Issue of March 31, 2000:
Volume 83, Number Five
Click on a story title to see the text of the story
News
Mock Interviews prepare seniors
Quiz Bowl: VICA tests our knowledge
Sheesh- harmless smoke, or another evil?
STAR testing will help you! Here's whyOpinions
Pass out condoms at school? No! (Point/Counterpoint)
Pass out condoms at school? Yes! (Point/Counterpoint)
How to get things done (Staff Editorial)
Is Junior college for you?
Kissing at school—and more!
Let's ditch the PE requirements
Piercing the Veil/Column
Teacher-Student conflicts: are they inevitable?
Today's music sucks!
Too many grad requirements bogging us downFeatures
Let us have our CD players on campus
Craig Kilborn—the new king of late night TV
Dating Story follow-up
Jerry Springer not what he used to be
Mid-School Year drag got you down?
Physics Day leaves 5 behind
Prop 22-the people have spoken
Spring break—where to go, what to do?
Teen accidents: unfortunate sign of the times
Tom Green-MTV's hippest show
TV quiz--are you a couch spud?
TV rating system for the birds
WASC visit
Who wants to be a millionaire?Diversions
CD Review/NSYNC
CD Review/The Cure
Concert Review/NOFX
DVD Players- are they for you?
Local band to appear on MTV
Movie Reviw/Ninth Gate
Rap vs Rock pt 2 (The Retaliation)En Español
Ab Quintanilla y Kumbia Kings
Cinco de Mayo
Horoscopos
La Carra Joven
Noticias de Prom
Vacationes Primaverous
¡Que Desatre!Sports
Badminton
Baseball
Boy's Basketball
Boy's Tennis
Boys Golf
Boys Soccer
Girl's Soccer
Girls Basketball
Girls Water Polo
Swimming
Track
Mock Interviews
Celeste Escobedo
March 31, 2000Picture this: you’re on your way to your first job interview. You’ve checked your resumé, shined your shoes, and put on your power tie. If you’re a young lady, you’ve worn that smart business out-fit that exudes professionalism. With that last blast of Binaca, you’re ready.
But are you really? What if you freeze up? How do you really know what they’re going to ask you? Here is where a program on campus can help. Career Interviews is a program that allows seniors the opportunity to participate in face-to-face interviews with members of the community, giving them valuable practice in what it’s going to be like when they actually go for a real job interview. This year, the Career Interviews were held February 15-24 in the library, the auditorium, and in the principal’s board room.
The seniors who participated in the Career Interviews got the opportunity to be interviewed by professionals in different careers. “The reason it is important is because it prepares students for interviews they may have for scholarships and also future employment,” said Program coordinator Cheryl Graybill about the significance of students participating the the Career Interviews process. “The interviews gave them practice so when they walk in to an interview of some sort, they will be prepared to make eye contact, shake hands, and to have experience answering some of the questions” that they would be asked. This year 289 students signed up for Career Interviews, and 212 were actually interviewed. They were asked about characteristics to future jobs.
“I thought it was a really good opportunity to experience a job interview and to get feedback on how we did,” commented senior Tina Bickley about her interview. Senior Liliana Aragon had this to say: “It was a really good experience for us to see how the outside world really is. It’s hitting us that we’re finally graduating with this experience.”
Quiz Bowl
Celeste Escobedo
March 31, 2000
You know of the very popular game show Who Wants to be a Millionaire? Well, the Quiz Bowl,sponsored by VICA and held last month, was kind of like that. During the week of February 14-18, clubs on campus participated against each other for points and prizes. There was that sense of anxiousness to hear the question and answer in correctly.
The first Quiz Bowl competition was held on February 16, during both lunches. It was held in the auditourium because it was raining that day. Clubs had to compete against each other. Teams earned points by answering trivia questions. “I thought it was fun”, said Nicole Wheeler, one of the students that participated in the Quiz Bowl. The Film Club, AVID, the Key Club, the Pepper Bough, and Remnant Club participated in first competition, during first lunch. The winners from that lunch were AVID and the Key Club. Those who were in the wining teams won tickets to Scandia and free tokens. In second lunch, Academic Competition, AVID, the Key Club, the Pepper Bough, the Film Club, the Remnant Club, the Junior class ,the Senior class and the Math Club were the clubs that competed against each other. The winning clubs were Academic Competition and the Junior class. The winners of second lunch recieved calendars.
VICA ended the week by putting on an assembly for the school. It was held February 18. In the first Quiz Bowl assembly, AVID, ASB, the Key Club, and a team from the crowd competed. The winner of the first assembly was AVID. In second assembly, Academic Competition, the Junior class, and a team from the crowd competed. Academic Competition was the winner of that assembly. Those clubs recieved movie passes and bowling passes.
Sheesh
Jason Durdle
March 31, 2000
You walk in from the harsh sunlight and you are seemingly in another world, another time and place. Soft otherworldly music wafts in. Arabic gentlemen in turbans and business suits sit quietly, discussing the day’s events, perhaps playing checkers or cards. Smoke drifts up from communal water pipes. Long low couches circle the comfortable room. The dimly lit area holds friendly, smiling faces, and smells of sweet aromatic spices. It looks for all the world like you’ve left the Inland Empire and have been transported to an exotic shop in Istanbul or Beirut. Just what is this place, and why is it so popular?
This place is not an exotic cafe in the Middle East. It’s The Arabian Cafe, and it’s right here in Riverside, just a few miles from Colton High, and it has become a popular hangout for a lot of Colton High’s seniors. Almost any night you can find groups of Colton High students congregating around a water pipe, relaxing, talking, and yes, smoking.
Why seniors only? Mostly because the main attraction of the cafe is Sheesh. Sheesh is an Arabaic herb, which is actually a fruit-flavored tobacco, so the cafe is for 18 and over only.
Right off the bat people are going to look down and criticize the cafe because of the smoking but actually there is a lot more behind it. People who go there want others to know that smoking is not really what the cafe is all about. 9 out of 10 people say the main reason they attend the cafe is for the social atmosphere. They love having a place they can go to and have fun just talking and chillin’ with their friends. The cafe comes off like the most friendly and peaceful place to attend. Senior Joey Romero says, “I love going in and chillin with those arabian folks, the musics tight and theres a lot of girls who chill in there so it’s a good place to meet new people.” People there welcome others and enjoy the company. Everyone is into meeting new people from other places and learning about others’ cultures.
People might think the cafe is just a hangout for smokers and stuff like that but that is totally wrong. I have seen such a variety of people there. Just by sitting on the couches you can hear some of the most intellectual conversations going on, covering topics such as politics, education, and philosophy—conversations that interestingly enough you don’t often hear at school. I’ve talked to many doctors, lawyers, and even teachers there, including many college students. I feel I’ve learned more about the “need to know’s” about college and stuff like that just by going to the cafe. Also you can see all the Arabic regulars who attend.
It seems like Colton High isn’t the only high school to experience the phenomenom. I’ve met seniors from other high schools such as Pacific, Redlands, Rubidoux, and Riverside also. They all say the same as Colton High, “We go to socialize.”
The most popular flavors of sheesh ordered are strawberry, mango, apple, grape, lemon, jasmine, and lately canteloupe. To order some sheesh to smoke, a cafe employee will come by and ask you what flavor. After a couple minutes he’ll come back out with a Hookah in which you smoke the sheesh out of. Every Hookah is scrubbed down after each use but to ensure sterilization a new piece of foil is added to the breathing tube everytime. Coals on the top of the Hookah keep the sheesh burning. One round of sheesh costs five dollars and can last anywhere from 45 minutes to a half an hour.
There is little doubt that the cafe is hugely popular with local young people. “Practically every weekend I am feeling the sheesh machine,” says senior Lexie Castell. The cafe itself is two large half circle couches to lounge on and many tables in the middle to sit at. You can always tell you’re there by the arabic music playing and the pictures across the walls. Senior Brian Parsons says, “It’s an exposure outside our own world into the culture of another!” There is more to do at the cafe then just smoke sheesh also. They provide checker and chess boards, and even playing cards. Other than the big variety of sheesh they also sell drinks, and no they don’t sell alcoholic drinks. They sell water, sodas, milkshakes, and a variety of arabic teas.
Some downsides of the cafe is that sheesh has been known to make some poeple nauseous; also smoking, period, is not good for your health. The tobacco amount is very minimal though, about five times less than a cigarette. The cafe does “card” people who look younger than 18.
It is not required that you smoke sheesh when you go though, so if you’re not down with smoking sheesh but still like going with your friends and chillin’, thats cool too. Overall I feel that the cafe is a great hangout for people of all kinds to go and relax. It creates a social atmosphere that you can’t find anywhere else. So if you’re 18 and down with sheesh, go hit the cafe and chill with the hookah. Senior Ronnie Casterena says, “Sheesh it up!”
STAR testing
Maya Minwary
March 31, 2000
Listen up CHS students, the SAT-9/STAR Testing will begin April 17, and if you think that this will just be another dumb test, I’m here to tell you otherwise.
What is the SAT-9/STAR Testing? Well, if you haven’t found out by now, the STAR testing is the standardized tests that we take in spring. The test consists of a variety of subjects such as math, reading comprehension, language skills, science, and history. The STAR test is fairly new, it came out only a couple years ago, and replaced the CAT-5 test we used to take.
Why is it important to do well on this test? First of all, it can affect your graduation. Graduating high school isn’t as easy as having enough credits anymore; ever heard of competency? Well, students need to pass their competency (math, reading, writing competency) before they can graduate. Twenty points is all a student needs to graduate from Colton High, and by taking the STAR test, you can receive up to 9 points—that’s a lot considering that an “A” can only get a student a maximum of 4 points (unless it’s an Honors/AP course). So if you decide to blow this test off, that’s 9 points you could’ve received down the drain. Even if a student has already passed competency, it’s also important to take it every year to show academic growth.
Second, the STAR test doesn’t only affect the students as an individual, but the school as well. Last year, CHS’ score was in the third and fourth ranking, a below average score (5 is the average). Our API level was only a 541, and we need to raise that score by 5% to a 560 so the school can reach its goal of 800. If these scores don’t improve, CHS can be labeled an “underperforming” school, and the state may decided that CHS needs assistance. According to Assistant Principal Pamela Pike, the state may go as far as reassigning administration, replacing teachers and even as far as closing the school down.
I know that there are some of you who think that closing the school will be the greatest thing on earth now, but how about 20 years down the road when the only job you can find is flipping burgers at McDonals? Even if the school doesn’t close down, CHS diplomas, in the eyes of colleges, especially the higher standard universities, can be perceived as worthless because the students graduated from an “underperforming” school.
Freshmen, you should pay particular attention to this: starting off with your class, the class of 2003, graduating high school won’t just be by getting the credits and passing competency anymore. Your graduation class is the first class that will have to take and pass a state mandated high school exit exam. That’s right, another test that can affect a lot of students. This test will be based on the augumented STAR test that we now take. Hence, don’t start lagging off now, be serious about it, so the day of the exit exam test, you don’t have to sweat it.
“All students need to take this extremely seriously from a personal standpoint to a school pride standpoint. It can determine [the value] of a CHS diploma,” says Pike. So CHS students, don’t be one of those loser, super-seniors. Start taking these tests seriously.
Both sides now: Condom at school no
by Kelly Wheatley
March 31, 2000“Free sex anyone?” this is exactly the message a school would be sending by passing out condoms. By handing them out the school would just be condoning the act that they’ve tried many times to get students away from. They’re saying go ahead have sex, its okay.
Although the type of sex that would be promoted would be safer sex, we’ve all been taught as early as 5th grade that the only way to remain pregnancy and STD-free is abstinence. Recent studies have shown that schools that have handed out condoms have an increased pregnancy rate. Lets picture this: an increased pregnancy rate in a school that already has a waiting list for the infant center.
Instead of promoting safer sex, maybe we should be promoting abstinence instead. The Remnant Club with its “True Love Waits” campaign does just that, and should be commended. I’m not saying that sex is bad, sex is an act of love that should be done in love, which many teenagers haven’t experienced, or don’t even know what love is. They’re just confusing lust with love.
Taking the focus off the students for a while, what would the reaction from our parents be? Although parents shouldn’t have a say in our love lives, they should have a say in what kind of example the school is giving out about sex. The bottom line being that schools should not pass out condoms. It would be condoning the act of sex to teens who aren’t ready for it, and opening the door to an increase in pregnancies and STD’s.
Both sides now: Condom at school yes
by Rena Ramirez
March 31, 2000“I need a rubber.” “I’m looking for my glove,” “Don’t touch the rain without a rubber coat.” All of these are slang statements for one thing: the latex condom, the most effective barrier protection and the most common birth control device used to engage safer sex. If abstinence or monogamy is not your choice then latex condoms should be used by those who desire protection from pregnancy and/or sexually transmitted diseases. I mean, don’t get me wrong—having sex at our age is way too young and I am sure most will agree, but what else can we do? Tell teens “Don’t do it”? Ya, right. Face reality, they are going to do it no matter what! So if the condoms are easily obtained, and as a result will give teens no excuse not to use them, then perhaps we won’t be seeing so many young mothers lugging their infants across the threshold of Colton High—and feweri nstances of our friends being infected with life threatening diseases. (Of course, they must be used properly, mind you —none of this blowing them up and using them as balloons).
Although I may have an argument against me stating that passing out condoms may be promoting sex, look at it this way: teen sex doesn’t need much promotion, it’s doing just fine on its own. It’s bound to happen, so we might as well help in any way we can. I mean telling teens not to have sex is like telling kids not to eat candy.
There is one side to every story and it’s mine.
Dress Code
Staff Editorial
March 31, 2000Here at the Pepper Bough we believe in following things up in a mature fashion. However, based on past actions, students at Colton High tend to disagree.
Take the dress code, for example. Our district’s archaic and wholly unnecessary dress code has disturbed the students at Colton High for a long time. Everyone complains about it but nothing seems to get changed. The district tells us the dress code was necessitated because of gang activity. Gang activity? Where? The only gang that seems to be evident on this campus nowadays is the Insane Ralph Lauren Posse.
So, we all hate the dress code, and want it changed. But instead of following up this issue to make a change, all we seem to do is complain and whine about it in an inmmature fashion.
One school, however, is different: they decided to do something about the dress code at their school. The students at Bloomington High, our neighbors down the freeway, stopped the complaining and whining and actually did something to try and get their voices heard. And no, they didn’t take a page from the Yellowjacket Protest Manual and walk out of their classes.
Bloomington students presented a petition about college-type clothing to our school board. They, like many students here, couldn’t figure out the hypocrisy of our district, which does all it can to encourage students’ college-going behavior while at the same time banning college logos on clothes. Instead of whining, Bloomington High started a petition drive and took their concerns directly to a school board meeting. The board members were very impressed, and the students even got covered by the local news as well as had stories written about them on the internet. Their actions were mature and effective, and now they have gotten the attention of the school board, which is now discussing what the students want; even considering a change in policy. We at the Pepper Bough would like to congratulate the students at Bloomington High for their perserverance and dedication in addressing a problem and trying to solve it.
When we here at Colton High are upset about something, we do things a little differently. Although we at the Pepper Bough can’t blame our fellow students for complaining, we do think it is time to do something about the complacency and apathy around here. It’s time for a change and by this we don’t mean by having a walkout during classes. “It [the walkout of several years ago] was stupid and a waste of time, because talk is cheap, “ says senior Rena Ramirez. “Everyone said that they were going to walk out, but when it came down to it, no one did. Only fifty people went through with the walk-out.” And, of course, when the district came on campus to discuss our concerns, and invited us to show up at the next school board meeting, guess how many “enraged” students showed up? None. Zip. Zilch. So the school board figured that since we didn’t care enough to show up, we weren’t really serious, and that the Great Walkout of ’97 was just an excuse to ditch.
That is exactly what it was. All the walkout did was make us look stupid and showed the school board that we at Colton High are immature. As students of Colton High, we do have voices, but when we try to speak, we say something stupid. We at the Pepper Bough are not here to criticize, but to warn you how incapable the school board must think we are. We are also here to show you that there is a way to address issues like the dress code issue that can have an effect on it, as did the students at Bloomington High. If we are absolutely serious about our concerns, and present them in a mature way, then the school board will not only think about it, but also respect us. And this effect will be good for us in the long run, for we may want another change made in the future. If the students at Bloomington High can do it, so can the students of Colton High.
Junior college
by Joanne Flores
March 31, 2000Quick word association: Junior college. What do you think of? Something not so prestigious? Maybe like a High School? If you really think of it it’s not so bad (financially that is). Attending a junior college is a lot cheaper than any university. You pay about a thousand dollars for a year which isn’t that bad being compared to about $9,000 a year at the cheapest for a major university. The majority of those units are transferable and you get your two year basic requirements done.
Most people hear the word junior college and think that’s just not for them. Maybe it’s not. Maybe people just have plans on going to that prestigious university in some big state and maybe they have the money for it or maybe they have plans on just taking that really big loan. Who knows? People do all these things for all sorts of reasons. I’m just saying that going to a JC is just not all that bad.
Universities, on the other hand, do have the big name and rake in the big dollars but do they really have a great educational program? I know Arizona State, for example, does meet all the qualities that people should look into when choosing a college. They have a great sports program, a great education program and a beautiful campus, great professors and, well, it’s not all that expensive either. So you see, universities are not that bad.
So which should you choose? I’m not saying you all have to go out and apply to Arizona but you can always look into the school or other universities. But I’m not trying to discourage you from JC’s either. I’m sure they have a lot of offer as well. They’re just not for everyone.
Kissing at school
by Renee Negrete
March 31, 2000Do you think kissing is okay at school? Or should affections between partners be limited to hand-holding only, as the school code states? Almost any day you can cruise the hallways and byways of the campus and see loving couples locked in embraces; some even look like they are one step away from going too far.
Have students here at Colton High gone too far? Have students taken it to the next level? Well, at least to two students kissing is not the only thing that they are doing. One day last week two Colton High students were caught having sexual intercourse, right on campus, found by head custodian, JR. I talked to JR and asked what his reactions were to finding two Yellowjackets doing, well, what the birds and bees do. His only comment beyond confirming the incident was “you should wait until marrage.”
Obviously, they went too far. But something as innocent and harmless as kissing should be allowed in school. Kissing is something that should be shared between two people that care for each other, and is a part of a relationship. If you care about that person you shouldn’t be ashamed to show your affection.According to the school administration , however, it is against school policy to kiss at school. Yet the school administration needs to begin treating us like the people we really are. We are young adults who should be allowed to make our own decisions. It is only at the administration’s benefit that they want to treat us like adults. I say, give us the privilege and I believe that the majority of students here at Colton High can be responsible young adults.
As for the students who were caught having sexual intercourse, it was wrong and should not be tolerated. It is incidents like these that prevent us from having other privileges—privileges that I know we are old enough to be responsible with.
P.E. requirements
by Maya Minwary and Marisa Gutierrez
March 31, 2000Physical education is extremely overrated, or at least at Colton High, anyway. What’s up with the fact that P.E. is required to be taken for two years in order to graduate? This is obviously a ludicrous excuse to replace academics with useless physical activity. Who is actually going to have to know the rules of synchronized ribbon dancing in order to enter college? The answer: nobody. Unfortunately, whoever was responsible for making two years of P.E. manditory was obviously mistaken because that slot on your schedule, that just had to be used for P.E., could’ve been used for a much more important academic class.
Another extremely ridiculous policy is that CHS students are only required to take one year of a foreign language/art in order to graduate. Think about this logically, people who take a foreign language or an art class usually stay in that class for more than two years. Why, you may ask? Well, that’s because students are aware that a foreign language or an art would give them more leverage when applying for college. So, two years of P.E. over one year of a foreign language/art is just preposterous.
Now to tackle health issues, let us talk about P.E. and health hazards. Doctors strongly recommend that the average kid shouldn’t exercise strenuously outdoors when the smog level is at a hazardous level. In addition, southern California is a haven for smog all-year round. However, it seems that most P.E. teachers don’t consider the possibility that smog can affect the students to the degree of acquiring health conditions, such as asthma.
To make a long story short, what is the point of taking P.E. anyway? Sure, it may be fun if you’re into athletics and stuff, but if you’re just an average student who wants to go to college then two years of P.E. just won’t cut it. The solution: P.E. should only be required for one year, then afterwards be counted as an elective. Not only would this please students, but it would also make CHS a better place to be.
Piercing the Veil
by Jason Valenzuela
March 31, 2000Welcome to another Piercing the Veil... What you aren’t sick of me yet? Don’t worry you will be, I promise. Now on a more serious note, I have to place a general disclaimer on my Valentine’s Day story for the Point/Counterpoint piece. I just needed to get it out. The story was not mine.
Oh, I wrote most of it, true enough. Yes, my name was on it as well as the rather bad picture. The trouble really was that changes were made to the story, changes that I would not have allowed if I had known about them. The story’s message and effectiveness was destroyed. And because of that I renounce the story as mine. If you want the original, better copy of the article, ask me.
Now this is the story . . . of a man name Brady . . . sorry I digress. So here is what happened. Originally I was asked to change the story so that it would fit into the area that I was given. I did this, which lessened the impact but at least the story was bearable.
But, because of a hardware problem, the edited copy was lost. Thus, the story had to be edited again, only this time I wasn’t able to make the changes. As a result a name was taken out of the story—the name of a person that I told that they would be in the article. It also caused an entire paragraph to sound awkward. Then the last line was completely changed, it sounds stupid and contradictory. It is something I would never say and it is totally grammatically incorrect. That single line killed the article and made it look stupid. I don’t know how this happened. I realize our editors do a fine job, but something happened here.
Sorry, had to gripe. The point is that it was an Opinion piece. As everyone in Journalism knows a person’s quote can’t be changed to imply something else or make them look bad, and an Opinions piece is just one long quote. I resented the last line being removed and the one that appeared being put in.
Teacher Student conflicts
by Charissa Six
March 31, 2000So, tell me. In your time here at Colton High so far, is there any teacher, or teachers, that you despise and wish you had never met? Just about every student has had a teacher that he just didn’t get along with. Well, if you are one of the majority of the population that has had some kind of conflict with a teacher, listen up. It may be the teacher’s fault, or it may be yours- in some cases it’s both.
Why would it be the teachers fault? Well, some teachers just abuse the system and punish students for the most unbelieveable things. I have heard from some sudents that they really aren’t learning anything. Some teachers seem that they haven’t been there long enough to even learn your name. It would be understandable that when the teacher was actually present that the students would be unruly due to the goofing-off allowed by the substitutes. The administration wonders why we have low test scores. Well, instead of giving us assembly after assembly, maybe they should be talking to the people who are supposed to be teaching us, but really aren’t.
Now, a little on why it may just as much your fault as the teachers. I talked about the teacher being absent and how it affects their classes, imagine how much you miss when the teacher is actually there and you aren’t. Have you ever noticed how much you miss out on when you’re absent? Just sit back a while and think about it.
When there is a possibility that it may be both of the parties that are messing up, there are many things that could go wrong. Some teachers at this school are very strict on following the rules. They make no exceptions for anything, no matter what it is. I say that since that class is only 50 minutes long, then it wouldn’t kill you to be good for at least that much out of the day. Hey, you never know what you could learn. Try it and see how peaceful it is. You may even be happy for the rest of the day.
I’m just trying to say that you have to realize that not everything is the teachers fault. It may seem like it, but in your mind, and heart, you know that what you’re saying is wrong, and no matter how hard you try, the teacher is (just about always) right.
Today Music Sucks
by Daniel Ilgenfritz
March 31, 2000Yeah, you read right. Music today sucks. Badly. Did you see the Grammys? Then you should know how bad it sucks. I know what you’re thinking-”How DARE you say it sucks, with awesome bands like koRn/Limp Bizkit/DMX/Godsmack/Backstreet Boys/N*Sync/Ricky Martin/Sevendust/Whatever band you like?!” Well, let me show you.
I think music is an art form. You can do amazing things with it. Music sets the mood for any situation, expresses your feelings, or just calms you down. IF it’s done right. For example, nine inch nails. Now, as I’ve stated before, nine inch nails is my favorite band. I’m not trying to make you like them. I’m just using them as an example because I think they make music the right way. Back to the point-nine inch nails creates, in my opinion, music that can only be described as a soundscape. Trent Reznor creates amazing songs that fit any mood, that make you feel something, that he expresses emotion with. Now, let’s take a look at...ohh, N*Suck. Sorry, N*Sync. Have you heard their debut album? Do you REALLY think what they sing on it is capable of expressing an emotion besides “Whee, fun, let’s party”? No. You know why? Because their songs are written FOR THEM, one current trend in music I harbor incredible hatred for. That is WRONG. You don’t deserve to be in the music industry if you can’t even say something for yourself. Now, let’s take nin again. Their last (and amazing) album, The Fragile, took two years to create. Why? Because Trent Reznor actually sat down at a piano and WROTE an album, entirely on his own, comprised entirely of HIS deepest feelings. Can you say that of N*Sync’s chart-topping debut? No. And on top of that, does N*Sync do anything besides simplistic dance numbers and semi-talented singing? No. Trent Reznor created EVERY sound on The Fragile, played every instrument, generated every dissonant, static thump. N*Sync’s music sounds like elevator music with voices added. The same goes for the Backstreet Boys. And every other awful, stale, studio-produced pop act out there.
I think one main reason music is so horrible these days is because the artists don’t CARE anymore. Music should be something you honestly give a damn about. Do you think the Backstreet Boys, N*Sync, Britney Spears, or Kid Rock really care? No. I knew this the moment I saw the lame Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit complaining on MTV about how he can’t go to the mall because people recognize him, and how he cut his knee on stage and it hurt. Poor you. I have a video showing Trent Reznor after a show. He’s bleeding from the knee down. He doesn’t complain once. Later in the video, someone in the band rips off a fingernail. Then there’s concern about how it will affect the show. The ONLY time nin cares about their own injuries is when the show for the fans will be compromised. Fred Durst justs whines because he hurt his poor leg. I’ve also seen a live show by Limp Bizkit. It was the most half-assed performance I have EVER seen. To me, that says that they care so much more about the money than they do putting on a good show. Not to mention the fact that Limp Bizkit is a lame bubble-gum-posing-as-heavy-metal rock/rap act. Kid Rock is the same. It’s only done for cross-over appeal. That’s awful.
And on the subject of Kid Rock, has anyone out there heard that horrible “Only God Knows Why” song? I can’t STAND it when someone makes a song complaining about their stardom and fame. No one made you become a star, so don’t whine to me about it. You have enough money to buy me a house, a car, and put me through the college of my choice, and still have a fortune left over. I don’t wanna hear you bemoan your fate. That’s cheap.
Another big problem with music these days is the lack of originality. Every lame metal band out there today sounds just like the others. The worst offenders are Godsmack. There’s no originality in their music at all. Anyone can hit power chords on a guitar and scream. And pop music is recyclable to no end. The Backstreet Boys made a song with the same drum beat as an old one, and it was on TRL so long it was retired. It’s pathetic that you can’t even create a NEW song to get another hit, you have to re-use parts of an old one. Which brings me to another rant (Don’t worry, I’m almost done), making remixes of the same song OVER AND OVER AND OVER. How many times has Mariah Carey remixed a song and released another video for it? Yes, nine inch nails creates remix albums. But they don’t advertise for them the way Mariah and every rap artist does. They simply put them out. If you know about them, then go pick them up. Most people don’t even know they do remixes. That’s because they have enough talent to create a whole new album, instead of capitalizing on the success of a previous one. Well, now that everyone on campus hates me, I should wrap this up. Music these days is a sad, sad thing. All the good artists (in my opinion) have been established for a decade. Every “artist” out there cares too much about the money, and not enough about making a personal statement. We need to wake up from this boy band-induced funk (Yes, I blame much of today’s horrible music on the embarassing resurrection of boy bands. And lame, catch-phrase spouting acts like LFO), and remember what music is SUPPOSED to be.
Too many graduation requirements
by Karen Venegas
March 31, 2000My brain is about to explode! I can’t think any more! If I put anymore information in my head, if I have to take anymore tests, one more homework assignment and I’m going to lose it, if I haven’t already. Seniors tend to get like this right around this time of the year, but so does the rest of the student body. With all the extra work and extra exams that we are required to take it’s a wonder how we manage to maintain our sanity.
It seems like the number of credits we need to earn in order to graduate increases every year and the number of courses or the type of courses we have to take do too. Not only are we expected to enroll in the courses that are required if we intend to graduate, but for those of us planning on college, we have to worry about taking the courses that they expect of us as well. There are only so many hours in the day, yet we are still expected to somehow achieve their expectations. I have to admit that it is possible to accomplish this extraordinary feat, but at what cost?
There are some people whose lives revolve completely around their academics, but I have yet to meet them. Not that everyone who doesn’t concern themselves completely about whether or not they are going to ace English is a slacker, they just have other responsibilities. Some students have to go to work after school everyday. Other students engage in extracurricular activities that take up a lot of their free time. What ever the case it may seem like students are not working to the best of their abilities but that is because with all of the little extras that are required of us, we get overwhelmed and frustrated. A person my age can go into a state of depression or have a break down, maybe just a little one. The point is that there are kids spreading themselves to the limits, just to make the grade
It really annoys me when I’m complaining to an adult about everything I am expected to do at school and they make a remark like “you kids now a days have it easy” or “when I was your age . . . “ and then they follow it up with “wait until you get to the real world.” I thought I was in the real world.
I completely sympathize with adults because I know that kids my age do have it easier than the kids of the past, but on a different level. It’s not like adults have it easy but they need to realize that kids’ lives are not all cotton candy and merry-go-rounds, there are a few roller coasters and Ferris wheels thrown into the mix as well. My parents weren’t expected to take some of the classes that are required of us today. Society has it hammered into our heads that unless you go to college you are going to be asking “Would you like fries with that?” on daily basis for the rest of your life.
I know that the requirements are not going to change and adults are not just going to lie down and admit that their kids may be under as much stress as they are, but maybe they can just have a little patience with us so that we can have the motivation to succeed.
Cd players on campus
by Daniel Ilgenfritz
March 31, 2000We all know what is and isn’t allowed on campus: pagers, wallet chains, knives, cell phones, etc. Now, I think it’s obvious how all of those items could somehow interfere with the “educational process” (Although I think the wallet chain one is stupid). But what about CDplayers? Everyone loves music, and why wouldn’t you want to be able to listen to it a little at school? Sadly, we can’t, because it’s apparently such a big threat to the aforementioned educational process that they have been banned from campus. And I think it’s completely unnecessary.
I guess this policy went into effect as a result of too many students bringing CD players on campus and listening to them in class. I understand that listening to headphones in class could certainly impede the amount you learn, but let’s think about this—Is it REALLY that hard to spot a kid sitting in class with wires running down the sides of his head? And we all know that just about everyone that listens to a CD player blasts the music so that everyone else in the class can hear it. Unless the teacher is deaf, it really shouldn’t be all that difficult to identify the sound. And rather than going through the infuriating process of taking the CD player, JUST TELL THEM TO PUT IT AWAY. There. Problem solved. If they continue to do it, THEN take it away.
Of course, the faculty will say something along the lines of “Well, they shouldn’t have them on campus in the first place.” Why not? Explain to me what’s wrong with listening to them between classes, or while waiting for someone to open the gates so you can get across the bridge. And I know that we all have that class where the teacher gives you forty or fifty minutes of bookwork to do. Why can’t you put on some headphones while you read about the Civil War, or factor some binomials? I know teachers that allow their students to listen to CDplayers while they’re working, and there is never any problem with it. Most of the students stay on task, and the one’s that don’t are the ones that wouldn’t be on task anyway, headphones or not. And I think in classes like Art, listening to music can actually help you. There’s nothing wrong with putting on headphones while you paint or sketch or endlessly cut pictures for a project. And I personally use my CDplayer to listen to music on the bus to and from school, so I don’t have to hear the horrible crap they play on the radio.
And in particular, what about lunch? Now, even if you’re going to exclude CD players from use EVERYWHERE else, why can’t we be allowed to use them at lunch? We’re not learning, we’re just relaxing and talking to our friends and eating. It’s the only time of the school day when we really get a substantial amount of time to take a break. A few weeks ago, I saw one of those accursed security guards walking around during lunch, smugly carrying about seven CD players. That pissed me off enough to inspire me to write this story. There was NO justification as to why they had to be taken away, other than “They’re not allowed on campus.”
Well, I think they should be. I think we have every right to listen to music on the way to and from school, in the halls, during lunch, and, IF THE TEACHER PERMITS, in class. Just have them tell the students when they can and cannot use them. It’s that simple. And if a student’s listening to a CD player in class when they’re not supposed to and the teacher doesn’t notice, I say let them. If the teacher can’t notice the painfully obvious, then I think they have every right to keep on listening. All it would take is the teacher getting a little more involved and saying “If you want, you can listen to music right now,” or “You need to turn off your CD players and listen to me for a minute.” That’s all the effort it would take, and I think it would make a hell of a lot of students much happier, myself included. And when the students are happier, the faculty tends to follow suit. So let us listen to our CD players on campus. It’s sure not going to hurt anybody.
Craig Kilborn
by Lexie Castell
March 31, 2000Watch out Jay, Dave, and Conan. There’s a new king of late....ladies and gentlemen it’s the Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn. So what makes Craig Kilborn different from all the other late night talk show hosts? He’s funny as hell. If you have yet to catch an episode of the Late Late show it might be because its way past your bed time or you had absolutely no idea that you were missing out on, the best thing to happen to late night TV since Arsenio Hall and his dog pound.
The Late Late show with Craig Kilborn airs at 12:30 a.m. Monday through Friday on CBS 2 following The Late Show with David Letterman. You may know Craig Kilborn from his former job as ESPN’s host of the popular morning SportsCenter or Comedy Central’s The Daily Show. Craig Kilborn, not like other talk show hosts such as Dave, Jay, Conan, Rosie...etc.. doesn’t have a cool sidekick partner in crime or a musical instrument playing buddy to chat with during his segments. The funny thing about Craig is that he talks to himself instead of someone. Its like he will be discussing a topic on something, and then all of a sudden you will hear Craig’s conscience and he will start talking to himself in a soft calm voice with this funny looking smile on his face, its enough to crack the lamest person up.
Craig has more of a sarcastic sense of humor more than anything else. When he first approaches his crowds every night he will come out and say a few jokes, with a little short stand up routine. Then Craig goes back to his desk for a part of the show that he calls “Desk Chat.” Following that comes “In the News” with the backing music theme song for “Rocky.” “In the News” basically covers topics of the days news, but he makes fun of it more than anything. It will be focused on something really un-important and have a smart-ass sub title in the corner like...somewhere in the USA. While doing the news, Craig will just in the middle of nowhere say “ok this is where we will take A Moment For Us” and all he will do is sit and close his eyes for like 5 seconds and then he will go on to other news. While breaking off to a commercial before his first guest he will go over to his fake window and sleepy time night backdrop and get his binoculars and gaze out the window to a bra and panties floating in a still lake and recite...”Ahh that felt good, I’m just reflecting on a job well done.”
As they break to a commercial a “Late Late night show Trivia” will come up and ask really lame questions. Here’s a feel of the questions he will ask: Why do dogs bite? (A) They are mean. (B) They are mad. (C) They don’t have feelings. (D) They don’t like you. Then when they come back from a commercial they will have an answer to the trivia question like...”if you picked (D) They don’t have feelings. Then you were right, you know your dog better than you think.”
Craig’s guest are usually not well known people. “Small actors” if you will. And he never has big bands play; they are usually small bands that will play acoustic. I don’t know why he doesn’t have bigger acts on his show. Maybe its just that Craig’s show hasn’t gotten enough exposure yet, or no one wants to do his show because they are scared of his humor.
With each guest he has a special segment to get to know the person a little better or to see how well the actor/guest knows himself. Its called “5 Questions” or the ever-famous “Game O’ Matic” when Craig asks the most stupid people questions you will ever hear. And even if there isn’t a real answer to the question he will tell his guest, “I’m sorry, we can’t except that answer.” Who writes these funny scripts anyway?
Dating Story follow-up
by Amy Yarnall and Lisa Humphrey
March 31, 2000In our last issue we discovered the essentials of dating: the initial attraction, and then first impressions. What about when two people decide on a second date, or for those who are in a relationship: what is it that makes things work?
Let’s explore the do’s and don’ts of dating...what works, and what doesn’t. If we can reach a common understanding of what dating should be, then maybe it will make things a little easier on all of us.
Before a second date is even considered, there has to be a connection between the two people involved....a certain chemistry. So what is it that gets the second date? “It has to be comfortable” says junior John Martinez. “A good sense of humor” is necessary, stated junior Joey Martinez.
Girls seemed to agree that things should be easy-going, but sophomore Ursula Laque said it best: “ Guys should treat you with respect and show that they have manners.” It was unanimously agreed by both guys and girls that the first date should not be pushy, and the absolute no-no is DON’T TALK ABOUT YOUR EX!
Now we all know that teenagers are not made of money, and minimum wage does not always cut it. So what is there to do about paying for the date? “I think it should be mutual, because my boyfriend and I don’t have all the cash in the world, so we switch off “ says junior Kelly Coons. This makes sense, but some people still believe in the traditional ways. “The guy should always pay,” replied senior Novita Effendi.
We’ve mastered the art of dating, and now we’ve made it to the relationship. What happens next? What are a few of the rules to a successful pair? “ Guys and girls should be totally truthful. They need to be upfront with each other,” stated junior Mark Romaine. Martinez agrees. “You need to remember the little things, like her favorite drink, when you first started talking, and your first kiss.” It’s also important to remember the bigger things, such as “your anniversary, her birthday, etc.” says Romaine.
A relationship can be pure bliss, but it can also have it’s conflicts. What does a person do when this occurs? “Sometimes we have to say, ok, we’re both wrong,” replies Laque. Other times “you have to use humor to get over it,” says Martinez. Some couples even have their own little code to let each other know when they are out of line. Coons said “ I tell my boyfriend, ‘Sweetie, stop.’ Then if he continues I say, ‘Sweetie, you’re being a jerk.’ “
What really matters is being truthful to the person you are with, having the ability to express your emotions honestly, and respecting the other person completely.
The Jerry Springer Show
by Karen Venegas and Amber Arakaki
March 31, 2000Midgets, hookers, and transvestites, oh my! Where can you see all this and more? On The Jerry Springer Show, of course!
Violence had attracted viewers to the freak-infested show, but because of extreme controversy many people think the show has lost its pizzazz. The show’s popularity had increased as the segments became more and more daring to come out from behind the shadows of the average daytime talk show. The increase in ratings tempted other talk shows to also venture out into a more liberal setting in order to keep up with the competition.
When The Jerry Springer Show first aired, it did not contain the amount of violence that the audience soon began to love and hate. As the show slowly progressed it began to show more graphic content and violence than ever before; it broke all the rules and left nothing to the imagination. Despite the contracts the guests were required to sign, promising not to curse or display any signs of physical violence, there have been rumors that the show’s producers encouraged the guests to attack one another. These tactics increased ratings and made The Jerry Springer Show the most talked about talk show on television. But soon the most over-dramatic show would become the most over-rated.
The hype of the show may have been extremely popular with teenagers, but not entirely popular with adults. The “Do as I say, not as I do” scenario comes into the picture. “Kids under fifteen shouldn’t watch it. The issues are too mature,” says AVID advisor, John Kitchen, “It shouldn’t be on in the middle of the day due to lack of adequate parental supervision, though I’m not for censorship.” On the other hand there are some adults that feel that the kind of behavior displayed on the show is just ridiculous. “ It’s satire. The show is making fun of real life. It’s not real and if you view it in that way, it’s funny because its all staged,” commented social studies teacher, Bob DeGroff, “It might not be good for young people who don’t have that perspective and don’t know that it’s all staged. If you believe in Santa Claus, you probably believe in Jerry.”
There is not much left for The Jerry Springer Show to exploit, the show’s writers may think that they are coming up with new and interesting topics, but they are really just using old topics and new guests. “The topics are just getting old. Guests go on the show to tell their boyfriends stuff like their really men who strip for a living and are sleeping with their sisters, something new would be nice,” said senior Martha Ramirez.
You have got to give the show some credit for their attempts to amaze their viewers with even more bizarre topics than before; unfortunately, they are not getting better, only more revolting. “Some of the guests are really disgusting. The other day they had a guy who was sleeping with his grandmother. That is just sick!” said senior Liz Rodriguez.
It is also very disturbing to see guests who either have no respect for themselves or take too much pride in themselves. While discussing one of the show’s segments, freshmen Denice Frizzle and Cassandra DeRuyter were disgusted by an extremely overweight man who took pride in showing off his body, but to them it seemed extremely distasteful. “It made us sick to our stomachs,” agreed Frizzle and DeRuyter.
The guests can be extremely aggravating toward the audience as well as toward the viewers at home. “Talk-show guests make me so angry when they admit stupid things on television, to an audience and then get mad when someone makes a negative comment towards them, “said freshman Brenda Ureno. “They should be able to take all the comments if they are willing to go on national T.V. and air their dirty laundry,”
Jerry’s guests may be brainless and heartless, but they sure have courage. It takes a whole lot of courage to tell your deepest, darkest, and most disgusting secrets to a bunch of strangers and millions of viewers at home. However, if they would take the time to realize what they’re doing, they’d realize that they’re not only disgracing themselves, but their family and friends, as well. It’s no surprise that Jerry sometimes wonders, “Where do they find these people?”.
FINAL THOUGHT: Society was so concerned with all the violence that was portrayed on this show that the cameras were forced to turn away from the chair-flying fiascoes. Perhaps they should bring back the drama, so that they can save the show, even though they can’t save their guests.
Mid-School Year Drag
by Marisa Gutierrez
March31, 2000Five straight weeks of school and not a single break in sight. For the students and staff at Colton High, it has been school non-stop (from February28-March 31). How are the people here surviving? Junior Alberto Lopez says, “I listen to the Backstreet Boys and write fly rhymes for some chics.” However, not everyone solves this problem with pop music and song writing; sophomore Nicole Morgan says, “I make sure to plan a lot of things on the weekends so I always have something to look forward to, and spending time with my friends is the best way to make a boring day fun.”
English teacher Lucy Khairullah spends her quality time laughing and playing with her boys, along with “loud music” and a warm bubble bath. “Making the most out of each moment, making it memorable,” is what sophomore Kelly Teeter has to say about this month’s drought in federal holidays. “Keeping busy, and always on the go” is what sophomore Erika De La Torre suggests. “I stay home and try to study but make it fun,” junior Deante Craig says.
Listening to music, hanging out with friends or just living the moment, is what the people a CHS have been doing to stay sane for the past month. Although these methods have been working so far, I am happy to announce “SPRING BREAK” is arriving!! Students have a week to recover and “PARTY,” before they have to come back to school, but wait...there is only one more quarter left before SUMMER!
Physics Day
by Jason Valenzuela
March 31, 2000Physics Day at Magic Mountain was supposed to be an fun, instructional day that would allow Colton Physics students the opportunity to interact with the rides and perform experiments. Over 6,000 other students from 35 other schools attended the event. Some of the schools even drove in from Nevada or Arizona in order to attend.
But the experiment that went awry was trying to get everyone on the bus to go home in time. Five students were left behind when they did not make the deadline for departure, causing consternation, parent phone calls, and an apology from the district. However, it appeared that the bus drivers followed policy by leaving the girls there.
It all started on March 12 when Physics and AP Physics students began the field trip as planned, with students arriving at 8:00 a.m. to make the 8:30 a.m. departure time. But the day got off on a bad foot as the buses were late. Because of traffic and the late start, the students arrived late for the event they went there to participate in—an airplane toss that demonstrated the principles of aerodynamics. Students were to be judged on distance and then accuracy. The accuracy test was to throw the plane through a hoop and have it land on a bulls-eye. Other projects were to measure the height of rides, such as Viper, as well as the acceleration, using equipment and techniques the students learned in class.
According to Larry Pearce, Physics Instructor, the girls who were left behind apparantly refused to leave the line for the ride Goliath, which had an approximately two hour wait. It would appear that the bus drivers, however, were not at fault. According to district policy, bus drivers are required to wait at least ten minutes before leaving. The buses in this instance left at 8:15 p.m., which was 15 minutes after the time that students were supposed to be at the buses.
After discovering that they were stranded, one of the girls whipped out a cellular phone and called home for a ride. The students’ parents were outraged and demanded and received an apology from the district.
Because of the troubles that they experienced this time, Pearce has expressed concern that the district will attempt to cancel Physics Day. However this appeared to be an isolated incident involving a small group of students and has not happened in previous years. The lack of participation in the events could not be helped due to transportation complications. All in all, Pearce believes that this was definitely not the best year.
Prop. 22
by Kathy Croy
March 31, 2000Well, its not exactly a big surprise that Proposition 22, the controversial bill regarding same-sex marriages in the state of California, passed with a 60%-40% vote. The world, yet alone California, is not quite ready to embark on such progressive idea such as acknowledging gay marriages. But what is this proposition really saying? The American public fails to see that voting ‘yes’ on this proposition really changes nothing at all. Gay marriages are already outlawed, not only in California, but in every other state as well. The bill just says that in the future, if a state legalizes same-sex marriages that we, California, will continue only recognizing “traditinal” marriages, those between a man and a woman.
The bill claims a mere 14 words as its definition:
“Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.”
But I think anyone with a little insight and knowledge knows that the thoughts and ideas supporting this bill extend way beyond the recognition of gay marriages alone. Its about recognizing gays as a whole. Its no secret that the majority of those in favor of the bill viewed themselves, and their marriage, high above anything with homosexual tendencies. The slogan “Protect Marriage”, posted proudly on the lawns of those in favor of the bill says it all. But what exactly are we protecting? Our 50 percent divorce rate? Our 65 percent infidelity rate? Can a gay couple really harm the “sanctuary of marriage” more than we heterosexuals already have? There are more children in the United States growing up in single parent families than ever before, and with the lack of a strong male or female role model in their lives, we are already condemning our children to an endless struggle of figuring out what a “real, loving relationship” really is.
Now I’m not about to go march in a gay pride parade, but I do think its a little ridiculous that the government feels it has to meddle in the sexual practices of its people, and furthermore I am disgusted by the underlining prejudice that follows. Is it not a coincidence that the author of this bill, State Senator Pete Knight has a gay brother and son? Oh I’m sure there’s no resentment there. With this proposition passing it is safe to say that legal discrimination is not a thing of the past. So we, the self-righteous, heterosexual people of American don’t approve of gay marriages. Is it any different from the time we outlawed interracial marriages? When in 13 states interracial marriage was forbidden and punishable by prison? We can rewind the history of the world fifty years and see the exact same arguments being used agianst interacial marriages. “Its not right for the children to grow up in that kind of home.” “Stick to your own kind like God made you.” Some believe that their opinion on gays is ordained from above, therefore giving them the right to hate and judge because the Man upstairs hates gays too. I don’t recall hate ever being justified anywhere in the Bible. But this proposition was not designed to become a social marking as to where you stand on gays as a whole, it is the people who have snowballed the situation into becoming somewhat of a “Right the Wrongs!” campaign. But with all this hate, prejudice and intolerance swallowing the American public, I sincerely warn you, what kind of message are we sending to our children?
Spring Break
by Renee Negrete
March 31, 2000Is a week long enough? I don’t think so, however that’s all we get for spring break! So we better enjoy it while it lasts. Here are some Colton High student’s plans for their spring break 2000.
Sophomore Chandelle Felter says “This year my family and I are going to spend six days and seven nights in lovely Laughlin, Nevada. Having to be in a different state doesn’t mean that I have to do different things, all I plan to do is, while my parents are gambling, me and my brother plan on going to the movies, going down to the river,or just going to the mall to see different things.” Have fun!
Not only leaving the state, but leaving the country! Sophomore Linda Tovar explains her plans for her busy week. “For my spring break, me and two of my other good friends are headed out to Cancun, Mexico. Once we arrive we don’t plan on wasting any time, we plan to hit the beach the same day. I plan to have a great time and remember this week of my life. I wish that spring break were long to have that much more fun.” Exciting week.
Well not all of us are as lucky as some, but in our own ways we still have fun. Freshmen Alexandria Lorea comments, “ I for one would just love to stay home and have an old fashion house party. That Saturday night throw a huge house party, the next morning everyone that is still there from the night before could sleep in, and then once everyone went home clean the house up. For the rest of the week I plan to have friends over everyday and just kick back and relax.” Relaxing week.
Well there are just a few of students’ plans for spring break, What are yours? Don’t know? Well here are a few ideas: you could gather some friends together and head down to the beach and just have fun in the sun all day long, stay home and sleep, or go to the local malls to hang out with your friends.
Well you don’t all have to go somewhere to have fun, just as long as your with some one that knows how to have a good time and the rest will come naturally.
So no matter where you are, you make your own fun, in your own way.
Teen Accidents
by Ashley Jay
March 31, 2000Ever day, hundreds of teens earn the specialpriviledge of gaining the right to drive. Some chose to obey the law and regulations that gave them the right to drive in the first place, and some, even though passed the classes and the tests, only have one thing on their minds as they soon as they get a hold of their licence... S-P-E-E-D.
In 1998, 447 teens from the ages of fifteen to nineteen were involved in fatal motor vehicle accidents while driving. These statistics grow every year.
What causes teen fatalities from driving to be so high? Could it be the immortality felt by young drivers? When asked about the problems of teen speeding., sophomore Amanda Leckemby said, “I don’t think it’s fair that teens are blamed for accidents, there is always another person involved. “
In comparison, adults tend to view it differently. “I think that most teens are responsible enough to handle having a licence, but unfortunately there are the sad few that not only have no awareness of their own lives, but make it very dangerous for other drivers,” says local parent Carl Benson.
One example of senseless deaths occuring as the result of senseless driving took place just last month. Five teens and one middle aged mad were killed in an accident because the driver of the car full of teens was racing another unknown teen driver. The car went out of control, hitting the middle aged mans car and killing them all, except for that drove away.
Even though the statistics and many other resent examples of show that accidents to happen to the youngest of them, Many adults have been the cause of horrible accidents too, but its the young men and women who have the ability to change the future.
Tom Green Show
by Ashley Jay
March 31, 2000“Get the #$%@!! out of my store!” is what the storeowner yelled as he gave Tom Green the boot. That’s the most common response that the brave comedian recieves when he ventures out to the streets to film his comedy skits. For Tom Green’s hilarious stunts have branded him one of MTV’s top shows.
A while ago Tom’s ‘Bum Bum Song’ even made it to the Top of MTV’s famous TRL—exceeding some of the most popular bands such as Limp Bizkit, KoRn, NSYNC, and Backstreet Boys.
Tom’s stunts have almost landed him in jail. His pranks range from dragging dead road kill on the live late night T.V. posing as a blind man, to spending a week with Monica Lewinsky trying to convince the press that they plan on marching down the aisle.
Tom originated from Ottowa, Canada, along with his trusty sidekicks Glenn Humplick and Phil Oiroux. While Phil does nothing but sit in the back ground sipping a coffee cup and occasionally laughing, Glenn gets paid to be the butt of Tom’s jokes. I’m not sure why Glenn puts up with it. He seems to be the only half-sane person to appear on the show. And while he aggrees to show up every day, he usually refuses most of Tom’s attempts to completely humiliate him.
Althought Tom has no problem with fans, I should know, I’m one of them. He does have a small amount of enemies. Some just can’t seem to swallow his humor. On many occasions, Tom’s humor has almost gotten him a black eye. On MTV’s cruise ship Tom ordered the guest in the ships lobby to spread butter on another guests head and to pour drinks on the waiter. This left the man furious.
Tom recently showed up in MTV’s line up. From what it looks like he will stay for quite some time.
TV Quiz
by Ismael Zamora and Andrew Herrera
March 31, 20001) What is the name of Kevin Arnold’s best friend on The Wonder Years?
2) Who was recently killed off in The Simpsons?
3) What is Speed Racer’s brothers name?
4) Who is Ross’s sister on Friends?
5) What was the dog’s name on the Brady Bunch?
6) Who played Vinny Barberino on Welcome Back Kotter?
7) Who is Will’s best friend on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air?
8) Who were the Three main Stooges?
9) What is Fox Mulder’s nickname on The X-Files?
10) What is Al Bundy’s favorite place to hang out?
11) What is the name of Goku’s first son on Dragon Ball Z?
12) What is the name of Scooby Doo’s owner?
13) What is the name of the dog on Fraiser?
14) Name the kids on the Brady Bunch.
15) Daisy Dukes is a character on what show?
16) Who is Jerry’s neighbor on Seinfeld? (First name too!)
17) What is the name of the white armor on Ronin Warriors?
18) Who are the villains on Rocky and Bullwinkle?
19) Who is the leader of The Thundercats?
20) What is 7-Up’s new slogan?
21) What is the name of Jack In the Box’s new “boy band”?ANSWERS
1) Paul 2) Ma Flanders 3) Racer X 4) Monica 5)Tiger
6) John Travolta 7) Jazz 8) Larry, Curly, Moe 9) ”Spooky” Mulder
10) The Nudie Bar 11) Gohan 12)Shaggy 13) Eddie14) Greg, Peter, Bobby, Marcia, Jan, and Cindy 15) The Dukes of
Hazard 16) Cosmo Kramer 17) Harriel 18) Boris and Natasha
19) Liono 20) Make 7-Up Yours 21) Meaty Cheesy Boys
TV rating system
by Napa Utrapiromsuk
March 31, 2000By now you have all noticed the TV rating system in the top left hand corner of your TV screen, right? The government placed this nifty little system on our TVs to inform parents of what their children are watching. But does this system really work???
I don’t think so. I think that the government needs a reality check. It seems as though the government thinks that we live in the Brady Bunch era, where sitting down to watch the tube is a family affair. How many of you actually sit down and watch TV with your family anymore? Yep that’s right, you all enjoy sitting down and watching Dawson’s Creek with your whole family. You know that your parents sure do enjoy those sarcastic teens and their sexual ambitions.
Nowadays, people are busy, and sitting down to watch TV either doesn’t happen, or if it does, gathering the whole family to watch is rather difficult.
You know you’d rather watch your Tom Green than sit down to watch some of your parents favorite shows. Even if you do watch TV with your family, do your parents even look at the ratings? Half the time parents don’t even care what the rating is on their teens TV shows.
How many of your parents would actually stop you from watching a movie rated MA (Mature Audiences) on the tube? “Oh Johnny, this is rated MA, you can’t watch it”...I don’t think so.
If the government really wants to crack down on the adolescence watching shows they aren’t supposed to, maybe they should put those shows at a later time instead of in an eight o’ clock time slot.
WASC
by Stephen Aguilar
March 31, 2000What do you mean my diploma won’t mean diddley-squat if these WASC people say so? Who are these WASC people anyway? What’s this all about?
These are questions that were on the minds of many of us during the “WASC” visit. But few of us actually knew what the point of their visit was or what the implications of their visit would be.
Let’s start with the basics, WASC is a state agency whose purpose is to visit different schools and “accredit” them. What does it mean to be accredited? When a school is accredited this means that the school is in compliance with pre-determined standards. An accredited school can continue teaching its students as well as award them diplomas that actually mean something, so getting accredited is pretty important to the students as well as the teachers and administration. With this being said how did our school do. Are our diplomas going to mean something when we graduate?
Out diplomas are definitely going to mean something, when asked about the subject our principal, Jerry Almendarez, stated that diplomas only lose their meaning in “extreme cases.”
Why then all the fuss with WASC? Even though our diplomas do mean something our school still requires some feedback as to how we are doing. After all the objective view is often the most truthful one.
This objective view, known as WASC, arrived here at CHS around 3:00 P.M. on Sunday March 5 and were given a forty-five minute tour of the campus. After this and a few more meetings that day the WASC committee were let loose on our school that following Monday. They were given keys to all the classrooms and were allowed to do their thing.
So, how did we do? “Not as well as we could’ve” stated Almendarez when asked that same question. It seems that our approach towards education was on target but the outcome was not tied into state standards enough. But worry not, “They loved our students, they were the best ever seen” also stated a proud Almendarez. So hey at least we scored high on personality. Now all that’s left is to think ahead, when asked what his plans for CHS were Almendarez had this to say: “I want CHS to be the school everyone talks about...I want to be the Redlands”
Who Wants to be a Millionaire
by Andrew Herrera
March 31, 2000August 16,1999: what started as a two week special has turned in to a three night a week phenomenon. That phenomenon is ABC’s huge ratings hit, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. The show, originally from England, was a huge hit immediately with the millions of viewers watching to see who would win the big prize, one million dollars. What makes this show such a huge success is that it puts your average person in a position that we all want to be in, a position that can change lives. The show has captivated audiences all over the U.S. and leaves you talking about the show the next day. It has also introduced yet another catchphrase into the American lexicon: “Is that your final answer?”
Michael P. Davies, who brought the show over to America, says, “I knew it would be a success.” He was right. The only catch to get the show to air was getting the licensing rights to the popular show, nations from around the world were in a bidding war for the show. Eventually ABC won, and ran the show on consecutive nights to show that this was not just some new show. The show is topping the ratings constantly with no end in sight. The next thing that was needed was a host that could appeal to everyone; this turned out to be Regis Philbin, who came to the show’s producer, Davies, saying there was nothing career wise that he wanted to do more.
The show’s format is simple: contestants must call a phone number and answer three questions correctly and in the fastest time to qualify. Once they qualify they are asked to participate in a five question play-off in which they are asked to answer questions of increasing difficulty; those who answer these questions correctly and in the fastest time are ranked. After thirty minutes the results are in and between 7:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. the winning contestant are told to come to New York with a friend the next day to be in the hot seat for a chance to win the big prize.
The English version of the show has never had a million dollar winner. The first big bucks winner in history came here in America when someone finally answered all 15 questions correctly (incidentally no one has won a million since then.) Philbin offers an explanation for the reason people don’t win big money everytime, “They use their life lines too quickly.” So all you millionaire fanatics, remember Regis said to save your lifelines to the end when the questions become the hardest.
NSYNC REVIEW
AMY CARILLO
03/31/00
*NSYNC’s long awaited sophomore album No Strings Attached was finally released on March 21, and boy was it worth the wait. Their current single “Bye Bye Bye” has blown up on the charts and has garnered tons of airplay on radio stations all across the nation. If you like “Bye Bye Bye,” then you are in for a treat. The whole album has the catchy lyrics with a pop spin on it. But it isn’t just a typical pop album filled with sugar coated love songs.
*NSYNC added in a little bit of everything for every generation. There are the mellow ballads, the hot dance tracks, and even a little bit of rap courtesy of Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes. She joined the guys on a track called “Space Cowboy,” in which they told their view on the whole millennium bug. The guys caught the internet vibe and added a track called “Digital Getdown,” which added a little techno beat. A track called “I Thought She Knew” proved that boy bands can indeed sing, by showing off their five part harmonies with their acappela.
Not only are the fans impressed with the new album, but even the employees at the music stores. Virgin Megastore in Ontario Mills sold approximately 900 copies out of their 1000 CD’s that were shipped in, on the first day of sales alone. The Wherehouse sold all but ten of their copies.
Even though young girls are supposeded to be the target fan base of boy bands like *NSYNC, No Strings Attached takes the group to another level, providing endearing music for a variety of tastes, and truly proves that they aren’t just another bubble gum band. This CD is definitely worth the wait—you will never get the catchy lyrics out of your head.
THE CURE REVIEW
JULIE CONNOR
03/31/00
We’ve all heard the rumors that preceeded almost every Cure album over the last decade: this CD would be their last. And just when they’d make a believer out of everyone that cares, they made their comeback releasing Bloodflowers, a nine track album, on February 15. Bloodflowers, as its title somewhat implies, follows the melancholy, signature style of The Cure only with an even more adept, practiced sound. The album’s opening track, “Out of This World,” maintains a simple, euphonic tempo with the ever-traditional nostalgic lyrics characteristics of singer-songwriter Robert Smith. “One last tie before its over. One last time before the end. One last time before it’s time to go again.” Could he be singing about the release of the album? Smith commented on a recent interview that he is, “really enthusiastic about the band again” and that his excitement for it has caused him to “have a bit of rethinking about it being the last album.”
”Maybe Someday” has an enticing beginning brought to you by the presupposed sound of the guitar and drum mix. It is sung out of longing and remembrance and is done in equilibrium. “I’ll see you smile as you call my name, start to feel and it feels the same and I know that maybe someday’s come again...” A later track, “The Last Day of Summer” is ironic in light of the August 29 crash of four Colton High students, which happened on the last day of summer. “It used to be so easy. I never even tried. Yeah it used to be so easy, but the last day of summer never felt so cold. The last day of summer never felt so old...all that I feel for or trust in or love, all that is gone...the last day of summer never felt so.....”
The CD’s lyrics aren’t gong to startle anyone with its emotional content. Each track on the album relates to a longing, regret, loss or some otherwise despondent feeling which inspires Smith to write. He has said that lyrically speaking, the songs are not a honest reflection of his personality. He told Meanstreet in a recent interview that “The 90% of me that isn’t in the song is just dead boring...It’s really easy to slide into a depression fueled by the pointless of its existence.”
Ultimately, what this record shows is that because The Cure has maintained their signature sound and unique form over the last decade, the release of their long awaited CD and tour has been and will continue to have overwhelming success. You have to hand it to the bands who are able to experiment, fail, try again, and who are able to sustain loyal fans through long years of creating music.
For all of us who weren’t lucky enough to get tickets to their February show at the Palace, The Cure is ready to stop playing games and tour for real this time. “The Dream Tour 2000” begins in May and promises to be a quick sellout.
Check for concert tour dates.
CONCERT REVIEW NOFX
LEXIE CASTELL
03/31/00
NOFX...California’s pride and joy, one of the most known punk bands of the past decade. This Los Angeles/Berkeley based band has been around since 1983. The 4 piece band consists of Fat Mike on lead vocals and bass; El Hefe on guitar, trumpet, and vocals; Erik Melvin on rhythm guitar and backing vocals, and Erik Ghint on drums. And if you’ve never heard of them, then don’t worry— you’re probably not living under a rock, its just that NOFX is one of the few bands that can actually say that they became so incredibly successful without ever “selling out” to the true punk rock scene.
So how does a band get so successful and big without actually commercializing? Actually, NOFX’s anti-MTV/anti-radio stand is, in a way, what made them as popular as they are. Although it may seem that it’s hard to get anywhere in the music business without a major label, NOFX’s success is astoundingly high. Fat Mike’s efforts over the years against MTV and commercial radio stations playing their songs and videos has actually increased the band’s popularity.
NOFX refuses to become another trendy mainstream band and strives to be true to the real scene of where it all started. It shows on the cover of the CD Heavy Petting Zoo just how much love NOFX has for commercializing. It says, “No thanks to MTV, quit buggin’ us-major labels - quit buggin’ us - commercial radio - quit playing us - we’ve been doing fine all these years without you so leave us the #$%&@!! alone!”
Fat Mike, the band’s lead singer, says that he doesn’t like MTV for the simple fact that “Yeah, MTV sells records, but it also destroys bands, and we want to avoid becoming a product. We’re a band, not just a song.” Sounds pretty inspiring, I think, and makes me wonder why more bands aren’t like this. “I remember hearing NOFX for the first time and thinking how amazing the music was. They are in my opinion one of the greatest bands of all time,” Says #1 NOFX fan, Senior Sean Hammer.
NOFX is one of Epitaph Record’s finest. They were signed back in 1989 and have made a name for themselves in the world of punk music. The Epitaph label is really big in the punk category with bands like Pennywise and Millencolin who share the label. Fat Mike even started his own record label “Fat Wreck Chords.” Bands that get signed on are non-commercial bands like NOFX—bands like Lagwagon, No use for a name, and Strung out.
The band’s most recent work was the album entitled The Decline, released last November. This is not really a full length album but more of a taste of what to expect on their next album that will be entitled Pump up the Valium due out in May. The Decline is a single track CD that lasts 18 minutes long and basically goes through every phase NOFX has been through the past 18 years. NOFX haven’t made a new album since what was supposed to be the final album to the NOFX trilogy, So long and thanks for all the shoes. This album came out in 1997 and the last real touring they did was when they were on the bill for Vans Warped tour in ’98.
NOFX played three Southern California dates recently; two sold out nights at the Glasshouse at Pomona and one in San Diego. I was fortunate enough to catch the February 13 show thanks to my good friend, Sean Hammer. This was a show NOFX put on as a benefit for Keith Morris who is dying of adult syndrome diabetes. Keith Morris was the lead singer of the seminal punk bands Black Flag and The Circle Jerks, who were some of NOFX’s biggest influences.
All I have to say about a NOFX show is that if you ever plan on going to one there won’t be any escaping the mosh pit there. I speak from experience. They put on one of the best performances that I have ever seen to date. From start to finish with an almost 2 hour performance the slam dancing, crowd surfing, sing-a-longs fans, and noise didn’t stop. Three bands including NOFX played, the first two openers had a real acquired taste that I couldn’t personally feel. But once NOFX came on it just got so nuts that you got caught up in the mosh pit even if you didn’t plan on being in one. Sean and I had the best seats in the house; we were front and center against the railing so we saw everything that went on...and I mean everything. From crowd surfers falling head first on the ground to shoes flying through the air.
The chanting of “NOFX...NOFX!” began when the band members started to come out from backstage. The sold out crowd went wild. There was no room left for even one person to come in. People lined all sides of the stage. Fans held up signs of their favorite songs hoping that they might just read it and play it. Fans also held up pictures of the band and even a picture of the band’s lead singer Fat Mike in his senior year of high school. He got a big kick out of it and even put it on stage to stare at it through out the show.
NOFX opened the show starting with the cool song “Together on the Sand.” They played a variety of songs from the 10 full length albums they have under their belts. They played a new song called “Louise.” They played a new song off of their coming soon CD called “The Pharmacist’s Daughter.” They played other rad hits like “Please play our song on the radio,” “Green corn, “”Kids of the K-Hole,” “Kill all the white man,” “Don’t call me white, “and “Quart in session,” just to name a few. They ended the night with the ever famous ending to end all their shows, “Buggley eyes,” dedicated to all the beautiful girls in the world.
The NOFX show came to an end, the band members came down from the stage to give out guitar picks and props to the fans, who like myself got crushed in the front rows. So if you get a chance go catch NOFX at this year’s annual Warped Tour this summer, go out and buy one of their CDs. If not you’re missing out on the worldwide mass-hysteria simply called NOFX. And remember its not the success that makes the band, its you and me and all the other punk rockers out there. So keep Rockin’ on!!!
DVD PLAYERS
DANIEL ILGENFRITZ
03/31/00
I remember, WAY back in the day, when my good old Betamax was replaced by the wave of the future, the VHS. I remember going to the video store, and instead of being greeted by the usual collection of Betas, seeing these odd new creations, similar, but somehow much different. VHS has been a mainstay in home entertainment for a long, long time, but we may be on the edge of a new revolution in the industry. And that revolution is called a DVD player.
You probably know what a DVD player is, but just in case, I’ll give you a short explanation. A DVD (Digital Video Disc) is a compact disc, just like a normal music CD. A DVD player is about the same size as a VCR, only you play the disc instead of a tape. It’s that simple. And DVD’s have gotten VERY big in the past couple years. These aren’t like those giant, over-expensive laser disc players. You can find a good, basic DVD player for around $150. And DVD’s aren’t expensive at all. A new DVD costs about the same as a new tape, $18-$20. So why is a DVD any better than a VHS? There are a lot of reasons.
First off, the video quality is a LOT better. A friend and I were watching The Matrix on his new DVD player a couple months ago. Now, The Matrix is already one hell of a good-looking movie, but it looked INCREDIBLE on DVD. Everything was crisp and clear and sharp and defined. Now, I’ll admit, if you don’t have a very good TV, then the difference won’t be all that much, but if you have a fairly decent TV, you’ll notice it. And, unlike VCR’s, if you pause a DVD player, the image on-screen is perfect. I know that probably doesn’t mean a whole lot to anybody, but I thought it was pretty cool to pause it and see Neo in mid-air in perfect quality.
Now, how many people have ever gone to see a great movie in the theaters, and then waited and waited and waited for it to come out on video, agonizing over every trip to Blockbuster, only to find out it isn’t out yet? Well, if you ever have, then you should like DVD’s, because they tend to come out at least a month earlier than their VHS counterparts. So, while you’re sitting at home, bored out of your mind because whatever movie it is still hasn’t come out, the happy DVD owners next door are watching it with glee. Doesn’t that make you jealous?
Probably the one biggest improvement (At least to me) from VHS to DVD is the tons of added features on DVD’s. Now, I’m a big movie fanatic. You can place a good bet on me being at the Mills just about every friday or saturday in a month. I see tons of movies. I love them. And one thing I love seeing is extra footage, left out scenes, stuff like that. Unfortunatley, that’s not something you get to see a lot with VHS. Occasionally, a Director’s Cut of a film will be released, or a short segment will be added after the credits in a movie. With DVD’s, that’s all different. Almost every single DVD out there comes packed with extras. The Matrix had a half-hour segment on the special effects in the film, and the art design concepts used. Boogie Nights featured left out scenes. Austin Powers II had tons of left out footage and music videos from the movie. Blade had left out scenes, background information, and a half-finished alternate ending to the film. And almost all DVD’s have interviews with the cast and crew of the film, as well as the original trailers for the film. And you don’t even have to wait until after the credits to see these added features, because DVD’s feature another improvement over VCR’s-You can skip directly to different portions of the disc. The films is cut into chapters, so if, say, you just wanna see that sweet lobby gunfight scene in The Matrix, you can skip directly to it. Or if you just want to see the special effects feature, you can go to that. You can skip ahead a few chapters and just watch the movie from that point, or you can watch it all from the beginning. You could do that all on a VCR, but you would have to bother with fast forwarding through it all, and finding just the right spot.
DVD’s aren’t just a small portion of the home-entertainment industry, either. They have grown consistently since their inception a few years ago, and predictions show they’re just gonna get bigger. DVD players are just as affordable as VCR’s, and are easy to use. And this september will mark the US release of the newest and, to date, the best video game system around, the PlayStation 2. The PlayStation 2 will feature, among other things, a built-in DVD player. That means everyone who buys one of these systems is going to immediatley own a DVD player. It’s expected to double the existing DVD market at least, in addition to all the other individual home players expected to be sold this Christmas.
I can’t tell you the future of the DVD player and the VCR, but I can give you my prediction. I think that the DVD player will continually grow, and eventually supplant the VCR in the homes around the country and the world. The DVD offers higher quality, earlier release, and added features for equal prices to that of VCR’s, and more and more computers are being made with DVD players as a standard extra.DVD players are going to be the next big change our TV’s will experience, and I can’t think of anything better that could happen to them.
LOCAL BAND
STEPHANIE FARRIOR
03/31/00
If you’re in a band, wouldn’t it be a dream for you to appear on MTV? Well for eighteen year old Paul Lapinsky his dream is coming true. His local band from Redlands, Lead Foot Lewie, is going to record on MTV on April 14.
Some might be interested to hear where he got the name Lead Foot Lewie. So here goes the story : Lapinsky’s step dad asked why his car needed new brakes. Lapinsky didn’t answer. His stepdad asked, “Well why, have you been lead foot lewie-ing it around?” Lapinsky just smiled and knew right away that’s what the name of his band was going to be.
Lapinsky, singer and guitar player, isn’t the only one that should be taking credit for this softcore punk band. They’re also seventeen year old Jeff, drummer, and nineteen year old Nate, bass, and back up vocalist. This band has only been together for a month and a half but is doing pretty well by trying to practice everyday for about three hours. The three boys are really psyched about getting to appear on MTV. Lapinsky said, “It’s unbelievable, it’s like a dream.” They all agreed that they didn’t want to be big and sell out. Lapinsky added “We don’t want to be like Blink cool, we want to be like Strung Out cool, we only want to play shows, not concerts!”
Most people get inspired by someone to sing or play in a band, for Lapinsky it was the Beach Boys. “They’re my role model.” Lapinsky not only plays the guitar and sings, he also plays the saxophone. A couple years ago he played in a band named Custom 100, and then the year after that he played in a band named Spacey Sprocket. This band was also softcore punk and became popular back in Lancaster when he lived there. They played two shows a week and they even made a single. Spacey Sprocket is taking a break for awhile due to some transportation issues, but they are hoping to get together soon and make a CD at the end of the summer.
Lapinsky absolutely loves to sing. He’s been singing since he was little. He entered talent shows in elementary school and sang, you guessed it...the Beach Boys, and won almost every year! This passion for music and drive to success will take this band far. So be sure to look for them in the month of April, and in the near future!
MOVE REVIEW NINTH GATE
DANIEL ILGENFRITZ
03/31/00
Once again, Johnny Depp has chosen a role off the beaten path, in another odd film. This time it’s The Ninth Gate, a film that poses as a horror movie in ads, but in reality, is more of a mystery/thriller.
Depp plays the role of Dean Corso, a rare book collector/dealer with very few scruples. The first scene he’s in he’s ripping off a family for an original set of Don Quixote, telling them it’s worth far less than what it is and buying it from them, and has no problem at all doing it. He is soon contacted by Boris Balkan, (Frank Langella) a wealthy businessman and scholar of demonology. He shows Corso his priceless collection of books, all on the subject of Satan, and reveals why he was contacted—he wants Corso to check the authenticity of his copy of The Nine Gates of the Shadow Kingdom, a book that supposedly has the power to call Satan to Earth. He hints at the fact that the book did not “work”, and he wants Corso to travel to Europe to check his book against the only other two copies in existence. He accepts the deal for a tremendous sum that’s never revealed to the audience, and prepares for his journey.
It doesn’t take long before he’s contacted by the widow of the man who sold his copy to Balkan shortly before his suicide. She wants Balkan’s copy back, claiming her husband would never have sold it. She attacks Corso, and he’s lucky to survive. Next, the owner of the rare book store where he works is slain, presumably because Corso stashed Balkan’s copy of The Nine Gates there. He heads off to Europe quickly, where things only get worse. An odd woman keeps showing up wherever he is, like she’s following him. He finds the owner of the first other copy, and checks it, noticing a difference in some of the nine pictures in the book. On returning (with the help of the aforementioned woman), he finds the man slain, the book burned to ashes in the fireplace.
The same happens with the next copy. He again finds differences in the pictures, and is then knocked out, awakening to find the room in flames, the wheelchair-bound owner of the book dead, the book half-burned. He is attacked by the same man several times, and is always saved by his odd female acquaintance each time. He finds out that the man is working for the widow that attacked him, and that she plans to use the book she finally suceeded in stealing from him in a ceremony attended by select cult members. He sneaks in, only to see Balkan storm in and take his copy of the book back. The two-and-a-half-hour film climaxes in an ancient castle where Corso confronts Balkan, who has uncovered the secret of The Nine Gates , and plans to invoke Satan.
Personally, I liked The Ninth Gate. I’ll admit I’m a sucker for anything involving the kinds of things this movie does, ancient books about the devil, and the like. But this isn’t the kind of film everyone will want to sit through. It’s rather long, and drags in several places. I could easily have trimmed fifteen minutes to a half hour from it. And the one thing that will most likely turn most people off from it is the ending. It’s extremely ambiguous, and doesn’t explain everything that happened in the film. That seems to be the trademark of The Ninth Gate. It also doesn’t explain who the woman helping Johnny Depp’s character is, or why the widow’s husband hangs himself in the opening of the film. I personally didn’t see this as a bad thing, it left the film open for interpretation, which I thought was an interesting concept. But many people would prefer to have it all laid out for them.
The acting was all fair, but Johnny Depp’s character wasn’t given a whole lot of depth, and that could’ve helped. All said and done, The Ninth Gate isn’t for everyone. In fact, I’d go so far as to say it’s only for a very select audience. If you liked what you saw in the trailer or commercials, then you’d probably enjoy the film, but if not, then I wouldn’t recommend this to you.
RAP VS ROCK PT2
STEVE RAMIREZ
03/31/00
you may have noticed the first Rap vs. Rock story in the last issue of the Pepper Bough and it can be described with one word, “Ouch!” Well this is Rap vs. Rock 2, the retaliation, the comeback, the feedback, whatever you want to call it. The main reason why there is a “Sequel,” is because in the first R vs R there were two words left out, Hip Hop. Hip Hop is more than just a style of music, it is a culture. It is a culture that revolves around four main elements: MC’ing, DJ’ing, breaking, and graffiti art. Part of it deals with American problems, that exist in American experiences, in American inner cities, but that gets interpreted by people as drugs, sex, and violence, interpreted by those who know nothing about these experiences .
This artform was discovered in 1970 when Kool Herc brought out his set of turntables and began what is known today as Hip Hop. In the beginning every element had its own place. A d.j. would get the party started, then someone would pick up the microphone and start to rap, or M.C. Then there would be the breakdancers battling it out. All around the cities there would be graffiti art and there still is. Hip Hop was a creation. They don’t need any instruments, they make their own music, their own way.
Rock, real rock at least, to tell the truth is a music of the past. Rock is somewhere on Jupiter with Jim Morrison and Jimi Hendrix playing hop scotch along with John Lennon playing referee. Why is rock gone? “Don’t ask me, I don’t know I don’t know I don’t know I don’t know,” says Ozzy Osbourne.
“They’re much deeper than that and can touch one’s soul,” wrote my esteemed collegue Stephen Aguilar in the first R vs R. Well of course, any music can touch one’s soul, it’s just how the listener interprets the song. At times a listener can relate to the words of a song or the words can just make them feel better and that, my friend, is what is inspiring and very valuable about hearing someone rhyme his or her life story. It is obvious that rap is inspiring and valuable or else it wouldn’t have been around for so long.
There is a rap song for everything you are feeling and hearing that in a song makes the listeners realize that they’re not alone. Of course the type of rap I’m talking about is the real rap; the kind that you feel and not just listen to; the kind that has the power to move you.
Not all rap is good. There is the kind of rap that is pathetic and embarassing. The kind that talks about how much money they got and how many women they had sex with, etc. This is not real Hip Hop, this is just telling the listeners what they want to hear, in rhyme. But like in all music there is always the good, the bad, and the great.
All music is beautiful, valuable, and inspiring, just to different people because people are different, just like music. Rap and Rock are not competing against each other; therefore, there is no winner.
With a mixture of Aguilar’s words, it’s painfully obvious that he did not do his homework at all, thus forever tainting nothing.
A.B. Quintanilla y Los Kumbia Kings
Amanda Marcial
March 31, 2000
Hoy marcando el quinto aniversario de la muerte de la reina del tex-mex Selena, quien la recuerdan con mucho amor su familia y sus fanaticos por todo el mundo. Aunqúe la familia Quintanilla paso por una etapa muy dura, ellos sabian que tenian que salir adelante con sus vidas. Aunque fue muy dificil para A.B Quintanilla empezar un disco sin su hermana Selena, lo logro.
Después de una breve prosentida ausencia A.B Quintanilla III ha regresado al espectáculo con su nuevo grupo llamado Los Kumbia Kings, quienes tocan un poco de todo cumbia, pop, r&b, reggae, balladas, y en inglés. Con su primer album Amor, Familia, y Respeto han logrado por medio de su música ser acceptados en los Estados Unidos. Los Kumbia Kings quienes consisten de Jorge “Robbie” Del Moral, Roy “Slim” Ramirez, Alex “P.B” Ramirez, Andrew “Baby Drew” Maes, Jason “DJ Kane” Cano, Cruz “C.K” Martinez y A.B “Phat Kat” Quintanilla. Estos muchachos se encuentra muy unidos y juntos hicieron realidad su sueños con su primer album. Este grupo no solo canta, sino tambien tocan su instrumentos con tanto sabor.
Las canciónes en este album es del tipo donde la gente se puede divertir y gozar la música al mismó tiempo. La mayoria de las canciónes son escritas por A.B. Quintanilla. La cumbia “Oh No” fue escrita por Selena y A.B. Este album consiste canciónes de todos tipos. Pero la mayoria de las canciónes son cumbias, el tipo de música que ponen a bailar a la gente como: “¿Dime Quien?, Azucar, Se Fue Mi Amor, Te Quiero A Ti.” La canción que los esta haciendo muy populares en los Estados Unidos es “U Don’t Love Me”, con la participación especial de Nu Flavor, se trata de una mujer que es infiel a su novio , su novio dandose cuenta le reprocha y le dice que basta con sus mentiras porque el ya sabe la verdad, que ella ya no lo ama. Esta canción es un gran éxito en las estaciónes de radio.
Con todo el éxito de Los Kumbia Kings, ellos han hecho realidad sus sueños y de milliones de personas atraves de su música y transpasando las barreras del idioma, edad, y cultura. ¡Poniendo a bailar a mulititudes! En nombre de su hermana Selena, A.B dedico éste album a su publico por ayudarlos a pasar por una etapa muy dura en su vida y darles tanto cariño a su familia. A.B. tambien dedico éste album a su hermana Selena, quien continúa inspirandolo a escribir, amar y a creer que cualquier cosa es posible.
¿Por que se celebra el Cinco de Mayo?
Stephen Aguilar
March 31, 2000
Cuando el día cinco de mayo llega muchos de nosotros pensamos que es el día de la independencia de México, pero este no es el caso.
La historia del Cinco de Mayo empieza con la guerra civil de 1858. En esta guerra el presidente Comonfort fue sacado por los rebeldes. Estos rebeldes hicieron Juárez su presidente. Como presidente Juárez saco al otro gobierno que estaba allí en ese tiempo y hizo la cuidad de México el capital de su nuevo gobierno.
En 1861 Juárez trato establizar el gobierno que fue destrozado por la guerra civil. Para hacer eso el suspendió los pagos de interés que México estaba mandando a gobiernos de otros países. Pero esos países (Francia, Inglaterra, y España) se enojaron y unieron sus esfuerzos para proteger el dinero que gastaron en el país. El que tuvo la idea de hacer eso fue el Napoleon III, él creyó que a México le iba a gustar la idea de tener un rey. Pero cuando vieron lo que estaba haciendo Napoleon con los otros países, España y Inglaterra, no lo quisieron ayudar.
Napoleon mando sus fuerzas en 1862 a Puebla, México. Allí esas fuerzas encontraron a General Ignacio Zaragoza y las fuerzas militares de México. Esas fuerzas pudieron parar la invasión de Napoleon en el Cinco de Mayo, 1862. Por eso nosotros los Méxicanos celebramos este día importante en nuestra historia.
¡Horoscopos!
Connie Villagrana
March 31, 2000
ESCORPION (Oct.24-Nov.22)
Animo: Alegre con lo bien que te a hido en la escuela, ayudas a tu compañeros para que ellos tambien sepan como te sientes.
Amor: Te das cuanta de que la persona que te trai por las nubes no mas le gusta jugar con tu cabeza, mejor ve a pescar para una persona mas madura.
Amistades: Cuando una amistad no fue sincera contigo decides enfrentarloy descubres la verdad.Sabiendo que vas a estar de fiesta en fiesta durante las vacaciones de primavera, trabajas mas duro para no atrasarte en tus materias mas dificiles.
SAGITARIO(Nov.23-Dic.21)
Animo: Decepcionado de que tus calificaciones no estuvieran como las querias estas comparando para ver quien es el/la que te conviene para decidir quien te quedas. Amistades: Alguien que creias que te habia olvidado derepente esta en tu vida una vez mas.
Vida:Te sobros algunos centavos de tu trabajo de part-time, y te das vuelo a comprar todo lo que se te atraviese.
CAPRICORNIO(Dic.22-Ene.20)
Animo: Sientes que te estan jalando en cien diferentes direcciones, aunque tratas de poner tu atencion en una sola es dificil.
Amor: Cuando un compañero/a te ayuda en clase-hay muy buenos resultados.
Amistades:Cuando todo tu grupo sale a pasarce una noche juntos te das cuenta de que tienes mucho en comun con alguien de quien menos lo esperabas.
Vida: No te alcansa el dinero para nada, tienes que organisarte para no gastar de mas.
ACUARIO(Ene.21-Feb.18)
Animo: Te sientes muy atrevido/a te estas preparondo para resolver algo que tenias pendiente.
Amor: Despues de una noche romantida con el perfecto Romeo esperas con ancias la noche de la segunda esena.
Amistades:Una confucion enorme con una nueva amistad te preguntas porque recibbiste su amistad para empezar.
Vida: Despues de que tus padres te prometiero rehacer tu recamara no te han quitado de sus espaldas desde entonces.
PISCIS(Feb..19-Mar.20)
Animo: Años de esconder unos de tus talentos te atreves de sacarlo al publico.
Amor: Coversaciones de media noche con una persona muy especial te traian dulces sueños.
Amistades: Te puedes dar cuenta se la persona que creias handaban de tras de ti quiere ser tu amigo/a o algo mas.
Vida: Te sientes con ganas de tener un cuerpo saludable y paras de comer golosinas.
ARIES(Mar.21-Abr,19)
Animo: Aborido/a de la misma rutina, sueñas con hacer un viaje exotico.
Amor: No desperdicias ningun coqueteo, porque nadie sabe si algunos de esos sera la persona quien buscabas.
Amistades: Tu y un amigo/a encuntran un nuevo lugar donde pasarcela despues de la escuela.
Vida: Te da una sensacion de soledad y buscas a tus amigos/as como alojo.
TAURO(Abr.20-May.20)
Animo:Confudido sobre una meta que te propusiste,haces tiempo para ti.
Amor: Te atreves a conecer a tu conquista del inter-net en persona.
Amistades: Tu amigo/a te ayuda a que no aurines tu rutina de ejercicios
Vida: Cuando te estabas dando por vencido a hacer un projecto de la escuela , te diste cuenta de que si hay una manera de hacerlo mas facil.
GEMINIS(May.21-Jun.21)
Animo: Preocupado/a por tu vida romantica te das tiempo para atender a tu cariño.
Amor: Juegas cupido, tratas de juntar al amigo/a de tu novio/a con tu amigo/a .
Amistades: Un nueva amistad te ayuda en una crisis, y se hacercan mucho mas.
Vida: Disfrutando la escuela mucho mas te involucras en todo lo qque puedes.
CANCER(Mar.21-Abri.20)
Animo:Habido tantos cambios en ru manera de pensar que no sabesni que onda contu futuro.
Amor:No apresures las cosas y deja que el amor lleque solo.
Amistades: No te enclaustresen casa, sal y diviertete.
Vida:Por lo reqular no tienes problemas de dinero, sin embargo,a ulimas fecha no te alcanza.
LEO(Jul.23-Ago.22)
Animo: Sin animos de estar seria buscas cualquier oportunidad para enseñar tu lado alegre.
Amor: No crees que estas listo/a para un relacion seria, decides andar soltero/a por un tiempo hasta que la persona perfecta llegue.
Amistades: Aunque estas contenta de que tu amigo/a ya tiene novio/a no deja de derte celos porque el/ella era el que te justaba a ti.
Vida: Quieres divertirte en tu propio teritorrio y organizas una fiesta en tu casa , tus padres te apoyan.
VIRGO(Ago22-Sept22)
Animo: Ya no le des vueltas a lo mismo, hay veces que analizas los problemas en exceso, ponte feliz de lias decisiones que has tomado aunque hayas metido la pata.
Amor: Ya no sabes como cancelar tantas invitaciones.
Amistades: En esta epoca cuida la relacion con tus amistades.
Vida: Tienes necesidad de un cambio ya que sientes que todos los dias son iguales.
LIBRA(Sept.23-Oct.23)
Animo: Te a hido muy bien en todo lo que te has propuesto, te atreves a tratar tu suerte en cosas nuevas.
Amor: Un admirador te confunde cuando te busca segido pero no se atreve a invitarte a salir.
Amistades: Le das espacio a un amigo/a, y descubres que eso era todo lo que necesitaban.
Vida: Tu y unos amigos/as descubrieron que aveces haciendo nada se la pasan mejor.
La Cara Joven de los Corridos
Horacio Fregoso
March 31, 2000
Hemos escuchado de muchos cantantes famosos y sobresalientes en el mundo de la musica, hoy les voy a platicar de un cantante de musica norteña que esta pegando duro en la radio y television en español. Este cantante es presentado como Lupillo Rivera y como muchos ya saben es muy solicitado por miles de muchachas.
La mayoria de su famlia son cantantes conocidos, como su papa, el gran cantante Pedro Rivera. Igual como su hermano Juan Rivera y su hermana Jennie Rivera, todos ellos son grandes cantantes.
Lupillo Rivera tiene canciones y corrido masizos, muy bonitos y interesantes de escuchar, una de ellas es la cancion mas reciente “Veinte Mujeres.” Tambien tiene otros corridos que han pegado mucho como “El Moreno, El Pelotero, Gabino Barrera y El Cartel De Tijuana.” Este cantante aunque es joven no se queda atras, porque tiene una voz que no cualquiera la puede entonar en sus canciones. Lupillo Rivera tambien es conocido como “El Toro Del Corrido”.
En lo persona el es uno de los cantantes solistas favoritos y sus canciones por lo mismo.
Noticias de Prom
Connie Villagrana
March 31, 2000
¿Ya estas listo para Prom? Si no, que esperas, se te esta acabando el tiempo, no puedes faltar al evento mas memorable del año.Este año tiene muchas sorpresa esperandote para brindarte una noche inovidable.El baile va a ser situado en Diammond Bar en Los Angeles Royal Vista Country Club el 29 de abril, comesando a las 8 pm. Los precios este ano son mucho mas altos que de anos pasados -el precio es $110 con tarjeta de ASB y $120 sin tarjeta de ASB. Eso son los precios por pareja; los tickets individuales son la mitad de estos. Estan a la venta en lla ofiicina ¡YA!
La noche va a brindarte una velada en careta con caballo para las parejas que quieran una noche super romantica, no te preoucupes por cargos extra vienen incluidos en los tickets. Vas a poder disfrutar de dos diferentes DJ’s uno adentro y otro afuera. La comida va a ser ofresida en buffe asi que puedes comer toda la noche, con tres diferentes buffet, uno de nieve, otro de ensaladas, y el ultimo de nachos.
Vacaciones Primaverales
Pedro Vargas
March 31, 2000
Muchos Latinos conocen las vacaciones de la Semana Santa, pero aqui la conocen como “Spring Break.” El cambio de nombre de estas vacaciones se debe a la variedad de religiones y creencias. “Spring break” o “Vacaciones Primaverales” es algo que cambio en nombre y en este año en la fecha en que los estudiantes saldran a disfrutar de su tiempo libre.
Durante la semana de “Spring Break” muchas personas se iran de vacaciones, muchas iran a visitar familiares al otro lado del mundo, y muchos van a tener un buen tiempo en las playas acompañados de amigos y familiares. Muchas personas se quedaran en sus casas muy aburridos. A los estudiantes de Colton High School les preguntamos “ Que haras durante “Spring break” o “Vacaciones Primaverales?”
Saul Nañez 11
“Yo pienso irme de vacaciones a Los Angeles para visitar a mis familiares y amigos. Mi opinion sobre el tiempo en que nos dejan, es que son demasiado cortas las vacaciones que nos dan y ojala nos dejaran una semana mas.”
Roberto Felix 11
“Lo que tengo planeado para vacaciones es muy simple, pero busco divertirme, yo ire a Las Vegas con mis hermanos por tercera vez, voy a divertirme con mi familia y tomare muchas fotos familiares. Mi punto de vista sobre el tiempo es que son un poco cortas, pero nos tenemos que conformar con el tiempo que nos dejan.”
Horacio Fregoso 12
“En mi opinion pienso que el tiempo que nos dan es demasiado corto, porque usualmente nos deberian de dar dos semanas, para poder realisar nuestros planes que tenemos planeados, porque una semana es demaciada corta.”
Estos son unos de los pasatiempos planeadas por los estudiantes de Colton High School. Muchos estudiantes piensan que las vacaciones son muy cortas para ser llamadas vacacions, pero yo pienso que nos tenemos que conformar y disfrutar del el tiempo que nos dejan libre.
¡Que Desastre!
Horacio Fregoso
March 31, 2000
EL tornado es un desastre natural mas, que la madre naturaleza nos a dado a todos los humanos, especialmente parte de los Estados Unidos como en Oklahoma, Colorado y otros estados mas, que a su paso deja miles de perdidas en dinero y deja a muchas familias en la calle.
Hay muchos factores que causan los tornados, dependiendo como este la posicion del sol. A diferencia de otros desastres este es especial porque te anuncia cuando llega, pero es imparable porque arraza todo sobre su paso como carros, casas, arboles y mucho mas.
En Oklahoma, es donde recientemente estan azotando los tornados. Otro desastre similar a este es los tal llamados “huracanes,” porque casi tiene la misma capasidad de destrucion y velocidad. La diferencia de estos dos desastres naturales es que el torando se forma en suelo firme y los huracanes se forman de la profundidad del oceano. En conclusion los tornados es otro mas de los desastres en este mundo.
Badminton
by Amber Arakaki
March 31, 2000What’s the weather like for Colton High’s badminton team? It’s clear skies all the way.
There is hardly any doubt whether or not this year’s team is going to be league champs. The badminton team has had an enviable record of consistancy, having missed the CIF playoffs only once in the last 25 years.
This year is no exception. With fast-flying smashes and awe-inspiring drops, the team remains unconquered, having defeated all of their opponents for the first of three rounds. Etiwanda and Redlands were the toughest teams that they have had to face this season, however these teams didn’t see the yellow birdies pass their faces as they only managed to receive four out of eighteen points each from Colton. Etiwanda and Redlands both still have two chances against the fearsome Yellowjackets, but senior co-captain Cathy Villanueva believes their chances are slim to none. “It seems that we have a pretty good team and a pretty good chance of taking league,” says Villanueva. “A lot of our players could win league individually and go on to CIF.” (Villanueva is actually a good candidate for going on to CIF —she is still undefeated in league this year.)
The team is looking for a fifteen game streak to go undefeated, but Coach Sandra Guidi says that it’s definitely attainable. “It’s hard to get the players to work hard considering that we’re walking all over our opponents,” Guidi says. Guidi believes that this is partly due to the team’s success as a league powerhouse. “We probably have the top five girls in the league,” she explains.
Two newcomers also contribute to this season’s success. Sophomores Nancy Putri and Felicia Lumingkewas have been playing since they were only seven years old. At the Troy Tournament, the girls placed first and second place, respectively. They have proven to be very valuable to the team and, hopefully, will be able to continue playing for Colton.
Other top players are seniors Ray Manembu and Dilpreet Singh. The team’s record thus far is 5 to 0. The team looks forward to the rest of the season and will be joyfully saying that sunny days are here again.
Varsity Baseball
by Steve Perez
March 31, 2000After a 20-2 loss in the opening game of the year against Bishop Amat, it appeared the Varsity Baseball team had a long season ahead of them. The following game, a 3-3 tie against Garey, didn’t help to raise spirits. The big question was, what would the team do to recover?
The answer: How about go on a five game winning streak, beating Norte Vista 6-4, crushing Charter Oak 11-1, annihilating Banning 22-0 and edging Centennial/Corona in a nail biter 6-5? And how about defeating the defending San Andreas League champions Yucaipa?
Junior outfielder/pitcher Chris Howard ranks the Yucaipa win as one of teams’ preseason goals. “We had three goals to begin the season: beat Yucaipa, play as a team, and to win league.”
Head coach Chad Bishop describes playing as a team as one of the main things significantly different from last year, “I think we’re more dedicated. We’re playing more together and working harder this year overall... it’s obvious to me they want to turn things around. We worked hard during the off-season: pitchers stayed after Tuesday and Thursday, we weightlifted and we played winter league games,” said Bishop.
Bishop lists standout pitchers junior Rueben Fierro, senior Michael Esquivel and sophomore Aaron Grant. Among the main contributors to hitting are: Howard, Martinez, sophomore Marcus Devoe and junior Mike Rossano.
All that seems to be left is a simple matter of the SAL title. Judging from the teams first league game, it definitely seems possible.
Boy's Basketball
by Jason Jones
March 31, 2000The boys varsity basketball season came to a disapointing end. They ended up with a league record of 0-10 and a season record of 7-21. Colton lost their last game against the San Bernardino Cardinals 72-56 with a chance to blow thier hopes at playoffs off the court. But senior Lacey Copland’s shooting from the Cardinals was too much for the Yellowjackets to handle as he hit seven three pointers in the game. The top scorers from Colton High were junior Kevin Pinkney with 12 points, junior shooting guard Jason Jones with 19 points and junior point guard Brandon Crenshaw with 12 points.
Despite a disappointing season for the Yellowjackets, there were still two recognized as outstanding individuals on the team. One of those players was Pinkney who made First Team and Jones who made Honorable Mention. These two players were recognized for their hard work and playing abilities on the team.
The Jackets still have a long way to go