Issue of October 20, 2000:
Volume 84, Number One
Click on a story title to see the story text
News
ASB aiming for new heights
Fall Homecoming
Mayor Candidate John Mitchell
National Honor Society
New Technology Grant
Preview for "Hillbilly Weddin'"
WASC comes to Colton High
Opinions
AP Books- too expensive!
Hey You! Read This!
Minimum Wage too minimum
MTV..is it really music tv?
Napster...not so bad?
Racial Stereotypes
School Beautification-do it now
School Beautification-no way!
Teen Moms get no respect
Features
Al gore bio
Bush bio
Girls and Boys PE
Opinion on Bush
Opinion on Gore
Route 66
Scary Stories
Searchers of the Lost ark
Teacher Relationships
Third Parties-still viable?
Vote? Don't bother
Vote? Of course
Diversions
"Smokeout" Concert Review
"The Exorcist" Review
EMO concert review
EMO music
Parental Involvement
Political protests nothing new
Presidential Debate
Radiohead CD review
En Español
Debate Entre Dos Hombres
Deportes
Grammys Latin
Homecoming; Fantastico!
Sports
Boys Waterpolo
Cross Country hits it big
Girls Golf
Girls Tennis
Girls Volleyball
New Coach motivates jackets
Varsity Football surprises
ASB aims for new heights
Megan Reiter and Stephanie Farrior
October 20, 2000
This year ASB is trying to portray school spirit and total unity with the students. The ASB president, senior Sarah Stewart, would even like to see the parents get more involved. ASB is selling spirit items at a majority of Colton’s events.
While keeping smiles on the students faces, ASB is trying to change the way ASB events are accomplished. With more attitude, spunk, and charisma, “this year is going to be more fun,” asserts Stewart. Certain activities are thoroughly thought out and need support from fellow students in order to be fufilled. One way of getting this support is with the upcoming student auction. ASB needs people to be raffled off. The Prize? A fun filled night of cosmic bowling.
The student auction is going to be taking place on the Hello Walk to attract more students. Not only is there a student auction, but wait girls, hold on tight, because there’s going to be a guys beauty pageant on March 16. These fine looking Colton male students are going to be modeling their swim wear, evening wear, and much more! So girls, watch out!
Stewart is now talking to the school board to increase the safety and comfort during lunches by putting up some sort of covering over the benches. “We want this year to be the best year for every one and for the years to come. The seniors this year want to leave an everlasting impression.” says Stewart.
Unfortunatly prices have gone up on EVERYTHING! With bigger ideas and bigger and better events, the prices have to rise. “It’s not ASB’s fault, but sometimes we get blamed,” Stewart recalls from previous occasions. For example, with this year’s prom, being held at the Queen Mary, the price may get a little steep due to gas and other various reasons.
ASB hopes this year is going to be filled with much enthusiasm towards school spirt, new and exciting events, carnivals with a theme, not forgetting, the best stuff to munch on. Now it’s up to the student body to appreciate and enjoy what ASB is going to bring to Colton High.
Homecoming
Renee Negrete and Brenda Quintero
October 20, 2000
Homecoming week was full of all kinds of surprises. It started off with Monday’s lunch time activity and the football team shaving off Coach Strauss’s head because Colton beat Bloomington on Friday, October 6. At Tuesday’s powder puff game, the Seniors left their mark by defeating the Sophmores once again during first lunch. The Juniors led the way to victory when they topped the Freshmen during second lunch. Wednesday was the carnival that many anticipated because of the different variety of foods that each club provided. The carnivals are a great time to use the opportunity to chow down on Chow Mein, ice cream sundaes, and root beer floats. The music provided by ASB added to the unique atmosphere of it all. Thursday there was another lunch time activity and many returned to school later in the evening to see the Juniors be hit by a stroke of luck as the Seniors let the Juniors win the Powder Puff game 12-6.
Friday was fun all around. The royal homecoming court was announced during the pep assembly that seemed to get more wild and crazy as each minute passed. Just a couple hours after school ended, the homecoming parade began on Laurel and ran down Rancho at 5:30pm.
A good turnout came to see the floats strut down the streets and they made you wonder how much creativity by the Colton students went into them. The crowds followed the parade into the Colton football field and the stands overflowed with the supporting spectaters and family. And a victorious night it was, when not only the football game was won 23-21 against San Bernardino, but also for Candice Carter when it was announced that she was the Fall 2000 Homecoming Queen. And the week ended with a “Beyond Imagination” evening dance at Cal State San Bernardino.
The Homecoming dance itself put the perfect capper to the whole week. It was a great success as many attended the dance and awaited for the announcement of the King, which was awarded to Eric Vasquez.
Everyone got their groove on and partied like it was 1999 all over again.
Colton Mayoral candidate quizzed by students
by Amber Arakaki
Oct. 20, 2000
Eager hands from the Pepperbough’s staff of reporters were raised October 3 during a press conference in Dave Rainey’s class to ask Colton mayoral candidate John D. Mitchell informative questions about his views on politics and his quest to win the election.
Mitchell explained his plan to build the city of Colton and to bring morals and integrity back into the political system. “I want to take the politics out of politics,” stated Mitchell firmly. “My campaign is run on truth, vision and the steadfast belief in our city residents.” Mostly, Mitchell wants to amend the ways the city has taken care of things. Mitchell mentioned events that have plagued the city, politically, such as the overbearing billboards that are seen on the freeway and the previous mayor’s controversial issues. “We let things fall through the cracks,” said Mitchell. “Colton should have an open-door policy where the citizens are allowed to have access to information.” This way the public can know what goes on behind the wall of politics.
If elected, Mitchell will be mayor for two years. In that amount of time, he believes that he can build a “nice foundation.” He wants to work with the city council and set plans and goals for the future. He wants to work with the School District to develop youth programs to decrease crimes and teen pregnancies. He also wants to build up the parks for he believes that the parks are the “heart of our city.”
Mitchell is currently a real estate agent. “I’ve had experiences that have prepared me to lead our city such as working on the park commission and in various local organizations,” he stated. “I’ve also helped other people who were running and supported different candidates.” Mitchell thinks because of his experience and character that he’s qualified for the job. He doesn’t drink, smoke, or use drugs. “I don’t even have a girlfriend,” laughs Mitchell.
He knows that he might not have all the answers to certain situations, but he says that’s why he likes working with other people. “The mayor is the seventh council member,” stated Mitchell. “For too many years the mayors of Colton thought they ran the city.”
Mostly, Mitchell wants to run for mayor because he feels that the other running candidates aren’t capable of doing the best job. “My record could blow theirs away. I know I am the best candidate for Mayor because I have the best interest of Colton at heart.”
NHS
Herman Marcial
October 20, 2000
Leadership, scholarship, service and character. These are the qualities you must acknowlegde if you wish to be part of one of the largest organizations in our country, the National Honor Society. If you are accepted, you will be recognized in a large inauguration ceremony in the Whitmer Auditorium in November. Besides making your family proud, you get to strut your stuff on stage as you receive your NHS certificate and have an NHS key hung around your neck. Each key is different and it represents the uniqueness of every member.
Many people think of the NHS as a club—and it does appear under the “clubs” section in the yearbook, but that might be because the NHS does have many activities that would affiliate with many clubs. Colton Counselor and NHS advisor, Sharon Halter-Day describes the NHS as “the student’s club, not my club. You get out of NHS what you put in it.”
And it’s true. The members have meetings and participate in carnivals by selling good food and drinks. They also have an annual trip to see a Dodger game. Halter-Day would like much more to be done to make NHS even better: “I’d like to arrange a trip to a college and the members get to choose which college to go to.” Another idea is a trip to see a taping of a sitcom, but both will have to wait until further meetings where they can be discussed with the members.
But all of this does not come cheap; members do have to work a little, usually by having fundraisers where they sell discount cards to students, teachers, family, etc. The NHS is also currently in the process of raising money for pins, which are given to new members. The whole ceremony is pretty expensive too. (Up to $1,500!) The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians has agreed to sponsor NHS and has donated $250 for our ceremony. This year’s goal is to raise $3,500.
The only thing that the members are asked to do is to participate in the NHS activities when they can and to come to meetings, which are the first Thursday of every month. The officers usually meet the last Thursday of every month. Nevertheless, members are urged to attend. Halter-Day says, “We can make so many fun things happen by having people be more involved.” NHS President, Kristen Arakaki agrees: “I guess a lot of people don’t realize the benefits of going to meetings and participating in NHS activities.”
So, if you would like to have your qualities recognized by your friends, family, colleges and universities, the NHS is a great way to demonstrate them. It also looks great on college applications. Sophomores, juniors and seniors can get in NHS by demonstrating at least a 3.25 G.P.A. and having leadership, scholarship, service and character. Freshmen can begin by getting good grades and keeping them. If you don’t know if you have a 3.25 or more, you can go to the counseling office and ask for your GAR. The NHS is really a great privledge, “It’s a great honor to be president and I hope I can fulfill my responsibility,” says Arakaki.
New Technology @ Colton
by Paul Lopez
Oct. 20, 2000
Have you ever seen those commercials that have the school kids getting a lesson in the classroom with the teacher on the computer screen? Colton High is one step from making that becoming a reality. After several years of the school having students use the out-of-date technical equipment that abounds on this campus, Colton High has been given a grant that enables the school to get a “digital upgrade.” We’re finally entering the 21st century; hooked up at last to the information superhighway.
According to new technology guru James Verhoeven, the grant, known as the Digital High School (DHS) grant, was given to the Colton Joint Unified School District last year by the state. The school district split the grant, that is worth about $800,000, with Colton High and the other schools that the district is responsible for.
With the money, Colton is buying Gateway computers. Some people don’t even notice them. The computers are actually combined with T.V. sets that are on the carts and most likely you see them in your science class, although many more are coming for other classes. The school has bought already 50 computers at a price range of $1,500 each and are still buying more to be in every class of the school. These computers are hooked up to Internet Explorer to meet our internet reference needs. Now the teachers can do their lessons on the computers and since the screens are big, the students in the back of the class won’t feel as if they are missing out on something and understand what is going on.
Since the grant is supposed to support students learning in a technical environment, it is only right that we, the students, should be able to have access to these computers and use them at our own will.
The Mac Lab will to be getting some new regular sized computers from Gateway. The old computers will be salvaged for their parts and around ten computers will be given to the yearbook and Pepper Bough classes.
Hillbilly Weddin' preview
Kim Powell and Lindsay Graham
October 20, 2000
Once again it’s time for the fall play. This time around it’s Hillbilly Weddin’. The play is described as a Beverly Hillbillies knockoff, although it was written before the T.V. show.
Rehearsals have already started and the cast includes seniors Olexia Smarker as Paw, Kameron Aldeen as Maw, Wanda Padilla as Juney Lu, Lyndi Melchor as Bonnie Mae, and Alison Viefhaus as Ceelie. The director is Joey Mercado and the stage director is Stacey Jay.
The play will be held November 16-18 at 7:00 p.m. in the Whitmer Auditorium. Presale tickets, which will be sold at both lunches the week before the play, will be $5 for adults and $3 for children. If you choose to pay at the door, tickets will be $8 for adults and $3 for students with ASB cards and children.
When asked about the play, Mercado stated, “It’s hilarious, the cast is great, and neaw eef ah kin jest git rid uv thees ayccent.”
WASC comes a knockin'
Steve Perez
October 20, 2000
Following a three-day visit last March a team of educators from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) granted Colton High a two-year accreditation. (The maximum number of years a school can receive from the process is six.) The school was criticized for ignoring “extensive problems” identified in the 1997 visit, from which the school received a three-year accreditation.
The report found, among other things, that some teachers did not know the state standards for their subject. It also states t
here is “a lack of consistent rigorous, relevant and coherent curriculum.”
Accreditation is a process schools go through to gain validation for high school diplomas. Every public high school in California participates in the accreditation process. The evaluation starts with teachers, principals, parents and students. Accreditation is important for students because colleges do not give credit for courses taken at a high school that has been denied accreditation.Principal Jerry Almendarez feels Colton High simply lost its focus. “Not specifically the teachers, and not specifically the students, but Colton High as a whole.” Almendarez, however, does not feel the statements made in the evaluation report are accurate.
“Yes, the curriculum that the teachers were using was not aligned with the state standards, but the district has extra criteria that does not meet the standards. The interpretation given [by WASC] was not accurate,” says Almendarez.
It is estimated that approximately 1% of the 400 schools reviewed each year by WASC are given a minimal two-year accreditation. By comparison, Bloomington High School received a six year accreditation.
Junior Mark Vingua also feels that no single group is to blame.“Teachers don’t know the state standards, but then again teachers can only do so much. Students have to perform well,” says Vingua. “I’m going to be gone by the time WASC returns, but I am concerned for my brother [Steven Vingua] who is a freshman.”
Vingua’s mom, Amalia Vingua, also shares her son’s concern, but also adds, “The question is what’s being done to change this problem?”
Almendarez says the problem has been addressed directly.
“All the individual departments have been informed to follow the standards given by the state,” he emphasizes. “In addition to this the school has hired consultants to support in making further changes.” The consultants, from UCLA’s School of Management, were hired at an annual cost of $200,000. It is believed the consultants will provide more direction to the school by helping to develop a master plan, by helping to write new curriculum that is better aligned with state standards and by using data from test scores to improve weak areas.
AP Books: Are we payiing too much for a higher education?
Maya Minaway
October 20, 2000Imagine this scenario: you’ve worked hard all summer long mowing lawns, flipping burgers, and chasing little kids around only to find out that a big part of your hard earned cash has to be spent on books. For a lot of A.P./Honors English students it isn’t just a scenario, it’s the reality.
Every year A.P./Honors English students are given a book list, usually 20 books, more or less, to obtain and read before the school year starts. It wouldn’t really be a big problem to obtain these books if it weren’t for the prices students have to pay. Just look at these prices: $11.00 for As I Lay Dying, $9.95 for House on Mango Street, $10.00 for Grapes of Wrath, $9.00 for The Stranger, and the rest of the A.P./Honors English books cost around $5-$7 each.
So what’s the big deal, you say? Most of the students only make minimum wage or whatever their parents are willing to give them, so they don’t have a lot of money to begin with. Students also have other expenses to worry about, such as lunch money, an A.S.B card, a parking permit, etc. Just buying one, two, three, or even four of these books would be fine by most students, but 20 of them, each year? The expense can really add up and become really annoying. Whatever happened to free education anyway? Sure teachers will tell you that you can check the books out from the library, or get them for cheaper price at a used or discount book store, but it’s just not the same or as easy as owning the book. For one thing, if a student checks out a book from the library he/she cannot write on it, and cannot take notes on it. The library also only has a couple of copies, and if they’re all checked out students are basically out of luck.
Sometimes if you are lucky, you might be able to rummage through a used book or discount book store and find several books for about a buck or two. It also seems as if discount book stores, like Much Ado About Books, where students can find books for cheaper prices, are disappearing. This is tedious and vexing, especially because students have dates they have to read by, and if they don’t obtain the books, they can’t read it by the assigned dates, and then what would be the point to read it?
So if checking out books has problems, and buying the books for cheaper prices has problems, what other options are left but buying the books for full price, and that sucks!
As an A.P. English student I know the feeling of frantically searching for cheap books or copies in the library, and ending up to have to buy the books full price all to well. Publishers should be more considerate about their prices, and teachers should be more considerate if a student didn’t read the book because they couldn’t obtain it.
Hey You! Read This! (column)
Krisitana Segura
October 20, 2000The other day in one of my classes the teacher made reference to the “real world,” and the girl next to me said “Why do people keep referring to the ‘real world’, it’s not like we live in this fake world.”
I’m sure we’ve all heard that the real world starts after high school. Being a senior I am faced with this truth everyday, thinking about college and SAT scores. But this doesn’t just affect seniors, it affects everyone who is or has been in high school. I noticed this “fake world” of high school towards the end of my junior year. A lot of my close friends were graduating and it was then that they realized the real world that awaited them at the end of June. High school is, let’s face it, a superficial, materialistic, fake world. We are trained on bells, we are treated like children, handed rules with a list of punishments we will face if/when we break them.
When we leave high school and break rules, notes will not be sent to our home, there are no boundaries to how high we may rise or how low we may fall. We’re all in such a rush to grow up I don’t think anyone realize what awaits us in the “real world”. There are consequences and no safety net, like our parents, to catch us.
I am beginning to make decisions that I know will affect me in years to come, and I alone will be affected by them, but high school has not helped me to make these choices. In years to come who I went to prom with won’t matter, I probably won’t remember most of the people I ate lunch with. And that is not as sad as some of you reading this might think.
High school is a transition, it is not the four most important years of your life, it is a stepping stone to the rest of our lives. It’s more of time to get to know who you are rather than the people around you. Mr. Degroff told my class freshman year “High school is not to teach you things, it is a time to teach you how to learn.” And I think a lot of us don’t see high school that way. Many people get so attached to these high school years, we sometimes forget the world outside of these chain linked fences.
As a senior I know that I am standing at a door to the real world, getting so close to opening it, but wanting just to stay on this side of it. I feel ill-prepared for whatever awaits me, but I know that in June I must leave this world behind, and walk through that doorway into the “real world”.
The "Minimum Wage": So little for so much
Lisa Humphrey
October 20, 2000
So let me get this straight: while all your friends were busy looking like models for Coppertone, you spent the entire summer making pizzas, or folding clothes that were too small, too big, or not the right color. Not too bad as long as you’re getting paid...right? Well, with the high costs of food, not to mention gas, it’s getting harder and harder to get more for your money - especially if your paycheck reeks the phrase “minmum wage”.
Now we all know that some of the hardest workers in America make under six bucks an hour. The more physical the job, the less dinero. That’s why we have all these big wigs in Gucci suits making millions in their oceanview offices. We can get the “little people” to do all the dirty work. What I do not understand is the fact that one person can make billions of dollars, and own half the country, while those left behind live in poverty.
Some feel that if minimum wage is raised to $6.25 people will remain at these “bottom feeder” jobs, rather than go to college and get careers. Well, I’d like to point out that I am a teenager manking $5.75 and hour. After paying for gas and insurance, I don’t have money left to do anything else.
Even if minimum wage was raised, there will come a point when I won’t want to be stuck in a $6.25 an hour job flipping burgers. In other words people, relax, don’t bust a vein, we teenagers are going to college.
For all the little people, in the words of the band Fenix TX: “it’s guaranteed, I’m making minimum wage, I can’t survive this day in age.”
Remember when you asked your parents for a “measley” fifty bucks, and they told you that someday you would realize the value of the almighty dollar? Well, thanks to the help of taxes and minimum wage, all of us can experience the satisfaction of a job well done, and an empty pocket.
MTV...is it really Music Television
Ashley Jay
October 20, 2000“I want my MTV!!!”
When MTV started it was the ultimate teen sensation. Dedicated to rock, rap and all that good stuff. With the name being music television. When you turn on the station, you’d expect to find music... right? Not these days. Talk shows, game shows, and eve soap operas have been put in their place.
What’s going on here?!?!? Not much, apparently. It’s not only the shows that suck, it’s the fact that they show them over and over again. I’ve watched the same “VMA’S Uncensored II” about 5 times in the last week. Its ridiculous!
Ok, TRL, what a good idea to let the viewers choose...but who cares what Backstreet Boy Cindy from Ohio wants to marry. Then you have to hear about it ten times, because that’s how may times it airs.
Ok, now how may of you out there are watching these “live” shows such as Snowed In, and Spring Break, and even the End of Summer TRL Countdown? Well, little do you know, that these shows were all shot at least 2 weeks in advance. Yep, that’s right...your Snowed In TRL Live, isn’t exactly live, now is it??
A substitue for MTV is MTV2, where you can hear all music all the time. The downside is that is runs off a specific station and nobody seems to know how to get it.
I’m not the only one that’s sick of MTV’s makeover. Recent Colton graduate Phil Burham says “ya, it sucks, what ever happened to the music?” And sophomore Bryan Harker says, “What’s up with ‘Undressed’? It’s way too sexual for this guy.”
All that I want is at least four hours of straight video. It would beat re-runs that are constantly playing. “MTV.....You NEED a make-over!”
Napster: Download a song, go to prison?
Megan Holden
October 20, 2000By now I’m positive that everyone has heard of Napster, what it is, how it works, and why it’s so popular in today’s world... especially with us teens. But for those of you that haven’t heard of Napster please take a moment to crawl out from that rock you’ve been living under and listen up while I explain. Napster is a place that you can go online to share MP3’s (media player) with other people. (The MP3 is the music file where the music is downloaded and played from). The program is FREE to download onto your computer and the MP3’s are too! Once the program is downloaded you just enter a band/song name and wait about 10 minutes for the song to download. Once the download is complete you can play the song all you’d like.
However there are some people and bands that feel that Napster is a way for people to steal music and stop buying CD’s. Some bands are even suing Napster. Metallica is the band that most of this is revolving around, and has made the biggest deal about it. Metallica has sold-out , and for all of you Metallica fans reading this, I don’t care what you think, I have my opinion of them and you have yours.
Think about this: most bands start to make music for the simple reason that they love to do it, not about the money. And later on if the band gets even slightly famous they start to claim that they’re making their music for the fans and this may be true, but after a little longer the fame goes to their heads and it stops being about anything but the money. Now as you’re thinking about that try to understand this... Metallica and other bands have concerts, memorabilia (shirts, posters, key chains, etc.) , and CD’s. Some argue that by having Napster around it’s taking away from the CD sales, but, even if it is look at all the other ways the bands have to get money!
Napster is just like letting a friend borrow a CD and copy it, or getting it from the radio. I mean people tape movies, copy a friends CD, or tape a song from the radio all the time and nobody’s making an issue over that, so what’s the difference with using Napster? I’ll tell you what, it’s all those sell-out bands that only want the money. If they weren’t making such a big deal about it nobody else would.
How many people have bought a CD because you heard one song that you liked and when you went home and listened to it, it totally sucked? I sure have, and then there’s 20 bucks wasted on a piece of crap, that I will never listen to again. Napster can help prevent that from happening, by using Napster you can hear more songs from that CD and then decide if it’s worth your money or not.
Napster helps new bands get discovered and let’s us hear any song we’d like.
Two months ago I had never heard of the band HomeGrown (I know... LAME, but it’s true) and now since using Napster I have and they’re now one of my favorite bands and I’ve even bought a CD of theirs.
All I’m saying is that Napster is just helping the world communicate, supposedly music is the universal language, but if it really is then why are these people trying to take it away from us
Racial Stereotypes: Think Before You Speak
Amany Hajyassin
October 20, 2000
“You stupid camel rider!” “You dumb ni***r!”“Shut up trailer park boy!” “Damn wetback boater!”
Everyday, these vicious racial comments come out of our mouths and through the mouths of the whole nation. Because we are used to stereotyping, they have become part of our daily lives.I know everyone of us has been called nasty names. For instance, I have been called every racial comment you have heard about Arabs. Towel head, terrorist, camel jockey, camel rider, rock thrower, and the list goes on.
In my opinion, racial stereotpes have begun to rule our world. Everywhere we go, we all face some sort of racial comment—even when we read or watch movies. We can go to the mall or the supermarket and someone will eventually say aracial comment.One thing that confuses me in a way is that let’s say an Arab was to call another Arab a camel jockey. Now that wouldn’t offend them because they are in the same ethnicity. But if a Hispanic was to call an Arab a camel jockey, it would offend them. Why? Well, here is what I think. Because racial comments are out in the open, African Americans calling one another “the N word” is okay. But if you’re a different race it’s going to offend them because they take it as a racial statement.
Most people who stereotype out of a racial attitude are just ignorant and want attention. They are prejudiced probably because they have had a bad experience with another group or race and assumed all were like that.
Stereotypes can end by your behavior and how you represent yourself. That’s how stereotypes all first started. By showing people a positive behavior and attitude, slowly racial stereotypes will die out. If we want to learn how to respect one another, without being racist, we need to learn from one another, from the inside. The outside is just a view. It’s the inside that makes the change.
Both Sides Now: School Beautification Pro
Fernanada Cedra
October 20, 2000Beautifying the school is absolutely necessary. Here’s why.
Having and keeping a nice and pleasant environment can always fill you up with energy to begin each day and to do something good for yourself. Beautifying the school also carries out another positive aspect : if the school is in great condition, the classrooms, cafeteria, labs, etc., are nicely maintained, students feel like coming everyday to learn.The money invested in beautifying the school is well spent money, because it helps keep the students doing what they should: STUDYING, which is the reason for which an institution like this was created. Because after all, what’s a school without students? Having a nice campus might encourage both girls and boys to become part of the clubs, do their assignments at the library, etc. Beautifying the school also applies to the classroom material: books, computers, blackboards, chairs. Who wants to go to a school that looks all ghetto?
The education of the future of a society should not be in jeopardy because of the lack of money; that money will some day come back as the product of the hard work of all those well-educated students. So the thing here is simple: Why not spend money on beautifying the school? We’ll all benefit in the long run.
Both Sides Now: Con School Beautification
Kristiana Segura
October 20, 2000I’m sure you’ve all noticed the new paint at the end of the halls, and the mirrors suspended high on the bathroom walls. And I’m certain we can all think back to WASC coming last year, and the fear of our diplomas meaning nothing. Coincidence? I think not.
It seems like the administrators have long been promising to improve our school and now, steps are finally being made to improve how depressingly sad this school has looked for years. But what is it really going to improve besides making it less of an eye sore on the students who come here? There may be a lot of changes being made to good old Colton High’s physical appeal, but I heard once that “Beauty is skin deep, ugly goes to the bone;” if the shoe fits . . . they say we should wear it.
Colton has always had a bad rap - for as long as Colton High entered my vocabulary - we’re not exactly known for our stunning SAT scores. So now that the administrators have decided to do something to improve Colton they focus on new asphalt instead of better teaching skills. I’ve come to Colton High for three years now, and I’m tired of being asked where I go to school and mumbling it under my breath waiting for the laughter that follows. It may look a little better, but is paint really going to raise our test scores?
Teen Moms Get No Respect
by Paul Lopez
Oct. 20, 2000We’ve all heard the familiar refrain: “Look at that. Another girl dragging her kid into the Infant Center. They should have waited ‘til they are old enough to have sex.”
Teen mothers at Colton High have been overlooked by many of the campus. These poor innocent girls, that might not seem too innocent to some, have been neglected by their peers and elders for the conditions they have put themselves into.
You may say that it’s their own fault for not insisting that their partners wear a condom for their protection, but you also have to understand that most of the time condoms don’t work the way they were intended; there are women that have experienced this problem.
We are all animals, mammals to be exact, and we do have an instinct that has been passed down to us by our early ancestors, and most of the time we can’t control it.
“Well the girl should have been using the pill.” Another old saying. But having the pills does not guarantee that the girl is actually going to take them.
Whatever the justification people use to ignore and neglect these mothers should be erased from your minds. I too did say “why don’t they just keep their legs closed!” But why should I care? If they are happy about it then why waste my breath to put them down and take away that happiness? Why make them feel as if they are not welcomed? They have the same rights as all of us to finish their education, so they can get a damn good job to support their own child. I feel like this on this subject because I am the brother of one of these mothers.
My sister, Angelina Lopez, went through such a wild time trying to get her diploma. After the birth of her child, she came back to this school and was made to feel as if she were an outsider. She dropped out and took up home studies and went to George Washington Alternative High School to earn and receive any lost credits. Then she came back to Colton High and signed in her son into the school’s day care center. There she was able to meet with other mothers that have gone through the troubles of being a teen mother. This was a good thing.
Teen mothers get such a bad rap at this school and I’m sick and tired of it. After getting stared at and feeling uncomfortable with all the things going around they got tired of it and had no idea of what to do.
There are people that say improper things about them and it seems there is no one to actually take their side. Some have told me that they would read the Pepper Bough and thought that some of the articles were cheating them of their pride.
Now that most of them have graduated and moved on, they should be able to know that someone has tried to stand for them. And so I will.
Don’t neglect, stare, and make fun of them while they have their backs turned. Teen mothers are human and have feelings, so try to get to know them instead of harassing them with your comments. These girls have gone through a lot during their time of being a teen mother, so stop the neglect against them.
Concert review- Smokeout
by Steven Ramirez
October 20, 2000
A day filled with loud music, moshing, bared breasts, and smoking can describe the third annual Cypress Hill Smokeout on October 7 at the National Orange Show Events Center in San Bernardino. It was over 14 hours long and attracted over 55,000 fans. As the crowd grew large it finally got a taste of some Hip Hop with Dilated Peoples and the Beat Junkies. The MC’s really got the crowd moving with the songs “The Platform” and “Sound Bombing”. The crowd was so hyped and rowdy that everybody was getting squished together. After the performance the music stopped to control the crowd.
After almost thirty minutes of waiting the time was just past 4:20. The audience roared as B-Real from Cypress Hill came out as Dr. Greenthumb and asked everyone “Do you know what time it is?” he then answered his own question by saying “It’s time to smoke.” After the time update an explosion of green smoke and confetti showered the audience.
The day moved on with Gang Starr then Redman and Eric Sermon. Redman encouraged the audience to smoke by telling them “None of you people smoke more than me and Method man”. Red and Eric got the crowd jumping to “I’ll Be Dat,” “Da Rockwilder,” and “Rappers Delight”.
After the performance the concert was once again put on hold to regain control. After a long wait Limp Bizkit finally came on stage and instantly got everybody going wild. After a couple of songs Fred Durst stopped to tell the audience “Get one of those little petite eighty pound girls up on your shoulders” Fred then asked all the girls to bare their breasts. Several girls cooperated to the crowd’s loud approval and satisfaction as Limp went into the song “Faith”.
After about thirteen and a half hours of variety performances it was time for the main attraction, Cypress Hill. The group came out performing some hard rock songs then paused for a few minutes to bring out excallibur, the six foot bong. B-Real and his partner both smoked then went into the song “Hits From The Bong”. After the best performance out of everyone Cypress Hill closed the show with “Rap Superstar”.
The all day mind opening music festival was the Inland Empire’s best concert in decades. It was a day where everyone could smoke and have a great time. Although city officials want this annual concert banned from San Bernardino because it makes the city look bad with all the drugs allowed, I’m sure the concert will be back for years to come.
The Exorcist
Veronica Sanchez
October 20, 2000
THE EXORCIST is one of the scariest movies of all time. It premiered in 1973 and told a story of a 12 year-old girl who is possessed by the devil. A young priest takes it upon himself to save her. Her only hope is an exorcism. It broke new ground for special effects and even had the dubious distinction of making many moviegoers exit the theater in the middle, particularly after the famous vomiting scene. The film is now in re-release, as the studio hopes to introduce the frightening film to a whole new generation who may not have seen it.
What many do not know is that the film is based on an actual event. These events happened in Maryland, in January 1949, when 14-year-old John Hoffman and his grandma heard scratching and dripping noises in their house. The noises stopped after ten days, and where replaced by footsteps and drumbeats. After John’s Aunt Dorothy died, the haunting phenomena grew stronger. John’s bed would shake violently, objects would fly through the air and furniture would fall over. John and his parents tried to communicate with the poltergeist, at which they thought it was Aunt Dorothy.
In February red marks arose from John’s skin and formed into words. Doctors couldn’t find anything wrong with John, so his parents consulted a Roman Catholic priest. He suggested prayer’s and holy water, but that only seemed to make matters worse. When John was moved to St. Louis the possession seemed to worsen. Father Lawrence came to see John hoping his prayer’s and crucifixes would help. He gave John two crucifixes and pinned them under his pillow, after Father Lawrence left one crucifix flew across the room and the bed began to shake violently again.
On March 16, the Archbishop gave Father Lawrence permission to begin the formal rite of exorcism. The first night of the exorcism John’s skin was marked up to 30 different times. The word “Hell” and a picture of Satanic image also appeared on his body. John’s responses to the exorcism included screaming, words of profanity, foreign language, violent seizures and uncontrollable urinating. On March 26, the disturbances stopped. Father Lawrence thought John’s possession was over, but began again on March 31 with John’s behavior even more violent. “I am always in him,” the demon said through John’s lips. Days and days went by with no progress.On April 18th he forced John to wear a chain of religious medals and hold a crucifix during the exorcism. Finally at 11 p.m. John began shouting, “Satan! I am St. Michael. I command you, Satan, to leave his body now!” After John went through the most violent spasms, he said, “He is gone.” John returned to normal and has no recollection of the events that occurred in 1949.
For the movie goers who enjoy scary movies, I highly recommend it. If you haven’t seen it on video in the years since it was originally released, make sure you catch it in theaters now.
Additional scenes have been added that weren’t in the original release, including the creepy “Spider Walk down the stairs” scene. It’s a movie that will shock you and make you think. I give it 5 stars and 2 thumbs up.
EMO concert review
by Leah Sandell
October 20, 2000
Noise Ratchet has been known for delivering a rad show and leaving the audience always wanting more. That’s exactly what they did when they played at the Show Case Theater on September 30th. They played with Last Word (hardcore), Solid Mind (hardcore), East West (punk), and dogwood (punk). Noise Ratchet is a band from San Diego,which consists of four members: Joel Hosler (lead singer and bass), Brandon Young (drums), Roger Molina (guitar), and Danny lothspeich (guitar and back-up vocals). Noise Ratchet played till about 8:30pm. Their first song was “Glove of Plagues” (which happens to be one of my favorite songs).
The crowd started to move in towards the stage as they began to play. With the words of the songs and the music, they painted a vivid picture of how they felt; their sincere emotion captured the crowd. They ended the show with the song they end every show with, “Why We Cry”. This is the song that really has the most passion in it, it’s like their signature song. By the time they played this song every head was moving with each beat, and sure enough, a mosh pit formed. Towards the end of the song the crowd was full of motion, the band, too, began to jump around on stage and totally emerge into the music. You could tell Young was really into it, because at the last beat he almost knocked him and his drums over. So you might even say they went out with a bang.
Every show I have ever seen Noise Ratchet play in, they have always been able to capture their audience. Every show they play, they play to their fullest. They truly are one of the best EMO bands I have ever heard. In my opinion, this show was the best show they’ve ever played.
EMO music
by Leah Sandell
October 20, 2000
”It’s a soft reality,” is how Colton High graduate Andrea Negrete describes Emo. Emo is a type of music that not many people are familiar with, but is slowly increasing interest. It’s different from other kinds of music, you don’t really listen to it, you feel it. Mike Smith, 18, says,”It just expresses my life, my feelings, what I’m going through. It’s an expression of me.” Most people feel the same way about Emo. You feel the emotion the band has; like if the author was sad hen he wrote it, you’ll feel the sadness in the music.
Sophomore Rebecca Acosta described it best when she said,”It’s sincere, it shows exactly the mood the artist was in when he wrote it. It’s music you can feel”. The emotion really captures the listener and brings a better understanding, as recent graduate Jimmy Finley said,” It brings music to a whole new level.” That’s one of the major reasons people listen to it, like Dan “the man” Roth”...it’s just my favorite kind of music.” It’s because you feel the music, you understand their emotion.
There are many different types of Emo, some are emo-core, emo-punk, emo-straight edge, emo-rock, etc. The word “emo” comes from the word “emotera” which in classical music is the emotional building. The emotion in Emo changes throughout the song. Like for instance, it could go from a soft content feeling, to an aggressive feeling. That’s one of the reasons why it’s so different from other types of music. Emo really is basically putting emotion in a style of music.
Some bands you might have heard of that are Emo are Noise Ratchet, Ember, Remember August, Morella’s Forest, Jimmy Eat World, new Incubus, new Deftones, At The Show, and Juliana Theory.
Parental involvement in raising childrens
by Herman Marcial & Charissa Six
October 20, 2000
What is one way many people put their lives on hold? They have a baby. Many times they do come unexpectedly. Nevertheless, a sudden stop to your life can occur when a soul is brought to Earth.
Once a child is born, the parent must set aside all other necessities, all other plans to travel, everything, and worry about the child first. Life isn’t just about what you want, but what your child wants and needs. Principal Jerry Almendarez explains: “If you can make time to go shopping or bowling, you better make time to be with your kids.” Many kids our age are recieving little or no attention from our parents. Almendarez sums up everything that a parent is in one word: “crucial.”Karla Huesca, ASB advisor, agrees when she says, “Parent participation is very important in a child’s life. I think that if I choose to have a child, then it is my responsibility to make sure that I am involved with my son/ daughter in all that they decide to pursue and participate in.”
Volunteering in childrens’ activities can help them understand that parents care. Children begin to believe that their parents want them involved in what interests them the most. Then, through the course of their life they become successful with their interest. Even if it’s just little things you volunteer for, it goes a long way. Almendarez states, “I volunteered in my children’s classes. I took scissors and just cut out things the teacher needed. . . and I stapled, too.” Huesca also volunteers. “I was treasurer of the PTA and I helped with all of the 6th grade events this past year.”
Sometimes participating in a child’s life can be difficult for a parent who not only has to raise that child—or in some cases children—but also have a job in order to support their the family. Lorraine Sanchez, single mother of junior Veronica Sanchez, agrees when she says parent participation is “important,” but “working single parents don’t always have time to participate.” Single parents often have had to make the choice of being a single parent and surviving on their own. Sanchez says she did choose to raise Veronica on her own, but “I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but I managed.”
Huesca was raised with that mindset of “education [being] necessary in life because you never want tot depend on someone else.” That obviously, is exactly what Sanchez has achieved.So as you can see, there are three busy parents who have extremely busy lives. Almendarez is the parent of two, a husband and a principal. Huesca is the ASB advisor, wife and very very busy mother of four. (Believe us, you’d be exhausted just looking at her schedule!) And last but not least, Sanchez is a single mother with one daughter and a job. All of them are very busy situations, however after the interviews we came up with one simple answer: parent involvement is “crucial” (Almendarez), “very important” (Huesca) and “important” (Sanchez).
Protest during the Presidential Convention
by Amani Hajyassin
October 20, 2000
Political protest has always been a part of the American landscape. Going back to the Democratic Convention of 1968, and even before that, a rich tradition of voicing displeasure has always seemed to surface come election time. This year, in “The Battle of Los Angeles,” it was no different.
In mid-August the Democratic National Convention came to town, complete with banners, delegates, protesters, and even a concert by the band Rage Against the Machine.
Rage Against The Machine is a popular rock group that sings about the various political struggles, most notably the Zapatista movement in Mexico, which was the taking of the land of the poor farmers. They sing about their un-satisfaction with the American Political system, racism and injustice.
Many people at the convention that day probably just went to hear the soulful lyrics of frontman Zack de la Rocha and the searing guitar licks of Tom Morello. But there were no doubt many there who were agreeable with the band’s political stance. Just when the concert was ending, all hell broke loose. About 10 minutes after R.A.T.M. had finished their performance, the LAPD gave nearly 10,000 people 15 minutes to leave.
Gun shootings and violence broke out, as officers tried to calm the crowd. Was this necessary? Some feel that the protestors left the police no other choice but to “do their job.” Their job was not to shoot people or to hit anyone, “but what do you do when people go violent?” asks Colton High Spanish teacher Chris Burner. Burner thought that the convention was just a “big show.”
While many people have complained that the cops used too much force, others disagree. “Not enough cops!” was the reaction of Law Enforcement teacher Tony Montana. “The people out numbered the cops 3-1. The cops did a good job and handled the situation very well before things got out of hand.”
It’s easy to speculate about what happened by watching the news or listening to rumors. But two students from Colton High (yes, from Colton) were actually there, at the concert and then witnessing the ensuing riot. Luis Morfin and Gerald Gaitan are two politically wise seniors who have a lot to say about the political conflicts in America. I was really impressed with both Morfin and Gaitan.
Morfin states that there was a lot of cops and they used to much force. Gaitan agrees with Morfin’s statement: “The force wasn’t necessary.” Gaitan spoke about the “15 minutes to leave.” He said that the cops didn’t give the people enough time to leave.
Gaitan seems strong on how the public doesn’t “address things that need to be addressed.” Things such as race, democracy, religion and equality. He brought up a statement I agree with: “Out of 250 million people, only 2 are well fit to be elected? No. There are so many others who are much better, but because these two have money, they’re “fit.” We need to look at what’s best for our country. We need real leaders like Lincoln and J.F.K. They were real presidents. They were honest and cared for the people.”
Morfin is really concerned with the poverty in the world. He mentioned a lot about how the Presidents say they care about it and will try to do something but, “if they really cared, they would show it, not just say it. Real people need real leaders like Martin Luther King and Lincoln,” Morfin says.
“We are called the ‘United’ States and we are not even united,” added Gaitan.
Gaitan will never vote he says because, “There will be no president that will address issues that need to be addressed.” And as for Morfin he said he will vote because, “My vote will count and I could speak about how I feel.”And now I weigh in with my opinion of the whole scene. As for the post concert violence, I am going to have to argue for the cops’ sake. I wasn’t at the convention nor do I know what went on. But after speaking to a few people, I kind of got an idea. If the cops weren’t at the convention or the concert, most people would have been saying, “Why aren’t the cops here?” and so on. They would have been angry and would have been complaining. The fact that the cops were there, people were complaining because they used too much force and shouldn’t have shot people and so on. But could you really blame the cops? I’m sure they made a few mistakes, but everyone makes mistakes. Doctors and even the President. All the police were doing was their job, just like the President and the doctors. No matter what, whether the cops were there or not, most people would have made them look bad.
The protest would have been successful if the media didn’t throw so much attention to the people. And as for the concert, a concert is a concert and no matter what kind of a concert it was, the crowd would have been wild. It seems that political protest is back with us to stay.
Presidential Debate
by Julie Connor
October 20, 2000
There are only two kinds of people in the world: those who practice “fuzzy” math, and those who don’t. With round one of the presidential debates behind us, it’s time to choose who has the “fuzzy” numbers as Governer Bush stated, and who is legit about their policies.
The two clashed over ever-popular issues such as abortion, education, tax cuts, social security, prescription drugs, and the fate of the surplus fund. However we might feel a little more acquainted with the candidates and their policies if they hadn’t spent the majority of the time trying to expose each other’s faulty numbers rather than promoting their own proposals and plans. It seemed that Gore was on the offensive and was a tad bit cocky about it, and Bush met with with an equally solid defense although he could have been more articulate with his responses. Besides the fact that I felt Gore was lying about 79% of the time, Bush was better tempered, he seemed to be confident in what he was saying with honest intentions to back it up.
CD Review- KID A by Radiohead
by Ishamel Zamora
October 20, 2000
Fall is here and the music is near, this month a record 350 music releases are set to hit the stores and among them is Kid A, the highly anticipated fourth album from the great band Radiohead, and truly their best yet.
This is the return of the band from a three year absence since their last album, the criticly acclaimed and grammy winner ok computer which brought such hits like “Paranoid android,” “No surprises,” and “Karma police.”
In the wake of a three year sleep, Radiohead is back and better than ever. Kid A brings ten brand new songs to Radiohead fans which contains a great mixture of rock, pop, trip hop, and electronica.
The album contains many great tracks telling you once again that Thom York is a great singer, plus songwriter bringing you great songs like “Kid a,” “Optimistic,” “Motion picture soundtrack,” and my personal favorite, “The national anthem.”
I truly think that Kid A is one of the best albums to come out so far this year, giving them five stars plus. This album is a must have and this is only the start of great music releases to come, ranging from Limp Bizkit to Wu-tang to Orgy.
But if you want to listen to some great mellow rock, pop, trip hop, and electronica, then Radiohead’s Kid A is for you, because this CDis one of the best and definitely something you want to pick up.
Al Gore: a life time of service
by Napa Utrapiromsuk
Oct 20, 2000Born on March 31, 1948, Albert Gore, Jr. grew up in both Cathage, TN, and in Washington D.C. Most of his summers and vacations were spent in Tennessee, while the rest were spent in Washington D.C. Al, short for Albert, attended Harvard University, and in 1969 he received his degree in government, graduating with Honors. Like any other Americans he settled down and got married, to Mary Elizabeth (Tipper) Aitcheson. Over the years their little nest grew with the arrivals of three girls and one boy.
Besides his private life, Gore is running for President of the United States as the representative for the Democratic party, and is the current Vice President of the United States. Running for Vice President with him is Connecticut senator Joe Lieberman. This is not Al Gore’s first time in being a candidate for president, he staged an unsuccessful primary run in 1988.
Gore has always involved with politics. He became a Congressman in 1976 and served until 1984, when he moved into the senate. In 1992 he was elected Vice President of the United States. Gore has been in politics his whole life as his father was a senator.
His service as the Vice President of the United States is almost up, and now he is running for President. His views on the issues are typically liberal. For instance, on September 28, the FDA approved the drug called “RU-486”, also known as the abortion pill. Gore’s thoughts on this subject was very clear. “Today’s decision is not about politics, but the health and safety of American women and a women’s fundamental right to choose,” Gore being completely “for” the new drug.
Abortion is not the only thing Gore agrees with: “I believe that we have an oligation to protect the environment for future generations.” Constantly fighting to make the environment better, while creating more jobs and defending economic growth.
George W. Bush
No longer just his father's son
by Amy Yarnall
Oct 20, 2000
Texas Governor George W. Bush was born on July 6, 1946 in New Haven CT, but his life there was short lived when he moved with his parents and eventually settled in Midland, Texas.
Things weren’t always joyously bright for the Bushs. In 1953 Bush’s sister Robin was diagnosed with leukemia. She eventually passed away . To this day Bush can recall: “I can remember looking in the car and thinking I saw Robin in the back ...but she wasn’t there.”
After the tragic loss of his sister it is noted that Bush began to develop a knack for being hilarious and funny-an oddity for some politicians. A conclusion for his wise cracks is that they were deterrence from his parent’s mourning over the death of Robin.
Eventually Bush grew up and applied to Yale University, the college that both his father and grandfather had attended. Bush’s recounts of his time at Yale; well if all of them were aired nationally I’m sure there would be some laughs. Most reporters note this to be “his wild years.”
Within his years spent at Yale, Bush successfully became a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon (a.k.a. Deke). Johnson was a member also and recalls, “They had separate parties—better parties... you had a bar, I think they probably violated all the liquor laws that Connecticut had,” says Johnson. Bush eventually was elected president of Deke.
Bush stated in a 1994 interview, “Maybe I did use [drugs], maybe I didn’t. . . how I behaved as an irresponsible youth is irrelevant to this campaign. . . What is important is how I behave as an adult.” Bush graduated from Harvard with a master’s degree in business administration in 1975.The energy industry called out to Bush. He took part in an oil company in 1975 and it turned out to be a failure. He moved in and out of this till 1980.
After this little escapade Bush went to Washington to help his father out in the presidential campaign. He served his father as the senior advisor. Concluding the campaign, Bush went back to Texas and later helped manage the Texas Rangers and developed his character and reputation further amongst the people which eventually got him elected as governor of Texas with 68% of the vote.
By Renee Negrete and Jason Jones
Girls and Boys Sweating together: Co-Ed P.E.
Oct 20, 2000
Boys and girls together again! Co-ed P.E is back in Colton High. It has been a very long time since the students here at Colton High have had co-ed P.E. The furthest to date that we know of is at least 15 years. But it’s probably been even longer than that. It has been so long that the students who attended Colton High when there was a co-edP.E, might not even be alive today, leaving us with the question: why was it taken away?
It seems that Colton High was the only school in the district not to have a P.E with boys and girls mixed. So why the sudden change?
“What happened was the district had a CCR program and we decided that we needed to improve the area of P.E and that the girls needed to have the same sports as the males,” says principal Jerry Almendarez. They felt that it would be much better for the kids. But how do the kids like it? Is it really better for them?
Despite what the districts thinks is better for the students, some boys and girls have different opinions about co-ed P.E. “I don’t like it much, because now the girls have to worry about shaving their legs,” commented junior Paola Lopez.
But some girls don’t see it that way.They like having a mixed P.E class with the boys. “I like it beacuse it helps the girls feel equal to the boys in sports,” opined junior Chandelle Felter. Other girls feel that the guys aren’t ready to handle the job. “I don’t like co-ed P.E because I’m in aerobics and we get into trouble beacuse the guys are too embarrassed to do anything,”says junior Heather Moon.The guys, on the other hand, are a little more lenient on the subject. In fact, they didn’t have anything to say about it except, why not? When sophmore Kyle Reid was asked what he thought about it he said, “It’s ok I guess. I can’t complain.” Much like Reid, senior Steven Franco felt the same way. He was looking towards the positive side of it all, the experience. “It is going to be a fun, experiencing year,” claims Franco.
We did manage to find one guy with a problem with it, senior Ramy Abouelsood. “It’s a little hard to concentrate and I don’t want to get all sweaty in front of them.” It seems that this year is going to be a very “experiencing year” indeed. The question is now, how long will it stay this way?
Well, we have heard from the students. But what do the teachers think about it.? “I don’t have any problem with it,” says P.E teacher Chad Bishop. “It seems to be working out really well for the kids and I think it is a good opportunity for boys and girls to cooperate with each other,”
Armendarez is also giving two thumbs up about the changes being made. “I didn’t see a problem with the way it was before, but since the kids like co-ed P.E, I’m o.k. with the idea.”
Bush for president? Say it ain't so!
by Amber Arakaki
Oct 20, 2000
George W. Bush is described as a man of honor, integrity, and tradition. . . but what really matters are the issues. Whatever the public elects into the President’s chair WILL AFFECT YOU, even if you can’t vote.
Gore wants to spend $115 billion on education over a period of ten years to increase teachers’ salaries and encourage schools to increase test scores and decrease drop-out rates years to provide federal vouchers, which will give money to parents who wish to put their child in a private school. He’ll also give money to charter schools. This system will undermine the public school system. Who is to say who gets the private-school vouchers and is there even enough money to support all these people? Unlike Gore, who plans on building and modernizing public schools, Bush plans to deteriorate them.Bush is also planning to cut taxes for every tax-payer, but this will cost $1.3 trillion, not billion, to pull it off. These tax cuts take away from medicare and social security. Of course, Bush says this about his “great” plan: “The best way to relieve families is to let them keep some of their money.” Gee, thanks Mr. Bush!
HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO YOU? Thanks to our econ. class, we know that the government plays an important role in our lives. If you work at minimum wage, you know that taxes take a lot away from all the hard work you do for flipping burgers and bagging groceries. Al Gore wants to raise the minimum wage up to a dollar. Bush couldn’t care less about the lower working class.
The “other side” is probably saying, “well, what about Gore’s financial scandals and isn’t he living under Clinton’s shadow?” True enough, but the scandals were directed under his staff, not himself. George W. Bush’s father was a great president, but his son isn’t the chip off the old block to say the least. Let’s face it,. Bush is not fully equipped to handle the job he set for himself. Not only is it dark and empty in his attic, but the man has no substance. The president has to have personality in order to welcome leaders of foreign nations. The president should have a certain charisma (need I not mention JFK?). Many say Bush isn’t capable of “grasping” the full responsibilities that go along with being President..
Instead of representing honor, integrity, and tradition, maybe George W. Bush should think of the people of the United States of America and what they believe.
Gore for president? Yeah right
commentay by Steven Aguilar
Oct 20, 2000
This coming November voters will choose between two men for the presidential office, Texas Governor George W. Bush and Vice President Al Gore. The first will bring a new sense of respect and honor to the office; the other will only serve to add to its disintegration.
By now you may be asking: “What’s wrong with Al Gore?” This question has many responses; first let us begin with the man’s credibility. He has gone on record claiming to have invented the Internet. I don’t know about you, but that idiotic and ignorant remark alone earns him a score of minus 2 on a scale from 1 to 10. I also find it to be a bit hypocritical of him to consider himself an important figure in the fight to save the environment seeing as he owns stock in an oil company, and oil companies have always been one of the many enemies of environmentalists. Why not sell the stock and donate the money to a tree huggin’ organization like Green peace? Wouldn’t that show true commitment to his cause?
Credibility aside, let’s discuss the issues. Let us begin with school vouchers. What are school vouchers? Basically they deal with giving parents money (vouchers) that is meant to give them the power to decide where their child is going to attend school, and more than likely a parent would want to send their child to a more qualified private school. Sounds good, right? Doesn’t it make sense to let the parents decide where they want to send their kid? Gore doesn’t think so; he believes that theses vouchers will only serve to leech away public funds, which in turn will just add to the disintegration of the public school system. However what good does it do to have more money going into a system that has failed many children in the past and will most likely continue to do so?
TAXES: this word alone makes most adults shiver. No one likes the idea of having to give up some of his or her hard earned money to the government, but this is the price we must pay. However with a 1 Trillion-Dollar surplus, doesn’t it makes sense that taxpayers would get some of their money back? Al goes doesn’t think so, and neither do most liberal democrats. When they see a surplus they think that they have more money to spend. Somehow with their twisted logic they feel that they know how to use your money better than you do. They don’t trust you with your own money. I find it irritating that a group of strangers are arrogant enough to believe that they not only know how to better spend money that they haven’t earned but that they have the right to do so.
Social Security is also a big issue in these elections. Bush has come under constant criticism because he has proposed a 16% privatization of social security. You would be able control and invest 16% of the money that is automatically taken out your check every payday. Wouldn’t it be nice to control more of the money, which you’ve earned? Gore doesn’t think so. Essentially he believes that we are all idiots who would just waste the money on bad investments. Even if this is true for the majority of us, isn’t it our choice to invest our money in practically any way we choose? After all, it is ours .
“Why should voters even bother? Haven’t we experienced prosperity for the last eight years under Democratic leadership?” Every time I hear these questions, I can’t help but laugh. Sure we’ve prospered “under” Clinton for the past eight years, but what no one else seems to take under consideration is that we’ve also been “under” a congress who has had a strong Republican majority for most of the eight years, and isn’t it congress, not the president, who actually make legislation that directly affects us all? We’ve prospered under our Republican congress, not Slick-Willie. This prosperity has come even though he made it his mission to veto every bill that even has a hint of Republican in it.
Let us pretend that we live in a twisted parallel universe and that Clinton was the reason that our country prospered. What does this have to do with Gore? Absolutely nothing! This man lived under Clinton’s shadow throughout the past eight years. (Maybe that’s the reason he is so stiff, Clinton’s shadow froze the poor guy.) And now that Clinton has pushed him away from his shadow he’s having trouble de-frosting. The point is that if Clinton had nothing to do with our prosperity, what makes anyone think that Gore would help it grow? Personally I believe that a man who can’t lead his way off the stage in his own convention has no place leading an entire country.
Route 66 Festival Rides the Nastalgia Wave
By Lisa Humphrey and Amy Yarnall
0ct 20, 20002,448 vehicles participated in this year’s Route 66, which included thirty blocks of classic muscle cars and Hot rods in downtown San Bernardino. The main event was honoring the Ford Woodys (wood paneled station wagons of the 1940’s-50’s).
People of all ages, races, and backgrounds came together to celebrate four days of cars, music, and food. Thousands came in the mid-afternoon heat to enjoy events like the “burn-out” contest, which drew in the crowd.
What’s your ideal place for a wedding? Well for two particular couples Route 66 seemed like the perfect place. One couple met there and another shared the love of classic cars. They all shared this experience by the Radisson Hotel fountain.Over 120 songs have been recorded mentioning the famous Route 66; the economic impact has given $25 million to San Benardino. Over the years, more and females have been seen cruising their cars.
Some of this year’s highlights: a ’79 Chevy Camaro with two sets of 3 ft. flames shooting out of the pistons; a full row of Woodys, a VW bus decked out in hippie attire, a blue 1965 Buick Riviera with a matching trailer, and two fully restored original Ford Model T’s (the first car made). The turn of the century Route 66 featured new innovations, as well as the old classics. A shiny new jet-black Dodge Viper graced the downtown streets.
The “Cruising Hall of Fame” was set to induct the Beach Boys, who defined the surf sound of the 1960’s. They also failed to show, on the contrary this did not put a damper on the weekends events.
The 11th annual Route 66 Redevous ended Sunday afternoon. A a half million people came, despite the drastic tempetures. By the end of Saturday evening eight emergency calls were made due to
Fact or Fiction:
Scray Stories to get ready for Halloween
By Amy Carillo
So how many of you think that you’ve heard every scary story, and every tale with a gruesome detail? Well, can you tell the difference between real and made up eerie tales? This is your test. In In honor of Halloween coming up next week, the Pepper Bough presents our version of Fact or Fiction. Below are five scary, and just plain weird stories to test your knowledge of the bizarre. Which ones are true? Which ones did we make up? You be the judge. Answers are at the end.
1. Stepehn Schap’s life was pretty much a good one. He had a loving wife and a was an American soldier, to him life was great, until the day he found out that his wife was cheating on him with one of his fellow army recruits. Later on his wife got pregnant and Schap was tired of her lying to him about her lover. So while she was getting ready to go into labor he presents his wife with a box. She opened it, and to her surprise, found the head of her lover.
2. A motorcyclist was riding his motorcycle and was wearing his jacket backward, to avoid the draft. One day the motorcyclist fell off of his bike and was lying on the ground. A “good Samaritan” saw the accident and ran of to be of some help. Seeing the back of the motorcyclist’s jacket, he naturally assumed that his head was twisted all the way around in the opposite direction, which broke the motorcyclist’s neck and killed him.
3. A girl is having her birthday party, and everybody decided to tell scary stories. Her friend pipes up loudly and exclaims “this story is true! I swear!” She proceeds to tell this story of this crazed maniac killer who used to kidnap young girls and they would be missing for two days, then a couple days later a belonging of the girls would show up on her doorstep with a note that said where you could find her. Naturally, when they found the bodies, the girls would be dead. Her friend, taking no breath at all says, “I dare you to sit on his grave all night” Sure enough she did and the next morning she was gone, and two days later her bracelet showed up on her doorstep with a note that said “with me.” The grave she stayed at was dug up and she was found in his coffin, and his body wasn’t there.
4. Talk about community spirit, in Taipei all the citizens were celebrating Retrocession Day, the day in which ended colonial rule in Taiwan, and decided to play a game of ‘Tug of War’. Over 1,600 turned out and they had a rope that could bear a force of 26,000 kg. The rope snapped and two men’s arms severed at the shoulder.
5. A baby-sitter lays on the couch watching television. She looks outside the sliding glass window directly across from her and sees a man standing out there. She got freaked out and closed her eyes and tried to go to sleep to forget about it. She finally falls asleep until the parents get home and she tells them everything that happened. The police came and checked out the area. The detective walks up to them and says, “Well, we found no footprints outside, but two behind your couch.”
Searchers of the Lost Ark
By Jennifer Logan
Oct 20, 2000
Strong evidence for a global flood event may lie beneath the icy snow caps of Eastern Turkey’s Mt. Ararat—a place where Marco Polo once explored. And now, where Colton High’s John McIntosh spends his summers searching for Noah’s Ark.
For this 56 year old geology teacher, the Ark is more than a Biblical myth about a bearded man whom God commanded to build a boat, pack it with two of each creature and rescue mankind from 40 days and 40 nights of flooding. It offers spiritual and scientific significance, he says. Many claims have been made that remains of the Ark are hidden somewhere underneath the volcanic ash of the mountain. He believes finding the Ark would challenge current scientific theories that there was never a world wide catastrophic flood and that evolution occurred over millions of years. McIntosh states that, hopefully, if the Ark is found, the surrounding scientific communities will re-examine their records. Throughout the world, there are over 200 cultural accounts of the flood, but nothing yet has been proven.
In the classroom, McIntosh understands the danger of walking that fine line between church and state. “I am not out to push the creationist agenda.” In his science and geology classes, he uses the Ark as an example to teach his students about the scientific method. “The search is a good example of how to pose questions and search for answers. I don’t preach this. I teach them the traditional geologic concepts and ideas, but I tell them there’s another side of the coin.”
Students watch videos, summaries of what has been claimed, and at the end of the year, they are knowledgeable about the history of the search, he says. “He’s a good teacher,” said his former student, senior Gustavo Mora. “He wasn’t preaching or anything.” Mora says McIntosh brought it across as a hobby, and nothing more.Claudia Harris, Colton science department chair, says that there have not been any complaints from parents or students in McIntosh’s classes. Harris notes that “Here we have someone who is actually doing funded scientific work.”
McIntosh has spent the past 26 summers taking week-long expeditions up to Mt. Ararat, an area of the world beset with political dangers. During one trip he and his group were even held at gunpoint by Kurdish rebels, and another time mistaken for Russian KGB spies. But such dangers never stopped this determined scientist.He is part of a 13 man team made up of United States scientists, doctors, scholars and even the late NASA astronaut, Jim Irwin (pretty spacey, huh?).
McIntosh first heard about the search for the Ark in 1976. He understands that a lot of people are skeptical about the search. He admits that when he first heard it, he thought it was “a pretty ridiculous idea.” But after much research, he became convinced that there was a good possibility that it still existed. “I heard that there was some sort of mystery out in Eastern Turkey, about a box-like structure that was three stories high.” He has now made 13 trips, seven of which he climbed and searched the mountain. The ark is suspected to be 13—14,000 feet up and inside a volcanic canyon the Ancient Armenians have named the Ahora Gorge. (see photo)
According to the Bible (Genesis Ch. 6-9), the Ark should be 45 feet high (three stories), 75 feet wide and 450 feet long (or for all you sports fans out there, the length of a football field and a half).
Some drawbacks of the search include the Turkish soldiers and Kurdish rebels that make things difficult. “You need to obtain a permit before you can climb the mountain, you can’t always get up there.” Another hurdle is paying for all of the trips. High tech equipment such as helicopters and sub surface radars run up the bill as much as $400,000. As of now, most of the money has come from Christian donors and out of McIntosh’s pocket.
What does Principal Jerry Almendarez think about all this? Because McIntosh comes across with the search as an example of the scientific method, he really sees nothing wrong with it.
“I see it as bringing in outside experience,” says Almendarez. So what’s the problem? Almendarez says there is a point where they have to follow district direction. According to Almendarez, there have recently been concerns from several UCR professors about incorporating Biblical teaching in public schools. Now, aside from the fact that this is still “one scientist trying to disprove another”, as Almendarez puts it, the real issue, he states is: Are we forcing students to understand someone’s religious beliefs in a public school setting? The situation still tends to make people uncomfortable. Should McIntosh be allowed to mention the expedition in class?
Matthew Draper, former student of McIntosh says, “Its unfair, they need to sit down in his class as a student and see for themselves.” Draper doesn’t think McIntosh is doing anything wrong, that the search is interesting, that he never mentions the Bible.
But despite the difficulties, McIntosh hopes to get back out to Ararat next summer. He says he will keep going back, or until he is convinced that the Ark might be somewhere else. “We’re not in it for the money,” he insists.
Readers! If you have some spare time on your hands, swing by McIntosh’s room 55. Colorful pictures and posters make for excellent wallpaper. Check it out! What do YOU think?
When is a Teacher More than Just a Friend
by Kimberly Powell
Oct 20, 2000
Well, here we are again, starting a brand new year of school. New friends, new classes.... new teachers. Yes, we all love our teachers.... right? Well, there are always exceptions, but for the most part, students and teachers maintain decent relationships, and on occasion get downright friendly. But when "friendly" turns to friendship, is that bordering, or even crossing the lines of professionalism?
Obviously, there is appropriate as well as inappropriate conduct between students and teachers. But at what point does it become a moral issue? At what point does the relationship become too friendly? According to senior Deanna Hernandez, students and teachers shoould have a "totally professional" relationship, nothing more. "Being friendly in class, or getting along well is fine, but it shouldn't go beyond the class," she added. However, not everyone agrees on the subject. Sophmore April Valenti thinks "student friendships with teachers are fine".
So why the need for 'prosessional distance', you might ask? The main reason is to let teachers keep an open mind and grade objectively. They have to be able to grade fairly and not let their personal feelings or friendships get in the way, or influence their decisions. Valenti stands by her statements, however, adding,"I trust teachers to leave personal feelings out of grading".
Personally, I see no fault in these friendships. I have had many deep conversations and shared many jokes with my teachers about politics, religion, and everyday life. Politically incorrect? Perhaps. Against the rules? Probably. Harmful to either party, or influential on my grade? Absolutely not.
However, situations differ, opinions differ, and of course, people differ. Not everyone is able to keep an objective mind once pupils become friends. One teacher, who wishes to remain anonymous, says that while they never give away grades or cross major workplace boundaries, "it does add pressure and it is difficult at times when you have to give certain grades to students you are closer to".
So, are things to remain strictly business, or is it acceptable to be a little more 'one on one' with your teachers? No one can really say when things cross the line. How inapropriate is a friendly relationship anyway? Perhaps it all depends on the ability of the individual to weed out work from play.
English teacher Lucy Khairullah, after a moment of thought, simply said, "I think students and teachers gain more by investing more". We'll just leave it at that.
Nadar, Buchanan keep thrid party traditions alive
by Andrew Herrera
Oct 20, 2000
Gore or Bush...Gore or Bush....Gore or Bush or Nader or Buchanan? Now you might be asking yourself, “Who the heck are Nader and Buchanan?” To answer that question, they’re “third party” candidates in the up coming presidential elections. Nader is the Green Party candidate, and Buchanan is the Reform Party candidate. Third parties exist to give you a choice and the best candidate/party that best shares your views and opinions.
The Green Party/Nader platform for the 2000 election is to create a government that is of “Independent Politics, a democratic vision that empowers and reaches beyond background and political loyalty to bring together our combined strengths as people.”
The Greens also seek to create environmental and economic stability by balancing the interest of market and value driven businesses. The Greens support Bi-Lingual education, continuing education, job retraining, mentoring and apprenticeships; they are against military and government priorities and topics of academic research. The Green Party also supports freedom of expression and seeks to eliminate all laws that restrict or censor artistic expression.
The Reform Party/Buchanan platform seeks to reform government by promoting knowledge of and respect for our natural environment. It will work to preserve an integral network of natural areas to preserve our natural heritage and accommodate compatible human use. It encourages practices that promote the development and use of technologies most beneficial and least harmful to our environment that would steadily improve the quality of our air, water, and earth.
The Reform Party seeks a balanced tailored trade program that promotes the economic interest and welfare for all citizens while safe guarding domestic production. It also wishes to reform our electoral, lobbying and campaign practices to ensure elected officials owe their allegiances to the people rather than influencing agencies.`
Vote? Are you kidding
Don't bother
by Marisa Gutierrez
Oct 20,2000
Politics aren’t what they used to be. Our poor country has been victimized by its machinations and, as a result, has deteriorated almost to the point of no return. Reason: the government and its ludicrous policies.
When we rip away the falsities of politics, the truth rears its ugly head at the core of the problem. It becomes pretty obvious that the representatives of our blessed country are even more full of crap than the whole government put together.
Now the main question formulates in our inquisitive brains: How can such faulty representation be avoided?
Well, you’re in luck because it seems as though there is one simple solution: DON’T VOTE! It may seem drastic, but the sad reality is that voting only makes the problem worse.
Sure, there may be those political optimists who march up and down your neighborhood lobbying for your vote. The reason these people are so optimistic about voting is because they willingly thrive on denial by essentially taking all the political crud and molding it into a bright, cheery future for our country. These people are only fooling themselves by believing that they can make a difference with their insignificant vote. Furthermore, since these people are so naive, they unwittingly throw themselves at the mercy of those they elect. These people are the ones who feel the real burn in the end.
Here’s another sad truth that would make any political enthusiast cry. Sorry, but, I have to say it: Politicians are two-faced and conniving. At first they may appear all goody-goody with their “kissing the baby” routine. However, all you’re really looking at is sugar-coated superficiality at its best. The true rottenness lies well hidden beneath all that sweetness. In other words, politicians only look out for themselves. They have no intention of gratifying you, the voter, but rather, care only to gratify themselves by fulfilling their selfish ambitions.
Isn’t it just convenient that the only time a politician needs your vote is when he’s trying to obtain a higher office. Therefore, in the end, your precious vote will give him his promotion, but , you’ll still remain stranded in a wilderness of problems.
Of course you should vote!
Here's why
by April Valenti
Oct 20, 2000
Duh! Of course you should Vote. About 25,000 people died in the Revolutionary war for a cause that ended up with democracy. Democracy is a government of the people. A government in which the ultimate power is held by the people. A government for the people. When you don’t vote you eliminate the whole point of Democracy. Women received their right to vote on August 26, 1920 after 144 years of fighting for their suffrage. Many people fought for our right to vote; how can we disregard their efforts and refuse to go to a near by voting booth?
Often I hear individuals give the line... “Oh, It’s only one vote. My little suggestion won’t be missed.” Well, If you were to just sit down and understand what this, and many other statements, is saying, you would probably laugh. Simple mathematics tells you that one plus one eventually adds up. If you really think you are the only person using this excuse in defense of your not voting, you are dead wrong. The number of eligible voters that don’t use their right to voice their opinion exceeds “one” by far.
In fact, in 1996 , 45.6% of 18-20 year olds registered to vote. Only 31.2 % of those registered actually voted in the Presidential Election. That means 52.4 % didn’t even care to register and 68.8 % of the registered voters didn’t vote.
Another thing I think is ridiculous is when people who didn’t vote start to complain about the government. Excuse me, but if you didn’t vote and you think the President isn’t “qualified”enough to be the head honcho, too bad. You had your chance to have your say in who was to be put in office. You didn’t care then to voice out about it, what makes you think others care now what you think. Voting has more effect on government then your petty complaints do. To me complaining is a privilege that comes with voting. If you voted and want to complain, go ahead, but until then it is pointless and plain out annoying. If this article accomplishes anything I hope that it persuades all of you eligible voters to take a stand and just get it done. For those of you who aren’t yet old enough, please encourage those who are to make the move and VOTE. Voting is not only a right you have with democracy but a responsibility.
Debate Entre Dos Hombres,
¿A Quien Elijes Tu?
por Stephen Aguilar
October 20, 2000Este Noviembre los votantes enegián entre dos hombres para la oficina del presidente, el gobernador de Texas George W. Bush y el vice presidente Alberto Gore. El Primero traerá un nuevo sentido del respecto y del honor a la oficina; el otro seriá solamente para agregar a su desintegración.
Ahora usted puede etsar pensando: “¿Que tiene malo Al Gore?” Esta pregunta tiene muchas respuestas; pimero déjenos comensar con la credibilidad del hombre. El ha dicho que el invento el Inernet. No se sobre usted, pero esa observación idiota e ignorante solamente le gana una cuanta de -2 en una escala de la 1 a 10. También pienso que es hypocrita de él para considerarse una figura importante en la lucha para salvar los arboles mientrras pose “stocks” en una companía petrolera, y esas comapañías siempre han sido uno de los muchos enemigos de ecologistas. ¿Por qué no vende los “stocks” y dona el dinero a una organizacíon como paz verde?
La credebilidad a un lado discutimos las cosas importantes (no que la credibilidad no es importante), las ediciones. Comencemos con los “vouchers” de la escuela. ¿Qué son? Se ocupan básicamente de dar les a padres el dinero que significa para darles la potencia de decidir adonde su niño va a atender la escuela, y un padre desearía más que probablemente enviar a su niño a una escuala privada más qualificada. ¿Suena bien no? ¿No tiene sentido dejar a los padres decidir a donde desean enviar a sus niños?
La Seguridad Social es también grande en estas elecciones. El Bush ha venido bajo crítica constantemente porque él ha propuesto una privatizacíon de 16% del a Seguridad Social. ¿Qué quiere decir esto? Bueno bajo esta idea podría controlar e invertir 16% del dinero que toma automáticamente de su cheque cada diá de paga. ¿No suena bueno esto? Gore No piensa esto.
Quando vas a votar piensa que Gore es un idiota y vota por el gobernador Bush. Por que el si, va ser un mejor presidente.
Deportes
por Edgardo Cerda
October 20,2000FOOTBALL.-El equipo de football americano de Colton High School a comenzado su temporada de buena forma al ganar su juego contra fontana, lo que le da al equipo nuevas esperanzas para conseguir una tan ansiada buena temporada, animo!
*A continuacio se muestra el calendario de juegos del equipo de Football Americano:
Boy’s Varsity Football
10-27-00 Fri. Cajon @ Colton 7:30 p.m.
11-3-00 FRI. Colton @ Pacific 7:30 p.m.
11-9-00 Thurs. Colton @ San Gorgonio 7:30 p.m.
Boy’s JV Football
10-26-00 Thur. Cajon @ Colton 3:15 p.m.
11-2-00 Thur. Colton @ Pacific 3:15 p.m.
11-8-00 Wed. Colton @ San Gorgonio
3:15 p.m.
Boy’s Frosh Football
10-26-00 Thur. Colton @ Cajon 3:15 p.m
11-2-00 Thur. Pacific @ Colton 3:15 p.m
11-8-00 Wed. San Gorgonio @ Colton 3:15 p.m
BASKETBALL NBA.
New York- Patrick Ewing quien fuera estrella de los Knicks de New York por mas de 15 años fue contratado por los Sonics de Seattle por un contrato millonario.
Glen Rice va a los Bulls - Glen Rice a reportado estar deacuerdo a negociar por un año con los Bulls de Chicago.
Portland Blazers- Erick Barkley primer round del draft fue firmado por los Blazers por un contrato multimillonario
CONOCE MAS ACERCA DE ERICK BARCKLEY:
6-pies, Posicion-guardia, promedio de puntuacion-14.6 puntos
asistencias-4.7, robos-2.6
SOCCER MUNDIAL.
Mexico.-
El seleccionado mexicano acepto la renuncia del ex-D.T Manuel
Lapuente, argumentando este que las criticas recibidas estaban afectando ya su persona y a su familia.
En su lugar queda el Sr. Enrique Meza, quien fuera D.T. del campeon Toluca, llevando a ese equipo a 3 campeonatos una semifinal y superlider del actual torneo. Su debut fue bueno, se espera superar lo logrado por Manuel Lapuente.
GRAN DECEPCION.
Los casi siempre protagonistas equipos america y chivas no han tenido buenas campañas, han tenido malas campañas por los malos manejos administrativos,en el caso de chivas el presidente y dueño de la consecion vendio a casi todos los jugadores que en su momento fueron muy caras contrataciones para chivas, esto para recuperar el dinero invertido ya que este año acaba su consecion, por lo que para el siguiente año se espera a un equipo renovado y con esperanzas de conseguir algo grande.
EN LO QUE CONSIERNE AL EQUIPO AMERICANISTA.-
El equipo viene arrastrando malos manejos administrativos, tales como el inmenso salario que cada mes el equipo enfrenta por ejemplo, el jugador Cuahutemoc Blanco alcanzaba un salario de 130 mil dls mensuales y como el en el america hay muchos.
Este gran sueldo provoca que los jugadores pierdan el amor por la camiseta y sientan mas amor por el dinero.
ESPANA.
La liga de soccer de España ya comenzo, la mirada de todos los españoles esta puesta en el jugador mas caro del mundo, el portuges Jose Luis Figo, quien fuera estrella compartida del equipo del Barcelona. El medio volante pretende darle otro campeonato mas al Real Madrid su actual equipo quien lo comprara por mas de 52 millones de dolares, se espera que con su talento en como tocar el balon y la contundencia de Raul le den al Santiago Bernabeu muchas alegrias.QUE PASA!
El equipo merengue Real Madrid ha empezado su campaña con el pie equivocado ya que no ha podido ganar todavia, esto rompe cualquier prediccion es casi imposible que un equipo con dos de los mejores jugadores del mundo jugando juntos acompañados de otros excelentes jugadores no pueda ganar, parece ser cosa solo de tiempo y acoplamiento para que el equipo empieze a caminar.
En cuanto al Barcelona: el equipo no se ha visto bien ya que no ha conseguido puntos todavia y aparte han perdido contra equipos muy debiles en el papel, pero en la cancha han demostrado lo contrario, animo Real y Barca inyectenle el sabor a la mejor liga del mundo.
INGLATERRA.
De Inglaterra no hay mucho que decir, como siempre el Mancher United apabuya a quie se le pone en frente, colocandose en el liderato de la liga premier de football soccer.
ARGENTINA.
En Argentina el Boca le esta pisando los talones al lider River
al ir solo pocos puntos abajo, la liga Argentina ya tiene tiempo de haber comenzado.
HORARIOS DE LA UEFA.
Fecha 5: 24-25 octubre
Fecha 6: 07-08 noviembre
HOCKEY NHL
Kozlov-firma con los Red Wings
firmo por 2 años
HORARIO DE CROSS TRAINIG
10-21-00 Sat. Mt.Sac Invitational TBA
11-3-00 Fri. SAL Finals@Yucaipa TBA
La primera entrega de los Latin Grammy’s hace historia...
por Oscar Garcia
October 20, 2000Por primera vez se llevaron a cabo la entrega de los premios Latin Grammy’s, reconciendo lo mejor de la musica latina el 13 de Septiembre en el Staples Center. Se dieron premios en cuarenta categorias. Lo unico malo (bueno no lo unico malo) que fue de esa noche es que estuvo televisado por la cadena CBS, cuando se supone que si son Grammys latinos se debe pasar por una cadena en español. Oh no? La mayoria del programa se la pasaron hablando en ingles y que onda con la gente que no habla ingles. Eso que lo dejen para los Grammys anglasajones. Pero en fin la noche fue abierta por la sensual y una de las mas bellas latinas: Jennifer Lopez, (desafortunadamente un poco mas tapada que la vez pasada.) Jimmy Smith, Andy Garcia y Gloria Estefan.
Santana una vez mas fue la sensacion de la noche llevandose tres premios, todavia agregandose mas de los que ya tiene. Uno por el mejor disco del año, “Supernatural”. Tambien se lo llevo por mejor espectaculo pop instrumental y compartio premio con Mana el mejor grupo de rock. Otra que de plano se llevo la noche fue la impresionante y electrisante Shakira.(por cierto una de mis favoritas ) Se llevo los premios por mejor cantante femenina de rock y mejor espectaculo femenino. Ella interpreto el tema “Ojos Asi” dejando a todos los presentes con la boca abierta.
Quiza puede ser el verdadero crossover de la cantante colombiana al demonstrar su increible talento. Salio con unos pantalones de piel y su pelo guero (seguramente para que ya no la comparen con Alanis Morissette) dejando en claro que es una de las latinas de mayor exito internacional. Otro que se llevaron premios pero que no asistio como de costumbre fue Luis Miguel que se llevo dos premios por mejor album del año “Amarte es un placer” y mejor espectaculo masculino por “Tu Mirada”.(Seguramente estuvo escondido al lado de la bellisima norteamericana Mariah Carey en el puerto de Acapulco.)
Lo mas sacado de onda de plano fue la ridiculez de N’SYNC al interpretar una melodia en español al lado de Son by Four. Verdaderamente fue inecessaria la participacion de ellos, pues nada tienen que ver con los latinos al igual que Melanie Griffith. Ese lugar pudo haber sido muy bien ocupado por la Banda El Recodo que se ganaron un Grammy por mejor banda del año.
Algo que estuvo muy raro fue que solo se invitaron a artistas en relacion con Emilio Estefan. Porque no se televiso los premios que dieron a los grupos mexicanos y las bandas. Creo que fue una entrega de premios muy injusta en unas categorias y deberian de haber ido artistas de otra clase de musica para que se balanceara la entrega y no nada mas oir pop. Sin olvidar la espectacular participacion de la sexy Christina Aguilera, quien se une a los artistas latinos sacando su album en español. Sin dejar atras a Celia Cruz, que parecia una pitufa (smurf) con su pelo azul, Gloria Estefan y Ricky Martin que dieron un gran tributo a uno de los piones de la salsa: Tito Puente.(q.e.p.d.) No dejando atras a otros ganadores como a Marc Anthony, quien no pudo asistir a consequencia de la complicacion de el embarazo de su esposa gano el premio a mejor cancion del año “Dimelo”. Juan Luis Guerra tambien se llevo dos premios, Alejandro Fernandez quien gano el premio a mejor ranchero del año y a Emilio Estefan por productor del año.
Seguramente este sera el inicio de muchos mas años al reconocimiento latino atraves de los Grammys y seguramente sera mucho mas mejor el año proximo. Por lo menos se tomo en cuenta que los latinos si cuentan y que tambien tienen talento.
Homecoming: Fantastico!
por Brenda Quintero y Herman Marcial
October 20,2000La semana de Homecoming estuvo llena de sopresas, empeso el lunes con una actividad durante el recreo y los jugadores del futbol Americano afeitaron a su coach por una puesta en que iban a ganar contra Bloomington el viernes, seis de Octubre. El martes los Seniors les ganaron a los Sophomores en el juego anual de Powder Puff durante el primer recreo cuando las muchachas participan en el juego de futbol Americano y los muchachos se visten de porristas. En el segundo recreo los Juniors les ganaron a los Freshmen. Las diversiones continuaron el miercoles en el carnival anual, cuando se ofrece una gran variedad de comida que no se puede encontrar en la escuela durante un dia normal. La comida variaba desde comida China hasta capuchinos, tacos y cheesecake. El jueves, continuo con el regreso de las muchachas jugando el juego de futbol Americano por la tarde aqui en nuestra escuela, cuando todos los padres pudieron venir a ver. Solo esta vez jugaron nomas los Seniors contra los Juniors y los Juniors ganaron por pura casualidad.
El viernes, unas dos horas despues de que la escuela termino, empeso el gran desfile de Homecoming, rumbo por la calle Rancho y se acabo en el campo de futbol de la escuela. Luego comenzo el juego de futbol Americano y por supuesto que triunfaron nuestras Avispas de Colton contra los Cardinales de San Bernardino 23-21! Durante el medio-tiempo anunciaron la Reina quien fue Candace Carter. Fue un dia de diversiones pero nada comparado con la proxima noche que fue el sabado. El gran baile de Homecoming estuvo en la Universidad de Cal State en San Bernardino y fue un exito! Todos se divertieron bastante. El gran Rey de la noche que todos anticipaban saber fue Eric Vasquez y a las doce de la noche se termino las diversiones de la semana de Homecoming. Todo fue excelente!
Boys Waterpolo gets wet
by Brenda Ureno
Oct. 20, 2000
“We have a very young and inexperienced team this season,” said Coach James Vickers of the boys’ waterpolo team. The boys’ waterpolo team is not performing well this season, but they are working on improvement. Their strategies this season are to improve their passing and ball handling.
Many people think that waterpolo is an easy sport, but it’s not. “It is like soccer underwater,” explains Vickers. Most of the varsity players on the waterpolo team are playing for their first time, which creates an unfair disadvantage for the Colton Yellowjackets because the rest of the teams they compete against have experienced varsity players.
The team captains for the waterpolo team are junior Paul Andrews and sophomore Jeff Slaczka. “This year is our building year,” said Slaczka. Slaczka is one of the sprinters of the team. The team has lost all of their games this season. The team travels to face Yucaipa on Tuesday.
Cross Country headed for CIF
by Oscar Garcia
Oct. 20, 2000
Over the last years Colton’s Cross Country teams have qualified for C.I.F regularly. It looks like this year will not be an exception.
The boys team has five returning varsity runners: seniors Randy Ceballos, Oscar Garcia, and Bobby Mitchell; and juniors Jacob Trevino, and Nathan Williams. These runners are joined by outstanding freshman rookies Jose Aguilera and Lance Martin two runners who are working very hard to qualify for C.I.F. The team has high hopes despite a fourth place finish that they suffered in the first mini league meet, held at Cal State San Bernardino against all the six teams that make up the S.A.L., due to a disqualification of a Yellowjacket during the race.
The Yellowjackets came back in the second league meet to grab second place behind perennial power Yucaipa and are in a three way tie for second place with San Bernardino and Cajon. The tie breaker will be determined at league finals next Saturday at Yucaipa High. “I have no doubt that our team will get second place. We are running as a close pack and I know we can beat the other two teams at league finals,” asserts Ceballos.
The girls team has only two returning varsity runners: sophomore Juanita Martinez and Junior Elizabeth Sosa, which makes it more difficult for them to qualify for C.I.F. They suffered a fifth place finish in the first league meet despite the very strong effort of Martinez’s individual sixth place finish. Fortunately the girls came back with a third place finish at the second league meet which puts them in a fourth place league standing. Martinez came in third place chasing those Yucaipa runners. Martinez is seeded as one of the top seven in the league and they run at league finals next week and look forward in getting a third place to make C.I.F.
Both teams run tomorrow at the Mt. SAC Invitational where over 100 schools compete in this two day tournament.
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Girls Golf
by Denise Alcantar
Oct. 20, 2000
Girls golf has opened the current season with a respectible record of 3-5. A high point this year was the match of Thursday, Oct. 5, in which the Lady Jackets trounced Cajon with an amazing score of 167 to 58.
The three best scores of this victory belonged to sophomore Jennifer Gonzales with a score of 51, junior Shannon Garcia who shot a blistering 53, and fellow junior Nova Sanchez who tore up the course with a score of 64. Although they are doing well, Coach Tars Petrie thinks they need a little more dedication and effort to the game and team. Petrie feels they could be a C.I.F contender.
Girls Tennis opens season
by Brenda Ureno
Oct. 20, 2000“Our league season didn’t start off so good,” said coach Quentin Marley, of the girls tennis team. The team has lost their first league matches, but is working hard to get back up there. The team has lost many varsity players, but has gained a lot of new players.
Coach Marley said that this year, the team is working on discipline and focus and also many basic techniques. The team captain is senior Kristen Arakaki, the number one singles player and a role model for many players. Freshman Christine Macias said, “It’s fun playing tennis because you meet new people.” Macias plays number three singles.
Tennis is a challenging sport, and is not as easy as it looks. Sophomores Marissa Rico and Janett Garcia say, “If we dedicate time and effort to our sport then we will improve a lot more.” Rico and Garica are the top J.V. players. The match against San Bernardino determine how the girls are going to do this season. The score was 3-15. Which is not very good, but the girls are going to work harder. At press time, the team’s league record stood at 0-3. The team next faces off against Yucaipa here on Monday at 3:15.
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Girls Volleyball set to spike opponents
by Brenda Ureno
Oct. 20, 2000
“The team has started off slow, but as the season is continuing, the girls are improving,” said varsity volleyball coach Jenny Nerenberg. The assistant coach is Tanya Strauss. The current record for this volleyball season is 0-3 in league. Both coaches are working hard together to help the volleyball team improve. Their biggest strategies are defense and the commitment to play hard. Coach Nerenberg said that the girls are hard workers and are putting a lot of their effort and time to make this season good one. Even though the volleyball team didn’t start off so well, there is time for improvement.
“The girls need to focus and have some confidence in themselves,” says Strauss.The team captains, whose theme is “make it happen,” are seniors Diana McKintey and Candice Carter. They both are dedicated to their sport and hope that they are role models for the rest of the girls. McKinley said “ I think everyone is out for the same reason, and that is to play some volleyball.”
New Coach motivates Jackets
by Steven Perez
Oct. 20. 2000
Stability, motivation, and focus.
Harold Strauss considers these characterisitcs among the most important when it comes to coaching football. They also happen to be some of the main character traits he brings to his first year as the Head Varsity Football Coach.
“I’ll bring stability, a winning atmosphere and motivation to bring Colton back where it belongs, at the top,” says Strauss.
Strauss also brings with him 21 years of head coaching experience; 18 years at Bloomington Christian High, 1 year at Lake Washington High, and 2 years at Colton High in Colton, Oregon. He has won numerous coaching awards, among them CIF Coach of The Year; he guided Bloomington Christian to 2 CIF titles.
Married for 24 years to his wife Amy, Strauss has three daughters and one son.“I look forward to helping mold the guys as not only good athletes, but good people,” says Strauss.
Varsity Football surprises
by Steven Perez
Oct. 20, 2000
With half the season in the bag, the varsity football team has already seen both extremes of good and bad. Whether the team is pulling off a shocking upset or getting beaten by five touchdowns, one thing’s for sure: Colton High hasn’t seen a team like this in a while.
“If we play well, hard and consistent, the sky is the limit,” says new Head Coach Harold Strauss.
“We lack seriousness, but we’re more together as a team,” says senior captain Joe Hernandez.
The Jackets opened up the season with a 57-16 drubbing by the A.B. Miller Rebels. The defense seemed overwhelmed and the offense seemed overmatched by the bigger Rebels.
Few predicted the Jackets would follow with a competitive game against the Division 5, CIF- 8th ranked Riverside Poly Bears. However the team managed not only to play the Bears to a competitive game, but shut them down. Senior transfer Mike Mora recorded 3 sacks and led an inspired Jacket defense to an 8-7 victory.
The team then traveled to Fontana and faced off against the Division 1, CIF-5th ranked Steelers. This time Junior Mark Vingua led an aggressive Jackets first-half defense; his blocked punt led to a touchdown and an 8-6 deficit at half time. However, the defense faltered in the second half en route to a 37-16 loss.
The Jackets next journeyed to the University of Redlands, as their third consecutive home game matched them against the Redlands East Valley Bulldogs. Chester McCullough quickly jumped on the Bulldogs defense as he raced for a 60 yard touchdown on the first play of the game. McCullough ended the game with 218 yards as the team led throughout in a 28-19 victory.
Game 5 pitted the Jackets in a historic game against intra-distric rival Bloomington. The first game played between the two teams in a decade saw the heavily favored Bruins (winners of 5 of the last 6 CIF titles) led throughout heading into the third quarter, but were shut down in the fourth quarter.
Junior linebackers Dean Romero and Anthony Wilkerson led the heroic stand in a 19-14 victory for the Jackets. Leading the offense was Junior running back Hector Calderon as he averaged 10 yards per carry.
The Jackets opened up league play against the San Bernardino Cardinals in front of a homecoming crowd of approximately 3,000. The game was a see-saw battle, with both teams exchaning the lead numerous times. The Cardinals found themselves on the potential game winning drive with under 80 seconds to play, but saw their hopes squandered by Junior safety Jason Hanna as he inercepted a pass.The win marked the third consecutive victory for the team and found them in the race for the SAL championship along with the favored Cajon Cowboys.
“We’ve got a ton of momentum right now,”says coach Strauss. The Jackets face the Yucaipa Thuderbirds at Yucaipa tonight at 7:30, hoping to conitinue the momentum that just may lead them into the playoffs.