Wednesday, May 23, 2012 VOLUME XXXI, ISSUE I DIAMOND BAR HIGH SCHOOL

10 Seniors Look Foward to Attending the Top 17 Universities in the United States

COLUMN ONE

The Bull’s EyeINSIDE THIS ISSUE

Available online at http://bullseye.dbhs.org

Diamond Bar High School Receives the Highest Rank in the District

Sarah ChoFeature Editor

DBHS ranked 52nd in the category of Math and Science, whereas Troy ranked 56th. 87% of all the students who took the AP Math and Science exams at DBHS passed.

CHORUS: The show was directed by Patty Breitag, the cho i r teacher, wh i le choreography and concert staging was directed by Aimee Manzey and Megan Walton.

Joy ChowAsst. News Editor

Cheese, smile at the camera...Seniors Richard Koh, Kathleen Torres, Ian Pan, Terrance Chan, Andy Leung, Arthur Teng, Shannon Fan, and William Chou (top left to bottom right, respectively) pose for a picture. Xing Yen Quek

[Please see “TOURNAMENT” on page 3]

[Please see “ACADEMICS” on page 3]

A FIVE FOR AN AShould a 5 on the AP test guarantee an A in the class? See what we think about the connection between AP

tests and class grades.Please see page 4.

FIVE DIRECTIONSWant to learn more about your favorite British boy band? Read all about them to see what makes them

beautiful.Please see page 8.

SETTING SAILInterested in action movies? Want to know what Battleship is about? Well we got you covered; see what we thought about the movie.

Please see page 9.

FINISHING SPRING Spring Season’s coming to an end! Time to wrap the scores up! Do you want to know how Diamond Bar

played this season? Please see page 12.

Pathways Academy Hosts First Annual Dodgeball GameCOMPETE: Throughout the four days, 24 groups, most representing a club or sport, competed during lunch in the gym. The event was a fundraiser for Pathways Academy.

Katlyn LeeAsst. News Editor

Singing while swinging to the music...Solitaire sings and dances to “Edge of Glory” during the first part of the choir concert. Rose Kim

COLLEGE: Shannon Fan and Richard Koh were accepted to Harvard University through early action application. William Chou and Arthur Teng will attend Cornell University.

Prisca KimFormer Asst. News Editor

Choir Presents Spring Pops Concert in the Theater

Class of 2012 Committee Plans Upcoming Senior Week SPIRIT: This Friday seniors will be having their Hunger Games themed Senior Breakfast at the Phoenix Club in Anaheim, California from about 8:30 a.m. to noon.

Joy ChowAsst. News Editor

[Please see “SENIORS” on page 2]

With the school year coming to a close, Diamond Bar High School's Class of 2012's committee advisors and officers will be holding Senior Week to commemorate seniors transitioning into their next phase in life. Senior Week will be from May 25 to June 1.

The entire week will be dedicated to celebrating all of the seniors who have completed their high schools years.

"The purpose of Senior Week is so that seniors can spend their last moments as Brahmas together. I think it's going to be great. Class committee's been working really hard so that the events can give seniors the opportunity to socialize and graduate with Brahma Pride," senior class president Ryan Ong commented.

This Friday, May 25, seniors will be having their Hunger Games themed Senior Breakfast

at the Phoenix Club in Anaheim from about 8:30 a.m. to noon.

Tickets for the event will be sold at $15. At the senior breakfast, the valedictorians will be announced and a time capsule will be created and then reopened at the reunion 20 years later.

In addition, there will also be a hypnotist and slide shows for entertainment.

On May 29, seniors will have their graduation practice at 8 a.m. Afterward, the Senior Picnic will be held in the football

U.S. News and World Report recently ranked Diamond Bar High School higher academically than all neighboring schools, such as Walnut and Troy. Ranking 61st in the state and 316th nationally out of 515 districts and 2,407 schools, DBHS has been awarded the Gold Medal as one of the best high schools in the entire United States.

The rankings are based on a multitude of components, such as ACT and Advanced Placement testing scores, California State Test and SAT scores, and number of AP courses offered.

"The purpose of high school rankings is to give everyone an idea of where our school level is in comparison to other schools in the district," Assistant Principal John Terry commented.

Placing highest in the entire district, DBHS ranked 52nd in the category of Math and Science, whereas Troy ranked 56th. Offering more AP courses than most other schools, DBHS opens more doors to students to take the classes they have

Bringing together Chamber Singers, Diamondtones, Solitaire, and Marquis to sing a medley of different love songs, Diamond Bar High School’s Choral Department put on their annual Spring Concert, this year

titled, “Forever in Love,” on May 17 and 18.

The show was directed by Patty Breitag, the choir teacher, while choreography and concert staging was directed by Aimee Manzey and Megan Walton.

The show lasted a little over two hours and brought the audience on a journey through the different stages of love. Senior Olivia Sun of Chamber Choir commented, “We thought we wouldn’t get anyone to come, but the crowd was really good. I think it was really good

because we only had two weeks to prepare.”

The show opened with a few soloists including Solitaire member junior Jamie Han, who was nursing an injured ankle, yet still managed to sing her solo, “Halo.” The program was filled with renditions of popular pop songs including “Love you Like a Love Song Baby” by Selena Gomez and an upbeat, piano version of “Edge of Glory” by Lady Gaga.

Diamond Bar High School tossed in the ball of spirit by holding its first ever Dodgeball Tournament from May 15 to May 18.

By the end of lunch on Friday, first and second place were decided. The Dodgers,

representing the football team, won first place, and the Black Panthers, representing Pathways, placed second. Golf Wang team members, who wore green neon shirts with hand drawn designs, won for best uniforms.

“I feel like [the team] came together and played totally fair. We were able to beat all the best teams, and it was really fun. I was glad to be in it this year, and hope it continues on next year,” said senior Troy Lanning, a member of the Dodgers.

As a first place prize, the

Dodgers played staff team A on Tuesday and received champion t-shirts and a trophy. The Black Panthers and Golf Wang played staff team B and received medals.

Throughout the four days, 24 groups competed during lunch in the gym. After playing single elimination games, winners moved up the bracket and competed again the following day.

Aside from students, the DBHS staff also casually

[Please see “SERENADE” on page 3]

This year’s Diamond Bar High School’s graduating class has achieved exceptional success. Ten seniors plan on attending some of the top ranked universities in the nation. Ranging from Ivy Leagues to suburban privates, this year’s seniors are mapped across the country. These prestigious colleges have an extremely selective application process. Schools to which some DBHS students were accepted include Harvard University, the University of Chicago, and Stanford University.

Two seniors accepted through the early action application for Harvard University are Shannon Fan and Richard Koh. “I look forward to having the privilege of working with its renowned faculty and my fellow peers,” Fan stated. Fan is one out of 19 valedictorians and serves as the senior class secretary/treasurer. Koh is a recipient of the 2012 National Merit Scholarship.

Arthur Teng, who received early acceptance, will attend Cornell University in the fall. “I felt really relieved because it was early decision and I didn't have to worry about applying to any other schools,” Teng shared. Teng is part of the robotics team and is the vice

president of Future Business Leaders of America. Samantha Chen will also be attending Cornell University.

William Chou was accepted early to Northwestern University. Terence Chan, who applied through regular decision, will be attending Northwestern University as well. “I applied there because I liked [the] school's campus, which was really pretty, interesting, and appealing. It's a pretty good school and its programs involving sciences and business, which are fields

I might pursue, are among the top,” Chan stated.

Another Ivy League acceptance was for Ian Pan, who applied to Brown University. “Brown's always been a dream school of mine because of its liberal atmosphere and academic prestige. It has the open curriculum which is appealing since I'm not required to take any classes outside of premed requirements. Brown also has an emphasis on undergraduate education so I feel like I'll receive more attention there as

a student,” Pan said. Pan was recently named a 2012 National Merit Scholar.

Kathleen Torres applied regular decision and was accepted by Stanford University. “I applied there because of the rigorous academics and the lively atmosphere on campus. Everyone is really nice and friendly and the campus is also beautiful,” Torres commented. Throughout her four years at Diamond Bar High School, Torres was on varsity volleyball for four years, serving as team captain for three years.

Additional seniors include Andy Leung, who will attend the University of Chicago and Willie Lo who will go to Rice University. Leung plays the trombone in both the school’s symphonic orchestra and wind ensemble.

“Because they are academically strong and well-rounded, I believe that our students are highly prepared and ready for success at the next level. And I certainly have high hopes for their future,” senior grade level coordinator Phyllis Irving shared.

News NewsTHE BULL’S EYE2 Wednesday, May 23, 2012

On Target

SENIORS, from page 1

Girl’s League Awards StudentsSERVICE: The candidates went through a process of interviews before a panel of judges. The judges included the club advisor and the club off icers who evaluated the candidates.

Gloria KimAsst. Editorial Editor

Diamond Bar Celebrates 23rd Birthday at Pantera ParkCELEBRATE: The City Council held a ceremony to thank volunteers for their good deeds and community service. During the event, congressman Ed Royce also gave a speech.Angie ZhangFeature Editor

A piece of cake...Officials of the city of Diamond Bar and Miss Diamond Bar and her royal court cut then serve the birthday cake. Angie Zhang

Eight Diamond Bar High School Seniors were selected to receive the eighth annual Girls’ League’s Merit Scholarship Award last Monday. Awardees were chosen among 11 candidates for having displayed continual dedication in serving the community throughout their high school careers.

Lisa Pacheco, the advisor for Girls’ League, shared, “The reason I established the Merit Scholarship eight years ago is because the cost of education is astronomical and rising every year. I wanted to help the students graduating from Diamond Bar High School pay for their education. I also received several scholarships when I was a student in college so I wanted to repay my debt of gratitude by helping our students receive the same benefit.”

The three $500 awardees were Prisca Kim, Daniel Lee, and Whitney Tang, and the five $100 winners were Sabrina Bawa, Vivian Chu, Amni Al-Kachak, Jenna Kim, and Audrey Tran.

“I feel so honored and really excited to have received the scholarship. I know there were many amazing candidates and I cannot describe how thankful

I am. I know it will help me with my future and college expenses and I want this blessing to be a chain reaction to assist others in need,” stated Tang.

The application process consisted of a general application with a 300-500 word essay, a letter from an adult who can attest to the student’s volunteer service, a transcript with GPA of 2.5 or higher, a letter of admission of the college the student will be attending next fall, and a resume highlighting the applicant’s volunteer experience.

Then the candidates were contacted and went through a process of interviews before a panel of judges. The judges included Pacheco and the club officers who evaluated each contestant’s responses to select the top winners.

To raise money for the scholarships and other various charity groups which Girls’ League donates to, the club holds a variety of fundraisers. “Our primary fundraising endeavor is our toy sales.” Pacheco explained. Girls’ League also participates in food sales and took part in the DBHS’s carnival.

“I think [the Scholarship] will ultimately help students be more actively involved in service in the community and through their clubs and on campus because they know this is an award that they can apply for their senior year. I’m hoping that it helps them to make the world a better place,” Pacheco stated.

KEEP IN TOUCHThe end of the school year can only mean one thing–

yearbook signing! Underclassmen, you can finally get your yearbook today, so don’t forget to pick it up after school in the main lunch area. Take this moment to wish each other happy summer vacations and write long letters about nostalgic memories. Thanks to Yearbook, you and your friends can have an exciting trip down memory lane. Remember, yearbook

distribution is afterschool. Be there or be square!Underclassmen Yearbook Distribution is on Wednesday,

May 23.

LAST BUT NOT LEASTFinals are just around the corner! It’s the time to soak in

every drop of information you know for the last tests of the entire school year. If you’re on the borderline with your grades, this ordeal is incredibly important for you. Remember, these exams are the last thing that go into your grades, so don’t let this opportunity slip away. Make sure to study very hard, eat a nutritious breakfast, and actually get some sleep to get ready for the long three days! But don’t fret, if you prepare well, you’ll

do swell. Finals week is from Tuesday, May 29 to Thursday, May 31.

THE KING OF THE HOUSETo start the summer fun, get your Father’s Day spirit on!

Make your dad feel on top of the world this holiday. But this year, refrain from the humdrum ties, and try to make a real surprise. Be creative and get him a cool and clever contraption, such as a messy car organizer or a high tech remote control! Remind him of how much you appreciate his TV remote hogging and his blow horn snoring. This summer, you can even offer sharing the

prized television!Father’s Day is on Sunday, June 17.

After postponing the event for a month due to weather conditions, the city of Diamond Bar was finally able to hold its annual City Birthday Party at Pantera Park on May 12.

The carnival-like party was filled with a multitude of events, some of which included musical performances such as hula dancing and a car show. There was also a variety of rides that ranged from a small roller coaster for kids to the Zipper, a ride that hurtles the passenger through the air.

Simple games such as tossing a ring onto a stick and throwing a baseball at a target offered children a chance to earn tickets, which could be traded for prizes. Food items sold at the event included fresh fruit drinks and shaved ice.

A cake cutting ceremony was held at approximately 3 p.m. The cake was later distributed to the guests.

During the birthday party, the City Council also held a ceremony to thank volunteers for their good deeds and community service. In a speech to honor the volunteers, Congressman Ed Royce stated, “This is a city that has a lot to be proud of. You

have a new City Hall, a new library, a new dog park, and now we’ve got to work on fixing that 57 freeway.”

As the city’s largest event, the party was a success through the joined efforts of the city, local businesses, and school districts.

Community service organizations such as Leo

Club and Key Club supplied volunteers to help run game booths and aid in cleanup after the event was over.

DBHS sophomore student Angela Park, a member of Leo Club, said, “This event was fun! I had a great time volunteering and I would definitely come back next year [to volunteer].”

Admission to the carnival was free of charge, but games and rides required the purchase of stamp cards and tickets.

Free parking was available at Pantera Elementary School

and in the surrounding neighborhood. A complimentary shuttle bus service was also provided to attendees who parked far away from the carnival.

“I thought the event went very well, especially since we had to postpone it this year due to the bad weather that we had on our original date. The attendance was great and it really looked liked everyone was having a good time,” Community Services Coordinator Andee Tarazon commented.

field. There will be shaved ice and In-N-Out served to all of the seniors.

Furthermore, there will be a photo booth and an inflatable, velcro wall down at the field as well. The Senior Picnic ticket costs $15.

Grad Night on June 1 will end off Senior Week. It will be from 3 p.m. to 3 a.m. at Disneyland.

Tickets are $100 each. Tickets for the Senior Breakfast, Senior Picnic, and Grad Night will all be sold at the Student Store.

"I think senior week will be a bittersweet week of tears, laughter, and lasting memories. This the last time for the seniors to be together," class of 2012 committee officer Shannon Fan commented.

NewsNews THE BULL’S EYE Wednesday, May 23, 2012 3

News BitsDance Department Takes it from the Top for the Last Concert of the YearPERFORM: At the very end of “Take it from the Top,” the students of the senior class were recognized one by one as they took a bow in the middle of the stage.

Emily HwangStaff Writer

Clap to the beat, feel the rhythm in your feet...Senior Becky Traynor, sophomore Haley Doon, senior Clay Boonthanakit, and junior Kylie Montoya (left to right respectively) dance together. Xing Yen Quek

Diamond Bar High School’s dance department performed its last dance concert, “Take it from the Top,” for the 2012 school year on May 10 and 11.

The common musical expression, “take it from the top,” which means to start from the beginning, was used for the title to relate to the concert’s opening piece, which was based on a symphonic theme.

“The concerts went very well on both days. The dance department has grown from last year, becoming more creative and artistic,” stated sophomore Tiffany Ding.

The Advanced Performance Ensemble, All Male Dance Crew, Beginning Dance classes, Intermediate Performance Ensemble, and Taurian Co. Dancers showcased 27 dance pieces.

The concert contained a variety of different genres of music including contemporary, hip hop, jazz and lyrical. AMDC opened the concert with its dance titled “Bitter Sweet Symphony.” There were three senior soloists: Clay Boonthanakit, Emily Giovaniello, and Becky Traynor, who danced to “Singing in the Rain,” “Take Over,” and “Still in Love,” respectively.

The majority of the dances followed a storyline. “The Revenge,” which was choreographed and danced by Boonthanakit, juniors Derrick Sy and Franklin Yu,sophomores Jeremy Chan and Phillip Lee, and freshman John Kim

portrayed a fight between cowboys and Mexicans. Another dance called “Detention” choreographed by sophomore Kayla Ongpoy was danced by senior Megan Quiamas, juniors Cheyenne DeVera, Emily Kurniawan, and Karen Long, and Ongpoy.

After the intermission, “If You Want Me…” choreographed by Lauren Snook and performed by Taurian Co. Dancers and Large Dance Team began the second half of the concert. The second dance after the intermission was “The Passerby” choreographed and danced by Boonthanakit and

Yu. At the very end of “Take

it from the Top,” the students of the senior class were recognized one by one as they took a bow in the middle of the stage. “The dancers this year are very talented and creative and I will miss their dance ability as well as just the personality they brought to the dance program. Next year's group is so talented and I have no doubt that they will rise to the standard set by this year’s performers,” Janna Lindenberg, the dance director, stated.

Afterward, the senior dancers and the Advanced Performance Ensemble closed the concert by dancing to “When I was a Youngster,” which was choreographed by Boonthanakit.

“I always hope for a professional production that will showcase the choreography and dance ability of the dancers. I felt that overall the production went smoothly, all the elements of music, lighting and choreography and dance came together to create a solid program,” Lindenberg commented.

In Argentina, a prematurely born baby was assumed to be dead and was sent to the morgue. However, when the devastated parents looked into the coffin for the last time, they discovered that she was breathing. She is currently in intensive care but is becoming stronger every day. The baby survived her first month and her parents continue to hope for the recovery of their child.

While texting, Bonnie Miller fell off a pier and into Lake Michigan. She was trying to change her schedule on her cell phone when she walked off the path and fell into the water. Luckily, her husband and a 19-year-old bystander jumped into the lake to keep Bonnie afloat until the coast guards arrived.

A week after moving in, Josue Chinchilla and Michele Callan claimed that their rented house was haunted. They explained that there were paranormal activities happening around the house. For example, footsteps echoed throughout the house and the lights switched on and off on their own. At night, they also felt a mysterious tugging at the bed sheets and unfathomable whispering.

A 200-pound male bear wandered onto the campus of the University of Colorado. He climbed onto a 15-foot tree and attracted a crowd of students. Colorado Parks and Wildlife was notified

immediately and shot him with two tranquilizer darts. The bear was soon released into the wild. Soon after, he strayed into the middle of the road and was killed by a car.

A University of California, San Diego student, Daniel Chong, who was mistakenly left in a cell without food or water Drug Enforcement Administration. He was forced to drink his own urine to survive. Five days later, he was found conscious, but hallucinating. His lawyer claimed that Chong will not be able to recover from this incident.

Dave Hurban, a professional body piercer in New Jersey, implanted four metal studs into his wrist. After his wrist healed, he set his iPod onto his new dock and happily went on his way to show his friends. Hurban uploaded a video titled “iDermal” on YouTube and got almost 900,000 views in just two weeks.

A nine-year-old Afghan boy, Gran, became a celebrity because of a birthmark located right beneath his left armpit. His birthmark is almost a duplicate of the map of Afghanistan. Gran’s family was too poor to send him to school, but once he became famous, local businessmen gave the family around $100, and will continue to support them until they are able sustain themselves on their own.

SERENADE, from page 1 TOURNAMENT, from page 1

participated in the tournament and played against each other.

“There were two staff teams: team A and B. It was like a royal rumble, where students can support their favorite teachers,” Tim Woolston, the coordinator of the tournament, said.

In order to participate in the tournament, team captains and participants were given a packet that included application

Sophomore Taylor Lanning of Marquis commented, “I thought the department did really well today. Everyone put on a good show. The show was really lively and relatable as we did a lot of modern, pop songs.”

The different choirs incorporated both dancing and acting into their pieces. The boys of Marquis incorporated a few break dance moves in their song “You Give Love a Bad Name,” and the girls of Solitaire and Marquis used Beyonce-esque dance moves to accompany their vocals in “Crazy in Love.” As for theatrics, juniors Roxeanne Nathan and Phillip Pak gave a genuine and believable performance as heartbroken, estranged lovers in their rendition of Maroon Five’s “Payphone” while junior Ero Chen and senior Joseph Yang acted as love struck teenagers in their cover of “Lucky” by Colbie Caillait and Jason Mraz.

Sophomore Calvin Wang, an audience member said, “I didn’t expect it to be this entertaining, but it was really good and I recommend anyone to come to their future performances. I look forward to next year.”

There were several notable solos throughout the program from each of the different choirs. Junior Jeffrey Liu sang the 1960’s Dean Martin classic “Ain’t It a Kick in the Head”, and junior Monique Magpayo sang “At Last,” both of which earned a huge round of applause.

Junior Ivan Moc, Chamber Choir member said, “It was a lot of hard work, but I’m absolutely

ecstatic we pulled it off!” Some of the most powerful performances came when all four choirs assembled on the stage to lend their voices to popular songs like “Somebody that I Used to Know” by Gotye.

Breitag commented, “I thought the show was sensational. The kids worked really hard and it was evident in the crowd’s response. I’m really proud of my choirs.”

instructions and rules for the game. Teams competed for the championship title and for best outfit.

Hosted by Pathways Communications, the event was a fundraising opportunity for the academy.

“The tournament was a much bigger success than I expected. We hope we can start a new tradition and hold it every year,” Woolston said.

ACADEMICS, from page 1

interest in.High school rankings allow

schools to pinpoint which areas need to be improved. For example, a musical theater course has recently been added.

“Test scores always take care of themselves so I believe that high school rankings are just a way to make our school function even better,” Terry said.

College admissions officers use two key indicators to predict college success: high school rankings and standardized test scores. Studies have shown that high school rankings present an accurate representation of school performance and thus, allow colleges to identify the

high performing students more easily.

According to Sunny Niu and Marta Tienda, research associates from Princeton University, school administrators often analyze the students' high school senior class and their exact school standing to determine whether an individual is a good applicant for admission.

"At DBHS, everything always goes back to the students. We want to make our school a better place, fitting the needs of the students. At the end of the day, it's the individual achievement, academically and socially, that's important," Terry commented.

EditorialTHE BULL’S EYE4 Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Editorial

The Los Angeles Times has been in the middle of an immense controversy following the publication of 18 pictures depicting American soldiers posing with the remains of Afghanistan suicide bombers even though the pictures were taken two years prior. One 82nd Airborne Division soldier posed next to a mangled hand, raising one middle finger up. Another soldier took a picture with an unofficial platoon patch reading “Zombie Hunter” next to a pile of corpses. Although this sort of behavior is unforgivable, the LA Times should not be criticized for showing readers unethical actions that take place in Afghanistan.

The soldier who gave the newspaper official copies of the pictures did so on the condition of anonymity. According to the soldier, the pictures represented a breakdown in leadership and discipline, which compromised the safety of the troops. It is clear that neither the soldier nor the LA Times had any ulterior motive to publishing such disgraceful pictures. Instead, the soldier expressed the hope that the publication would help ensure higher security for the troops.

Many feared that publishing such offensive pictures would lead to false prejudice against the soldiers unnecessary casualties. However, according to LA Times Editor Davan Maharaj, the newspaper has a responsibility of truthfully reporting all aspects of the American mission in Afghanistan. Instead of being harshly condemned for the pictures, the newspaper should be commended for showing impartiality.

Colene Eng Editorial Editor

Un-Picture PerfectThis is not the first time

that American soldiers have displayed an error in judgment when dealing with the bodies of their Afghanistan enemies. In January 2012, a viral video on the Internet showed four U.S. Marines urinating on Afghanistan corpses. In March of the same year, a U.S. Army sergeant invaded two Afghanistan villages in an unprovoked rampage, killing 16 civilians. He has since been charged with 16 counts of murder. While it is important that Americans give respect to those protecting our country, it is disgraceful for the American troops to treat their enemies in such a disrespectful way. The LA Times is merely serving its true purpose as a media outlet by reporting activities that occur overseas in an unbiased fashion.

Those who criticize the LA Times must realize that the pictures have been printed due to a lack of safety for the men and women serving our country. Suicide bombers on the two bases of the brigade’s 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment have killed six United States soldiers and four Afghanistan interpreters. Such casualties could have been prevented if the level of safety was higher. Many of the soldiers, including two from the invaded bases, are in favor of the published pictures, hoping that the pictures will inspire better safety measures for the American troops.

While backlash on the soldiers is possible, the LA Times should not be blamed. The publication is truthfully reporting facts. It is the soldiers’ fault for acting in such a reprehensible manner; it is not the Time’s fau l t fo r any subsequent consequences that may occur.

After witnessing the unfair treatment of Chen Guangcheng, a blind Chinese activist, the United States’ irrational sense of justice has once again persuaded itself to interfere with another country’s private affair.

After unjustly serving nearly four and a half years in prison on account of damaging property and organizing a mob, Chen was forced to remain under house arrest after the Chinese government deemed him a threat to the nation’s society. The activist and his wife were prevented from coming into contact with others and had to live in poor conditions with no electricity. After a brilliant escape from the imprisonment of his own house, Chen sought help from the U.S. Embassy and was welcomed with open arms. However, the attempts of the embassy to correct the wrongdoings of China afterwards

were unneeded and pretentious.Ultimately, the actions of the

U.S. only further complicated relationships with China. U.S. Secretary of State Hi l lary Clinton arrived in the country for delicate economic talks just as Chen’s case was reach ing i t s c l i m a x . Unfortunately, t h e U . S . gove rnmen t ’s decision to aid a n e s c a p e d c o n v i c t f r o m China only made it more difficult for Cl inton to accomplish any goals. Instead of concentrating on the pressing economic issues, Clinton had to focus on supporting Chen’s case.

If the Chinese government decides to acknowledge that Chen has indeed suffered unfairly because of its decision, it would bring more embarrassment to the country. China has always

Angie ZhangFeature Editor

Mind Your Own Business, Americastressed the importance of dignity, and being forced into a weak position would only increase the nation’s dislike toward America.

The steps that the U.S. took only painfully reminded China

of the activist’s a s t o n i s h i n g a c t o f rebelliousness t o w a r d t h e government. It was made worse when China realized that a huge n e t w o r k o f activists was responsible for

leading Chen to safety. China already harbors a strong hatred toward dissidents, and the U.S. is unknowingly pushing them to increase their animosity.

The U.S. is rudely sticking itself into another country’s affair; we are not accomplishing anything more than a feeling of self-satisfaction within ourselves

as a result of protecting the activist. Generating a full-scale support system that made sure China would treat Chen humanely and convincing China to allow him to study in America are just plain overkill. Housing him for a short while and sending him to the hospital would have been more than enough for the activist. The U.S. needs to realize that too much aid for a refuge of another country will, in the end, hurt itself the most.

The boundary between these two countries will only continue to blur if the U.S. does not understand the concept of keeping out of another country’s affairs. Although aiding those in need is something the U.S. prides itself on, we must keep in mind that such actions are unwelcome by others and will only continue to deteriorate relationships with countries. Next time we decide to house a refuge of another country, we will need a better reason to protect them than on “humanitarian grounds.”

Advanced Placement tests have always been a point of emphasis for Diamond Bar High School due to not only the studious nature of the students at our school, but also the enthusiasm of the various teachers on campus. Just a few years ago, teachers even offered to change a student’s grade to an ‘A’ should he or she get the highest score, a five, on the AP examination. The state, however, now restricts that ability and forbids teachers to change the student’s grade due to the court ruling in Jane v California Settlement. This ban should be lifted due to a wide range of logical reasons as a student’s grade should reflect the student’s knowledge and not the teacher’s own personal teaching style.

Classes are taken to learn and understand new information; therefore, the point of a letter grade is not to penalize an individual. Rather, it is to reflect the amount and depth of the student’s knowledge on the subject. According to College Board, the organization that administrates the AP programs, earning a five on an AP test proves that the student is “extremely well qualified.” The score proves that the student clearly has extensive knowledge on the topic. Due to College Board’s description of what a five entails, a student’s grade should reflect this ruling.

A student enrolled in an AP course may be struggling to attain that desired ‘A’ for mu l t i p le reasons . Wh i le lack of understanding of the curriculum tends to be the chief reason, a five on the AP

exam obviously makes this a moot point. To understand this noticeable contrast between school grades and AP scores, students must only look at their schedule. Every school year, through lottery, luck, and a good amount of begging and crying to their respective grade level coordinators, students are given their class schedules. Due to the large amount of students at our school, multiple teachers regularly teach the same course. More often than not, teachers vary drastically in areas of larger importance such as class material, grading scale, and leniency in grading—all of which ultimately affect a student’s grade. This system misleads colleges into believing that a student with an unsatisfactory grade does not sufficiently understand the class’ curriculum. AP scores, however, show the exact opposite, proving that these scores should be incorporated into the student’s overall grade.

These faults and defects, however, are almost unavoidable as it is impossible to force teachers to conform to a uniform system, especially when that system cannot clearly lay out all aspects of teaching. The AP exam, though, fixes these flaws. The same exam is given to all students worldwide. It is graded by a set rubric and is devoid of almost all personal preference. The test effectively gauges our preparedness for college and if students are successful, gives them college credit. The college credit proves that the student is “extremely well qualified” for a college course. It is only natural, then, that teachers use these AP test scores to revise a student’s high school grade.

Eye of the Editors

“Yes, if [a] student is able to pass the test with the knowledge acquired in the class, he should get an A.”

—Brianna Alaniz,

Sophomore

“No, because if you did well in the class, it should reflect on your AP score.”

—David Park,Junior

“No, it’s not fair to raise the grade of students who worked hard at the end of the year when there are people who worked hard.”

—Exelena Moss,

Senior

“Yes, the point of an AP class is to succeed on the AP test. If a student manages to score a 5, they deserve a high grade.”

—Michael Schneider,Sophomore

“No, the exam is different from the class. The score is their knowledge and grade should reflect their performance in the class.”

—Nadine Belis,Junior

“Yes, if they learned enough to get a 5 on the AP test, they have proved that they deserve an A in the class.”

—Joseph Yang,Senior

Eye of the Editors discusses local issues that are relevant to Diamond Bar High School students. Statements and opinions expressed in the article herein are strictly those of the editors of The Bull’s Eye. The view of the editors does not necessarily reflect that of the entire staff.

“The attempts [...]to correct the

wrongdoings of China [...] were

unneeded.”

“Should your AP test score affect your grade in the class?”

Editorial PolicyThe Bull’s Eye is a public forum that welcomes the views of our readers. Letters to the Editor will be accepted only if they are signed. The author may, however, request anonymity. The staff reserves the right to edit letters without changing content. Forward letters to The Bull’s Eye, Room 250.

Feature Editors Sarah Cho Angie Zhang

Sports Editor Winston Cho

Asst. Sports Editors Andrew Choi Joseph Park

Photo Editor Xing Yen Quek

Business Manager Michelle Lee Asst. Business Manager Katlyn Lee

Staff Writers Emily Hwang Hanna Kang Rose Kim Keerit Kohli Advisor Doug List

Diamond Bar High School21400 E. Pathfinder Rd.Diamond Bar, CA 91765

Editors-in-Chief Lea Chang Justin Park

News Editors Holly Liu Jennifer Wang Asst. News Editors Joy Chow Katlyn Lee

Editorial Editor Colene Eng

Asst. Editorial Editor Gloria Kim

Feature Theme Editors Vivian Tang Hanna Yi A&E Editor Austin Kong

Asst. A&E Editor Claire Huang

THE BULL’S EYE STAFF

EditorialEditorial THE BULL’S EYE Wednesday, May 23, 2012 5

I n June 2012 , vo te rs of California wil l have the o p p o r t u n i t y t o v o t e o n Proposition 29, a proposal which suggests a tax increase on cigarettes and other tobacco products. The proposition aims to discourage smoking and raise funds for research on cancer and tobacco-related illnesses. The approval of Proposition 29 will place an additional $1 for each cigarette pack and a similar increase for other tobacco products. The $734 million that is projected to be generated from this increase in tax will go solely to fund research and smoking prevention programs. Though this proposition seems to serve a meaningful purpose, with the current $265 billion dollar deficit California is in, this proposition is just not realistic. This proposal will provide an unreasonable burden on the citizens of California and prove to be ineffective towards actually providing enough support for the research programs.

If this proposition passes, the revenue will be used towards research; however, it is not guaranteed that the research will be conducted in California. The proposition does not require enough supervision over where and what the money earned from the taxes will be spent on.

This means that Californians that purchase cigarettes will have to pay for out-of-state, or even out-of-country, activities. In other words, the people of California will be burdened with funding extensive research that is normally considered to be a national concern that is not funded by individual states.

This proposition claims that with the additional tax, smokers will be discouraged from smoking. It also claims that it will reduce the chance that minors will start smoking. However, this conclusion is not foolproof—if people are willing to pay the average $5.19 per carton, it is likely that even with the dollar increase; consumers will still continue to pay for the products.

A mere $1 increase does not seem to be that dramatic of a change to actually steer off possible consumers.

By September 2012, the Food and Drug Administration will be requiring cigarette packs sold in the United States to display anti-smoking images. The FDA will also require that the 1-800-QUIT-NOW number be placed on the package. Since there are already steps being taken to discourage smoking, this proposition is unnecessary.

The proposition is also aimed towards generat ing funds for research facilities. If people begin to quit smoking, then the revenue dedicated to these facilities would be lowered significantly. This would defeat the purpose of dedicating all the tax to research facilities. It is estimated that $500 million dollars a year will go into a public agency that will provide grants for research on any types of cancer or tobacco-related illnesses.

However, if a goal of this proposition is to encourage smokers to quit, then as the years go by, there will be less tax received for this agency. Sooner or later, taxes from outside the tax earned from tobacco products will have to be used, which will ultimately cut into California’s dwindling budget. If the revenue generated from these taxes goes towards assisting more tangible causes that need immediate attention such as creating jobs and funding schools, the proposition would actually be able to directly benefit California.

Though with good intentions, Proposition 29 is simply not plausible with Cal i fornia’s economic crisis. All efforts should be going to better the economic condition of California instead of going to creating an expensive program that provides no immediate relief to California’s current condition. It is imperative that Californian vote against passing the proposition to avoid burdening taxpayers with another cumbersome project that has conflicting intentions under the façade of being a good-natured arrangement.

Holly Liu News Editor

The Price is Not Right Blazing Trails of Satire

Last month, I was running down the streets of Los Angeles trying to catch the bus for my church’s Friday service until I saw smoke coming from a different church. I ran inside to make sure that everything was fine and all I saw was a man, dressed in a priest’s robes, addressing the congregation. This is what came out of his mouth:

“Welcome lad ies and gentlemen, it is my honor to be here today to spread the good word that we have been blessed with. This day, April 20, marks the beginning of the Los Angeles Church of Cannabis. The church would like to thank you for all the generous donations in getting this church approved and built by the state.

“Now, if you may please take out the Word of Weed and turn to the book of GRASS and turn to chapter one verse two and three. Let us all read it out loud: ‘Then he took it out and smoked it. It relieved his soul and flushed out his pain.’

“Mother Mary Jane is trying to tell us that we must atone for our sins through the holy

A Trip Down Holy LaneAustin Kong A&E Editor

breath of the Lord. It is my job as Reverend of this church to express the benefits of spiritual high that comes from our holy herb. Everyone, if you would now take out the gram that you have brought today and rip out a page from the book of JOINT. Light them up and take a breath!

Do you feel the spirit rushing into your soul? BREATHE MY FRIENDS! BREATHE IN THE WORD OF THE LORD! THIS WONDERFUL FEELING IS THE LORD TOUCHING YOUR SOUL. THIS HOLY AIR; BREATHE IT IN!

“It is now time for offerings

and tithe. The Lord Cannabis has stated in the book of POT that one must give up a tenth of the marijuana he or she buys in a week. There is a bag that is being passed around. If the Lord has touched your soul, give back to the church! Some of your donations will also be

used to usher in newcomers of our fellowship, so please, give all that you can.

“We do have a couple of announcements. We need to expand our congregation to people that have yet to experience the love of our God. If you would like, the church is

happy to accept a donation of a few grams to the missionaries that plan on traveling overseas.

“Thank you for attending today’s service. There are chips and drinks in the back just in case you are feeling the hunger of the Lord. Now go! Spread the word to the world. Hail Mary Jane!”

Dazed, I left the building feeling a little bit dizzy and nauseous but I still had to reach my bus stop. While running, I could not help myself noticing that I was surrounded by various churches. The entire block was dedicated to different churches of different religions. Pastafarianism, or worship of the great Flying Spaghetti Monster, seemed to be the most popular of the lot. I saw a crowd of people on the streets bowing and praying to plates of spaghetti and bowls of marinara sauce while other churches were still in the process of being built. The newly state approved Church of Latter Day Jedis and a different church based on Oprahism were already trying to recruit congregation members despite not having an actual building to hold a service.

I eventually reached my bus stop and went to my church—a Presbyterian church.

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,Your article on plastic bags

is captivating and captured my attention right from the start. Information on the effect of plastic bags is used very well in defending your position on why the ban on plastic bags should be ensued, and it is obvious that you’ve carefully researched out more information about this topic. In addition, your exceptional use of persuasive sentence structure made it especially easy to want to support your

Dear Editor,Thank you for writing

the article about including religion in the political races. As a Christian, I did not share the same view as the author. It is important to take the candidiates’ religious affiliation into consideration when voting. Religion is a big indicator of how the future President will act. It serves as his or her guidelines for their style of living. Though I may disagree, the author did have some very good points. She served a very compelling

cause. Personally, I enjoyed this article particularly because of its relation to the increasing concern for environmental welfare. I agree with you on the topic of making sacrifices to help improve the world we live in. Your article on banning plastic bags not only brings to surface the vital topic of preserving our environment but interests the reader as well. There is no unnecessary wording as the article proceeds directly to the issue. In all, I commend you on your article and hope to see more in the future.

—Emilee Kang,Sophomore

argument and made me rethink my stance sometimes. Religion is something that this country is founded upon, and it is nescessary for people to remember that religion is our foundation. The founding fathers had good reason to uncluding it in the Constitution. Religion will undoubtedly serve the country well. However, thank you for publishing this article. It was very persuasive and well-written.

—Vanessa Lam,Junior

Plastic bag ban is a good move

Religion’s pull in politics

Nowadays, wealthy citizens aspire to travel to space and take a glimpse of Jupiter up close or examine the craters of the moon. On April 28, 2001, American businessman Robert Tito spent $20 million for a trip on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft. Traveling to space was one of his most exciting goals in life, which he accomplished by becoming

the world’s second s p a c e t o u r i s t . However, he is not the only one to complete such daring tasks from space.

O n M a r c h 15, 2012, Fe l ix B a u m g a r t n e r made an incredible jump from a space capsule 71,580 feet above the ground. As the capsu le descended towards Earth, Baumgartner reached an optimum speed of about 364 miles per hour. This is only the beginning of Baumgartner’s daredev i l p lans and he hopes to parachu te f rom space once more at a higher altitude of 23 miles.

These p lans prove how strong of a draw space has on humans. These space expeditions and projects represent a step forward in the fi eld of technology and discovery. They are reminiscent of the Cold War advances during the great Space Race. They are exciting possibilities and with time quickly flying by, we could even be building cities on the moon or be vacationing on Mars in the next 50 years.

Claire HuangAsst. A&E Editor

Feature8 Wednesday, May 23, 2012 THE BULL’S EYE Feature

Ashley AhnFormer Editor-in-chief

Ruby HwangFormer Feature Theme Editor

Love them or hate them, boybands have found their way back into the music industry and are going in one direction: up. Beginning its career in 2010 on the X-Factor UK, One Direction fi nished third in the competition when Simon Cowell, affectionately called Uncle Simon by Directioners, offered it a contract with Sony Music. In less than a year, the boyband shot to success serenading girls with its song, “What Makes You Beautiful.” At the rate One Direction Infection is sweeping the nation, you would think it was the ‘90s. Warning: symptoms include a desire to affect a British accent, light headedness, and an extreme case of fangirling. There is no known cure.

I ’m no t norma l ly an emotional person, but damn, there’s something about writing a senior column that really just pulls at your heartstrings. When I imagined writing this column my freshman year, I knew exactly what I was going to say, and exactly who I was going to thank. I sure knew what I was doing back then. You would think I’d be just as sure of myself now, but on the contrary, I believe my freshman year self had more sense than I do now. I imagined my senior column to be profound and inspiring—maybe even bringing about a tear or two to those who read it, but I guess a lot has changed in the past four years.

I can ’ t say tha t I ’ l l necessarily miss high school, as I would be lying if I did, but I will miss the memories I’ve had and the people I’ve met. I don’t want to think of this as a farewell, but as more of an end to one chapter in my life and the start of a new one. I know that those who are important to me in my life will stick around far past high school, but for those who have just made a guest appearance in my life, thanks for showing up. I’m a firm believer that everyone comes into your life for a reason, no matter how brief. So to those of you who have made my life a living hell and have been the subject of a numerous number of my rants, thanks for making life interesting.

And to those who plan on sticking around, thanks. Thanks for being there with me to enjoy the good moments and to rough it out through the bad ones. Throughout the four years we’ve laughed together, cried together, but most importantly we’ve grown up together. I’m so blessed to have had all of you in my life and I’m even more thankful that I get to keep all of you in it. It’s not the end for us, it’s really just the beginning. I’m so proud of all of you, and I know you’ll all do great things.

While I’d like to say that high school was a breeze, who am I kidding, it was anything but a nice walk through the park. If not for the teachers, family members, and numerous big sisters I’ve picked up along the way, I can honestly say that I wouldn’t have made it to this point. I don’t even have the words to express how thankful I am to have had such inspirational people in my life to have cared for me and help guide me to where I am today.

And while I still have a distortedly optimistic view of how life will turn out for me, I’d like to think that ignorance is still bliss to a certain point. Sure, high school has made me quite cynical, but not enough to hinder my view of the future.I have all the people in my life to thank for that. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in high school, it’s that life moves on, and that it’s never the end of the world—of course until it really is. So here I am, four years later, four years older, and four years wiser. It’s been fun, but good riddance, and cheers to it all!

Girl: YOLO is not a valid excuse to not do homework.

Girl 1: I want to eat Chick-fi l-A.Girl 2: Ew, let’s eat something healthier like Chipotle!

Boy 1: Man, I have so much muscle...Boy 2: Uh, I don’t know what universe you came from, but muscle doesn’t jiggle.

Girl 1: Hey, did you know that you have a lot of freckles?Girl 2: What?! I just thought my face was dirty 24/7.

Boy: Do all superheroes have a disguise because it’s easier to use stunt men?

Every month, we bring you some of the most ridiculous, hilarious, fl at-out idiotic, and sometimes insightful things we hear around campus. So beware—we’ll be listening.

Overheard in db

Girl: Would you rather risk not eating or getting fat?

Boy 1: What if something explodes and your hair catches fi re?Boy 2: That’s cool, then I’ll be the next Katniss!

Boy 1: Man, in the future, I hopewe can just download knowledge into our head.Boy 2: But, what will happen if we download a virus?

Emily HwangStaff Writer

Ice cream, popsicles, frozen yogurt—why not shaved ice? Shaved ice is a cold dessert that is extremely popular around the world. Various countries created their own unique version of shaved ice to eat during the scorching summer days. Here are just a few of them.

Thinking about what to eat on a burning day? A combination of sweet and fruity flavors, a Korean style shaved ice, Pat Bing Soo, may be the right dessert for you when you’re sweaty and hot! Pat Bing Soo became popular in South Korea in the 1950’s when it was fi rst sold as street food.

Its fruity toppings, sweet Asian red bean paste, colorful mocha, and luscious scoops of ice cream attract many customers in the sizzling weather.

Xue Hua Bing is a unique Taiwanese dessert which differs from the Korean styled shaved ice. People who shop in the street markets of Taiwan may come across this delicious treat which, unlike other foreign frozen treats, has frozen condensed milk instead of shaved ice at the bottom of the bowl. Customers who order Xue Hua Bing can enjoy this milky treat with a variety of toppings, including passion fruit syrup, green tea flavored ice with red beans, and chocolate fl avored ice with

sprinkles. The variety of toppings tempts people into diving head fi rst toward this mouth watering dessert!

The famous Amer ican snow cone melts inside your mouth as you take a slurp of the colorful ice. Like the other types of shaved ice, snow cones also have their own type of syrup. The sweetness of the snow cones comes from these fruity syrups, which have bright colors resembling the rainbow. It is visually appealing and delicious—what more can you ask for?

With such a variety of different shaved ices, everyone will be sure to fi nd their perfect desert this summer!

Science fi ction movies and books both glorify the wonders of the universe, playing with the mysteries of time and space. In the media, the mysterious universe is shown to be so vast and full of surprises that it would seem silly not to want to take a chance and venture into the unknown.

Space holds an infi nite number of poss ib i l i t i es with exploration and discovery, a prospect that has led many promising pioneers to concoct new ideas such as asteroid mining, tourism throughout the planets, and parachuting from space.

W i t h t h e limited amount of resources available on Earth, asteroid mining seems to be the best solution t o k e e p E a r t h supplied. James C a m e r o n , t h e famed director of “Avatar,” hopes to do something out of the ordinary. Planning to make the concept of his movie a reality, Cameron took the positions as investor and advisor of Planetary Resources, Inc., a company which hopes to uncover water and precious metals, such as platinum, in asteroids. Although this project will be pricey, in the long haul it will end up saving funds since an abundance of valuable materials would be brought back.

Eighteen year old Harry Styles is the youngest in One Direction. Nicknamed Hazza, he is known as the cheeky, curly-haired fl irt of the group. Hazza can often be found shouting “that’s what she said” jokes while telling strangers bizarrely weird facts about himself. On top of singing, he can also play the kazoo. A few of his favorite things include older women, fajitas, and cats. Ladies, he’s single.

Zayn Malik is the half-Pakistani heart-throb that the 1D boys agree has the most camera-ready face. His trademarks are a varsity jacket and the phrase, “Vas happenin’?” He is known as the most intelligent, but also the most narcissistic member of the group. He has eight tattoos. On his torso, he has his grandfather’s name in Arabic, playing cards, the words “born lucky” in Japanese, the phrase “be true to who you are,” and a heart. On his arms, he has a hand making the peace sign and the yin yang symbol. He recently got a tattoo of a fantail bird behind his neck while in New Zealand.

Liam Payne, known as Daddy Direction, is the level-headed glue that keeps One Direction together. When the other boys are out partying in the USA, the fact that he only has one kidney as a result of complications at birth keeps him sober and allows him to keep the boys in check. Liam is currently dating Danielle Peazer, a dancer who curiously has a striking resemblance to his celebrity crush Leona Lewis.

At 20 years old, Louis Tomlinson (LOU-EE, not LEWIS) is the oldest of the group, but age is truly just a number when it comes to his maturity as he is often labeled “the funny one” by the other boys. His jokes can range from funny faces during interviews to pranks on the other band members. He had a short-lived relationship with a pigeon named Kevin but is now dating Eleanor Calder, whom he met through Harry.

Niall Horan, the sole Irish member of the group, is known for his bottle-blond hair as well as his affi nity for polo shirts, Nando’s chicken, and playing the guitar. He unashamedly calls himself a Justin Bieber fan, and entered X-Factor with the same song that made Bieber famous on YouTube— “So Sick” by Akon. His lucky charm is a pair of white socks. At the moment, Niall is single, claiming that his “princess is on her way.”

Harry

Niall

Zayn

Louis

Liam

One Direction Infection

POLLING ON THE RITZIn order to get Diamond Bar High School students pumped up for arguably the school year’s biggest event, Prom, the Class of 2013 Prom Committee set about encouraging students to buy tickets for the dance. After months of tense “Is he/she going to ask me?!” thoughts and countless intercom announcements, The Bull’s Eye surveyed 84 students to see if the dance lived up to expectations.

Overall, the 2012 Puttin’ on the Ritz Prom was well received. Although the attendance number did not refl ect all of the hard work put into the dance, the Class of 2013 Committee should be commended for its excellent effort.

There was much accurate speculation that not many students were going to attend this year’s Prom. Although offi cial attendance numbers were not released, 57 out of the 84 students surveyed stated that they did not go to Prom this year. Many chose to stay home and study for their Advanced Placements tests or elected to hang out with their friends in a less formal environment.

Unfortunately, there was also a small group of students who did not enjoy this supposedly magical night. Four out of the 84 students said that they did not enjoy the dance at all, due to the less than stellar DJ.

Twenty-three students said that they loved the dance and were impressed by the effort put into it. Popular reasons that the dance was such a hit with some students were: the photo booths, the food, and the venue. With the 1920’s inspired theme, students were delighted to see a separate jazz room where couples could get their swing dance on.

Frosty Frozen Finds

By Colene Eng

Nowadays, wealthy citizens Nowadays, wealthy citizens Claire Huang

Shoot For the Moon

Senior Column

Designed by Angie Zhang

The Los Angles Union Station was opened on May 3, 1939 and is known to be the main railway station of Downtown Los Angeles. When the station was fi rst opened, railway travel was a common form of transportation, with about 7,000 people using the railroad services daily. The station was used for troop movement throughout World War II and is now recognized as a national landmark.

Arts & EntertainmentWednesday, May, 23 2012 9THE BULL’S EYEA&E

Laura Moffi ttFormer Feature Theme Editor

Keerit KohliStaff Writer

of extras.The ships were admittedly

impressive, however, and the design of the alien machinery was extensively detailed. Berg

laughable comedy for the whole two hours.

The lame at tempts a t comedy throughout the movie can be considered desperate efforts to make up for the lack of serious action. Most of the action scenes are comprised of missiles and men pushing buttons to launch said missiles. Personally, I like my action movies to contain actual action. What little was shown of hand-to-hand combat was poorly coordinated and disappointingly short. Much of the hustle and bustle among the men is confi ned within the walls of the ship, though I suppose this is to be expected with naval combat. In addition, what was supposed to be a catastrophe to endanger the entire world seemed contained to the mere waters surrounding Hawaii and thus ensued the inconsistency between the reactions of the characters and the actual events at hand.

The lack of serious combat can also be attributed to the immense focus on the ships themselves. In fact, “Battleship” seemed less of an action movie and more of a fi lm tribute to the United States Navy and Marines. Countless scenes panned the giant battleships and destroyers as well as the crews of actual marines that were used in place

Rose KimStaff Writer

Under the di rector of n u m e r o u s a c t i o n f i l m s , inc lud ing the Ho l lywood blockbuster “Hancock,” Peter Berg’s new movie “Battleship” is approached with one desire in mind: thrilling action. The expectation was sorely met.

Based on the premise of the classic Hasbro naval combat game, “Battleship” is about an international fleet of ships stationed in Hawaii forced to face an armada of extraterrestrial beings. The slacker-turned-navy-lieutenant Alex Hopper, played by Taylor Kitsch, leads the last ship standing in this battle between the species.

The movie was also the acting debut of singer Rihanna who should, seriously, not quit her day job. She plays the minor role of Petty Offi cer Cora Raikes, and her usefulness in regards to the plot is nonexistent. It seems her sole duty was to churn out the poorly written one-liners because she defi nitely was not expected to act well. Her delivery lacked the rebellious spirit the role demanded and she was far from convincing. In fact, her acting was possibly the only

In a battle between humans and an unknown armada... Taylor Kitsch plays the protagonist, Lieutenant Alex Hopper. Courtesy of imdb.com

THEBUZZ: BATTLESHIP

Preparing for the future... Microsoft has released various concept photos of the upcoming Xbox 720. Courtesy of fadwebsite.com

With thousands of ideas fl oating around for technology, design, music, and even food, the biggest problem for this era’s innovators is lack of recognition. With Kickstarter, an independent website serving as a collection of ideas, all it takes for inventors to gain recognition is their fans’ funds.

Kickstarter was founded in 2008 by Perry Chen, Yancey Strickler, and Charles Adler. It is part of a growing trend known as “crowd funding” where the public pays to help projects be launched. Project owners begin by creating a video about their projects. The video is used to inspire viewers to donate to their projects. In order to prevent the site from being congested with outdated projects, Kickstarter enforces a rule which states that all owners must give their projects a date to acquire all their requested funds by. After the video is uploaded, it is up to the crowds to search for and fund projects they believe are innovative and have potential for success. To help fans fi nd projects that interest them, videos are sorted into groups to

keep the site effi cient. These groups include design, film, food, games, music, publishing and photography. Each group features unique ideas; for example, the design section features a kite machine that has kites available in a street vending machine, a map that describes all the different cheeses in the world, and couture hamburger gift wrapping.

After the donation process, fi ve percent of funds earned go to Kickstarter. In case a project isn’t fully funded within its time limit, the money is returned to donators immediately.

As of April 2012, Kickstarter has had more than $175 million dollars pledged to over 20,000 projects. Of the projects that have been introduced on Kickstarter, 44% have been successfully launched.

Kickstarter has helped launch hundreds of products, some of which are currently sold both in stores and online, such as an iPod Dock that received nearly 20 times the desired funding, an off-Broadway musical, and a keyboard created exclusively for the Apple iPad. Kickstarter has proven to be a great place for inventors looking to make their starts in the business world.

Information regarding the upcoming Microsoft Xbox 720 has created quite a stir in the gaming community after being covered in Forbes, Games Radar, and Game Zone. The console, which is rumored to be released around Christmas of 2013, has already amassed a huge cult following, generating countless rumors.

Gossip mongers on the web speculate that the new Xbox will be sporting some powerful hardware such as a revision

Sarah ChoFeature Editor

of 7000’s series graphics, a 16-core CPU, and twin graphic chips, which will render frames simultaneously. There has also been much excitement about the controller, with various video game enthusiasts hypothesizing that Microsoft will take advantage of the motion detection abilities of Kinect.

Microsoft, notorious for being extremely secretive, has yet to confirm any of these rumors. Luckily, it has been confi rmed that production of the Xbox 720 has already begun. According to various sources, the Austin, Texas branch of

Flextronics has begun to build the machine.

The Xbox 720 has the potential to reboot the world of gaming and give it a face lift by revolutionizing the quality of game play. It also poses a signifi cant risk to Sony who already suffered a large setback earlier this year when they suffered through a huge security crisis involving hackers stealing customers’ personal information. While no solid news has been released by Microsoft offi cially, the console has already taken the world of gaming by storm with a whirlwind of gossip and rumors.

Goes Another Round

As the deep abyss that follows graduation rapidly approaches, I am constantly asked what my plans for the future are. After informing whoever is asking I will be spending next year in New York, I am instantly congratulated and told how exciting my new life will be. If ever I mention that I am nervous because I will miss my friends, I am without fail told that it won’t make a difference because everyone drifts away from their high school lives. Regardless of the age of the asker, they all seem to believe that leaving behind your world prior to college is the best solution for every senior; but who are they to tell me that I shouldn’t hold on to this part of my life?

The friends I will meet in college could never paral-lel the friends I have forged throughout my high school experience. I will never again be able to fi nd friends who have shared these teachers with me, my new friends will never understand the pres-sure of going to Diamond Bar High School, and no one in New York will ever be able to comprehend what going to Disneyland every week is like. My friends are invalu-able; from the best friends I have confi ded in since I was four to the friends that I have worked with in journalism, these people have been the most signifi cant part of my life for my entire childhood. I will never forget them nor the experiences we have had.

Neither will I forget the teachers that have helped to shape my life. Although I have had my share of Um-bridge’s, I have also had my share of Dumbledore’s. Teachers whom I will never forget and will always think of when I am in class next year. There are the teachers who simply brightened my day with their sarcasm, and the teachers who would sit and listen to me complain about the simplest things in my life. Regardless of my age I will always visit them and thank them for helping to shape who I am today.

So with the friends I have made, the teachers that have supported me, and the amazing experiences I have shared with them, could it re-ally be best to just walk away from it all? I will hold this school and the friends I have made within its walls in a part of my heart forever. Despite the days I despised com-ing to school, the AP tests I dreaded, and the teachers I couldn’t stand to see, I will always cherish my days here because this is where the en-tire foundation for my future began.

got at least one thing right in his grand portrayal of the striking vessels.

Action fans are sure to be terribly disappointed due to

HOT Spot

Courtesy of EE&K

Courtesy of www.groovetravelers.com

this highly anticipated movie’s misleading promises of action, though American patriots will be pleased to see such a tribute to naval forces everywhere.

Kickstarting

Goes Another Goes Another

Recently, some of the most outstanding architecture fi rms have made plans to expand the Los Angeles Union Station. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the owner of Union Station, anticipates a visit from a team of designers some time during late June. The expansion of the station includes about 6 million square feet of offi ce, retail, and residential space surrounding the station, along with the installation of high speed rail service. The construction is expected to be fi nished around 2050.

Claire Huang: Asst. A&E Editor

Innovations

AdvertisementAdvertisementTHE BULL’S EYE10 Wednesday, May 23, 2012

BE: Who is your favorite National Football League player? And why?

GK: I would have to say Larry Fitzgerald because he is a receiver and he works extremely hard.

BE: Why did you pick to go to the USC?

GK: Honestly they came out of nowhere. Their coach visited my coach, Mr. Maine, and he like asked if I could have the opportunity to go play. So I applied to USC and I got accepted.

BE: What are your expectations for next year?

GK: I expect to be challenged a lot and to

learn a lot. I expect it to be really tough,

but I just have to work hard, stay committed, and stay humble. I feel like I am going to

have to go in and have to stay positive through

everything. BE: Right now,

USC has one of the best Wide Receiver duos in the country with Robert Woods and Marquis Lee. What are your thoughts

of that?GK: Yes, I know. That

is what I am really looking forward to having them as a teacher to me about playing wide receiver and about USC.

BE: USC is one of the favorites to win

the Bowl Championship Series this year. What are your thoughts of that?

GK: With Matt Barkley and Robert Woods, I feel like we have a really good chance and I feel blessed to be a part of that.

BE: What is your best memory during your high school football career?

GK: Holding that Branding Iron up felt really good.

BE: Is there anything you would like to say to next year’s football team?

GK: Do not take anything for granted. Take the most out of any situation. Just play like it is your last time ever playing football and stay humble through all of the opportunities you get.

Captain of the football team, senior George Katrib has been awarded many accolades this season including 1st Team All California Interscholastic Federation and Hacienda League honors as a wide receiver and defensive back. Amongst all his remarkable achievements, however, it is perhaps his entrance to the University of Southern California’s football team as a wide receiver that truly grants Katrib the title of Athlete of the Year of Diamond Bar High School.

G e o r g e Katrib has always been involved in athletics. He played basketball for the DBHS team for three years and played football all four years. However, as he saw his talents for football improving, he quit basketball to fully commit to football for the chance to play at a collegiate level.

For his hard work on the football field, Katrib was able to make the USC football team roster as a walk on. He will be playing amongst USC stars like Matt Barkley and Robert Woods and is excited for the opportunity to learn as much as he can from his future teammates.

Bull’s Eye: Did you have any thoughts of becoming a professional athlete growing up?

George Katrib: Yes. I have thought of it as a kid. That is always your dream growing up. it was always in my mind but I do not know if I made that my goal. You always think of it as a kid.

BE: Did the football team meet its expectations during the sesason?

GK: As a team, no. We had high expectations, so it is always disappointing when you do not win league or the CIF.

Bagwell led the volleyball team into CIF quarterfinals two years in a row as the setter and captain in her senior year. She was also inducted into the DBHS Hall of Fame for her contributions to the volleyball team. Bagwell’s highlight of high school volleyball was rallying her team back after losing the first two sets to Los Altos High School and winning in the fifth game.

Kao accepted a scholarship to Arizona State University for his four years of outstanding performance in varsity swimming. He broke an unbelievable

number of six records in DBHS while earning league MVP and being a captain his senior year. Kao competed in CIF for all four years where he mostly swam freestyle events.

After four years in varsity soccer, Thomas received a scholarship to Concordia University for her superb performance in soccer. Serving as a captain for two years, she won First Team All-League her junior and senior year. Playing the center mid-fielder position, she led her team to compete in CIF for two years in which

Andrew ChoiAsst. Sports Editor

In the world, there is only one event that brings the nations together, not for politics, but for sports. The 2012 Summer London Olympics are almost here, and the people of all races anxiously await for the Opening Ceremony which will be held in the Olympic Stadium on July 27

There will be thousands of athletes representing 204 countries, and all of them are determined to bring home that shiny gold medal. Each athlete competing in the Olympics had to win in many tournaments to qualify.

In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the United States of America won the most medals with a record of 110, and China came in second with 100. However, China had the most gold medals with 51, while the U.S. had 36.

SportsSports THE BULL’S EYE Wednesday, May 23, 2012 11

Joseph ParkAsst. Sports Editor

Every year in Diamond Bar High School, a privileged number of seniors are given athletic scholarships for their exceptional performance in high school. Courtney Bagwell, Sean Kao, Carly Simpson, Stevie Thomas, and Valerie Wijaya’s accomplishments have earned athletic scholarships. These five elite athletes from DBHS’s class of 2012 will use the scholarships to pursue their dreams of competing in collegiate athletics.

Simpson and Wijaya accepted a scholarship to the University of Nevada and Sienna College, respectively, for their reputable performance in golf. Simpson played four years on the girls varsity golf team and served as the captain for two years. She played a vital role in winning second place in the California Interscholastic Federation and also competed

Class of 2012 Athletic Scholarship Recipients

in CIF Individuals for four years. Simpson also participated in the Junior World Golf Champion and the Women Southern California Golf Association with her varsity golf team. Additionally, she is currently listed in the DBHS Hall of Fame for her phenomenal play over her high school career. Before being accepted to the University of Nevada, Wijaya was on the girls varsity golf team for two years. As a co-captain with Simpson her senior year, Wijiaya competed in American Junior Golf Association Tournament, got

third place in Los Angeles City Golf Tournament, and was chosen to represent Southern California in Juniors Ryder Cup Academy in Florida.

Bagwell received a volleyball scholarship to Assumption College after playing two years on the girls volleyball team. Moreover, she was awarded with Best Defensive Player and Academic All League in her junior year. Bagwell followed this up her senior year with First Team All League, Academic All League, and Master of Sports Award.

2012 Olympics Around the CornerThe U.S. is expected to

win the most medals again this year. The nation is equipped with talented teams and athletes like the gymnastics team and the wrestling team. However, China will not back down from the challenge which has a great gymnastics team that won 18 medals back in 2008

The U.S. men’s basketball team, which won the gold medal in the 2008 Olympics and the 2010 FIBA Championship, is favored to win the gold medal this year. Once again, it will be a tough challenge for the team. The team will still have to compete its rival Spain, whose great front court includes NBA players like Serge Ibaka, Pau Gasol, and Marc Gasol. Although Spain lost its creative and pass-first point guard Ricky Rubio due to a torn ACL, people around the world are still anticipating Spain to excite the audience with yet another great performance.

The U.S. women’s soccer

Winston ChoSports Editor

Diamond Bar High School athletics has a plethora of talented players that have led various teams to league and California Interscholastic Federation titles. However, the school often times forgets to recognize the coaches whose dedication to their respective sports has proven to lead the team to success. From coach Ryan Maine of the football team to coach Dave Hamel of the tennis team, DBHS has a variety of capable coaches. Amongst all of the highly skilled coaches, three have stood out at the school. Matt Brummett of soccer, Ty Watkins of golf, and Kemp Wells of badminton and soccer have taken their teams to new heights.

In the 2009-2010 season, the girls soccer team went 0-10 in the Sierra League. This year, the team won league. In two years, the team went from an 0-10 record to winning a league title. In contrast to last year, Brummett already knew the ability of his players and had a set rotation by the start of the season. By doing this he built chemistry going into CIF. He also made sure to emphasize

team, which lost in the 2011 World Cup Finals on penalty kicks, is one of the favorites to win the gold medal. The women’s soccer team consists of goalkeeper Hope Solo and striker Alex Morgan, who is also a proud alumna of Diamond Bar High School. The teams will be led by Abby Wombach, the fourth all-time scorer for the U.S.

One athlete to watch in the games is Michael Phelps. Although he is 27 years old, this will be the last Olympic he will be competing in. Back in 2008, he won eight gold medals which broke the Olympic record. After the games, Phelps had a marijuana incident in which caused many companies to stop sponsoring him. Although Phelps’ incident has caused him to take a step back, he is still favored to win in every event he swims in because he won four gold medals in the 2011 World Championships.

Coaching the Brahmas to Victory

she played an integral role in winning this year. The highlight of her high school career was winning league and making quarterfinals in the CIF.

Bagwell, Simpson, Kao, Thomas, and Wijaya have been given a special opportunity to accomplish even more in their future. After such amazing records and games set and played in DBHS, they set the standards for future athletes. DBHS hopes to see more dedicated athletes follow the footsteps of these successful athletes in the future.

Andrew ChoiAsst. Sports Editor

Athlete of the Year:

George KatribThe Olympics are always

consisted of young upcoming athletes waiting to fulfill their potential. Seventeen-year-old Missy Franklin, who currently holds the world record for 200-meter backstroke, will be representing the U.S. in swim. Ariel Hsing, who is only 16 years old, is also an athlete worthy of attention as she will be competing for the Americans in table tennis.

Jamaica is highly favored to win most of the sprinting events. The team consists of Usain Bolt, the holder of the world records for 100 meters and 200 meters with a time of 9:58 and 19:19 respectively, and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, the women’s 100-meter winner with a time of 10:78.

The Summer Olympics come around every four years, and viewers should take the opportunity to watch their favorite athletes compete against other elite players.

the physical training of the girls to give the team an extra gear on the field. He got the team into the weight room more often to increase strength and fitness.

Watkins coaches the boys basketball team but his work as the golf coach has brought prestige and honor to DBHS. The DBHS golf program is considered one of the strongest in the state, and the only constant throughout the years has been Watkins. He attributes the consistent play of the golf team to his strong practice regiment. He stresses getting the team out on the golf course as often as possible. However he claims the largest contribution he made to the team is his emphasis on keeping the team together. By pairing a junior such as captain

Jason Chen with a freshman who is relatively new to golf, Watkins molds these young players to play under pressuring situations. Two of the six members on the varsity golf team are underclassmen which is very rare. This year, the golf team was able to bring another CIF championship to DBHS while four players were selected to play in CIF Individuals.

Wells played a vital role in two very successful teams in the DBHS athletics program. His boys soccer team won the Hacienda League championship for the first time in fifteen years as well as advancing to the second round of CIF. Although DBHS was not expected to compete for a title this year, his team was able to fight against the

odds and take the league title. He also coaches the badminton team which has consistently been one of the best sports on campus for years and won CIF for the first time in school history. Throughout the season Wells made sure to scout other teams and find out their strengths and weaknesses. By doing this, he was able to mix and match his rosters to give his team an advantage before the match even started. In addition to the increased focus on physical conditioning through drills such as frog hops and pushups, he was also able to nurture each player’s talents by approaching them as individuals and telling them what they need to improve upon through one on one coaching.

Recognized coaches from left to right...Matt Brummett, Ty Watkins, and Kemp Wells Xing Yen Quek

Carly Simpson

Courtney Bagwell Valerie Wijaya

Stevie Thomas Sean Kao

Sports12 Wednesday, May 23, 2012 THE BULL’S EYE Sports