Can you Guess who this is?

Hey there! If you guessed Ms. Tandy as the Guess Who answer, you’re right!

Sophia Brady reciting her poem.

Sophia Breanna Brady (’11) placed second in the regional Poetry Out Loud recitation contest at the Actors Gang Theater in Culver City on Feb. 10. She recited “A Farmer Remembers Lincoln” by Witter Bynner and “Monet Refuses the Operation” by Lisel Mueller.

Brady and the first place winner, Christian Bartz-Sanchez from Millikan High School whom she lost to by 0.5 score difference, were each awarded $35 gift cards to Barnes & Nobles. Although Brady is disappointed that she did not move onto the state competition, she said that the experience helped her as a drama student because “actresses have a lot of monologues, and reciting poetry is similar in that aspect.”

Brady was introduced to the contest by her English teacher Deborah Fox. After winning the school contest, she competed in the district contest on Jan. 14 against a Clark student. Brady said it was seemingly easy yet difficult because although she was competing against only one student, her competitor had been the previous regional finalist.

“In plays and musicals, she would be the first to memorize her lines,” friend Ally Specter (’13) said. “It’s her determination that brought her this far.”

Brady’s most nerve-wrecking moment at the regional was after intermission when she was called to recite her poem again. She had stepped outside for a moment to practice, and was accidentally locked out.

All competitors were judged on physical presence, voice and articulation, appropriateness of dramatization, level of difficulty, evidence of understanding of the poem, and accuracy.

“Each contestant had a different approach to poetry,” Brady said. “I approached it as an actress.”

Brady plans to participate in the Poetry Out Loud contest again next year.

Can you guess which Hoover teacher this is without looking at the article?

Hello! Curious to see who the  Guess Who Teacher is? Well, you’re at the right place.

If you Guessed Mrs. Tindol, one of our wonderful spanish teachershere at Hoover, well you are right!

            You see, modern feminists have earned a very bad name in my (and quite possibly your) book. In what has been a crazy series of events since they got the vote in 1920, women have become their own worst enemies and harshest critics, in turn halting their own progress.

            While advocating equality, it has been women who say that promiscuity is degrading to women but natural for men. It has been women who criticize other women, telling them that they will never get respect if their bodies are not covered up, never commenting on men’s attire with regard to what is “respectful.”

            In high school, we can see this every day. How often have we heard girls calling each other “sluts” and “whores” for wearing shorts, instead of defending the choice to dress as one pleases, and the bravery of breaking away from the mold of “female expectations?”

            Human beings are sexual creatures. The choice to express that sexuality (or not to express it) should be not only tolerated, but respected.

            Otherwise, where is the equality here? Because it seems like modern feminism’s aim is not to promote equality for all women, but to fit all women into one neatly shrunken box (I am sure the royal family in Saudi Arabia is lining up behind this concept in the Western world as we speak). I may be wrong, but isn’t the point, shall we say, of feminism to grant women the choice to live as they please? Or is choice only advocated if it is the one supported by radical feminists?

            Then comes the idea of women victimizing themselves. We all know the statistic: women make about 70 cents on every dollar that men get paid. At first glance, this sounds like nothing but blatant gender discrimination. However, it is truly only a manipulation of facts and data. Because of the Equal Pay Act of 1963, it is “illegal to pay men and women different wage rates for equal work on jobs that require equal skill, effort, and responsibility.”

            However, equal working conditions are not always the case. For example, men tend to work longer hours than women. Also, women more often tend to be the caretakers of their families as opposed to men. For most people, it is impossible to maintain a demanding career while raising a family of possibly multiple children, giving each the full time and attention deserved and called for (which is why women without families make a lot more money than do women with families).

            This type of victimization is not going to get women anywhere. What we must do is embrace our choices (whether it is a family, a career, neither, or both) and work on them avidly, proud that we are women who can handle the challenges we are dealt without succumbing to them. 

            Woman’s rights should not be about short shorts and tank tops. It should be about safety and justice for the captive long-necked women in the Philippines who are forced to live like circus attractions, or for the women in the Middle East who are at the mercy of their husbands with no laws protecting them, or for those in the sex slave trade. Looking at these women, am I wrong for not feeling like a victim? I do not think so. I think that my sights are simply clear on what actually matters, instead of what is easy.

As the “heaviest” nation in the world, it is hypocritical that so many Americans judge others based on weight and body type. When we think of prejudices, race, nationality and sexual orientation come to mind. Weight hardly ever makes the list; it is the only remaining accepted form of discrimination. It affects how people are treated in social situations and even in job opportunities.

Our society has created a phobia of people who are not thin. Many have accepted the misconceptions that heavier people are lazy, unhealthy, unintelligent, and lack self-control.

The government, non-profit health organizations and average Americans have gone as far as declaring a War on Obesity. In this war, they plan to educate people on the positive effects of nutritious foods and exercise.

But the strategies being used in this war make it seem less like a War on Obesity and a more like a War on the Obese.

In a heinous form of weight discrimination, Lincoln University, in Pennsylvania, implemented a policy in 2006 which mandates that students with a Body Mass Index (BMI) over 30—the brink of obesity—cannot graduate unless they take a one-credit gym class.

The university’s chairman of the Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation James DeBoy tried to justify the school’s policy by saying obesity robs “individuals from quality of life” and that it is the school’s job to bring this to its students’ attention.

Of course it is good to promote a healthy campus, but an embarrassing and degrading policy like what Lincoln has is simply not the way to go. What these educators fail to consider is that denying some students their diplomas would also be robbing them of “quality of life.”

Heavier people are not always the victims. Although it is less common, the very thin are also victims of weight discrimination.

Thin people are seen as unhealthy, vain, and self-centered. None of these factors have anything to do with a person’s weight. The major determinants in weight are metabolism, stress, and genetics. Thus, many people are not in control of whether or not they are slim or heavy.

Even when body type is a choice, discrimination based on weight is unacceptable. Bodybuilders, for example, spend an incredible amount of time exercising and toning their bodies. Male body builders are considered to have an obsession, as Shane Vera (’11) said, to “portray the alpha male [persona].” Female body builders, on the other hand, are called unfeminine and mannish. The fact that these people are goal-oriented and hardworking ia sadly overlooked.

We must remember that people’s bodies do not reflect all their abilities. It is true that weight can affect a person’s physical prowess, but it does not reveal one’s intelligence or personality.

People who feel they are in a position to judge others based on their shape must remember that whenever they point a finger at someone, they are only revealing their own fear, insecurity and a lack of inner beauty.

Words and actions can have a tremendous impact on people. Making a comment or joke based on someone’s body and adding even the words “just kidding” after does not make it okay. These comments lower a person’s self-esteem and lead to crazy diets, eating disorders, depression, and harmful surgeries.

In the 21^st century, where the rights of so many are avidly fought for, we must stop picking friends and employees by their looks. A body-based comment such as “I love you like a fat kid loves cake” may have no harmful intention, but it can hurt people who accidentally overhear them.

We need to take a stand against weight discrimination and defend its victims in the same way that we defend those that suffer from other forms of discrimination. Most of all, we must learn to accept all body types as worthy and beautiful.

After years of denial of the Armenian Genocide by the Turkish government, mistrust and bitter resentment has elevated to undeniably high decrees on both sides. With such tension between the two countries, it is a wonder how they decided to open the border between Turkey and Armenia.

Establishing relations between two nations that have experienced hatred for each other for decades is sensible and admirable for both parties. However, with such a complex history between Turkey and Armenia, accepting the genocide (which Turkey still refuses to do) is the least that Turkey could have done for Armenia.

Acceptance of the genocide is a matter of respect. Armenians cannot be told to “just drop it” when other genocides such as the holocaust committed by Nazi Germany and other atrocities have been recognized by the entire world.

What seems very suspicious is why, after years of no official plan to settle differences between the two nations, protocols have suddenly been made as a “peace stand” between them? This leaves us begging the ultimate question: is this really a stand for peace and reconciliation based on truth, or just another political ploy disguised as one?

A pressing issue that lies in the authenticity of “normalizing relations” between the two countries is whether Turkey’s and the international community’s true intentions of their probing support for the Armenia-Turkey protocol lie in Turkey becoming part of the European Union via eliminating its borders with Armenia as well as its other neighboring countries.

By submitting to the European Union, Turkey will become a European nation, which will enhance the economic markets of both Turkey and Europe because trade and commerce between them will be executed more copiously. However, Turkey’s submission to the European Union will benefit the Armenian community when it comes to acceptance of the Armenian Genocide, because Turkey will have to abide by the laws and regulations of the European Union, whose parliament has accepted the genocide.

Russia also benefits from the Armenia-Turkey protocol as it will be able to transmit its energy supplies into Turkey as well as Azerbaijan , hence extracting large profits from both of these nations. The United States itself will be able to side step the recognition of the Armenian Genocide without tarnishing its commerce and strategic relations with Turkey.

This so-called peace protocol may really be just that. However, with so many beneficiaries, it is most likely that Turkey and the international community are simply trying to put forth their political agendas via “settling” the Armenia-Turkey conflicts. It is highly doubtful that any of the politicians involved are really out for amity.

Beneficiary countries of the protocol are tampering with a very important moral issue. They do not realize that Armeno-Turkish reconciliation is never going to happen until the historical past is fully brought into affirmation. Even if acceptance of the genocide becomes an EU Requirement, who is to say that the Turkish government will summon up the courage to accept their wrongdoings after decades of denial.

Edita Santrosyan (’12) believes that the protocols could finally establish peace, but because of Turkish denial of the genocide, the rest of the world is receiving the wrong message that Armenia and Turkey have no issues to settle when it to comes to the rightful recognition of the Great Calamity.

Still, there are Armenians who view the new opening of borders as potential to harmonize relations between the two countries.

Lucine Oganesian (’12) believes that Sarkisian’s decision to associate with Turkey is a “smart move” on his part since we must be on “speaking terms” with the Turkish government in order to raise the vital issue of the genocide recognition. The president, after all, must have a reason for taking the protocols into consideration and agreeing to it.

Though it is highly agreeable that Armenia must establish diplomatic relations even with enemy countries in order to develop as a nation, a piercing doubt lies whether the issue over the Great Calamity will be overlooked by the personal agendas of participating countries.

The idea of peace that is being planted in our minds is nothing more than just that- a reasonable notion used to toy with the emotions of people striving for peace, understanding, and justice. Once the genocide committed against the Armenian people is recognized by the Turkish government, the new diplomatic relations will be easier for the Armenian community to accept. However, since nothing on behalf of Turkey has been said about their government accepting the mass killings, we must remain critical.

There is hope, however so slight, that the new Armenia-Turkey protocol will harmonize relations between the Turkish and Armenian people. Even with so many odds played against them in the past, the Armenian community remains hopeful that they will not be slapped in the face yet again as the they await the fate of the long-overdue justice owed to the one and a half million innocent martyrs who were simply killed because they happen to be of different ethnic origin and different religion than the dominant group of the Ottoman Empire.

As human rights activist and campaigner Hakop Ter-Barsegian, said, “We will not give up this issue without a fight.”

The main reason proponents give for this change is that they believe more preparation time will be allotted for Advanced Placement (AP) tests, the CAHSEE, and SATs. However, there seems to be a few snags in that argument.

There are 32 schools in the GUSD. Only five of these are high schools, four of which are affected by AP, CAHSEE, and SAT testing. More importantly, a majority of students within these high schools do not take AP classes and some choose not to take the SAT.

The majority should not have their time wasted just because a handful of students have AP tests in May. Although we fully realize the importance of these tests and impact they have on a student’s future, it is simply not right to weigh AP students’ needs over others. Although the extra days in school might slightly help some AP teachers, the chances of this making any substantial impact on AP scores is highly unlikely.

Some AP classes are good, some bad, and others very very ugly. There are those teachers who will make the most of the time given for instruction and strive to lead students to a higher level of thinking, while other teachers can spend days on end without going over a single lesson pertaining to the AP course.

It is classes like these which make us scoff at the idea of giving AP classes more time. The truth of the matter is that there is enough time to prepare for exams. What makes the difference is how teachers and students alike use this time. 

Although the district must look after students’ educational needs and do everything in its power to make sure every student is successful, at the end of the day the individual is responsible for his or her success on an AP or SAT exam.

We must remember this change will not only impact students, but teachers, administrators, and their families as well. We live in a time where competitiveness is running rampant, students have the stress levels of CEOs, and a day does not go by when we are pressured by college applications, SATs, and GPAs. Considering this, it is safe to say that a two and a half month summer is crucial for the physical and emotional well being of every student.

            Looking for authentic Korean food without having to travel to Koreatown? Want soup to warm you up from the cold weather? In the mood for some kimchi with steamed black or white rice?

            Tofu Village is a modern Korean food chain restaurant that can satisfy anybody’s craving. Its convenient location makes it easy for teenagers to go eat after a long day of shopping at the mall.

            When you first enter, you are greeted by employees as you make your way over to a table or booth that you desire. Tables can be placed together for larger parties. The server takes your drink order as you are given a menu to look through. Rice or green tea can be ordered to get a more authentic Korean experience, but soda is also available.

            Tofu Village is best known for its tofu stew. The colorful pictures of the cuisine on the menu brighten your eyes, making your decision that much more difficult until you finally decide what to order. When you are ready, there is a unique button on the table: you press the button, and the server is notified to come to your table. This makes even the most impatient customers happy because they do not have to sit and wonder when the server would return.

            Since the restaurant is known for its tofu stews, trying one would be the sensible thing to do. The well-known stews come in many varieties: the seafood tofu stew, dumpling tofu stew, pork tofu stew, and kimchi tofu stew. You are able to choose how spicy you want your dish, from no spiciness at all (which is not recommended because it takes away from the flavor) to extremely spicy that only the bravest of us can handle.

            The medium spicy is recommended for those who can eat spicy food, but do not want to overwhelm themselves. The stew also comes with raw eggs that you can crack into your stew to thicken it. Since the stew comes to your table boiling hot, the eggs poach the second you crack them, adding an extra flavor.

            The tofu stews are a mixture of tofu, a choice of meat, and a red broth. Although many do not like tofu, it can be very tasty and also has many health benefits. Tofu is made by curdling soya milk with a coagulant, the thickening agent. It is rich in nutrients, easy to digest, and claimed to reduce cholesterol.

            However, if enjoying tofu seems impossible, there are other dishes offered at Tofu Village. From the usual chicken teriyaki to the savory bolgogi, a Korean beef dish on a sizzling plate, a meat lover can definitely enjoy this eatery.

            Multiple sides are brought alongside the soup as well. Steamed rice, seaweed, glazed potatoes, broccoli, fish, kimchi, and bean sprouts are sides provided in order to balance the strong flavor of the main dish. These can be enjoyed as you wait for your meal, arriving quickly after ordering.

            At the end of the meal, the server brings out a tray of stone bowls filled with rice and hot water. Expressing a part of the Korean culture, servers pour hot water into the bowls that your steamed rice was originally cooked in so that the rice remnants from the sides of the bowl peel off.

            Tofu Village is open seven days a week. Monday through Thursday, it is open from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and on Friday, it is open an extra hour, until 10:30 p.m. They open on Sundays at 12:00 p.m. and close at 9:00 p.m.

               "My father used to hunt, my grandfather used to hunt, [and] all my uncles used to hunt,” father Mike Hamadani said. “It [is] a social event within our culture.”

 He became a part of that tradition when he was nine-years-old after receiving his license by taking a rigorous 100-question test by the California Department of Fish and Game.

“He has grown to become a safe and experienced hunter,” older brother Jad Hamadani said. “I admire his willingness to commit to the sport and try to learn different aspects of it.  His companionship is greatly appreciated when we go as well.”

            Hamadani enjoys hunting because he feels he can re-associate himself with nature. He is able to walk the ground without the present day world around him.

            Hunting is also a way for him and his family to bond as it “brings them closer, relaxes them, and builds their confidence,   ” according to mother Sana Hamadani.

            He only hunts small birds, like doves and quail, usually around Maricopa County in Arizona or central California. Older members of his family make the annual trip north to hunt deer, but Hamadani has not been able to join them because he usually has school during that time.

            Dove hunting requires a lot of patience. Hunters are required to wait for several hours in a single position to see the doves flying overhead. They take precautions, to remain hidden and quiet until the shot is fired and the dove is down. As a part of his Muslim culture, he says a small prayer then slits the throat of the dove to put it out of its misery.

             Hamadani is also proud of the time he set his dove hunting record at nine doves in one day while hunting in Arizona.

            Hamadani hunts quail as well as dove. Quail hunting is more difficult than dove hunting. The hunt requires a hike up the mountains to where a group of quails can be found. Hamadani’s dog, Blaze, a German shorthaired pointer, is brought along to flush out the quail from the bushes and retrieve the ones they shoot. Once the hunters see the dog has caught a quail’s trail, they get ready to fire.

            Since quails can sometimes fly in erratic directions, each hunter places himself a distance apart for obvious safety reasons.

            “Think Dick Cheney,” Hamadani said.

Safety is a big concern for the family while they are hunting, but since they take every precaution possible, no one has had an accident. They also stay far away from each other to cover all areas of the sky.

            His most memorable hunting moment is when he shot his first quail, a great accomplishment because it was harder to hunt since it was quicker and smarter.

            “I remember when I got this quail in the Maricopa area and I winged it. It fluttered a little, [and] then another shot finished it off,” Hamadani said.

            Along with hunting, Hamadani also enjoys football. He is the safety and wide receiver for the varsity team. Originally, he got interested while playing the video game, Madden 2002. After that, he started to watch the sport and play football with friends during seventh and eighth grade. His favorite football team is the Baltimore Ravens and his favorite player is the Raven’s free safety, Ed Reed.

            “When I entered high school, I decided to join the football team since I had a growing passion for the sport,” Hamadani said.            

            Hamadani has five Advanced Placement classes and has been a member of the football team since his freshman year. He plays video games and enjoys playing sports. Hamadani also likes to participate in outdoor activities like fishing, camping, hiking, and, of course, hunting.

He usually accompanies his dad and brothers when they go on hunting trips throughout the late fall and early winter months. The season for dove hunting is between Sept. 1 through 15 and then again between Nov. 14 through Dec. 28. The season for quail hunting is longer, which occurs between Oct.17 and Jan. 31.  But Hamadani will not go if it falls on a Sunday “because it interferes with watching football.”

            For hunting he uses guns that are special for upland bird hunting like the Winchester shotgun. The shotguns range from the 0.410 to 0.12 gauge shotgun.

               Although hunting is not an average hobby, it has been a part of history for thousands of years. It is special to Hamadani because he “[enjoys] being one with nature while hunting. 

               “Hunting is not just about shooting an animal and later enjoying it on the dinner table,” he said. “It provides an outlet for me to reconnect with the wilderness as an individual.”

        Hamadani hopes to continue the tradition with his own children when he is older.

      This film is the 11^th film based on the “Star Trek” franchise, and follows the adventures of a young James Kirk. It details how he came to the Starfleet Academy, met Spock, Bones, Scotty, and the rest of the crew. Viewers follow them on the adventure as they board the USS Enterprise starship to combat with Nero who threatens the United Federation of Planets. The film earned $76.5 million in its opening weekend.

2.   “Up”

      This Pixar film has Ed Asner playing the voice of Carl Fredricksen, a cranky old man who sets out for an adventure to fulfill a lifelong promise made to his deceased wife. The thrilling animated adventure provides laughter and tears. The film earned $68.2 in its opening weekend.

3. “Inglourious Basterds”

      There was a lot of hype surrounding this movie, and with director Quentin Tarantino and actor Brad Pitt starring in the film. The film is about a group of Jewish-American soldiers spreading terror through the enemy’s ranks by brutally killing Nazis. The film earned $65.1 million in its opening weekend.

4. “The Hangover”

“The Hangover” deserves its spot as one of the funniest comedy movies to come along in years. This film stars actors Ed Helms, Bradley Cooper and Zach Galifianakis. Four friends spend a crazy night in Las Vegas and as things get out of hand, the group of three try to retrace their steps and find their lost friend, Doug, to return home in time for his wedding. This comedy earned $44.9 million in its opening weekend.

5. “District 9”

      Many call it the “greatest” science fiction movie of all time. “District 9” is unusual right from the start: the story takes place in South Africa where aliens become refugees and their weapons become an interest of the government. The one man who can activate these weapons is being hunted down, and the only place that can give him refuge is “District 9.”  It is a paranormal movie and a stunning debut for director Neil Blomkamp. The film earned $37.4 million in its opening weekend.