Volume XI, Issue III: November 24, 20094515 Portola Pkwy. IrvIne, Ca 92620 www.northwoodhIgh.org

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By IffanIe yang and ashley yonamIneStaff Writers

Terrific Timberwolves

Not only has junior Joseph Glorioso excelled as a player on the Varsity Basketball team, but he has also been chosen as one of No-vember’s Academic Students of the Month for his exemplary progress in Marine Science.

“[Glorioso] is one of the most hard-working students I have ever met at Northwood,” said science teacher lisa Fox. “His curiosity [for] Marine Science and definitely his work ethic make him shine, and his personal character really comes through.”

Glorioso’s work ethic is also evident in athletics. He has coached a local team with some classmates and enjoys playing basketball with his friends in his free time. He sees a potential future for himself in the journalism or broadcasting field. His “Plan B” is to teach either history or special education.

Joseph gloriosoParker SimmonsSenior parker simmons is “a

good Timberwolf,” said psychologist marie ann simmons (of no relation). “He has shown a great deal of integ-rity; he’s looked out for younger stu-dents; he’s modeled for the younger kids what good behavior is.”

Simmons’ active participa-tion and commitment to an adaptive Physical Education program with Wolfpack, a club dedicated to aiding Special Education students, has left a lasting impact on the students.

“He has brought a lot of joy to those kids’ lives,” said Simmons. “He has encouraged them, accepted them and told them they’re great every step of the way.”

A valuable player on the Varsity Water Polo team, Parker plans to at-tend Concordia University in Irvine after graduation and pursue a major in business with scholarships for swimming and water polo.

EATING FOR TASTE : Does nutritional content mean anything to students who just want good food?

By govIl guPtaAccent Editor

Are the nutritional guidelines for Club Fair too much?

krIs george The Northwood Howler

“Samosas! Only $2! Get your samosas!”

I stood outside on a warm Fri-day afternoon alongside many other club presi-dents, selling delicious food, ranging from fresh sushi to Pizookies, to raise money for our clubs. Last Friday’s Club Fair was a huge success with a total of 33 clubs participating. Unknown to the avid purchasers, however, is the work behind Club Fair, particu-larly the tremendous efforts made to meet the state’s nutritional require-ments.

“It [involves] a lot of organi-zation,” said Clubs Commissioner Urmi mehta, a junior. “Clubs send in emails of the food they want, and we either approve or deny it based on the nutritional guidelines.”

Although most foods, such

as Juice It Up! and Subway, easily meet the nutritional guidelines, other goods do not make the cut. Some club presidents find the guidelines unnecessary.

“The nutritional guidelines are too restrictive...[and] make no sense ei-ther,” said nLighten president Daniel WanG, a senior. “Food is one aspect, but they should spend more time on pro-moting exercise than limiting food choic-

es. I admit that obesity is a problem, and I certainly don’t support the sale of fried ice cream at school, but the limit is arbitrary and meaningless.”

However, many clubs find ways to get around the nutritional regula-tions, such as adjusting the portion size of their food items.

“[The restrictions] don’t ever limit me,” said Club Med president kevin FU, a senior, whose club sold Carl’s Jr. burgers cut in half.

The Club Commissioners and most club presidents agree that the guidelines are necessary.

“[They] are pretty easy to pass because everyone eats somewhat healthy food that usually ends up tast-ing good,” said Spanish Club presi-dent sUJean park, a junior. She also mentioned that cheaper food is usu-ally lower in quality, making it harder to pass the guidelines.

Club presidents are also noto-rious for claiming their food items, which are approved on a first-come-first-serve basis, with great speed. This has resulted in a competitive race to claim the most popular bites, such as In-N-Out burgers, boba drinks and chicken tacos. The best food is always taken on the first day.

“Key Club claims our food the day we are allowed to,” said Key Club president sara Clayton, a ju-nior. “If we can’t claim the first food we had in mind, we usually have two other back-up foods.”

While tedious, Club Fair was, as Mehta put it, “worth it in the end.”

“I certainly don’t support the sale of fried ice cream at school, but the limit is arbitrary and meaningless.” -Daniel WanG

shane hughes The Northwood Howler

So what of these discussions on human rights? Why suffer through the awkward silences and the timid exchange of ideas?

krIs george The Northwood Howler. . . . . . What do freshmen and torture have in common? . . . . . .All freshmen are born free, but

everywhere they are in chains. Northwood’s Humanities 9

(H9) students just powered through a unit on the Enlightenment, an era in which Western intellectuals framed ideas that underlie human rights movements today. Too soon did the students discover that in the class-room, they themselves are subject to an absolutist regime.

They are required to laboriously connect various historical ideas and

actually think about what they learn. The Nov. 17-18 Freshmen Discus-sions, coordinated by Amnesty Inter-national, were a case in point.

So what of these dis-cussions on human rights? What reasons do our shel-tered under-classmen have to be concerned about Abu Ghraib and the torture of fellow human beings? In other words, why suffer through the awkward silences and the timid exchange of ideas?

“The purpose of the freshmen discussions is to show students how one specific time period, namely the Enlightenment, can change the course

of history,” said H9 His-tory teacher, eriC keith. “We encour-age students to voice their

opinions without fear of judgment.”Upperclassmen representing

Amnesty International and Model United Nations directed the informal discussions, exposing H9 students to

By krIstIne leeCopy Editor

the value of critical thought. They posed questions such as “Should non-heterosexual people be allowed to marry?” and “What are your thoughts on the right to protest?”

“It seems that some students have their minds open to new ways of thinking, while others simply voice-their ideas on what they already know, or think they know,” said GreG GUy, who also teaches H9 History.

To juxtapose a teacher’s hopes with a student’s reality, freshman monsoon pabrai said of the discus-sions, “I felt uncomfortable at first, but when other people opened up, I

kind of felt more secure [about] shar-ing my ideas.”

So perhaps the rigor of the H9 History curriculum does not simply represent cruelty for cruelty’s sake; one might even go so far as to say that the Freshmen Discussions provide underclassmen with the resources necessary to cultivate their intellec-tual personas.

After all, if freshmen never dis-covered they have the right to protest against their curriculum, freshman year would be nothing but, as Thom-as Hobbes aptly put it, “nasty, brutish and short.”

krIs george The Northwood Howler yada khoongumjorn The Northwood Howler krIs george The Northwood Howler

Pulsating musicDiscover all of the secrets behind a band that has stormed into the music scene with a lot of noise: The Impulse!

ACCENT, 2

Common Sense“Can’t we dress ourselves?” Students are split over the new dress code for dance; some supporting it and others loathing it.

VIEWPOINT, 3

Keen KeithDoes Mr. Keith really teach five classes, coach both Girls and Boys Varsity Tennis and take care of two youngsters? Find out more about this multi-faceted teacher!SPORTS, 7

ACCENTNovember 24, 2009 The Northwood Howler2

The Impulse, Northwood’s up-and-coming alternative rock and indie band, has been a great local success, advancing to the finals in the Record-ing Artists against Drunk Driving contest and playing at venues includ-ing the Irvine Spectrum and the Dis-trict. You might have also seen them performing on campus last month during Red Ribbon Week, or perhaps you saw them raising the roof at the House of Blues with...Taylor Swift’s “Love Story”? These rocking Timber-wolves sat down with The Howler to answer a few candid questions about their start, experiences and future.

When and why did you guys decide to form a band? Drew Dunn-Rankin (sophomore, drums): When we were in 7th grade,

me, Ryan, Tyler and Mark had a band going, but we found Shea last March, and we all just really like playing mu-sic. We formed for the talent show at NHS. Ryan Hutchison (sophomore, bass): I mean, we were all kind of jamming since, like, 7th grade and had no sing-er. We just like playing music.

What are your inspirations?Marc Ninyo (junior, guitar): I start-ed learning how to play guitar with, like, Blink-182 and Red Hot Chili Peppers, and that influences how I write music. RH: Shea listens to a lot of Life-house.

Is there anything special about the name? How’d you come up with it?RH: Nope. We picked it on an “im-pulse” I guess, but we really didn’t

think about the pun at the time, so we kind of just picked it.

Describe a typical band practice.DDR: Marc messes around. MN: If we’re trying to write, usually we’ll start with a guitar riff and try to come up with the lyrics together, so we just run through it lot of times. RH: Sometimes we’re just practic-ing for a show that we might have that night, so we’re going to just run through our set and not work on new material. The funner band practices are where we actually get to write music and compose our songs. It’s pretty cool.

How do you come up with your songs? What’s the in-spiration behind them?DDR: Marc? Marc writes a lot of songs.

By Govil GuptaAccent Editor

The Impulse: A bold band that’s ready to rock up the O.C. MN: Things that happen in everyday life.

What type of “things in ev-eryday life” inspire you?MN: Shea? Shea Weber (senior, guitar): I don’t know. Sometimes when I’m writing a song, I just think of everyday things like Marc said: Relationships with people or like, if something’s not re-ally happening in your life, you can look at someone else’s perspective.

Any particular instances that would relate directly to a song?RH: Shea and Marc both had girl-friends, and they both wrote a lot of songs about them. MN (chuckles): Well, not really.

Marc, there’s a lot of pres-sure on you from your band members. Please elaborate.MN: I’ve written two songs about relationship ideas. The first one is called “Intertwine,” and the second one, that we haven’t recorded yet, is called “Surprise Surprise.”

What do you think makes you different from other local high school bands?SW: We’re different because all of us come together when we write. MN: With a lot of bands, it’s just one guy who knows how to write music and gets his friends to play with him. I think we all are more collaborative. DDR: I think that our songs are more developed than a lot of other high school bands’ songs. RH: I would also say our band is not a screamo band, which a lot of high school bands tend to be, so it’s kind

of a different thing.

Have you faced any major challenges or problems?All members: No, not really.RH: I mean, Marc’s a little mean to me sometimes, but that’s about it.MN: Usually, our ideas are on the same page.

Are you planning on signing with a label anytime soon?SW: We still need to write an album. DDR: We want to write as many songs as we can and try to get them recorded. And, hopefully, shop them around. Tyler Abravanel (sophomore, gui-tar): Brent Clawson Recording in Garden Grove. We use his studio.

So, what are your plans for the future as a band?SW: Well, after this year, I won’t be in high school anymore, but I think I’m staying around this area, so we’ll probably still be together, hopefully. DDR: It all depends on where Shea is going to college next year. I don’t want the band to influence his college choice, but it’d be nice if he stays close by.

Your Taylor Swift perfor-mance was extremely popu-lar. How’d you pull it off?RH: We had a lot of support from our friends, and I like Taylor Swift, so… DDR: Who doesn’t like Taylor Swift? MN: I love Taylor Swift. DDR: It took a bit of convincing. RH: But I think we pulled it together, and it worked out. A lot of people liked it. MN: Yeah. We rocked it up.

http://www.myspace.com/theimpulsemusic

ON AN IMPULSE: The Impulse isn’t afraid to take risks, and that’s what makes its rocking music so special.

The month of November has multiple holidays including Thanks-giving and Veteran’s Day, but one special day that is often overlooked is To Write Love on Her Arms Day, which was celebrated this year on Nov. 13.

In 2006, Jamie Tworkowski, an average guy who was friends with many musicians, started the non-profit organization called To Write Love on Her Arms. When one of his friends was abusing drugs and alco-hol and was on the verge of suicide, Tworkowski wanted to help her pay for rehab. At concerts, he set up a merchandise booth that sold shirts and bracelets, which were also be-ing worn by the bands on stage. He believed that every life matters. No matter how much pain, depression and angst affect people’s lives, they matter to this world.

After starting the organization, he sold shirts to help his friend af-ford rehab. She was able to get clean and sober up thanks to the shirts that Tworkowski sold. Since then, To Write Love on Her Arms has become a huge success. The organization has

now set aside one day annually to lit-erally write the word “love” on your arm any way you want to. It can be any size, color or style. The organi-zation wants people to ask questions about why people have “love” writ-ten on their arms in order to spread the message of stopping suicide and helping people overcome depression.

“The To Write Love On Her Arms organization spreads such an important message of always keeping love in our lives, despite the harsh world we live in every day,” said senior Mahsa Ashabi. “Sometimes, when people are struggling with things like addiction, depression or suicide, it can be hard to remember that people love them and, more im-portantly, to love yourself. The treat-ment and hope that this organization provides to those who need it is what is making a conscious effort to re-store those who are broken and need love in their lives and hearts.”

Even though only a few students at Northwood participated in To Write Love on Her Arms day, it does not mean the cause is trivial. Suicide, depression and many other personal struggles are problems that continue in many people’s lives. It only takes one person to make a difference.

By laura BranStaff Writer

All we need is “love”

anGela Hsu The Northwood Howler

L-O-V-E: James Han sports a simple“love” on his arm to show he cares.discounts on toys and gift items. Toys R Us is offering markdowns on ev-erything from Barbie bike helmets to LEGO Star Wars Edition. Their print advertisements also offer bonus sav-ings coupons giving customers 10% off the entire purchase.

Target is advertising their most popular deals, which will be avail-able starting at 5 a.m. These include Polaroid cameras for $39.99, DVDs as low $3.99, games such as Wii Mu-sic, for $27.99 and a furniture set for $29.99.

More superstores that plan to hold impressive sales include Kmart and Sears. Kmart is scheduled to open at 6 a.m. and is offering the Sylvania 7" Portable DVD Player for just $49.99 and all kids athletic shoes at 50% off. Sears is opening at 4 a.m. to present deals such as 2 Wii Games for only $14.99.

Are you reAdy to sAve some big bucks this blAck FridAy?

So, whether you choose to wake up bright and early for the doorbuster sales or simply stroll over to your fa-vorite store after the leftover turkey lunch, there will be a plethora of great deals, slashed prices and discounts for virtually everything on your holiday list. Happy shopping and saving!

November is notorious for tur-key, overeating and colorful leaves. But all the serious shoppers know that Black Friday, the day after Thanks-giving, kicks off the holiday shopping season. Several stores hold sales that have people lining up at doors before the sun even rises. Take advantage of these deals after the mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie have disappeared.

clothingPerhaps the most popular items

to shop for this coming holiday sea-son are clothes. Piles of sweaters and racks of jackets will line the walls of the most popular stores on Black Fri-day. Kohl's will open its doors at 4 a.m. on Black Friday for their early bird shoppers and will rewards these customers by offering “doorbuster” items. These are special deals pre-sented in limited quantities for those willing to shop in the early hours of Black Friday. Some sales at Kohl's in-clude Mudd skinny jeans for $16.99, turtleneck sweaters for $9.99, Ninten-do DS games offered at 20-30% off and a $10 Kohl's gift card for every $50 you spend. Another local store opening early at 3 a.m. on this event-ful shopping day is Old Navy, which plans to sell jeans and sweaters for a mere $15 and t-shirts for just $5.

technologyOther popular items to shop

for on Black Friday are electron-ics. Dell is offering discounts for a whole range of products: computers, cameras, DVD players, MP3 Players, televisions and GPS systems. Sales include the Sony BDP-S360 Blu-ray Disc Player offered at $149.99 and the Dell 14” Inspiron 14 Notebook at $599.00.

Another well-known electron-ics retailer, Best Buy, will host a VIP Black Friday contest. In addition to the sales and discounts already of-fered, such as the iHome priced at $39.99 and a Garmin GPS system at $99.99, Best Buy will select one win-ner from each of their markets to re-ceive a $1,000 gift card to spend and ride to Best Buy in a limousine.

Office Depot and Staples, who are famous for school supplies, are holding sales to celebrate the gift giving season. Office Depot is ad-vertising popular items such as Sony Headphones for just $7.99 and a USB Web Cam for $9.99. Staples will open at 6 a.m. to sell popular tech toys such as the HP 15.6" Laptop for just $299.98.

giFts And genericBlack Friday also offers great

VIEWPOINT November 24, 2009The Northwood Howler 3

JoePeter

ChangJohnny

Trouble on the dancefloor: Has the school dance policy gone too far?

I am offended. Northwood de-cided to promote a new dress code awareness campaign for the Winter White Out dance. Every year, school officials tell us not to wear bandan-nas, spankies or any other provoca-tive clothing -- but no one ever lis-tens. Over the past few years, the school hasn’t been consistent in choosing whom to let into the dance. If school officials were really serious, they would have kicked out almost everyone at the dance because the vast majority of students didn’t use “common sense” in choosing their at-tire according to dance policies.

By attempting to enforce the rules, they make the teachers feel uncomfortable. After every dance, I come to school the next Monday and

YuJohn

YES

NO

The school’s new “common sense” awareness guidelines revive the age old debate of whether or not the dress code is necessary.

The Northwood Howler is published by Northwood High School as an open forum for the exchange of news and ideas. Views expressed in The Northwood Howler do not necessarily represent the opinions of the NHS administration or the Irvine Unified School District.

Signed Letters to the Editor are welcomed and encouraged. They can be placed in Adviser Tim Horrigan’s mailbox or delivered to Room 1102. The Northwood Howler reserves the right to edit letters for length, grammar and clarity. Advertisements do not necessarily represent the opinion of the newspaper.

Mission Statement: To serve as a medium for school news and the expression of student ideas while adhering to the highest standards of journalistic integrity.nhshowler@gmail.com

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Classifieds: Northwood High students and faculty members may place classified ads in the Howler by contacting the newspaper at nhshowler@gmail.com. $5/ad. All proceeds from classifieds will be forwarded to the Human Rights Watch organization.

The Howler can be contacted at

Editor-in-ChiefLemiece ZarkaOnline Editor

Yada KhoongumjornCopy Editors

Somaya AbdelganyKristine Lee

Photo EditorsJasmine Chang

Yada KhoongumjornGraphics Editor

Yada KhoongumjornNews EditorAngela Luh

Accent EditorGovil Gupta

Centerspread EditorJasmine Chang

Viewpoint EditorJohn Yu

A&E EditorsAneesha Prakash

Victoria SunSports EditorJeremy Chen

Junk Drawer EditorJohnny ChangAd ManagerKristine Lee

Distribution ManagerSomaya Abdelgany

AdviserTim HorriganStaff Writers

Stefan BogdanovicLaura Bran

Ben BrazilAlan Chuang

Catherine DongElizabeth Ho

Kelly HsuPeter Joe

Kevin KimShayan Najmabadi

Sridevi ReddyJasmine Setoodeh

Ariana TangWinnie Wang

Regina WuIffanie Yang

Ashley Yonamine

PhotographersAngela Hsu

Shane HughesKristian George

A good friend of mine is an ar-dent communist. Last year, he gath-ered 10 signatures and filed a request to form a club whose mission was to serve as a gathering place for intellec-tual discussion of communism. His application was not even acknowl-edged.

Northwood club policies deny the formation of clubs deemed too partisan, and I believe that these poli-cies are unjustly restrictive and kill student diversity.

“But that’s an extreme exam-ple,” you might say. “I don’t know any communists.”

Maybe you don’t, but you prob-ably have good friends who are staunch Republicans or devout Dem-ocrats. Perhaps the greatest political awakening our generation has experi-enced was shaped by the 2008 presi-dential race, during which students and teachers alike closely followed Senator Obama and his rise to the presidency. My point is that our cam-pus is home to politically active stu-dents — yet we are denied the right to start a club like Young Democrats of America because it is too politically charged.

Some teachers and students ar-gue that the general student popula-tion is apathetic to the political issues of the modern age. I cannot think of a better way to spread political aware-ness than allowing political clubs to

am forced to listen to at least one of my teachers groaning about how un-comfortable the dance was for them. Worst of all, the rules are hardly be-ing enforced. I only see maybe two groups of people being kicked out when there are still people on the dance floor being just as, if not more, inappropriate. Furthermore, students also feel awkward around teachers at a social event.

What the school considers poor dress choices has no impact on the moral fiber of our school’s society. Think about it: Wearing different types of clothing isn’t really going to hurt anyone, so the school should focus on enforcing other concerns such as drugs, student violence and alcohol. There hasn’t been a case of

make their views known on campus.There is a more fundamental

problem with our current system, and it is one of self-expression. Our club roster is filled to the brim with com-munity service and aid groups. Cham-pioning human rights and spreading awareness about the disintegrating ozone layer are commendable causes, but the truth is that not everybody is a human rights activist or an environ-mental fighter.

Senior Neil Tennyson, for ex-ample, believes that the current sys-tem “endows students with a sense of being conscientious citizens with a historical memory while denying freedom of political expression, a disturbing affront to each of our aca-demic departments.”

Our campus is home to a Jewish club, a Christian club and a Muslim club. These are clubs of identity. Be-ing Jewish, Christian, or Muslim to a great extent defines who a person is. Being a liberal or a conservative is also a defining choice for many. It is a choice of identity, and yet we do not have clubs for liberals or conser-vatives.

Don’t get me wrong – the club application process is not altogether a systemic failure, and the people behind it are well-intentioned. There just happen to be a few kinks that re-quire increased student-teacher dia-logue to sort out.

someone’s GPA going down because of some body-rubbing between two students.

This is the 21st century. I know that when the teachers were younger they didn’t dance like we do now, but this is a new generation. We are just young students trying to have fun. I bet if the teachers were our age and in our generation they would be doing the same thing. We don’t dress like this every day or dance like this ev-ery day. Today’s generation has dif-ferent standards than the generations of the past and we should judge them according to the standards of today rather than the standards of yester-day. Trends come and go. Let us do our thing.

Maybe the text was just too small for people to pay much atten-tion to the dress code and dancing guidelines. The solution appears to be a fresh back side to the new dance contract, devoted solely to reiterating the rules in enormous, boldface font.

Although some students may feel deprived of their liberties, I find that the clarification of the dress code and dancing guidelines benefits all par-ties, including students, parents and school officials. For students who are offended by the regulations placed on school dances, I hope it isn’t shock-ing news, but personal freedom will always have to be balanced with maintaining modesty and security in the school.

There is a time and place for everything. The school is not a night-club. “Why can’t students have alco-hol on campus?” “Why can’t students display violent behavior?” I don’t

hear objections to these rules, so I don’t understand why there should be objections to the dance policy. I am not advocating that the school im-pose a tyrannous rule, but when the fully unleashed vigor of youth leads to misconduct or indiscipline, school officials should have the power to temper it.

In any organized school event, rules and their enforcement are both inevitable. So long as rules exist, however, students will continue to complain. School officials consider the opinions and well-being of stu-dents when determining where the line should be drawn — what should be allowed and what shouldn’t. But once the guidelines are established, the question then becomes whether students are going to adhere to the rules and avoid negative consequenc-es. I would like to see fewer students getting caught for violations of the

rules, but rebelliously dodging school officials is not the way to do it.

I don’t think the rules are all that severe. I have seen many outfits worn to dances, and it is clear that the dress code allows for a great deal of flex-ibility. The dress code guards against excessively revealing clothing but still leaves room for a wide array of popular fashion choices. For girls, short skirts and dresses can still fit within the dress code guidelines. As for guys, I can’t imagine why anyone would want to wear a Speedo to a dance.

Students need to understand that without any rules, there would be ab-solutely no control over inappropriate behavior such as excessively provoc-ative dancing. Without any enforce-ment, the rules would have no mean-ing. But without any violations of the rules, there would only be greater harmony and fewer punishments.

Club restrictions shut down student voices

Graphic provided by Shane hugheS

ACCESS DENIED: Regulations strike back.

The lack of political or partisan clubs on campus is

fundamentally wrong

DANCE DANCE REVOLUTION: Is the school dance policy in need of a revolution?Photo provided by andy Cho

November 24, 20094 CENTERSPREAD 5November 24, 2009

To freshmen, he’s distinguished; to sophomores, he’s quirky; to ju-niors, he’s a heartthrob; and to seniors he’s silly and energetic. Though he is undoubtedly popular, what exactly is senior Giuseppe Ricapito univer-sally known for? The answer is easy: He is notoriously stylish.

From his colorful headbands and Members Only jacket, to his torn white Sperry Top-siders, this senior stands out in a line-up of blue jeans and tees. His most famous signature items are the Mardi Gras beads around his ankles and the old shirt cuffs around his wrists, not to mention his mother’s jeweled metal wristband from Mexico, a plaid vintage jacket and his favorite fedora.

“I get all of my clothes on sort of a second-hand basis: thrift stores, garage sales or my dad’s closet. I like to go to The Lab with my friend Omar and look through the stuff that they have there at Urban Outfitters,” said Ricapito.

Ricapito’s unique style developed, like a butterfly emerging from a co-coon of Billabong t-shirts and typical Vans shoes. He laughs as he recalls his style as a freshman, when stylistic creativity meant a new sweater. He

OK, I realize I’m just beating a much-de-bated topic even further into the ground, but I have a personal...let’s say… liking for ear-rings on guys, and I just don’t see enough of it around campus. I know most guys don’t start paying attention to their looks until they’re out of high school, and that’s fine. But there are also guys who won’t pierce their ears just because most other males don’t. That’s pretty ridiculous.

I’m not claiming that all boys should go out and get their ears pierced. I know that piercings don’t work on every guy, but that doesn’t mean they should be taboo either. Se-riously, what I’m really against is this strange idea that a male with his ears pierced sud-denly becomes less…male. I know a lot of guys have expressed interest in getting ear-rings, but most drop the idea quickly because they don’t want their fellow “infinitely more manly” dudes thinking that they’re gay (and there’s not even anything wrong with that in the first place)!

So I doubly admire every male Timber-wolf who ignores his peers and decides to take that step, because there is absolutely nothing wrong with a guy who likes to look good. Really, there doesn’t need to be much of a difference between earrings, and say, a haircut or a new wristband, or even things like skinny jeans. It’s just like heels, dresses or makeup on girls: Our campus is a far cry from downtown New York, but that shouldn’t stop anyone from expressing his or her sense of fashion.

Winnie Wang: Oh my gosh, he’s hot.Catherine Dong: Ew...WW: What do you mean “ew”?? Can’t you appreciate a guy with a fashion sense? Just look at his face. I mean, layers; the black sweater on top of the striped white shirt. They contrast each other and accentuate his perfect skin. The tweed olive green jacket also pulls the whole outfit together.CD: But there’s way too much going on with his shirts and giant coat, and along with the scarf, motorcycle gloves and random coat buttons, his outfit is just overwhelming.WW: Overwhelmingly beautiful! The neck-

laces with the black leather gloves are nice accessories. And the black wool scarf is so artfully wrapped around his neck. Plus, it looks really cozy. The messenger bag seems to shout “trendy school boy from the metropolitan city.”CD: You mean man-purse? Something about man-purse just screams wrong gen-der. Guys don’t need accessories. Keep it clean and simple. I mean, did he really have to roll up his pant legs? They make his legs look short and stubby.WW: Rolling up denim is the new thing right now...I think. Plus, it accentuates his expensive shoes and the neat little attached chain.CD: Oh gosh, those combat boots? They’re like a mix between formal dress shoes and weird goth wear. They clash with that “school boy” look you said he was going for. Remember that?WW: Well...it’s a school boy... rebellion. Yeah. Duh.CD: Sure…a rebellion against good taste. My advice to him: Cut the extra accesso-ries and stuff; it’s not necessary. His gor-geous face will take him all the way. Isn’t that right?WW: Yes! But he’s adding to his overall look by caring about his appearance and looking suave.CD: He shouldn’t overdo it, though. I mean, would you really want your boy-friend to spend as much time in front of the mirror as you do? WW: Uh...well... if...CD: Don’t worry. If you guys get married, I’ll have the perfect wedding present for him.WW: Oh, cool. And what would that be?CD: A plain white T-shirt.

guys with earrings

Heels

Boots

Flats

Sandals

Sneakers

Wedges

I think sneakers are a trusty complement to jeans or shorts because they give off a simple, laid-back vibe. I don’t really care what sneakers girls wear, but high tops are too weird for me.Sandals would be my all-around top pick. Summer dresses with strappy sandals cre-ate an unbeatable, refreshing look. Show-ing skin on your feet make your legs appear longer, which is definitely a plus for me.

I think boots are the hardest to work into a great outfit. My favorite combination? Suede knee-high fall boots paired with skirts or dresses — undeniably sleek. Ankle boots are just too elfish for my taste.

I love sneakers on girls because they indi-cate that a girl can go out of her comfort zone and show a spunky side. I think Nikes have that colorful and bright look that can show a lot about a person’s personality.

Flats are a popular choice on campus, but I’m not the biggest fan. They simply don’t provide the sophisticated look that sandals do. But with skinny jeans and a nice plaid shirt on top, flats are a perfect complement.

Wedges are second-class on my scale. Plat-forms can be slightly awkward, and the chunky heel appears too heavy. I would choose sandals over wedges any day.

I like heels on girls, but I would mostly re-serve them for special occasions. With a stunning formal dress, open-toed heels are perfect for that suave, feminine feel.

Perfect (or can I say “really cute”?) with a nice summer looking skirt and with a plain v-neck top. They would also go really well with a summer dress because the outfit is casual and everything goes together nicely.

These also go well with jeans, but they can’t be too high because otherwise they can make the girl look short. Black suede, scrunched mid-calf boots especially catch my eye.

They have to be nice and simple. I can’t stand strappy heels because they make feet look like they’re suffocating or caged Heels can’t be too high as well because, well, I’m not exactly the tallest guy. I don’t think I can accept a girl that’s taller than me.They go really well with nice, dark blue jeans. I like plain flats though, nothing too much. One color flats would be suitable with pretty much anything.

I personally don’t like wedges because they just don’t go with anything at all. You might as well just go for flats.

If they’re Keds, then yes; they’re cute with jeans. If they’re basketball shoes, then defi-nitely nay all the way.

Boots are sexy though they are not as ver-satile as flats. Knee-length boots are a bit difficult to pull off, so when in doubt, go for the ankle boots.

These are a great go-to choice. I think these look great with skirts and dresses, and de-pending on how the sandals look, they can work with jeans too.

Unless a girl is trying to intimidate some guy with a professional looking suit or going to a fancy dance, I urge all girls to please save these weapons for the formal wear.

These are definitely my favorite. They look killer with jeans, tights or just about any-thing and add cuteness to any outfit.

Their chunky heels are awkward and re-mind me too much of blocks. I can always appreciate a pair of Mary Jane wedges though. But overall, leave the wedges to the fashionistas or height-challenged.

“Why would she tie her shirt at her waist? It’s so 2000.” -Brandon Choi (9)

his opinions on her shoes

should he wear this?

what he thinks

“It’s hot. Way hot.”-Jamie Ullman (10)

“I like her rings and her plaid shirt around her waist. I want her jeans.” -Mark Tsujimura (11)

“It’s revealing, but not. She looks very fierce.” -Daniel Song (12)

“It’s too dark. If the shirt was a lighter, shinier gray, it would be better.” -Kevin Ro-wen (11)

“Black is in.” -Tory Hayashi (10)

“I like the dress because the colors aren’t too in your face. The whole outfit is nice. It’s simple and clean.” -Alex Pensado (11)

“The shoe is a combination of a heel, boot and sandal. That’s weird!” -Cameron Yong (10)

“This outfit kind of reminds me of Urban Outfitters, kind of European-ish. It looks good!” - Sheni Olora (11)

“I think it looks cool, like rock-er chick. The purse is pretty big though. You could carry a body in there. But yeah, overall it looks good.” -Eric Nelson (9)

“Well, I think it’s cute, but I think the belt looks kind of weird, and it’s too ruffly. The necklace doesn’t go well with the shirt. And what’s going on with the shoe? People would make fun of that here.” - Jake Campbell (10)

all the rage in rags-guiseppe ricapito

All photos: lookbook.nu, fashiontoast.com, urbanoutfitters.com, craccum.co, The Howler staffQuotes complied by: Regina Wu, Kelly Hsu

Graphics: Jasmine Chang

Kris GeorgePeter Joe Peter Hoang

by Jasmine Setoodeh

by Yada Khoongumjornchanged, slowly but surely. He began to move toward RVCA and Obey, brands whose abstract, folksy and ambiguous symbols caught his atten-tion.

“As a junior I think I began to come out of my shell a little bit more personally and began to wear things that were a little different,” he said.

Stylistically, he’s blatantly avant-garde, a real catch. But more than that, he is intelligent. Though on the surface, Giuseppe’s style seems scruffy and careless, with a closer look, you can see his style is actually quite deliberate and refreshingly original.

“Many people are bound by these social constructs where they think it’s ‘weird’ or ‘abnormal’ to do things that other people are not doing, but I think it’s the spirit that pervades beyond a person’s style and reflects onto their character,” said Ricapito.

Ricapito also revealed how his style has transitioned since his fresh-man year.

“I think my style has transitioned in the past four years because I have matured as a person enough not to make the opinion of others a consider-ation when I get ready in the morning,” he said.

He began to tie old pieces of shirts to his ankles and wore button-down shirts that revealed some skin. He no longer wore any socks with his loaf-ers and piled on a copious supply of rings and bangles.

In regards to being a fashion role model, Ricapito feels absolutely no responsibility to be one. He stresses that a person’s impression of style can be in stark contrast to others. He doesn’t want his style to be miscon-strued as any one thing but as an ever changing culmination of the rare and unique things he likes to associate with himself. He draws his inspi-ration from music and literature, and is fascinated with old hippies, rock stars, bums and writers.

Sure, he has the looks, but what about his personality? Is there more to Giuseppe Ricapito than his looks?

All of his answers to questions were off-beat and atypical, just like his style. His confidence and poise were staggeringly organic. In the end, his abnormal style doesn’t really matter because he isn’t just one of a kind in his brand of clothing, but also in his brand of personality. He can be unabashedly obnoxious but at other times quiet and observant; silly and impulsive yet profound and consistent.

Giuseppe is a rarity at Northwood. His strong sense of self serves as a source of purpose and drive in his life. What he wears to school, however frivolous and vain in the grand scheme of things, remains a strong expres-sion of his personality and character.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENTNovember 24, 2009 The Northwood Howler6

With a five-time platinum sell-ing album still on the Billboard Hot 100, her headlining tour selling out within minutes and her supposed re-lationship with Taylor Lautner, Tay-lor Swift has plenty going her way. Country music may not be popular among today’s teenagers, but Taylor Swift manages to soar above the typi-cal country singer stereotype and is generally a crowd pleaser.

“I have always liked Taylor Swift, always. Forever and always,” said junior Kyle Ruane. “I hate coun-try music, but I love Taylor Swift; it’s a mixture of her looks and beauty and musical talent.”

Only 19 years old, Swift has exceeded her own expectations and has overcome the stereotype of being a typical country singer. However, some Northwood students are not as enthusiastic about her music.

“I’m not a fan of Taylor Swift, but her lyrics are catchy,” said senior Josh Elter.

No matter how you spin it, her lyrics will get stuck in your head and you can’t help but sing them out loud. After a while, you forget the reason

What do senior Vince Tran and juniors Alex Coluzzi and Mark Tsu-jimura all have in common? With one glance at their resumés, you can tell that it’s their love for music. These three talented musicians have been recognized as November’s Students of the Month for their passion and dedication to Northwood’s music program.

For one, they’ve all been March-ing Timberwolves throughout their high school careers and have each earned leadership positions. Coluzzi is the sousaphone section leader, Tsujimura is the saxophone section leader and Tran is one of the pit sec-tion leaders.

They’re also active members of Northwood’s instrumental music program, participating in top-level bands. Coluzzi plays tuba in Wind Ensemble, while Tsujimura and Tran are in Wind Symphony and play tenor saxophone and percussion, respec-tively.

Here’s what these musicians had to say about the award and music in general:What does being Student of the Month mean to you? Vince Tran: To me, being Student of the Month means that I have been recognized for my hard work and dedication to the instrumental music program. I believe I’ve earned this recognition because I have set a posi-tive example to my fellow musical peers.Alex Coluzzi: To me, this was quite unexpected to be chosen for an award. It is nice to be recognized for doing the same things in music I have been doing since the beginning of high school. Mark Tsujimura: It’s pretty cool. In marching band, I work hard, and I’m trying to make the band better. I’m glad Mr. Case recognized me for working hard. What do you like about music? VT: Music can express one’s true emotions in ways words cannot. [It] is powerful enough to affect the way people think and feel and its chal-

lenges bring people together.AC: It’s fun to play, and it’s good to be involved in something, and I enjoy that. MT: Playing with other good musi-cians. What do you want to do with your musical talents in the future? VT: In the future, I would like to study music. I’m applying to NYU, Uni-versity of Michigan and Northwest-ern as a musical performance major. Although my realistic side wants to find a career that would be more fi-nancially sound, my dream would be to become a world class marimbist. I would love to travel the world to per-form and give master classes. I would also like to compose and arrange my own pieces.AC: Probably just playing for enjoy-ment. I don’t plan to pursue a career or any other thing outside of high school. I’ll probably play in a cou-ple bands or something, but nothing much after. MT: Well, I don’t know, I don’t want to major in music. Maybe just play in a little gig with friends.

you hated her in the first place and develop a neutral opinion about her, or maybe even learn to love her. Even though country music is not a genre that most people at Northwood would call their favorite, Swift’s lyrics and charisma appeal to almost everyone.

So despite winning the Country Music Association (CMA) award for Entertainer of the Year, Swift isn’t a conventional classic country singer. She sings about personal experiences that many teenagers can relate to in a pop-ish style. She isn’t singing about how “it’s five o’clock somewhere,” a reference to drinking that many coun-try singers use and most teenagers don’t care about. In her first album “Taylor Swift,” she gave off more of a country vibe, while in “Fearless” she reveals more of a pop influence.

Swift has just come out with “Fearless: Platinum Edition,” which was the number one album on iTunes when it first debuted. This new album features new songs, including “For-ever & Always (Piano Version)” and “Jump Then Fall.” Swift has brought out a different side of country music, and although some people haven’t changed their minds about country music, she has prompted many to at least giving it a chance.

By Laura BranStaff Writer

By Catherine DongStaff Writer

November’s noteworthy musicians

Jasmine Chang The Northwood Howler

CoME TogEThER: Alex Coluzzi, Mark Tsujimura and Vince Tran all play different instruments, yet they come together to build one sound and image in Northwood’s instrumental music department.

http://www.denverpost.com

CATChy CouNTRy: Swift accepts her CMA award in blissful tears, expressing the emotion she devotes to her music.

Swift soars above country stereotype

SPORTSThe Northwood Howler 7November 24, 2009

Northwood’s Athletes of the Month for November, water polo standout Kyle Kim-E and tennis prodigy Courtney Pattugalan, represent excellence in water and on land.

Kyle Kim-E:Setting a state swimming record

at 12 years old, senior Kyle Kim-E’s strong swimming background has helped him to excel in the fast-paced sport of water polo.

He has been part of the Varsity Water Polo team for four years and is one of Orange County’s top scorers. In a sport that requires a lot of dedication, endurance and motivation, his hard work has not gone unnoticed.

Surf and turf: November Athletes of the Month“He works extremely hard every

practice and game. He has had a great regular season and has been a great leader in and out of the water,” said Coach Ed Carrera.

Kim-E has been training countless hours since the end of last school year, and being honored as Athlete of the Month is a great feeling for him. He notes that water polo is a team sport and he couldn’t have had a great season without his team and coaches.

“My success in the pool couldn’t have been as great as it has been without the support and motivation of my teammates,” said Kim-E.

Courtney Pattugalan:

After playing tennis for nine years, junior Courtney Pattugalan has swung her way to the top of the Sea View League.

CIF sports resultsThis year, several Northwood

High School fall sports teams advanced to CIF playoffs.

Boys Water Polo, ranked No. 10 in league, finishing 4-1, but they unfortunately lost 11-10 to No. 5 Ventura High School in a CIF Division I game.

Girls Volleyball, which went 4-5 in league, lost in the second round against Laguna Beach 3-0 in a CIF Division I-A game after defeating

Los Osos 3-2 in the first round. Girls Cross Country finished

2nd in their CIF Preliminary Heat, and then 6th place in CIF finals, qualifying them to compete in CIF state on Saturday, Nov. 28 in Fresno.

Girls Tennis finished 2-0 in league, making it to the 2nd round of CIF playoffs, eventually losing to No.1 ranked Corona Del Mar.

Girls Golf team had a 6-1 league record and advanced to the CIF team championships, placing 12th, while sophomores Rachel Kim and Tracy Kim advanced to individual finals.

We took a stroll around school and documented Northwood students’ favorite sports teams. Here is how they responded: NFL team?“The Chargers. You gotta support the home team.”“I have to go with New Orleans. They are playing really good this year.”“J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets.”“Bengals, baby!”“The Patriots. Tom Brady is HOT!!!”

NBA team? “Lakers.”“Dallas Mavericks. Dirk is the man.”“KOBEEEEE!!! I mean the Lakers.”“The Cavs. LeBron is way better than Kobe.”“Boston. Enough said.”

MLB team?“Angels all the way!”“Yankees. We got that Series baby!!”“Phillies. We got screwed in the Series.”“Gotta go with the Giants. We suck, but I love ‘em still.”“L.A. The Dodgers, I mean.”

College Football team?“Oregon is my team all the way. We took it to USC big time!!!”“UCLA. Gotta love the Bruins.”

Students speak: What’s your favorite team?

“My favorite team has got to be the Trojans.”“TCU. It’s where LT is from. Gotta love ‘em for that.” “I only watch NFL.”

NHL team?“The Ducks are the best in town!!!”“Kings are definitely my favorite team.”“Gotta go with the Red Wings. Gotta love those octopi.”“The Sharks are the greatest. Plus, I am from San Jose. It’s my home team.”“I like the Penguins. They are the cutest animals.”

Soccer team?“I don’t know. Real Madrid in Spain and Man U in England.”“Chelsea. They will dominate this year.”“Barcelona.”“I only know the Galaxy.”“USA?”

By Ben Brazil andShayan najmaBadiStaff Writers

Coach feature: Eric KeithEric Keith’s charisma and

easy going nature are evident in his freshman Honors Humanities 9 and AP U.S. History classes. During 7th and 8th period though, people walking by the tennis courts can find Keith coaching the girl’s Varsity tennis team in the fall and the boy’s Varsity tennis team in the spring. His encouraging words and advice ring through the courts, encouraging the team members. What’s the history behind one of the most popular teachers at Northwood?

Keith was born in Los Angeles, but his family eventually moved to Lake Forest when he was eight. Because his mom’s side of the family lives in France, he spent some time there growing up. Keith attended Trabuco Hills High School where he played tennis and basketball, playing center in basketball because he was pretty tall. In tennis he played both singles and doubles.

At UCLA, Keith double majored in History, his favorite and easiest subject in school, and French, staying true to his heritage.

“[College] was such a great experience, and it really allowed me to explore what areas I wanted to commit myself to in the future. The atmosphere and enthusiasm really showed me what it meant to be part of something bigger,” said Keith. “It also didn’t hurt that we had a great basketball and football team (the football team beat USC all four years that I was at school), and I got to see how much fun a rivalry can be.”

Keith had never really planned on coaching tennis. During Keith’s first year at Northwood, the Varsity tennis coach, Seth Sushinsky, found out that Keith had played in high school. He was offered the position to coach the JV team, and so he gave it a shot. It’s no surprise that Keith took over as the Varsity coach when the position became vacant.

“It’s fun seeing the students outside of the classroom and working

with them to improve in all areas of their lives,” said Keith.

While he loves playing tennis, Keith’s favorite sport to watch is baseball because of the game’s intricacies. When he is able to watch the Angels, one of his favorite teams (besides the Lakers and any UCLA team), Keith shares season tickets with a few other teachers and tries to go to at least 10-12 baseball games a year with his family.

In addition to his family, Keith also considers his job at Northwood to be a blessing.

“I feel very fortunate to be here teaching and coaching. It is a tremendous school that is working on creating a great tradition,” said Keith.

Fun Facts-Follows the philosophy of function over fashion, often wearing Nike and Adidas clothes together. However, he has become conscious of this fashion mishap in fear of being called a “cross-dresser.”-Enjoys going on dates with his wife and hanging out with his kids. He has a 3-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter-Favorite shows this season are “The Office,” “Glee,” “FlashForward,” “Psych” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm”-First real job was working at a video store across the street from his high school — he claims it was one of the best jobs he ever had.

By Winnie WangStaff Writer

KriS george The Northwood Howler

A hISTORy ACE: Eric Keith spends his day at Northwood as both an acclaimed history teacher and tennis coach.

angela hSu The Northwood Howler

STANdOuT AThlETES: Senior Kyle Kim-E (top) and junior Courtney Pattugalan (bottom) are the November Athletes of the Month.

By Kelly hSuStaff Writer

By Stefan BogdanovicStaff Writer

Pattugalan is ranked #1 in the upcoming League finals. She has been on Varsity since her freshman year, and for the past two years, she has been the Sea View League Champion for singles.

“She has been undefeated in league play for the past three years and her overall record this year is 47-3,” said Coach Eric Keith.

Pattugalan is not only a talented tennis player but also a great role model for others as the team captain.

“She is a leader on this year’s team and the other girls certainly look up to her for inspiration,” said Keith.

Her hard work and dedication have paid off, and Pattugalan feels honored to be an Athlete of the Month.

“It makes me feel appreciated for working hard and doing well at something I enjoy,” said Pattugalan.

JUNKNovember 24, 2009 The Northwood Howler8

Umm… 2001: Bernd-Jürgen Brandes from Germany volunteered himself to be stabbed repeatedly and then partly eaten by Armin Meiwes (who was later called the “Cannibal of Rothenburg”). Brandes had an-swered an internet advertisement by Meiwes looking for someone for this purpose. Brandes explicitly stated in his will that he wished to be killed and eaten.

Umm… 2003: Timothy Treadwell and his girlfriend Amie Huguenard, American environmentalists who lived in the wilderness with bears for 13 summers in a remote region in Alaska, were killed and partially con-sumed by a bear.

Umm… 2007: Humberto Hernan-dez, a 24-year-old Oakland, Califor-nia resident was killed while walking on a sidewalk after being struck in the face by an airborne fire hydrant; A passing car blew a tire and swerved onto the sidewalk, striking the fire hy-drant. The force of the water pressure released so suddenly it propelled the 200-pound hydrant toward Hernan-dez with enough force to kill him.

Umm… 2007: Surinder Singh Ba-jwa, the Deputy Mayor of Delhi, In-dia, was kicked by a Rhesus Macaque monkey at his home and fell from a first floor balcony, suffering serious head injuries. He later died from his injuries.

Umm… 2008: Gerald Mellin, a U.K. businessman, committed suicide by tying one end of a rope around his neck and the other to a tree. He then hopped into his Aston Martin DB7 and drove down a main road in Swan-sea until the rope decapitated him. It was supposedly an act of revenge against his ex-wife for leaving him.

Umm… 2009: Diana Durre of Chambers, Nebraska died after a 75-foot (23 m) tall Taco Bell sign fell on top of the truck cab she was in. Strong winds caused the pole to break at a welded joint about 15 feet (4.5 m) above the ground.

Umm… 2009: Vincent Smith II, an employee at the Cocoa Services Inc. Chocolate Factory in Camden, New Jersey was loading chunks of raw chocolate when he slipped and fell into a large melting tank filled with 120°F (50°C) chocolate and was knocked out by one of the mix-ing paddles. Smith was trapped in the melting tank for 10 minutes before rescuers were able to extract him. He was declared dead a short time later.

Umms...By Shayan najmabadiStaff Writer

The Howler Advice Column: The Good, The Bad, The UglyStaff WritersBy alan Chuang, Kevin Kim, elizabeth ho

Dear Howler Staff,I have trouble singing with my tight jeans but if I stop wearing tight jeans I can’t get girls. What should I do?Sincerely,Soprano_Sk8r169

The Good

OPTION: Continue Taking Full Tests (with full reviews): January 9th,16th,23th,30th

ScheduleMONDec.21Dec.28

TUEDec.22Dec.29

WEDDec.23Dec.30

THUDec.24Dec.31

9AM-10:30AM English

9AM-12:30PM

Administration of full ACT

9AM-10:30AM English

9AM-12:30PM

Administration of full ACT

10:30AM-12PM

Reading

12:30PM-1PM

Lunch Break

10:30AM-12PM

Reading

12:30PM-1PM

Lunch Break

12PM-12:30PM

Lunch Break

1PM-2:30PM

Review of Test

12PM-12:30PM

Lunch Break

1PM-2:30PM

Review of Test

12:30PM-2PM

writing

2:30PM-3:30PM

Review of Test

12:30PM-2PM

writing

2:30PM-3:30PM

Review of Test

2PM-3:30PM

Math

2PM-3:30PM

Math

OPTION : Continue Taking Full Tests with Full Reviews (January 9th, 16th, 23th, 30th)Schedule subject to change

forYale

BrownUniversity of Penn

Johns Hopkins..

Duke

This is actually a win-win situation, because no matter what you decide to do you will have learned something important about yourself: You are ex-cessively self-conscious about what other people think about you. Use this as an opportunity for introspec-tion and acceptance of who you are as a person — look at your strengths and positive traits instead of your nega-tive ones. Do what makes you happy and stop basing every action on what other people think. In the end, you’ll only end up pleasing no one. Re-member that looks are superficial and people don’t like you for your looks, but rather, for your character. Also remember that people who criticize others do so because they themselves are insecure. So stop worrying, and

be happy!

The Bad

I think that the choice is obvious. You need to pick one over the other. And don’t listen to what the “Good” writer says — it’s really a lose-lose situa-tion. Sure, you learn a lot more about your personality and your tendency to be self-conscious, but really, who cares? Introspection is for

the weak. We’re dealing with a tan-gible gain here. You’re going to lose either your music or your physical at-tractiveness. Close your eyes and flip a coin or something.

The Ugly

Girls love a guy who can start fash-ion trends. So ditch the jeans, and get some floral skirts. It’s time for change.

Random pack pick: ASB and class presidentsBy Somaya abdelganyCopy Editor

What is ASB like this year? Lee Lazar: “I don’t know, because I’m a freshman...so fun” Sunny Singh: “What the freshman said.” Oh really? Does that make you happy? SS: “I don’t understand your ques-

tion. Does what make me happy?”

So Riann, I know that you had to kiss Theo, your fellow ASB-er, in the play. What was that like? James Hartshorne: “Awesome face time.” Riann Simmons: “That was my dream come true.”

How many times have you guys been backstabbed? RS: “I was counting the scars yester-day. I think it’s...two.”

So I heard the freshman prank went extremely well. What hap-pened? Serena Chan: “It was way better than last year because I’m a sophomore now, and it made me cry last year.”

No way! How does that make you guys feel? SC: “Yeah it was sad; I really wanted them to cry.”

Who’s fault is it that all the elec-tions are rigged? RS: “Sunny Singh has actually never lost an election, so umm you do the

math” Who’s the hottest on ASB? SC: “Oh, James Hartshorne.”

If ASB was like natural selection, who would survive the longest? SS: “I just know that Lee Lazar would be dead first.”

According to rumors, I hear Sunny and Serena had a thing. How are you guys doing? SC: “What?!” SS: “It’s actually that Sunny and Kyle had a thing. You’re mistaken.”

Why is ASB so offensive? SS: “The same reason Howler is.”

Some people call ASB the Associ-ated Slave Body. How? SS: “Doesn’t apply, I’m the slave owner.”

So I heard the ASB program is clos-ing after this year. Any thoughts? RS: “I mean an ASB without Riann Simmons pretty much won’t thrive, so I can understand how that would happen.” SS: “I think Riann is a little arro-

gant” Where do you guys keep the dead bodies? SC: “Yeah in the storage room with all our toys.”

Do you play with them? RS: “Sometimes we have sacrifices.”

So Lee, how is life after starring in “The Grudge?” LL: “What?! I don’t understand. Are you calling me the girl? I’m definitely the creepy girl. My life after the mov-ie? I feel great.”

When I say the word “why” what pops into ur head? Sarah Dougherty: “Uuuhhh. Repeat that? I mean that’s what really comes to my head.”

Sarah, do you consider yourself to be hellacious? SD: “What does hellacious mean? Sure?”

Are you guys ready to get pied in the face at the next rally? LL: That would be awesome; I want to get pied.

Top 10 Worst Things to Say at the Thanksgiving Dinner TableBy johnny ChangStaff Writer

10. Dad, are these all your kids?

9. I’m happy you hunted the turkey by yourself! But can you please point the gun away from me?

yada Khoongumjorn The Northwood Howler

Answers to the Pokemon Pictures from last issue: Exveemon, Pikachu, Tyranitar, Jynx, Spoink, Claydol, Absol, Eevee

The Bad

8. Don’t worry! Dad always falls asleep in his soup!

7. Now everyone who is going to a UC school may join me in prayer.

6. Thanks for having us over as guests! If any of us gets E. Coli I will sue you.

5. You replaced the turkey with a swine!?

4. I’m happy for you, Mom, and the food is great and all, but Nanna had the greatest pumpkin pie of all time!

3. Why are we at Taco Bell?

2. We sit here eating like pigs while less than 20% of the world’s population doesn’t have clean water to drink. Happy ThanksGIVING you guys!

1. I’m a Vegan.