January 22, 2010

20
MGMT, pg. 8
Haitian Tragedy, pg. 3
Films of the decade, pg. 10
Jennifer Ibarra, pg.14
Soccer, pg. 19
FUN
JANUARY 2010
Spidercanon
WHO WOULD PLAY YOU
IN A MOVIE?
COLTON HIGH SCHOOL
THE PEPPER BOUGH
WWW.PEPPERBOUGH.COM
ESTABLISHED 1917
Colton High School, Colton CA 92324
THE PEPPERBOUGH
Vol. 93, No. 3
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Aid the Phillipines, Aid the world
Junior Russell Perry: “Leonardo DeCaprio, because he’s
an awesome actor and he was great in The Departed.”
CHS Interact and Micah Hernando present “Operation B.F.O.R”
to raise money for the devastated
Phillipines
BY NEREIDA MORENO
EDITOR-IN-CHEIF
CLOCKWISE FROM THE TOP: MIKE IS-
BERTO serenades the audience; RAGZDALE gets
the audience on their feet; KAT BADAR poses for
the cameras; KATRINA NIERE ends the show with
her rendition of a Lauryn Hill classic, “Killing Me
Softly”; brother and sister duo MARY AND LUIGI
SENO take you on a walk through memory lane; the
lead singer of uppeRoom rocks the house; DANIELLE SANTIAGO performs with RUSOUL.
S
:
BR
S
EIF
While America publicly battles the war on
terror and faces a time of economic crisis, it’s rare
to find anybody in this nation who is willing to
set aside their own troubles and find time to aid
those in need. From the citizens of New Orleans
and the devastation of Hurricane Katrina to Haiti’s
recent earthquake, it seems that the majority of
people have forgotten all about the devastating
typhoons that hit the Philippines this past summer.
Fortunately for the victims of this shocking event,
Colton High School’s Interact Club has gone to
great lengths to make sure that these people are
not forgotten.
The world was stunned in late September
2009 to find that over 2 million people were affected
by the thunderous storm: 567,000 were evacuated
from their homes, and over 250 people were killed
from either drowning or accidents related to the
four typhoons that struck the Philippines. At one
point, 80 percent of the capital, Manila, was under
water after experiencing the heaviest rainfall in 40
years. The storm also killed at least 74 people in
Vietnam and nine in Cambodia.
Upon receiving word of the event, senior
Micah Hernando quickly contacted Interact to
propose a benefit concert to raise money for these
victims. “When I first learned about the typhoons, I
was greatly devastated to see how much destruction
had occured to my people,” Hernando says. “I felt
that we needed to spread awareness of the disaster
to the community and encourage them to take part
to help those in need.”
The benefit concert, coined “Operation
B.F.OR. (Benefiting Filipinos Over-Seas
Response)” finally came to life after months of
Please turn to pg. 2 for more
The Pepperbough
Academic Competition
Attention all seniors, the last chance to be in the 2009-2010 Colton High
School yearbook is approaching. The Pepper Bough is providing seniors with a
special place in the yearbook for those of you who might not have taken your senior photos. They are also available for anyone else who would like a more casual
or group photo with friends or significant others. Pictures will be taken for $10
per person, and will be held in room 217 after school today and tomorrow. All
proceeds will benefit the Pepper Bough, so be sure to support your school newspaper and pursue your final chance to assure a place in your senior yearbook.
The Academic Competition team of Colton High School experienced great success at this year’s Mock Trial competition, held in the
months of November and December. With a record of 2-2, the team,
led by AP Government teacher Holly Lacy, took home seven awards
at the award ceremony held on January 15. The team had a total of
seven individual wins: seniors Julio Ruiz, Jeremiah Medina, Cassie
Roberson, Nereida Moreno, Mary Skates, Giselle Beltran, and Maria
Briones all took home honors.
W
NE
Comic strip by MICHELLE HAMMERSCHMITT
CLUB PAGE EDITOR
overheard in CHS
Wherever awkward conversations occur, the Pepper Bough staff is
there to listen.
Meet the Inventor of Capri
Pants
Girl in party: And then I said, “stop
the car! I need to ask that midget
where he got his pants!”
The Future Sure Looks
Bright...
Boyfriend: Remember when you
used to love me?
Girlfriend: Yeah...
Boyfriend: That was nice.
BY RANDIE JEAN ORTLOFF
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Doughnuts, at Least, Are
Cheaper by the Dozen
Senior Derrick Malone: Will Smith because he’s cute,
funny, and cool...like me!”
Mother to daughter: And soon
you’ll be having babies...
Daughter’s friend: I want a
baby.
Daughter: What?!
Friend: Actually I want a
doughnut, but no one was listening to me.
of the
Freshman Jessica Valenzuela: “Jessica Alba because she is
a good actress and is pretty.”
JERSEY SHORE
1. Thou Shall Cause a “Situation”
Being known for sleeping around and having nice abs is the pinnacle of a Guido. A
Guido must be able to walk into any club and have everyone envy him, therefore
causing a situation.
2. Thou Shall Not Abuse Women
Punching legal midgets in bars over drinks is against Guido code. If you do punch
a Guidette in her face be prepared to deal with the wrath of angry fist pumping
Guidos.
3. Thou Shall Know How to Work a Duck Phone
To live up to the golden standards of being a Guido, an average phone will not
be acceptable. A phone must be as original as possible, so only a duck phone is
adequate.
6. Thou Shall Hang Out With Celebrities
Hanging out with celebrities including Mike Tyson and Michael Cera will
insure you a spot in Us Weekly so show up at every event and party.
7.Thou Shall Use a Lot Of Hair Gel
Every true Guido must have hair gel in stock. The more gel the merrier, so
make sure you buy this miracle product in bulk.
8. Thou Shall Fist-Pump Whenever Possible
Take a lesson from Vinny and let your fist do the dancing. The motion is just
forward and backwards, but don’t let its simplicity fool you, this move is a
talent that only true Guidos are able to perfect.
9. Thou Shalt Have a Tan
Help your boy score after a night out. Take one for the team and entertain any
friends out of place so your boy can get some. In worst case situations it may be
entertaining the “grenades” of the group.
To be accepted as a Guido/ Guidette, a tan is required. Not only must you be
the color of an orange, you must maintain it by frequent trips to the tanning
salon (your chances of being diagnosed with cancer are irrelevant when it
comes to your appearance).
5. Thou Shalt Fight If Insulted
10. Thou Shall Have Invented the Poof
4. Thou Shall Be a Good Wingman
If anyone calls you or any of your friends fat, actions must be taken against them.
Any maneuver can be used including but not limited to pulling hair, punching, and
slapping.
Take a cue from Guidette queen Snooki and stick a classy, elegant hair bump
in place at the crown of your head. You will not rock the poof as well as
Snooki does, but you will be welcomed.
02
NEWS
JANUARY 2010
THE PEPPERBOUGH
THE PEPPERBOUGH
the city has reopened two of the three libraries on a
limited basis. Still, left with very few workers, the
library is now juggling six day services between
both the Main Branch library and the Luque library.
With even education departments closing in the city
of Colton, now, the actual employees to Colton City
Hall are having trouble dodging a big one.
“The reason I wanted to get a job in the city is
because I thought I’d be given a secure position and
be set,” shares an anonymous female employee in
one of the departments in Colton City Hall, “You
think working for the city you can work forever. But
now, it’s not true, you don’t know if you’re going to
be able to hold your job until next week.” She is a
single parent to her two kids and has been working
for the city of Colton for about two years. She was
laid off last year in November and was called back to
work part time for the same position, but with fewer
BY DESTINY ESPINOZA
FEATURE EDITOR
You hear on the news about how the economy is
affecting everything from big companies to localized
family businesses. But you never stop to think that
your city could be affected as well. Although the city
of Colton is small, it is in one of the biggest counties
here in the United States, San Bernardino County.
With the economy at a devastating low, even small
cities are not immune to taking a bullet, and it seems
that the inland empire is now also dealing with its
own budget challenges for the year of 2010.
Last year Colton had announced the closing of all
three of its libraries, including the Colton Carnegie
Library and Museum, due to the city’s current revenue
shortfall. But due to local protests and public criticism,
Pepper Bough
A Colton High tradition since 1917
www.pepperbough.colton.org
Top one percent recieves honors fromVerdi
BY FELICIA FAMA,
Volume 93, No. 3; Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2010
Editors-in-Chief
Nereida Moreno, Randie Jean Ortloff
Page Layout and Graphic Design
Destiny Espinoza,
Alejandra Aguilera, Randie Ortloff,
Nereida Moreno, Michelle Hammerschmitt,
Lotti Theodore, Semiya Holman
Business/Adverstising Manager
Alejandra Aguilera
Photography
Photo Editor: Semiya Holman.
Staff Photographers: Vanessa Gongora,
Samuel Murga, Semiya Holman, Alejandra
Aguilera, Randie Ortloff, Nereida Moreno
Faculty Advisor
Dave Rainey
Staff Writers and Reporters
Alejandra Aguilera
Claudette Barraza
Christian Blankson
Chris Campbell
Jonathan Delgado
Destiny Espinoza
Destiny Garcia
Monique Garcia
Vanessa Gongora
Michelle Hammerschmitt
Semiya Holman Zachari McCall
Chelsie McGorry
Sandra Mendoza
Serena Mercado
Nereida Moreno
Jamie Murga
Samuel Murga
Randie Jean Ortloff
Katherine Richcreek Thomesha Robinson Charlotte Theodore
Shawnyece Walker
The Pepper Bough is published 8 times a year (approximately
every four weeks, plus an end of the year Senior Farewell Edition)
by the Journalism class of Colton High School, 777 West Valley
Boulevard, Colton, CA 92324.Opinions expressed in the Pepper
Bough in bylined stories are those of the individual reporter, and
not necessarily those of the faculty, administration, school board,
or school district, and are not to be construed to endorse or promote
activities reported upon.
Opininons expressed in non-bylined editorials are those of the
staff as a whole.
All photos of school related activities are taken by the staff photographers unless otherwise indicated. The Pepper Bough welcomes
letters to the editor, but they will be printed according to space available and may be edited for space and taste. Please submit all letters
to the editor to adviser’s email: [email protected].
Note: Some material used courtesy of the American Society of
Newpaper Editors Wire Service. Ads printed in the paper are sold
by fractions of a page. Call (909) 580-5005 extension 2383 for
advertising rates and deadlines.
Long live a free press. (www.splc.org)
responsibilities. She shares that she had got laid off
because someone had bumped her. The “bump” system
works as a seniority system, meaning someone that
has gotten laid off can “bump” someone else to have
a position that they previously had . “It really is quite
scary because so many people are being affected by
the economy and because Colton is so tight knit, if
someone were to get laid off, their families would
struggle,”
She goes on to say that “All in all, everyone
is basically on pins and needles, there really is no
security because at any time it could be you.” As
of January 16, 2010 the City has endured more
lay offs and changes in positions of the Electric
Director, the Water/Wastewater Utility Director and
The Redevelopment Director, as well as changes in
positions of three different specialists working in the
city.
At Colton High students strive to
be their best. What is the result of such
determination? Being apart of the top
ten of students at Colton High. The
top ten students are ranked based on
their weighted academic grade point
average, meaning electives such as P.E.
and marching band are not calculated
in the GPA. These students are honored
during an academic assembly hosted by
Renaissance, and attend a luncheon to
celebrate their hard work. They were
also recently honored by Cal-State San
Bernardino at a banquet for all of their
perseverance and accomplishments.
Not everyone in the top ten spend CHILE VERDI: A lucky few gets enjoy a lunch with Principal Rob
all their time doing school work, most Verdi himself.
of them are in sports and clubs, and
It may take a lot of hard work to be a part of the
have acquired the important skills of multitasking top ten but in the end if you work hard then you play
and prioritizing. Senior Danielle Gutierrez balances hard. These students have their feet in the door with
a 4.5 GPA, being a cheer captain, president of the scholarships and are a step ahead to paving the path
S.P.O.T.S. club, a member of NHS, and an AVID of a better future for them. Good job top ten!
student.
HAITI
BY LOTTI THEODORE BUZZ PAGE EDITOR
Within the first few weeks of
the new decade, the tiny nation of
Haiti experienced a disaster unlike
anything they ever had to deal with
before. On January 12th, Haiti fell
victim to a devastating earthquake
that registered as a 7.0 on the Richter
scale. Construction standards were not
stringent enough to withstand a quake
of that magnitude; the damage to life
and property was staggering. Within
24 hours, the president of Haiti, Rene
Preval, estimated the death toll to be
between 30-50,000 people. At the
time of this writing, the death toll is
estimated to be over 150,000.
The epicenter was located
approximately sixteen miles away from
Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital. There
have been 33 recorded aftershocks, a
significant number of them topping 5.0.
In 2006, geologists C. DeMets and M.
Wiggins-Grandison conducted a study
of the region’s seismic activity. They
reported that the plates surrounding
Haiti, referred to as the EnriquilloPlantain Garden fault zone, were nearing
the end of their seismic cycle, which
may result in an earthquake as high
as 7.2. Their findings were presented
in a 2008 Geologic conference, but
precautions were not made to protect
the citizens of the Enriquillo-Plantain
Garden fault zone.
In the week after the disaster, an
estimated $200 million was sent for
humanitarian efforts in the capital. The
Red Cross collected $22 million in text
message donations alone; altogether
they have raised $103 million.
Celebrities in the United States
have also resolved to help. Fantastic
Mr. Fox’s George Clooney planned
a telethon to help to raise awareness
and funds, which will feature Ben
Stiller, Brad Pitt, Clint Eastwood,
Denzel Washington, Halle Berry and
Julia Roberts. American Idol’s Simon
Cowell planned a charity rendition of
REM’s “Everybody Hurts” featuring
Leona Lewis among other singers.
Radiohead is auctioning off 1,300
tickets to a benefit concert, to be held
tomorrow in Los Angeles.
SUDAN
BY NEREIDA MORENO
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
After President Clinton’s failure to
recognize the mass killings in Rwanda
of 1994 as genocide, his successors
have worked adamantly to ensure that
his mistake was not repeated. Both
George W. Bush and President Barack
Obama have loudly called for American
involvement in the conflict in Darfur.
As some of Obama’s closest foreignpolicy advisors have been leaders in
the movement to halt the ongoing
genocide, it seems that this civil war
has become the left wing’s Iraq.
03
The conflict began in February
2003, turning the region into a land
of violence and terror, which gave
Western leaders a chance to redeem
their reputations as a united, strong
police force.
Humanitarian assistance in Darfur
continues to be at risk of collapse, in
part because of sustained harassment
by the Sudanese government, and
in part because of the government’s
militia allies and common criminals.
In September 2006, the United
Nations estimated that such a collapse
would cause up to 100,000 civilian
deaths every month. Troublesome
developments suggest that such a
failure is becoming more likely: the
World Food Program’s Humanitarian
Air Service received no funding in the
first three months of 2008.
Despite receiving one of the
world’s most extensive humanitarian
interventions in history, the conflict in
Darfur has shown absolutely no sign of
slowing down. It seems that the world
has finally learned its lesson; after
the genocide in Rwanda and Bosnia,
Western intervention, led by the United
States and the United Nations, has been
somewhat declared a necessity, though
one may wonder whether this aid will
ever truly suffice.
Easy ways to lend a helping hand
TOMS SHOES
OPERATION B.F.O.R
continued from page 2
careful planning by Interact Club
advisor Rosenda Gonzales and
her volunteers. “I don’t think
anyone will ever know just how
much work Ms. Gonzalez put
into this project,” says senior
Bianca Sanchez. “She put a lot
of her own time and money to
make sure this concert didn’t
fall apart, so she deserves a great
round of applause.” The concert,
which took place on January 15,
2010 featured YouTube’s hottest
Filipine stars, including Mike
Isberto, Kat Badar, uppeRoom,
and others. “I was especially
excited to see Mary and Luigi
Seno” says senior Alberto Ruelas.
PHILIPPINES BEST DANCE CREW: Memebers of Ragzdale pose
“I’d seen them on YouTube
for the camera at the show’s rehearsal.
before, so it was pretty great.” For Interact Club, the effort
was worth the time and energy spent, as nearly senior year,” explained senior Daniel Mambou, the
$2,000 in ticket sales were raised to be sent to the treasurer of Interact. “We’re saving the world, one
Philippines. “We want to make a difference in our day at a time...with a smile.” ☺
JANUARY 2010
THE WORLD IN CRISIS,
AND HOW YOU CAN HELP
Colton’s budget cuts continue to effect many lives
Economy’s effects hit close to home for residents of the Inland Empire
NEWS
STYLES FOR LOVE: TOMS Shoes
come in a large assortment of colors
and patterns for every taste.
BY RANDIE ORTLOFF
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
After American traveler Blake
Mycoskie befriended children in
Argentina and found they had no shoes
to protect their feet he created TOMS
Shoes. TOMS Shoes was founded on
a simple premise: With every pair you
purchase, TOMS will give a pair of
new shoes to a child in need. One for
One. Blake returned to Argentina with
a group of family, friends and staff
later that year with 10,000 pairs of
shoes made possible by caring TOMS
customers. Since the beginning, TOMS
has given over 400,000 pairs of shoes
to children in need through the One for
One model.
LADY GAGA SHIRTS
The world’s most famous pop star
Lady Gaga will also be doing her part
to support Haiti. In true Gaga style,
charity is mixing with fashion with
all proceeds going to various relief
funds. Lady Gaga relief shirts are
currently being sold on her official site.
The shirts feature her image with the
words “Haiti” written in the colors of
the Haitian flag surrounding it. But
the charity doesn’t stop there, Gaga
also donated all the proceeds from
a recent concert as well. For all the
fans of Gaga in the world, this is the
opportunity to support a good cause
while proclaiming your love for her.
JUST DONATE: Lady Gaga lends a
hand to those in need by way of her
merchendise.
Major earthquake due to hit Southern California
BY RANDIE ORTLOFF
EDITOR-IN-CHEIF
Hearing about the devastation a large magnitude
earthquake has on a island far, far, away doesn't
come as a surprise. Whether it be in the Philippines,
Haiti, or Japan, catastrophic natural disasters are
sadly all too common. Hearing about the deaths of
others in a foreign place may not affect you much,
but when your home is diagnosed with the same
fate as those countries, the news becomes harder
to hear. California may seem to get off lucky
without the threats of large tornados, hurricanes,
or tsunamis; however, we do have to deal with the
uncertainty of earthquakes.
Southern California is facing 300 years of stress
within the earth that will result in a demolition of the
place we call home, and you can blame in on the San
Andreas fault line. The line lies between the North
American and Pacific tectonic plate. Unfortunately
San Bernardino, San Diego, and Los Angles all lie
on this fault, and citizens of all counties should start
preparing. "It is fully charged for the next big event,"
said Yuri Fialko from the Institution of Oceanography
in La Jolla, Fialko along with hundreds of other
scientists are absolutely certain the event will occur,
although when will happen is anyone's guess.
No one can stop "the big one" from hitting
our homes, but we can be prepared for the worst.
Although Californians are used to dealing with small
shakes, scientists cannot stress enough that when the
earthquake arrives it will have a large magnitude
and it will be destructive. While you shouldn't worry
about California breaking off into its own island like
predicated by many, the results of the big one will
likely be larger than results we have previously seen
in California.
BE PREPARED!
Make sure that you have water, batteries,
flashlight, a radio, and canned foods stored
for easy access.
For more information go to
www.bepreparedforeathquakes.com
04
Online
JANUARY 2010
THE PEPPERBOUGH
BY MICHELLE HAMMERSCHMITT
3
Top 5 must see
Viral Videos
Online Gaming
1
OK GO ‘Here It Goes
Again’
4
Christian the Lion
2
Numa Numa Dance
5
I Like Turtles
Where the Hell Is Matt?
Webcomic Spotlight
Lackadaisy
[www.lackadaisycats.com]
The late 1920s...prohibition, mobsters, bootlegging,
speakeasies, pinstripes, suspenders, and model T
Fords.
Now, imagine it with cats...
Warnings: violence, alcohol, jive/slang difficult to
understand
[www.meekcomic.com]
The story of an inquisitive young
forest girl, who leaves her home
on a journey to her nation’s capital
on the request of her giant axolotl
grandfather. She can control plantlife
and things grow from her hair. What’s
not cool about that?
Warnings: nudity
The Meek
Since the late 90s, online multiplayer games have gained increased
popularity. There are now so many games, it’s difficult to know which to
sign up for or buy. That is why we have thoughtfully tested some out for
you.
Browser Games (browser based games are just what they sound
like. There’s no downloading required. Games are played straight from the
internet browser, though they generally require signing up to the site).
Farmville: A game available for play through Facebook. The game’s
simple mechanics and reliance on ‘neighbors’ makes this the kind of game
one can play with the whole family. It is free, but there are specials ‘perks’
that require real money.
Kingdom of Loathing: Not a game for those who focus on a graphically
superior experience. It is a basic RPG style game, which uses surreal humor,
wordplay, and parody to make up for its hand-drawn stick figure graphics.
Job classes include Seal Clubber, Pastamancer, and Accordion Thief.
Software Games (These require the download of client software,
and connect to the server through a launch program instead of an internet
browser).
World of Warcraft: Need I say anything? The statistics tell it all. Over
half of the MMORPG subscription market belongs to them. Free trial, but
you’ll have to buy it if you really want it.
Final Fantasy XI: Fans of other Final Fantasy games will find this a
welcome addition to their collections. Downside? It requires a monthly
subscription.
Cabal Online: Rich graphics and great party systems. Despite its ‘generic’
mechanics, it is definitely a top choice among other Korean MMORPGs.
Free to download, though there is a ‘Cash Shop’ and premium accounts
which require purchase.
Trickster Online: For those of you tired of 3D gaming, Trickster feeds
that nostalgic need to find good pixel-based games. Despite its cartoony,
generic anime style, the gaming is fairly complex and it has a unique card
system. It’s free to download, but be careful, glitches abound if you have
Windows Vista.
The Zombie Hunters
Vocal Programs versus
‘Real’ Bands
People always used to say that music is an art form, that no amount
of technological advances could replace it. The introduction of electric
instruments did not replace old music, it merely altered the way it
could sound and be worked.
With the increase of internet use in the late 90s, music began
to be publicly shared through the web. No longer were record labels
necessary to make an album. Indy labels began to spring up, but
even then, it was just a new path to the same old thing; music made
by people, for people. The personal element was not absent.
This brings us into the 21st century. An entire collection
of instruments can be bought on one little disc. Mixing software
offers instrumental samplings. With a few clicks of a mouse,
nearly any musical combination imaginable can be created.
The real question here; are music and technology
now synonymous? Has our degree of musical editing
spiraled so much that real vocals are no longer even
necessary? The truth is, sometimes they aren’t.
In 2003, Japanese electronics company Yamaha
announced its development of two ‘Vocaloids’, or
[www.thezombiehunters.com]
With vampire mania clouding everything from professional novels
and movies to online fiction and comics, it’s refreshing to see other
forms of ‘undead fiends’ for once. The Zombie Hunters delivers on
its promising title by being about a group of infected zombie hunters
who go out into the wastes of a post-apocalyptic world to salvage
goods for the surviving protected cities. Mostly dark and serious,
smattered with dry humor.
Warnings: extensive violence/gore, strong language, and crude humor
vocal synthesizing software. These programs downloaded onto a computer
can provide musical vocals. They work similar to other speech synthesis
devices. Typing in lyrics will cause the program to ‘speak’ these words, and
changing the pitch, waver, and other various will create a sound similar to
human singing. Each program contains a ‘character’ or voice bank (with
the exception of Kagamine Ren and Lin, which comes together).
Certain characters have become so famous that entire internet
trends follow them (this is the case with Hatsune Miku in
particular). These programs were mainly used by song writers
as an easier alternative to having to find someone to sing for
pitching their musical ideas, but has now progressed to just
about anyone.
Vocaloids have become so popular that third-person parties
have developed their own software. So many voice banks have
cropped up that it is possible to find a voice for nearly every
need.
With all of these components, it is now possible for a single
person to create an entire band on their own.
So is this a good thing? That depends. Is the band or the
music more important to you?
It’s a strongly debatable subject, and age barriers definitely
apply. One thing never changes though. When it comes to music,
the sky is still the limit.
THE PEPPERBOUGH
Valentine’s Day
romance guide
BY SEMIYA HOLMAN
OPINIONS EDITOR
Valentine’s Day: a time to share a special
romantic evening with the person you care for.
Maybe it’s your long time boyfriend or girlfriend,
or maybe it’s a first date; either way, you want
it to be something special. Instead of staying in
the norm, try some of these tips to spice up a
romantic evening.
If you can’t exactly afford something
tremendous for Valentine’s Day, do something
equally special with a night at home. Preparing
your boyfriend or girlfriend their favorite food
at your house will make them feel special. Put
on a nice tablecloth, candles, and fire up some
romantic music to round out the night. If you
want to make it even more interesting, leave
a trail of flower petals to surprise your special
someone when he or she gets home. Or, how
about a treasure hunt? Create notes along the
stops to remind your sweetie how much you love
him or her. Your notes don’t have to be lengthy,
but they should be specific to make them special.
These ideas not only show your boyfriend or
girlfriend they are special, but also show your
wallet some TLC.
If that doesn’t satisfy your romantic ideas, try
getting into the arts. Nothing inspires romance
like great paintings or literature. Poetry readings
and exhibits pop up throughout the country
around February 14th. Check out your local
paper. End the date with a creative gift of your
own, such as a shadow box with a few cherished
memories placed inside, a limerick, or even a
love note.
If art just isn’t your thing, try giving your
partner a year’s worth of dates. Buy a box of
kiddy Valentines and write down one different
date idea for each week of the year. Then place
them in a decorative box just like you did in
school. Tell your sweetie that they can pull
out one early, and use that as a guide for your
Valentine’s Day date. Not only will your date be
impressed by the creativity, but you’ll also get
brownie points with him or her for remembering
all your past special dates. It will show them how
much you really value their time and affection.
This Valentine’s Day, don’t fall flat on your
face with a sad date. Be creative and make this
date memorable. By going outside of the normal
date and stepping into one you molded yourself,
you can show your special someone how much
you really care. Whether it’s one of the millions
of dates you and your mate have been on, or that
special first date, make it a memorable one for
life.
Dates to remember:
• February 1st- Grad Nite Tickets
go on sale- $90 with ASB, $95
without
• February 1-10- Valentine’s Day
Grams
• February 17- PossAbilities
Prom Fashion Show
• March 11-13, 18-20- Spring
Musical
THE BUZZ
JANUARY 2010
05
How to: last minute Valentine’s Day gifts
Remove the dough from the bowl and
continue to knead for 10 minutes. Let the
With Valentine’s Day right around the dough rest for 30 minutes in an airtight
corner, if you have no gift to give, this simple container. heart shaped box, filled with candy or whatever Making the Bowl
you wish, can be a special gift for that special Grease the underside of the ovenproof bowl.
someone.
Roll out the dough on baking parchment to
Materials List:
½ - inch thick. Mould it over the ovenproof
bowl and cut away any excess. Moisten your
finger and smooth the edges.
Roll four balls of dough, moisten them
slightly and press into the base of the bowl
as “feet.”
Making the Lid
With the bowl turned upside down on a
piece of parchment paper, trace around the
Ovenproof bowl (ramekins work well)
outer edge of the bowl with a pencil. Cut out
Baking parchment
the traced circle. Roll another ball of dough
Acrylic paints
on the baking parchment to about 3/8-inch
Paint brushes
thick. Place the parchment paper circle onto
Polyurethane varnish
your dough and cut out the circle shape. Cut
Rolling pin
a heart shape from the dough. Cut about 1/3
Small sharp knife
of the bottom of the heart shape off. Moisten
Baking tray
the bottom edge of the heart and press onto
Pencil
the center of the lid. Moisten your fingers
Scissors
and smooth the edges of the lid and heart
2 cups flour
shape.
1 cup salt
1 Tbsp vegetable oil
Baking
1 cup water
Place the bowl and lid on a baking sheet
lined with parchment paper. Bake for about
Salt Dough Valentine Heart
one hour at 275 degrees. Allow to cool.
Instructions:
1. Mix together the flour and salt in a mixing
Finishing
bowl. Mix the water and oil together. Add
When pieces have cooled, paint your own
half the water mixture to the flour and salt.
designs and colors on the bowl and lid.
Knead the mixture, gradually adding more
Allow paint to dry. Seal with five coats
of the water/oil mixture until the dough has
of varnish inside and outside. After it is
a smooth, firm consistency. Be careful not to
finished feel free to fill it with treats for your
add too much water or the dough will sag and
special someone!
become sticky.
BY DESTINY ESPINOZA
FEATURES EDITOR
Singles Awareness Day
survival guide
BY RANDIE ORTLOFF
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Valentine’s Day is a special time of year for
singles; one that serves to remind them that they
are, in fact, alone. Maybe you just had a breakup, or you’ve never had a relationship on this
holiday, but either way you’re alone and instead
of wallowing in your loneliness, get out there
and do something. You can have fun alone.
While going to the movies may seem more
enjoyable with others, change things up and go
alone. Say you’ve been dying to see Alvin and
The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel, for some odd
reason; now is the chance to do it. Going to the
movies alone has many positives, for one you
can freely cry in the theatre during The Lovely
Bones without feeling ashamed and no one will
blame you for picking a movie they didn’t enjoy. Going alone can be more enjoyable than
constantly trying to impress your date on Valentines Day. (Plus you don’t have to share your
popcorn with anyone.)
Spend the night with ice cream, a movie,
and an equally single friend. You can be sure
that one of your friends will be just as single
as you, so invite them over and spend the night
watching any movie about how much love can
suck. For instance, rent (500) Days of Summer
and watch someone else fall and fail in love.
This film showcases the downside of being in
love, complete with a broken heart. After watching this movie you won’t feel like you’re missing out on anything, for awhile at least. If you
want to stay away from any element of romance
Saw VI is now available for rent.
If you’d rather listen to music, make a “love
sucks” play list on iTunes. With every love song
comes a song about how it ended badly. Spend
Valentine’s Day with your fellow tortured souls:
artists you’ve never met who don’t care about
your little problems.
Spend the day celebrating being single, and
enjoying your own company. Being alone means
you don’t have to worry about your looks the
whole date night, or trying to pick out the perfect
gift for your boyfriend/girlfriend.
06
JANUARY 2010
ENTERTAINMENT
THE PEPPERBOUGH
Films to see and skip this new year
BY RANDIE ORTLOFF
EDITOR-IN-CHEIF
2
5
a handful of sure fire hits. A surprising large number of sequels are all
competing to be top money makers. Although we are barely into
this year, we can already predict the
films most people will be talking
about.
1 - “Alice in Wonderland”
March 5
Director Tim Burton once again
unites Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham-Carter to bring the classic Lewis
Carroll story of Alice to the big screen.
Judging by the trailers and posters
so far released, the films looks like a
freak show (in the best possible way,
of course). High on animation and special effects, this film may make you
feel like you’re on an acid trip, but it’s
all a part of its charm.
2 - “Iron Man 2”- May 7
In the sequel to the 2008 smash hit,
billionaire inventor Tony Stark has to
battle more than one enemy this round.
Stark faces pressure from the government, the public, and two enemies in
the form of Scarlet Johansson and
Mickey Rourke. To help combat the
pressure of new villains, Stark can
count on his girlfriend assistant Pepper
Pots and best friend James Rhodes.
3. “The Last Airbender”- July 2
The popular Nick show is getting
a new look with M. Night Shyamalan
at the reins. For those not familiar with
the show, Airbender centers around
Aang, a young successor to a long line
of Avatars, who must put his childhood
ways aside and stop the Fire Nation
from enslaving the Water, Earth and
Air nations. Shot on a grand scale, this
big screen adaptation may be M. Night
Shyamalan’s return to being a good director (but don’t hold your breath, he
6
did direct The Happening, after all).
4 - “Toy Story 3”: June 18
You may feel old thinking of the
toys’ beloved owner Andy moving
away for college, but that is just what
happens in the trilogy. Toy Story and
Toy Story 2 are two of the best Pixar
creations ever, adding to the pressure
for an impressive third round. This
summer we find Woody, Buzz, and the
gang headed to a daycare after Andy
donates them. Just based on the premise alone, tears are to be predicted.
5 - “Harry Potter and the
Deathly Hallows”- November 19
The final chapter is here... sort of.
In the next-to-last installment of the
epic series, Harry, with Ron and Hermione at his side, begins the quest to
destroy Voldemort. This quest includes
leaving Hogwart’s behind as the trio
lives life on the run in a country overrun by evil. If you thought the 6th film
was dark and serious, what lies ahead
for the franchise is downright scary.
Be prepared for character deaths and
many, many battles. After viewing
this film, it will be hard to remember
when Harry Potter films were mostly
for children.
6 - “Eclipse”- June 30
Only seven months after New
Moon’s release, the third installment
of the Twilight saga arrives. This film
finds Bella and Edward reunited but
threatened by the evil vampire Victoria. The struggle between the La Push
6
werewolves and the Cullen vampire
clan continues with Bella stuck in the
middle of her fiancé and her best friend.
Action sequences are promised but for
millions of women worldwide, the love
triangle between Bella, Edward and Jacob is worthy of the ticket price alone.
“Inception”- July 16
“Your mind is the scene of the crime,”
claims Inception’s catch line, yet we’re
not entirely sure what that means; no
one is. The film’s plot is secret and
the two released movie trailers just
add more confusion. Directed by Dark
Knight writer and director Christopher
Nolan, the film will be smartly brilliant, or entirely confusing.
Skip These:
“Shrek Forever After”- May 21
Shrek’s life gets turned into a strange
new world after everyone’s favorite
ogre makes a deal with Rumplestiltskin to change his life. This beings
the final film of the franchise, and the
audience can be pretty sure that by the
film’s ending Shrek’s life will have
gone back to normal.
“Sex and the City 2”- May 28
They wear ultra-trendy clothes and
sleep around just like the first movie.
There, we saved you a ticket price
already.
If you find yourself
caught in love:
“Something”- The Beatles
“I’m Yours”- Jason Mraz
“At Last”- Etta James
“Only One”- Yellowcard
“We Belong Together”- Mariah
Carey
“I Will Always Love You”Whitney Houston
“I’ll Be There”- The Jackson 5
“If I Ain’t Got You”- Alicia Keys
“Unchained Melody”- Right
“I Found a Reason” - The Velvet
Underground
“Such Great Height”- The Postal
Service
“Just Like Heaven”- The Cure
If you find yourself
dumped:
“Irreplaceable”- Beyonce
“Smile”- Lily Allen
“Since You’ve Been Gone”- Kelly
Clarkson
“Hope It Gives You Hell”- All
American Rejects
“Ex-Girlfriend”- No Dobut
“R.E.S.P.E.C.T”- Aretha Franklin
“You Oughta Know”- Alanis Morissette
“Monday, Monday”- The Mama’s
and the Papas
Unrequited Love:
“Shiver”- Coldplay
“Spitting Games”- Snow Patrol
“I Will Posess Your Heat”- Death
Cab For Cutie
“Unloveable”- The Smiths
“Hysteric” - The Yeah Yeah Yeahs
“Like I Love You”- Justin Timberlake
Once terrifying monsters, now glamorous everyday commidities,
the world has fallen hard for vampires
BY KATIE RICHCREEK
Over the years, society has been
influenced by the trends set by media.
Lately, that trend appears to be vampires, proving to be a hit phenomenon.
The most popular of this dark trend
with no doubt is the famous Twilight
Saga. Stephanie Meyer provided this
captivating vampire love story through
her best selling novels, two of which
have been turned into record breaking
blockbuster movies. Although the Twilight saga films are not the only vam-
pire based movies we’ve seen hit the
big screen. The Vampire’s Assistant,
released in 2009, only added to the fanatic rage of these ominous fictional
characters. Another movie revolving
around these intimidating characters
is Daybreakers, released earlier this
month. These vampire referenced project ideas are popping up all over the
small screen as well. True Blood made
its premiere in 2008 on HBO, and has
run for two vulgar yet entertaining seasons since then. A fairly newer show
called The Vampire Diaries started off
its first season on the CW network in
late 2009 with a 22 episode run. Vampire references have even been made
on Disney Channel’s show Wizards of
Waverly Place, which ran a “Wizards
vs. Vampires” special.
This vampire sensation doesn’t
stop with the films and movies. A good
handful of novels have been published
with these fictional creatures; for example, The Vampire Diaries was based
on the works of L. J. Smith.
This craze goes a little further. Every where you look you’ll find advertisements for these features. From the
standard film trailers, to vulgar post-
ers, to clothing and handbags, you’re
bound to run into them at some point.
Every other teenage girl seems to be
sporting “Team Edward” or “Team Jacob” clothing items in support of these
fictional characters and the heartthrob
actors who portray their roles. You
maybe have even noticed these promotions on Burger King merchandise, and
commercials attempting to sell the recent theme. It’s a little ironic how the
supernatural was once feared greatly
by society, and looked down upon, but
suddenly swept through our media and
became the biggest trend today.
ENTERTAINMENT
07
THE PEPPERBOUGH
Looking for a thrilling adventure? Case Solved
In the spirtit of Valentine’s Day, we give you
the best love songs, and
best revenge songs ever.
3
1
4
1
After a blockbuster year, 2010
4
promises to be able to compete with
The PepperBough Playlist
JANUARY 2010
Movie Review
Sherlock Holmes
BY NEREIDA MORENO
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Starring as fiction’s most legendary detective,
Robert Downey, Jr. made the 2009 remake of
Sherlock Holmes a pleasant surprise. With over
70 versions of the film already in existence, it was
reasonable for the public to expect a somewhat
predictable film. Once it was unveiled to
audiences, however, movie-goers found
themselves falling in love once more with the
character that has been a household name since
the late 1880s.
Sherlock Holmes was first introduced to the
world by author Arthur Conan Doyle in 1887.
Since his creation, Holmes has been strictly
portrayed as an extremely focused and intelligent
detective, not the Indiana Jones-like action star
that Downey portrays him as. For example, the
scene in which a shirtless, greased-up Holmes
tosses bone-crushing punches at a beast twice
his size might have seemed a bit out of character
for this detective. However, it is evident that in this
day and age, Downey’s heroesque performance is
what sets the film apart; the film was packed with
suspense and action that would make any movie
enthusiast proud.
The casting of heartthrob Jude Law as Dr. John
Watson was highly controversial, though the actor
did the role justice. In recent films, Watson never fails
to be captured at least once, yet Law’s performance
included a more put-together and alert Doctor. Despite
the fact that his portrayal of Watson was clearly less
conventional, the relationship between Law and
Downey was presented with expertise. Though the
characters entertainingly bantered every so often,
they clearly appreciate each other and rely on each
other, which is what Doyle would have wanted his
audience to understand from the beginning.
This current Sherlock Holmes installment tested
Watson and Holmes’ friendship in what could be
their “last case together” (due to Watson’s upcoming
wedding).The duo is now after Lord Blackwood
(Mark Strong) who threatens the fate of England and
eventually the free world. Along the way, Holmes
encounters several obstacles in what has become one
of his most frustratingly difficult cases of all time.
From spending the night in jail (due to an unfortunate
Titanic-style ship wreck) to encountering his love and
former flame, the devious and deceptive criminal,
Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams), Downey and Law
provide a show that is sure to keep audiences on the
edge of their seats.
Sherlock Holmes is a must-see film for this
generation; director Guy Ritchie successfully
transformed this 19th century icon into an adventurous
21st century hero to the likes of Superman or Batman,
or perhaps Iron Man (which so happens to be another
one of Robert Downey, Jr.’s characters). The ending
leaves audiences to expect a sequel, and given the
quality of the first film, audiences will be pleased to
have Holmes back on the case.
and closer to having the funds to purchase the
priceless mill, when she is told she was outbid by
another. Upset over the news, Tiana finds herself
wishing upon a star, hoping for her dream to come
true, just like she had as a child, when she first
meets the frog. The secret creature startles her
when he begins to talk, claiming he is actually the
human Prince Naveen, and promises her that he will
fulfill her dream if she were to kiss him just once.
The aftermath of that one kiss was not what either
of them had hoped for. Tiana discovers she was in
turn transformed into a frog as well as he. The pair
embark on a life changing journey to become human
once more and break the spell the disturbed Doctor
Facilier had set. Along their mission through the
New Orleans bayou to find Mama Odie, a voodoo
priestess who they had been told could turn them
human again, they befriend a jazz-talented gator
and a hopeful hillbilly firefly.
The friends finally come across Mama Odie,
who tells the frogs what they need to do in order to
become transformed back into humans. They set out
to do what they were told, not exactly succeeding in
their original plan, but defeating evil in the end. Tiana
and Naveen’s journey back to becoming human
results in unexpected love, new friends, and dreams
turning into reality. The Princess and the Frog is
a musically filled splendor with a positive message
for its audiences everywhere. This charming Disney
film will leave you wanting more of the classical
Walt Disney magic.
2D Disney returns with glory
BY KATIE RICHCREEK
The Princess and the Frog very well may
be the rebirth of Disney classics we’ve all been
waiting for. Possessing the charming factors that
make a Disney film a classic, this new movie
swept the box offices, and captivated the hearts of
millions nationwide. The Princess and the Frog
was an excellent return of the two-dimensional
hand-drawn musical animations Disney has been
renowned for. While having the makings of a great
Disney film, this movie also brings fresh ideas to
the big screen. The elements of a Disney Princess
classic such as the fairy godmother, the whimsical
magic, the “love conquers all” message, the unique
minor yet unforgettable characters, and so on are
present in this film, but with a twist to each one.
The story begins with the background of the
main character, Tiana, and her childhood dream,
which she shared with her father, of running a well
known restaurant where people from all around
would come to dine. The plot forwards to after
her father’s passing, when Tiana becomes a young
woman, working very hard to earn every penny to
save for the old sugar mill where her father always
had imagined their restaurant. Tiana became closer
NEW ROYALTY: Disney’s first black princess
was introduced but it wasn’t without criticism
from many about the ethnicity of her prince.
Bands you should be listening to
Matt and Kim
Animal Collective
Monsters of Fo
lk
an
Je
km
ns Le
For fans of: Belle and SebasFor fans of: Of Montreal
For fans of: Bright Eyes, She & Him
tian, The Cure
For fans of: The Postal Service
Who are they?: This freak folk group
Who are they?: The combination of Indie
Who is he?: A Swedish folk
Who are they?: Matt Johnson and Kim Schifino
hails from Baltimore and provides the
music’s
most
talented
songwriters.
make up the this indie pop duo. They have been
singer with a golden voice.
world with albums filled with incrediWhy we chose them:
together since 2004, but the two are are nothing more ably heartfelt and experimental music.
Why we chose them: The
Plain and simple, their debut self-entilted song “The Opposite of Hallelujah,”
than bandmates.
Why we chose them:
album has some of the best wriiten and
Why we chose him:
will change your life - it changed
Based on their songs “Purple Bottle,”
most brilliant songs by any artist of 2009.
With his vocals and her drums, this duo makes beaumine. YouTube this guy, stat!
and “No More Running”
tiful music together..
Bon Ive
r
For fans of: Death Cab for Cutie
Who are they: Their first album was recorded in
a cabin in middle-of-nowhere Wisconsin, showing
their dedication to making soul touching music.
Why we chose them:
The song “For Emma,” is mesmerizingly beautiful
and heartbreaking. Give this song a listen and you
will become an instant fan.
08
THE PEPPERBOUGH
ENTERTAINMENT
JANUARY 2010
Grammy Awards:
Who will win, who should win
THE PEPPERBOUGH
Record of the year may be the best
award any artist can win. However this
award isn’t always given to the right
artist, which would explain why The
Beatles received four nominations for
Record of the Year, but never won.
BEST NEW ARTIST:
In the past, this coveted award
has gone to the likes of John Legend, Adele, and most controversially,
Amy Winehouse.
MGMT
Who should win: MGMT.
KERI HILSON
Plain and simple, these guys have potenZAC BROWN BAND
tial. With their hit single “Kids”, this duo is
destined for greatness and should recieve the
SILVERSUN PICKUPS
award for it.
THE TING TINGS
Who will win?
ZAC BROWN BAND
Who should win: “Use Somebody”
Kings of Leon ruled the alternative airwaves this year and this future looks bright.
Who will win?
ALBUM OF THE YEAR:
SONG OF THE YEAR:
DAVE MATTHEWS BAND
TAYLOR SWIFT
LADY GAGA
BEYONCE
BLACK EYED PEAS
POKER FACE
PRETTY WINGS
SINGLE LADIES
USE SOMEBODY
YOU BELONG WITH ME
Who will win?
TAYLOR SWIFT
Who should win: Lady Gaga
“The Fame” gave us some of the biggest
hits of last year and and took music by storm
Music that shaped
2009
BY SAMUEL MURGA
Another year has passed by, and
the music industry has produced some
great material for us to vibe and zone
out to. Good quality music is extremely relevant to our generation; it’s easy
to spot an earphone in someone’s ear
and just wonder what they are listening
to. As 2009 comes to a close, it gives
us a chance to reflect on all the great
musical works of this past year. The
first album that comes to mind when
you think of this past year would be
Lady Gaga’s LP The Fame. The world
was first introduced to Lady Gaga in
2009, and it is safe to say that she took
over the music industry. Hits like “Just
Dance” and “Poker Face” launched
this creative and eccentric artist and
bumped her to mainstream stardom.
With her outrageous outfits and bizarre
music videos, Lady Gaga brought back
originality, something that the music
industry had been lacking for quite
some time.
In the genre of female R&B only
one surpasses by far, the great Beyonce, who had one of the greatest albums of all TIME (sorry Kayne) with
her latest LP I Am…Sasha Fierce. The
entire world was singing “Halo” and
demanding their men if they’d liked it
to “put a ring on it” with her hit “All
the Single Ladies.” The concept of the
LP was to portray her alter ego, Sasha,
the wilder stage persona, who is quite
opposite of the usually mellow and
soft-spoken Beyonce. The album had
multiple number one singles, making
Beyonce the most nominated artist of
the 52nd annual Grammy awards.
In a change of pace, the Rap genre
is (it pains me to say) dead. Other then
the comeback of rap legend Eminem,
and Jay-Z’s Blueprint 3, the rap industry has had a slow year. Eminem’s
latest LP Relapse was exactly what
everyone had anticipated: controversial lyrics, insane amounts of ridicule,
and more sick-minded thoughts than
any other artist could come up with. It wasn’t a surprise that Em’s album
is nominated for Best Rap Album of
the year. On the other hand, Jay’s BP3
was also a great rap album, with Jay’s
creative punch lines and crazy metaphors creating another instant classic,
which comes as no surprise for the renowned artist. Representing the younger generation are the Kings of Leon, who made
quite a splash with their third album,
Only by the Night. Though they were
not nominated for Album of the Year,
they did receive a Grammy nomination
for “Use Somebody,” in the Song of
the Year category.
Finally, the country/pop singer
Taylor Swift was the best selling artist
of 2009, according to Billboard. Her album Fearless included two number one
singles, “You Belong With Me,” and
“Love Story,” which sent the young
country singer to a whole new level.
Who will win?
YOU BELONG WITH ME
HALO
I GOTTA FEELING
USE SOMEBODY
POKER FACE
YOU BELONG WITH ME
I GOTTA FEELING
BY
SEMIYA HOLMAN
Workshop
For Seniors (Parents are welcomed) Professional help to fill out the FAFSA
application (line by line). For CHS Students computer lab (rm. 214) will be open
to complete online application.
Who should win: Single Ladies
The video alone became an SNL skit,
a YouTube sensation, and a controversy at
the VMA’s. If Beyonce doesn’t win, expect
Kanye West to storm the stage.
If you’re looking for a
mediocre, bland, ordinary
movie, go see a Keanu
Reeves film. Avatar is a
revolutionary movie that
blows your mind. The
movie making experience
you’re used to will change
forever.
James Cameron’s 20
year-long project Avatar IT AIN’T EASY BEING BLUE: The world of Pandora
was released December 18, faces many battles in Avatar.
2009. The world of Pandora
audience members to wear polarized
is a magical yet hostile
environment inhabited by the Na’vi, glasses. It is a vast improvement on
better known as “The People.” When the sometimes headache-inducing
wheelchair-bound marine Jake Sully techniques that relied on cardboard
is given a second chance, he takes cutout glasses with red and green
the opportunity to be scientifically lenses. Avatar raises the bar on
turned into one of the natives and go “performance capture” technology,
undercover. But when he becomes which creates computerized images
acquainted with the native princess from real human action. Cameron’s
Neytiri and the ways of her people, choice of expanding into this new
he has to choose a side. This movie found technology makes Avatar
keeps you on the edge of your seat the one to beat. With its multiple
with its action packed adventure. You nominations, including Best Director
not only become entrapped in the and Best Picture, Avatar seems
dreamlike world and its twisted plot, to be exceeding all expectations.
Whether it’s the actors, the amazing
but also the amazing technology
Director James Cameron (Titanic, technology or the fantasy world
Terminator 2) has had this project in created, Avatar will blow your mind.
the making for about two decades. He The 3-D experience enhances the
patiently waited for the much needed new-found technology and makes
technology to be invented, but even the audience feel like they belong in
the most patient grow tired of waiting. the foreign world of Pandora.
Despite its 2 hour and 50 minute
Cameron eventually succeeded in
inventing the technology and started running time, this movie is definitely
on the journey. The movie uses digital worth seeing more than once.
3-D technology, which requires
09
Free Cash for College
Avatar brings a new
dawn for film
JANUARY 2010
The CHS Counseling Office will be hosting
RECORD OF THE YEAR:
BY RANDIE ORTLOFF
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
ADVERTISEMENTS
from 8:00-9:00pm
February 2, 2010
6:00-8:00pm
English (Auditorium)
Spanish (Room 503)
IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS YOU NEED TO BRING TO WORKSHOP:
It’s okay if you don’t have every one of these documents. Come to the workshop with the documents that you have and
that apply to you.
•
•
•
•
•
•
Driver’s license
Social Security card or number
Parent’s alien registration number, if they are not a U.S. citizen
Your 2009 income information
Parent 2009 income information
Your tax and parent tax information; previous year taxes are okay for now if you don’t have 2009 tax information.
• 2009 bank statements
• Any records of untaxed income such as welfare benefits, Social Security benefits, or child support payments
• List of colleges you are interested in attending
Oak West Footwear
Inland Center Mall
Come by for a great selection of
casual and formal footwear
Bring this coupon for a special
offer: NO TAX on your purchase!!
Coupon must be presented with purchase, some restrictions apply
See store for details
Pepper Bough, Colton High School, Jan. 27, 2010
THE 1st DECADE OF THE NEW MILLENNIUM
2000-2009
The beginning of the 21st century was marked by a slew of innovations; from the revival of the music
indusrty to the technology war that dictates the lives of every teenager on this planet, America is
claiming its title as the world’s leading entertainment enterprise.
MUSIC GETS A FRESH START
BY CLAUDETTE BARRAZA
FAR LEFT: Axl Rose’s highly
anticipated comeback album flopped.
FAR RIGHT: N’Sync dominated the
charts with their bubble-gum pop music. BOTTOM: Taylor Swift’s Fearless was
2009’s best selling album.
The new millenium marked “a new dawn,” as Jefferson Airplane singer Grace Slick once
said. From the golden age of bubble gum pop to the revival of techno, music experienced a
tremendous wave of innovation that had been absent in America since Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely
Heart’s Club Band was unleashed to the world in the mid-60s.
In the early years of the new decade, music goers were divided into two categories:
naturally, there was the boy band-worshipping type that considered Britney Spears and
Jessica Simpson to be the role model type. This group was often oblivious to any form of
music that was not in the mainstream, often looking to the Billboard charts for guidance.
On the other hand, you had fans of a new generation of rock and roll royalty. From the
bluesy White Stripes to the raw flavor of Karen O’s Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Fred Durst and his
Limp Bizkits finally took a back seat (to the relief of music critics around the world.) It
seems that rock music had a sort of rebirth, as the onslaught of new musicians rose to the
big time. Unfortunately, bands like the Killers and System of a Down didn’t get much
airplay (much like their predecessors such as Black Sabbath and the Velvet Underground),
though they did manage to sell out arenas; they made their music accessible to their fans
in any way possible, which paid off seeing as their music has replaced the N’Syncs and
Mandy Moores of this decade.
Fortunately for the nostalgic 90s fans, the new decade came bearing several
comebacks, including Whitney Houston, Britney Spears (alas, K-Fed is gone!) and of
course, Mariah Carey. The singer released The Emancipation of Mimi to great success, as the album went platinum
six times, making it the best selling album of 2005. Axl Rose also made headlines with Guns N’ Roses’ highly
anticipated sixth studio album, Chinese Democracy. After fifteen years of controversy and delays, the album was
finally released in 2008; despite the hype surrounding its alleged greatness, Chinese Democracy was met with little
success, much to the despair of the anxious GNR fans.
Most recently, there’s been a trend of young women dominating the charts, as Taylor Swift, Beyonce, and most
notably, Lady Gaga have all had their share of number one singles and albums. All three ladies have contributed
something new to the music industry; Lady Gaga made quite a splash in 2009 with her outrageous outfits and
controversial music videos. She has managed to break barriers with her raw music styles, a trend that is sure to
continue onto the new year.
Given the music of the new millennium, great things are expected of 2010; my prediction: disco music will
enjoy a pleasant home-coming, as the demand for new music rages on.
The 21st century arrived exactly one decade ago, bringing numerous technological
inventions with it that have brought us that much closer into the future. There was much
technology invented in the past ten years, but which invention is truly the best and most
popular in this day and age? On October 23rd 2001, Apple computers publicly announced their portable music
digital player, now popularly known as the iPod. With over 100 million iPods sold, it’s no
question that they are the most popular piece of technology invented in the past decade. In
2003, MySpace came along, one of the most famous websites today, which allows users to
communicate with friends and even celebrities, making potentially dangerous chatrooms a
thing of the past. It’s used by billions of people in different countries, though surprisingly it
has been surpassed by newer, trendier websites such as Facebook and Twitter.
It was also the decade for a great amount of new mobile phones, such as the Blackberry
ELECTRIC AVENUE: Ipods became one of the
and the iPhone, which have become some of the most popular phones out there. As time
decade’s greatest inventions, with styles varying
passed many of these phones got remarkable new upgrades such as touch screens, GPS
from the convinient Nano to the app-ridden
navigation, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and the full QWERTY keyboards, etc. iPhone.
In 2005, YouTube, the most popular online video viewing and sharing community,
debuted. You Tube was named Time Magazine’s invention of the year in 2006, proving it is one of the most popular and greatest inventions in the
past ten years. The most powerful game system ever made, the PlayStation 3, was invented in 2005 and revealed to the public on May 16. With its
amazing features such as playing games and movies on Blu-Ray and DVD disks, Wi-Fi, and increased Wireless and Bluetooth range and reliability,
it proves to be one of the greatest game systems in the marketplace. So much technology has been invented in the past decade, yet these proved to
be the best and most popular out there.
FILMS THAT MOVED YOU
BY RANDIE ORTLOFF
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
“It started with a chair,” said Juno MacGuff,
title character in what can possibly be considered
the most popular indie film of the decade. Sure,
Juno was the little movie that could, but it was the
movies that defiantly can that defined the decade, the
franchise films. With over ten franchise films, one
winning best picture, one reviving a show, and one
grossing 5.6 billion dollars in its first six films, fan
bases proved their loyalty to the beloved characters
they read about in novels or comic books. While
most poplar films are based on stories, one is popular
just being the name of an iconic Disneyland ride.
This past decade proved that regardless of how
accurate their adaptation on the big screen is, the fans
will see it. The Harry Potter films don’t need any
explanation. Since 2001 the franchise has become the
DARKNESS FALLS: The
biggest and best known in the world. The Lord of the
Dark Knight, released in 2008,
Rings franchise owned the box office and the awards
became one of the highest
in 2004, winning 13 Oscars, an accomplishment
grossing movies of all time.
previously unknown for a fantasy film. While the
Twilight saga is fairly new compared to the other
franchises, its newest film New Moon proved that a
franchise predominantly loved by women has the power to earn hundreds of millions worldwide.
Animated movies are also powerful thanks to Pixar films and Shrek. Both animated franchises enticed millions and captured the heart of
millions, even if the characters aren’t real. Before Spiderman’s release in 2002, super-hero movies weren’t a highlight of film making. But when
The Dark Knight flew into theaters in summer 2008, it was an automatic pop culture phenomenon that proved how far comic book movies had
come. With the combination of the Spiderman trilogy, the new Batman film, and the start of Iron Man, the box office can be won, no matter the
what power the title character has. No one could have anticipated Star Trek’s success this past summer. The film was wonderfully received by
fans and critics and turned a great number of people into “trekkies.” In the next ten years, the Star Trek franchise will only be grown and revived
again in every upcoming sequel.
Audiences love to be taken to another world in films, and while we may be able to relate to a sixteen year old Juno better than a hobbit, it’s
more fun to escape life. The worlds created by these films keep the fans coming back for more, and buying shirts from Hot Topic declaring their
love for them as well.
BY NEREIDA MORENO EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
TELEVSION REACHES NEW HEIGHTS
BY SANDRA MENDOZA
This decade, television has been especially impressive, mainly because of the broad
target audience that ranges from kids, to teens, to adults. Let’s begin with the best drama
show of the century: House, a medical drama that tells the story of Gregory House, a
troubled medical genius who solves bizarre cases along with his team. However, the
cases that are not the only interesting aspect of the series, as the doctors’ personal lives
and secrets are exposed; the show proves to be both fascinating and addicting. The show
debuted in 2004, and is still airing on Fox. Next is the best teen drama: Degrassi: The
Next Generation. Degrassi is a show that follows the lives of teenagers as they struggle
with real problems that high school kids might face, most of them are pretty personal. It
debuted in 2001, and airs in the U.S. and Canada on various channels. There have been
nine engaging seasons, with more on the way. The best talk show of the decade goes to
none other than The Tyra Banks Show; the winner of two Daytime Emmy’s. The talk
show focuses on current issues facing people, such as racism and prejudice. Tyra is also
known for going undercover to personally experience issues in order for everyone to gain
a better understanding of them. The Tyra Banks Show has had five amazing seasons since
2005, and now airs on the CW. The best animated series goes to, of course, Family Guy.
The show centers on the Griffins, and their many misadventures. Although the show has
suffered some criticism, and even a cancellation, it has proven to be witty and hilarious.
Family Guy has had five amusing seasons since its renewal in 2004, and is still airing new
episodes on Fox. The best comedy show of the decade was Malcom in the Middle. It’s
about a brilliant teenage boy, Malcom, and his dysfunctional family just trying to get by
in life. The show won an outstanding nine Emmy Awards, and is popular worldwide. It
aired from 2000-2006, but you can catch the re-runs on Fox and Nick at Night. The best
Children’s Show was iCarly, a show based on three best friends creating a popular web
show every week. The show has been airing since 2007, and has proven to be quite popular
with kids and teens;
it even has its own
video game! You
can watch iCarly
on
Nickelodeon.
And finally, the best
reality show goes to
America’s Next Top
Model. In this show,
women compete for
the title of America’s
Next Top Model
and a contract with
Covergirl magazine
in order to jumpstart
their
modeling
careers. The new
MODEL BEHAVIOR: America’s Next Top Model catapulted
models get prepared
Tyra Banks into superstardom, a great example of the impact of
for everything in
TV in pop culture.
the business, from
photo-shoots,
to
commercials, to the runway. The show continues to have success, as it began its 13th
cycle, which is proof of its unparralled popularity.
12
JANUARY 2010
FEATURES
THE PEPPERBOUGH
BY FELICIA FAMA
BY BEN BAKER
Now I’m not saying that it’s all bad,
because growing up in this generation
you get used to it and sometimes
people can really pull off the look.
But whatever happened to the era of
looking sharp and elegant?
The 1920s to the 1950s was an
era of class, sophistication, and style.
Men wore suits, blazers and polished
shoes, looking like they always had to
go to a fancy meeting; women wore
dresses that flowed ever so nicely and
just glowed with a beauty that would
drop anyone’s jaw. They wore them
everywhere, even to very informal
places such as a baseball game or a
bowling alley.
So instead of complaining all
KEEPING STYLE ALIVE: Senior Ben Baker sophisticates his wardrobe every
Friday.
the time, I decided that I would enjoy
putting some of that class into my life.
So came Formal Friday. Every
Friday for the past three years at this
school, some friends of mine and I
dress up to imitate the era of style to
show that that style hasn’t died yet.
Why should we only have to dress
up for church or some special event?
We should show the world that young
people still care about a respectable
appearance.
Now I’m not knocking all of
today’s style, all I’m saying is that
it would be an awesome sight to see
everyone wear their “Sunday best”
every Friday to add a little “class” to
our “class.”
Virtual Dating takes over
BY DESTINY GARCIA
A beneficial alternative to Myspace and Facebook,
as well as an open opportunity to support some
of your most favored organizations
BY IMRI RIVAS
Despite MySpace and Facebook
becoming overcrowded, overused, and
dishonest, SocialVibe, a social networking website, had the brains that
now provides for the less fortunate in a
mature environment.
SocialVibe is a social networking
website, and like MySpace or Facebook, a profile is made, updates are
updated, and so on. However, during
the creation of the profile, a cause must
be chosen which you want to support;
from helping out the efforts of Action for Animals in promoting animal
rights, to aiding the World Wildlife
Fund to prevent further devastation of
the Earth, or supporting Music for Relief, an organization founded and comprised of musicians for the benefit of
those in need. Afterwards, a sponsor is
selected, and a badge is given after the
initial steps are completed.
The sponsors vary, and include
Sprint, TV shows, and others. The
online virtual badge is meant to be
applied in other social websites. For
every view it receives, it receives a
point, and for every point, the chosen
sponsor donates money. The upgraded
version of SocialVibe allows anyone
to do simple online sponsored activities, making it easier to receive points
for any cause, adding up in monetary
terms to the selected cause. Other ways
to receive points are as simple as logging in, or visiting the forums that are
written up by ordinary people nearly
every minute.
So why is it that some consider SocialVibe to be even better than MySpace and Facebook?
Junior Kara Mendez says, “You
can learn about problems of the world,
help out organizations, and socialize
at the same time. It is a simple and social way to help out, aAs opposed to
… the other[s].” Junior Suji Noh says:
“Because you’re helping out different
organizations from your computer and
you don’t have to pay a cent. All you
have to do is join and pick the charity
and sponsor of your choice.”
When asked if they recommended
others to join, Mendez stated, “Definitely. A simple way to help out, why
the heck not?” Noh agreed, stating, “Of
course I recommend this to other people, the more you visit this website, the
more money the charity of your choice
earns.”
SocialVibe is a beneficial website
and is open for anyone that is interested
in helping. There is no limit to its members, and to date, SocialVibe has provided over $600,000 in charity funds to
those in need. The website is available
at: http://www.socialvibe.com/
FEATURES
Expressing yourself never
looked so good
Colton High students
dress to impress
Everyone has a unique factor that
sets them apart from everyone else
in the world. And one of the most
distinguishing things that makes them
unique is their own style of clothing.
Today’s style of clothing has gotten
rather dull.
Clothing for men nowadays
consists of colorful t-shirts, many
different bracelets, and expensive-asall-heck shoes, followed by the sagging
of the pants below the buttocks to show
the entire world what you got in your
trunk.
For women it’s made up of either a
low cut V-neck t-shirt, short shorts that
leave nothing to the imagination and
spaghetti straps that beg for attention.
THE PEPPERBOUGH
It’s a known fact that there is a
growing number of people in society
that turn to online dating as a solution
to meet someone new. The sites are
supposed to be there to help expand
the pool of people you can meet
beyond your immediate circle of
acquaintances.
According to Online Dating
Magazine, there are more that 20
million people a month who visit online
dating services. But besides all of this,
I have to ask: does anyone actually
stop to realize some of the many risks
that may occur when dating online?
When it comes to the main dangers of
online dating, the reality of the subject
is simple. These sites can and do have
a risky side to them that is not noted
as much as it should be.
While watching TV you may see
commercials for the many common
dating sites such as eHarmony,
Match.com, Singles.net, and many
more. But when it comes down to
it, you have to constantly be on your
guard in order to prevent stalking,
identity theft or any sort of scamming
that can occur. The point is, it is fine
to want to try a new way to meet
someone different, but the fact of the
matter in this certain situations, like
dating online, a person has to be more
careful and aware of the information
they are giving out.
Guide to surviving finals
BY SERENA MERCADO
Finals time is the worst part of the
year for many students. For freshmen,
it’s difficult because this is the first
year they are introduced to high school
level finals. For sophomores and
juniors, they’re pretty much used to it
but choose not to study. For seniors,
it’s the time to worry.
Finals are a part of your semester
grades and will either raise or lower
your grade. Grades decide whether or
not a senior will graduate if they do
not have extra credits to spare. The
pressure of finals comes twice a year
and in order to do well on your tests,
it’s best to start preparing early.
You can prepare by paying close
attention in class and taking good
notes. When you pay attention and
take notes, you have a better chance
of remembering what you’ve learned
which will reflect on your finals. Another way to prepare is to
take a few minutes out of your day to
reflect back on what you’ve learned
that day. Reviewing your notes at
night will help you remember so you
can use them on assignments given
later or quizzes given in class. It would
also be helpful to create your own
note-taking method to quiz yourself
on what you have learned. All of
these techniques will help prepare you
for finals and knowing that you have
studied and have the references to go
back and study will take some of the
pressure off. Some other tips to help
you during finals are to eat a good
breakfast and get plenty of sleep. It
would also help if you just relax and
do the best you can on the test. Gather
all of your knowledge and use it to
succeed on your test, because there
was a reason you learned everything.
Express Yourself was an event
that lived up to its full potential.
It all started as an idea to bring
students with different skills together
and showcase their talents. Due to
unfortunate weather, most of the event
was cancelled, such as the car and bike
show, the clubs carnival, and the live
aerosol painting. It also kept the crowd
at home and dry but those who came
got quite a new paradigm of what our
students are capable of.
As they say in show business, “The
show must go on!” In the end there
was a wide variety of entertainment
in the auditorium and student artwork
displayed right before the show. There
was everything from poetry to dancing.
Fever showed all sides of dancing by
having different members perform
special routines. Student bands,
professional bands, and a staff band all
tore up the stage with diverse kinds of
music. To keep things interesting all
the acts were mixed up and the night
seemed to be put on shuffle.
The event ended with a rock
themed fashion show titled “Uhh Hot
Mess,” directed by this reporter. Each
model walked down the runway with
an edgy hairstyle and a unique outfit
that expressed the rock star in them.
At the end of the fashion show Colton
High’s very own Epidemik label gave
up some of their hottest shirts for the
models to toss out to the audience.
Sophomore Jenny Ho, who was a
model and dancer in the show, says,
“Express Yourself was on of the best
experiences I’ve had. We got to make
new friends and have so much fun. I
love how everyone was able to express
themselves.”
Everyone who went only got
a small taste of Express Yourself,
but it was enough to leave a lasting
impression. The teacher behind Express
Yourself, Daisy Contreras, had a lot on
her plate but pulled off a great show.
She is hoping to put on the full event
sometime in May. So keep an eye out
for the next Express Yourself, because
it’s sure to be even better the second
time around.
Awareness of the unaware
Diseases you may have without knowing
BY CHRISTIAN BLANKSON
Every day we go around, living
our life, not realizing what goes on
inside of us. We can usually feel if
something’s wrong, so we don’t pay
attention to when we feel alright.
Here’s a list of diseases you may
want to ask your doctor about before
it’s too late.
We can start with the wallknown diseases, such as cancer. Not
all cancers have symptoms, and that
is what makes people think they’re
fine. Cancer is on a cellular level, so
more often than not, you won’t feel
it. Hypertension is another virtually
unnoticeable disease. In the bloodhidden diseases, Hepatitis C, diabetes
and heart murmurs should be looked
out for. If you feel like your eyes might
be getting worse over many years, look
out for Glaucoma. There’s too many to
name, but you may want to look online,
or ask you doctor on your next visit.
People always worry about the
ailments they feel, and completely
forget about the hidden problems.
You shouldn’t worry though. Only
one out of nine people typically have
no-symptom diseases. Just make sure
to eat healthy and regularly visit your
doctor.
JANUARY 2010
13
Discover the wonders of
threadless
Ditch the world of the bland clothing and enter a site where
tee shirts become pieces of art
BY RANDIE ORTLOFF
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Since its creation in 2000,
t-shirt company Threadless has
been producing thousands of
graphic art screen tee’s all without
a professional designer or paid
advertising. Threadless is unlike
anything the clothing world has
ever seen, and the now multimillion dollar site owes it all to
young graphic designers who keep
the company running.
The premise of the company THE FACES OF THREADLESS: Various deis easy: every week thousands of signs appeal to a wide variety of customers.
pop art designers submit their
original creations and from there a
community of members and visitors This power makes Threadless entirely
vote on their favorite designers. The unique in a world of bland clothing and
artists behind the winning designers overpriced brand names. One look at
get $2,500 for their idea to be printed the site and you, like so many others
on hundreds of shirts. The designs before you, will completely fall in love
sold are always funny, original and, with the clothing.
for lack of a better word, just plain
cool. The ideas that average
designers submit put screen
tee’s sold in stores to shame.
These shirts are more than worth
the amount it costs to own them
and wearing a Threadless shirt
will get you compliments. In
fact word of mouth is exactly
what made the site what it is.
Although frequent buyers
have their own accounts
on Threadless, visitors are
not pressured to become a
member, and they can still
vote for the fate of many pop art
designs. The main reason for the
eccentric tee shirt company’s
FAMILY PHOTO: The customers of Threadsuccess is that the customers
less show off the many styles.
are the voice and the designers.
Inland Empire vandalism hits close to home
BY SERENA MERCADO
BEFORE: The Acura Integra sits intact.
On the night of December 14, 2009, between
7 and 8 p.m., a young man’s 1991 Acura Integra was
stolen from the Inland Center Mall Parking Lot. It
was found four days later in Highland, California. It
was sent to a police impound where the young man
was able to see it but had to pay a fee of $90. All
that was left was the frame of the car. Everything
was stolen: the steering wheel, bumpers, emblems,
seats, engine, wheels and rims, and doors. The car
was keyed all the way around and the windshield was
spray painted with the words “Merry Christmas.”
Two days later, the young man had found his
car parts on craigslist.com. He had confirmed they
were his parts and reported the man who posted the
parts to the police in both Highland and San Bernardino. On December 24, 2009, the man was arrested
and put into jail. He was 22 years old and lived in
Highland, California, three houses down from where
the car was found. The man had four different car
engines in his garage and many other car parts including the young man’s. He claimed he had assistance with the theft but would not reveal any names;
therefore, he suffered all of the consequences. The
young man ended up receiving about $3,500 from
his car insurance and he is now looking into buying a
AFTER: The car is gutted and spray painted
with the words “Merry Christmas” across the
windowshield.
new car. A couple of lessons learned from this story
are to be aware of your surroundings and beware of
craigslist postings.
14
JANUARY 2010
FEATURES
THE PEPPERBOUGH
In memory of Jennifer Ibarra
Benitez
BY IMRI RIVAS
CHS Junior Jennifer
Ibarra died on December 27,
during Winter Break while in
Mexico. Family and friends are
still trying to cope with their loss.
Jennifer was 16.
aftermath of his sister’s loss.
“She wasn’t your average
girl,” said Jennifer’s friend Junior
Sydney Estrada, “I don’t know
how to explain that. She was very
energetic, very spontaneous. She
made you feel comfortable, and
you ended up telling her everything
when at first you didn’t want to.”
Senior Louie Ibarra, Jennifer’s
older brother who also attends CHS,
expresses the problems that have
arisen surrounding her passing. A
resurging health problem prompted
her parents to take her to Mexico
with a firm intention to find out
what was wrong. According to her
family, there was never a serious
problem, but the heavy doses of
medication the doctors gave her
seem suspicious as to what exactly
they were prescribed for.
Louie Ibarra claimed that the
negligence of the doctors was
responsible for the tragedy. “She
was sick, but they never knew of
exactly what,” he says. According
to her brother, the heavy medication
meant for the supposed illness
probably caused her demise. In
any case, it seems that her death
could have been prevented.
What is past has passed.
Now, all Louie Ibarra asks for is
the consideration of the public,
the school, and his friends in the
Junior Rosa Reyes, another
one of Jennifer Ibarra’s closest
friends, also agreed. “She was
very spontaneous, and was able to
get a conversation with anyone,”
she said. “[Jennifer] was always
happy. She always knew how to
get my happiness out.”
Jennifer Ibarra was also close
to some of the teachers in Colton
High School, one of them being
Mathematics teacher Robert
Montano who personally knew
her for about three years.
1993-2009
Your beauty will be forever missed
THE PEPPERBOUGH
OPINIONS
JANUARY 2010
15
?
w
o
n
e
m
r
a
e
h
u
o
y
Can
With cellular options galore, we’re here to help you find the best one.
BY CLAUDETTE BARRAZA
With so many wireless
caller ID, and 3-way
services to choose from,
conference calling; they
one has to wonder, which
even have a walkieone is truly the best choice?
talkie option for some
There are a couple of major
of their phones. The
cell phone companies which
other leading wireless
have the highest numbers of
services have some
users. They include Verizon
similar
advantages,
Wireless, T-Mobile, AT&T,
and reliable plans and
Sprint, and MetroPCS. In
features; however, their
a recent survey of CHS,
standards just aren’t as
students were asked which
impressive as Verizon
wireless service they used.
Wireless. Verizon Wireless was the
Overall,
Verizon
front runner with 27%, in
Wireless
lands
at
second was T-Mobile with
number one because
25%, close behind was MORE BARS IN MORE PLACES?: Several Pepperbough members swear that their cellular service
of its extensive plans
AT&T with 23%. Sprint was is best.
and feature options,
in second to last with 15%,
wide service coverage,
million customers. They have a wide their wide variety of phones and the
and MetroPCS came in last with 10%.
variety of plans and features, such as rare feature of not rounding up minutes mobile-to-mobile features, and their
All these companies have good ratings,
prepaid, individual, family, mobile- like other service providers. The fees solid reputation for quality service
great plans, and amazing phones.
to-mobile, data, business, and even for Verizon Wireless are the same as to its customers. It is the safest cell
Though all services have their own
international plans. The features are other wireless providers, however, the phone provider for its investments
advantages, Verizon Wireless seems to
pretty standard: unlimited nights and advantage is if you cancel your contract over the other leading companies.
come out on top above all the rest. It is
weekends start at 9:00 pm, free long early the termination fee is cheaper Verizon Wireless has numerous
not only preferred by our CHS students
distance, free mobile-to-mobile, and than most. They also have a few useful advantages over the other leading
but by the rest of America as well.
options for unlimited talk and text. standard features in all their plans, wireless networks, making them
Verizon Wireless is one the nation’s
However, what sets them apart are including voicemail, numeric paging, the best wireless service out there.
most reliable networks, serving 45.5
“She had the ability to get
people to open up,” he said. “She
would share a lot of herself to get
you to open up.”
The 2009 American Music Awards brought major
controversy after American idol contestant Adam
Lambert “expressed” himself on stage. But are the
critics taking it too far?
Her father, Jose Ibarra, is still
in Mexico to finish all matters that
are still left.
BY ZACHARI McCALL
Homosexuality in America has
always been a controversial topic no
matter what county, city or state you live
in. Even the famous can not escape the
persecution.
Adam Lambert’s sexuality has never
been a question, since he is an openly
gay man in the music industry. Lambert’s
sexuality was never an issue until
November 2009 at the AMAs (American
Music Awards). Since that night Lambert
has experienced a rash of negative press.
Lambert’s performance included making
out with his keyboardist, and thrusting his
crotch into another person’s face. He is
never ashamed of his sexuality and flaunts
it proudly. Although many of us didn’t
care too much about the acts, others have
their own opinion on the matter. “I find it
fascinating,” says junior Danielle Ortez. “I
think it’s cool when gay people kiss. It’s
cute. I love it that he had the nerve to do it
on stage.” Some people across the nation,
including talk show hosts, journalists, and
radio show hosts think the performance was
lewd, racy and tasteless. Senior Michael
Torres agrees with critics, saying, “He
shouldn’t have done it. Why did he have to
go and pull a Madonna?”
What makes the whole performance’s
controversy so ridiculous is that many
straight performers have kissed the same
sex on stage, including Madonna, Britney
and Christina during the 2003 Video Music
Awards. “It’s a shame because I think that
there’s a double standard going on in the
entertainment community right now,”
Lambert told Rolling Stone magazine
after the show. “Female performers have
I KISSED A BOY, AND I LIKED
IT: Adam Lambert demonstrated
his preference for men at the American Music Awards. His performance
earned many complaints from the
FCC, resulting in show cancellations
shortly thereafter.
OFF WITH HER TOP: Janet
Jackson gets caught in a “wardrobe malfunction” courtesy of
Justin Timberlake at the 2004
Super Bowl half-time show.
THE KISS THAT STARTED
IT ALL: Britney Spears locks lips
with Madonna during the opening
segment of the 2003 VMA’s.
been doing this for years -- pushing the
envelope about sexuality -- and the minute
a man does it, everybody freaks out. We’re
in 2009; it’s time to take risks, be a little
more brave, time to open people’s eyes,
and if it offends them, then maybe I’m not
for them.”
Critics and producers are making the
performance much more than it is “I think
it’s bold that he kissed a guy on stage,
people are just exaggerating it,” says senior
Andrew Marshall. We can only wait and
see what else this bold artist does next.
THERE WILL BE BLOOD:
Lady GaGa takes a dip in her own
“blood” at the most recent VMA’s.
GaGa even shocked her own fans
with this display.
16
JANUARY 2010
OPINIONS
How to break the vicious
cheating
THE PEPPERBOUGH
OPINIONS
JANUARY 2010
17
What’s wrong with the Rock Hall?
BY NEREIDA MORENO
EDITOR-IN-CHEIF
In today’s educational
world, many students fret
over being able to pass their
classes. Most strive and
do all they can to achieve
the best grades. These are
the people who study and WHAT’S THE ANSWER?: Students today have
work hard to get the grades upgraded in their cheating style with the help of a
they deserve. On the other well known friend, Mr. Cellphone.
hand, others take the easy
way out and cheat. The
material. Math (as much as we hate
question is this: is cheating a symptom to admit it) helps us to analyze and
of desperation or of pure laziness?
evaluate, and history might help you
Though cheating may seem like the on Jeopardy. Every subject, no matter
best route to go, everyone involved in it how tedious or boring, has some value
ultimately loses. Senior Isabel Santoya for our future.
strongly agrees to cheating being
Cheating causes a person to be that
useless: “Cheating doesn’t help you in slacker that “could’ve” or “might’ve”
the long run like on CST’s or exams in been something. If we all became
college.” Not only do the people being cheaters, our future wouldn’t be as
cheated off of get ripped off after all bright as we had hoped. Cheaters
the hard work, but the people cheating show no initiative, motivation or
don’t learn the concept that is being dignity. They seem to have no goals
taught.
in mind, only wanting that immediate
Atest or quiz is designed to challenge gratification of a good grade, instead
your knowledge of a particular subject, of thinking about the long run. For
enabling you to be ready for the world all those cheaters who want to have a
to come. Most subjects are valuable better future and redeem themselves
to your life outside of school. English there is one piece of advice: don’t take
helps you to read and comprehend the easy way out.
As I strolled down the halls of
Colton High School one dark Monday
afternoon, I became flabbergasted at
the most ridiculous statement I’ve
ever heard: “The Rolling Stones are
the greatest band that ever lived.” My
gut told me to tackle that ignorant
beast where she stood, but my instincts
convinced me to keep walking;
I’m a senior, and this troll was not
going to threaten my chances of
walking in the graduation ceremony.
To say that the Rolling Stones
are the greatest band to have ever
lived is to recite blasphemy; it is very
much known that the Beatles were
God’s gift to music. They are the most
original, inspirational, revolutionary
group of musical geniuses that ever
walked the planet, and therefore
should be recognized as such.
When the Beatles first landed
in Kennedy airport on February 7,
1964, America would never be the
same. As John, Paul, George, and
Ringo stepped down from the plane,
thousands of screaming fans caused a
riot in what soon would be recognized
as “Beatlemania.” To this day, I have
yet to see any musical act cause such
a dramatic fan reaction as the Beatles
did in the sixties; nowadays you see
the Jonas Brothers and Miley Cyrus
sell out arenas with their bubble
gum-excuse-for-music act, but the
effects can never be the same. The
Beatles provided us with timeless
BY SANDRA MENDOZA
BY JOEL PATTERSON *
BY SEMIYA HOLMAN
OPINION EDITOR
THE PEPPERBOUGH
music that musicians today couldn’t
even dream of creating. From classic
love ballads like “Something” to the
earlier, catchier anthems like “I Wanna
Hold Your Hand,” and “She Loves
You,” the Beatles covered nearly
every genre. Their only downfall
was the one that changed the course
of music as we know it: their official
breakup in 1970 left fans shocked
and heartbroken. Unfortunately for
the music world, these four men were
only together for about ten years.
The Rolling Stones began their
career as a COVER BAND. The
only reason they even began writing
their own material is because The
Beatles’ popularity and demand forced
them to do so. It’s the only way they
could even try to compete, though
given the quality of the material they
composed, they have clearly failed.
Though the Rolling Stones are
still performing together to this day,
one must remember: the Beatles never
had the chance to become mediocre
the way the Stones did. In their
short ten years, the Beatles created
everlasting art while the Stones gave
us Keith Richards...enough said.
*Note to Keith: Dude, you’re
66 years old. You can stop putting
beads in your hair and strutting
about in silk scarves. How much
cooler would your corpse-like self
be if it wasn’t covered in the clothes
of a 20-year-old kid from 1975?
BY NEREIDA MORENO
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
was co-founded in 1983 by Jann
Wenner, Editor/Publisher of Rolling
Stone magazine, as a means of honoring
the music industry’s greatest talents and
influences. From blues to folk music,
there has always been a wide variety of
musicians who have been inducted. With
earlier inductees such as Fats Domino
and Roy Orbison to the better known
music greats such as Bob Dylan and the
Beatles, the museum has been known
to be home to some of music’s finest. A
committee of some 70 rock journalists,
historians, and label executives choose
the list of eligible bands and artists.
However, due to the nomination
committee’s more recent actions,
many are beginning to question just
how fair this “grand honor” really is.
Over the years, there’s been a
backlash against the committee’s
methods; foundation director Suzan
Evans was especially criticized after
a former member of the nominations
board once commented that “At one
point Suzan Evans lamented the
choices being made because there
weren’t enough big names that would
sell tickets to the dinner. That was
quickly remedied by dropping one of
the doo-wop groups being considered
in favor of a ‘name’ artist...I saw how
certain pioneering artists of the ‘50s
and early ‘60s were shunned because
there needed to be more name power
on the list, resulting in ‘70s superstars
getting in before the people who made
it possible for them. Some of those
pioneers still aren’t in today.” Artists
like Black Sabbath and the Dave Clark
Five have struggled to make the cuts,
despite tens of thousands of petitions to
put them on the ballots; one then might
begin to speculate that the nominees
are simply reflections of the taste of
the nomination board, rather than
musicians who have actually earned
their spot. The Hall has also been criticized
for its refusal to recognize progressive
and glam rock artists such as Rush,
Styx, Yes, and Jethro Tull, despite their
“strict nomination policies.” The rules
are that said artists must have had a
record out for at least 25 years, and most
importantly, must have had a significant
influence on music in general. How can
they exclude genres that have clearly
influenced the artists of today?
All the controversy over nominees
and inductees has forced speculations
as to who is missing in this grand Hall
of Fame.
From Tupac to Joan Jett, here’s a
list of who should have made it.
ARTISTS WHO SHOULD HAVE BEEN INDUCTED
RINGO STARR
TUPAC
Ringo is the only Beatle who hasn’t
been inducted...enough said.
Arguably the best rapper of all time,
Tupac insprired art through his contoversial lyrics.
JETHRO TULL
T. REX
JOAN BAEZ
Marc Bolan and his band of misfits
single-handedly invented glam rock.
The queen of folk music, Baez
sparked controversy through her
opinionated lyrics.
RUSH
JOAN JETT & THE BLACK HEARTS
WHO HAS IT HARDER IN RELATIONSHIPS?
From the very beginning, girls
have to figure out if he’s really serious
or if he just wants to play you. Guys
play girls all the time. Why? Because
most of them are jerks,
and just want to use a girl.
A good guy is really hard
to find. Guys pressure
girls into doing things that
they might not want to do, or
simply aren’t ready for yet.
It’s the girl’s responsibility to
worry about getting pregnant,
and then having the guy
leave them. Girls also mature
much faster than guys, so
they have to deal with their
immature actions which can get really
frustrating. They forget the important
things. Girls have to worry about their
boyfriends cheating on them. Most
guys aren’t really committed to their
relationships, they flirt with other
girls, and it’s a fact that guys cheat
more than girls do. About 60 percent of
guys will have an affair at some point in
a relationship. And the sad part is they
actually think they can get away with
it. Also, guys can be emotionally or
even physically abusive towards girls
in their relationship. Girls
are six times more likely
than guys to experience
an abusive partner in a
relationship.
Girls have to deal with a
guy’s controlling attitude which
seems to flare up especially when
they’re around their friends. They
treat you differently around other
people, but when you’re alone
it’s a different story, which makes
you question their true feelings
about you. Guys don’t trust girls,
when it should be that girls shouldn’t
trust guys. They’re paranoid when it
comes to girls doing their individual
stuff, just because she’s not with you at
the moment, doesn’t mean she’s with
someone else.
GIRLS
BY SHAWNYCE WALKER
Relationships are so full of youth
and admiration. They can last for years
or sadly end within months. But during
all that time, who has it the hardest?
Being a girl, I would consider both parts,
even though more girls are pressured
to be there while boyfriends are not
considered
to
be their equals
because they’re
female.
But girls add
on the pressure of children, spoiling
them, and constantly taking them from
their friends. I have asked students and
You’ve heard the old saying,
“Boys will be boys.” So tell me why
every girl (even after watching a
million movies in which this saying is
considered true) wants their man to tell
them their feelings, answer
the phone all the time, and
stop acting stupid around
their friends? Boys will be
boys. That’s how we are.
We don’t tell our girlfriends our
feelings, or answer the phone
all the time because, honestly,
we’d rather watch the Lakers
game. So, here’s the truth: guys
have it harder than girls.
While the typical girlfriend
worries about the whole “not
answering the phone” situation, the
men have to put up with their constant
changing emotions and even worse:
their monthly period. One moment
she’s in my arms, you know, she’s
being the girl I love and the next she’s
a mad raging woman that I’m honestly
afraid of. With a monthly period comes
the mood swings and complaints. I
broke a leg from football and you
didn’t hear one complaint from me. Yet
girls complain of cramps. Come on!
You only get it once a month!
What I don’t seem to
understand is that with every
new girlfriend comes even
more drama. Why is it that
girls always have to be gossiping
about other girls? Didn’t your
parents teach you any manners?
Not only that, but most girls live
for gossip, which sometimes isn’t
even true. Why talk about these
things that may not even be true?
Oh wait, I know why. You don’t
have a life. Girls say they love their
boyfriends and so on, but yet these
girls are over here worrying about the
latest gossip in school and Hollywood,
while their guy has a broken leg.
I’m not saying I can’t put up with
it because if I like her or even love
her, I‘ll put up with almost anything.
Someone once said, “Love is not what
makes the world go round, it is what
makes the ride worthwhile.” And heck,
that, I can’t argue with.
GUYS
staff about their opinions
and Junior Francisco
Sanchez said, “Girls have
it worse cause we’re
mean,” which is somewhat
true, but so are girls.
Everyone has a mean side, we
just don’t show it.
EQUAL
*Name has been changed at
writer’s request.
Jethro Tull innovated the sounds of the 60s;
they’re considered one of the first progressive
bands of the century.
Joan Jett and her outfit became punk rock legends,
producing timeless hits such as “I Love Rock N’
Roll” and “Bad Reputation.”
How many bands have lead singers who can
play bass, keyboard. and sing at the same
time??
Celebrity scandals easily forgotten
Celebrities in the spotlight have always been a rolemodel to someone. But when they screw up in the
public eye, should we so readily forgive them?
BY NEREIDA MORENO
EDITOR-IN-CHEIF
Fortunately for celebrities, America
just so happens to be one of the most
forgiving countries of all time. From
cheating scandals to violent behavior,
it seems that the public is willing to
forgive any form of foolishness so long
as one issues a public apology (which
is usually followed by a stint in rehab.)
Celebrities are widely recognized as
heroes and role models to the American
youth; their faces are plastered
everywhere, from public transportation
to the television screens in our home. There was no escaping Chris
Brown’s Doublemint gum ads or Paris
Hilton’s catch phrase, “That’s Hot.”
These people are the faces of make-up
campaigns and are the artists that fill our
iPods. That being said, it is natural for
fans to cast them as people who can do
no wrong, though often, they are far
from perfect. I mean, who would’ve
known that behind Tiger Woods’
dazzling smile hid a ruthless cheater?
When police were alerted of the
incident that is now famously referred
to as “Man vs. Pole,” they discovered
Tiger Woods on the ground, lying
next his SUV which had apparently
been the victim of a golf-club related
beat down. Fans were shocked to
discover the next morning that Woods
had been chased out of his home by
his livid wife after she learned of his
infidelities. The world was shocked to
discover that this all-American athlete
was a two-faced cheater, something
that nobody expected. He issued a
public apology not long after and
quietly checked himself into rehab
as his commercials and campaigns
were being pulled from public view.
It seems that his career is vehemently
over; will America forgive him?
In reality, as accepting and open
as Americans are known to be, this
country is no stranger to conservative
backlashes. For example, John
Lennon’s infamous “The Beatles are
bigger than Jesus” statement in 1966
prompted Americans into destroying
the group’s records and shouting
various death threats to the Fab Four.
Seeing as America soon forgave John
(after all, his statement was taken out
of context!) Tiger’s golfing career
shouldn’t suffer too much.
After all, Mr. Woods is not the
only public figure to experience an
embarrassing cheating scandal. From
former President Bill Clinton’s “I
did not have sexual relations with
that woman” statement to actor Jude
Law’s nanny debacle, it seems that
even the most infamous scandals have
the possibility to become a thing of
OUT OF THE WOODS: Tiger’s highly publicized affairs could have a negative impact on the athlete’s career,
the past. Everyone deserves a second
chance, right America?
18
JANUARY 2010
SPORTS
THE PEPPERBOUGH
Ready for the Super Bowl?
BY SAMUEL MURGA
The Super Bowl, the biggest
sporting event on the face of the planet,
is just eleven days away. Four teams
made it past the divisional finals and on
to the AFC/NFC championship round.
Both sides have their number one seed
still in the race for the chance to go to
South Florida to compete in the Super
Bowl Game. With the championship
game so close it gives us time to reflect
on the teams still in the race for the
Vince Lombardi Trophy.
The number one ranked offense
in the league, the New Orleans Saints
find themselves in the midst of their
first Super Bowl appearance in their
franchise history, under the leadership
of QB Drew Brees who has a passer
rating of 109.9 in the regular season
and has thrown for over 4,000 yards in
total which include 39 touchdowns and
only 11 interceptions. Not only do the
Saints have a great passing game, but
also have skillful running tactics which
make them the number one ranked team
in points per game averaging 31.9. With
stats like these make the New Orleans
Saints Super Bowl favorites.
With the Super Bowl coming, football fans reflect on
the teams that fought for the Lombardi Trophy.
Facing the Saints in the NFC
championship game were the Minnesota
Vikings who seemed very impressive
after destroying the Dallas Cowboys
in a slaughter of 34-3, demonstrating
that there were a force to be reckoned
with. Future Hall of Fame QB Bret
Favre led the pack, in his 18th season
in the NFL hoping to ring his second
ring before retiring. With the help of
young Adrian Peterson who had over
1,300 yards rushing and had a total of
18 touchdowns this season made for a
great matchup facing the New Orleans
Saints in the NFC championship game,
where the Vikings were the underdogs
going into the Superdome. After a
thrilling overtime game, the Saints
emerged victorious, 31-28, and are
going to their first ever Super Bowl.
In the AFC conference the
Indianapolis Colts are the number one
ranked team, with an impressive record
of 14-2. Under new head coach Jim
Caldwell, who took over when Coach
Tony Dungy retired, finds himself
in a lot of pressure to maintain great
expectation that Dungy left the team
Ontario Reign proving
that hockey is the new
game in town to watch
BY ALEJANDRA AGUILERA
SPORTS EDITOR
With the Super Bowl coming
around the corner, it’s probably the
sport to watch out for. It is the time for
sports fans to get hyped. True sports fans
not only obsess over the well-known
sports like football but also preoccupy
themselves with the other sports, not
so very popular in the United States,
especially in Southern California, a
sport like ice hockey. Maybe Canada
has the best hockey teams around but
the Inland Empire has their very own
hockey team, the Ontario Reign, an affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings.
Started in 2008, the Ontario Reign
is in their second year in the ECHL, the
East Coast Hockey League. With former Reading Royals coach, Karl Taylor, the team had their first ever game
on October 18th 2008, in which they
faced off with Bakersfield and won
by a score of 2-1. Later that month,
the team had their first home game at
the brand new Citizens Business Bank
Arena at Ontario, where they greeted
victory with honor with a score of 4-1.
That same season, the team made it to
the 2009 ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs
and ended the ‘08-’09 season with a record of 38-29-4-2. Though the Ontario
Reign is not as well known as NHL
with. Under the leadership of one of
the greatest QBs to play the game of
football, Peyton Manning makes the
team one of the biggest threats in the
post season. With the crazy audibles
that the quarterback calls during the
game, it makes it confusing for the
opposing defense to read. The Colts
are favored to beat the Saints in the big
game.
Going up against the Colts in
the AFC title game were the upstart
New York Jets. The underdogs in this
matchup had a chance of winning due
to having the number one defense in
the league only allowing 14.8 points
a game and allowing less than 300
yards a game, which made it a good
match up going against one of the
hardest quarterbacks in the league.
It was interesting to watch how the
defense disrupted Manning’s rhythm
in the secondary and them adapting to
Manning instant play calling.
With the exciting postseason
coming to a close it has been a nail
biting playoff run. With the number
one offensive team New Orleans Saints
JANUARY 2010
The New Laker Dynasty
a win. The team is in sync, all on
the same page; it’s not that single
player team that it once was. The
The Los Angeles Lakers,
Lakers seem to have the chemistry
defending champions of the
that a championship team needs to
‘08-’09 season, are in the brink
have to keep them focused on their
of having total dominance in the
goal.
NBA once again. With an asOther teams in the NBA might
tounding record of 21-3 at home
have a star player within their team
and 9-6 record on the road, the
but it doesn’t promise them a good
Lakers are nearly unstoppable
season due to the dependency on
when it comes to playing on
that one player; for example, Letheir grounds. Having such an
bron James of the Cavs, Dwight
impressive record and the most
Howard of the Magic, and Chris
solid roster that they have had in
Paul of the Hornets. The one thing
years, they have a lot of pressure
that all these teams have in comto return in June with the Larry
mon is that they have that one outO’Brien trophy.
standing player, but also have not
Under the leadership of fuyet won a championship due to not
ture hall of fame coach Phil Jackhaving a complete team. Proves
son and team captain Kobe Brythat there isn’t an “I” in team.
ant, the team has a great chance
On the other hand the Lakers
to win yet another championhave a TEAM, and with the presship this year. With young Ansure off Kobe the Lakers are more
drew Bynum back in the starting HE SHOOTS, HE SCORES: Lamar Odom remains
than ready to come and sweep
lineup and off season acquisition one of the brighest stars on the Lakers.
anybody that comes their way.
Ron Artest playing beside Pau
With the playoffs a couple months
Gasol, along with Lamar Odom,
step up against this magnificent team?
and reliable vet Derek Fisher, the Lak- To be perfectly honest… no one! Kobe from now all the Lakers have to do is
ers have all the defensive and offensive has reached his prime in his NBA ca- keep doing what they have been doing
weapons they need.
reer, and with the support that he has and maintain healthy. Sure enough the
With a line-up full of stars, the by his side he doesn’t have the pressure Larry O’Brien Trophy well be back in
question that has come up is, who can to score an 81 point game to maintain Southern California where it belongs.
BY SAMUEL MURGA
BACK FOR SECONDS? Colts quarterback Peyton Manning is a big contender
for this Super Bowl XLIV.
pursuing their Super Bowl debut or the
soon to be retired Bret Favre trying
to reach his last chance to make it to
the big game. The incredible Peyton
Manning trying to get his second
championship ring against the pride of
New Orleans, Drew Brees.
With much anticipation to see what
happens next this is what all sports
fanatics crave for a great Super Bowl
full of anxiety.
The game airs at 3 p.m. on CBS on
Sunday, Feb. 7th.
Starting the preseason
on the wrong foot
Varsity girls soccer kicks off the
season with a disappointing tournament, but keeps
its eye on improvement.
Colton’s girl’s varsity soccer
team entered the San Gorgonio tournament from December 26th-29th.
They didn’t do so well. On Saturday
Dec. 26th they had two games. The
9:00 a.m. game against Patriot was a
hard battle, but Colton lost 1-0. The
second game in the afternoon against
Los Osos was a crucial loss for Colton by the score of 4-0. Colton was
just not playing their game. Coach
Diego Garcia was upset and hoped
the girls would do better in the next
game that same Monday.
On Monday, December 28th
the girls were ready to play. They
had two games to play again. The
first game was against Citrus Valley
whom they already played in their
own tournament and lost 2-0. Colton
did so much better this time against
them and tied them 1-1. The game
went straight into penalty kicks.
Sadly, Colton lost again by a 3-1
score on penalty kicks.
The next game was against
Apple Valley, a team Colton should
have beaten easily. They weren’t a
good team; Colton was so confident,
but they brought themselves down
to their level. Colton had so many
SPORTS
Will Kobe and his Lakers be able to repeat last year’s success?
BY VANESSA GONGORA
(National Hockey League) teams like
the Los Angeles Kings or the Anaheim
Ducks, the ECHL team is getting popular; an average of 5,000 fans attended
each game last season.
The ‘09-’10 season started with a
bang. The Reign beat the Las Vegas
Wranglers on their first game of the
season with a score of 4-3. This month
the team lost against the Bakersfield
Condors, ending the game with a score
of 2-1. Everything isn’t bad news. This
year the ECHL announced on January
14th that the Reign’s very own defenseman David Walker (number 27) was
named one of the captains for the 2010
All-Star Game, which the Ontario
Reign had the honor of hosting, thus
proving that the Ontario Reign is heading to the top of the ECHL.
Maybe the Ontario Reign is not
in the NHL, but they’re worth watching. Sean O’Connor (Number 36), new
to the young team, is making a name
for himself; recording his first goal on
January 17th, making one of two points
that night while facing off against
the Stockton Thunder. Curtis Darling
(Number 29), goalie, was also a star th
at night; blocking 29 of 32 shots. And
David Walker ( Number 27) as defense
kills on the ice. So yes, they are worth
it.
THE PEPPERBOUGH
chances to score but couldn’t finish.
Coach Diego was so disappointed
that he made the team run at halftime
and after the game. He told the girls,
“You girls are playing horrific! Come
on ladies!” This game also went to
penalty kicks and Colton won 3-1.
Tuesday, December 29th was
the last day of the tournament and
Colton only had one game to play at
8:30 in the morning. The game was
against North High. Colton had already played North during their preseason and tied 0-0. This game was
very intense and physical. People
were getting hurt and both coaches
were getting mad. Colton scored first
and then North scored. North scored
again with Colton scoring right after.
Then to win it, North scored another with the score being 3-2. Colton
fought hard and played with intensity. Coach Diego thought they played
really well and said, “There was
nothing negative about this game,
everything was positive.” The girls
were very happy to hear that. After
the game, the girls got on the bus and
went home. They had a long weekend and it was time for them to get
some rest.
When will the bad luck end?
The “Curse of Bobby Layne” causes the Detriot Lions to become
the biggest laughing stock in NFL history.
BY NEREIDA MORENO
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
If you’re a true sports fan, there’s
a great chance that you, too, are a firm
believer in superstitions. From wearing your lucky jersey on game day to
covering your face in your favorite
team’s colors, there’s a great chance
that to you, team wins are not coincidences. So what does one think when
their team suddenly becomes one of
the NFL’s least successful franchises
of all time?
What is now referred to as the
“Curse of Bobby Layne” began 50
years ago when Detroit fatefully traded Bobby Layne, their star quarter
back, to Pittsburgh in 1958 (despite
having just won a championship.)
Layne, clearly upset with the trade,
had rather bleak parting words for his
former team mates as he boarded the
bus to Pittsburg; his prediction was
that the Lions “would not win for 50
years.”
Coincidentally, the Lions haven’t
won in 50 years. In fact, the franchise
has slipped into a downward spiral
of embarrassment, earning the worst
winning percentage the NFL has ever
seen. In 2009, the curse’s 50th and final year, fans were enraged when the
Lions managed to lose every single
regular season game to finish 0-16,
the first team in NFL history to ever
19
Boy’s soccer
team kicks off
new season
Senior Joel Pena suffers
during a home game after
getting his ankle injured
in the first half.
BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM: The Boy’s
varsity soccer team puts up a fight in their
match against Arroy High School.
BY NEREIDA MORENO
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Lead by coach Armando
Ponce, the Colton boy’s soccer
team seems to be headed in the
right direction. With a record of
1-1-1, the boy’s have high hopes
of topping what some would call a
disspapointing 2008-2009 season.
“We won our first game of the new
school year, which was great for
our team’s morale,” says senior
Eric Avalos. “We’re gonna do
more than good this season...we’re
gonna massacre.” Cajon appears to be Colton’s
most anticipated rival this season,
with matches postponed due to
the recent wave of rainy weather.
“Cajon’s always tough,” says
senior Joel Pena. “We’re just going
to go out there and do our best.”
LEFTY’S SPORTS
OUTFITTERS
LIFE IN THE FAST LAYNE: Upon being
drafted from the Lions, a curse was unleased
upon the NFL.
do so. Stands were flooded with signs
pleading to their team, “All I want for
Christmas is ONE win.”
Do you believe the Lions are
cursed? In any case, there is definitely
something wrong with this team. This
once proud franchise sadly became
the laughing stock of the NFL, though
they did manage to score at least two
wins this season (Their final record
was 2-14-0). Perhaps they are on the
road to recovery? This event seems
unlikely. Inevitably, it seems that the
old saying is true: “What goes up,
must come down.”
COLTON LETTERMAN JACKET
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DAVID A. HELMAN
IRENE REDDY
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Office Manager
BRANDON PONCE
Team Sales
347 N. La Cadena Dr.
(909) 825-9033
Colton, CA 92324
Fax: (909) 872-8182
E-mail: lefty’[email protected]