Month: December 2014

Animal Cruelty Videos

By Preetika Narayan, Staff Writer

Do you ever go scrolling down your news feed on Facebook or just on any website and watch a video that you immediately regret watching it ? There are so many videos like that, especially ones involving animal cruelty. I once watched a video of a poor small puppy being burned alive by these sick, heartless kids. They dragged the poor thing by its leash while it whined in pain and covered it in gasoline. Then they lit a match and lit the dog on fire. It was painful watching the dog screaming and crying while these stupid kids were laughing like it was the funniest joke in the world. How do people even find this funny ? What kind of sick humor do they even have ?

There’s this big thing going on where these organizations go undercover in farms and record what is actually happening.. All farms would promise they treat their animals well and not put them in a stress-filled environment. Well the recordings proved otherwise. There is video of farms treating their animals brutally and with violence. Yes, we all know that the animals are most likely going to get killed and eaten anyway, but that’s no excuse to treat them that bad. I watched this video where somebody from PETA went undercover and recorded how KFC treats their chickens. They would throw them, kick them, and even punch them. The saddest part is that when they put the chickens upside down to cover them in sauce, most of them are still conscious. This other farm would bury the living chickens with the dead chickens to kill them. There’s other videos of pigs getting beaten and stomped on. There was this report of where some of the pigs were so sick that their intestines would hang out their bodies. The workers of the farm had no intention in getting the pigs some veterinary care or even getting them any medicine. It’s awful knowing that these are the animals being slaughtered for meat, and can end up in your grocery store, which can end up in your house.

Sheep fur may not seem harmful to get from the sheep. Well depending who’s shaving the sheep, it can be pretty painful. There’s a video of men who are supposedly shaving the sheep, but actually they spend more time trying to sock and hit them than getting the fur. One of the sheep even got hit multiple times with a hammer. They are animals of prey, so they panic when they are getting pinned down and once they try to move they get beaten by the men. It’s awfully sad seeing them get beaten for just doing their own natural instincts.

Halloween is coming up so if you have any cats please hide them! There are many reports and even a couple videos where cats are getting burned or even “sacrificed”. Some stupid, sadistic people would light a trash can on fire, throw the cat inside and close the lid. They won’t open the lid until they know the cat is fully burned. Others would slit the throat and/or mutate the poor thing. This happens not only to black cats, which are usually the main target, but recently all white cats have been a huge target also. They will take a cat of any color to “sacrifice”, and there was even reports of dogs getting “sacrificed”.

I don’t understand how people can abuse and hurt these animals for just the fun or thrill of it. Abusing animals is a sign of psychopathic disorder. People tend to abuse animals since they know they’re weaker than them. People who are bullied can’t take out their anger on anybody else except on the ones that are weaker. They feel like they gain some bit of power back, because they become the “bully”. People really need to realize that animals have feelings and can feel pain just like all of us.

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Top 5 Summer Music Festivals

Post author By Miranda Miller
Post date December 26, 2014
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By Miranda Miller, Staff writer

1. Lollapalooza- Chicago, IL

Chicago’s historic Grant Park provided an appropriate background for Lollapalooza’s nostalgia filled line-up. Artists such as Eminem and OutKast, whose biggest hits are years old, were put to the test by the youthful spark of many newcomers. Out of the 130 artists performing, many of the most revered artists were outshone by the talk of the festival, 17-year-old, New Zealand bred, Lorde. She provided a solid mix of lyrics, music, wisdom, and best of all, hair flips. You could tell this girl was knowledgeable in ways very few people her age are when she sat at the edge of the stage and discussed growing up fast and realizing what she wanted to do at an age when most her age couldnt think beyond that night’s meal plan. Besides the other-worldliness that is Lorde, Lollapalooza proved to be a well-rounded, well-organized, and well-executed festival that, for years to come, will definitely attract some of the greatest artists and crowds.

2. Outside Lands- San Francisco, CA

Being surrounded by some of the most talented artists in the truly beautiful place that is San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park was a surreal experience. OSL continues to be home to one of the most diverse line-ups, with artists ranging from Kanye West and Macklemore to The Flaming Lips and Tom Petty. The weather, although chilly in the morning, balanced out the body heat the large crowds brought. Outside Lands also attracted more than just music lovers with its “A Taste of the Bay Area” food line-up. Another big attraction was the Digital Detox room, where you could go to take a break from the digital suffocation of technology that is ever-present at festivals. Some surprising highlights were Capital Cities, whose set was essentially a huge party, and The Flaming Lips, whose set is one of most unique you’ll ever experience, complete with a toy baby, crowd-surfing bubbles, and many performers dressed up in mushroom and rainbow costumes. Outside Lands never fails to disappoint with its wonderful atmosphere and music.

3. Firefly- Dover, DE

Despite the fact that this is only Firefly’s third year, it was home to one of the most solid line-ups of the summer, hosting bands such as The Foo Fighters, The Arctic Monkeys, and Weezer. The variety of genres attracted a wonderful mix of people. Firefly welcomed 80,000 fans to their new and permanent home, almost three times as many as their inaugural year in 2012. Out of these 80,000, 50,000 of them were campers, creating a very fun, close community for the weekend. To accommodate all these people, Firefly has expanded their venue and has also become rather philanthropic in their partnership with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Firefly has raised $75,000 for the cause and expects to raise more in the years to come.

4. Governor’s Ball- New York, NY

For a festival that’s still under five years old, Governor’s ball has definitely made a name for itself. The good weather, which is definitely not a guarantee at this time of the year in New York, was very much appreciated (This was most definitely not the case at Governor’s Ball 2013). The music did not disappoint with epic performances by The Strokes, Skrillex, Foster the People, and many more elite musicians. However, logistics wise, this festival was slightly sub-par. Ridiculously long lines, lack of paper maps, and sound bleed were a few of the many complaints. However, ya gotta give some slack to whoever’s putting on a festival in one of the largest cities in the world. Although these technical difficulties did disturb the flow of the weekend, the music did a good job of overshadowing these faults. It’s hard to spend too much time thinking about the line to the bathroom when you’ve just experienced the perfection of your favorite artist.

5. Bonnaroo- Manchester, TN

Rumor has it that Bonnaroo translates loosely in creole/Cajun slang to “a real good time”— which is exactly what it was! Life at “The Farm,” the name of the actual farm that is home to Bonnaroo, is definitely an experience. It is hot, it is dusty, its is, at times, smelly, but it is also home to some amazing food, people, and most importantly, music. One of the most scandalous performers of the weekend was Kanye (what a surprise). After his notorious 2008 set, which began at approximately 4:30 A.M., hours after the designated start time, Bonnaroo’s Kanye grudge is alive and well. However, Yeezus paid no attention to this. He provided an inspiring, sermon-like set, filled with wonderful Kanye quotes about being yourself and never caring about what others think. Bonnaroo did not fail to provide an equally unique mix of people, artists, and setting, keeping the weekend endlessly exciting.

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Malala Yousafzai wins Nobel Peace Prize

Post author By Miranda Miller
Post date December 26, 2014
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By Miranda Miller, Staff writer

When most kids get called from their class to go to the office, it’s usually not going to end well. However, on October 3rd, when 17-year-old Malala Yousafzai was called from her chemistry class, it was to congratulate her- for winning the Nobel Peace Prize.

Malala began advocating for girls’ education at a very young age in her hometown Mingora, Pakistan. She started speaking out when the Taliban started attacking schools in her area. Her first speech, in September 2008 was entitled, “How dare the Taliban take away my basic right of education?” After this speech, she was asked to blog for BBC under a hidden identity. Eventually, however, her identity was revealed. Her activism resulted in a nomination for the International Children’s Peace Prize in 2011. That same year, she was awarded Pakistan’s National Youth Peace Prize. Malala quickly became a symbol of Pakistan’s struggle against Islamic extremist violence.

As Malala’s efforts became more and more successful, the Taliban began to target her. When she was 14, Malala learned that the Taliban had a death threat out for her. On October 9, 2012, a man boarded Malala’s bus home from school and demanded to know which girl was Malala. The man shot her and the bullet hit the left side of her head, travelling down her neck. After surgeons placed a titanium plate in her head, Malala made an incredible recovery and wasted no time before beginning to speak out again. On her 16th birthday she gave a speech at the United Nations, and a few months later she released her book, I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban.

After her recovery, Malala shifted her focus away from Islamist violence and more towards a general advocacy for children. She has joined forces with Indian children’s rights activist Kailash Satyarthi, resulting in not only a huge step for children’s education, but for the relationship between Pakistan and India. She has won countless awards, and this October she became the youngest person to win the Nobel Peace Prize. Malala shows no signs of stopping and will continue to fight until the voices of the children are heard. On accepting the award Malala responded, “This award is for all those children who are voiceless, whose voices need to be heard,” she said. “I speak for them, and I stand up with them.”

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Leone Lockdown

By Miranda Miller, Staff writer

An eerie silence permeates the streets of Sierra Leone’s capital, Freetown, as a team of volunteers go door to door in a campaign to educate people on the dangers of Ebola and identify those who may have the disease. This is the reality of the three-day lockdown that Sierra Leone has imposed.

In recent months, Ebola has has killed more than 560 people in Sierra Leone and more than 2,600 across West Africa in the biggest outbreak of the disease ever recorded, according to the World Health Organization. It has also spread to Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Senegal, sickening an estimated 5,500 people. Sierra Leone’s government hoped that by forbidding anyone to leave their homes for three days, they could finally get the disease under control. Thousands of volunteers have teamed up in order to go door-to-door and educate communities of the disease. Although Doctors Without Borders has said that the lockdown is unlikely to stop the spread, the main goal is to make sure residents understand the causes of Ebola and how the disease is transmitted so they can help to reduce the spread of the disease and help those in need. After three days, a reported 75 percent of the targeted 1.5 million households had been visited by volunteer forces.

The largest problem for most families was the lack of sufficient nourishment during the lockdown. Because many of the poorer residents use the money they make each day to buy food, it was very difficult to prepare for a three-day lockdown. In Bonga Town, a shantytown near Freetown, many residents were angry that handouts of rice were only distributed to certain families. The World Food Program was providing out various foods to homes but reportedly not delivering them to every home, only to those put under medical quarantine. The program distributed two weeks’ worth of rations to 20,000 households in slum communities before the lockdown, but many communities said that the rations were insufficient. Many people also began refusing the food, in fear that what they were being given was poisoned and possibly deadly.

Despite all the difficulties, the lockdown has been generally successful. Most citizens have been more than willing to comply with the restrictions of the lockdown. Although it is obviously inconvenient, people are happy to have volunteers working towards the elimination of the disease that they have watched deeply damage their communities.

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In the Life of a Teacher

By Scott Kumamoto, Staff writer

When thinking of McClatchy, two important things come to mind. One- its valuable and skilled teachers. Two- its fantastic sports programs. However, have you ever thought of those two factors combined? Many teachers at CKM have played in the same sports as you have. Our teachers have participated in basketball, baseball, track and tennis, just to name a few.

Mr. Warren is a well-known teacher of Ap biology and Anatomy here at CKM, and an excellent example of a former student athlete.. As a kid and teenager, Mr. Warren was actively involved with sports. He even said, “If it weren’t sports, I wouldn’t have known what to do. Playing sports was my whole childhood. “ When Mr. Warren was a teenager in high school, he played baseball, basketball and football. All four years consisted of sports for him. As a kid he would always go to the diamond to play baseball with his friends. In college, Mr. Warren played for the UC Davis football team. However, his season was cut short by an injury that would take some time to heal. Basketball wise, Mr. Warren often played with friends at the park. As he got older, Mr. Warren started to loose his athletic abilities and then resorted to playing golf and running. He golfs whenever he has free time and runs every so often. Currently. He is planning to run a 24 mile marathon. He is training for this marathon by constantly exercising. He explained to me how training for running was his favorite part because he enjoys preparing for an accomplishing goal.

Another teacher who participated in sports as a teenager is Japanese teacher, Mr. Fisher. As a teen, Mr. Fisher played baseball and football for Rio Americano all four years on the freshman, JV and Varsity teams. At first he was intimidated to play. As a freshman, Mr. Fisher was not as big or fast as some of the other players, but as he aged, he gained experience and became one of the dominant seniors on the field. His favorite part of playing football was playing as a unit. His team was tightly bonded and they were able to beat several teams with their cooperation and will to win. Mr. Fisher wasn’t as interested in baseball but still played with friends. After high school, Mr. Fisher moved to Japan and took lessons in martial arts. Additionally, he occasionally runs half marathons. Now, Mr. Fisher is one of the head coaches for the CKM football team. He trains the team with his fiery, competitive mindset.

Mr. Starace was also one of the many teachers who played a sport during his high school year. Mr. Starace was a football, tennis and badminton player. In his opinion, football was his favorite sport. He was part of the Varsity football team for Lodi High, playing the linebacker/center. His favorite part of being on the football team was being able to connect with other people and meeting new friends. It was also great way for him to take his aggression out. Unfortunately, his season was cut short by a torn ACL (a ligament in the knee). Mr. Starace was unable to play for a long time and his return was difficult. He still tried to play sports after his recovery. He wished he could’ve played other sports like basketball and soccer because he had the build for it and he never really got the chance to play.

Mr. Maxwell is six feet and six inches tall. He participated in baseball, basketball and football. His favorite sport to watch and play was baseball but he was more successful in his basketball career. He was an active player on the Jesuit freshman, JV and Varsity basketball teams . Mr. Maxwell’s favorite part of playing was being part of a team He described himself as “a team sport kind of guy.” He enjoyed being part of a team that worked together to win. The cheering section was another favorite of his because it gave him the motivation to play. Nothing was more exciting than hearing the crowd cheering him on. Now, Mr. Maxwell only runs for exercise. Teaching takes up most of his time so he runs to keep in shape, not for marathons or competition.

Ms. Downey was a swimmer and cross-country runner for Aragon High school in San Mateo. She swam the 200-yd and 500-yd freestyle race for JV and varsity. Her favorite part about swimming was the social aspect. Ms. Downey enjoyed how she was able to bond with a team and meet new people. It was also a great way for her to relieve her stress from school. Swimming was her way to vent all the problems out of her mind. Ms. Downey constantly pushed herself to improve at practices. The personal challenges gave her swimming career a new level to strive for. To this day, Ms. Downey stays active by running and swimming.

It is here at McClatchy where sport made a huge impact on the lives of our teachers. Several of the teachers here have played sports that are commonly played today. Through all the books and learning, our teachers were once the athletes in the making.

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New Technology, New McClatchy

Post author By Scott Kumamoto
Post date December 26, 2014
1 Comment on New Technology, New McClatchy

By Scott Kumamoto, Staff writer

Here at McClatchy new and improved technology is affecting learning environments and habits. Recently, CKM has bought more technology, like Macbooks and iPads, for the library and classrooms to help bring McClatchy to the 21st century. Mr. Lambert was able to buy all these new devices through the school’s site fund. After all the heavy budgeting, there were leftover funds that Mr. Lambert could use to purchase Apple tablets for teachers and TV monitors for hallways. He explained that “incorporating technology, like tablets, to school will improve the learning environment. Also, it can reduce the amount of paper usage which is very expensive for the school.” Mr. Lambert has done a great job giving CKM the latest technology, but sometimes it can prove to be more of an obstacle for students and teachers.

In the library, there are over thirty new Apple laptops that have been known to cause some problems. Some have complained that the computers are slow and the applications don’t properly work. When they do, students are able to efficiently finish their work.

The school also has internet difficulties, which many teachers rely on to obtain files from their emails or drives, research a topic like articles and current events, or update their class websites. When internet connection fails, which it often does, videos won’t play, websites won’t load, and classes lose valuable learning time. Mr. Douglas commonly runs into problems with his computer. One day in class, Mr. Douglas wasn’t able to print a worksheet for his history class because of internet problems. In response, he had to call technical support and continue class with different work. Teachers have limited time to teach a certain amount of material each day to their classes. If the internet won’t function correctly, like in Mr. Douglas’ room, then students won’t learn about the required subject, causing more stress for teachers and lower scores on important tests.

The school relies heavily on technology these days. It’s actually become a requirement that teachers use iPads, Macbooks and tablets to teach their classes. This ultimately leads to mass confusion among staff members. Teachers receive little to no training on using their iPads and laptops. Newer teachers already have past experience with the new products but older, experienced teachers who have been using whiteboards and overhead projectors are lost trying to figure out the control manual. Mrs. Vann, the librarian, explained how she didn’t receive any training prior to obtaining new technology. She has been learning how to use the laptops along with the students who need help with them. Mrs. Vann also said “most schools have an on-site tech team, but that’s something we haven’t budgeted for.” An on-site tech team could fix the small technological problems in the computers that make working difficult. Currently, the school only has one technician, Skylar West, but he also works for nine other schools in the district, and consequently is not on campus everyday. If the CKM computers run into a problem, it will have to wait until he arrives. Skylar claimed that “having an on-site tech team could save him a significant amount of time. They could fix the small bugs that take time to repair.” While this may be true, Skylar also argued, “Any time a new technology is implemented, it’s going to come with it’s share of pros and cons.”

Ms. Oram believes that the Apple products haven’t helped her teaching. She says, “the technology only makes work more complicated.” Her students are being held back from fulfilling work because they don’t know how to use the computers properly. She tried to have her classes create a math project over the computer but it didn’t work out well.

Mr. Fisher thinks otherwise claiming that technology has greatly improved the conditions at school. He uses the laptops for various class work like projects or PowerPoints. However, he explained how “the new technology is useful, but it does have it’s problems.” The laptops need more maintenance to function at its full capacity. Mr. Fisher believes having more technicians on campus could solve many problems. Other than a lack of technicians, Mr. Fisher enjoys having such useful tools on hand.

The technology that has been integrated into CKM has proven to be both a benefit and problem. The new laptops, monitors and computer lab have provided more education opportunities for students not available in many public high schools. Many teachers also have an easier time teaching their students because the projectors and tablets are convenient for everyday purposes. However, for some, the technology causes an array of problems. Teachers often run into minor problems that tends to hold the class back from learning. Students often have a hard time learning how the computers and laptops work, and teachers can’t always help these students because they received little, if any training on how to use the new computers.

Despite some unforeseen challenges, McClatchy has taken it’s first steps to becoming a truly modern high school with resources to rival that of a private school.

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The Real Meaning of a Hero

By Jennie Jasperson, Staff Writer

“Before I’m American, I am human, and no little girl, regardless of where she was born, should be forced to work the streets when her biggest dream is to go to school,” Katie Meyler writes on her More than Me website. She is the the founder of the More than Me Academy; a program dedicated to improve the lives of girls from the West Point Slum of Liberia.

With the Ebola crisis causing chaos and wreaking havoc all over West Africa, most people seem to forget about the hundreds and thousands of doctors, nurses, and health care workers administering aid to all those fighting the deadly virus. Although she may not be a certified doctor or nurse, Katie Meyler, from Bernardsville, New Jersey, is a leader devoted to changing the lives of girls in Liberia. She saw girls forced to sell their bodies at the age of eleven just to get a few dollars in order to afford clean water. She saw the destruction that poverty and lack of education brings. She decided to do something about it. The name of her organization, More Than Me, comes from the idea of thinking beyond yourself; of being part of something greater than just you. The purpose of More Than Me is to provide girls from the West Point slum in Liberia with education, health and social services to transform their lives. With the help of several different organizations, Meyler was able to open the More Than Me Academy in September of 2013; the very first tuition-free, all-girls school in Liberia.

But why girls in Liberia? Facts stated on the More Than Me website answers this question. More than 40% of Liberian girls ages 10-14 have never gone to school. Unfortunately, young girls fall victim to the most frequently reported crime in Liberia, rape. An extra year of primary school boosts girls’ eventual wages by 10 to 20 percent. An extra year of secondary school: 15 to 25 percent. When women and girls earn income, they reinvest 90 percent of it into their families, as compared to only 30 to 40 percent for a man. It is the hope of More Than Me to give girls endless opportunities, making it impossible for them to fail.

So how does Katie Meyler’s story and the More Than Me foundation have anything to do with Ebola? With the recent outbreak of the virus, Meyler has focused her attentions on putting the girls in Liberia out of risk of contracting the disease. In the past months, hundreds of children have lost their parents; leaving them as outcasts in their own communities and orphans with no where to go. The More Than Me Academy has closed temporarily in order to become a place of refuge for children who have lost their families. In addition, a quarantine center has also been created for girls and boys to be safely quarantined for twenty-one days to lower the chances of spreading Ebola.

Meyler risks has life everyday as she travels throughout West Point slum sending people with Ebola to hospitals, rescuing children with no place to go, finding children who are sick, and finding ways to provide food and water to struggling families.

Her story as well as the efforts of More Than Me to fight Ebola were recently featured on NBC. When asked about her own fears of getting Ebola Meyler responded, “Courage is not the absence of fear, it’s the ability to act in spite of it. And I feel like as long as my kids are here, they can’t leave, I’m not going anywhere either. I have the ability to go, but that doesn’t mean I should. I feel with everything inside of me that I’m supposed to be here fighting with everything I have.”

Day after day, Meyler fights for the lives of others and helps them in any way she can. She exemplifies the real meaning of a hero.

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Trash!

By Brian Ishisaka, Staff writer

Trash, trash, trash. You see it, you smell it, you occasionally feel it. Yes, it’s no mystery that behind McClatchy’s exquisite and elegant entrance lays a campus not as sparkling, shiny, and clean. With budgets in effect, CKM has taken a toll by having less janitors, and therefore having a dirtier campus. No one is at fault here; it’s just the economy that we live in. But honestly, it’s still incredibly disgusting! Do you like walking around campus, looking at gum-stained floors, black-tinted walls, and musty smelling hallways? I DEFINITELY DON’T! You can’t even walk around anymore with a new pair of all white Chuck Taylors, Vans, or crisp Air Force One’s without them turning a different, filthy color by the end of the day.

Just the other day I saw a janitor cleaning the floors with a steam cleaner before zero period. By the end of the day, the entire floor was covered in mud, dirt, and grease. The janitor worked so hard to make that floor clean and within a span of 7 hours, it was a complete mess. CKM needs a new system of cleaning, because this is flat out unacceptable.

Especially during the winter time, when cold season is in full effect ,it could take a CKM student a few weeks to get symptom free because of all the nasty filth and germs in the air, while most teenagers can get over a common cold in a few days,.Hygienically, CKM is equivalent to a dump. Have you recently checked out the portable bathrooms near the football field? I advise you not to go in there anytime soon, unless you want to risk your health and sanitation. It’s disgusting to see all the flies and maggots roaming around, the smell alone is horrific.

Additionally, what’s the point of trash cans at school, if kids don’t even use them? I walk around the science quad and lunch quad almost everyday, just to see kids throwing rubbish on the ground when a large trash bin is within arm’s reach. That brings me to my next point leaving food on the ground attracts what? That’s right, it attracts critters. I can’t even count the number of times I have seen rats running around the bushes or dashing across the science quad in search of the leftover food that our wonderful students have left behind. It’s disgusting to just have food lying on the ground, but the fact that there are rodents roaming freely on our campus is even morenasty!

Starving school kids can’t even eat in classes anymore because teaches are scared of messy eaters and crumbs falling on the floor. How are we to learn on starving stomachs? The school is so filthy now that we students can’t even feed themselves, which is ultimately affecting the way they learn.

Additionally, all I hear from teachers is how much they complain and complain and complain about having to clean their own floors and their whole rooms in general. But instead of complaining so much, why don’t they just suck it up like we do and clean the damn floors, or take it to the administration. Realistically, there are only a handful of teachers that take the time to clean their floors and care about the well being of the school and students. Students don’t even feel safe and clean at our school because of the filth. Kennedy Wilson (‘16), said, “I feel like I can’t even put my backpack on the floor without catching a million diseases.” CKM needs to seriously clean up the campus. Maybe rent a giant garbage bin for a day, and every period one representative from each class takes their respective trash can to be emptied into the giant one. Even a school wide clean up would help. All in all, the janitorial staff does all that they can in the time that they have to clean the campus, yet when it comes down to it, our school remains filthy and quite honestly it’s unacceptable. It’s up to the students and staff to make this campus the beautiful and remarkable place that it once was.

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Our Pride of Lions

By Scott Kumamoto, Staff Writer

Is your sister constantly pestering you about something in the hallway? Is your brother always complaining about all the homework he gets from Mr. Wong? Believe it or not, several students at McClatchy have siblings that also attend the school. I myself have a sister who is a student at McClatchy. Sometimes, I have to pretend like we’ve never met before. However, there are moments when we can actually get along. For me, having a sibling at school isn’t as bad as it may seem. It can even be beneficial.. My sister can help me with projects or homework. For others, however, having a sibling at school can be unpredictable

Kelsey and Kristi Wong, two siblings at McClatchy, had a lot to say about the matter.

Prospector: Does she embarrass you a lot?

Kristi: Yeah, she embarrasses me because she laughs at things that aren’t even funy

Kelsey: No not really. She is kinda boring.

Prospector: Do you think it would be different without her here?

Kristi: Yes because I would feel more lonely walking around before, during, and after school.

Kelsey: Yes, it would be different because we’re always together.

Prospector: If your were to leave your sister forever, what would your last words be to her?

Kelsey and Kristi : Bye! I’ll miss you!

For the Wongs, having a sibling at school is turning out to be a great experience. The second pair of siblings I interviewed was Mirelle and GiGi Castaneda.

Prospector: Is your sister more annoying or helpful?

Mirelle: She can be annoying at times, but also very helpful.

GiGi: Annoying.

Prospector: Do you wish you went to a different school? Why?

Mirelle: It wouldn’t be too different because we only see each other a few times anyways.

GiGi: No, it’s easier this way. She can bring me food.

Prospector: If you were to leave your sister forever, what would your last words be to her?

Mirelle: I honestly love her…I’ll miss her…and thanks for putting up with me for 17 years.

GiGi: Have fun, and be safe, and you’re ugly, and I love you.

This sibling relationship is a little different.

My third interview was with Baily and Jenna Mirtle.

Prospector: Have you ever argued with her during school?

Jenna: Yes, in 2008 when I was in 3rd grade and I wanted to play. She was with her friends and yelled at me to go away.

Baily: No not yet. This is the first time being at the same school together.

Prospector: Do you guys help each other with homework?

Baily: I mainly help her, since I’m older, but she sometimes helps with studying.

Jenna: She helps me with math homework and reading sometimes when she can.

Prospector: If you were to leave your sister forever, what would your last words be to her?

Baily: Don’t be afraid to try, be yourself, and I love you with all my heart.

Jenna: I would tell her that I love her and I will always think of her.

It’s clear to see that these sisters’ bonds are strong and won’t be fading soon. After interviewing only a few pair of siblings, it’s easy to see that the outcomes can go in all sorts of directions. Maybe you’re similar to these siblings. You may have a sister who you share a strong bond with, or maybe you have a brother who just drives you insane. As some parting advice, always be kind to your siblings and nice to your family members, no matter how obnoxious or crazy they may be. You never know, they may be helpful for advice or homework.

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Sweet Tooth for Rick’s

Photo via Rick's Dessert Diner Gallery — Photo via Rick’s Dessert Diner Gallery

By Jennie Jasperson, Staff writer

Just a few months ago, customers at Rick’s Dessert Diner would have found themselves in a tight, crowded atmosphere. The leather seats were old and worn. The counter and table tops were scratched and dirty. There were never enough empty tables available. Despite all of that, there was always a line. No matter what time of day the diner would be full of people laughing and chatting over a slice of red velvet cake and a chocolate shake. But this last July, Rick’s renovated and moved to a new location nearly doubling the size of the diner; to the appreciation of many loyal customers.

Rick’s Dessert Diner has been around in Sacramento since 1986 and is famous for its European cheesecakes, tortes, tarts, dessert pastries, cookies, and cakes. The menu includes over two hundred and eighty-five different items such as: Caramel Apple Spice Cake, Fudge Fantasy, Lemon Diva Cake, White Satin Cake, Fresh Fruit Tart, Raspberry Almond Tart, Peach Tart, and Oreo Mousse Tart. Some of the pies include: Apple Blueberry Pie, Blackberry Raspberry Pie, Butterscotch Pie, California Walnut Pie, and Strawberry Cream Pie. For those pastry-lovers, Eclairs, Cannoli, Lemon Bars, German Chocolate Bars, Blonde Brownies, Zebra Fudge Brownies, Napoleon, Pumpkin Bars, and Butter Cookies are just a few to choose from. Along with the huge selection of baked goods, Rick’s also offers freshly made milkshakes, smoothies, and coffee. With a variety like this, it’s no wonder the diner has been named the Number 1 place for dessert in Sacramento year after year by many local magazines and newspapers.

Not only is the new location in J Street much roomier, the building itself fits the perfect diner image. “It looks like a classic 60s diner, turned modern. It’s a really nice look,” Lilia Quevedo (‘16) says of the new exterior design. At night, neon lights create an attractive setting for customers. Inside the diner, pictures of iconic Americans are framed on the walls, including photographs of people like Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley. Rock and roll music plays in the background as customers sit on bright red, leather bar stools. The diner is lined with mirrors and fluorescent purple and pink lights line the walls. There are also cozy booths all around the diner that provide great places to sit and chat with family and friends.

In terms of comparing this new location to the old one, there have been a few bumps in the road but Rick’s Diner is slowly coming around. At first, there were many complaints about bad customer service. The lines at the new location are extremely long due to a limited number of cashiers, many tables are left dirty and uncleared, and many customers complain that the quality of the cakes, pies, etc. has diminished. But that can be expected when any kind of restaurant or shop moves to a new location. It will always take a little bit longer to get things established and taken care of, before being able to get back to where it once was. Give Rick’s a few more months to get adjusted and it will once again become the famous bakery it always have been. Despite recent complaints, the diner remains a hotspot. The long line trailing out of Rick’s every night is proof of that. So next time you’re out and about downtown, it would be well worth your time to head over to Rick’s Dessert Diner and see for yourself what the rest of Sacramento has been talking about.

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