be aware of the circumstances surrounding them, creating a rewarding experience for all involved.

created a miniture art exhibit complete with a variety of his best work. The majority of the students who are in the program are seniors, most of whom take the art individualized study program to progress on to junior colleges, 4-year colleges, art institutes or trade schools. Clare Morris, senior, a student i n the program, plans on studying art abroad in both Spain and Chile, while Katie Durkan, senior, intends to go to the SRJC then join a drama program, while pursuing her interest in the ne arts. We are able to work on our own individual projects during class. If SVHS adopted an AP Art Program it would be too structured, expressed Durkan.

Behind the Scenes:

Luke Lasleys plans to lm a documentary in Africa
By Chelsea Krause and Ellen Angeloni Filmmaking is a multifaceted creative pursuit that combines visual, audio, and motion pictures to craft a brilliant glimpse into the intricacies of cultural phenomena. When all components are combined to form a movie, a story is introduced that each individual can interpret on their own, explained Luke Lasley, a video productions senior who aspires to apply his production skills to the real world. Lasley plans to film a short documentary in Africa investigating the process of acquiring clean water. In order to receive background in- Lake Victoria have close to zero perspective of a culture hidden formation and knowledge, Lasley exposure or contact with other from the materialistic rapidity of and a small group of collaborates districts of the world. Many are the modern world. The people will travel to the city of Kampala, afflicted by Malaria and other there are amazed that someone Uganda, in the beginning of April diseases due to extended use found interest in their suffering for two weeks. contaminated water. Lasley and and traveled across the globe to The focus of the trip is to ex- his assemblage will teach the show them love and compassion. perience the That was the sole reason that geography inspired me to travel to Afriand culture ca, explained Lasley. of a once in Although the trip will only a lifetime last two weeks, he intends to opportureturn during the summer and nity, as well stay for a total of seven months. as serve the During this time he will docucommunity. ment the process of micro lendThey plan ing in Gulu, Uganda, which is to assist sponsored by a nonprofit orgathe children nization called Krochet Kids. living in the Women in Uganda crochet hats city orphanwhich are shipped to the U.S., ages by enand are sold on their website or suring that by larger companies like Volthey have com and Nordstrom. food and The goal of this is to help clean water. cultivate a self sustainable lifeYouth prisstyle, which helps the women ons within raise their families, pay for Kampala are their kids to go to school, or Photo by Jessica Marioni perhaps start a small business also in need of access to Luke Lasley, senior, researches his plans to visit Africa through the of their own. program Krochet Kids. clean water, I am honored to particiwhich Lasley and his associates people of Lake Victoria strate- pate in an opportunity such as will provide. gies to resist disease in addition this, especially knowing that During the short trip, they aim to providing water filters, which my experiences will be shared to help the families and orphans will give them access to clean with everyone else through who are living on the islands of water for a year. Through this the medium of filmmaking. Lake Victoria. The residents of process Lasley will document the

Living high school through the lens

By Ellen Angeloni and Chelsea Krause The transition from middle to high school offers an opportunity for students to pursue their passions and connect with their inner self. For Rebecca Stone and Brinkley Capriola, seniors, this shift evoked the rise of their true passion photography. Beginning with the initial click of the camera, these students felt an undeniable association with this creative expression, and have since gone crazy and cant stop. Years of dedication, desire, and experience, resulted in an astonishing bond between themselves and their love for the art. It did not take extensive time for Capriola and Stone to become the well-known student photographers at SVHS. With high hopes and expectations, the two plan to continue pursuing their talent in college and throughout their later lives. Stone is condent that she will continue photography for the rest of her life, even if she doesnt major in photography. Regardless, she intends to carry on her interest in fashion as well as study it in the future. On the other hand, Capriola has come to the conclusion that she will major in photography in college. Focusing on the journey that awaits, both students diligently work on both individual and assigned projects. In their photography class, they are working on famous photographer duplications. Each student has a choice on which photographers work they are to imitate, such as the well known Sydney Sherman. With their spare time, both photographers are triple-checking their portfolios for completeness and accuracy. Stones portfolio prioritizes her portraits through the contrast of man and nature. She intends to do a photo shoot with one person each week and plans to utilize these portraits to enhance the diversity of her portfolio. When I have an idea, I strive to accomplish it. Any aspect of my imagination is fair game, insisted Stone. Meanwhile, Capriola features landscapes as well as portraits in her portfolio. In the process of completing college applications, Capriola must summarize her photography in ve photos. Its going to be a huge challenge considering there are thousands of photos to choose from, all of which I love. Once their portfolios are complete, both plan to display their nest work as they apply for scholarships and continue on their bright photographic paths. Regardless of the challenge that may arise in the

forthcoming, both Stone and Capriola are ready to embrace the opportunities and prove their passion. Below are an array of photos taken by Capriola and Stone over the course of their high school career.

Photos by Rebecaa Stone and Brinkley Capriola

Dragons Tale

Page 4 & 5

February 2012

Culture

Other girls with Dragon Tattoos

Reviews

Students Race to Nowhere

By Grace Bon Sleep deprivation, looming hours of homework, and supercial extracurricular activities are familiar circumstances for competitive high school students who hope to settle among the ranks of the nations top universities upon graduation. The lm Race to Nowhere, released in 2009, offers a glimpse into the manic lives of academically burdened teenagers, documenting their struggle to achieve the ever-changing denition of success. Although some cases featured in the lm - such as that of a preteen suicide - are plucked from the extreme edge of the spectrum, the documentary offers an accurate portrayal of the short term as well as long term struggles the average high school student. The lm was undoubtedly effective. The audience was consistently in tune with the featured students anguish, discouragement, and stress induced by a critically awed schooling system, in which success is dened by standardized test scores and letter grades. As an individual who regularly faces the same hurdles as those documented in the lm, it was relieving and reassuring to discover that I am not alone in my struggles. I was able to easily relate to the featured students efforts, tears, and triumphs, too.

Cartoon By Sarah Summers Women glamorize the style of Lisbeth Salander, the main character of The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo.

By Maddie Connors Girls hit the street with gritty leather jackets, ripped-up, bleached sweaters, black mascara and an intense erce looks just as Lisbeth Salander, the main character in The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo - only this time without the twenty years of rape, sexual assault and abuse. Isnt that the way of Hollywood? Take a wounded, disturbed girl, make her a fashion idol, design a fashion line and make billions of dollars? Shortly after America decided to take on The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, H&M, a trendy retail clothing store based in Europe, released a fashion line based on Salanders dark, gothic clothing. This time, H&M makes the clothing line polished, glamorous and the one thing Salander avoids -sexy. Lisbeth dresses in edgy black and gray as a camouage from the travesties she has endured and to discourage advances from men. Many rape victims have spoken out against the line, accusing it of glamorizing sexual abuse while leaving

out the fear, darkness and rage. Some girls have taken it further by getting dragon tattoos, paying homage to the anti-heroine who hunts down and kills a murderer of women. . The dragon tattoo is a symbol in the book. Natalie Karnefwe, a victim of sexual assault and rape claims, Getting raped is like getting a tattoo. It always stays with you. So, why would anyone want a tattoo that emulates a lifetime of sexual trauma? Many fear that the clothing line and culture will marginalize the effect of rape, making it far too glamorous. H&M apologized, claiming they created the line because they appreciate the characters ability to stick to their ideals. Rape victims rebuttal back, Lisbeth has been through hell, and her clothing is her armor. Thats her choice, and its an understandable choice. Swedish critics are also skeptical about Americas exploitation of a very delicate, stirring story. Originally published, the book was called Men Who Hate Women. However, as America preserves it femi-

nist culture, the title was changed to The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo to make it more marketable to a Western Market. Swedish audiences criticized the choice, accusing the title of minimizing the central idea of the book. The long-time girlfriend of the author frets the exploited culture of the book, claiming that the idea originated from a time when the author saw a fteen year old gang raped and didnt help her. He wrote it as an apology to her and all victims, but many believe the book as drifted from its corerape and women who experience the worst of mens depravity. She watches a character that experienced rape, insanity, murders and tortures men, become a cultural icon and a fashion hero. As many girls and women take to the street with dragons etched in their esh, leather pants, dark eyes and a burdened soul, channeling their inner Lisbeth Salander, others will wonder, can they really understand the sexual torture and emotional disturbance of her story and all other rape victims?

Surrealism walks literary tightrope

ble, and reads like a evanescent tear drop on paper. Plascencias characters explore The Surrealistic genre has gained incredulity in modern a different facet of longing and 21st century America, as a host heartbroken tranquility. As the of authors have taken to the characters continue their journeys form of literary prose in order to mend their broken hearts, they to further their semi-romantic each in turn fall upon the realization of a God in their ambitions. To revive world. A realization surrealism, and to that leads to a scapewalk along the fine goat for their problems, line between the real and in essence a person world and the world to blame. As the debate of books takes much grows over determinism more than an author and free will, a number it takes an artist. of characters decide to The People of Paembark on a war against per, by Salvador Plascencia, successfully This Months Pick: the commodication navigates this literary The People of Paper of sadness. As the war contintightrope; and in the process creates a book by Salvadar Plascencia ues against God a temporal shift ocso purely human it dePub. Nov, 2006 curs; Heaven begins nes a genre, revital$11.00 to crack. With Gods izing Magic Realism and Surrealism as truly Heartbreak and Sur- power lessening, the human literary outlets. realism A Refreshing power of the characFlipping through Semi-Autobiographi- ters, and their power to determine their own the book will reveal cal Epic fate, increases. With blacked out pages, columns of texts and scribbled each characters ght against out words - a process that il- God and determinism comes a lustrates Plascencias character, battle against their own pain and and later, his characters. The suffering, and from it a mystifybeauty of Plascencias work is ing release. Plascencias novel is humorits semi-autobiographical quality, and through its incorpora- ous and stimulating in a juxtation of peoples, a direct liaison position that solidies him as an author not to be reckoned with. to Plascencias humanity. The beauty of the tale is its Plascencias ability to write ability to convey simple themes gently about the interminable through its abstractions. Take problems that not only his own for instance, the pain and loss surrealist characters face, but of love, a common theme that also people of the world today. abstractly takes the form of a His ability to wade through the heartbroken mechanical turtle. trenches of our own mystied The novel is chaotically melan- feelings make him absolutely cholic - if such a term is possi- delectable. By Arthur Morgan

READ ON

Yates bids Sonoma mates a d i e u

Editors Note: George Yates was a former AFS exchange student. He wrote this letter to share his experience while in America. Gday! My name is George Yates and I was the exchange student from Australia. While studying at Sonoma Valley High School, I most enjoyed playing football and getting the chance to meet new people and build good, forever-lasting friendships, or something... Although my exchange experience came to an end mid January, I will always remember what an

incredible time I had here in the United States. Im really going to miss hearing about how funny my accent sounds because I like the attention. After my time here, I would denitely recommend everyone to study abroad or to host an international student with AFS. It is truly an incredible experience.

By Anneliese Koch

Forget the cheesy lines and bake some cheesecake

pan (including base) in a double layer of foil; set aside. Mix cookie crumbs, melted butter, and 2 tablespoons of sugar in a bowl. Press crumb mixture rmly onto the bottom of pan. Bake for 10 minutes, until set, and then let it cool in pan on a wire rack. Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees. Place the raspberries in a food processor and mix until smooth. Then use a ne sieve to separate the solids from the puree. Add 2 tablespoons of sugar and set aside. Use the paddle attachment of an electric mixer, and mix the cream cheese until uffy. Set the mixer on low speed, add the remaining 1 cups of sugar, and then proceed to add salt and vanilla; mix until well combined. Add each egg one at a time, until thoroughly mixed, Be sure not to overmix. Pour the cream cheese mixture over crust. Add raspberry sauce with a teaspoon, and use a wooden toothpick to swirl sauce and the lling. Set the cake pan inside a large, shallow roasting pan. Ladle the boiling water into the roasting pan until it reaches about half way up the side of the cake pan, be sure not get any water in the cake. Bake until the cake is set, but still slightly wobbly in the center. It should take about an hour. Finally, remove the cake pan, place on a rack and allow to completely cool. Refrigerate uncovered for at least 6 hours. Run a knife around the edge of the pan before removing cake. Page 6

Whether you love or hate Valentines Day, this raspberry swirl will be sending sweet sensations to your tastebuds It is the ideal bonne bouche to share with your special someone. To begin this divine cheesecake you will need: 1 cup of nely ground chocolate graham cracker cookies 2 Tbs. of unsalted butter, melted 1 cups of sugar 6 oz. raspberries 32 oz. of cream cheese, at room temperature Pinch of salt 1 tsp. of pure vanilla extract 4 large eggs at room temperature Boiling water, for roasting pan Preheat the oven to 350 and wrap the exterior of a 9-inch springform Dragons Tale

Photo By Anneliese Koch Celebrate this Valentines Day with a raspberry swirl cheesecake.

February 2012

Sports

January & February Sports Update

Opinion

Lady Dragons drive towards playoffs

By Alex Conner Connor Griggs-Demmin Gabby Petersen

BCS: boring, corrupt system

By Connor Griggs-Demmin University of Alabama: .9419; Oklahoma State University: .9333. The intricate and evercontroversial BCS (Bowl Championship Series) rankings system, a mysterious combination of various polls and computerized analysis, determined these numbers to identify and enumerate these two college football powerhouses at the ending of the 2011 season. A one-spot difference in the national rankings is typically insignificant as most bowl berths are even more arbitrary. But these two teams were not competing for a place in the Beef O Bradys Bowl, they were competing for a shot at dethroning unanimous number-one LSU in the national championship game. Both teams had only one loss, and both had been steamrolling most other opponents, with Alabamas defense and Oklahoma States offense putting up incredible statistics. Leading up to the glorified announcement of the final rankings, the sports world was abuzz with debate on who deserved to play in the national championship, and many argued against Alabama due to the fact that they lost to LSU earlier in the season. This raised the age old question: should the BCS be revamped in favor of a conventional playoff system? There are a variety of pros and cons, but all in all, the BCS definitely needs to be reformed, primarily for the sake of fairness. Teams are penalized for a schedule that a questionable computer system determines to be weaker, and polls are often clouded with a variety of biases from coaches and experts. This leaves one true way to determine the stronger team: head-to-head play. This simple concept persists in nearly ever other major sport but is absent in one of Americas most storied pastimes. Many BCS supporters cite the great profits from the numerous bowl games as reason to continue the outdated process. Yes, that is true, but a playoff system with multiple high-profile games could arguably generate more revenue. An eight team playoff would create an ideal combination of deserving teams and a decent number of games. Rankings could follow the same formula, but the actual ranking would be less meaningful, as most teams outside of the top eight cannot reasonably claim they have a chance at the title, while teams inside the top eight primarily can. Bowls could even be played to complement the playoffs and serve as further entertainment and revenue. Regardless of the specific format, reform is needed to create a just system that crowns the national champion. Fans are waiting eagerly for innovation, and its time for the governing body to comply. February 2012

Boys Basketball
While the Dragon sports have been rolling this year, the boys basketball team has been laid at in preseason and league play. Led by seniors Jojo Sanchez and Kevin Gomez, the boys basketball team stands at 1-5 in league play, with tough losses to perennial powerhouse Casa Grande and Analy. They are hanging their hats on a league win against Petaluma. They look to turn around a turbulent season with the second half of league games. The freshmen have had a rough season as well, including head coach John Sevenaus suspension for profanity directed at a player.

against Windsor, Casa Grande, and Headsburg. Sonoma handled Analy with a 47-24 victory and soundly defeated Petaluma 52-30. Leading the way with an imppressive 5-0 record is junior Sam Denning, while junior Aidan Lacy has also posted a strong 4-1 mark. The Dragons also had a decent showing as hosts of the Valley of the Moon tournament, with Lacy and Denning nishing second and junior Giordi Serani and senior Victor Virgen nishing third.

Girls Basketball
The Lady Dragons continue to struggle through a give-andtake season while maintaining an overall record of 11-13 and a league record of 5-5. The team is being powered by the outstanding play of 4 year vet, Annie Studdert, with a staggering 14.2 PPG average. In her backcourt is the eet-footed Kendall Ashe and the rebound-snagging Ari Schill. However, the team seems to have the most difculty with turnovers, a shocking 348 for the season thus far.

Wrestling
The Dragon boys wrestled their way to a strong start in SCL dual-meet play, posting a 2-0 record with strong wins over Petaluma and Analy, but fell to 2-3 after dropping matches

Photo by Gabby Petersen Kendall Ashe, junior, prepares to shoot a game-changing free-throw.

By Alex Conner

One Giant triumph

They triumphed over rival Analy on Senior Night.They had not beaten the Tigers in four years and the win was much awaited for Coach Sil Coccia. The Dragons fall in the middle

of the SCL pack right now behind Casa, Analy, and Healdsburg in that order. It appears that playoffs are in their sights, but they will have to climb their own hurdles in order to get there.

While the age old pageantry and showmanship continued to dene the Super Bowl, a brand new element was added in the form of a budding rivalry between the Giants and Patriots. In a highly-touted rematch from the 2007 Super Bowl that dashed away the Patriots hope for a perfect season, the Giants prevailed, aided by fantastic coaching and great quarterbacking from the game MVP Eli Manning. The rst half ended with the Patriots winning 10-9 following Stephen Gostkowskis kick and running back Danny Woodheads touchdown catch from Tom Brady. The Giants scored with a safety coming from an intentional grounding penalty made by quarterback Tom Brady in the end zone. Then Eli Manning connected with wide receiver Victor Cruz on a short pass. The third quarter began with a Patriots touchdown as Tom Brady hit Anthony Hernandez for a 12 yard touchdown to give them a 17-9 lead. The Giants followed up the touchdown with consistent defen-

Warriors playoff wishes wane

By Gabby Petersen The Golden State Warriors seem to be comfortably coasting towards casual victories in their happy fan wagon, only to struggle with keeping their foot on the gas pedal. As Mark Jackson optimistically entered the Golden State Warriors franchise as a rst time NBA coach, he inquired, The bottom line, do you have the heart, the will and the desire and the determination to go out and get it done by any means necessary? You have to make the commitment and nd a way to get it done. So far, the Warriors - inspired by performances from Stephen Curry, Dragons Tale Monte Ellis, and David Lee - have maintained a record of 8-13, leaving them third in the Pacic division. Nate Robinson, Kwame Brown (until his recent shoulder injury), and rookie Klay Thompson have also contributed signicantly to the newfound depth of the bench. At a challenging 59, Robinson had replaced the ankle-rolling Curry as point guard while rapidly evolving into a standout on the team with a 13.3 PPG average. In the past, the Warriors have suffered in the paint due to lack of height in comparison to other teams. Even though Robinson cannot provide assistance in that area, the 69 David Lee has dunked, rebounded, and alley-ooped his way into team leadership and solidied his role in the power forward position. There continue to be rumors circulating about possible trades being negotiated in order to benet the Warriors. The most popular is the potential pick-up of Dwight Howardthe powerhouse center from the Orlando Magic. However, none of the free agents wandering the NBA world have made any deciPage 7

sive play and two eld goals from Laurence Tynes that vaulted them into position to take the lead in the fourth quarter. A thrilling fourth quarter, mirroring that of their last Super Bowl battle, was started with a clutch

Photo by Maddie Connors Sophomore Jackson Love sports his Patriots attire despite the heart-wrenching loss.

drive from the poised Eli Manning. Then, with ashbacks to David Tyres on-the-helmet catch in the 2007 Super Bowl, the Michigan graduate Mario Manningham made an acrobatic over-the-shoulder catch from Eli Manning on

third and long to keep their Super Bowl hopes alive. A series of run plays and a slough of rst downs had the Giants in the red zone. Then, in a tactical battle, Bill Belichick let Ahmad Bradshaw waltz into the touchdown with 1:04 left on the clock. The Giants had planned on running the clock down so the Patriots had no time for a drive, then kicking the go-ahead eld goal. However, a dazed Ahmad Bradshaw tumbled into the endzone after realizing his folly. I kept telling him, Dont score! Dont score! remarked veteran quarterback Eli Manning as he reected on the logistical mistake. However, it was all irrelevant as key drops and too few timeouts plagued what could have been a quintessential Brady fourth quarter drive. The game ended with a failed Hail Mary stuffed by a consistent Giants secondary. Eli Manning was named MVP, and the Giants are left to reect on a season that caught re towards the end and stayed hot until the Super Bowl.

Do you have the heart...to go out and get it done by any means necessary?

sions to join the Warriors. The team has thrived off of some major upsets of big-name teams this year; the most surprising being the wins against the The Big Three of the Miami Heat and the Chicago Bulls. These big game moments seem to be reining in more attention, while the Warriors still struggle to nish against much easier teams. While the team is not expecting a chance at a title this season, they continue to build up a franchise with Jackson alongside the dedicated fans.

News

When your dream job becomes obsolete

By Adelia Gregory Imagine the gleaming lights, the howling glee of classmates, and the fervent beaming of proud parents cheering for you at your high school graduation. You even have a school and a career in mind. Now imagine this all over again for college except this time you are ready to pursue your dream. Here is where reality hits. With the rise of mechanization and modernity, many careers may vanish. According to research by Yahoo! Educations Terence Loose, popular majors in areas like agriculture, design, theater, and animal science will leave you unemployed and indenitely searching. With many students majoring in these areas, they have become very competitive. To complicate matters, employment has tended to be erratic, especially since 2008. One thing is for certain: some careers will boom despite all the economical doom. Those careers include medical records technicians, pharmacy technicians, dental assistants, nancial analysts, and paralegals. These glum facts reflect a slumping economy but an uncertain future. It may come as no surprise to some, but according to Yahoo! Finances Louise Tutelian, careers like being a judge, fashion designer, insurance underwriter, travel agent, newspaper reporter, broadcast announcer, plant manager, chemist, or economist may spell disaster for future career choices. This year, SVHS freshmen have been introduced to Kuder Navigator, an online career site, to guide their A-G choices. Kuder Navigator can guide students interests and passions to a realistic career choice, remarked Ms. Hawing of the College and Career Center. The job market is becoming more specic to suppress some of the turmoil of a fast-paced economy facing the extinction of once protable jobs. Some careers will face degradation and will occupy the endangered species list while the new workforce will occupy Wall Street.

Caught in Thought
Which SVHS teacher would you like to be your valentine?

Paralegal Dental assistant Pharmacy technician Financial analyst Computer software engineer Physical therapist Medical records technician

Hot Careers

Travel agent Newspaper reporter Broadcast announcer Fashion designer Judge Chemist Economist

Not Careers
Owen Barrett, freshman.
Ms. Clark, because shes chill.

Winter sports rally brings surprises

By Alex Arellano-Halford SVHS students rushed eagerly into the Winter sports rally to be met with a pleasant, familiar burst of loud music. They raucously conversed amongst themselves, ling into their respective grade bleachers. After everyone was seated, a new feature arose in the rally: two students walked onto the court bearing quiet signs, and a hush fell over the crowd. The ever-familiar Green Men, sporting dress suits over their green spandex, rushed in on scooters and hurled beads into the waving swarms of hands. The wrestlers as well as the boys and girls basketball teams trotted onto the court after their respective introductions and seated themselves. Promptly after, Reagen Hedley took the microphone and sang the United States National Anthem. The microphone was handed over to wrestler Aiden Lacy, junior, who announced that it was time to spit some rhymes in a rap battle between the three varsity winter sports teams. The girls basketball team was up right after the wrestlers, commenting on the two boys teams lack of masculinity. After the boys basketball team had its chance, the audience judged the rap battle by cheering for their favorite team, clearly choosing boys wrestling as the victor. The Green Men then joked amongst themselves and made way for a group of dancers, who began jamming to a remix starting with Soul Man by Isaac Hayes and David Porter. The Green Men and others from the crowd leaped into the fray, soon to be joined by a vocalizing--or lip-syncing--Mr. Battaglini. After the show was over, the Green Men proclaimed it to be a ash mob of sorts. Next, two members from each sports team and each grade rose to the court. They began a relay race in which they had to primarily pop a balloon via hugging, then proceed to eat ve saltine crackers, then engage in free-throw basketball and nally use a hula hoop. The ever-present Sonoma cheer contest followed to conclude the rally, resulting in a tiebreaker between the juniors and seniors, which ended in the seniors victory.

Aaron Soto, sophomore.

Probably Ms. Purtell.

Photo by Aaron Pino All rise as Reagen Hedley, freshman, sings the National Anthem at the Winter sports rally.

Taylor Copple, junior.

Mr. Gibson because hed probably do something really nice and hes really sweet.

Arianna Schill, senior.

I would choose Mr. Ryan because all of the other girls would be jealous.

Dragons Tale

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February 2012