the Smoke SignalMission San Jose High School

Est. 1964Vol. 45, No. 6 | February 19, 2010

www.thesmokesignal.org

41717 Palm Ave.Fremont, CA 94539

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Editors-in-ChiEf Hannah Scobel, Jerry TingnEws Megan Bernstein, Sargun Kauropinion Rebecca Gao, Jane WangfEaturE Alissa Gwynn, Sonya JohnCEntErsprEad Karen Lin, Tina Tsenga&E Niku Jafarnia, Cynthia Kangsports Joseph Teng, Anthony Wu GraphiCs Elisa Ting, Albert YuanwEb Christine Cheng, Tanu Patel

tECh Roger Chen, Raymond Zhongads Jamie Lin, Gurleen ChadhabusinEss Henna JethaniCirCulation Anastassia TselikovaEvEnts Michelle Chu, Hannie Dong with Michael Feuerman

writErs & photoGraphErs Rishi Das, Chelsea Dass, Sonia Dhawan, Rebecca Dutta, Matthew Farberov, Amisha Gandhi, Matthew Gosen, Sloka Gundala, Grace Han, Arthur Jeng, Ravneet Kaur, Mary Lan, Sarah Li, Aileen Lu, Megan McLaughlin, Mekala Neelakantan, Amit Patankar, Diya Roy, Justin Sha, Ginger Werner, Audrey Wu, Joy Xu, Vishal Yadav, Stephenie Yuan, Cassie Zhang, Jordan Zhang

advisEr Sandra Cohen

Send letters to the editor to opinion@thesmokesignal.org. Letters under 300 words may be considered for publication and must include a full name and school affilia-tion. The Smoke Signal reserves the right to edit for clarity and length.

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The Smoke Signals right to freedom of speech and press is protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution.

By Rebecca Gao & Jane WangOpinion Editors

Jane: So Rebecca, how much do you plan on studying for the physics midterm next week?

Rebecca: Im a good MSJ stu-dent - so until my eyeballs drop out of course.

Jane: Ah, the famous MSJ men-tality. All study and no play.

Rebecca: I cant say our academ-ics have suffered because of it.

Jane: [laughs] Too true. Accord-ing to MSJs 2009-10 school pro-file, our SAT scores are in the top 5 percent of the nation76 percent of students are on the honor roleand [we are the] Bay Area Leader in the number of National Merit and Commended students. Not that this is news to anyone.

Rebecca: Yeah, that sounds like us, but, a caveat on our SAT scores very few other student bodies take standardized testing to extremes as we do. What other schools students fork over several thousand dollars on a deluge of SAT and AP prep classes?

Jane: Or cry inconsolably over a B? Id say that some of our more ridiculous practices result from our fixation on college acceptance.

Rebecca: Which leads to do-ing school and an unrealistic view of our own abilities. Consider that the average GPA nationally is a 2.7, and the average SAT score a scan-dalous 1500.

Jane: Our standards are defi-nitely somewhat skewed, adding yet another layer to our bubble.

Rebecca: Some people have tried to explain our high achievements

with our demographics. US News and World Report lists MSJ as 78.9 percent Asian in 2009-10, and the disastrous 2007 CNN report tried capitalizing on similar statistics. I think we sometimes forget that Asians are a minority in the US.

Jane: Definitely. In 2008, Asians constituted 4.5 percent of the total US population, according to the US Census Bureau, meaning our MSJ community is hardly an accurate cross section of America.

Rebecca: In this sense, Im ac-tually looking forward to skewer-ing this bubble of ours. Imagine the people well meet outside of our familiar array of Asian cultures. A friend once stayed with a small Latino family when volunteering in Mexico; the cultural differences were astounding, yet oddly welcom-ing, even refreshing.

Jane: Speaking of cultural differ-ences, wealth plays a decided role in highlighting those discrepancies. Face it - most MSJ students tout comfortable family incomes. The Public School Profile calculated MSJ household income median as over $100,000, whereas the national median income rang up to approxi-mately $50,000 in 2007.

Rebecca: Just look at our park-ing lot.

Jane: Yeah, my friends from other schools are always impressed when they visit. In fact, one was even counting, wide-eyed, the num-ber of BMWs and Lexus models.

Rebecca: Strange how people think liberals arent well-off, since MSJ is decidedly left-wing in terms of our social views, like abortion or gay marriage.

Just BeccauseFriday, February 19, 2010 The Smoke Signal www.thesmokesignal.org Opinion 5

InJanenious

Graphic Opinion

staff writer anastassia tselikova

staff writer rebecca dutta

Jane: I probably could have counted the number of McCain supporters in 2008 that I knew of on one hand.

Rebecca: Again, were a bit too homogenized, too like-minded. And yes, at times we are compa-rable to a herd of sheep.

Jane: Our background makes it interesting when we meet people with opposing viewpoints. While I was in a New York City tourist shop, I unintentionally set off the storeowner by mentioning Obama. The man exploded into a tirade of insults alluding to his color and handling of the national deficit. Thats something we dont encoun-ter at MSJ every day.

Rebecca: So liberal Asians studying 24/7 on three hours of sleep a night dont comprise all of America? Really?

Jane: Dont be too sarcastic.Rebecca: Fine, fine. But that

aside, we pride ourselves all the more because of our stereotype and elite standing.

Jane: I like your euphemism. We dont merely pride ourselves on our achievements; it seems as if we use them as a means to snub our peers in other schools.

Rebecca: Elitism at its finest. Dont we always turn our noses up at the mention of other schools with lesser API scores? If thats not some shameless snobbery, buy me a new dictionary. Theres more to be-ing a good student than pure num-bers and stats.

Jane: What about James Logan High School? Most of us arent even aware that their Forensics Speech and Debate program is ranked in

the top five in the National Fo-rensics League, and their band and colorguard not only performed in the 2008 Beijing Olympics but also consistently champion gold medals. Just Youtube them.

Rebecca: I have. And when we go to college, we will meet more people who are amazingly tal-ented and smarter than we boast to be. Dont forget to clean up the tattered remains of our self-confi-dence when our bubble of superi-ority bursts. Sometimes I just want to ask ourselves, Really. Are you serious?

Jane: It will be humbling, to be sure, but Id say that our bubble hasnt entirely crippled us. The ex-periences we have undergone at MSJ assure us that we will be pre-pared for whatever college holds.

Rebecca: Well, I suppose weve picked up some useful tidbits.

Jane: Like how to handle the stress of competition and pressure, for one. Or how to fail, even; to ac-cept not being perfect.

Rebecca: Or another semi-posi-tive aspect of our cocoon - weve learned how to learn. Well, at least how to cram.

Jane: Yes, our MSJ mentality encourages strong individual drive and motivation. While it can make us quite self-centered at times, MSJ students in general are still pretty accepting of differences.

Rebecca: But then again, our MSJ bubble may be nestled within several more layers of overlapping cocoons. And when they pop? Think bubble wrap.

Send letters to the editor to opinion@thesmokesignal.org

its

The Mission Bubble - Part 2

editor-in-chief jerry ting

homework and study load are defi-nitely good ideas. Be sure to con-sider which classes suit your style of learning. For example, some courses are more project-heavy, some em-

phasize classwork more, and others are more test-driven.

However, while finding a course schedule that can challenge you, remember to branch out into dif-ferent pursuits that you enjoy and will make you stand out. Students believe that they need to take class-

6 Opinion www.thesmokesignal.org The Smoke Signal Friday, February 19, 2010

continued from page 1classes does not necessarily mean doubling up on AP Physics and AP Biology along with AP Calcu-lus BC is going to be a walk in the park. Extracurricular activi-ties, in terms of time com-mitment, are practically an-other class period. Incoming seniors should also be aware that first semester is often underestimated. The process of applying to college, finan-cial aid, and scholarships is more like a part-time job.

Taking fewer APs is not nec-essarily a bad thing; sometimes a solid GPA with a well-balanced schedule is a lot better than a more disappointing report card. Asking future teachers and students who have taken the class about their ex-periences or researching the class

By Jerry TingEditor-in-Chief

I sat in the activities office dur-ing lunch, working my shift for Leadership II when a shy little un-derclassman girl who barely lifted her eyes up to meet me asked if she could donate to ASBs Haiti fund. She then surprised me by handing me two $5 bills and caused me to think about a trend that I have re-cently noticed at MSJ.

MSJ is often stereotyped as ap-athetic and self-centered, a school that stresses achievement over in-tegrity. However, this year I saw a very interesting movement at school. Students have been more generous to charity, whether its donating blood in the Fall Blood Drive, clothes to the One Warm Coat Foundation, or money to the Haiti fund. We were able to break long-standing records by collecting 6732 cans for the food drive, do-nating 89 units of blood to the Red Cross, and raising $1941 in the first week of the Haiti fund alone.

When asked about the success of charity events, Leadership II Community Committee co-head Senior Danika Park replied, I feel as a school, we are doing such a great job this year at giving back to our community, and that we are becoming more selfless and...car-ing more about the unfortunate.

As more individuals become involved, a bandwagon effect takes place. When I collected for the

I think it would be exciting if they came, but the money could be better spent...Fremont will have to spend millions of dollars for this decision, and this money could serve a better purpose...in education. For example, look at how old MSJs facilities are. We are one of the best schools in the nation, but still have to deal with things like broken lockers.

- Omar El-Sadany, 10

The Fremont representatives will not approve of Fremont As because it will cause increased crime rate. It will also increase, probably, pollution in that area because its a suburban area and...[for] a baseball stadium, you need to have a city. It cant be in a suburban area because itll affect the families.

- Viraj Reddy, 11

Moving the As to Fremont will cause undue disturbance and a de-crease in living standards. Donating land to the As not only seems un-reasonable, it also seems unprofit-able because all we get is a stadium, which will only pull revenue so many months of the year. If NUMMIs land were...sold to a company that would turn it into a manufacturing facility for clean energy, or a mall like the Great Mall in Milpitas - a former Ford plant - Fremont would get more stable economic growth.

- Valentina Fung, 12

The whole project will just be good for Fremont, as right now we dont have a downtown or central area...to gather, shop, and dine. With the completion of the arena, itll attract business and we could have a really cute downtown just like the one in Arizona after the ASU stadium was built there...That area...is accessible and people will definitely be willing to go there. The NUMMI area is right next to the highway and Oak-land fans can just drive right down.

- Evangeline Sugden, Math Teacher

Haiti fund during read meetings, all it took was one person to hand us a dollar to prompt other individ-uals around the classroom to pull out their wallets.

Leadership has also put forth an exceptional effort to increase par-ticipation through more compre-hensive and effective publicity. Cre-ativity has also improved as classes competed during the food drive for prizes like a donut or pizza party instead of just candy. Students who donated to the coat drive were awarded free coat checks at Winter Ball. These laudable efforts by our student government have helped create the atmosphere of giving that characterizes MSJ today.

As we delve into second semes-ter, three scheduled charity events have yet to come: Charity Fashion Show, Spring Blood Drive, and a new, district-wide book drive for used books. The Charity Fashion Show will donate profits to SAVE, an organization for decreasing do-mestic violence, and to Haiti.

I hope that even more MSJ students will participate in these events and become involved. If each individual does his or her part, our combined efforts will continue to break records while helping those desperately in need.

es that everyone else seems to be taking, or the foundation classes, to remain competitive for college admissions. Just because most of our friends take the class does not

mean that we should jump on the bandwagon. Think first. Are you willing to commit the dedication required for the class? Do you even like the subject? If your favorite subjects are English and History, then picking multiple math and science concentrations like AP Bi-

ology, AP Calculus BC, and AP Chemistry together in one year is a questionable decision.

This does not mean you should choose the easiest electives possi-

ble, though. Choose classes of personal interest, ones that do not require forced effort that you may later regret. Widen your interests as well, and the positive experience may just lead to undiscovered future paths. High school is the time to explore what we want to do later on in our lives, and

conforming to a narrow academic straightaway only blocks our fu-ture success.

If you choose incorrectly, MSJ is not likely to change your course schedule when you come to that realization. In the end, you can only blame yourself.

By Anastassia TselikovaStaff Writer

In January 2010, the US Su-preme Court overruled a 1990 and a 2003 limit on corporate or union spending on the support or opposi-tion of political candidates. Though the bans on direct contributions still stand, independent corporate spending on promotion or mud-slinging is unlimited. In short, can-didates who have good connections can spend an unlimited amount of money on their campaigns, and corporations can buy a presidency.

Lets face it. Advertising deter-mines how the average American votes. The people with the prettiest special effects or the most TV ap-pearances receive the most atten-tion and therefore have the greatest chances of being picked on a bal-lot. A large percentage of voters do not even read voters manuals, do research or listen to debates and speeches. Advertising is everything, and a lot of money can buy a lot of advertising.

Proponents claim that the cor-porations First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and expres-sion were severely restricted by the overruled precedents. Its like cen-

sorship, they argued, if people can-not freely choose their sources of information. The public has a right to think for themselves, and the government should not have the right to destroy free thought.

However, the oppositions case holds more water. Corporations cannot vote, and they cannot hold political offices. They are not in-dividual members of society, and some even have non-US-citizen management. The corporations rarely represent the will of the av-erage American, preferring rather to suit their own personal desires. Placing corporations on the same step as citizens, while there is still discrimination enough against eth-nic minorities, is questionable.

If government offices can be bought and connections count more than talent, knowledge, and ability, what will happen to democracy? Voting will be rigged in favor of the candidates with the most acclaimed sponsors or backed by money-hoarding corporations. And later, who knows? After giving powerful private businesses the right to vote, companies may next be fighting for suffrage. Maybe our next president will be a corporation.

What is your opinion on the

Oakland As mov-ing to Fremont?

staff writer amit patankar

staff writer amit patankar

staff writer amit patankar

staff writer amit patankar

StudentGenerosity

Corporations are People Too!

Dont Take Me Out to the BallgameBy Grace Han

Staff Writer In light of complications and

failed agreements with other Bay Area cities, Fremont has once again entered the conversation to become the new home of the Oakland As. After negotiations concerning a proposed stadium near Pacific Commons (Cisco Fields) failed last year, a new plan to situate the stadi-um in a different location has arisen. With the upcoming closure of Fre-monts top employer, New United Motor Manufacturing (NUMMI), roughly 370 acres of land will be up for grabs. In response, the City of Fremont has submitted another

proposal that they hope will spur economic development, offering to pay for all of the infrastructure im-provements while the club privately finances construction.

The location at NUMMI seems ideal for a multimedia development project. It is situated close to the planned Warm Springs BART sta-tion and has easy access to both I-880 and I-680. However, the Fre-mont proposal looks toosimilar to the current Oakland Coliseum, a suburban standalone stadium sur-rounded by 10,000 parking spaces and a BART station [that is] also very close to schools and prime res-idential neighborhoods, says Fre-

mont resident Bryan Hsueh, in a letter to Major League Baseball. Not only will the stadium lead to a frustrating traffic bottleneck and con-gestion in major city areas, a ballpark in Fremont would create chaos for homeowners because it would likely cause housing prices to dip.

How can a city of little over 200,000 residents carry the burden of a multi-bil-lion dollar project? Keep in mind that this is a city unable to even organize plans for its own movie theater, mall, or downtown - never mind a professional sports stadium.

Again, it comes down to money. Earlier this month, Californias education system endured $1.5 bil-lion in budget cuts. In addition, the Fremont Redevelopment Agency has asked to increase their funds by over $1 billion to finance the sta-dium if needed: a deal that would leech another $15 million per year

from our districts education fund. Fremont is currently too economi-cally weak to even think about in-vesting $62 million (in only infra-structure) in a ballpark that may or may not bring in revenue.

Fortunately, the people of Fre-mont will get the last say in the matter when voting season comes around. With this in mind, be sure to state your opinion through your vote because, unlike many other sit-uations, the final decision is ours.

cbs5.comComputer-generated image of the proposed stadium.

PREREGISTRATION

staff writer cassie zhang

aolcdn.com

Be Careful of Overloading

Friday, February 19, 2010 The Smoke Signal www.thesmokesignal.org Opinion 7

By Audrey WuStaff Writer

As Internet use rapidly increases in China, the government is also swiftly tightening cen-sorship as well. All computers are required to include software that filters out unhealthy information, allowing the government to update with the latest list of banned sites. Chinas Great Firewall, as Internet pun-dits call it, is backed up by several branches of government departments and cyberpolice. It censors all controversial material promoting

disorder and anti-communism. Surprisingly, while most Americans assume Chinese In-ternet users are unhappy with Internet con-trol, the Chinese majority actually approves of such restrictions, trusting information on government websites much more than other, unregulated sites.

However, under such draconian censor-ship, are the Chinese people living in partial oblivion, unaware of the events happening around the world? Simply search up Ti-ananmen Square, Tibet, or Taiwan and expect to be redirected to another page or simply to be confronted with a lost network connection error preventing further access. Since when did Tiananmen Square become a fabrication, Falun Gong followers antago-nists, and the Dalai Lama an oppressor?

As the Internet becomes increasingly available to newer generations, more users are looking to the Internet as a source of information, but their freedom of voice and right to knowledge are being severely limited

by the Great Firewall. Even loyal bloggers who travel to China are faced with a dilemma after discovering that they are unable to ac-cess their personal Twitter, Flickr, or Word-press. Other popular social networks and media sites including Youtube, Facebook, and Wikipedia have also been prohibited.

Although obscenities such as pornogra-phy and nudity are understandably restricted, the Chinese government takes overly drastic measures and implements strict surveillance to maintain such a guarded Internet environ-

ment to prevent a sense of freedom. Despite the official perspective that all content which damages Chinas unity and sovereignty, portrays violence, and damages Chinas cul-ture is agreeably blocked, the government takes advantage of the system and prevents its citizens from obtaining rightful informa-tion about their own history.

Chinas censorship is not foolproof; eu-phemisms and alternative wording weed their way into the system to avoid keyword trackers. Students from the acclaimed Beijing University managed to download a banned documentary on the 1989 protests and se-cretly viewed them in their dorms. Similarly, sometimes a few supposedly restricted imag-es may leak through the firewall and show up along with government approved pictures.

For now, censorship is successful in terms of aiding the Chinese Communist Party to stay in power, but in the long run, such ex-tremes are only bound for failure when this autocratic order crumbles upon itself.

Is Applying for College Filing for Bankruptcy?

By Tanu PatelWeb Editor

With college applications nothing but a faint haze in my memory and SAT tests virtually nonexistent in my second semes-ter senior brain, it didnt surprise me that I completely forgot to fill out College Boards CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE until the night before it was due. Filling out page after page about my familys financial stability, the lines of worry etched on my face grew expo-nentially deeper, as did the bags under my eyes. Would I ever finish filling out these un-necessarily long forms? But more important-

ly, how would I pay for college? At least the idea of receiving financial aid calmed me.

Until I realized that I would have to pay a $9 basic application fee and $16 per school that I wanted to send my CSS PROFILE to. The total sum easily added up to almost $100, definitely dipping into my college funds. I was paying to receive financial aid! A bit ironic, to say the least. But I wasnt sur-prised. Ive been paying for the chance to go to college since high school started after all.

For most MSJ students, the harsh cycle of payment starts with the PSAT, and ends up including the SAT/ACT, AP tests, and SAT IIs. With an exorbitant price tag at-

EDITORIAL: Debates will create well-informed voters for ASB Elections

tached to each and every test, College Board and American College Testing seem to be out to make a killing the second we step into high school. Not only are we assured that the only path to certain schools requires the aforementioned test but also that we must prepare for these tests until the life force is sucked out of our souls. And preparing re-quires buying prep books to self-study, hir-ing a tutor, or taking a class. Whichever way we choose, the cost ends up coming out much higher that it should be. But it doesnt end there.

Once all of the tests are done with and senior year is in full swing, we realize that with every essay we write for the colleges, not only do we have to pay the office to send transcripts at the beginning, middle, and sometimes end of the year ($3 per school) but that we also have to pay a significant sum to apply to the school itself. And then theres that $9.50 fee per test, per school we pay to send our scores to colleges.

We have limited options. College Board has a monopoly of sorts on all our college-related expenses. Its not like we can just choose a cheaper company to take AP tests from.

Perhaps the involved parties think that by making it cost so much for college, we will be more likely to think twice about the schools we apply to thereby lowering the number of schools we choose. And as students, per-haps we should consider not inundating our teachers and counselors with hundreds of college application related requests.

I only wonderhow much I could have saved if everything didnt cost so much? Maybe enough to fund all of the expensive textbooks Ill need in college? If I had all of that money that I spent on getting into col-lege, I might need less financial aid!

So what can we do to fight this monstros-ity? We could protest! Refuse SATs! Refuse APs! Refuse to send my transcript! Refuse to pay to apply! Refuse to be violated so cru-elly...and then not get into college?!

Okay, maybe not.

The Great Firewall of China

6 Opinion www.thesmokesignal.org The Smoke Signal Friday, February 19, 2010

The Opinion of the Smoke Signal Editorial Board

Dear Editor, The Social Studies Department wel-

comes the comments and concerns of the editorial staff and student body, and is con-tinuing to address these important issues. Two years ago, in partial response to similar comments, the department began offering AP World History. For next year we are pleased to offer CP Chinese History as an additional elective. Please be aware courses can be offered but if not enough students register the class cannot be scheduled. We continue to discuss the possibility of offer-ing AP Economics and Government. Un-fortunately, these courses offer considerable scheduling challenges. To help in this plan-ning phase we hope to solicit student input in the coming weeks. We hope all juniors will participate in a survey and we look for-ward to sharing the results in a timely fash-ion.

- Tori Ha, Social Science Teacher

Next Wednesday, February 24, ASB will be holding its first-ever, mandatory debate assembly prior to ASB elections. All stu-dents are required to attend, including se-niors, during their third period classes on a regular assembly schedule to listen to ASB candidates answer questions related to their qualifications and visions for MSJ. The final votes for officer positions will be cast and tabulated the next day, Thursday.

While the new setup will entail schedul-ing complications and requires cooperation from both teachers and students alike, the concept and rationale behind the debates merit the time spent to ensure a fairer ASB election. The objective behind the debates outweighs the minor inconvenience of an-other assembly.

In the past, ASB elections have been dis-paraged as popularity contests, since success-ful candidates relied almost solely on video promotions, advertising rallies, and posted signs across campus. Last year, the speeches for officer hopefuls were scheduled at lunch, resulting in relatively meager student atten-dance and a lack of structure.

However, with the implementation of the new proposals, students will be required to actively participate in this which closely concerns them. The candidates will be field-ing questions closely related to their abilities to serve as a student leader. While specific questions cannot be commented upon, top-ics will be geared towards the specific office

which the candidate is seeking. A suggested issue for the ASB President candidates may be how to better regulate campus clubs and activities.

Candidates for the offices of ASB Presi-dent and Vice President will speak in the as-sembly debates, and the candidates for Trea-surer, Secretary, and Activities Coordinator will speak at separate lunch meetings the same week. In cases in which there is only one candidate running for Vice President or only one candidate for President, candidates for Secretary and Treasurer will participate in the assembly debates instead.

For seniors who may be unconcerned with next years ASB officers, they will at least benefit from the debates as a nostalgic remnant of Mock Con, and some questions from the moderators may address more global issues applicable to all students.

The new procedures markedly encourage student faith in a less prejudiced and more candid election process. At times, the student body has felt removed from the behind-the-scenes efforts of Leadership and ASB and left out of the equation. This year in particu-lar, these sentiments appear to have been ac-knowledged and accompanied by measures taken to ameliorate the situation.

But while the response to student con-cerns is encouraging, much remains to be done and much can still be improved upon. We support the new ASB debates for what it represents an admirable effort to reach out to the student body and to craft a more non-partisan ASB election process and hope for the success of this first debate assembly, a novel concept deserving of praise.

Send letters to the editor to opinion@thesmokesignal.org

staff writer michael feuerman

staff writer aileen lu

Dear Editor, In the last issue, Smoke Signal did an

article about my skiing and snowboarding achievements. However, I do not currently compete or snowboard, though I aspire to do so in the future. At the moment, I ski recreationally with my family. I sincerely apologize to the Smoke Signal, especially to Jordan [Zhang], who interviewed me, and to my friends, family and teachers. The story grew when I casually mentioned that I snowboarded, and as rumors flew, I didnt want to discredit myself. I apologize for the misconception and hope this sets things straight.

- Ankita Agharkar, 11

Send letters to the editor to opinion@thesmokesignal.org

8 Feature WWW.THESMOKESIGNAL.ORG The Smoke Signal Friday, February 19, 2010

Mind Your MannersBy Hannie Dong & Sonya John

Staff Writer and Feature EditorBy Ginger Werner

Staff Writer

Prom Small ActionsPlanning

Planning is probably the most stressful aspect of prom. However, a little sweat here will save you trouble later on. Girls, try to look for dresses as soon as you can. Juniors are lucky this year because junior prom is early on in the season, so there will be a larger selection to choose from.

Here comes the most important part: matching! is is usu-ally up to the guys, but no pressure, of course! We are just kid-ding. Girls, if you dont want to show your date your entire dress so you can surprise him at prom, try taking a picture of a small section of your dress. However, because cameras distort color a little, if you can (only if you can) try cutting a small piece of extra material to give to him so he can use that as a guide when hes selecting a color.

As for tickets, there isnt a hard rule that says that guys should pay for them. It can be awkward talking about money, so to avoid any confusion later establish this early on. Because they are so expensive, most people end up paying for their own ticket. Or if one person pays for both tickets, the other should volunteer to pay for the limo. Work it out in a way so that there arent any obligations. Pictures

Be sure to plan where youre having your pre-prom picture session to avoid confusion. Usually, youll meet at someones house or at school. To many parents, this is a monumental event, so be prepared to pose for minutes on end with your parents, your dates parents, family, friends, etc. When taking pictures, pose appropriately! Prom is a picture-fi lled event, and you dont want hundreds of awkward pictures showing up on Facebook.

Also, your class offi cers arrange for a photographer to take portraits of couples at some point during the evening, so dont forget to bring picture money. Girls generally pay for the pic-tures, so the guys dont go completely broke from prom ex-penses. Prom Day

On the actual day of prom, there are some things you should do in order to have a magical night. 1. Be polite to parents

When meeting your dates parents, greet them politely and shake hands. Dont roll your eyes or get impatient if they want to take one picture too many.2. Give out compliments

Guys, when you see your date for the fi rst time, compliment her. No matter how small the compliment, it will reassure your date that she looks beautiful. 3. Be a great date

If you asked or accepted to go with someone to the prom you should stay with that person throughout the dance. No matter what your romantic status is, dont leave your date hang-ing by dancing with other people all night or spending all your time gossiping with the girls. 4. Try to have fun

Relax and dont think too much. Youll end up getting frustrat-ed and disappointed if your plans dont go well. Simply go with the ow and enjoy your evening with your date and friends.

Etiquette is a code of behavior that follows the expec-tations for proper social behavior. According to Sopho-more Ellie Wong, etiquette is being polite and cour-teous and having good mannerisms, even in awkward situations. Here are some nice, polite, and consider-ate acts you can do for a friend, neighbor, or complete stranger. It might just brighten their day, and make you feel a little better yourself.

1. Smile! Despite making you look more attractive and friendly, a smile is contagious and relieves stress, low-ers blood pressure, and releases endorphins, which are natural painkillers. So lets see you say Cheese! to a complete stranger and perhaps they will do the same.

2. Feed them. Chances are, they are hungry. ere isnt anybody out there who doesnt like food and the fact that it is free will make them feel even more fantastic. You will appear generous and giving away anything to appreciative people actually does feel good!

3. Give a compliment! A simple Nice combat boots. will make even the saddest emo kid crack a smile. Make it a personal goal to compliment at least three people a day.

4. Simply acknowledge them with a Hello ____. It might make their day. If you occasionally talk to them in class, make sure you acknowledge them outside of the classroom or other settings.

5. Give them a ride/take them out to lunch. If you are fortunate enough to be an upperclassman with a li-cense, help out one of your not-nearly-as lucky friends and take them out to lunch! Being able to escape from campus and enjoy some delicious food with company will make any tough day a bit more bearable.

6. Facebook can be utilized to make a person feel a little more important to the world. Simply sign on every day (you do anyway) and see whose birthdays are coming up. e next day, seek out the person and per-sonally wish them a happy birthday. ey never have to know you only knew because of Facebook.

7. e key to a womans heart is an unexpected gift at an unexpected time, said Sean Connery in the movie Finding Forrester. is simple statement isnt just for wooing a woman; it can be applicable to many situations in life. Take the time every day to give some-one a gift when they are least expecting it. It could be paying for a cup of coff ee for person in line behind you at Starbucks or writing your mom a note thanking her for packing you lunch. Whatever the act of kindness is, there are sure to be people who will appreciate it.

e application process can be chaotic, especially with the multitude of programs and colleges that MSJ students apply to. Some applications require letters of rec-ommendation, and teachers, counselors, and students alike fi nd themselves stressed throughout the process. Now that the summer program application season is upon us, here are some tips on what you should do to show your appreciation to-wards those who dedicate their personal time to write letters of rec for students.

1. Be sure to ask your teachers or counselor for a letter at least three weeks prior to the deadline. Catch your teacher when theyre not busy (such as during passing period) and say something like, Im applying to [program or college] and I was wonder-ing, if you had the time, if you be willing to write a letter of recommendation for me?

If the teacher declines the request, po-litely say thank you, and leave it at that. Remember, teachers are not required to write letters of rec and use their own time to do so. If your request is accepted, thats

and it would thus be very rude to give up on applying without notifying the teacher who is writing the letter.

4. Be mindful not to nag your teach-ers about their progress on your let-ters. ese letters take several hours to complete, and on top of regular grading and lesson planning, teachers will probably have plenty of others to write as well.

5. It can be safely said that everyone enjoys a thank you note. So write something personal and positive and write it from the heart to sincerely show your appreciation. A gift doesnt have to mean spending money; other options are writing a letter, creating a piece of art, or baking some sweet treats. And dont forget to keep up your relationships with your teach-ersjust because applications are over, doesnt mean you should stop talking to them.

whoever is writing the letter. It is addi-tionally helpful when students show their accessibility by providing contact infor-mation within the letter. If the letter is for a summer program, feel free to inform your teachers about what aspect about you he or she should focus on, as well as dead-lines and any other specifi c instructions they may need on the process.

3. Whether it is a summer program or college, you must fi ll out and proofread your portion fi rst. Also, whenever giving paperwork to teachers, always have an ad-dressed envelope with proper postage and be sure to present all the forms together with deadlines. Be prepared to show your completed application forms, so that the teachers know you will not drop out of the application process. You are asking teachers to take three to four hours out of their busy schedule to write something uniquely for you. It is all out of courtesy

when it is time to get your application ma-terials together.

2. Create a cover letter introducing your-self and thanking the teacher/counselor in advance for helping you with your appli-cation. Not only does it look professional, but it also leaves a positive impression on

Letters of RecommendationBy Chelsea Dass

Staff Writer

PHOTOBUCKET.COM, BLOG.KARENCOMMINS.COM, STAFF WRITER AILEEN LU

Friday, February 19, 2010 The Smoke Signal WWW.THESMOKESIGNAL.ORG Feature 9

ED ARTICLE

Quick BitesAfter school can be a rushed, hectic time,

especially with extracurricular activities and homework. However, that doesnt mean that tasty snacks should be sacrifi ced. Here are four easy recipes that can quickly satisfy your hunger in a healthy, delicious way:

Submitted by Anonymous

By Mekala NeelakantanStaff Writer

elementary school enemy and leave a little in-side joke on my friends site, just so everyone knows were tight.

February 13, 20108:00 PMDear Diary,

Just emptied my inbox: Formspring tells me that I am gorgeous and a hag, deserve my grades and cheat constantly, wear the ugli-est clothes ever but have impeccable outfi ts, should never dye my hair but I ought to shave my head, and someone wants to make me a sandwich. I hope they know Im allergic to pickles!

February 15, 20102:40 AMDear Diary,

Someone asked me, Whats the wild-est thing you did? After mentally correcting their grammar, I focused on the question at hand and readied my fi ngers to type a killer response. But nothing came to me! Instead, I realized I have a boring life. ats why Im still awake; I have barely 29 hours to plot about a totally scandalous thing to do at school Tues-day, so my Formspring will be off the charts, and everyone will know Im not boring, no way, no how.

February 17, 201011:15 AMDear Diary,

Alas! Someone has out-scandaled me and according to Formspring Im no longer hot news. My inbox is totally empty. I guess Ill just have to comment on myself Why are you so good looking?

sdfa sdfas

would become an obsession. Eventually, something triggered, and I realized that to lose weight, I had to decrease my calorie intake. Little by little I began to shave off calories, from politely refusing dessert to eating only a few bites of pasta for lunch. It seemed harmless at fi rst, but soon this became a habit and I compulsively limited what I ate. I tried to satisfy my hunger pangs with mere glasses of water and fruit to keep off the calories, but who was I to think that those would suffi ce. Each time I forwent eating, my

body would go weak and my brain cloudy. I would often lose control of my thoughts and emotions, becoming subject to mood swings and crankiness like a doll puppeteered by irritation. Because my stomach was empty, my hunger turned into frus-tration and anger. My thinking was shrouded by his thoughts, they utterly consumed me. If I ate, I ate in fury, I was angry because I was eating, but also angry because I was angry. Frustration mounted as I chewed, for I was reminded again

February 11, 20104:30 PMDear Diary,

I just got my Formspring. I scrapped the three questions Formspring automatically asks; I plan to chat with real people, not pro-grammed robots. ats the equivalent of be-ing friends with Tom from Myspace, social suicide. Anyway, my BFF and I fi nally got off the phone, and we came up with the most adorable username for me. My profi le picture is so cute; and it only took me an hour in front of my bathroom mirror. I had trouble decid-ing whether to tilt my head left or right, and whether a pout or a pucker was better. You cant even tell I used Photoshop to cover some unfortunate bags under my eyes!

11:00 PMDear Diary,

LOL at my fi rst Formspring question: an anonymous user, how exciting, asked, Are you going to Sadies? It took me twenty minutes to come up with a perfect answer, I dont know yet ;)! e great thing is that I dont even know who this person is. I just hope they appreciate my impeccable taste in background: Tasteful polka dots, to show my fun-loving, yet sophisticated personality. February 12, 20106:20 PMDear Diary,

I just posted my fi rst question ever. I took it slow and asked this kid I absolutely hate a lit-tle anonymous question about his ugly jacket. Oh the power! I felt a rush of adrenaline when I clicked send, and zoomed off to insult an

Ask me anything

10 Centerspread www.thesmokesignal.org The Smoke Signal Friday, February 19, 2010

THE GOOD: OS X sports a dynamic menu bar at the top of the screen and an application dock at the bottom. The menu bar changes options depending on

the active application and features Spotlight, a powerful search tool. The dock, a row of icons, allows for quick launching of popular applications and access to user-defined files and folders. Widgets can also be placed on the desktop and made to appear and disappear easily, providing a dashboard for quick access to useful mini-applications in a fashion that leaves Windows gadgets in the dust. OS X is far simpler to use and

THE GOOD: Macs are sleek and contained, with no added buttons or additional drives sticking out of the sides like some PCs. The inside keyboard maintains

a clean, yet futuristic and classy look. Most keys are classic white or inverted black, arranged in a neat, square-tiled pattern.

After turning on a Mac, one of the most appealing aspects is the bright colors on the screen. Macbooks and their Pro and Air counterparts all use the LED backlit display, as opposed to Dells, which use LCD. LED screens ensure crystal clear images and color. All the icons feature bold, eye-catching colors that are easily recognizable. THE BAD: Some aspects, like the lack of a start menu and the icon placement, can

But in the 1990s, the newcomer Microsoft introduced Windows, an operating system that allowed companies to compete against Apple by selling cheaper hardware. Currently 90 percent of computers run some version of Windows. The high-end hardware and slick interface of Macs have become a minority, and to some, an emblem of elitism.

With Apples Mac vs. PC ads depicting Macintosh users as suave, and Microsofts retort attacking Macs as overpriced and their users as conceited, the rivalry between the two manufacturers has become legend. But this culture war isnt what companies would have you think it is.

At its simplest, the Mac vs. PC debate is about two different ways of making computers. An Apple computer has its software and hardware all made by one manufacturer, streamlined

to manage than Windows and suffers from a smaller number of viruses because of its lower install base. THE BAD: The luxuries of security and usability restrict the freedom and variety of choices for the end user.

be hard to get used to at first. Some people do prefer text underneath their icons, and the lack of this feature makes lesser known icons more difficult to use.

THE GOOD: Nearly anything that is run on a PC can be run on a Mac using Boot Camp, and Mac components were specifically picked by Apple so that everything would work without a hitch. Granted, Mac systems crash every once in a while, but in general tend to be a lot more stable than PCs. In addition, Apple designs its systems to meet the most common tasks performed by computer users, such as browsing the Internet, playing music, and editing movies. The company also includes software that rival many professional creative suites. Macs have some of the best cases ever, making the computer something that you want on display for everyone rather than hide away in a cluttered corner of your desk. THE BAD: When you buy a Mac, youre buying a sealed box. Apple doesnt want you to open it because they have everything working just fine, and if you gripe about your computer, youre supposed to buy a new one, preferably another Mac.

and designed to work well together. A PC, on the other hand, is a combination of parts by different manufacturers and software by different authors. That makes for a rougher user experience but also

provides more flexibility and a much lower price.Apples design means that its computers are better

built and harder to damage, with features like a trip-proof power cord that detaches itself. And there are nice touches like backlit keyboards and glossy LCD screens that come from a whole company dedicated to manufacturing a handful of products.

On the other hand, if youve just bought a desktop PC, you might need to add a wireless card or webcam. There are too many PC and peripheral manufacturers to count, and infinite possibilities for issues like software drivers and compatibility. But diversity also creates competition, which is a good thing. Outside the Apple-dominated Mac peripherals market, PCs and everything to go with them can be found for much less.

The 1984 Super Bowl commercial

By Roger Chen, Amisha Gandhi, Diya Roy, Raymond Zhong & Albert YuanStaff Writers and Graphics Editor

THE GOOD: Macs are indeed pricey, but they are not only sleek and cool in appearance but high quality too. Macs also come pre-installed with the iLife package, a whole set of multimedia tools. You can organize photos, home movies and, of course, music, easily turning them into watchable DVDs and/or CDs. iLife can even help you create your very own website. To get the quality equivalent of these applications on a PC would cost you hundreds of dollars.THE BAD: To put it simply, Macs are incredibly expensive. Cheaper options are available, but inevitably, their specifications will be less than desired. Many applications are unable to be installed on Macs. Macs cant be upgraded, and when they become obsolete, you will probably have to buy a new one, which, of course, will be very expensive.

In the end, the Mac vs. PC debate all comes down to the cash youre willing to put down for a computer and what you plan to do with it.

For those looking for an all-purpose laptop, a Macbook is probably the way to go. Its just as customizable as a Windows PC, and its added durability makes up for the price. After all, Macbooks are in the same price range as business-grade laptops, like the Dell Latitude series, and built to around the same quality.

On the other hand, new programs like Office 2007 and Windows 7 have made PCs much easier to use. For those well-acquainted with Windows programs or accustomed to Windows games, switching makes little sense. Also, web applications are beginning to replace installed software, and while OS X applications are easy to use, they still have a learning curve.

If Windows applications already confuse you or the additional few hundred dollars are not too much of an expense, then a Mac may be the best option to go with.

In the end, even with all this advice, you should still go to an Apple Store or borrow a friends Mac. Try both operating systems and take into account the

apple.com, nvidia.com, techspot.com, wordpress.com, microsoft.com

Friday, February 19, 2010 The Smoke Signal www.thesmokesignal.org Centerspread 11

THE GOOD: Sporting an updated Aero interface, Windows 7s most noticeable new feature is its redesigned taskbar, which integrates well with the rest of the system and improves usability. The new taskbar allows users to pin applications to the taskbar for faster launching. File search has also been dramatically improved, allowing users more control over search filters, destinations, and previews.

THE BAD: Although common tasks such as word processing, multimedia and internet access are similar between Macs and PCs, usability has always been lagging behind Macs. And by allowing PC users more freedom, PC users must also watch

THE GOOD: Newer operating systems such as Windows Vista or Windows 7 are appealing and bright. They also have tabbed previews of open applications, a feature which Macs do not have. However, there are glaring similarities to Macs. For example, the new Windows 7 features icons on the bottom that are similar to the Mac dock, which has been in place for years. Windows also features conveniences such as a clock and calculator located on screen, which parallels the Dashboard on Macs.THE BAD: PCs are in general more text heavy than Macs. This isnt necessarily a bad thing, but it depends on the person. There are some icons located on the bottom start

Back in 1984, a Super Bowl ad heralded the Macintosh as the device that would save humanity from conformity: the original personal computer. It would compete against the huge mainframes made by IBM, which dominated the computer market at the time.

But in the 1990s, the newcomer Microsoft introduced Windows, an operating system that allowed companies to compete against Apple by selling cheaper hardware. Currently 90 percent of computers run some version of Windows. The high-end hardware and slick interface of Macs have become a minority, and to some, an emblem of elitism.

With Apples Mac vs. PC ads depicting Macintosh users as suave, and Microsofts retort attacking Macs as overpriced and their users as conceited, the rivalry between the two manufacturers has become legend. But this culture war isnt what companies would have you think it is.

At its simplest, the Mac vs. PC debate is about two different ways of making computers. An Apple computer has its software and hardware all made by one manufacturer, streamlined

out for viruses and frequent glitches or crashes.

panel, but those are not classic, well-known icons. To get to less used applications, users are forced to mostly rely on the text. This makes for an overall slower process compared to Macs.

THE GOOD: PCs are a powerhouse when it comes to customizability and raw power. The PC offers variety that no Mac could ever match under the reign of Steve Jobs. PCs can be upgraded without the need to replace the entire system, and options are available for all audiences from the budget-minded to the performance pros. One can purchase or build a PC that ends up being much more powerful than its Mac price counterpart. Many desktop PCs in the $500-700 range ship with a minimum of four gigabytes of RAM, a quad core processor, and a 500GB hard drive. THE BAD: The variety that the PC is so celebrated for comes with complications involving compatibility. PCs have issues

with drivers because it would be impossible for Microsoft to support every piece of hardware ever made. It is up to the manufacturers to develop drivers for their own hardware.

and designed to work well together. A PC, on the other hand, is a combination of parts by different manufacturers and software by different authors. That makes for a rougher user experience but also

provides more flexibility and a much lower price.Apples design means that its computers are better

built and harder to damage, with features like a trip-proof power cord that detaches itself. And there are nice touches like backlit keyboards and glossy LCD screens that come from a whole company dedicated to manufacturing a handful of products.

On the other hand, if youve just bought a desktop PC, you might need to add a wireless card or webcam. There are too many PC and peripheral manufacturers to count, and infinite possibilities for issues like software drivers and compatibility. But diversity also creates competition, which is a good thing. Outside the Apple-dominated Mac peripherals market, PCs and everything to go with them can be found for much less.

The 1984 Super Bowl commercial

THE GOOD: Although some PCs can be just as expensive as Macs, PCs are generally much cheaper. The wide variety of sizes, specifications and features like webcam ensures that when you buy a PC, you can get exactly what you want. With Macs, you have less control, and most Mac upgrades are much more costly. Additionally, a PC can last you for years even if the technology becomes obsolete. THE BAD: Aside from basic applications, you have to shell out more money for programs like Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop and Cyberlink DVD Suite. In addition, PCs usually come with only a one-year limited warranty. Extending that warranty costs more money, and after the warranty expires, you have to take your PC elsewhere, like Best Buys Geek Squad, where a simple diagnosis can cost you over $100.

In the end, the Mac vs. PC debate all comes down to the cash youre willing to put down for a computer and what you plan to do with it.

For those looking for an all-purpose laptop, a Macbook is probably the way to go. Its just as customizable as a Windows PC, and its added durability makes up for the price. After all, Macbooks are in the same price range as business-grade laptops, like the Dell Latitude series, and built to around the same quality.

On the other hand, new programs like Office 2007 and Windows 7 have made PCs much easier to use. For those well-acquainted with Windows programs or accustomed to Windows games, switching makes little sense. Also, web applications are beginning to replace installed software, and while OS X applications are easy to use, they still have a learning curve.

If Windows applications already confuse you or the additional few hundred dollars are not too much of an expense, then a Mac may be the best option to go with.

In the end, even with all this advice, you should still go to an Apple Store or borrow a friends Mac. Try both operating systems and take into account the

tradeoffs, keeping in mind what we have mentioned, and it may be possible to settle this endless debate at least for yourself.

12 Photo www.thesmokesignal.org The Smoke Signal Friday, February 19, 2010

F e b r u a r y F u n

photos by staff writers justin sha, audrey wu, gurleen chadha

23

1Sadies in the Eighties

Japanese Food Festival

Universal Performers: Variety Show

1b1a 1c

2a

3a

3d

2b

2c

3b

3c

a. Junior Jennifer Montalvo rocks out to the music. b. MSJ students move to the beat at their first blacklight dance. c. Senior Brent Hsu has a funny moment with his date as he enjoys the dance with her. d. Senior Vikram Sangha dances with his stunner shades on.

a. Junior Brianna Borgzinner sells Japanese cheesecake. . b. The sushi attracts MSJ students. c. Sophomore Julie Saigusa displays ramune.

a. Cello players Sophomore Kaavya Valiveti and Junior Dennis Liu perform a piece for the audience. b. Junior Karthik Raman wows the crowd with his powerful voice. c. Seniors Natasha Parikh and Jeffrey Kiu perform together on stage. d. Freshman Lucy Shen sings a song.

1d

Friday, February 19, 2010 The Smoke Signal WWW.THESMOKESIGNAL.ORG Feature 13

Various discussions: -Are Native American Mascots Justi-fi ed? -What social hierarchy exists at our school opposed to a school in Hayward? -Movie discussions over Mean Girls and Rabbit Proof Fence

Students should have a perception of diff erent ethnic groups. We talk about the oppressed versus the op-pressors, group identities, and the contributions of the largest minority groups in America. -ES Teacher Risha Krishna

-Friday Cultural Activity where students bring artifacts and food to represent their traditional values, family history, and their identity -Native American Museum fi eld trip to Angel Island where Native American poetry is examined

Courses allow students to learn about the fast growing biotechnology industry.Students will receive 10 UC g lab cred-its and Ohlone College credit if taken at MSJ, or 20 UC d credits if taken at the Mission Valley ROP center.

-Research local biotech companies -Complete current event assignments about medical drugs -Lab notebook

Students should have completed biology or Chemistry and Algebra 1 or 2. ey should want to go into the higher engineering or medical fi elds. -Biotech Teacher Anu Suresh

Biotechs resources expose students to the polyacrylamide gel where students analyze the separation of proteins by running a vertical gel. is is diff erent than the typical agarose gel that is used in biology.

Provides a comprehensive outlook on the natural world. Students observe the scientifi c processes of the environment and apply laboratory procedures. If you want to be involved in fun labs such as the Waste Water Treatment and Toxic-ity Labs, then this is the class to take.

-Independent study through regular reading -Weekly current events about new envi-ronmental procedure and news -Labs

-Biology, Chemistry and Algebra 1 must be completed prior to taking this course.

Enriching cultural awareness ac-tivities include commemorating Chinese festivals and holidays as well as taking fi eld trips to San Franciscos Asian Art Museum.

World History must be completed prior to taking this course.

-Preparation for debates, discussions and presentations -Reading and writing assignments -Projects about Chinese culture -Analysis of current events and issues

is class examines the history and cul-ture of a complex civilization. Students will learn about the evolution of the Chi-nese civilization by studying the countrys periods of prosperity, stability, fragmen-tation, invasion by neighbors, communist rule and its struggles for democracy.

In the Toxicity Lab, blood worms are placed in petri dishes with nicotine and alcohol at varying concentrations. e purpose is to determine at what concentrations 50 percent of the population will die off .

By Henna JethaniStaff Writer

DREAMSTIME.COM, MASTERS.AB.CA, US.123RF.COM, MASTERS.AB.CA, WEBFTP.BOISESCHOOLS.ORG, DIPLOMAGUIDE.COM, FEATURE EDITOR ALISSA GWYNN

De-CLASSified: Lesser known courses

rough this class, students examine and interpret the traditions and prin-ciples of our worlds many cultures. Poetry, fi lms, traditions, and plays will be studied to gain an all-encompassing view about various ethnicities.

is course allows students to think outside the box through writing po-etry, dialogue and short stories. Public speaking tackles the fear of verbally communicating in front of audiences by engaging the students in debates and a variety of speeches including persua-sive and improv.

-Comic strips -Planning and executing a commercial -Reviews and an advice column similar to a newspaper -A research paper from the perspective of a famous individual

Have a love for writing.-English Teacher Lili Kim.

Students look forward to compos-ing a detailed dialogue for their creative writing fi nal. Also, a rep-resentative from Toastmasters vis-its the class to give a presentation about successful public speaking techniques.