Our Canyon Crest Academy Baseball team has had quite the season, facing various obstacles; yet they still have fought their way to the end. With an 18-14 record, the Ravens team will take on Coronado High School in the 2016 CIF Semi-Finals today, May 31^st, at 3:30pm. Coronado has an impressive record of 26-8, but our Ravens have yet to let this get in their head. Facing multiple teams with intense winning streaks and playing records has not put our team down. Our Ravens will have the ability to test their strength in the final CIF game, taking place this Friday, June 3^rd. This game alone has the grand ability to claim our Ravens as the 2016 CIF champions.

The first game of 2016 CIFs took place last Wednesday, May 25^th. This game was fought against San Diego High, and our Ravens unfortunately were unable to come through with a win. Losing 2-1, the players may have felt discouraged, but rose above their dismay and came back with a win in the second game of CIFs. A 7-6 win against Brawley led our Ravens to the third game against San Diego High once again. Taking in their second win in CIFs, our CCA baseball team won with an impressive score of 8-2. This impressive comeback demonstrates the large amount of confidence our team has in bouncing back from any performance less than stellar.

Beginning the season with playing some of the less threatening teams, the Ravens then progressed to play more daunting and skilled teams. However, this did not stop the boys from continuing a steady streak of winning and learning from losing, which qualified them for CIFs.

After a long spring season, prolonged due to qualification in CIFs, the CCA Baseball team has stood their ground the whole way through. Adversity seems to be a recurring theme throughout the season for our baseball players. Both the good and the bad have driven these Ravens towards success, and have shaped them into one of the leading teams in San Diego.

Towards the end of March this year, Head Coach Mike Hymes left his position as leader of our baseball team.  In replacement, Ryan Mikkonen stepped forward to guide our Ravens towards victory. The additional two coaches, Matt Malott and Joey August, have aided in alleviating the stress of losing the team’s head coach in the beginning of the season.  After losing their coach, the baseball players still managed to uphold their strong record.

After a Canyon Crest Academy graduate donated funds towards building a clubhouse for our Ravens to reside in throughout their off-time, the team found a place to bond and a home for their strategies. CCA baseball player, Sammy Benbow, notes that the clubhouse has allowed the team to come together as one and further strengthen their bond. He attributes the team’s wide success to the players’ ability to stay together as a team through the various obstacles they have gone through as a team.

Dedication and confidence has lead our Ravens to achieve a spot in the semi-final CIF game; they aim to honor the Canyon Crest Academy athletics program. Please show support for our team at 3:30pm at Coronado High School today, as our team takes one step closer towards becoming champions.

Potty Talk

by Ben Monks

Dear Users of the men’s bathroom,

What I’m about to talk to you about might anger you. You might not agree with me. Maybe you don’t think it’s as big of a deal as I do. You are the type of person I call wrong, because this subject is very important. In fact, it is the most important thing ever discussed in the history of man, you heard me. You may now be wondering, “what is this uber (you better pay me for that product placement Uber) important topic this man (boy) is going to talk about.” The topic is of course bathrooms. I have a lot of problems related to bathrooms. No, I don’t mean those kinds of problems. I am able to use the bathroom perfectly fine. My problems are more with how the whole bathroom experience works. So sit back and relax. You might want to grab some popcorn, a pillow, and use the bathroom, because this may take a while, and there’ll be no bathroom breaks (get it because I’ll be talking about bathrooms for a while without a break. I’m so funny. I wish I had friends).

The first of my problems on my never ending list of bathroom related problems is the refusal to use the middle urinal. For some reason this is an official rule in the “Bro Code”, which is extremely idiotic—because why? Just look straight ahead the whole time you are peeing. It does not have to be awkward. It is only awkward if you allow it to be awkward. Some of you might be saying to yourself, “What’s this guy’s problem? It doesn’t even make a difference.” First off, no. Second, shut up. Third, yes it does make a difference. I can understand if you don’t want to use the middle urinal when there are other urinals open, but when the bathroom is busy, your nearsighted refusal to use the middle urinal is causing the line to grow longer and longer. Why? Why do you do this? Why are you the way that you are? I have to pee and so does everyone else in this line, so stop being weird and just use the middle urinal so as to make the process a little less s****y for the rest of us. Not all people are this way. Some people use the middle urinal in busy situations—not all heroes wear capes, so thank you bathroom heroes for all of the great things you do.

The next of my problems is actually related to my last problem. To save myself from having to wait in the ridiculous line bathroom villains have created, I skip the line and use the urinal everyone else is refusing to use. Cool. No problem right? Except for yes, very big problem apparently. Every time I do this my fellow bathroom mates look at me like I have just committed murder. I am sorry for using the open urinal that nobody else was going to use. I don’t know about you but I have a class to get to. I can be cool with you not using the middle urinal, as long as you don’t get upset with me for using it.

Next up is the fact that some people, some very very special people, when using the urinal will turn their entire body sideways and pee into it from the side. I don’t really have a problem with this; I just think it is extremely weird, and thought I should talk about it. I have concluded that the reason this happens is because some people don’t know how to use a urinal and are too scared to ask someone how. Well fear no more my sad, troubled friend, for I am going to explain it to you. First, walk into the bathroom (surprisingly the hardest part). Next, locate the urinal (also pretty difficult), then stand directly in front of the urinal, not to the side, definitely not below, and dear god please do not stand on it. After you have successfully stood in front of the urinal you can start doing your business. See, not that hard. So easy a baby could do it (low key just high key insulted you). Congratulations on now being able to function properly when using a urinal.

My last problem is not a single problem, but actually a lightning round of problems. People don’t wash their hands. NO! BAD! VERY BAD! That’s gross. Washing your hands is easy and quick. I did a “scientific” study and discovered that it takes about 10 seconds.10 seconds! That is a very short amount of time. So short that you’re not even saving any time by not washing your hands. Just do it please, and no, just using water does not count. There has to be soap involved. Also, people don’t flush the toilets. No joke. I have witnessed not one but like a billion urinals that have gone so long without being flushed that when I try to flush them they literally overflow and almost get pee all over me. Flush. Please. Lastly, the thing that makes me the angriest. Bathroom passes. Really? We are not in third grade anymore, so let me go to the bathroom whenever I want and how ever many times I want. That is a constitutional right that you can not deny me, so get your stupid unconstitutional passes out of my face.   

Thank you for taking the time to read my letter. If my words have offended you, get over it. I didn’t really say anything offensive. If you don’t agree with me, good for you, feel free to debate with someone else about it because I don’t want to talk to you. If you feel the same way as I do, you are awesome (high five) and please help me make the whole bathroom experience a little less awful for everyone. As the great and intelligent Donald Trump (jokes) said, “Let’s make America great again [by using the bathroom like a regular human person, and not being weird, or gross, or dumb].”

Love,

Ben Monks

Ryder Cup

by Matthew Siemer

The Ryder Cup is a worldwide golf competition between the United States and Europe. This event happens every other year alternating between Europe and United States, and creates a competitive scene between the two countries. Each team consists of twelve players; eight players are granted a spot on the team based on points, but the captain of each team picks the remaining four players himself.

The United States team consisted of Dustin Johnson, Brandt Snedeker, Jordan Spieth, Patrick Reed, Zach Johnson, Rickie Fowler, Phil Mickleson, J.B Holmes, Brooks Koepka, Ryan Moore, Jimmy Walker, Matt Kuchar. Against the strong European team of Rafa Cabrera Bello, Matt Fitzpatrick, Sergio Garcia, Martin Kaymer, Rory Mcilroy, Thomas Pieters, Justin Rose, Henrik Stenson, Andy Sullivan, Lee Westwood, Danny Willett, and Chris Wood.

The format of the competition in 2016 for the first two days is was two players from each team play alternate shot and the team with the lowest score wins the hole, and whoever is up after the eighteen holes wins the match and gains the point for there team. A classic format usually knows as a four-ball. If it results in a tie each team receives half of a point. They have four matches in the morning and four matches in the afternoon.

This year the Ryder cup took place at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota. The United States team had the advantage in this Ryder Cup because they crowd consisted of most U.S people and fans supporting their country, After the morning of the first day the United States had won all the matches obtaining four points the the Europeans zero. But in the afternoon the Europeans won three of the four matches and the U.S only won one point, the results of the first day were 5-3 in favor of the U.S.

The second day resulted in the United States leading 9.5-6.5. In the morning Europe won two matches while the United States won one match, and the match between Jordan Spieth/Patrick Reed versus Sergio Garcia/Rafa Cabrera Bello resulted in a tie, each team gaining half of a point. The afternoon was resulted in three big points for the U.S and only one point for the Europeans.

On the last day every player from both teams plays in a singles match meaning a team could possibly obtain twelve points, but that wasn’t the story. The first match was between U.S powerhouse Patrick Reed against Europeans go to guy Rory Mcilroy. Reed ended up winning the match and giving momentum to the U.S. The day ended in the United States winning the trophy and being named champions with the final score 17-11. The Ryder cup is always a very competitive event and Europe hopes to come back strong in 2018.

by Sammy Benbow

It’s becoming quite a trend across America. Clown sightings have become a national threat, starting in the midwest, and quickly working their ways to all corners of the country, including parts of San Diego. The clown sightings seem to be influenced by “copy cats,” who are more than likely trying to gain Twitter and local news fame, by dressing up as clowns and terrorizing people in dark alleys and abandoned neighborhoods. While some of the sightings are obviously fake, a handful are actually real, of people legitimately taking “Clowning” to another level. One of the earlier sightings was located in Agawam, Massachusetts, which included a man dressed up as a clown, holding balloons, and a sign that read “Free Hugs”. The man soon ran after the person recording, and almost caught them. Unfortunately, the clown panic did not stop there. One incident in a suburban neighborhood of Ohio included a middle school girl who messaged a “Clown” on social media, hoping that the clown could “kill one of the teachers at my school.” Clearly, clowning has become more of just silly pranksters trying to scare their friends before Halloween.

As a result of these excessive sightings and experiences, law enforcement all over the nation has been cracking down, increasing security at local schools and near wooded areas, which have been shown to be a hotbed for clowns trying to lure away small children. The main questions brought up by these sightings have been, are these clowns  actual predators, or are they just people trying to give others a little scare? Unfortunately, we can’t really know, so we have to be on alert for any kind of clown that is seen in public. If your looking to avoid these creepy clowns, a good place to look may be social media. Many of these “Clowns” have been soliciting where they will head out  next, which may not be the smartest  idea. For example, just hours after saying his location, “Chuckles the Clown” was effectively chased by thousands of Penn State students, which is now being dubbed the “Penn State Clown Riot.” Since then, multiple riots have broken out, most notably at Indiana University, as well as Central Michigan University. At least the public is fighting back and not taking it, right?

These clown sightings have been frustrating to those known as “Professional Clowns,” or those who dedicate their lives to entertaining young children. Now, with this recent outbreak, families are reluctant to hire clowns for their kids’ birthday parties. Due to this general fear, in turn it has sparked these clowns to speak out about their own experiences, having to overcome this, which includes donning signs across America saying “Clown Lives Matter.” All in all, these sightings are nothing more than a recent trend, likely to die down in a big way after Halloween. Nevertheless, stay safe.

Halloween, Oh Halloween

by Joe Altaffer

If you haven’t noticed, it’s October; aka it’s basically Halloween. For many, it’s a special month full of carving pumpkins, scavenging for a costume at sketchy stores, and of course, free candy. However, for me, that was never the case. Ever since I could remember, Halloween was something I hated. First off, I hate horror movies and the whole spiel of going to overpriced places like Scream Zone for fun. Why would I pay money for something to scare me? Honestly, my idea of a good time isn’t constantly anticipating for something to jump out and scare the living day lights out of me, but that’s just me. Even if the Exorcist might be considered one of the greatest movies of all-time, I’ll pass.

I feel like October is ruined by Halloween. The whole month we literally just wait for this one day, this one day that makes every other day irrelevant. Whenever I go to Rite Aid or Vons, there are those plastic witches that’ll confront you right when you get into the store by saying something like “Come here my pretty!” I always just want to break one of them, but then I’d have to pay for another thing that I hate. Also, I always feel demonized to buy at least some form of candy. I never want to buy the Jumbo Kit-Kat pack, yet I don’t feel like pulling toilet paper out of my trees on November 1st either.

Halloween always cuts my day short. I treat it like I’m in the movie The Purge, locking myself in my house by 5pm and dimming the lights so no 10 year-olds suspect I’m in there. In the past, I at least made an effort to put out candy for some kids. We’d put the sign “Please take one,” and it would work out just fine until those little barbarians would show up. They’d throw all of the tootsie rolls and crunch bars into their bags and then scatter. Like dude, you could at least close the gate while you’re at it.

The other problem is if Halloween is on a weekday. I’m a junior now so I’ve learned, but around middle school I was still not too sure if people dressed up. I remember I dressed up as three hole punched paper from the tv show The Office and I was basically the only person in my 7th grade Spanish 1 class who dressed up. Let’s just say the traumatic experience has led me to not dress up since.

The point is I kind of hate Halloween. It’s arguably my least favorite time of the entire year and I flew to Berkeley last year just to avoid it (and to see a football game, but that doesn’t matter). I hate the little things we have to do each year for it. However, those “little things” that I hate, are the “little things” that many wait the entire year for. Halloween lets anyone dress up and become whoever they want to be, making it pretty okay, I guess. Halloween allows neighborhoods to compete to make their house look the scariest, which isn’t too hard for many. Halloween brings cavities to children’s mouths yet joy to their hearts. As much as I want to deny it, I still have the firefighter outfit from when I was six in my closet, complete with little plastic axe and badge. However, as of right now, I still truly hate Halloween.

CCA Field Day

by Ronnie Simon

This last Friday was the second annual CCA Field Day. PALs created this event last year as a means to keep the culture of CCA. Because our school is growing so much with so many new Freshmen coming in, PALs decided that the best way to maintain CCA’s inclusive environment is to take a day in the year and dedicate it solely to the purpose of getting to know our fellow classmates.

In my opinion, the day was pretty successful. Unlike last year, where the majority of the day was outside in the scorching sun, this year most of it was inside. I was not a participant in the activities but I got to witness them and they seemed to do a very good job in bringing together the student body.

As for the outside activities, they seemed to be extremely popular among the students. One of the most popular ones seemed to be soccer with the giant exercise balls. Not only did the students get to play soccer, but who doesn’t want to kick around a giant bouncy ball? The activities were extremely well planned and since the water was provided in water bottles instead of cups this year it seemed to run a whole lot smoother.

After interviewing Ali Naussbaum, PALs’ president, we got to see her insight on how the day went. “So far the day has been extremely successful, and everyone seems to be enjoying it. Our goal was to give everyone a day to just have fun and not worry about their academics and I think that was accomplished today,” Ali told us. She also mentioned to us that not only was it a fun day for the students, but also for the teachers and staff.

We also got some insight from one of the students attending field day. Shimon Chiat, senior at Canyon Crest Academy, told us that he enjoyed the inside portion of the day very much, but nothing compared to being able to run around the field with a couple of his best friends. He also enjoyed the soccer activity, but that’s not too different from any normal day for him, considering he was on the CCA varsity soccer team last year.

Although attendance may not have been what the PALs expected it to be, the day all in all was a success. It had a goal of bringing together the students and not only did it do that, but it also allowed everyone to just hang out and enjoy being at CCA.

by Ashlyn Finkbeiner

This year, there is something truly scary upon us CCA students; finals on Halloween. Many students have made it clear that this is unacceptable. For example, there is a petition that is going around on Facebook for students to sign stating that they are not okay with the date. Many students are saying that their Halloween night is going to be compromised by the continuous studying brought on by their classes.

Since Halloween is on a Monday this year, the idea is that whoever is throwing a party will hopefully schedule it for the weekend before. However, this is not ideal, many students would rather celebrate on the night of Halloween rather than let this night go to waste over their AP world final.

CCA, I have some bad news, the chances of our school actually changing finals day are very slim. The school schedule is planned out very far in advance in order to accommodate all holidays and non-academic school events. I think if there was any way that the school would change finals day, it would have been done by now. Even though this is depressing news, I have some things that may help you in ways to prepare for finals without ruining your long anticipated Halloween night.

Option one- Study

Obviously, we all know that we’re are supposed to study for finals. But, an option may be to study the week before, and that weekend. As many of your teachers and peers have probably told you by now, cramming to study the night before is not idea, it is better to spend many days studying little chunks of information in order to retain this information better. This is one option to relax and enjoy your Halloween. However, as we know, many CCA students will reject this idea, so I have some more.

Option two- Utilize your weekend

As I discussed earlier, this is what I think most students are planning on doing this year. Talk to your friends! Figure out if everybody is okay with getting together on that saturday night before Halloween. Yes, I know it is not the same, but it is better than not being able to enjoy your Halloween because you’re worried about that boarderline A in a class.

Option three- Don’t stress finals too much

As I senior I can honestly say, I have spend countless hours worrying about finals. What I have ultimately figured out is, you either know the information or you don’t. It is good to brush up a few days before, but what is most important is that you don’t work your brain too much these days. Focus on things that you are the most unsure about instead of worrying about cramming information that you already know.

Happy Halloween Ravens, and happy studying!

by Peter Saltamachio

What used to be a well-kept San Diego secret has become the most feared beach break in the county. Black’s Beach rests just a half-mile up the coast from the mellow waters of La Jolla Shores, where swimmers of all ages can enjoy the small waves and warm sun. During strong swells, Black’s Beach can see ten-to-twelve foot barrels while La Jolla Shores sees waves of little more than two feet. Why is there such a disparity in wave height? The answer lies beneath the waves.

The La Jolla and Scripps Submarine Canyons connect the shore with the San Diego Trough, an undersea fault zone. Their precipitous and ever-changing sides allow for substantial sediment movement away from shore. The Scripps Canyon is more precipitous and joins the La Jolla Canyon, which extends out to the San Diego Trough Fault Zone(SDTFZ). The narrow, steep-sided Scripps Canyon funnels the waves straight to shore, producing the powerful breaks of Black’s Beach. However, because Scripps Canyon takes a direct southward line to La Jolla Canyon, the two canyons meet at a nearly perpendicular angle, causing divergence in the paths of the waves.

Strong waves follow the course of La Jolla canyon to its head, terminating south of La Jolla Shores, just north of the sea caves. The strongest waves travel up Scripps Canyon toward Black’s. La Jolla Shores rests between these two areas, and avoids the powerful waves. Swimmers can enjoy the easy waves here, along with the bounty of ocean life (The Canyons are a marine sanctuary, the La Jolla Undersea Park, off limits to fishermen). Leopard sharks can be plentiful here, as well as rays and shovelnose guitarfish that inhabit the shifting waters of the intertidal zone.

Farther out to sea, the Canyons’ depth beckons migrating whales to the Undersea Park, and countless other varieties of fish, crustacean and mammal. Two artificial reefs have been sunk , attracting scuba divers and sharks to the deeper waters. La Jolla Cove draws snorkelers from all over and the underwater kelp forest is home to sea lions, seals and that ever-reclusive hermit, the black sea bass.

San Diego’s treasures of the sea center around the La Jolla Underwater Park and its two underwater canyons. Anyone can draw a once-n-a-lifetime experience from the ocean here: kayakers,surfers, scuba divers, snorkelers, waders and bodyboarders abound. The Scripps Aquarium exists here almost solely due to the environmental treasure trove on its doorstep. The California Pacific Coast gets no better than this.

10 Ways To De-stress For The SAT

by Jenne Brookes

As high school students preparing for the SAT’s (Scholastic Aptitude Test), we need to find a balance and relieve the day’s anxieties. The following ten tips are aimed at improving student’s well being but lessening the pressure of SAT’s.

1.) Exercise or meditate. Exercising promotes better sleep, relieve stress, and improves memory. Exercising also stimulates brain chemicals that boost mood and leave you much more relaxed. Mediation also prevents stress and helps you sleep. Allie Hausman, who loves running, adds, “I take walks or go for a run. Exercise is a great way to relieve stress.”

2.) Talk to your counselor. If you are feeling the pressures of this SAT year, make a trip down to the counselling office to chat with your counselor and figure out ways to destress your year. Schedule your appointment today or just go down the counselling office and see if they are available!

3.) Start early. The easiest way to avoid SAT stress is to begin your studies early. Start with checking out Khan Academy’s Official SAT Practice. Khan Academy has paired with College Board to provide free tutoring to all students. There are also a number of SAT prep places that offer tutoring and classes.

4.) Go outside. Just a quick study break from SAT practice can do wonders with your mentality. From the trips to the beach, pool, or park, any quick break can help you refocus and prepare for your next SAT practice session. The outdoors makes you generally happier and relaxed, as well as promoting brain function. The longer you spend outside the more destressed you will become. Being outside helps your eyes take a break.

5.) Be positive. Don’t give up. Although it may be hard now, it will get easier later. Being a positive person reduces stress and depression. Positive thinking provides health benefits like increased life span. Not to mention, it improves self-confidence, prevents cognitive decline, prevent anxiety disorders, improves memory, and boosts creativity.

6.) Try this Naam Yoga Hand Trick. Apply pressure to the space between your second and third knuckle, on the joints at the base of your pointer and middle fingers. According to Sharon Melnick, author of Success under Stress, you will feel instantly calm.

7.) Chew a piece of gum. Not only does chewing gum improve memory and relieve stress, it also increases alertness and wakefulness.

8.) Laugh.Try watching a viral video or hanging out with a best friend. Laughter releases endorphins, which trigger a sense of wellbeing, promotes resistance to disease, and decreases stress hormones.

9.) Keep a journal. By writing about a stressful or emotional day, you can relieve tension and anxiety. Not only does keeping a journal increase you IQ, but it also boosts memory and comprehension.

10.) Drink green tea. Green tea improves memory and brain function. Theanine, an amino acid in Green tea, promotes relaxation and reduces depression. Green tea prevents high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, tooth decay, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s.

Halloween Costume Ideas

by Hannah

With Halloween right around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about what you want to be this year. Here is a compilation of the best costumes of 2015, the most legendary costumes worn by celebrities, and the best characters to dress up as in 2016.
Best costumes of 2015, it’s not too late to steal one of these home-made “punny” outfits.

Ceiling Fan, wear this and you can say your team is undefeated (alike CCA’s football team)!

French Kiss, represent a both clever and punk costume.

Spice Girls, perfect for if you have a group to do this with you!

One Night Stand, if you don’t mind the large shoulder piece, it’s a pretty funny idea.

Social Butterfly, add a funny twist on the basic butterfly outfit and tape a few social media apps on yourself.

Potheads, well this clever bunch were able to get away with it…

Or, same idea, but just throw a pot on your head!

50 Shades of Grey, dress up as 50 Shades of Grey and you can still be one of the most modest Halloween-Goers this year.

Chick Magnet, …and then there was this guy who thought he was sly beyond belief.

Legendary.

Joe Jonas as Derek Zoolander; one of my personal all-time favorites.

And never may we forget, Ellen Degeneres as Nicki Minaj.

Or Joan Rivers as Miley Cyrus.

Neil Patrick Harris and family as Star Wars Characters; I don’t know if anything will ever mount up to this.

 But if Jeremy Miller and his mobile costumes don’t warm your heart then you might as well be Cruella De Ville this year. Jeremy’s father has been making costumes that shape around his son’s wheelchair, and in doing so has inspired other young kids in wheelchairs across the US to do the same.

Best for 2016

Harley Quinn; or anyone from Suicide Squad would make for a great costume this year.

Purge Group; this creepy costume idea is back with the 3rd Purge movie having come out in 2016, Election Year.

Maleficent; classy with a mysterious edge, what more could you want?

Ghostbuster; with the new Ghostbusters movie having come out this summer, there are dozens of cute ghostbuster costumes to choose from!

And for those of you who have been following the newly crazed show, Stranger Things.

Or have been a part of the Harambe Protest.

Or the revamped Pokemon infatuation.

And of course, the most recent (and most eerie) Clown mania; which I’m sure is going to be highly promoted through costumes this year.

by Kate Monko

The mission: to rid the digestive system of “toxins.” When put this way, you bet I’d want to jump right on this bandwagon too. But before I race home to juice my kale, kiwis, and carrots, I want to sift through and analyze it a bit. Let me state it frankly: the entire mission of a juice cleanse is not even scientifically proven. Theses companies basically encompass an idea that might not even eliminate so-called poisonous toxin build-up. Spoiler alert: the body is pretty high-tech and doesn’t need to be on a juice fast to eliminate toxins.

Allow me to delve into other research that I have found. I would argue one of the reasons why you would eat a fruit or a vegetable was to reap its fibrous benefits. But once again, this detox fad strips away the roughage leaving you behind with a blender full of sugar. But I would agree, slightly, that it allows your digestive system to rest for a while by not having to metabolize fiber, and purely giving your body a shot of quick nutrients and vitamins. While there is some added value to this claim, I ask the question: why can’t we just eat wholesome fruits and vegetables in their natural state?

I am making an observation, judge or don’t judge. I realize that society, at least America, can take this whole diet-thing to both extremes on either end. To begin, we have our posse on one side subsisting on fast foods and relying on processed and packaged foods that make up the bulk of their daily diet.

On the other side of the spectrum, we have some extremists. I’m not judging these extremists; I’m solely making observations about them. They place all of their farmer’s market organic fruits into the juicer to concoct some wonky hue of green or red and call that a meal. Sure, go for it. But I still side on the idea of building up a food pyramid with a base of vegetables and fruits in their natural state while incorporating lean protein sources, and low-fat dairy, and whole grains. I would think that that is sufficient in maintaining a healthy body.

Does nausea, dizziness, or fatigue appeal to you? Well it sure doesn’t sit well with me, even if it delivers so-called detoxifying benefits. But wait, it’s not even scientifically proven that it rids the body of these harmful by-products! Claims, claims, claims.

Because the media advertises “the next big thing” and promotes these fads with apparent wondrous benefits, society will sway in any direction to keep up with the latest and greatest. They sometimes fail to research on their own to really understand if this is the best thing for the body to undergo. But they really don’t have to. With the plethora of information and research material out there, there is no excuse for going into a juice cleanse blindly–the facts and information are out there, but the choice is ultimately yours.

by Will Hillard

For the longest time, networks owned television. The medium was exclusively theirs, as the idea of online streaming had yet to be fully conceived. The dynamics of network shows were fairly simple: the show played, and people either watched or didn’t watch. Based on the viewing numbers and ratings, network’s would adjust their shows, pursuing different stories or possibly canceling the show entirely. A show was meant to be watched slowly, a typical season taking a year to watch.

Obvious to everyone living in 2016, this has entirely changed. In 2007, Netflix started online streaming. Their innovation and pursuit of “the new” drove the last nail in their competitor Blockbuster’s coffin as more and more people turned to the internet to find entertainment. With seemingly unlimited content, people began to consume movies and television at a greatly increased rate. With the site’s addition of entire seasons, watching television was easy as pressing play and not moving during the five second buffer period between episodes, as the immediate playing of the next episode enabled the audience’s addictive tendencies, capitalizing on the “just one more episode” feeling.

Netflix took note of this, releasing their first original show “House of Cards” in 2013, a fast paced political drama, unconstrained by the traditional rules that follow a network television show. The show had no barring on nudity, language, or violence, opening doors for previously unavailable avenues of plot. The biggest and most significant change from traditional television was that the show made an unprecedented move, releasing their entire first season all at once. No longer constricting people to watching one episode a week, the culture of binging started to grow.

Another benefit from the new release style was that ratings or viewership could not influence the story and its direction, allowing the writers to pursue avenues and stories that they may have initially wanted. An incredible recent example of this would be the summer’s breakout hit series, “Stranger Things”. Initially turned down by multiple networks, the 80’s themed sci-fi found a place at Netflix, where it would go on to develop a cult following and be signed on for a eagerly anticipated second season. The show creators, Matt and Ross Duffer, were allowed to pace and structure the show to their likening, revealing plot twists and curtail story information at a cadence that might not fly well on a traditional week by week show. But the cross genre show excelled for it, motivating viewers to watch the first season by teasing the audience with new developments and plot twists, though never over showing their hand. In the case of television, it seems that rules were indeed meant to be broken, as the increasing surge of original Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime shows are a clear indicator of the audience’s need for successive entertainment.

by Kaylee Kinninger

The American food industry has chosen to prioritize profit and productivity over health and morality. Over 99% of farm animals are raised on factory farms where they have no space to roam, no access to sunlight, and no access to pastures. The unnatural lighting, polluted air from the piling of feces, over consumption of hormones, and surgical mutilation with the purpose of  mitigating behavioral problems inhumanely subdues animals until they die from illness or slaughter. Not only does this torture affect the animals, but the lack of care for animal welfare affects human health and the environment. Salmonella and E. coli spread swiftly through the unsanitary factory farms, prompting farmers to overdose their animals on antibiotics. Runoff from factories pollute surrounding areas, such as water sources and the air.

Chicken nuggets have served to create a large market, tempting people through a clown with a painted face chanting “I’m loving it”. But who’s not loving it? Animal rights advocates and the animals. Mercy for Animals went undercover into a McNugget supplier where birds were seen packed in warehouses and brutally stabbed with a nail on a club. However, this treatment does not just pertain to McDonalds. Birds experience the most mistreatment and torture on factory farms. About 8.54 billion chickens and 238 million turkeys are butchered every year for consumption. 300 million hens are packed into pens to produce eggs. Though banned in Europe and now California, ¨battery cages” continue to trap hens in America. They give less than the size of a piece of paper for each egg-laying hen, according to ASPCA, a non-profit organization with an anti-cruelty mission.

Due to an unnatural amount of production of eggs, many hens lack proper calcium levels, causing bones to break. No veterinarians come to help these hens; they remain in pain for the rest of their lives until they die. Male also face a horrific fate. Males killed for meat live their transient lives within sheds packed with over 20,000 other males. Not only do the chickens suffer from unsanitary conditions, but also from selective breeding, making them grow three times faster than chickens before the late 1930s. They grow unnaturally and dispportationally, causing breathing problems, uneven weight distribution, heart failure, etc. Many are left to die and decompose among the living, further distressing the crammed population.

Brutality and cruelty towards animals continues as people look the other way. The most obvious form of action is veganism. However, most would not prefer to take such an extreme form of boycott, as evident considering only 7% of America is vegan. But taking actions such as committing to Meatless Monday and donating to nonprofits who work toward ending cruelty can be extremely effective. The only things stopping people from making a significant change is ignorance and fear. Start looking for the word organic on food and take time to visit a local farmer’s market and have a conversation with the vendor. Get to know where food is coming from and don’t be afraid to try something drastic and experiment with vegetarianism and veganism.

Goodbye Vine

by Derek Li

Ever since it was created in 2013, Vine has been the initiator of random yet viral trends. “9+10=21”. “What are those”. “My name is Jeff”. The list goes on… Now, it is all coming to an end.

On October 27, 2016, Twitter, the owner of Vine, announced that they were going to kill off the mobile app; no reason was provided. However, this announcement was made right after Twitter confirmed that they would be laying off around 9% (around 350) of its employees in an effort to stay profitable and competitive.

Twitter bought Vine for a reported 30 million dollars in 2012, right before the new platform’s initial release. Although Vine has been fairly popular especially among children and teenagers, it has never met Twitter’s expectations, nor has it been the focal point of the mega social media company. Vine also hasn’t garnered a consistent user base, unlike other social media networks such as Facebook, where there are many more users who also feel more obligated to comment, post, or share stuff.

A major theory as to why Vine shut down is because of Instagram, a major competitor. In addition to attracting more consistent users, after Instagram decided to implement videos into the application, people just started to abandon Vine.

So, what will happen to those once-famous creators who were earning six figure salaries and getting sponsorships through making Vine videos? Well, recently, production on Vine has been slowing down majorly. More and more of these video makers are turning to bigger social media platforms, namely Instagram and Snapchat. As many Vine creators found out, relying on one platform to create all your income is risky. As Meagan Cignoli, who was a famous Vine star, said, “…it really shows you can’t base your entire career on one app because it can change within seconds.”

For those of you freaking out right now, there is a silver lining: only the mobile app is shutting down. According to Vine, it will “be keeping the website online because (they) think it’s important to still be able to watch all the incredible Vines that have been made.” So, you won’t be able to create videos more, but at least you can still rewatch those addicting, trendy videos on repeat. Vine also stated that their next step would be “working closely with creators to make sure (people’s) questions are answered and will work hard to do this the right way”.

Maybe the end of Vine will cause another app to rise to fame. Maybe the end of Vine means the end of short, comedic videos. Nevertheless, in the past few years, Vine has had a huge, unforgettable impact on the internet. Let the nostalgia begin.

by Daniel Chekal

With each passing day bringing us closer and closer to a more automated world, we start becoming lazier, yet safer. With the current focus of automation on motor vehicles, many companies reveal their plans for the future to show what consumers what they plan to do. With many eyes upon the shepherd for renewable energy and sustainability, earlier this month, Elon Musk, the larger-than-life inventor and owner of Hyperloop, SolarCity, OpenAl, and, more notably, SpaceX, Paypal, and Tesla Motors, announced the projected implementations going into all Tesla Motor vehicles in the near future. During his “announcement”, which was sent through Twitter, Musk states that their cars will be able to park in legal spots by itself and, when you call it, come to pick you up, “… even if you are on the other side of the country.”

This type of innovation was expected, given that Musk is an advocate for efficient, renewable energy and for easing the lives of people. However, what does this mean for orthodoxal car companies? Having been in the business for merely 13 years, Tesla leads the charge in future technology. One household brand in particular is closely following their footsteps: Bayeriche Motoren Werke AG, more famously known as BMW. BMW recently announced all 4 of their concept vehicles, which will be implemented into their design changes over the next 100 years, for their brands: Mini, BMW, and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. All designs have some similar ideals to that of Tesla, in that they will also be able to park by themselves and pick you up from commands sent from your phone. Importantly, they are all set to be electronic in order to help preserve the environment.

The vision for the Mini is one that is built on the idea of personalization. For some, adjusting the car to fit your height and preferences after another family member or friend borrowed your car can be a nuisance. When you get in, not only will the obvious seat and mirror adjustments happen, but the look of the car, entertainment preferences, and even its core driving abilities will change, for example, giving more horsepower to those who enjoy the thrill of flooring it 0.01 seconds after the light turns green. Furthermore, it’ll take in input from others and incorporate it into different aspects of the car whenever you want to be “inspired.”

Perhaps the most important technology introduced is being implemented into the sedan BMW proposed. The dashboard will be able to change, alerting you of possible dangers, visible and invisible. Furthermore, the digital assistant, Companion, will not only give you intuitive assistance in every situation, but also provide personal mobility preferences both during driving and outside the vehicle.

For those loathing the bulkiness of cars and those who enjoy the thrill of accelerating fast on a small vehicle, BMW also announced a new concept bike called the BMW Motorrad. With the guarantee of balancing when operating, it prevents the struggle of balancing 500+ pounds of metal while going 70 miles per hour. The flexible frame of the vehicle ensures ease of turning when going slowly, relieving much effort in getting on the road, and strengthens the fixation of the frame while going at higher speeds, providing safety against possible dips or rocks in the road that would normally send the you and your bike flying off at the speed they were going at. By also incorporating smart eye protection, the visor will help feed you important information while also having a set of digital eyes on the road.

Finally, the Rolls-Royce. Being the only fully automated vehicle, to the point where there is no steering wheel nor pedals, the Rolls-Royce concept car is the embodiment of luxury. By having the voice of Eleanor, the Spirit of Ecstasy, the signature idol sitting on the hood of every Rolls-Royce, be your digital chauffer, passengers are able to relax in the couch seats, trusting that Eleanor will continuously monitor the world around it, the car, and heed to every whim of the passengers.

All in all, what was once thought of as a dream of a future generation possibly hundreds of years away in a utopian society, we are given innovative ideas that will bring the desires of the future one step closer to our realities.

The Interweb

by Max Greenhalgh

I am currently reading a book for an AP Lang that examines the idea of artificial filter bubbles online. While the topic of the book is mainly those placed upon its users by websites themselves, those aren’t the ones that worry me the most. The internet is a vast expanse of nearly limitless potential. So, why do people decide to take away their own agencies in expanding their horizons online?

After all, the internet is a perfect place to reach new people and new ideologies. In many online circles, anonymity is a given, providing safety and privacy to each individual user. Media platforms provide block buttons, mute buttons, and ignore buttons to silence the pestering trolls who would annoy you otherwise. Abusing these functions to create an online sanctuary defeats the entire purpose of the internet.

The internet is naturally harsh. It is naturally difficult, diverse, and dark. This does not mean that the internet is a bad place. It is through its battlefields and its darkest caverns that character and a worldview are built and reinforced. One cannot improve oneself without subjecting oneself to challenge, and going into the challenge prepared and ready on the internet is a lot better than getting challenged for the first time without any preparation. Denying a challenge in the age of information that we live in seems to me much like delaying the inevitable.

Don’t get me wrong, surrounding oneself with like-minded individuals is a noble and valid use of time on the internet. Just like in the physical world, friends are made online through similar experiences, values, and interests. However, it is important to distinguish between finding a group and speaking to them and shutting out all other spheres of the internet from reaching you. For example, just because you have made connections in a pro choice community doesn’t mean that you have to block every pro life person you come across online. Each individual value of a person doesn’t define them as a whole, and just because you don’t agree with their politics doesn’t mean you cannot have a discussion about, say, tacos. Because tacos are the freaking best.

My point is this: We, as a generation, have the greatest opportunity to meet people in the history of the world. Don’t throw that opportunity away! Use it in order to further yourself, and in that process, you will further others just by being you and spreading your message. Don’t use it to block other people’s messages, because if you listen, you might just learn something.

Why Is This A Thing?

by Joe Altaffer

From Clown Sightings to Harambe memes (which many or may not still be a thing) to Pokémon Go (which also may or may not still be a thing), there has been a new “activity/trend” that has emerged. Its origins don’t necessarily make very much sense, but ladies and gentlemen, the Mannequin Challenge has finally arrived. Large groups of people, playing to the start of Black Beatles by Rae Sremmurd, will pose completely still in an array of different positions, acting as if they time has stopped while a phone records them; and that’s basically all to it. From the Penn State Football team to Hillary Clinton, the Mannequin Challenge has taken the country by storm.

If you had paid any attention to the title and are expecting me to answer the question that I posed, then you might be a bit upset to hear that I am on the same boat as you. I do not have the slightest idea to why the Mannequin Challenge went viral, I do not understand why someone chose to have Black Beatles playing in the background, and I do not understand why I am making such a big deal about it. Maybe the fact that the challenge requires people to actually work together and cooperate makes it so “appealing.” Maybe Black Beatles is just a good song that people want to hear over and over again. Maybe I am just allowing my pop culture OCD get the best of me. I still have no idea and more than likely you don’t either.

The Mannequin Challenge, as noted before, is being added to the list of trends that we cannot get enough of for the time being. “Damn Daniel” and The Harlem Shake were once in the same position as the Mannequin Challenge, and soon it will disappear as they did. We will never completely understand why something just clicks within our society and becomes irresistible, like the way Gangnam Style and Flappybird did. I get that Gangnam style had a funny dance and a catchy beat and Flappybird was a somewhat entertaining game. However, there are so many funny dances, catchy beats, and somewhat entertaining games that never get any attention or recognition.

What I’m trying to say is that things just happen to catch fire within our society because that’s just what happens. There really aren’t any clear cut formulas that will make someone into a meme or attract others to partake in their dances. I guess that’s the beauty of it. The unpredictability of pop culture makes everyday a little bit more interesting and little bit more funny. Thus, the Mannequin Challenge is another extra piece of the puzzle that doesn’t need to be solved but merely admired for its complexity.

To check out the Mannequin Challenge click this link:

Mannequin Challenge

Halloween has officially passed, which obviously means, CHRISTMAS. Before I get ahead of myself, there is something we must discuss, Thanksgiving. Personally, I love Thanksgiving, mostly because I get to eat literally all of my favorite foods, but  being with family is a plus too. However, this time of year people usually find themselves in a pickle when it comes to staying healthy. Here are some easy things to do and to keep in your mind throughout these next few months.

1. The Food is not Everything!

Although it may seem like all we do throughout the holidays is eat, it is important to focus more on what these holidays are actually about, than the amount of food you are consuming, do not stress yourself over the amount of calories on your plate. Even though this is obviously a big time for food, make sure to do some other things with your family as well. For example, we live in SAN DIEGO, go for a hike, or even better, go to the beach. Wherever you go, chances are it will be beautiful because of our convenient location, but just keep in mind that food is not the only thing that you should be concerned about in the approaching months. There are so many other things to do with you family that can make the holidays all the better.

2. Get on Pinterest

Anybody who knows me will tell you that I am somewhat of a Pinterest queen. I have a board for almost everything from the beautiful scenery or North Carolina, to my future children (yes I do have this board, it is called “kiddos”). Pinterest, along with other social medias forums, have thousands of recipes to make your meals a little more brighter with veggies in the holiday season. Incorporating more veggies into your holiday menu will not only make you feel better after eating the inevitable huge meal, but it also allows you to experiment with cool vegetables and dishes that you have never made or worked with before. Regardless, Pinterest is amazing and if you don’t have one, get one.

3. Be Realistic

This kind of goes hand in hand with my first tip, but don’t forget to be realistic about the holidays. It is very normal for people to find themselves caught up in how much food they are going to eat. Set realistic goals for yourself. For example, I make an amazing homemade mac and cheese, sure it isn’t the healthiest thing, but it’s the best, so I’m going to make it. Adding a few extra yummy items to your Thanksgiving plate is not going to make or break the holiday, so make the food that you want, (that you found on pinterest of course) and eat whatever makes you happy. Because, let’s be honest, being realistic about the holidays is just REALLY knowing that It is truly the best time of year.

Happy Holidays!!!

10 Volunteer Opportunities To Do Over Fall Break

by Jenne Brookes

There are a number of engaging and diverse volunteer opportunities over Fall Break, from runs to beach cleanups to food drives to animal shelters. There’s a volunteer event for everyone! Here is a list of 10 volunteer opportunities over Fall Break:

1. The San Diego South Bay Turkey Trot is an annual run on Thursday, November 24th. Runners can choose from either a 5k, 10K, or 15K. Not only can individuals participate in the run, but they can also volunteer to work at water stations, assist with parking, aid with registration, and help at the starting line.

2. Father Joe’s Villages Thanksgiving Day Run/Walk, Balboa Park is a volunteer event on November 23rd and 24th. Volunteers can assist with registration, cheer on runners and walkers, and aid at the water stations.

3. The San Diego Humane Society is asking for volunteers to make toys and post flyers to help the sheltered animals.The Humane Society asks that all donations are delivered before Thanksgiving Day.  

4. The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Donations help provide meals for those in need. In 1891, Joseph McFee founded this project to help poverty-stricken families and children receive holiday meals.

5. Thanksgiving In a Box allows volunteers the opportunity to make a creative cardboard box and place it inside the grocery stores. With every donation, a family of five is receiving meals.

6. Third Avenue Charitable Organization, or TACO, is a volunteer event that preparers meal, food baskets, and hygiene kits for the homeless.

7. The American Family Housing prepares 1,000 turkey dinners for the homeless.

8. Feeding San Diego Volunteer Open House feeds over 490,000 seniors, families, and children every year.

9. The Imperial Beach Pier Cleanup will be hosting another beach cleanup on Saturday, November 26th from 9 am to 11 am. Volunteers must bring their own reusable bag, bucket, bottle, and gloves.

10. The San Diego Food Bank asks for volunteers willing to sort and bag food donations. Opportunities to volunteer are available throughout Fall Break, besides Thanksgiving Day.

Protest of the Dakota Access Pipeline

by Hannah Musgrave

In the south end of North Dakota the fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline has been ongoing since late summer and is stated, by protesters, to continue through ordered evacuations and the harsh conditions of North Dakota’s winter. The project consists of a 1,172 mile pipeline stretching from North Dakota to Illinois which is designed to transport approximately 570,000 barrels of oil across the four states daily.

Unfortunately the pipeline is planned to travel under the Missouri River (the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s primal water source) and through a sacred burial ground. In addition to the destruction of the tribe’s property, the pipeline proposes a major threat to their drinking water, any small leak having the ability to contaminate the Missouri River and cause harm to the tribe’s members.

The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe has opposed the pipeline since first becoming aware of the proposal in 2014, but only now are their voices starting to be heard. The government has lightheartedly taken them into account by temporarily halting construction on the project in September, but with an overruling by the federal court, construction has resumed and protesters are again being fought instead of taken into consideration.

Police have brought violence to the protest sites, reportedly using pepper spray, rubber bullets, concussion cannons, and dogs to charge protesters. Over 140 people have been arrested, including journalists and celebrities.There has been no official say on plans of the project, as far as cancellation or continuation regardless, and management of the protesters has been continually alternating.

Initially a forced evacuation was issued, met with much opposition, and now revised to a passive evacuation. Responders for emergency situations will no longer be held responsible for responding to the areas of the protest and a blockade will surround the area, permitting supplies to be transported and people who enter are now officially trespassing and will face consequences.

This resurrects feelings of oppression which are very similar to what Native American tribes have dealt with previously, “You have a government agency trying to declare us trespassers on our own treaty land and threatening to penalize us, criminally charge us and possibly forcibly round us up if we don’t return to the reservation,” one Tribal Leader commented.