This week in my government class we started a month-long project called “Create Your Own Campaign”, in which students work together to develop political ideology and platforms, speeches, fund-raising techniques, and commercials. Although we’ve only just begun the huge assignment, I have a good feeling about it—the project involves creative hands-on and interactive learning that I wish all of my classes emphasized. For me, and guaranteeably for the rest of my class, the project is designed in a way that truly forces you to think about your own opinions and discover exactly where you stand on the political spectrum. It’s so much better than simply reading the textbook and being taught what to think—now, we have to think for and teach ourselves, what education and learning should really be about in the first place.

~ Sarah Henningsen

Winter Break lasts two weeks in my school district.  That means that there’s a swing every few years between starting extremely late or ending extremely early.  The early ending is really early–one year school began again on January 2nd.  This year, however, we’ve swung the other way.  School gets out on the 21st, a mere four days before Christmas.  So, four days before Santa starts his trips and three days before I actually start wrapping presents, I’ll be studying for tests and finishing off homework.

Although I don’t actually have a choice (especially with this year’s schedule, which makes an early break impossible), I’d actually prefer the other setting.  Starting Winter Break late has prevented me from putting up a Christmas tree the past few years, made me do less shopping that I would have liked, and made my December much more stressful.  Even worse, finals are in January, and a late Winter Break means that teachers have less time to prepare students for finals.  There are also a solid four weeks before Winter Break begins, as the posters around my school cheerfully reminded me all this week.

It’s some consolation that students in any districts that opt for the early break will be in school when I’m still enjoying my second week.  But although I might savor my vacation a little later, I know that it will cost me when I return to school, facing only a few weeks of review between me and exams.

I would be very afraid right now if I were Hillary Clinton or John Edwards.

That is all.

-Allison Levitsky

Only one week after school began, following the languid summer vacation, the highly decorated Miramonte High School public speaking team received the news that the team had placed in the top 1% of competitive speech school across the country. Miramonte public speaking ranked 59th out of the 2,700 National Forensic League schools nationwide. This wonderful news was in addition to the fact that just last spring, Miramonte’s own, Sandy Maguire received the Fifth Diamond Award, a highly rare award that depicts the great achievements and accomplishments of a public speaking coach.

Following the first two Golden Gate Speech Association tournaments, Miramonte’s public speaking team has once again proven to be highly successful. At the first congressional tournament, numerous students from schools across the Bay Area competed at Washington High School, on September 29th, in San Francisco. The competitive speakers were divided into the more advanced Senate, and the beginning House chambers, where they debated five state and federal bills and resolutions.

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Many high school seniors and new voters, such as myself, who are feeling disillusioned with current lackluster presidential candidates, might soon have reason to celebrate.

Michael Bloomberg, multi-billionaire and mayor of New York City, has confided that he is prepared to launch a $500 million campaign to benefit the Independent party, thus inciting speculation concerning his intentions to enter the 2008 presidential race.

Bloomberg, who served as a lifelong Democrat before running for NYC mayor as a Republican in 2001 and then leaving the Republican party this past June, holds liberal social policies and conservative fiscal values that could appeal to young voters who are disappointed with uncompromising politicians and all-or-nothing beliefs.

By supporting abortion rights and environmental protection while keeping taxes down and dabbling in philanthropy, Bloomberg represents an modern, ideal merging of Democratic and Republican beliefs. I can confidentially say if he decides to run, Bloomberg has my vote.

– Natalie Eidbo

Scary? More like disgusting.

I used to check the movie listings every Friday night for the next scary movie coming out. It is my favorite genre. Or should I say it was my favorite genre. Hollywood has now made my favorite wide-eyed, edge-of-your-seat, bone-chilling scary movies into gagging, bloody, gore-filled experiences that leaves me completely disgusted.

When a movie is said to be under the genre horror, by definition that means “a very strong, painful feeling of fear, shock or distress,” according to my dictionary. But it seems Hollywood has mixed up its genre definitions and has mixed horror with grotesque and revolting feelings.

I believe the last good, truly scary movie was “The Ring.” It had just enough plot-line, anticipation, and menacing characters to scare anyone down to their bones. But, what it lacked, thankfully, was this new obsession with blood and gore.

You can’t go to the theater anymore without seeing someone’s flesh being torn apart but some form of mutant or alien. Movies like “Halloween,” about Michael Myers, or “The Hills Have Eyes” are some of the most disgusting movies I have ever seen. I was more scared of my dinner coming up than of what was actually happening.

But what frustrates me more is the lack of creativity in the plot line. I used to love guessing what the final twist would be; if the protagonist would turn out to be the killer or if the ghost was actually trying to warn the characters of what was happening. Now I must sit back and endure two hours of torture, stabbing, and death rather than rising adrenaline, fear and alarm.

This is not to say that such violent and supernatural events aren’t scary, in fact, they are incredibly scary, and it does thrill most of its viewers. But as a sap for the good old scary movies, I am not impressed with this cheap tactic to provoke fear.

Newsflash, Hollywood: scary movies are meant to make you hide your eyes because you’re afraid, not because you’re about throw-up.

– Genevieve Head-Gordon

I woke up at 5:50am and rolled out of bed the day after Thanksgiving to go to Kohls. There were great deals and I got all my shopping done quickly. It was the waiting in line for one hour that got to me. Okay, it wasn’t the waiting that got to me it was the buying. The line wrapped throughout the store. Thus, it twisted around all the on-sale signs. I waited in line and as I passed a good deal – rainbow colored slippers half off, heck yes – I got it. I tripled the amount of things I bought just waiting in line.

So now I am in dept to my mother and it’s Monday, that special after thanksgiving on-line sale Monday. At least I wont be in a line.
-Sean

For the first time in my life, I decided to brave the streets of Union Square for Black Friday, the biggest shopping day of the year. I was prepared for crowds and what not, but not complete chaos. Policeman had to patrol the streets with whistles, the wait at Jamba Juice was 45 minutes, and it was nearly impossible to fit in the elevators. It was overwhelmingly chaotic. And there were hardly any sales! I always thought sale prices were the prime reasons shopping is so popular the day after Thanksgiving, but in reality there were about as many sales as usual and bargain Black seemed pretty much a myth. A big bummer. Seeing that just made me realize how much our culture is grounded in consumerism, especially when it comes to Christmas. The start of the holiday season wasn’t about Christmas carols or decorating the new tree, but about more STUFF. I think I’ll stick to stuffing leftovers for now myself.

~ Sarah Henningsen

J.K. Rowling, the famous author of the spellbinding Harry Potter books revealed that the beloved character of Albus Dumbledore is a homosexual. When Mugglenet.com polled its viewers 43.7% were apathetic, 28.2% praised Rowling for her courageous and admirable ways of accepting all people regardless of their sexuality, and 28.1% wished she would have omitted this information.

This has absolutely nothing to do with the books, so why would J.K. reveal this insight? Maybe she was not getting enough interest since the series just ended. She sure got everyone more interested in her books after this shocking revelation! She definitely did not reveal this to sell more books because she already is the second most wealthy lady in Britain, after the Queen.

Basically, her decision disturbed the exact same amount of people that she uplifted, and the rest did not care. I think most people should really not care, the books are finished. Something that has nothing to do with the books should not alter Harry Potter fans’ passion for the books.

– Danielle Douvikas

I couldn’t help but get excited when I heard about the San Francisco plastic bag ban that was put into effect last night at midnight.

Plastic bags drive me insane; especially the frivolity with which people use them. They cause litter, hurt wildlife and often end up in the water - like the huge mound of plastic in the Pacific Ocean that is said to cover an area twice the size of Texas. Not to mention the unnecessary waste created in the production of plastic products.

Replacing the plastic bags in San Francisco are biodegradable bags made from corn by-products.

I look forward to seeing how far this ban spreads, and how long it will take to happen in the East Bay. It will be a happy day when we in the boondocks of Danville can check out at Safeway and be asked, “Paper or corn?”

-Allison Levitsky