InFlight Feb 2012 issue #4

in flight

AU B U R N R I V E R S I D E S T U D E N T

VOICE

February 7, 2012 VOLUME 17 ISSUE #4

Erickson climbs life’s mountains.

See page 14.

OPINION

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2/7/12

Community New bills threaten Internet heroes: DEVON YOXTHEIMER Staff Reporter

Why they deserve more respect MACKENZIE BROWN Staff Reporter

Every day, the firemen and police officers of Auburn help to protect the community and save lives while risking their own. They’re important to our city and I think they should be better respected by the public.

Firefighters put their lives on the line to help others. Local firefighter Terry Robinson is okay with the risk because he knows that it comes with a reward. “You get a great satisfaction that you made a difference to someone and the community,” Robinson said. “You get to help people on what they think is the worst day of there life.”

Although preparing for the job can be difficult. A lot of training is required to obtain the job of a firemen.

Robinson went through a 12 week fire academy and 144 hours for an EMT Defibrillator Certificate.

Police officers have some of the same objectives as firefighters.They are always on the watch to keep our city safe and help to make our community a better place. Joe Winters, a King County Sheriff’s Deputy, enjoys helping out others. “Helping people who are in a crisis and have nowhere to turn is a tremendously rewarding thing to be a part of,” Winters said.

And although the job comes with a reward, it isn’t an easy job. Winters says it takes a long six months of police academy to learn most of what’s needed to be a cop. Weekly tests are given and if they get less then 80% on any of them, they can flunk out of the academy.

That is so much harder then anything students learn at high school, which is why police officers should be greatly appreciated. They go through so much work just to help others.

Jobs like these require never-ending amounts of work and are very dangerous. Officer Winters says he’s been in several dangerous situations, including ones with gang violence, high speed chases, and firearms. “Most cops are injured or killed while dealing with domestic violence calls,” said Winters. Personally, that is a situation that I’m sure no one would want to be in.

People don’t often say thank you for the kind things that are done for them. The police officers and firemen should be better appreciated by the community.

in flight

Editor-In-Chief Shayla McGinness Business Manager Lisa Gray

Photographer Devon Yoxtheimer Adviser Patrick Swenson Cover Photo John Erickson

Staff Reporters Mackenzie Brown Jaymes Fleury Devon Yoxtheimer Lisa Gray Kelley Pickett Alice Roup Guest Reporters Carley Likes Cole Lindell

Another scary thing about these two bills is how they will monitor people to make sure they’re not breaking copyright law. Will they be doing regular scans of the websites to make sure that there are no violations? Will they constantly monitor the Internet? Will they invade our privacy? That part was unclear to me in the bill, so I won’t make any assumptions on it, but one thing is certain, if these bills were to pass, the Internet would be a much different place.

And yet this is not the only thing threatening the Internet. Another bill has come to replace SOPA and PIPA, and this time it is on the international level. This bill is called ACTA, and it means business.

ACTA, which stands for “Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement,” is very similar to the SOPA and PIPA acts in its job to stop copyright violation and intellectual property, but this time it involves the whole world. Many countries, includ-

The Internet: a well of information at the tip of your fingertips, an endless supply of knowledge limited only by the patience needed to dig through all of the websites and the loading. The Internet is by far one of the most used inventions in the 21st century, with over 2 billion people using it every day worldwide. Yet, the US government has attempted to take control of the Internet by means of the SOPA and PIPA bill, presented by U.S Representative Lamar S. Smith.

Thankfully they were tabled, although not completely removed from Congress’s agenda, due to large scale protests from citizens all around the country, which is not surprising.

Many have heard about the two bills, and know it threatens the Internet, but not a lot of people understand the full scope of what could happen if these two bills had been passed.

First, a little background information about these two bills. SOPA stands for “Stop Online Piracy Act,” and PIPA stands for “Preventing Real -Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property Act” (it’s a mouthful, I know).

SOPA is pretty self explanatory.

It was designed to stop people from stealing “US property.” According to the bill itself, US property includes, but is not limited to, anything that is copyrighted in the US. The PIPA act goes even farther than SOPA, giving the government and copyright holders the power to block any website (local or foreign) which is offering their copyrighted goods without credit and payment to the creator. These bills, not surprisingly, are supported by the big businesses and the entertainment field, PHOTO COURTESY CREATIVE COMMONS LICENSE, FLICKR.COM for they are the ones losing money.

That is the basic gist of the two Wikipedia showed their dislike for the two bills and blacked out their website. bills, but, then it gets interesting. How far will they go to police these bills?

Lets take, for example, YouTube. YouTube is filled with copy- ing the United States, Japan, Canada, Mexico, and Australia, righted materials! Think of the intro song to a video, clips have all volunteered to be a part of this bill. This bill has from movies, custom-made music videos to your favorite been discussed behind closed doors where the public cannot song, that awesome school project which has music. have access to the files. Shouldn’t we be able to access the All of these things and more could be subject to censor- files and read what it is that we “volunteered” for? ship. Because they don’t have explicit permission from the This is just my opinion and what I got from reading the copyright holder, the owner of the video would receive a articles, and you don’t have to take my word for it, but I friendly email from YouTube stating that they broke copyright am pointing out the threat of what could happen. And if you law and there video has been removed, as explicitly stated are fine with what is going on, then don’t heed my words, in the bill itself. Same deal with Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, but if you see what I see, and feel what I feel, than let your and even Myspace! If something is put up which is copyrighted voice be heard! it runs the risk of being removed from posts.

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Greetings from Newspaper

2/7/12

OPINION

Pay attention to sex ed

Piercings, tattoos, and gauges, oh my!

DEVON YOXTHEIMER Staff Reporter

ALESSANDRA ROUP Staff Reporter Remember in elementary school when the teachers came in to tell us about how our bodies will be “changing”?

They split us up into boys and girls and we watched those oddly cheerful videos about things we’d rather not see, or even know about at that age. Then middle school came and we all experienced the infamous puberty. It was awful... And now we’re here, in high school. So what is our sex education like now that we’re older?

As freshman, each of us was required to take health, where we learned about the most unfortunate of diseases and had to witness the birth. Students complained of how their teacher rewound the scene multiple times, further burning into their retinas the image of a child entering the world.

Health teacher Christopher Garrison responded to these comments by saying “Anything to scare students straight is helpful.”

The classes heavy emphsis on abstinance has brought about some criticism from students. Senior Scotty Sears said “I feel like it didn’t need the moral undertones that you’re a bad person if you have sex.”

I fully agree with this point and as we are becoming adults, it is neither wise nor effective to pretend that nothing is going to happen.

Although, age does have something to do with it. Sophomore Dominic Gonzalez-Yoxtheimer felt that the level of information “was just about right” whereas senior Spencer Karr said he learned “too little, there was nothing [he] could actually use in [his] life.”

As students age, they begin to find themselves more frequently in “risky” situations. This is why I think there need to be at least two sex ed classes, one taken by younger freshman and one taken by seniors.

Sears agrees with this and thinks “I think they should stress that you should always have condoms. We’re teenagers...”

Now when I said that every high school student has gone through all of this, I was leaving out the group of students whose parents excused them from class. Karr feels that this is acceptable. “It’s more of a parent’s job to teach the kid.”

Junior Ashley Utz disagrees. “No, it’s a normal thing for people to learn. People should know what things look like and how they function.”

I have mixed feelings about this because yea, I don’t want to try to take control of someones parenting, but if the parent isn’t going to teach them, who is? And I have to assume that parents who take their kids out of sex ed aren’t going to teach them themselves.

It is likely that each of us will find ourselves in a situation where we will need the information from these sex ed classes. Many will even encounter this before leaving high school. So students, make sure you pay attention in health.

It may just be the most useful information you learn from high school...

PHOTO BY DEVON YOXTHEIMER

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PHOTO CREDIT DEVON YOXTHEIMER

Local coffee shops and smaller chain outlets such as Big Foot Java compete with giants like Starbucks.

Coffee: go corporate or visit local joints?

People use tattoos, gauging, and piercings, to express themselves and to stand out. And yet because of their body modifications, these people are being stereotyped against.

They are thought of as apathetic, rude, and uncaring, when in reality they might be some of the nicest people you meet in high school.

Senior Taylor Rawson is a perfect example of this discrimination. He has a tattoo (with plans for another) and has his ears gauged to 11/16ths. Rawson said, “I decided that if I was going to gauge my ears, I was going to go all the way, and not half ass it.”

Unfortunately, he has been turned down from some jobs because of it. He continued to discuss how people think of him as a delinquent just because of his gauges.

I just want to point out that because someone dresses in all black and has piercings and tattoos doesn’t mean that person inside has to match the outside.

I myself have gauges (8g and plan on going to 6) and I dress in all black. I plan on getting a tattoo (my first one will be the Fibonacci sequence), but I do hesitate, because people will think of me as a rebellious teenager who is angry at the world.

A perfect example of this stereotyping is depicted in an online ad that shows two pictures of the same person.

One shows a man who has piercings covering his face, and arms covered in tattoos. The other picture shows the same

DEVON YOXTHEIMER Staff Reporter Coffee is one of those drinks. Either you hate it or you love it. Some people disike the strong bitter taste of coffee while others swear that it is their life’s blood.

For the coffee aficionado, the question is always the same: Where am I going to get coffee next? Starbucks or a local coffee shop, either spend money on the corporate giant Starbucks, or offer business to local joints.

Starbucks offers a lot of the standard coffee we drink, has a vast menu, and friendly service. Starbucks is one of the most popular and well-known coffee places in the world, especially in Washington where pedestrians can walk down the street in Seattle and find a Starbucks on all four corners.

Starbucks serves a variety of good drinks, but they can get a little pricey if coffee drinkers go there frequently.

Starbucks is not the only place where one can buy coffee, however. There are a lot of local places in the area that offer coffee that is good if not better than Starbucks.

The place I have in mind is the drive-thru coffee place: Big Foot Java. This quaint little shack offers almost all of the same drinks Starbucks does and something else, which always brings me back.

Big Foot Java has an exclusive offer: you can upgrade your coffee up to a 44 oz. cup! If you don’t know how big that is, imagine one of the large Slushies you can buy at 7-11, and then imagine it filled to the brim with steaming hot coffee of your choice.

Now, as you can imagine buying 44 oz. of coffee is a little pricey, but if it’s been a rough day, 44 oz. of coffee goodness will turn that frown upside down!

So next time you need your caffeine fix, just remember, there are a lot of places to go, so choose wisely!

PHOTOS BY DEVON YOXTHEIMER

Seniors Taylor Rawson and Cassie Peters are proud of their body mods.

man wearing a suit, clean and wholesome. Think of your own bias. Who would you rather find yourself next to?

Some people assume that because someone has a lot of piercings and has tattoos that he is a trouble maker, a delinquent, someone who probably shouldn’t be trusted. It doesn’t matter if he is the nicest person on earth, the first common reaction is to assume “trouble maker.”

However, in this world of judgement, there are some people who are accepting of piercings and tattoos. Senior Olivia Bidleman thinks that peoples’ bodies are their temples, and that when people pierces their bodies all they are doing is “decorating the temple.”

I completely agree with this outlook and hope that people can learn to look past appearances and get to know the person inside.

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OPINION

2/7/12

Hearts clash in disagreement SHAYLA MCGINNESS Editor-In-Chief

Valentine’s Day: a day to celebrate that special someone.

Although in modern times it is now known for its cheesy cards and commercialized meaning, it’s still nonetheless a day to celebrate something positive: love.

This is a time to embrace the relationships at hand and go out of your way to make someone feel extra special and loved. This day isn’t just about being with that “special someone,” it’s also about appreciating love and life in general. Without life there would be no love and without love, no relationships or happiness.

I like Valentine’s Day and the core meaning, ignoring the unfortunate fact it is an exploited revenue maker. I enjoy dedicating a day to the value of love because without it the world would be gray and truly a pit of loneliness. This is speaking from the perspective of being in a relationship for a very long time and celebrating Valentine’s Day every year.

Unlike most people, I don’t have an extreme hate or, ironically, a burning love for this day either. I don’t see why some people think that Valentine’s Day mocks those who are single. This day is about love, not hate.

It seems that mocking would be hateful; therefore, the opposite of the whole point of the holiday. There isn’t anything wrong with being single or alone. All of us are alone at one point; that’s how we find true love. This transition period is when we realize who we really are and find someone who we are are truly compatible with.

Love comes in many forms: the love between friends, boyfriends and girlfriends, and of course family. It plays such a huge role in all of our lives, so what’s so wrong about giving a day to rejoice and be thankful for this gift?

I’d also like to point out the fact that this holiday isn’t hurting anyone, so I don’t see why people hate it with such a burning intensity. What’s really comical is the argument (made by people who hate it) that it is meaningless because it is so commercialized and has lost its true meaning, and therefore should be abolished.

Well, my misled friends, I suppose if you think this then you must surely think this about Christmas as well. Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ, is celebrated by many. But are they celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ? Or are they just celebrating because it’s tradition and they receive presents? I would even go a step farther to point out that most holidays are revenue makers. Tons of people cel-

ebrate Christmas for the wrong reason: presents. That’s what Christmas seems to have morphed into.

Christmas, New Year’s Eve, Valentine’s Day, 4th of July, Halloween (even though not an official holiday, it’s still celebrated widely) and Thanksgiving. If Valentine’s Day is hated simply because people say it’s only about money, then they are clearly mistaken.

I understand it kind of sucks to be alone on Valentine’s Day, but try being happy for someone else. It’s not ALL about having a valentine. And even though receiving flowers or candy isn’t what makes Valentine’s Day special or important, it still does the heart good.

Go ahead and give a girl flowers on Valentine’s Day. How can you hate it when you see the look on her face? Or even a hand-written note. I get flowers every year and it really does make my day. This isn’t just a holiday for girls either. Go out of your way for that special guy—it makes them feel special too. The best gift though, is just being together with one another, and it’s at a great price too: free.

Even though some refer to this as Singleness Awareness Day, the day remains important, and does not deserve to be mocked. I disagree with this sarcastic take on the holiday. The emphasis on Valentine’s Day should be placed on making someone feel special, not bringing people and their feelings down. On Christmas the emphasis is not placed on those who do not celebrate the joyous holiday, but rather those who are basking in the love. Valentine’s Day should be the same.

I don’t think that it is that ridiculous to expect people to refrain from hating and disrespecting something that is very important to the majority of the population. The things we love deserve a day of appreciation and thought. February fourteenth gives us a day to celebrate.

Remember though, make that someone feel special all the time. That’s what love is all about.

Valentine’s Day: a day to bask in the pity of loneliness.

Although the fourteenth is pegged as being about cherishing special relationships and love, it’s still nonetheless a day to blindly participate in something false and full of monetary gain: a mock holiday.

Despite popular belief, Valentine’s Day is in no way about just being with that “special someone.” I don’t purely hate the “holiday” due to being single, I just disagree with the fact that the day centers itself on making people feel like it’s not okay to be independent and alone.

Pan the camera to the lonely group of single girls cry-laughing at the soppy love story they are snuggling on the couch together watching. As they cram tiny little heart-shaped chocolates filled with mysterious fillings into their mouths, eat ice cream out of the carton, and sop up snot into an insurmountable number of Kleenex, it becomes apparent that the day is black and cold to the core.

All of these girls on this fictitious couch are young, beautiful, independent, smart girls. And what has this day done to them?

Valentine’s Day has torn them down, shot their confidence and perpetuated them all to cry-laugh. Do you hear me? Cry-laugh! The combination of the mixture of emotions you feel when you are watching a romantic-comedy-chick-flick; when the tears are streaming, but there is a sudden burst of laughter with each quirky joke, as you realize how ridiculously pathetic you are for crying.

I implore you to ask yourself.

Why isn’t there a day called Kill

Cupid Day, where individuals can go out and explore the realms of being single and loving life? Seriously. Why does society pressure everyone to toss their individuality to the wind and tie their wrist to someone elses with a red little ribbon each February 14th?

Being single is falsely joined with the idea that there is something wrong with single people. That they are undesirable and unwanted and thus should be lonely for a day. But listen here single ladies, and men for that matter. Being single means that you are unwilling to settle! That you yourself have so much more self-worth and want the best kind of love and are willing to wait! So pay no mind to this confetti-filled holiday of trickery.

It may have originated as a holiday based on celebrating true love, but that is long gone as men and women worldwide shower their “valentine” with meaningless gifts for a single day. Twenty-four hours to be praised and treated like a queen or king all for midnight to hit and the magic disappears like clockwork. It’s foolish and naive to spend a day blindly in “love” or “lust” when it’s just a silly Cinderella story that will be over in one fell swoop as the clock strikes midnight.

Have you even seen the movie Valentine’s Day? The movie shows how ridiculously out of sorts the holiday is. It’s about like 57 strangers, whose ages range from first graders to senior citizens, who all “love” different people. The movie centers on the mishaps of relationships and magically none of them end up alone by the end of the movie, which coincidentally occurs at midnight: the end of the love-filled day. They run around the city throwing around sex and love like there’s no tomorrow. And I’m sorry but, there is absolutely no way all of those love stories simply ‘coincide’ and all happen to work out on the same day, just because it’s a “special” day. Do you hear me?

NO STINKIN’ WAY IS THAT POSSIBLE, NAIVE VALENTINE’S DAY MOVIE-GOERS. The whole day is a scam. A cheat.

A lie. We are falsely lulled into a state of confusion around the time of the Big V.D. (Venereal Disease shares the same initials?

Coincidental? I think not!

KELLEY PICKETT It’s a sign about the true nature of Valentine’s Day! Staff Reporter Beware!) where we lose sight of what’s really important, and we allow ourselves to forget why the holiday came about.

Ask yourself. Who is really benefiting from the holiday? The answer? Businesses. Corporations and companies are sinking their teeth into this multi-billion dollar industry, exploiting our feelings for one another as just another currency.

Granted, yes, that does help and affect the rest of the population in ways, (see: small business owners, workers at candy-heartfactories, designers of greeting cards) but what is better? Profit and faux-love or true sixty-year-anniversaries of relationships that celebrate Valentine’s Day every single day of every single year? It’s like a mass wave of stupidity masked in confectionery sugars, mylar balloons and paper cards.

And don’t even get me started on the flowers...

NEWS

2/7/2012

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DECA has Valentine’s Walls fall at Riverside Day gifts covered ALESSANDRA ROUP Staff Reporter

PHOTO BY DEVON YOXTHEIMER

This February, our very own DECA store has brought in an array of Valentine’s Day products for infatuated youngins to spend their money on.

Merchandise spans from balloons and candy grams, to pink sugar cookies, and what better way to show your appreciation than a “bouquet“ of balloons?

As far as pricing goes, a single mylar balloon (the big shiny plastic balloons) costs $2.50, and a “bouquet,” which is a mylar balloon mixed with other rubber balloons, costs $5.00.These are the perfect gifts for significant others, which can be delivered in school, right to classrooms.

Everyone likes to know that you appreciate them, even if you’re just friends. Sophomore Chandler Sipes said that the DECA store “likes spreading the love.”

Their best selling products are the colorful rubber balloons and helium-filled mylar balloons. Sales will be going on until the 14th, so make sure to check it out. As junior Karlee Rogers said, “Love is in the air at the DECA store.”

Beyond High School Night

KELLEY PICKETT Staff Reporter

SHAYLA MCGINNESS Editor-In-Chief

Breaking Down the Walls came to Riverside February 1-3 to bust down walls of social interaction.

“Breaking Down the Walls is a powerful, interactive program that creates a unique environment of self-reflection and community building,” according to ASB adviser Meri Benedict. “By working with a cross section of their peers, students learn that they are not isolated from each other but are rather part of a community that needs each other to be completely successful. Along the way, students discover the power of getting to know one another as well as the impact they have on those around them.”

Students around the school received letters asking them to participate in this life-changing event According to Benedict, “the program and the impact is profound, positive and enduring.”

Stu Cabe, who previously came to Riverside to tell the Big Elephant story back in September, was here to facilitate the Breaking Down the Walls program for three days. 150 students were invited to “break down walls” by teacher nominations.

An article that appeared in The Galt Herald in California, where Cabe brought the Breaking Down the Walls program, wrote of the program, “Students interacted in games and activities to help them get to know students they wouldn’t usually talk to or hang around with, learning that helping to break down stereotypes and learn who the real person is will often lead to new friendships and less bullying.”

Senior Reed Guisinger, covered in stickers with positive comments from fellow students at the end of the day last Wednesday, said it was a worthwhile experience.

On February 9, Auburn Riverside will host Beyond High School Night, starting at 6:30 p.m. and continuing until 8:30 p.m. This is a night for parents and students to gather information about the “right” college.

The college fair will be hosting over 50 colleges from around Washington as well as some out-of-state colleges such as University of Arizona and Oregon State University.

The booths will be primarily located in the commons but also spreading out into the surrounding hallways.

There will be a multitude of different types of higher education options, including but not limited to the NCAA and college atheltics, how to find the perfect college, getting “A’s” in college, financial aid, Advanced Placement credit, Running Start, varied professional/technical degrees, and military opportunities. Also, apprenticeships will be discussed.

Along with the boths, various break out sessions will be offered. The break out sessions will be more in depth regarding post high school options and, more specifically, financial aid.

Club Bulletin Board Drama Club

German Club Sprechen sie Deutsch? Well don’t worry, even if you don’t know how to speak German, German club is a fun way to learn about it.

The kids in German Club watch German films, makes delicious popcorn balls, and other yummy treats and of course learn about the German culture. They meet every other Wednesday in Mrs. Bardsley’s classroom.

Clubs featured this month:

Drama Rama! Want to learn how to act and express that inner Brangelina? Then Drama Club, advised by Mrs. Seman, is the place to be. They meet on a Tuesday every month right after school.

The kind of activites they participate in include but aren’t limited to going to see plays, learning new acting techniques, and partaking in workshops.

Also, for those who want to learn about the technical side, they offer Tech Club which is a branch of Drama Club.

Viscom Club Making awesome buttons, designing and printing radically cool T-shirts, and learning all about the profesional design world is what Viscom Club will provide at a glance. Just having talent won’t get you terribly far in the design world, so learn the other skills here at Viscom Club. If you are an artist, Photoshop fan, and/or a future designer, then this club is your definite niche.

Computer Science Club Computer Science Club gracesd Riverside students with its presence. It’s advised by Robyn Saarenas. The president of the club is Senior Jonah Dube. Computer Science is the scientific and mathematical approach in information technology and computing. For more information contact Robyn Saarenas.

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FEATURE

2/7/12

Graduate’s experience supports teen driving laws SHAYLA MCGINNESS Editor-in-Chief You’re out driving late into the middle of the night, and out of nowhere, a drunk driver plows head on into your car, leaving in its wake a life turned upside down.

Driving is a major milestone in every teen’s life, but it comes with many responsibilties. Distracted driving, lack of experience and skill, driving after curfew, and simple aggressive driving all accumulate to widespread car collisions which lead to countless teen deaths and injuries.

Fortunately, all these facPHOTOS COURTESY TYLER STANDISH tors can be controlled with simple teen driving laws, which Graduate Tyler Standish survived a horrific crash caused by a drunk driver after curfew. can reduce death tolls and injuries. These laws provide the much needed structure to keep said. youth safe on the roads. Their credibility is proven through Fortunately, Tyler survived, although the colstatistics and a multitude of studies show that stricter driv- lision left him in the hospital for a month and out of school ing laws do in fact saves lives. for two. He sustained several fractures to his face, and has These laws could have helped avoid the tragedy that had to undergo numerous reconstructive surgeries, which struck during the winter break of the 2008 school year when resulted in seven metal plates being placed on his skull. former Riverside student, Tyler Standish, was in a horrific Beyond the physical damage, the accident led to mental accident. distress, and through his terrible incident came a realization While hanging out at a friend’s house, sophomore Tyler that most teens don’t consider. needed to drop off his dad’s car at home. He left his friend’s “I’m always conscientious of my face and eyes when house at about 1 am, and on his drive home he was hit by a it comes to anything,” Standish said. “I will also never get drunk driver. He had no idea what happened. into a car with someone that has been drinking, even just “He was driving a large truck and it hit me head on, a beer.” totaling the car and sending me to the hospital,” Standish Even though this unfair and terrible incident was not

Luong celebrates Batman qualities LISA GRAY Staff Reporter

“I wanted to be smart like Batman, however the neighborhood I grew up in, it was not cool to be smart,” Luong said. “In my neighborhood the cool thing to do was to hang Growing up, every kid has a favorite super hero. Flash, out on a street corner, cheat, steal, and get bad grades.

As Luong grew up he kept the thought of Batman always Superman, Wonder Woman—they all have things in common. nearby him and he got the Batman symbol tattooed on his They all solve crimes using their unique super power.

Growing up when in Seattle, math teacher Jacob Lu- left ankle. When he started teaching, a good friend of his gave him the idea of giving out ong’s favorite superhero was some sort of award to one of Batman. When Luong was his students that chose to do little he used to play pretend things that are right even when on the jungle gym with the their peers are doing something friends. Kids would call out that is not. fictitious characters (Super“It’s easy to give in and man, Flash, Green Lantern, chat with your friends instead etc.) and they would pretend of doing your class work, or to be them during the game. cheat on an assignment instead And every time they played of doing it on your own,” Luong this game Luong would call said. “I have lots of students out Batman. in my class that are proof that “Each time I chose Batit is cool to be smart and conman, other kids on the playsistently chose to do the right ground would make comments things.” like “Batman is stupid, he PHOTO BY DEVON YOXTHEIMER Once a month Luong gives doesn’t have any powers, but out a shirt to one of his students regardless of their comments Junior Sumner Brock was a recipient of math teacher Jacob Luong’s once-a-month Batman award. that represent Batman qualiI always chose Batman,” said ties. Previous award winners Luong.

And it was true Batman did not have any Super Powers. include juniors Cassidy Brown and Sumner Brock, freshmen He couldn’t run super fast or fly around the world. Batman Claire Bedsworth, Elijah Ware, Mitch Wetmore, Makayla is known as a detective that overcomes adversity by using Schleining, and sophomore Cesar Monroy.

Anybody can be a Batman. his brain.

Tyler’s fault and could have happened any time of day, it did occur after curfew. Teen driving laws and restrictions, including curfew from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m., are enacted to try and prevent these kinds of situations.

“If a teen drinks and drives they should be punished more than if an adult was drunk driving,” Standish said. “It will encourage people not to drive as much because they have much more to lose.”

According to www.KeeptheDrive. com, teens are twice as likely to be in a collision at night. With this in mind, it’s clear why teens have a curfew.

Another factor to keep in mind is the fact that bars close at 2 am, whichs means adults and teens have a higher risk of being in a collision. Particulary teens though because they have less experience and skill.

The sobering facts about night time driving shouldn’t only be considered, over 4,000 teens die every year in car crashes and over 450,000 are injured.

New York State Senator Vincent Leibell brings this statistic into perspective, “If we saw these numbers coming back from a war zone, it would be on the front page every day.”

Unfortunately, some circumstances occur where no law, even with the best intentions, can prevent such tragedies from happening. Sometimes, we are just in the wrong place at the wrong time. But as long as we commit ourselves as responsible citizens and follow the teen driving laws, the due diligence that was put into making these laws will help continue to save lives.

FEATURE

2/7/12

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Students Give Back Santa Picture Drive

Adopt-a-Family

An amazing fundraiser our school was able to participate in this year was the Santa Picture drive, put on by R.A.K.E. Club to raise money for the Riverside Make-a-Wish Foundation. At both lunches, students were able to take a festive holiday picture with Santa Claus, for the very low cost of one to two dollars depending on the format. Our very own senior, Michael Baber, starred as the jolly white-haired man, and he enjoyed the role. When asked if he would dress up again, Baber replied, “Yes. Not even a question. Absolutely.” Even though the drive only lasted two days, they raised 200 dollars to go towards making students’ Christmas wishes come true.

This year Riverside put on many drives and donations. One of them was an Adopta-Family donation through Childhaven put on by Patrick Swenson’s classes. They adopted three families, eighteen people total.

The 128 students were encouraged to give change, cash, and gift cards to help provide a better Christmas for the three families. $1500 went towards buying Supermall and Fred Meyers gift cards for each family. The rest of the money, about a thousand dollars, were giftcards donated from Swensons’ students. These ranged anywhere from Zumiez and H&M, to Olive Garden and McDonalds. In total, the classes raised $2600. Fourth period Newspaper and Journalistic Writing raised the most money per person, followed by sixth period Honors 10 Literature, and then second period A.P. Literature.

Taylor Rawson Fund Taylor Rawson had a rough winter. His mother had to go to the hospital for a brain aneurysm, which left Taylor and his siblings to go to their friends’ house and stay there until they knew what was going to be happening. A donation basket was made to help support the Rawsons during Christmas, and his friends did not disappoint. Thanks to the combined efforts of the Rawsons’ friends, the donation group received funds with which they helped the Rawsons cover bills and buy Christmas gifts.

Canned Food Drive You may recall that Riverside rocked the last Canned Food Drive, beating the reigning champs of three years, Auburn Mountainview.

Over the course of two weeks, thousands of students, teachers, administrators, and families pitched in unused canned food as well as cash for the Auburn Food Bank.

Every elementary, middle, and high school participated in the event, adding pounds and pounds of cans full of much-needed food.

These pounds added up at each school, creating a very healthy competition. The food was collected and sent directly to the food bank. The next drive will take place at the end of Februrary into the first week of March. So set some cans aside for the next Canned Food Drive!

Blanket Drive

Jeremiah Carter Fund Recently, Jeremiah Carter, a beloved Mt. Baker teacher, was hurt and is currently a paraplegic. Students throughout Riverside have been donating money to Carter and his family, and ASB is possibly doing a fundraiser to get more students to help the cause. Mt. Baker has done a series of fundraisers including Caps for Carter and Jerry’s Jammies, where students can pay $1 or more to wear a hat or pajamas to school. On simply their first day of raising money, Mt. Baker raised a little over $1,000.

The National Honors Society put on a Blanket Drive for the whole month of November. It all started a couple years ago and it was a very cold winter and a Riverside student was concerned about the homeless and eventually asked English teacher Sue Nue for help, and they got the National Honor Society involved. This year, National Honor Society collected more than 35 blankets. All the blankets went to an outreach to homeless teens at Auburn Youth Resources. The National Honor Society made posters and bulletins. The blanket drive was organized by the officers, but it was a group effort.

Way to go NHS!

RAKE Fundraser Last December our school was home to a bundle of winter festivities that manifested itself in the form of a slew of fundraisers and charity. One of the most successful drives was the Make-a-Wish program, which set out to grant students wishes and spread holiday cheer. The program, run by RAKE club and headed by Tauri Woodworth and Brooke Hanson, raised over $2,000. Donations came from all parts of the community including students, parents, teachers, and even local fire stations, which accounted for about 1/4th of the donated money. This staggering support helped the club to fulfill goofy wishes for things like pizza and soy milk as well as legitimate needs. Senior Tauri Woodworth said “We went through the counselors for students who were actually in need. We have homeless students who go to our school. We bought a lot of clothes and wrapped them anonymously for the counselors to hand out. We spent about $800 in gift cards too.”

The idea came to the students in a club meeting as they mulled over possible service projects for the school. Woodworth said “Since RAKE had just gotten started again we wanted it to be something everyone would know about.” Other high schools have done similar projects but as Woodworth said “not as big as we did.” She seemed hopeful about the future of the project and said that their adviser Julie Moberg “will certainly be encouraging it” for next year.

Due to time and space constraints, we didn’t get all the generous offerings of Riverside students. We know we missed some!

Please comment on our website version of this article and let us know the great things you or your club or organization did. See us at www.arhsinflight.com

InFlight staff picks favorite apps Hanging with Friends “Hanging With Friends” is an easy to play app where you connect with your friends to play hang-man. Much like “Words With Friends,” this game lets you play against friends, or strangers, in a game of hang-man. Guessing incorrectly leads your character, who is extended above a lava pit with 5 balloons, closer to death with one less balloon. Each turn starts with 16 random letters you must use to make a difficult word for an opponent to guess. With the words you create, you get points that you can put towards buying cool characters or fun balloons.

Doodle Jump

Doodle Jump is a good app to have when extremely bored, but that is about it. There are two versions of the game, the free version and the full version, which costs 99 cents. The free version has a limit to how high you can go, (which is about 12,000 feet), and doesn’t have all the gadgets that the paid versions does. The free version doesn’t have rockets or spring shoes like the full version.

There are also different themes in the full version such as the classic theme, outer space, jungle, Halloween, snow, soccer, under water, ghost, Easter and Arctic. The free version only comes with the classic theme, outer space, Halloween, and snow.

This game becomes boring quickly and is not worth the extra 99 cents.

Pandora Everyone loves music right? Well one of the best ways to listen on the go is with the Pandora app. The way it works is you type in the name of an artist or song or even genre that you like and just like magic, Pandora finds songs like this one to play. It is a great way to find new music, and the best part is that it’s free (unless you get the “premium version” with no ads)! The app also allows you to have multiple stations and shuffle songs from whatever stations you select.

Fruit Ninja PHOTOS BY DEVON YOXTHEIMER

You are sitting there bored, waiting for time to pass, when a random game appears! Fruit Ninja is here to save the day! A fun game where the object is simple: slice all of the fruit and avoid the bombs.

Available on both the Android and iPod operating system, it is definitely a must buy. And if you have an impressive score, upload to the Internet and compete with the rest of the world. There’s a free version and a paid version, which costs a dollar, but it is well worth it to play the game ad-free.

Where Searching for a new app to find cool nearby places and stuff to do? “Where” is the perfect app. It offers things to do, restaurants, coupons, gas, shopping and more, all within a couple of easy to use tabs.This app also gives offers and deals at local businesses. It’s pretty much one of the best multi-tool apps available, and it’s free.

Temple Run

Temple Run is a quality app that requires total concentration to play. This is a free app.

You need to try to collect as many coins as you can, survive as long as you can, and get powerups. The game begins with you being chased by monkeys and your number one priority is to not let those monkeys catch up with you and eat you.

Temple Run requires your full attention. Quick reflexes are necessary as you get farther into the temple as the game speeds up. You will have to turn corners faster, jump acrooss gaps with great speed, and dodge objects with precise timing.

Blackberry users will have to wait a while before they can get there hands on this app, so for now just the devices running iOS or Android OS can play this fun and interactive game.

Shazam

Shazam! Ever listen to a song on the radio and say “Who is this by? What song is this?” Don’t worry! There’s an App for that! The famous Shazam app has been here quite a while now and has built up a pretty respectable reputation. The app listens to whatever song you’re listening to for a few moments and pulls up the song, artist, album art, and just about everything you would need to know in a game of musical Jeopardy. The app is completely free, but it does include links for song downloads.

The app has only had a couple of problems. One being that the phone must be in a good position for the microphone to hear the song. The only other conundrum is needing to use the app while driving. DO NOT ATTEMPT.

Pinger “Pinger Textfree” is a free app that allows you to have unlimited texting, free of charge. Unlike many other texting applications, which only let the user text people who have also downloaded the same app, Pinger gives you an entirely new, personalized phone number to text to any phone number. It saves money by allowing you to ditch the expensive phone plan. Though you need a fairly steady signal for the messages to go through quickly and efficiently, it’s a small price to pay for free unlimited texting.

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FEATURE

2/7/12

The Raven Ruling InFlight staff votes on culture

CARLEY LIKES Guest Reporter Gymnastics requires a significant amount of physical strength and skill, making gymnasts prime athletes. They have to have extreme flexibilty, coordination, and balance.

Senior Danielle Landry has dedicated years to the sport and has become an impressive athlete because of it.

Gymnasts participate in a range of events including floor exercises, pommel horse, still ring, vault, parallel bars and high bars. Each of these events take practice and skill to master.

Landry has been doing PHOTO BY DEVON YOXTHEIMER gymnastics ever since she was Senior Danielle Landry lives for gymnastics. little, but never complains nowned gymnast Mohini Bhardwaj, who was about the tiresome practices and lack of sleep. “I have practice for 4 1/2 in the Olympics in 2004. Landry is inspired one day to also be in the Olympics. hours,” Landry said.

The most difficult trick Landry can do Long practices and meets make it difficult to get homework done so keeping is a double back flip on the floor. This is grades up can be a challenge. However, a tumbling skill done with two backwards Landry has had the chance to develop good somersaults done consecutively.

Landry will be continuing her hardwork time management skills, since she has been doing gymnastics for 12 years at the Auburn and devotion to gymnastics as her high school career goes on.

Gymnastics Center.

One of her role models is the world re-

SOPA

Super Bowl

The Stop Online Piracy Act is attempting to save large corporations big money by interrupting the internet laws of others. We disagree, a lot.

The New England Patriots took on the New York Giants this year in the 46th annual Super Bowl. It’s a hugely popular event! However, not everyone enjoys the Super Bowl, or even the sport of football.

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McDonald’s

Starbucks

McDonald’s: on the lower end of fast food chains? Or just as good as any other place to eat? How healthy this fast food restaurant is has been a long standing debate yet to be determined.

Delicious coffee can be served at any of the many Starbucks locations around Auburn, but it comes at a price... literally. Is the coffee really worth the price?

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Snow Days

Everyone enjoys a day in the snow once in a while, but it’s not always fun to make up those missed days later in the year. The loss of summer days doesn’t always make up for the winter days off, and we’ll have to make up two of them this year, and lose our built-in snow day.

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Valentine’s Day Everyone has a different view of Valentine’s Day, whether it’s a day for love or a day for loneliness. But its heart is in the right place.

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2/7/12

FEATURE

A yearning for kenning Japanese toy growing in popularity

COLE LINDELL Guest Reporter

Principal Dave Halford has taken notice of the students and their kendamas. “I see these Kendamas like yo-yo’s,” he said. “Kids were always playing with them. I think they are What’s one of the biggest fads hitting our campus this pretty cool myself. I purchased four Kendamas for Christmas year? It has terms like “Lightning Drop,” “Earth Turn,” gifts this year.”

Are they a distraction at school? “I’m fine with having “Around the World,” and “Slip on Spike.”

It’s the kendama, a Japanese toy that has two wooden kids bringing them to school,” Halford said, “as long as they don’t become a problem, and cups placed on the censo far I have not seen that.” ter of a wooden spike Other students like sophoand a smaller cup conmore Taylor Santos have had nected with a ball and problems getting to keep their string. kendamas. Santos has specifi“Lightning drop to cally had trouble in her sixth lunar to double lunar period class with math teacher has to be the hardest Ed Rosin. trick,” sophomore Brady “I get really mad when Cummings, a kendama Mr. Rosin takes my kendama pro, said. away,” Santos said, “but I’m This toy seems like not mad anymore because I it should be fairly inexbroke her and he fixed her pensive considering it for me. I recently is made of a piece of got a new one so string, a bead, a woodhe wouldn’t know en ball, and a wooden PHOTOS BY DEVON YOXTHEIMER it was mine and stick. But be ready to Above: Sophhe won’t take it shell out as much as omore Brady away.” $200. That is a high Cummings is one of the Although it’s price, but the averschool’s best considered to have age kendama will only at kenning.

Japanese origins, cost about $20 to $50 and it is particulardollars.

Right: The ly well-loved there, Ke n d a m a s h a v e kendama, the question about taken our school by relatively simwhere kendamas surprise. It’s almost like ple in design, actually originated they have come out of is difficult to master. is anyone’s guess. nowhere.

It’s likely that it Well, they kind of may have been indid. vented indepenCummings had some friends over in Spokane, Washington that had kend- dently in many different regions, and spread.

Now, kendamas are popular all over the world, and kenamas, so when he got one it seemed like everybody wanted dama tournaments are everywhere. YouTube helped spread to get one.

Walking down the halls students might come across some notice about this unique toy as many kendama fans posted words they know, but with a different meaning because of videos showing kendama tricks.

Kendamas are a fun awesome way to work on your all of the tricks that can be done with a kendama. One of the most common and easiest tricks to preform is “big cup hand-eye coordination, and it’s a great way to spend your free time. to little cup.”

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Then advertise with InFlight!

Learn how you can reach a captive audience for as little $20!

Contact Patrick Swenson at (253) 804-5154 or email inflightnews@yahoo.com for details.

We’re also online! www.arhsinflight.com

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Leaping years ALESSANDRA ROUP Staff Reporter 2012 is quite the year. It’s the year in which the world is supposedly going to end, it’s the year I graduate, and it’s also leap year.

I would hope you know what a leap year is, but just in case... A leap year is when there is an extra day in February (February 29th). This day is artifically created in order to realign the calendar to the earth’s revolutions around the sun.

However, there is more to this day than realignment.

A number of superstitions and myths revolve around this day, making it all the more special.

According to historic-UK.org, anything started on this day is sure to succeed. It also becomes socially acceptable for women to propose to men.

It is also said that people born on this day have special abilities and talents. These people are all invited to join “The Honor Society of Leap Year Day Babies,” according to timeanddate.com.

We are lucky enough to have one of our very own Leap Year Babies here at ARHS: sophomore Alexis Bantigue.

This year, she will celebrate her fourth “real” birthday. Because these special birthdays only come every four years, she will be enjoying it in Disneyland.

She said her other birthdays are usually split between February 28th and March 1st, creating a two day birthday extravaganza.

However, when asked about the supposed “special talents,” she denied the claim.

So this February 29th, make sure to wish Ms. Bantigue a happy birthday, and enjoy your 366th day well!

A&E

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2/7/12

Where to eat, what to drink

Jimmy John’s

Panera Bread

COLE LINDELL Guest Reporter Jimmy John’s is the best sandwich shop in the state of Washington. When custom ers tell the cashier their order, the other workers immediately start making their sandwiches.

There are very few things that I dislike about Jimmy John’s. Inside the restaurant it is usually cold, but that is normal for a sandwich shop so that the food stays at the appropriate temperature for pure deliciousness. I also don’t like the fact that the closest Jimmy John’s to Auburn is in Federal Way. Jimmy John’s makes their bread from scratch every day, and bake it fresh. The bread is so soft that when you rub it on your cheek it feels like a soft pillow.

Their motto is “Subs so fast you’ll freak.” This motto is 100 percent correct. For example, by the the time my mom swiped her credit card and walked down to the other side to pick up the sandwiches they were made and we were ready to go. At all times they have at least five people working there. One person runs the cash register and the other four workers form an assembly line for the sandwiches.

Everything there is just perfect! They have their own brand of potato chips that are thick and crunchy. You definitely can’t go wrong with their menu. If you don’t enjoy eating sandwiches with lots of condiments, they have sandwiches with just meat and cheese. These are called the slim sandwiches.

Jimmy John’s is the perfect place to get a quick bite to eat for cheap. With reasonable prices and fun and catchy slogans everywhere, you really can’t go wrong with Jimmy John’s.

CARLEY LIKES Guest Reporter

Arizona Green Tea CARLEY LIKES Guest Reporter Arizona green tea is one of the best drinks out there; it is full of good and natural flavors with added ginseng. Arizona tea has much less caffeine then coffee or soda. Caffeine can lead to cardiovascular problems and irregular heart functions. This makes Arizona the obvious choice. Someone might ask “Why should I pick Arizona over other drinks?” Soda has way more calories and sugar then green tea.

Arizona is sweetened with Splenda. People often replace sugar with Splenda in lots of recipes because it has absolutely no calories. In nutritious drinks, manufacturers use Splenda instead of white sugar. According to some European studies conducted at the University of Geneva, Arizona green tea also helps with weight loss. Green tea also can enhance your metabolism; this helps you to burn fat. Geneva studies showed that some of the ingredients in the tea can improve the energy production by four percent.

Green tea has Polyphenols that are antioxidants which help protect the body from certain diseases. Green tea also has contains amino acid Thiamine. Thiamine can increase the levels of neurotransmitter chemicals and metabolism. High levels of neurotransmitters can assist people who need to relieve stress and enhance the mood.

Green tea is a big healthy alternative to most drinks on the market and it’s a plus that it tastes amazing. Numerous amounts of people consume healthy drinks for the great benefits they have but also for the good quality natural flavors it contains.

Panera Bread was established in 1891 essentially for the purpose of just baking bread; but soon they expanded to making not only lunch but also breakfast and dinner! Panera is a magnificent place to eat.

The costumer service was great. Everyone on staff was helpful, polite and fast to meet my desires. Not to mention the atmosphere, which was warm and welcoming. A nice arrangement of colors and furniture plus an adorable little fire place made it feel like home.

After taking in the scenery it was about time to order.

I had to waiting in line for about three minutes before I got to the register. The food variety was great; no matter what you feel like eating they will have something to satisfy your taste buds. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack, desert? Panera has it all.

After placing my order of broccoli cheddar soup and a turkey

bacon bravo sandwich, I got a buzzer and sat down.

The food was ready in less than 10 minutes which is a very reasonable time considering they were fairly busy.

By the time I was seated with my food could not wait to eat. The food was delicious. Even after I was done eating I had to go back up to the counter before I left to order a desert from the assortment of choices. And, must say, the mint crinkle was extravagant.

One of the only bad things I noticed during my experience at Panera Bread was that it was so busy. Besides this one default, there are no reasons why I should not go back to eat there. I would definitely recommend Panera Bread to everyone I meet, and they should expect to see me soon in the future.

A&E

2/7/12

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ENTERTAINMENT

REVIEWS breaking

dawn

Breaking Dawn: the newest addition to the infamous Twilight saga, a two part phenomena enthralling people of all ages and sickening just as many. The question is: what is all the ruckus about? This film made $139.5 million on its first weekend alone according to thehollywoodgossip. com, which also said “Breaking Dawn - Part 1 stands only behind Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, The Dark Knight, Spider-Man 3 and New Moon on the list of best opening weekends ever.”

These numbers seemed even more shocking after seeing it. The basic premise of the film is the continuation of the gooey vampire-human love affair between Edward Cullen and Bella Swan. The film picks up just after their graduation where after they whisk off to bind their love in holy matrimony. The story goes on, but I won’t spoil it for you, just in case you were planning on seeing it.

Although the whole Twilight series has been an object of ridicule, there were some redeeming points. I was happy to see that within the first five seconds Jacob had already ripped his shirt off and the whole audience was graced with the presence of his pristine abs. Also, I have to admit, the plot line was kind of clever as the movie went on. I definitely wouldn’t have seen it coming, and I do have to appreciate an original idea.

With all that said, I would not recommend it. When I go to see a vampire movie, I want action and monsters! However, when you go to see Breaking Dawn you’re likely to find yourself watching a bunch of boring suburban vampires go about their lives, just like you go about yours.

I’m sure you’ve all heard of the less than magnificent acting skills utilized by the actors. All I have to say to that is that yeah, Bella and Edward have one emotion. It’s a blank stare in the direction of the other, showing almost no affection or concern.

The other vampires are better at acting, but because the whole movie revolves around the two love birds, all other characters are overshadowed.

In addition to the poor quality of the movie, it sends some questionable messages to the audience. Bella is basically forced to marry Edward right out of high school and she also has to abandon her entire family and all her friends to be with him.

All in all, the few short minutes in which something interesting is happening are not worth the endless drear and boredom you will face if you see this movie, not to mention the harmful social effects of the underlying themes seen in Breaking Dawn. —Alice

New Year’s Eve is a romantic comedy that you either love or hate. It’s like the movie Valentine’s Day but with a different holiday. With many big name movie stars, such as Michele Pfeiffer, Halle Berry, Katherine Heigl, Jon Bon Jovi, Josh Duhamel, Ashton Kutcher, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jessica Biel. There are also young actors that may be rising to the top of the charts some day, such as Jake T. Auston and Abigail Breslin.

New Year’s Eve is about the lives of several couples and singles in New York intertwining over one night: New Year’s Eve. This movie celebrates love, hope, forgiveness, second chances and fresh starts.

It’s a relaxing light-hearted movie full of laughs and touching moments people may be able to relate to. Ten minutes into the movie I expected I already knew the ending, but as all the pieces slowly unraveled it actually had an unexpected ending with a few surprises.

But in all honesty, the movie was dry and dull. It had no real hard-hitting emotion. Also, with so many sub plots going on at once it was hard to keep track of which was which. Some sub plots included Michele Pfeiffer quitting and deciding to have Zac Effron help her complete New Year’s resolutions. Also, Abigail Breslin wants to go Times

Square to kiss Jake T. Auston at midnight.

Another sub plot is when Lea Micheal and Aushton Kutcher get stuck in an apartment elevator together for many hours. But there are also some dumber sub plots, such as Jon Bon Jovi wanting to get back together with Katherine Heigl.

But some actors and actresses do shine above all the rest, such as Halle Berry. Berry plays a nurse who is taking care of a dying man who refuses treatment. Jon Bon Jovi plays a rockstar who has a past with a girl and is trying to reconnect with her.

In all honesty New Year’s Eve was pleasant, harmless but very bland. —Lisa

of music. For example, dark blue is alternative and bright green is R&B. Under each genre there are literally hundreds of bands. Each represented by its own little bubble.

All the user has to do is zoom in and click to begin exploring new and upcoming bands.

There is a search feature and handy icons which allow the user to create playlists, submit feedback, get help, and look at videos.

The site is evermore expanding, as well, adding new band-bubbles often. Anyone can make an account; they are free and offered for music seekers and bands alike. Bands can sell music as well as get free publicity on the site. It’s a great tool to utilize, as there are a fair amount of bands running around Riverside.

“Hitlantis is a music community where everyone can come to discover new Music easier than ever before. Hitlantis inhabits Music Lovers and Artists. On the Hitlantis Map, Users may easily see the quantity of Artists per different musical genres. Also, The Map displays the popularity very well: the hotter the Artist is the closer to the center they are.”

The site writes under general information to describe itself. It’s true. It’s a user friendly music sharing site. The site has slim to no bugs or glitches. The site does not ask to be granted credit-card-stealing permissions on your computer’s hard drive. It is safe and efficient. If anything, it is at least worth a glance. What’s the worst than can come from it?

Everybody should check it out, to see what the fuss is about, because lives are definitely changed on Hitlantis.

Remember folks, you may lose a battle, but Hitlantis can help you win the war. —Kelley

Hitlantis Finding new and decent music is a battle, one lots of people fight most days with a grimace on their faces and a stiff-search-engine-clicking feel in their hands. It’s a long and tiring battle for the ‘mainstreamers,’ and an even more tumultuous task for those who have more specificity when choosing what to filter into their fragile brains.

As music connoisseurs, we rely on sites like YouTube, Pandora, GrooveShark, and those unreliable top twenty lists to find new bands and songs. These sites may relieve some of the stress induced by music-hunting, but even still, I fear, there is an emptiness that needs filling in my hungry-little-musical-soul, and I know I’m not the only one.

But have no fear! Hitlantis is here!

It’s like an intravenous drip of a variety of new and stimulating bands from throughout the world, all in one convenient little place, for anyone to peruse at their own leisure. Based and managed in Finland, Hitlantis offers a little bit of everything, and more.

Go to the URL bar, type in Hitlantis.com, and prepare to be amazed. What sets Hitlantis apart is the colorful bubbles arranged in organized chaos on the homepage. They are color sorted in a massive blob surrounding one bubble which features highlighted bands and the occasional advertisement. The colors represent the genre Sherlock Holmes’ second movie hits theaters again with a new adventure starring Robert Downey, Jr. In this new movie Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, Holmes and his sidekick Dr. Watson attempt to stop Professor Moriarty as he attempts to start a war between Germany and England.

When considering seeing this new movie, an important question comes to mind. Is it worth my time or money? Well, that’s a good question. Although this movie may be a bit confusing, it’s got a incredibly devious and well thought out plot that makes it a good use of time. Much like the first movie, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows keeps up with the pace of adventure and mystery that’s expected after the first movie came out in 2009.

As expected however, the new movie didn’t top the first one. Although it was interesting and adventurous, the movie did have a few flaws. At the beginning, it was easy enough the follow the story. The setting stayed the same, as did most of the main characters. As I got further in, too many things were going on to find the real point through all the mischief. Many of the new characters started looking the same and it was difficult to figure out what the mystery was needed to be solved. It takes a good portion of the movie to connect all the information. And it feels as though there are parts thrown in simply to confuse the audience.

I really do recommend this movie and highly feel it’s a good use of time and money.

It’s important to watch the first movie before going to see this one because it gives you a better feel for the characters’ traits and personalities. If the first movie interested you, this movie is definitely something you’ll want to see. —Mackenzie

SPORTS

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tudents often look at the adults at our school as simply the people who teach the information to graduate.

However, many teachers have hobbies outside of school that are surprisingly unique, including English teacher John Erickson.

As a child, Erickson grew up in Washington with one sister. During high school, he was very interested in wrestling. “Before college, wrestling had been important,” Erickson said.

He attended Whitman College in Walla Walla where he had to quit wrestling because there was no team for it at the school. Even though he had to quit, Erickson still has taught wrestling at Riverside for seven years. He got his first job as a swim coach, which is when he decided he liked teaching. Teaching is something Erickson loves to do, but that’s not his only hobby.

Erickson has been climbing mountains for a while now.

“I’ve been actively climbing since right out of college,” Erickson said.

Outside of school, he works for International Mountain Guides. During the summer, Erickson takes clients up to the peak of Mt. Rainer as a professional mountain guide.

He’s traveled all over the world including, Italy, France, Ecuador, Spain, Argentina, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Chile and British Columbia. “[British Columbia] is the prettiest place I’ve been around near the United States,” he said.

Recently, he just came back from a one month trip to Chile where he climbed Aconcagua, a 22,841 foot peak.

Climbing mountains has taught Erickson about teaching, including his idea that although teaching and mountain climbing seem so different, they are actually very similar.

“You won’t climb life’s mountain without education,” said Erickson.

According to Erickson, at school if students don’t learn the skills it takes to be successful in life, it can have a huge impact. The same goes for mountain climbing. If you don’t learn the skills to be on a mountain, it will be impossible.

PHOTO BY DEVON GONZALEZ

Erickson on the MACKENZIE BROWN Staff Reporter

Mountain

Ravens predict winner of

Super Bowl...even if it’s over JAYMES FLEURY Staff Reporter Hey, readers. So you probably flipped to the sports page and expected to see some sort of wrap-up of Sunday’s big game.

Well due to printing schedules and interworkings of the paper (that you most likely don’t care to hear about), we had no idea who won. But now that you are holding this issue on Tuesday, you do know who won. So the staff decided to take a different angle at this story. We wanted to hear what you, our loyal readers, were predicting for Super Bowl 46.

Students were asked who they wanted to win and who they actually believed were going to win. Some were asked why they believed in that team. Some (most) said they were actually completely uninterested in the game. This lack of interest is due to the fact that this Bowl game is a repeat of

2008’s, where the Giants barely defeated the Patriots.

The poll included both students and teachers. While polling, the results were neck and neck, each fighting for our votes.

In the end, the poll was very close. Ravens in favor of the Patriots eeked out the win.

The New England Patriots were chosen by 56 percent of those who responded to the poll, a very slim margin.

Officials predicted the Patriots would defeat the Giants with five touchdown passes, making Tom Brady the game’s MVP. But now that Super Bowl 46 is at an end, ask yourself: Were we right? Did the favored Patriots win? Was Tom Brady the National Football League’s Most Valuable Player? Or did the underdog Giants pull out an unsuspected win?

The Raven voice has chosen, but ... were we right?

VS. ILLUSTRATIONS BY KELLEY PICKETT

2/7/12

PHOTO COURTESY JOHN ERICKSON

SPORTS

2/7/12

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It’s crunch time for Crump KELLEY PICKETT Staff Reporter

Jalea Crump goes from bubbly and effervescent to serious and dedicated when she steps on the basketball court. A senior this year, she dominates. Crump has been playing basketball her whole life, for as long as she can remember.

According to Terry Johnson, coach of the Lady Ravens, Crump has been a key player this season. “Jalea always plays with great effort. She never takes time off the court.

Overall, it’s the effort.”

Crump began playing basketball for her father, who has also played since he was young, but now plays for herself. He motivated her to get going in the sport that he loved, and is a major supporter of her talent.

She hopes to attain a scholarship through basketball for college this next fall. She has not made a decision on which school she will attend, although Arizona State University is in the running. “I just want to go to a good school,” she divulged.

Crump’s favorite part, and biggest strength, is something she refers to as “attacking the basket.” This is when a player takes the ball and dribbles really fast towards

the basket,” for those out there who do not speak basketball lingo. Her abilities do not go unnoticed on the court.

“She’s been our most consistent player,” Johnson said.

And consistency is key, as the saying goes. As consistent as she may be, Crump isn’t afraid to step out of her comfort consistency. She is bold and says what’s on her mind and does not shy away from stepping out of her comfort zone. This year alone, she has taken on new activities, such as Chess Club with adviser Ernie Zeiger, and Break Dance Club, with adviser Robyn Stowe.

As talented as she is, she does not plan to make a career out of basketball. She hopes to become an E! Entertainment broadcaster or host. She also indicated she would be interested in being the editor of Vogue, as her role model is Anna Winters.

But will she continue on with basketball despite her dream of being a broadcaster?

PHOTO BY DEVON YOXTHEIMER

“Yes,” Crump confirms, “I’ve worked so hard my entire life. It wouldn’t make sense to give it all up now after all the hard work and time I’ve committed.”

And she’s right. There’s no denying her talent and drive, or the importance of these qualities.

PHOTO COURTESY JALEA CRUMP

Love racking up miles in track and XC but his first year in track was in 6th grade at North Tapps Middle School and his first year of cross country was his freshman year at Riverside. When entering into high school, Love did not want to run cross country.

“I was actually going to play football, since I played it in middle school,” Love said. “But a friend of mine got me to go to a summer practice and after a couple days I knew this was way better than football.”

When not running Love is either sleeping, eating or spending time with his

LISA GRAY Staff Reporter

“

I am so glad to be a part of

the cross country program

PHOTO BY DEVON YOXTHEIMER

PHOTO COURTESY MEL SAUNDERS

At over 6 feet tall, junior Trevor Love is hard to miss. He is on the cross country and track teams, and next year as a senior he will be captain of the cross country team.

“I am so glad to be a part of the cross country program that has been considered one of the best teams in state over the years,” Love said.

Love has been running all of his life,

that has been considered one of the over the years.

best teams in state

”

—Trevor Love, junior

friends. With all of Love’s extracurricular activities he still manages to keep up a 3.4 GPA and not struggle in his classes. His idols are Walter Payton and the seniors on the

cross country team.

“Walter Payton is my idol because of his work ethic and determination,” Love said.

Walter Payton (also known as “Sweetness”) was a football running back who played for the Chicago Bears for 13 seasons.

Walter Payton is remembered as one of the most prolific running backs in the history of the NFL. Academics and his running are very important to Love because he hopes to someday go to college at Arizona State University.

“I really hope to get a scholarship in either cross country or track,” Love said.

“But I know I will have to train very hard to get one.”

In cross country Love mainly competes in the 5k run but in track he competes in the 400 meter dash 300 meter hurdles and he would like to try the mile this year. In the off season Love mainly sticks to distance runs and hill, but during the season he does specific works outs based on the mileage.

“Trevor is brings so much enthusiasum and brings hope to the team,” senior Katie Alexander said. “He is also a great role model for the younger students that are just getting into track and cross country.”

Trevor is only a junior and he already has a bright future ahead of him. This spring, students can expect to see and support him, as well as the entire AR track team, at this year’s meets.

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e t a d p rts U

as of 2/1

Spo

Girls Basketball The girls varsity basketball team has had a great season so far with 15-2 overall and 11-2 losses in the SPSL League as of Feb 1, after a loss to league leader Mt. Rainier.

The Ravens’ stats are quite good, but they’re close to reaching their goal of making it to the state tournament. Only 16 teams will make it to the tournament this year, and Coach Terry Johnson believes the girls have a good chance of making it. The regular season ended yesterday after a game with Kentwood.

Boys Swim and Dive The boys swim and dive team has been doing a spectacular job in all of their meets, winning a tough meet on January 3rd against one of the powerhouses, Rogers High.

Most of the swimmers on the team are also part of the boys water polo team, training for these seasons almost year round. The team has been working very hard, with swimmers Roby Iverson, Tristan Naranjo, and Cody Jones making large improvements in their game.

Wrestling

The wrestling team has been having a wild season.

The wrestlers had their dual meet on January 28th when they beat Kentlake with a close 37 to 30 and crushed Auburn Mountainview 70 to 12.

Yet they did lose to Tahoma with an final score of 60 to 9.

Four prominent athletes on the team can celebrate the fact that they have over 20 wins under their belts. Senior Eduard Yakimchuk has won 26 of his 31 matches.

Senior Spencer Cowlishaw has 23 of his 32 matches. Senior Nate Mead has won 21 of his 31 matches and junior Keaton Dalfrey has won 22 of his 31 matches.

Gymnastics

2/7/12

Boys Basketball This year’s boys varsity basketball team so far this year has a record of 3-9 in the SPSL. One player who stands out to coach Kilgallon is senior Prince Ligon.

He is one of the team’s key players because he has been scoring a lot in the past games. To help improve for future games the team needs to work mostly on defense and blank. For the upcoming games and overall season the varsity basketball team hopes to keep working hard, and looking onward towards the future.

“A good quality to have for an upcoming varsity player is to be a good defense player,” Kilgallon said.

The gymnastics team is in the middle of a great season with a record of 11 and 7. Some of their key gymnasts are seniors Danielle Robinson and Latia Coburn. These very talented and athletic ladies participate in beam, floor, and bars.

“Someday I would like to be like Danielle and Latia, but for now I can just work hard like they do,” freshmen Emily Polkow said.

Robinson and Coburn are expected to represent our team very well at districts and may have a shot at competing at State.