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Vol
12, Oct 2006 PAW Prints |
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Vol
12, Oct 2006 PAW Prints |
BLUE GRASS MUSIC
IN
by Editorial Staff
On
Friday, October 6th, sixth graders from Presidio Middle School and
other schools in San Francisco were invited to attend a Blue Grass musical
performance in Golden Gate Park This
enormous blue grass festival is financed by Warren Hellman, an investment
company millionaire and philanthropist,
and it is Mr. Hellman that made it possible for the 6,000
Presidio’s Clubs
by Silvia Hernandez, Gabriella Ramirez
Thinking about joining any clubs this year? Well, in this article, you’ll hear about some of the clubs we have at Presidio. One club that we have is Math Counts. Mr. Sedrakin facilitates that club and if you like math, why not go for it? The Wrestling Club is pretty cool also. It’s held by Mr. Meneses. There’s the Drama Club that Ms. Lewis facilitates.Have you ever wondered what the Ally Club is? If you’re interested, it has to do with preventing discrimination, and teaching respect for everyone no matter what your ethnicity, gender, or just your lifestyle in general.
There is also an Altrusim
Club, called “Dance for
Members stage a dance benefit, learn about
The After-School Program has replaced a lot of our clubs because it covers a lot of interests.. The after school program has Break Dancing, Sewing, Homework Help, and a lot of other interesting activities. So if you’re tired of sitting on the couch watching television, try one of these clubs this year. Who knows when you will need these great talents in your career or grown-up life. Also, club membership a great way to earn service points for graduation, and feel more a part of your school.
There’s talk of having other clubs here at Presidio. What would interest you? An investment club to learn about finance and wealth? A meditation club to learn relaxing skills and stress management? A club for artists? Let us know, or talk to student council or a school counselor. Try ‘em, join ‘em.
What’s Inside! Halloween & Ghosts ………………… 2 Teen Interest
………………………… .4 Pluto the Planet is Demoted?! ….. ..5 Horoscopes
…………………… .7 Fashion Article……
………………… 12 Dear Aphrodite…………………… … .11 Mystery Teacher………………….… . 20 Halloween Recipes and Jokes 23 Sports………………………………… .24
Halloween Is Coming Your Way
How are you going to celebrate Halloween this year? Will you sit at home and watch horror movies or go out trick-or-treating with your friends and family? We took a survey of some students and the majority voted for trick-or-treating. So as you can see, one is never too old to go trick-or-treating!
Halloween is a holiday that everyone from toddlers to seniors can celebrate. Everyone loves to dress up and get sweet candy! Even though trick-or-treating was voted as the favorite activity, there are still lots of good horror movies to watch on the spookiest night of the year!
Costumes are a big part of Halloween. Which costumes are you planning to wear? Is it going to be sweet, naughty, spooky, or gross? You could be a witch, skeleton, devil or zombie. If you don’t know where to get a costume, you can go to the Spirit Halloween Super Stores in San Francisco on the corner of Van Ness and Eddy, in the Metreon, and on Market by Castro Street, or you can call (800) COSTUME (800) 267-8863.
As you already know, be safe this Halloween. Travel in groups, wear a glowstick or white costume to be noticeable by traffic. Don’t accept any candy that you think is questionable. Tell an adult with children if anything seems suspicious. Better yet, travel with an adult and don’t stay out too late! Wednesday morning is a school day!
SIX
FLAGS FRIGHT FEST
by “The Phantom”
Like every year Halloween is fun and scary at the same time
if you’re looking for something to do listen up. Starting on October 7-29 at
six flags Great America there will be the 16th annual fright fest.
This year there’s going to be more than just a haunted house. Such as zombie
parades, spooky rides, multiple frightening shows such as LOVE AT FIRST FRIGHT,
DOCKTER FRIGHT’S DEAD MAN’S PARTY, WELCOME TO MY NIGHTMARE, and many more. But
don’t worry, it’ll be safe, fiendish, fun, enough for the whole family.
Do you Believe in Ghosts?
People are split on the decision whether we can have supernatural occurrences, like seeing ghosts. We asked around, and one anonymous student offered, “I don't exactly believe in them, but the fact is I could have sworn that I saw my father, who has been dead for 15 years, makes me wonder. Of course, this is a bit spiritual, because I had prayed to God to allow me to see my father, but who knows!
What do you think? Do you believe in ghosts?
Real Hauntings
by
The Moss Beach
Distillery is a restaurant near
Many strange events have been documented since that time
that can not be explained such as mysterious phone calls from no one,
levitating checkbooks, locked rooms from the inside without any other means of
entry, women diners losing one ear ring and then several of these are found in
one place weeks later, date tampering with computers, sightings by small
children. The restaurant staff is glad she is not destructive with her pranks
and continue to hear of new events that cannot be explained. Would you want to work there?!
Day of the Dead
by Andy Chen
The Day of the
Dead, or “Dia de las Muertos”, (All Souls Day, in other cultures) is an official holiday of the Catholic
Calendar, celebrated in
The "Day of the Dead” is
celebrated by many catholic countries, worldwide. This celebration originated
with the Roman Catholic's, and was established in the Catholic calendar as an
official holy day.
All Soul's Day honors the faithfully departed. Generally, people
celebrating this holiday will attend mass, and assist the souls of their loved
ones from Purgatory to Heaven. They will then proceed to the cemetery to visit,
bless and decorate the graves. This tradition is universal among Catholic
countries and accepted by the church. Many customs are associated with The Day
of the Dead celebration. In the home, an altar is made with an offering of food
upon it. It is believed that the dead partake of the food in spirit and the
living eat it later.
The
"ofrendas"- offerings, are beautifully arranged with flowers,
marigolds (zempasuchitl), which are the traditional flower of the dead. There
is a candle placed for each dead soul, and they are adorned in some manner.
Incense is also used. It is also
traditional in some areas to go and see the play Don Juan Tenorio. Paper mache
and sugar skulls are popular, as are cardboard coffins from which a skeleton
can be made to jump out. Special masks are also worn, allowing a person to
achieve a facial expression which they feel they are not able to achieve. A
popular type of decoration used to commemorate the holiday in
HALLOWEEN CONTESTS AT PMS
by Indra, Helen and Gabby
What are you going to be for
Halloween? We went
around asking presidio students what they will be dressing up like for
Halloween this year. So far, we know
that we will see: a few witches, a few
scream costumes, a
hippie,
ENTER OUR COSTUME CONTEST, HELD IN THE UPPER YARD
ON TUESDAY, OCT. 31
AT LUNCH TIME.
COME TO CHEER!
We will also be holding a special skills contests,
a hoola hoop contest, also in the upper yard, at the basketball court, at lunchtime, on Halloween day, Tuesday, October 31st. Start practicing now! Winners will be chosen by a panel of teachers and students. Join in the Halloween spirit, and try out in one of these contests!
One Jamba Juice gift certificate will be given for the person who can hoola hoop the longest, and gift certificates for the first, second, and third place costume parade winners. All decisions are final, and every effort will be made to be fair. Prizes will be awarded the day of the contest. Good luck to you all!!!
PLEASE REMEMBER TO KEEP TO THE LEFT IN THE HALLWAYS DURING ALL PASSING PERIODS. GOOD PRACTICE FOR DRIVING!
Teen Interest
by
Even wonder why teens like you stress out from
homework, family, relationships, and maybe other personal affairs? Wish you could find a way to relieve
stress? Well, today around the world,
about 90% of teenagers are actually like you.
If you need some advice on how to cope with stress, keep on reading. Too
much homework? You can just do it, but
not think about anything else. Think of
it as an amusement park or a video game. You might think it’s fun all of a
sudden. If you have certain family
problems that you are dealing with, you can talk to a trust-worthy friend or
teacher. They’ll listen and help. Spending time with your friends and having
fun helps too.
Relationships usually begin to happen
during teenage years. For girls, boyfriends can be really hard to deal with,
especially when they break up with you. Break ups are hurtful, but it’s
important to try to move on and think about the different aspects of life, even
if it’s hard for you. We hope our advice
has helped you out. If your problem
seems larger than life, approach a school counselor or sympathetic teacher. They can listen, and often can give advice on
an agency that helps with just your kind of problem.
Why Aren’t
They Scared?
by Helen Totterdell
Many of you may know of Steve Irwin, Crocodile Hunter, as a fearless man. (see page 8 for more info). He recently passed away in a bizarre encounter with a sting ray while filming a new video. If you have watched the news, you may have heard scientists talking about why Steve Irwin is the way he is. They believe it may be caused by genetics, and because he was socialized this way, because he grew up with parents who loved animals. This is still being researched. One reason people like him are fearless is believed to be linked to Adrenaline.
In people like Steve Irwin, Adrenaline rushes don’t cause fear, as in fearful people, but instead cause excitement. Adrenaline is a mix of chemicals released from the kidneys when we sense danger or confrontation. How we are affected by the adrenaline is completely up to our brains. If we have a positive outlook on what will happen, we will become excited instead of scared. But if we think, “Oh my gosh! I’m gonna die, I’m gonna die!!!”, then naturally, we will be scared, rather than excited about it.
Steve Irwin had a positive outlook on animals, so he was not too scared to do what he did. His adrenaline caused excitement, and I think we can tell from his show that he was excited to be around animals.
Steve Irwin isn’t the only person who replaces his fear with excitement. Have you ever been on a roller coaster, and laughing from the ride, while your friend is shaking with fear, or nauseous? Or vice versa? Why are some people more afraid than others? It’s because of our outook on the event. Some people enjoy the feeling of doing loops and going upside down really fast, but others are absolutely terrified by it. We aren’t more fearful than other people, we just aren’t looking at it the way they are. If you’re absolutely sick of having people call you a “scaredy-cat”, then all you have to do to cope with your adrenaline is to take a deep breath, calm yourself down, and think positive thoughts. Next time you’re scared, don’t ask “Why aren’t they scared?” Ask, “why am I scared?” You can talk yourself right out of it!
HOW TV AFFECTS KIDS
By
Alex Kozakiewicz
Did you know that 70% of child care use
TV during a typical day? The average child spends 900 hours in school and 1023
hours in front of the TV. Research has shown that children who consistently
spend more than 4 hours a day watching TV are more likely to be overweight.
Also kids who view violent events, such as a kidnapping or murder, are also
more likely to believe that the world is scary and that something bad will
happen to them. Research also indicates that TV consistently reinforces
gender-role and racial stereotypes.
The average American child will witness
200,000 violent acts on television by age 18. TV violence sometimes begs for
imitation because violence is often demonstrated and promoted as a fun and
effective way to get what you want. Kids 8 to 12 are frightened by the threat
of violence, natural disaster, and the victimization of children, whether those
images appear on fictional shows, the news, or reality-based shows. The alcohol
ads over the years have increased and a lot of underage kids are being exposed
to it. Be careful about what you expose yourself to. Here are some ratings that will tell you what
is suitable for you or maybe your brother or sister.
TV-Y: suitable for all kids
TV-Y7: directed toward kids 7 year and older. Content may
contain “mild fantasy violence or comedic violence”.
TV-Y7-FV: fantasy violence may be more intense in these
programs than others in TV-Y7
TVG: suitable for general audience; contains sexual dialogue or content,
strong language, and little to no violence
TV-PG: may contain an inappropriate theme for younger
children contains one or more of the following: moderate violence, some sexual
situations, occasional strong language, and suggestive dialogue
TV-14: parents strongly caution suitable for children for the age of 14;
contains graphic violence, intense sexual situations, strong language and
intensively suggestive dialogue.
TV-MA: designed for adults and may not be suitable for
children under 14; contains graphic violence, strong sexual activity, and crude
language.
SCIENCE
PAGE
Bye
Bye Pluto the Planet
By: Joann Kuang
After all those years of learning about planets and their characteristics, and remembering them as one of our great nine planets, and now one planet is leaving the list of our great planets. But, Pluto, you will always be in our memories. We will always remember how special you were, even though not many of us know about you, except that you are small, you are a great distance from Earth, and you have terrible weather. Bye bye, Pluto the planet . . .
Wait, hang on! Before I go any further, I would like to ask you one question. Are you very confused right now? I am assuming you are, and that you probably have questions in your head such as “What is happening?”, “Is Pluto going to explode?”, “Where is Pluto going?”, Well, I can tell you one thing now. Pluto is not actually going away, it’s just being reclassified! I was going to say “Bye bye Pluto the planet, and hello to Pluto the dwarf planet.”
Huh,
a dwarf planet? What in the world is a dwarf
planet? Well, I’ll tell you later. It all started with the meeting at the
International Astronomical Union in
Things still didn’t go well after a couple of meetings. Pilachowski said that she was gloomy at the first meeting because the first draft was so flawed. She felt even worse after the strong arguments over the second draft, which was offered just two days before the end of the session. By then, she was losing hope. Then, her hope meter went up again, when the third draft was presented just a few hours later and the response was more positive. With this encouragement, a final result was concluded.
With the support of a number of
astronomers, the new definition for a planet was made. According to the new definition, a planet
must meet three criteria. The three
criteria include that a planet must: orbit around the sun, have enough mass to
be nearly round, and dominate its orbit.
If you don’t know understand the third criteria, I can explain it to
you. It means that the path of the
planet’s orbit is cleared; there are barely any asteroids or comets in its
path. You might already understand the
first and second criteria, but I’ll explain them to you anyway. The second criteria means that the planet
must be round, and the first one means that it must move around the sun. Because of this new definition, the
term “dwarf planet” was made. A dwarf
planet is a look alike planet, it has the two criteria of a planet, but lacks
the third criterion. That is why Pluto
got demoted. Other dwarf planets include
2003 UB313, which was discovered in 2005, Ceres,and probably other icy bodies in the Kuiper Belt
beyond
Some people would think that Pluto getting demoted is a good thing, but some think that is a bad thing. Why would some think that this bad? Some people might feel uncomfortable because of this sudden change. There might be people who thinks that Pluto gets no respect. Some disagree with the criteria. There are many reasons out there.
Why would some people think that this a good thing? The most important reason would probably be that there is one less planet to memorize. Many people would think that way, including our president, George W. Bush. Mr. Bush was relieved that there was one less planet to memorize. He admitted that being in a second grade classroom was his biggest fear because it is embarrassing to show that you don’t know something that someone who is younger than you knows, especially if you are the President. Bush also hopes that scientists will eliminate more information. I just can’t believe this, but of course, he does have a point.
Still a
little confused? ‘Don’t know if there
are more changes? So far, the only thing
that changed was Pluto. The solar system
includes four small rocky planets and four large gas planets. The four small rocky planets include Mercury,
Venus, Earth, and Mars. The four large
gas planets are Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
Do you still remember “My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas?” This was one of the phrases that help you remember the nine planets. Well, I guess this won’t be useful anymore. New phrases should be made. Here’s one, “My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nachos.” Now I guess it is time to say bye bye. Wait! I just have one last thing to say. Things in the world change everyday. This article may or may not be useful anymore, but maybe we are really going to say “bye bye” to Pluto. You never know.
TECHNOLOGY PAGE
PS3 and Nintendo WII
by Dwane Camp
The PS3 will be released this November, and
will come out in two versions, the 20GB and the 60GB. The only difference is the 60GB is $600.00
and the 20GB is $500.00. Unfortunately,
there are only going to be 4,000 available due to a chip shortage in
Here are some of the games that are available for thePS3: Half Life2, GranTurismo5, NBA Live07, FinalFantasy13, and Need For Speed Carbon, But don't worry Madden gamers, Madden07 will be remade for PS3. You can also play PS1 and PS2 games on the new PS3. Another great thing that Sony is doing, is that they are planning to keep the PS2 until about late 2008, so you can still get games for your PS2. Another great consol that is hitting the stores is the Nintendo Wii. It is going to come with a control the size of your regular television remote control. Did I mention that the price is going to be $250.00? You can also connect wirelessly to your computer and your DS through WI FI connection. You can also play your GBA games on the new Nintendo Wii. Here are a couple of games that will be for the Wii: GranTurismo 5, NBA Live07, BackyardBaseball07 and NHL07.
Games are So Expensive!!
By Chris Hernandez
Are you one of those kids who want a PS3
or an Xbox360 but you can’t afford one? I am one of those kids too. The problem
is I really want one but I can`t afford one, and I know there are thousands of
kids just like me. I really feel that Sony and Microsoft should lower their price
if they want more kids like you and me to enjoy their product. Another problem
is that the companies have to earn enough money so they can keep building their
product. Unfortunately this puts everybody into a sour mood, but nobody seems
to be doing anything about it. Here are
some options: you can always wait and
buy a used system for less, rent one, play at a friend’s house, or write
letters of protest to these companies.
You can either fight the power or pay $200.00 more than you should. The choice is yours.
Popular Video Game:
by: Julian Tomescu
There
is a popular video game coming out for the Playstation 2, Xbox, Xbox 360, PC,
and the PSP. The popular game that is coming out
Can Xbox360 compete?
Well, some people say that the PS3 will beat the 360 and the Wii, but I say that the 360 will still be triumphant over the Wii and the PS3. You don't have to take my word for it, you always have a choice whether you want a PS3 or an Xbox360 the choice is always yours, so make your choice and have fun.
Kingdom Hearts 2 Review
By Chris Hernandez
Hey! I am here to review Kingdom Hearts 2 for the
PS2. Well, first of all you play as a
boy named Sora, aged 15, and your
partners throughout the game are Donald Duck and Goofy. You might know them
from Disney movies.
The story is all about a boy trying to
find his friends Riku, who is Sora’s best friend, and Kairi, a girl who
Sora likes but never says it. The game is fun but you can get pretty much
through the whole game by pressing the X button. So throughout the game you
will encounter Disney heroes and villains and you will travel to amazing
worlds.
The weapon in the game includes Sora as
the key blade. You will get more key
blades throughout the game. And in some worlds, you will be able to partner up
with Disney characters. In some battles, it will show a triangle on the screen
and if you press it, you can do a cool move (most of the time).
I think the dumbest part of the game is
playing with the Gummi Ship because it’s a waste of time, but you have to do it
if you want to beat the game and travel to new worlds. Overall, the game is
great so I give it an 8.9 out of 10. If you have a chance to play the game, you
should. It’s really fun!
The October Predictions
By:
Aries (March 21-April 20) The Ram
Partnership matters
occupy most of your time and energy this month. Just when you think October is
all about negotiating, compromising, and perhaps even kissing up, however,
something truly miraculous happens. A personal project or matter reaches a
head, and life picks up speed. You are likely to get the support you need this
month. The 20-26th is a power period for you when you could meet a special
friend or enjoy a meeting of minds with your significant other. The power of
compromise is what works wonders for you this month.
Taurus
(April
20 – May 20) The Bull
Homework, homework, and more homework are on the agenda this month. But after
the long hours, you can find some time to play. Friendships heat up, and a
coming together occurs from the 18-20. A friend could be seeking a more solid
or permanent relationship. You may commit to helping a loved one both financially
or emotionally. Getting organized in school is ultimately satisfying. The 10-14
is a power period when recognition, free time, or a day off can put a feather
in your cap.
Gemini (May 21-June 21) The Twins
This promises to be one of the most pleasurable months of the year--a period
when having a grand old time comes easy. Self-discipline may be lacking, but
you deserve to let your hair down and express yourself both creatively and
spontaneously. Fortunately, a friend is on the same page and is feeling
especially social. Less spoiled matters enter the picture in the last week of
the month, when a commitment may be required, and it could come at a price.
It’s nose to the grindstone time.
Cancer
(June 22-July 23) The Crab
Issues surrounding
family and school capture most of your attention this month. A chance may be
hard to refuse around the 7th or the future matter reaches a head. Mid-month, a
significant other does especially well, and this strengthens your own mood. The
best news comes in the last week of the month, when you can enjoy wonderful
things in your personal life. Your creativity peaks, and it’s time to express
yourself without any fear of coming across poorly.
Leo (July 24-August 22) The Lion
You are especially
charming when you express your thoughts and ideas, and are willing to discuss
virtually everything under the sun. A travel or education matter culminates
around the 7th. An intimate conversation opens doors in a close partnership on
the 9-10. Love can be found very close to home, perhaps even in the
neighborhood. Reasonable speculation could pay off mid-month, and you may be
called upon to make an important decision that affects family life around the
26th.
Virgo
(August
23 – September 22) The Virgin
Creativity is what October is about. Ideas you have been toying with for some
time not only look realistic now, they are also productive. A personal affair
comes through around the 7th, and you could realize some solid and satisfying
decisions the last week of the month. This is a period when getting money
matters organized and moving forward works best. Watch for hiccups on the run
on the 22-25, when someone could take offence at your off-the-cuff remark.
Libra (September 23-October 22) The Scales
Demonstrating the perfect balance of self-assertion and cooperation, this is
one of your most charming--and even productive--months in a long time. There’s
nothing you can’t attract if you want it enough. Romantic opportunities abound.
A partner has something surprising to tell you around the 7th, or a
relationship matter comes to fruition. This may very well be a dream come true.
You can assert your needs with such grace that others have no idea that they
are even being pushed. Others appreciate your initiative and your pioneering
spirit.
Scorpio (Oct 23 – Nov 22) The Scorpion
The first three weeks of the month are mostly quiet, but much is brewing
beneath the surface. Your dreams are especially vivid, revealing, and perhaps
even prophetic. You could be finalizing projects or chapters in your life that
have run their natural course. An important health or school matter grabs your
attention around the 7th. By the last week of October, you’re coming out of
your shell with charm, panache, and sizzle. Partnership matters soar. You are
on the same page with an existing partner, or starting with a whole new
routine.
Sagittarius
(November
23-December 21) The Archer
A pleasantly busy
agenda keeps you on the move and in social demands most of the month. Friends
need your attention, and you are happy to lend a hand. A romantic matter blossoms
around the 7th. More serious issues crop up by the 22nd, when you may need to
close a deal or finalize an important project for school. The need to negotiate
and compromise with a partner could put a damper on the fun, but is necessary
in order for you to move forward with a lighter load.
Capricorn (December 20-January 19) The Goat
Demonstrating exactly how competent and responsible you really are is something
that comes quite naturally to you. This month, you’re in the position to prove
your worth, and you’re coming across with especial optimism and confidence,
even if part of you privately worries about your performance. A property or
family matter reaches fruition early month. Although challenges and stress
could be part of the picture, tremendous opportunities--based on past and
present performance--present themselves mid-month, and it’s up to you to seize
them.
Aquarius
(January
20 – February 18) The Water Bearer
A big case of wanderlust takes hold of you this month. Day-to-day details
simply don’t turn your crank. Before you set your sights on bigger and better
horizons, however, do make sure that the important matters, including your own,
are taken care of. If you’re looking for love, you’re more apt to find it in
completely unexplored territory. If you can schedule a trip, this could be the
best time of the year to do so. If practical matters keep you close by, however,
make sure you’re not a couch potato. Get out and explore.
Pisces (February 19-March 20) The Fish
Time spent getting in touch with your deepest needs and desires, and perhaps
ridding yourself of bad habits, is time very well spent this month. Intimate
and deeply personal matters capture your attention. It’s a strong period for
research of any kind, intimately connecting with loved ones, and
self-improvement programs. By the last week of the month, however, the rest of
the world seems to play in your style. A taste for the exotic and wild
imagining grabs hold. Opportunities to break out of your normal routine abound
and excite.
BANNED
B BOOKS?
Did you know that there is a whole
week during September, dedicated to censorship and how it can best be
combated? Censorship issues are a very
hot topic, especially in a country like
the books. In some schools, a whole course is offered, called “Banned Books”, where students use their literary analysis skills to analyze why certain books get pulled from the shelf.
It’s only offered at the college level, so we have a way to go before we can enroll. But it’s never to soon to start critically thinking about books and which ones are “acceptable” and which ones are not.
STEVE IRWIN,
Crocodile Hunter
By: Monika Murillo
Crikey! Bet you’ve heard that before. You got it right! It was Steve Irwin’s most catchy word. On
Most of the adventures started with stunts with alligators and crocodiles. He would tease them and ride on their backs. With his “Crocodile Hunter” T.V. show, he reached about 200 million people. Many times he would perform stunts with his family. He really was a risk taker and worked with a lot if animals so it was sort of ironic that he died that way. We have had a great loss. He was only forty-four and leaves a wife and two young daughters behind, plus millions of fans.
Bindi Irwin Stars In Wildlife Series
by
Bindi Irwin, daughter of Australian environmentalist and
television personality Steve Irwin, reads a eulogy she wrote for her father at
Australia Zoo in Beerwah,
