THE

GRANADA HIGH SCHOOL

p megranateVOLUME 8, ISSUE 2

INSIDE

NOVEMBER 2012

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ContentsGay Rights.....................2Tate...............................5Black Friday...................8Clubs...........................9Sports fans...................10

Granada poll shows Obama clearly in the lead

A’s and Giants wrap up their postseasons in the playoffs

page 11pages 6 & 7

Pictures, awards from homecoming skits

By Jeff Katen

Perspectives Editor Let’s pretend the government replaced the Electoral College with our school, and changed the presidential election date from November 6th to today. The presidential election no longer depends on the votes of the people but the votes of our fellow students. According to a recent school survey, President Obama would win by a landslide, Mitt Romney would fall short, and a lot of students wouldn’t even vote at all. The survey was designed to be as random as possible. Seventy-two students were chosen randomly at multiple locations around campus and asked, “If you could vote, which presidential candidate would you vote for?”

Twenty-four of these students answered, “I don’t know,” or something to that extent. A lot of students either don’t want to follow politics or haven’t had enough time to. If we assume these people wouldn’t vote, that leaves 48 students. Of these, 32, or about 67 percent, said they would re-elect Obama, the Democratic candidate. One student stated his reason for choosing Obama: “His healthcare plan and his relief for the middle class in terms of taxes (is better).” Nine kids, or about nineteen percent, said they would vote for Romney, the Republican candidate. One of these students remarked, “I would vote for Romney because I just enlisted in the Marine Corps, and he’s going to expand the defense budget.” Four of the students (about

eight percent) said they would vote for a third party, specifically the Green Party or the Independent Party. One student said the reason he wouldn’t vote for Obama or Romney was, “None of their political views are ones I could really follow.” Two of the students decided not to say who they were going to vote for, but four percent isn’t enough to swing the vote either way. Although some don’t have an opinion on the matter, the results are a pretty good representation of Granada overall as the diverse, opinionated group it is.

its participants “choice,” so as to grant students complete freedom in the way they express their emotions. Club members agreed there is an amazing feeling of control and chaos when given the opportunity to change a

By Zachary D. Williams

Staff Writer Improv can take on many interpretations. Some may view it as internal expression, a spontaneous form of art, or even a means of escape. Whichever meaning one has for “improv,” it is agreed upon by the select students of Granada that the Improv Club is great. Granada High’s Improv Club features an accepting community of students who present improvised situations for the sake of creativity. Students come to be themselves or somebody else. Improv offers all of

story’s direction. It is an even better feeling, they said, to know that there is no “wrong answer.” Whichever decision you make, there are the friends beside you who will back up your moves and respond to your improvised narrative.

Improv is not about being the center of attention, said club member and senior Eric Faulkner, but rather bringing the attention to fellow students around you, creating something entertaining through actions and words where

everyone actively participates. Just go with the flow, and above all else, have fun, seems to be the club’s motto. You do not have to be an outstanding actor to improvise, said Faulkner. You just need guts and an urge to bring some life to the stage. Everything comes naturally if you let it, and with an open mind, you will forget all about any social insecurities or stage fright that has been haunting your motives to become a great performer. A typical day in improv club starts with meeting up in the Little Theatre. “From there, we play games or create scenes. Everyone is totally encouraged to come up and participate,” said Faulkner. “You will be subject to incredible amounts of positive energy that will leave you stunned and you will be craving more,” he added. Improv Club meets every Tuesday in Mr. Watts’ room, 503, and the little theater during lunch. Everyone is welcome with open arms and open minds.

Photo by Mr. Watts

Improv provides students with creative outletStudents express themselves while creating an entertaining experience through actions and words

Their motto is “go with the flow, and above all else, have fun.” Join the fun on Tuesdays at lunch.

Romney Obama Third Party “I don’t know”

perspectivesNOVEMBER 2012

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By Megan Smith

Staff Writer Milk allergies are not uncommon in young kids. Often, children are diagnosed with these allergies and grow out of them later in life. What they lose, however, is the nutritional value of drinking milk in the developing stages of their life. However, in New Zealand, a genetically engineered cow is able to produce milk without the protein Beta-lactaglobulin, which is said to cause these allergic reactions. This cow was conceived through genetic engineering and cloning, and produces even more nutritious milk than regular cow’s milk. This is due to the increased percentage of caseins, a nutritional protein that is very important to the growth of bones and one’s requirement of calcium for both children and adults. These caseins doubled from the lack of Beta-lactaglobulin (BLG). This cow was born, however, with a rare birth defect. It was born without a tail, which makes it just a little more unique. Scientists believe that this was only an effect of its genetic engineering, and does not, in fact, come from the cow’s BLG modifications. Not only is this a big step for children diagnosed with milk allergies, but it is a step in science, as well. This experiment marks the

first time scientists have been able to alter the protein composition of milk before it leaves the cow. This is also the first time scientists have been able to completely delete the BLG protein; before, they were only able to knock down its percentage in milk from mice. The only concern is the high percentage of the milk’s artificial hormones. Jabed’s team, the scientists that engineered this cow, admits that in order to induce the lactation of the calf, they used hormones. Senior Sierra Pidoli said, “It’s not natural, but I understand why it is a good thing.” While this may have been a concern, the food administration and the FDA have already agreed that these hormones – at least in cows – are safe.

People are drinking far less milk than they did 30 years ago, but milk is still considered the best way to get your daily 1,000-milligram calcium requirement. Drinking a glass of milk every day would easily help meet this requirement, but with this milk, it might be even easier. From all the choices of milk you can get, from organic to omega-3-fortified, this milk might be the healthiest. If this genetically altered cow is bred in sufficient numbers, it might be able to provide milk for allergic infants and adults everywhere. However, as much potential as this cow holds for the future, scientists believe there is still much more work to be done before this hypoallergenic milk can be sold on shelves.

By Hayley Smith

Staff Writer The question of whether or not someone’s sexual orientation is a choice has become a hot-button issue in America. Although numerous studies have concluded that homosexuality is natural, many still believe that it is a mental disability that can and should be cured. In response to this mindset, California Governor Jerry Brown recently signed a bill that bans the use of “gay-to-straight conversion therapy” for minors. Needless to say, the decision is facing its share of controversy. Governor Brown defended himself in a personal tweet, stating, “This bill bans non-scientific ‘therapies’ that have driven young people to depression and suicide.” He went on to note, “These practices have no basis in science or medicine, and they will now be relegated to the dustbin of quackery.”

There’s a lot of truth to his statements regarding the effect these ‘therapies’ can have on youth. A study conducted by California State University in San Francisco showed that members of the LGBTQ community who experienced high levels of rejection from their families during adolescence were more than eight times as likely to attempt suicide. Unsupportive families choose to send their kids to these “therapies,” which is why the practice has been kept alive. Not only have countless LGBTQ rights groups publicly supported the bill, but so has the California Psychological Association and California’s Board of Behavioral Sciences. These organizations are highly trusted, considering that their stances are based on clinical studies, not religion or traditional belief. On the other hand, opponents claim that banning conversion therapy is a violation of the First

By Rebecca Bernstein

News Editor Sometimes people don’t win, and that’s okay. Sometimes other people win, and that’s okay too. It’s stupid how, in competitions, prizes are given out to people who don’t necessarily win so that they can feel like they are winners. We see this all the time in 6-year-old soccer tournaments, but we shouldn’t be seeing it in the Homecoming Pommie Awards. It’s expected for seniors and juniors to win a majority of the awards. Yes, the underclassmen will shine in some areas, but for the most part the experienced upperclassmen will beat out the newbies because of those extra few years of practice. “We talk a lot about who we think deserves the award, and we all have many different opinions,” said a judge who wished to remain anonymous. “We also try to consider being fair by spreading around the awards so no one feels left out.” While it is nice for the judges and administrators to recognize the hard work put in by all the freshman and sophomore students, they shouldn’t push aside a more deserving group or individual who put in just as much, if not more effort, to come out with a spectacular performance. Homecoming week isn’t just a week of fun, but it’s also a week of competition recognized by all the classes. Each grade creates

Amendment, as well as harmful to the child. The Pacific Justice Institute is planning on suing the state of California in an attempt of “defending religious, parental, and constitutional rights.” If that is the case, the constitutional rights of the minor being subjected to the “therapy” should be their top priority. It is also important to point out that the law will still allow adults to receive conversion therapy, just not children and teens being pressured into it by their parents. Another lawsuit is being filed by the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality, who argue that the minors’ same-sex attraction is the cause of their depression, rather than the lack of acceptance from their family or peers. This empty explanation leads to an unanswered question: If surrounding forces aren’t telling a child to feel bad about a quality they possess, then where is the guilt coming from?

Especially with a trait like sexual orientation, a developing mind won’t feel confused unless someone else tells them that they should be. This particular brand of homophobia stems from the belief that homosexual and transgendered individuals live in a perpetual state of confusion. These organizations believe that deep down, everyone is

a homecoming skit in hopes of winning an award, and the prize shouldn’t be taken from reach just to make everyone feel included. The same goes for sports tournaments. Teams practice for hours on end, upwards of six days a week, all to go for the gold, and quite honestly, some teams are just better and work harder than the other teams. Those teams that work hard don’t want to go to a tournament and bust their tails to watch a last place team win the same exact t-shirt, because, you know, they came and they tried so they should be recognized as well. It sends the wrong message, telling people that they don’t need to work that hard because as long as they try, they’ll be rewarded. Whereas a trophy, medal, or shirt used to be a symbol of hard work, it has merely become just another thing, and the people that work hard are basically being told that their hard work is just as good as someone else’s average work. Please, just stop giving medals or ribbons for “participation.” These types of participation awards are good for little kids who are just happy to play the game. They need that encouragement and something nice to show their parents, but for the more serious middle and high school athletes, they’re a joke. Give the winners what they deserve and leave the losers, or “other participants”, with inspiration to get better, not an award they didn’t really earn.

straight, but some need more help realizing that. However, this idea is based on ignorance, not fact, and can only cause harm to a patient’s self-esteem. The new law will take effect on January 1st, 2013. It will prevent the continuation of this dangerous form of psychological abuse, and hopefully prevent depression in the young people affected.

Outlawed conversion therapies prove damaging

Participation awards send wrong message

Genetically altered cow createdMay be able to help solve many milk allergy problems

takeactionca.blogspot.comCalifornia Governor Jerry Brown signs the new bill to outlaw gay-to-straight conversion therapy of minors beginning in 2013.

abc.net.auThe genetically engineered tailless cow from New Zealand may provide answers for those with various dairy product allergies.

perspectivesNOVEMBER 2012

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Matador on the Street: What was your favorite part of Homecoming?

Elizabeth Bukus, Freshman: “The fact that I was able to dance with my friends and just hang out.”

Halayna Turner, Sophomore: “Being asked to Homecoming by Trevor Gregory in the sophomore skit.”

Reagan Brunner, Junior:“My favorite part was the senior skit.”

Colton Jones, Senior:“Walking around with my girlfriend as Harley Quinn and the Joker the morning of the senior skit, scaring people. And twerking!”

Ms. Zymajtis, Teacher:“It was the senior skit because I like all the talent that was put into it.”

By Lana FickStaff Writer

By Bella Murphy

Staff Writer A lot of the major adult celebrities today got their start on children’s shows and movies. Sadly, many stars that started acting as children often have turned out for the worst. Thousands and even millions of dollars have been made from movies starring people like the Olsen twins, Lindsay Lohan, Demi Lovato and Britney Spears. As a result of popularity rates of the television shows and movies, these actors starred in bigger roles in even bigger movies when they were young. Drugs, alcohol, and anorexia

are often to blame. Lindsay Lohan started as an 11-year-old girl in “The Parent Trap,” a movie about two long-lost twin sisters that plan to meet each of their parents and get them back together. At this time, Lohan has been charged with DUIs, drug abuse, and being publicly intoxicated numerous times. The Olsen twins started in show business at age five on the sitcom “Full House,” then made movies about their sisterhood as Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. Early fame was hard on them. The twins have experienced anorexia and bulimia and had to go to several rehabs to stay sane and to eat again. It was so bad at

one point that both girls weighed about 90lbs. because they wanted to look “perfect” for the cameras. Demi Lovato is another actress who started at five years old on the show “Barney.” She moved

to the Disney Channel as a teen, starring in such movies as “Camp Rock.” However, even though she starred in children’s shows, she still grew up way too fast. Due to stress, insecurities and trying to impress her fans across the world,

Lovato ended up in the hospital and rehab for a couple months. One of the biggest pop stars year after year and also the one with seemingly the most problems is Britney Spears. She went from being on “Mickey Mouse Club” when she was a little kid to being in headlines for drugs, alcohol, rehab and crazy outbreaks of depression and stress, like shaving her head or being in fights. It seems as though the most popular and talked about stars have the most problems. Even though all the above celebrities are women, there are many male celebrities who have problems as well. These include actors such as

Todd Bridges from the sitcom “Diff’rent Strokes,” who later became addicted to cocaine, and “Home Alone” star Macaulay Culkin, who was arrested for possession of marijuana. The question is: do starring in movies and shows and always being a topic in social media the cause these celebrities to go off the deep end? The answer will never be confirmed. But, whatever the reason, many actors who starred on Disney Channel shows when they were young are now featured on rehab recovery shows, and that is unfortunate. It’s sad that a ruined life is often the price of childhood fame.

It seems as though the most popular and talked about stars have the most problems.

Will today’s music last as long as Mozart’s ?

Former child celebrities struggle with pressures of stardom

By Justin Moore

Staff Writer You’re sitting in a library, reading, or maybe you’re in a coffee shop. You notice music playing softly in the background. It is something familiar, a symphony of strings and soft horns. The soft, slow melodies generally calm you down and cause you to relax. For the life of you, you can’t recall the artist, but you know you’ve heard it somewhere. No, it’s not One Direction. or Taylor Swift. It’s probably not Drake. It’s Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart! Odd… that artist doesn’t appear to have a top album on iTunes. Nor does he have a lot of singles or followers on a fan page. No slaps? No fresh raps? He won’t make it in the popular music world. The joke is that Mozart’s music has left a lasting impact on society and the musical world for over 200 years. So, rather

than wondering how his music’s popularity has lasted so long, one should ask whether today’s music will be as significant in two centuries as Mozart’s is now. Popular music today is generic, over-produced and frankly, easily forgotten. There are talented groups, but music groups that could stand the test of time are not accepted by the mainstream and are immediately cast aside. R e a l i s t i c a l l y , composers like Mozart are one in a million and during the eighteenth century, music was composed over months, and when it was performed for the first time it was either accepted, or not. Now, music is produced every day. Singles upon singles plague the music world with

By Jack Kovacich

Features Editor For some reason, an idea has been propagated among many teenagers that the music created today isn’t as worthwhile or meaningful as music created in the past. For the sake of this article, I will pretend to have a conversation with one of these teenagers. “Well, to start, our music is all about drugs, partying, and money! Music in the past was about real stuff, stuff that lasts!” This is true of some popular music, but it ignores the vast majority of music that isn’t about any of those subjects. And it ignores that music in the past was hardly any better:

songs have always been about these topics, but there has always been and will always be a wealth of thought-provoking music. “Okay, but... compare our artists to Mozart. We’ll never

have another Mozart, we still listen to his music now!” While these are technically facts, they don’t really mean much. The fact that we still enjoy the best compositions from hundreds of years ago just means our ears still appreciate the same patterns and tones. Unless some strange mass shift in our brain chemistry occurs, hundreds of years from now humans will still probably enjoy the best albums from now. “But even if there are good albums now, they aren’t part of the maninstream! They’ll be forgotten! We’ll only be remembered by our trash!” Again, while it is true that the best music produced generally isn’t widely accepted, that doesn’t matter. Some of the best artists of the past died poor and unrecognized, and some albums we now recognize as groundbreaking and important were ignored in their time. Good music will stand the test of time, regardless of when it was produced.

no remorse. This constant flood of music removes the uniqueness of a song and quickly makes it overplayed. Will our generation’s music survive the test of time? It’s as likely as me becoming the next Travis Barker.

No: Modern songs are unoriginal, overplayed

Yes: Superior music will always be recognized

featuresNOVEMBER 2012

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November Music Review“Country, God or the Girl” by K’naan

November Movie Review“Pitch Perfect” Directed by Jason Moore

Editor’s Choice: Quick Picks

-Heather LeCon Editor-in-Chief

-Jack KovacichFeatures Editor

-Brooke YarringtonSports Editor

“Lori’s Diner”restaurant

“Stalker (1979)”movie

“Rescue Me”TV show

“Rescue Me” is a drama shadowing the lives of the firefighters of 62 truck and their experiences after the attack of 9/11. The main character Tommy Gavin, played by Denis Leary, is an alcoholic who is haunted by the ghost of his cousin, who was his partner while rescuing those trapped in the twin towers. The show deals with the firefighters’ lives after the most famous attack in our country’s history.

An underappreciated sci-fi classic, Andrei Tarkovsky’s “Stalker” follows three men on a journey into “The Zone,” a restricted area of mysterious origin said to grant wishes. Tarkovsky captures the calm yet desolate atmosphere of the Zone with long, meditative shots that might, in conjunction with the Russian dialogue, turn off some viewers. The film inspired a video game of the same name which is almost equally as good.

Lori’s Diner is located in San Francisco and opened in 1986. The diner has 5 other locations, all located in SF. Lori’s is known for their delicious burgers, shakes, and their exciting and authentic environment. The menu has a wide selection of original diner favorites, plus they serve breakfast all day long. If you’re looking for a classic and reasonable meal while visiting the city, Lori’s Diner is the place to go.

By Hayley Smith

Staff Writer After the success of the 2011 film “Bridesmaids,” female writers have left behind the traditional romantic-comedy plotline for a new brand of hilariously crude humor. “Pitch Perfect,” written by “New Girl” and “30 Rock” writer Kay Cannon, breaks away from ladylike behavior in the most enjoyable way possible. Critics are calling it “Mean Girls meets Glee,” since its quotable dialogue and elaborate musical performances make for a fun, rib-tickling viewing experience. “Pitch Perfect” takes place in the cutthroat world of college a capella groups, in which singers do not perform to music, but create a beat with their voices. Barden College is home to two rival groups, the female “Barden Bellas” and the male “Treble Makers.” After an embarrassing loss at nationals involving some disgustingly funny physical comedy, the Bellas are determined to step up their game and finally beat the Trebles. In order to win, they have recruited some unconventional new members, including introverted Beca (Anna Kendrick) and hilariously outspoken “Fat Amy” (Rebel Wilson). Wilson, best known for her performance as Brynn in “Bridesmaids”, steals the show with a remarkable

By Anthony T. Miller

Staff Writer The album “Country, God or the Girl” is K’Naan’s most recent album and is filled with political and personal messages throughout. This “pop rock rapper” intertwines upbeat raps with endearing vocals that create a powerful message to almost every song. His personal music shares deep feelings he has towards touchy subjects through catchy hooks and clever beats. There are inspirational and little corny messages throughout the songs such as, “I was the seed planted by lovers, in a refugee camp overseas, I grew free I grew more roots, and became a tree, so now they never gonna cut me down.” So much of the music in this album connects with many people because of the broad subjects he covers, particularly those of hope and strength; he also mixes in the occasional profanity to maintain his edge. K’Naan’s soft-spoken ways he had in previous albums with songs such as “Waving the Flag” were abolished once this album dropped. Every message he sends throughout is conveyed effectively for the duration. His talents as an artist don’t stop there. He raps with a steady flow that never seems awkward, compared to other vocalists who attempt to rap, as a few young pop stars do. K’Naan sings with a soul and pop infused voice of greater quality than that of most rappers, inserting the occasional

vocal hook or chorus. His voice isn’t the quality of a Sinatra or Michael Jackson but is good enough quality to allow you to focus on his message throughout the songs, rather than the amount of times he uses autotune because he can’t hit a certain note. K’Naan’s backstory is as inspirational as his songs. He grew up poor and underpriviledged, and tells stories of things he has encountered or seen during his life in the slums. The seventeen track album is sold for $12.99 on iTunes, and if you aren’t willing to put

that much up for it, it’s worth at least picking a few songs from the track list, as the combination of soul, pop, and rock makes it easy to find one song that you will enjoy. The album features guest artists such as Bono, Keith Richards, and Nelly Furtado, who perform songs with K’Naan. The album is one of his biggest and highly anticipated NPR said about the album, “When K’Naan swings the hammer, you can feel that wall crumbling, and it’s a thrill. If a refugee kid from Somalia can do all this, there might be hope for this world after all.”

voice and great comedic timing. With new members comes a new direction in performance style, and shenanigans ensue as the battle of the sexes continues between the competing groups. Like “Glee,” “Pitch Perfect” combines tried-and-true songs with modern hits in order to appeal to all age groups. Song choices range from Madonna and Boyz II Men to Rihanna and Cee Lo Green. However, despite the age of any of the songs, the a capella performance style creates a unique sound that gives any tune a fresh feel. The recurring themes of rivalry and forbidden love have caused the film to be compared to the numerous “Bring It On” movies. However, unlike the generic cheerleading series, “Pitch Perfect” includes girls of all shapes, sizes, ethnicities and personalities. Every member of the Barden Bellas has her own strengths as well as weaknesses, and none conform to the superficial “perfect girl” archetype that often occurs in chick flicks. With strong comedic and musical performances, “Pitch Perfect” is definitely one of the most enjoyable movies of the year. The girls are strange, real, and hilariously unconventional. Even if musicals aren’t popular with some, the humor will make this movie a fun time for anyone.

featuresNOVEMBER 2012

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Flavor of Fashion

Richard Jensen, junior

Jacket: Dad’s, $350

Shirt: Gift from Dad

Tie: Estate Sale, $3

Jeans: Mall, $30

Shoes: Macy’s, $60

Style: “Business casual”

Katherine Orrell, senior

Jeans: Nordstrom, $50Jacket: Nordstrom, $75Shirt: Nordstrom, $30Watch: Nordstrom, $40Sweater: Nordstrom,$50Shoes: Mom`s closetStyle: “Girly boho”

November Crossword

By Jeff KatenPerspectives Editor

Answers on page 8

By Katherine M. Klem

Assistant Editor

Frankie Tate, the biology, AP Biology and physiology teacher, whose classroom is nestled in the corner of the science quad, didn’t always plan to work in education.

Tate, who grew up in South Carolina, comes from a long line of teachers, but she didn’t have the ambition to teach herself. “My mother and all her sisters were teachers. My three sisters are also teachers,” she said. “So, of course, I swore I would never be a teacher.”

Her high school biology teacher, whose class she said she “loved,” initially sparked her interest in the science of life. She went on to earn a degree in biology from Furman University in South Carolina, working one summer as an intern at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee.

“That was the first time I really saw what science research was like in the real world,” she said. After graduating from San Jose State with a master’s degree in natural sciences, she worked for five years as a research assistant for a professor in the biology department at Indiana University before working at the medical center at Stanford University researching muscle diseases for two years.

Though Tate swore earlier that she would never become a teacher, when her son was in second grade, she started a weekly science program for his class at the request of his teacher, and she found that she loved it. “One thing led to another,” she said, and she became an elementary science teacher.

For 13 years, she taught at the elementary level, eventually becoming a high school teacher.

This is her 26th year teaching.Tate said that she likes

her students, their supportive parents and also the support from the school and the district, who she said encourages the science department to try new things. She also appreciates the relative newness of the science building, which has built-in Smart boards and other features helpful for teaching science.

“Every day I look out at my classroom and say to myself how thankful I am for my room,” she said.

Tate’s interest in biology tends toward molecular biology and genetics, but she said that there “really isn’t any area I don’t like.”

She enjoys teaching AP Biology because of the challenge for herself, as well as the students, and said she is always learning new things. This year, there is new curriculum that she is still adjusting to, but she isn’t worried. “I think the changes are good,” said Tate. “The content is not much different, but the labs are more student-directed.”

She likes physiology because

Ms. Tate teaches science while rocking out on the side

Across:

1. Legendary stories6. Uno9. Pig’s pad12. Box13. Business VIP14. Pitching stat15. Church walkway16. Burst of bad temper18. California wine valley19. Make lace20. Epochs21. Caveman’s era(2wds.)

24. Concurrence27. Time past30. ____ Witherspoon of “Sweet Home Alabama”31. Had33. And so forth (abbr.)34. Proposed as a candidate38. Renovator40. Pub drinks42. Shade43. Stood up47. Childhood disease49. Golfer ____ Woods

50. Bathroom rug51. Tax org.52. ____ eclipse53. Lyric verse54. Compass dir.55. Printing machine Down:1. Skim over 2. Opera solo3. Struggle for breath4. Books of maps5. Behold6. Gasoline classification7. Tidy up8. Chunk of eternity9. Military rank10. Faithful11. Sweet potatoes17. Children’s game19. Actor ____ Hanks22. Adolescents

23. Make amends24. Common verb25. Acquire26. Make again28. Goodness!29. Strange32. Soldier35. Additional ones36. Styling foam

37. Wrath39. Highway curve40. Military supplies41. Show the way44. Leer45. Oceans46. Miscalculates48. Recline49. Recipe unit (abbr.)

By Ashley MoylanStaff Writer

Photo by Katherine M. Klem

of its focus on the human body and the fact that it’s an advanced class without the pressure of being an AP class. Regular biology is fun to teach because she gets to introduce biology to the students and “try to show them its relevance to their lives.”

Outside of school, Tate likes to spend time with her family and go with her husband up to their cabin in the mountains. She and her husband also play in a band called “Blind Dog” with their friends.

The band, in which Tate plays bass (which she said she likes because it’s “easier than guitar!”), has recorded one album, called “Ruff Cuts.”

“My husband and the other guitar player are very good,” she said. “The two other women in the group have great voices, and I love to sing harmonies with them. So it is really just a lot of fun to get together and play music with people who are also very good friends of mine.”

The band hopes to record another album, but the members have yet to find time. As for Tate, she’s too busy being a great teacher.

Even after 25 years of teaching science, whether it’s Biology or physiology, Ms. Tate is always excited to learn new information.

homecomingNOVEMBER 2012

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FreshmenPlanet HollywoodPhotos by Katherine Klem

SophomoresCaesar’s PalacePhotos by Justin Moore and Jack Kovacich

The Class of 2016’s hard work and dedication resulted in a entertaining skit. They incorporated characters from various movies and theatre productions, including Alice (Elise Williams, top right) from “Alice in Wonderland” and Glenda (Katie Reddick, bottom right) from the “Wizard of Oz.” Their outfits, particularly the “Mad Hatter”(Megan Fairbanks), earned them the “Most Outrageous Costume” award. They aresure to present outstanding skits in future years.

The sophomore class took the school back to Ancient Rome in their skit, which took place on Tuesday. The best performance that took place that day was by Emily Langlois as “Medusa” (above). Sophomores also won best small group dance which was the “Gladiator Dance.” Left, “Big Caesar” played by Aref Aboud interacts with “The Hangover” characters, Alex Cupps, Nick Despotakis and Domenic Lestochi.

homecomingNOVEMBER 2012

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SeniorsCircus CircusPhotos by Jeff Katen and Zachary D. Williams

Thursday, the class of 2013 transformed the campus into a circus. With a chaotic, yet fun morning and sprawling set pieces, seniors won both the “WOW” and “Best Set” awards. Logan Glover, winner of the “Best Performance on a Thursday” award, starred as the ringmaster opposite Josh Knight (right and bottom right), who played Tommy Thompson. Garrett Oliver (top left) led the janitors in a stomp-style dance, while Brian Lee led the gypsies (below) and won “Most Unusual Talent” for his accordion playing. The bearded ladies (above), animals and clowns also put on performances, winning the seniors “Best Choreography.” Jordan Phelps and McKenzie Davies (bottom right) won “Best Dynamic Duo” for their performance as Tommy’s parents. Braden Sweeney won “Best Vocal Performance.” The performers’ combined efforts won them “Best Skit.”

JuniorsTreasure Island

Photos by Katherine Klem and Brooke Yarrington

Wednesday, the class of 2014 sent Granada on a voyage to Treasure Island. Juniors won “Best Wall” and Matty Proetel won “Best Performance on a Wednesday” as a pirate aiding Nick Silverthorn, who, starred as Michael Phelps. Alex Clark, another pirate, (right) was also on the quest for treasure given by Captain Hook (right), played by Riley Taylor. The trio visited the mermaid brotherhood (top right) and the cursed corpse cove. The corpse dance (bottom left) won best large group dance. Left, Taylor McNeill dukes it out with Clark in the fight scene.

featuresNOVEMBER 2012

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Cars With CharacterBy Jack KovacichFeatures Editor

Photo By Jack Kovacich

There are cars, and then there are cool cars. Cars that make you wonder, “What happened to that car?” Cars that make you wish they were yours. Cars like Austin West’s Mitsubishi Eclipse.

What is the make and model of your car?1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS

Is this your car?My brother bought it five years ago (split it with my parents). After fixing it, I inherited it.

What makes your carunique?Probably that it’s still running. And that the horn will make two different, distinct noises. And it smells like maple syrup when it overheats (which is always).

What is your best memory of your car?The first time I got it running.

What is your worst memory of your car?One of the many is when it died in the middle of a car wash.

Have you ever been pulled over?Yeah, twice. Once for a busted tail light, and the other because I apparently went 45 MPH around a 90 degree corner (obviously I didn’t).

What’s the longest trip you’ve ever taken?I don’t really trust it on long drives, so probably about an hour and a half.

Have you made any modifications?My brother bought it with a custom exhaust, sound system (sub in the back).

Rate it on a scale from 1 to 10:Looks, definitely a 4 on a good day. Character, however, I’d say a 10. It’s gotten me through the darkest days. I love my troll car.

By Mary Lawhorn

Staff Writer As the holiday months of November and December approach, we all have different things on our mind. What will we eat at Thanksgiving dinner? What will we ask for for the holidays? When will it rain? But for the hardcore shoppers out there, there’s only one thing on their mind: where am I going on Black Friday? With the stores opening earlier, the discounts getting bigger, and the budgets getting smaller, Black Friday shopping has become more popular than ever. The recession over the past few years has led many consumers to take part in the

early morning dash for sales. With stores such as Toys-R-Us and Best Buy opening Wednesday at nine P.M. and midnight, it seems as though shoppers are thinking of where they’ll go first rather than what’s for Thanksgiving dinner. Last year, many popular stores in the Stoneridge Mall such as Abercrombie and Hollister opened at midnight along with Sears, and JCPenney, Macy’s and Nordstrom, however, opened at six A.M. along with Forever 21, Buckle, and the other stores. Junior Lauren Sweeney said the mall is her favorite place, because all her favorite stores are there. With the opening of the Paragon Outlets this year, there

is no doubt more people will be heading out to take advantage of the new stores in the area. Shoppers have mixed opinions regarding the opening times of stores. For people with kids, it’s a good thing that they can go at nine or midnight so that they can be home in the morning. Opponents however believe that it’s unfair that stores open so early, because by the time six o’clock rolls around the store has been picked over already, and the good deals are gone. So what’s the best strategy for Black Friday? The first thing you should do is have a plan. You need to know where you’re going, and what you hope to buy there. You also need to do your research. Figure out which stores

are most important to hit first, and find out when they will open and what deals they will be offering. If you’re hoping to knock out all of your Christmas shopping in one day, but you don’t have the budget at the time, there is some good news. Many stores such as K-Mart and Wal-Mart offer layaway programs so that you can pick out the items that you need, and the store will often hold them for six to eight weeks so that you can make payments on them. For many, the first thing they think of when discussing Black Friday are the long lines and crazy shoppers who set up tents outside of stores weeks in advance. Sophomore Anna Neitzel said “The craziest thing

I have ever seen on Black Friday was probably the time this woman took a pair of shoes out of another person’s cart. It was pretty wild. I’ve never done anything too insane on Black Friday.” But, for the average consumer who likes to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday at home, this doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to find what you need. It just means there may not be as much of a selection, or a longer wait time. Whether you’re hoping to buy a new flat screen television, or wanting a new pair of UGG boots, the one thing to remember for Black Friday is “the earlier the better,” and to remain calm in the long lines and rush of people. Happy Shopping!

Homecoming week has both good, bad aspects to it

By Lana Fick

Staff Writer When it comes to homecoming at Granada, we do things differently. Instead of floats like other schools, we perform skits that are based on a theme.

This year, the homecoming theme was Las Vegas hotels. Seniors had Circus Circus, juniors had Treasure Island, sophomores had Caesar’s Palace and freshmen had Planet Hollywood. Many feel the best parts about homecoming are the skits because they show how classy and creative the school is. Social science teacher Mrs. Codelli said, “My favorite part about homecoming at Granada is that it’s a week full of spirit and highlights the various talents students have on our campus.” An example she gave was watching Brian Lee master the

accordion and Braden Sweeney singing in the senior skit. Mrs. Nonn agreed. She said she liked “seeing all of the talent coming together in one event.” Students are not the only ones who get to participate and have opinions about homecoming. The Teachers are involved with homecoming week as well. Not everything about homecoming is easy. It takes a lot of hard work from both students and teachers. For Mrs. Newkirk, her least favorite part is the awards. She said, “It seems that sometimes we can have an amazing homecoming week only to get to the awards

at the end and to have some students feel a little let down.” Other teachers said they disliked seeing students running to the gym just so they can get a good seat. French teacher Ms. Mabry said, “It would be great if we could all be in one place together without having to compete for a spot.” During this week, students and teachers have to work hard to get everything done. Some teachers either assign homework, or they just give a week off so that the students have one less thing to worry about. Mr. Rasor said the aspect he disliked is that some students

try to use their participation in homecoming activities as an excuse to not do school work. Many freshmen don’t know what to expect when it comes to homecoming. Their teachers, especially the FIT and leadership teachers, help them through this hectic and crazy time. Mrs. Codelli said, “It’s also amazing to see how many students get involved and cherish the relationships and memories they make during the five weeks of hard work it takes to put on a skit.” Mrs. Newkirk agreed. “I think the GHS Homecoming experience is the best.”

Teachers like togetherness, dislike chaos, tired students

Black Friday shoppers benefit from early hours

features

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By Rebecca Bernstein

News Editor Through media and personal experience, many students have become aware of social injustices such as hunger and poverty and are taking action to help those affected. Among those people are Granada’s very own Red Cross Club and California Scholarship Federation (CSF).

CSF is an honor-based service society, and the oldest in California. The club, which meets Tuesdays, is dedicated to serving both locally and world-wide.

Ms. Rangan, the club advisor, said, “Every cent we raise we contribute to society.” Everything donated during fundraisers, such as collecting blankets for the homeless and raising money to give to UNICEF, an organization dedicated to bettering the lives of children in need, is given away.

CSF was looking to raise money to aid the fight against the East African Food Crisis by giving out pieces of pizza at lunch in exchange for a donation of one dollar.

“Our motto was ‘feed yourself, feed Africa,’” said Rangan. “The idea was that if students could feel how hungry they were by lunch time, they would want to help children that were hungry for days.”

Rangan said, “Any student can give back.” Giving back doesn’t have to be worldwide, which is why CSF is looking for ways to help people more locally.

“One way we are looking

By Kelsey LaBarbara

Staff Writer There are many factors that make up a great classroom environment. Every student has that one thing which makes a class their favorite. There is always a class that stands out among the rest that we love going to every day. For many students, having a good teacher makes a huge difference in a class. Senior Megan A. Smith explained, “When the teacher is really amazing, it makes the atmosphere that much more comfortable.” Senior Cody Thompson said, “A class is really great when you have a funny teacher that doesn’t give a lot of homework!” For others, it’s the students in the class that make it unforgettable. Junior Melissa Haaverson said, “When everyone is comfortable with each other in the class, it feels more like a family.” Senior Samantha Smith explained, “Having friends in a class makes it much more fun.” For other students a class becomes their favorite when the teacher is amazing, as well as their classmates. Both combined makes for a class that students are excited to go to every day. Sophomore Stephanie Divita said a class becomes her favorite “when the teacher

blood drives are our main activities, but we are also trying to raise money to donate to Project Hope,” said Miller.

Project Hope is an organization that was started by Granada alumni Jenny Travis. The goal of Project Hope is to train adults in Africa basic skills from hygeine to sewing.

Red Cross Club is still looking for ways to raise money for Project Hope, as well as for a new display case.

“It would be great to have our own display case,” said Miller, who hopes to use the case to give a little more info about Project Hope and to publicly display results of blood drives.

The club also gets involved with a number of 5k runs and other local events.

“It’s about service first and foremost,” said Miller.

Students discuss the various aspects of their favorite classes

Red Cross, CSF raise awarenessto give back here at school,” said club president Maryann Gong, “is peer tutoring.”

In order to join, and stay, in CSF, members need to maintain a minimum GPA of B-average. Members will be using their academic excellence to help students understand homework or class work free of charge.

Rangan runs the club because she wants students to realize “giving back is so much more rewarding than taking.”

Red Cross Club is also dedicated to giving back locally and globally. “This club is for anyone interested in charity work or who believes in the blood drives and how imprtant those are,” said Mrs. Miller, the club advisor.

The club, which meets Wednesdays at lunch, evolved out of the successful blood drives hosted at Granada. “The

By Ashley Moylan

Staff Writer With technology changing so rapidly, having the latest and greatest has become the norm. The music industry is no stranger to this, which is why the way we obtain, play, and listen to music has changed so much over time.

Music was first created during prehistoric times, consisting mostly of drums. Over thousands of years instruments like the flute, harp, trumpet and guitar were all created and played live.

Live music was no longer necessary in 1857 when the phonautograph was invented. This was the first machine that could record the human voice by tracing sound waves on a piece of paper.

Thomas Edison soon built a similar invention called the phonograph, or gramophone, which allowed for the creation and distribution of recorded music. Around the same time period, the radio was also popularized. These two developments ultimately led to

the creation of the music industry. During the Great Depression

radio popularity grew because once you purchased one, the entertainment it provided was free. After the Depression ended, vinyl records grew more popular. These records

allowed for the new concept of repeated listening of songs.

Cassette tapes were popularized after records, allowing for portable music. Music was now able to be played in cars and on portable “Walkmen.” Cassettes came and

went somewhat quickly, as new compact discs (CDs) became all the rage. These compact discs were like miniature records but in a digital format. The popularity of CDs did not last very long either. Senior Morgan Self said, “I miss being able to download any mix tape onto a CD.”

The music industry further progressed due to channels like Music Television (MTV) and shows like Total Request Live (TRL).

When Napster was created, everything changed. This allowed music downloading from a computer for free by posting songs online where anyone could access them. Record labels began seeing a decline in sales.

Steve Jobs helped put a stop to Napster through the creation of iTunes and the iPod. iTunes provided the ability to purchase a single song which revolutionized the music industry through easy downloading and personalization. Freshman Morgan Leonard said, “I like how easily I can download music to my iPhone.”

As people have become more computer-savvy, the need to download music off legal sites like iTunes has slowly been threatened. Many sites allow for music pirating or stripping the audio files (off YouTube videos, for instance). The ability for anyone to acquire free music without consequence is hurting the music industry.

There are some sites where listening to free music is not illegal but is instead “streamed” based on listening preferences chosen by the user. These include Pandora, last.fm, 8tracks, and Spotify which allow for unique and personal listening experiences, unlike iTunes.

So much has changed for the music industry in just the last 50 years that it’s difficult to imagine the answer to the question “What’s next?”

The next biggest thing may already be out there or in development, and is either yet to be popularized or created. Only time will provide the answer to our music future.

Technology restructures the music industry

and students respect each other and everyone has fun.” Most students agree that their favorite class has not only a great teacher, but is a subject they are interested in. Senior Shellie Lopez said a class is definitely her favorite “when the teacher and classmates are amazing and the teachers are really smart. It also helps when I am good in the subject and like it.” Having a favorite class gives all students something to look forward to at school each day.

Photo By Nichole LasaterMusic technology has evolved from the transistor radio to vinyl records to cassettes to CDs and into today’s iPod.

Seniors Keyang Sun, co-president of Red Cross Club and Maryann Gong, co-president of CSF, look for ways to give back to local and global communities.

Photo by Katherine M. Kleminsured and bonded

sportsNOVEMBER 2012

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By Anthony T. Miller

Staff Writer There are those who bleed their team’s colors and support them every game week in and week out. Some fans like a team in a more reserved way, remaining faithful even if they aren’t checking the scores and stats every day or going to games every time they play. Lastly, there is the “band-wagoner”, a fan who appreciates a team solely due to the fact that they win and are successful at the moment. These fans constantly change the teams they support and are vast in numbers, significantly increasing and decreasing a team’s fan base. This group of fans, who are strongly disliked by almost all faithful fans, never seems to admit to comitting this sports sin, consequently causing even more controversy. Many San Francisco Giants fans are offenders of this along with fans of many other teams that have recently won the World Series or gone deep in the playoffs as of late. According to baseball-almanac.com, the

attendance before the Giants won the World Series in 2010 was at an average of 35,322 people per game. In the year 2011, after they had won the World Series, there was an average of 41,819 fans in attendance per game. That’s upwards of 6,000 more people on average attending Giants games than in previous years. The New York Yankees are commonly seen as a coveted team for “band-wagoners”, but their fans aren’t as bad as everyone makes them out to be. Their attendance has stayed somewhat constant throughout the past 10 or more years. They did, however, see an increase of about 5,000 fans in 1996 after their first playoff berth in 13 years. These two teams are, of course, not the only two teams in baseball or any sport that have this occur when they are successful. Some people might ask why it’s bad or frowned upon to hop from one team to another. The answer to that question varies from person to person, some finding it worse than others might. Junior, Calvin Rasbold said about “band-wagoners”, “They

always switch teams and aren’t loyal fans, which is disappointing. Plus they barely know any players on the team.” That sums up a majority of the reasons why it’s not supported, although freshman Nicholas Badders brought up a good point. He said there are those who jump on the “band-wagon” due to an event and stay there, supporting the team from then on. There are also those who will switch between teams during periods of success. Lastly, there is the “band-wagon” fan that just says they like a team without having any common knowledge of them, talking smack to the rivals and other teams. Many people view this touchy subject differently and have very different opinions based on the alleged team or person doing this action. With a wide variety of definitions and reasons why someone may or may not be a legitimate fan, it’s up to the interpreter to decide. Whatever your viewpoint is, there is no denying that “band-wagon” fans are out there, searching for a new champion to prey on.

By Megan Smith

Staff Writer The boy’s water polo team is working hard to regain the balance from last year, with players graduating and new players joining. Functioning as a single team can be hard. Water polo is a sport where every player contributes to winning the game, combining the fast agility of basketball, rugby, swimming, throwing and wrestling. It takes trust and reliance to work together, so these transition years can be frustrating. “We’re a small team,” said Dakota Rodgers, a senior Varsity member of the Water Polo team. With the larger teams in EBAL, the competition is rough and makes for a tough year, but it’s worth it for the time with friends and having a good work out so early in the morning. The team is shaping up again, with training and hard work, and they are ready for the upcoming competition. Coach Raab gets them prepared for their games with everyday practices, starting early in the morning at six. These early morning practices consist of scrimmaging and non-stop swimming. The players have to be in good shape, and must be prepared for hard work because there is

no standing or waiting around in this sport. During a match, players must constantly tread water, swim, tackle, block, shove, pull and even kick.The game is usually played in seven-minute quarters, and each team starts from its own end line, sprinting to the floating ball in the middle. Quarters are comparatively shorter than others, but water polo is a high-energy game and a constant dash to be in the right position. Coach Raab centers most of his training with scrimmaging and swimming activities. Practice matches help smooth out swimming techniques and throwing capabilities. In the water, every motion is a doubled effort, as the person has to work harder to get above water level and manage the same rotation that one would use in other sports. Since water polo incorporates a large variety of skills from other sports, throwing techniques must be developed and accompanied by strength in the muscles and the shoulder joint. Water polo continues to be one of the most unique sports in Granada. With only a few more games left, the team is looking forward to high-spirited competition and working out their techniques.

Photo by Megan SmithJunior Jonathan Futral attempts to pass the ball in a scrimmage against a fellow teammate.

By Katherine M. Klem

Assistant Editor The girls tennis team is doing much better this season than it has been in the past few seasons. The girls participated in a tournament at Heritage High School in Brentwood in the preseason and performed well, beating Hanford High School 8-1. They celebrated a win over Livermore High School in EBAL with a swim party and dinner. They are enjoying their improvement and are looking forward to doing well. Senior Noelle Noriesta, who captains the team alongside senior Amy Liu said, “we have a promising… team and we’re very positive and put everything out there on the courts.” Coach Kim Whichard appreciates the team’s “understanding and willingness to play any position I ask them to for the good of the team.” She said that the girls work really hard, and that they have practiced a lot.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the heat they have endured in the last few weeks,” she said, referring to the heat wave that hit the Bay Area when temperature reached 100 degrees for a few days. She explained that the temperature on the tennis courts is “generally ten to fifteen degrees hotter” than the regular air temperature, and the courts have no shade or running water. The team is close, and has strong team spirit. Noriesta said, “We connect as a team and cheer on each other in every match no matter what the score is.” She and Liu have contributed by making up new cheers for the team, as well as encouraging team members to stay and cheer other girls on during their matches. At a recent tennis club meeting, the team was decorating signs for their matches. The girls tennis team faces an uphill battle, but they have done well this year and made their coach very proud. “They are class act women,” Whichard said.

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By Nichole Lasater

Staff Writer Golfers have had some rough times over the sport’s history. Golf has been banned several times by various Scottish kings, and has endured all sorts of critiques declaring the game “unprofitable”. Mary, Queen of Scots, was subjected to humiliation and insults when her political enemies discovered she partook in the sport. Thankfully, golf is no longer treated with such disdain. In fact, it’s a major sport at Granada, and we have a fantastic Girls Golf team. They’ve had a great season. Led by coaches Rankin and

Robles, the team finished 13-4, and placed third in the Lone Tree tournament. Four new players joined the team this year—Taylor Robles, Katelyn Vailes, Peyton Despotakis, and Amy Wood—and Yuri Ahn and Janelle Reali are looking good for divisional scholarships. They hold the team’s best scores at 33 and 35, which both fall one under par. “We’re looking really good for the post season,” said Mr. Rankin, just before the conculsion of the regular season. The team is going strong, and are set up to win EBAL and the NCS championships. Post-season games started Monday, October 15.

Be wary of the bandwagon

Team strives to stay on course, finish strong

Girls golf is driven to win

High spirits help to unify tennis team

Number two singles player freshman Soniya Palwanker warms up her serve prior to a match against Monte Vista.

Staff Photo

sportsNOVEMBER 2012

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By Mary Lawhorn

Staff Writer The San Francisco Giants 2012 season has been filled with emotional moments leaving every fan on the edge of their seats. The season started off with the loss of their main closer Brian Wilson, who was forced to end his season to have another Tommy John surgery, leaving Sergio Romo to step in. This seemed to begin a downward spiral of the Giants pitching roster. With Tim Lincecum also pitching the worst season of his career, losing 15 games, the pitching had its flaws, but it wasn’t a complete bust. Matt Cain pitched the first perfect game in the Franchise’s history on June 13, 2012 against the Houston Astros. There were also many new additions to the bullpen. Another emotional moment came when one of the Giants top hitters, Melky Cabrera, tested positive for Performance-enhancing drugs. Cabrera was named the All-Star Game MVP, ironically winning the Giants the homefield advantage in the World Series. At the time of his suspension, Cabrera was leading the National League in hitting. As the season ended, with him still leading the league, he asked that he be ruled ineligible from the batting race so that someone more deserving could win. This allowed for Buster Posey, who was in second place, to be named the winner. The Giants didn’t announce Cabrera’s future until October 12, when he was reinstated from his suspension. The Giants announced

he would be added to the 40-man roster, but would not play in the postseason. As the regular season was coming to an end, the Giants and their main rival, the LA Dodgers, were neck and neck for first place in their division. However, the Giants began to pull away, and on September 23, they clinched the NL West division, the same day as their first playoff opponent, the Cincinnati Reds. The Reds put up a good fight in the playoffs. Losing twice on their home turf,

San Francisco was able to rally and beat the Reds in game

five. The Giants are one of the few teams in

history to come back from being down 0-2 in a division series. The Giants then moved on to play the Saint

Louis Cardinals, who had a strong

team this season. The Giants once again were

the comeback kids, forcing a game seven, winning 9-0, and earning

the pennant. The Giants now move on to play the Detroit Tigers in the World Series. Critics have had doubts but now as the Giants come to the World Series, everyone is starting to see their true potential, and how great of a team they really are.In the first game, the starting pitchers were Justin Verlander for Detroit and Barry Zito for San Francisco. Pablo Sandoval hit three home runs, and the Giants went on to win the game eight to three. Although there will not be a “Battle of the Bay” World Series, there is no doubt that Giants fans everywhere will continue to enjoy the torture of every pitch, until the very last strikeout as they hope to repeat 2010 and become the World Series champions.

Bay Area teams beat odds, go to postseasonBy Heather LeCon

Editor-in-Chief During the off-season, following a disappointing 2011 season, A’s fans were shocked to hear that the Oakland Athletics had traded away their three best pitchers, Gio Gonzalez, Trevor Cahill and Andrew Bailey. When they found out that the Athletics were losing so many key players, many A’s fans expected 2012 to be another losing season for their team. The A’s had struggled in recent years and had not been to the playoffs since 2006. Billy Beane added lesser-known players such as Josh Reddick, Ryan Cook, Seth Smith and Josh Donaldson to the A’s roster. The Athletics even signed a Cuban baseball player named Yoenis Cespedes. Billy Beane believes that a player’s future success can be predicted by non-traditional statistics such as “OBP” (on-base percentage). At the end of June, the Athletics were 13 games behind the division-leading Texas Rangers. However, all that changed after the All-Star Game in early July when the A’s started winning. They won big series against good teams and even thrilled fans with several exciting “walk-off” wins. One of the things that made this season different for the A’s was the way they were able to overcome adversity. When starting pitcher Bartolo Colon was suspended for using steroids, Brett Anderson came back from the disabled list and pitched well. No one would ever have guessed he hadn’t pitched for 14 months

following reconstructive elbow surgery. The A’s magic continued through August and September. As the end of the regular season approached, the Athletics realized they had a chance to go to the postseason as one of the two wildcard teams. They suffered a couple of devastating losses to the Yankees in late September, but the A’s did not give up. Junior Michelle Pacheco said, “My favorite moment from the season was game 162 when they clinched the division. It was

the best game I've ever been to.” When the Texas Rangers

came to the Coliseum for the last three games,

the A’s needed to sweep the Rangers in order to win the division. It was almost too much to hope for.

The Athletics won the first two

games and it all came down to the final game of

the season. The A’s fell behind 5-1, but they battled back and beat the

Rangers 12-5. The Oakland Athletics were in sole possession of the American League Western Division Championship. It was an emotional finish to an unbelievable year. Senior Ashraf Hammad said this was the best part of the season. “[My favorite moment was] definitely coming back from down five with eight games left and sweeping Texas to win the AL West Division.” The A’s made it to the first round of playoffs; they won two games against the Detroit Tigers, but sadly lost the series and were out. However, their effort and dedication that brought them this far will have fans looking forward to a great season next year.

By Brooke Yarrington

Sports Editor Senior Brandon Self is a player to be admired on and off the football field. Self plays football and is also on the wrestling team. Although Self enjoys wrestling, he has more of a passion and love for football. Self started playing sports in elementary school. He started out with baseball and soccer. Self said, “Baseball was always a passion as a kid. I grew up around baseball, with my dad loving the sport.” As he got older, baseball was pushed aside as he found a new passion: football. Self grew more interested in football than other sports because of his friends. They encouraged him to give it a try, and Self developed a newfound love for the game just after his first practice. “I’m definitely glad I gave it a shot. It’s now a huge part of my life,” said Self. Self is starting cornerback on the varsity football team. “My job is to cover the receiver. I cover his routes and make sure he doesn’t catch any passes.” According to Head Football Coach Tim Silva, Self’s position is important because “when you’re out there on an island covering a guy, there is potential for a big plays on both sides.” The coach meant it’s important for Self to not only keep a big

play from happening for the opposing team, but also to give the Matadors a chance to get an interception and turn the ball over. Silva speaks very highly of Self and said, “He is a good kid and extremely athletic. He’s a great teammate and makes us better.” The feeling of respect and appreciation is mutual between Self and the coaches. When asked about the athlete-to-coach relationship, Self said, “I love my coaches; each coach brings something valuable to the team.” He added, “The coaches are always trying to make us 100 percent, and they always strive to make us excellent.” Self not only has a great relationship with his coaches, but he also has a strong bond with his teammates. He said, “We are like a big family. Everyone on the team is really close.” Self continued to express the importance of team bond, “You can’t have a good team without a strong chemistry.” In order to be successful in games, Self takes practice very seriously and uses every advantage he can get to make himself a better player. “Practice makes perfect,” said Self. “You have to practice like you’re in a game situation.” Self definitely does this. “I always tell my teammates to take it seriously and not to go easy on me. That way we are both really benefiting from practice and we are more prepared for the game.” While sports are a huge part of his life,

Self said the number one most important thing in his life is definitely family. “I love them more than anything and they are the most important thing to me,” he said. Although balancing school, football, family and a social life can sometimes become overwhelming, Self makes it all work and manages to distribute his time evenly. Self describes his feelings towards the game of football in three words, with the first and most important being “Passion. You have to always have a strong desire

for improvement and you always want to work to make yourself better.” Second was “Excitement. Football is an exciting sport; people love watching it and playing it. You want to do things that will get the team pumped up and use that as fuel to keep going or make a comeback.” And last but definitely not least, “Love, because if you have love for the game then you know you will do anything to be great at the game and put in whatever effort is needed to make yourself better.”

Brandon Self values family, friends, football

Photo by Brooke YarringtonSenior Brandon Self is a valuable member of the team, and does his best to prove himself every day.

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AV: Amador ValleyCal: California High

DLS: De La SalleFH: Foothill

LHS: Livermore HighMV: Monte Vista CDL: Carondelet

SRV: San Ramon Valley

November 2012Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

- Stanford VS Oregon State

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- Football VS LHS- Interact Room S-3- Hip Hop Club Rm P-10- GSA Rm S-7- Film Club Rm P-7- Fall sports rally- Chili cookoff

- Oregon Ducks @ USC Trojans

- Math Club Rm 108- Robotics Club Rm 604

- Presidential Election- Anime Club Rm S-10- Robotics Club Rm 604

- Red Cross Club Rm S-2-PreMed Society Rm S-13- Hip Hop Club Sm. Gym

- Art Club Rm. 601- Robotics Club Rm 604- Ignited Youth Rm 207

- Tri M Music Honor Society Rm S-10- Interact Room S-3- Hip Hop Club Rm P-10- GSA Rm S-7- Film Club Rm P-7

- VETERANS DAY NO SCHOOL

- Anime Club Rm S-10- Robotics Club Rm 604

- PERIOD 1 FINAL- PERIOD 2 FINAL- PERIOD 5 FINAL

- PERIOD 3 FINAL- PERIOD 4 FINAL

- Cross Country NCS Championships

- - - - Thanksgiving - Cross Country CIF State Championships

- Trimester 2 begins- Math Club Room 108- Robotics Club Rm 604

- Anime Club Rm S-10- Robotics Club Rm 604

- Art Club Rm 601- Ignited Youth Rm 207- Robotics Club Rm 604

- Interact room S-3- Tri M Music Honor Society Rm S-10- Hip Hop Club Rm P-10

4 5 6 7 8 9

2 3

10

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18 19 20 21 22

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- Girls Volleyball @ LHS- Frosh Football @ LHS- Art Club Rm 601- Ignited Youth Rm. 207

- Packers VS Giants @ NY

- Red Cross Club Rm S-2- PreMed Society Rm S-13- Hip Hop Club Sm. Gym

- EaglesVS Cowboys @ philadelphia

- Daylight savings ends

- Saints VS Raiders @ Oakland

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- Black Friday

Thanksgiving Break - Red Cross Club Rm S-2- Pre-Med society Rm S-13- Hip Hop Club Sm. Gym

the pomegranate