Thin Mints, Samoas, Tagalongs, Do-Si-Dos, Thank U Berry Much, Lemonades, Dulce de Leche, Lemon Chalet Cremes, Thanks-A-Lot, Shortbread, and Daisy Go Rounds. Yes, Girl Scout cookies are here! Although they arrived a few weeks ago, students have been receiving and enjoying their cookies these past few weeks. These famous Girl Scout cookies are a treat to many especially after the yearlong wait. Buyers had anxiously awaited the arrival of these delicious cookies, and now they are finally here.

It all started ninety years ago when Girl Scouts started selling home-baked goods as a way to raise money. The selling of Girl Scout cookies is aimed at supporting local Girl Scout units, and a great way to fundraise; who doesn’t love Girl Scout cookies? Millions of boxes are sold each year and have been selling since 1917. During World War II, Girl Scouts sold calendars instead of cookies due to the shortage of flour, sugar, and butter. Cookie sales became so popular that Girl Scouts of the USA enlisted bakers to handle the production of the cookies. The selling of these cookies is not just to raise money but also to teach Girl Scouts valuable lessons such as financial skills and taking action in their communities.

Thin Mints are by far the most popular Girl Scout cookie around. Thin Mints are the biggest sellers, taking up 25% of sales. Samoas come behind with 19%, then Tagalongs with 13%, Do-si-dos with 11%, and Shortbread with 9%.

Most buyers buy many boxes so they can stock up on these sweet treats, but there is no need to feel bad for buying $50 worth of cookies because you are supporting your neighborhood Girl Scout troop.

The selling of Girl Scout cookies brings back many memories for girls at CdM who used to be Girl Scouts.

“I remember selling Girl Scout cookies in my neighborhood with my friends and now when other little Girl Scouts come by my house to sell cookies it always brings back memories,” said freshman Melis Gunay.

Samoas come as another amazing Girl Scout cookie. Somoas, or Caramel deLites, are doughnut-shaped cookies with a hole in the center, covered in caramel and toasted coconut and finished off with chocolate.

“Samoas are the best Girl Scout cookie, they are so good I could eat twenty boxes,” said junior Nick DeLotell.

But, don’t be fooled by these sweet little cookies. You may want to buy hundreds of boxes, but these cookies are not so healthy. Of course, any kind of cookie or sugar filled treat with high calories and fat isn’t the best thing to consume, but most of these delectable cookies do not come in a “reduced fat” form. Although the Girl Scout cookies have a few choices of reduced fat cookies, it’s not safe to say that Thin Mints are going to make you thin. Girl Scout cookies are tricky, but as a treat, these cookies are something to enjoy.

Altogether, Girl Scout cookies have been a tradition for many years and one of the best cookie brands. With each cookie and its diverse taste, Girl Scout cookies are a favorite among everyone and something great to enjoy.

Since the dawn of the glorious revolutionary organization JSA, our Triumvirate has brought a new era of peace and prosperity to the school. Under their unwavering supervision, our enemies have been bested and those who wish to hold us back have been defeated.

However, a seemingly insurmountable problem faced the superbly wise Triumvirate. The question was one which has plagued the minds of many titans

since the dawn of civilization. It was a question that legends such as Alexander the Great and Augustus Caesar, men who dominated their time, could not even answer.

It is thus truly amazing that our wise rulers have been able to find a solution in Daniel Flaxman. “In many ways, he is our organization’s most fervent soul. Within his heart and mind lies powers and strength which even we have been unable to anticipate.” said Cahill Maffei the Cunning.

He fears not the intimidating eyes of the spell-bound masses. Indeed, legend has it that he tamed a ferocious dervish in the heart of Africa with his powerful debating techniques. Many have been left spellbound by the young man.

To ignore the rest of Flaxman’s impressive repertoire of talents, however, would be an unspeakable crime. His mind has been endowed by nature a sort of intelligence that rivals the ancient masters. His knowledge of the world is unspeakably outstanding for his age, bespeaking of many years of deep observation and introspection. His tough body has clearly been through more battles than even the most hardened of soldiers of fortune.

Flaxman has all the characteristics which indicate his leadership. No longer will I waste your time with a discussion of such, to truly grasp his greatness, one must observe  Flaxman in action himself (which, with his infinite wisdom and kindness, I’m sure he would happily bestow such a request).

We live in a time of great danger. Every second of every minute, the enemies of JSA gather around plotting our demise. They have instigated a deliberate attempt to destroy the insurance industry (in a plot which has infected the White House itself) in order to destroy JSA. We must stand and fight.

Thus, we have brought  our future leader to bear. Already, after his very first JSA convention, he was nominated for the top leadership position – that of JSA governor. He shall lead us to new heights of glory and vanquish those who seek to defile all we find holy. We all must agree, based on what has been established, that Flaxman would be the best choice – both in merit and in purity of heart and soul – for the position. We must unite in such a time of duress behind a man with the greatness to lead his peoplee through such a time.

However, division within JSA threatens this sort of powerful arrangement. Larry Saunders believes himself an

equally worthy candidate for the position of governor. One must examine the situation with all fairness however – Flaxman is by far a superior candidate. I have already delineated Flaxman’s incomparable leadership qualities, but other things must be addressed. Larry Saunders has a voice of most unimaginable obnoxiousness, in a way which makes himself known in

any room very quickly. Ironically, compared to such a gratingly loud voice, Saunders has a lack of height which must be considered by any objectively well informed voter.

Thus, we must choose our Winston Churchill over Neville Chamberlain as the enemies steadily make progress towards our gates. With our future so

uncertain, can we afford to make any sort of mistake in this process?

Daniel Flaxman himself explained that, “By my decree and my word I shall dictate the will of my people. With strong fist and stronger heart, I shall rule over JSA as determined by my divine mandate.”

But let us not forget the others. Also running for positions are Jason Johl and Silvia Reynolds. Support them too.

Every two seconds, someone  in the United States is need of blood. Unfortunately, only three out of every hundred Americans donates blood. The two most common reasons people choose not to give blood are because they are afraid of needles, and because they just haven’t thought about it. With two blood drive events held each year, CdM students are definitely thinking about it.

“I think every student who is able, should donate blood. It’s such a simple way for high school students to help others,” said blood drive organizer, senior Kasey Palermo.

Palermo brings up a strong point. High school students may not have the money to donate to those in need, but they certainly can participate in blood drives, where they can help save the lives of up to three people.

Junior, Candice Wang reflected on her previous blood drive experience, “It hurt really bad, and I was nervous, but I knew it was worth it because I was saving three lives.” Wang will be participating in next week’s blood drive.

The blood drive will be held this Wednesday, March 10 from 7:30 to 12:30, in the big gym. To participate, students must be at least 16 years old. Sign up forms are available outside the ASB office. Green forms are for 16 year old students, and they require a parent signature.  Yellow forms are for students aged 17 and up. All forms may be returned to the ASB office.

In addition to saving three lives, participants will receive free food, a free t-shirt, and they will be excused from any classes they happen to miss while donating.

In-N-Out Double Double

Enjoy going to In-N-Out after a grueling practice and getting that mouth-watering Double Double burger with fries and a soda? Or going off campus to Jamba Juice during lunch and getting an original size smoothie on a hot day? Do you also enjoy clogging up your arteries and increasing your risk of heart disease? Fooling yourself by thinking that just because you exercise every day, you don’t put yourself at risk because of your poor diet?

In order to disabuse you of this notion, let’s set the record straight:

Approximately 365,000 individuals in the United States die from poor eating habits every year. That’s roughly 1,000 people a day. This excludes those with diabetes, obesity problems, or other issues of the sort. Just because you cannot be scientifically classified as obese or suffering form heart disease does not mean that you cannot be suffering from vitamin and mineral deficiency or low calcium intake, which can cause monumental healthy problems.

Well, the truth is that even though you may exercise every day and keep your weight in check, you may still be putting yourself at risk. Vitamins, minerals, and fibers that you need to be consuming on a daily basis may not be present in foods that high schoolers commonly indulge in.

Being within the average weight range of others your own age and height does not necessarily make you any healthier. You may lack the proper intake of daily necessities that someone else may be getting.

As students in high school, it is crucial to make good choices regarding the foods you eat in order to stay healthy. Instead of grabbing a cookie for a snack grab an apple or a handful of nuts. Bring a healthy homemade lunch to school instead of eating fast food off campus. A cookie may be more appetizing and fast food such as Chipotle may taste better than a turkey sandwich, but the alternative will help you get the vitamins and nutrients you need in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Foods such as whole grains, nuts, fruits, vegetables, and dairy products are several of nutritious options to developing healthier eating habits. Nuts are high in natural fiber, which slows your digestive process, slowing down your bouts of hunger throughout the day. Dairy products such as yogurt contain healthy probiotics and are rich in vitamin D, which helps prevent osteoporosis.

Friends come in many packages. True. Funny. Close. Nice. Secret. Tell Everything to. Helpful. Loving. Old. New. Smart. Stupid. Best. Whichever one they are, they are all important and should be celebrated, thanked, and should know how much they mean to us.

This week is the annual Friendship Week put on by PAL where CdM students acknowledge their privileges and benefits of having friends. Some people just take their friends for granted and do not realize the importance and value their share with us. “Lean on me, when your not strong. “Lean on me, when you’re not strong, and I’ll be your friend, I’ll help you carry on, for it won’t be long, ’til I’m going to need somebody to lean on.” As this verse from Bill Wither’s “Lean On Me” states, we all need a friend and we all need to be a friend. Without friends, do you really think you would be able to survive?

“The purpose of friendship week to bring CdM closer together as a school by encouraging kids to make new friends,” said junior Austin Pollard.

Every day of this week has a different theme. On Monday, “Make a New Friend Day,” go up to someone who is looking a bit lonely and start talking to them. Tuesday is “Compliment Day,” so be a nice person and go around handing out compliments, because like friendship, they are free. On Wednesday, it is “Hug Day,” where you give hugs to all of your friends. Thursday is “Twin Day,” so dress up with your friends in matching outfit to show your friendly spirit. Lastly, Friday is “High ‘5′ Day” which is pretty self-explanatory.

“The main goal of this week is to make CdM more close-knit. Maybe help some kids out who really need a friend. And I’m not saying the whole school is going to be closer after this week, but as long was we help at least a couple of kids make new friends, then we’ve achieved our goal,” said sophomore Maddy Markley.

The great philosopher Aristotle said, “In poverty and other misfortunes of life, true friends are a sure refuge. They keep the young out of mischief; they comfort and aid the old in their weakness, and they incite those in the prime of life to noble deeds.” This is very true and is how we have all grown to develop in our youth through our old ages for generations.

As you can see, friends are of great importance and should be celebrated. That is what this week is all about — the celebration of our love for our wonderful friends.

February 17 was Ash Wednesday, the starting point for the annual Lent tradition of Christianity. Lent can be perceived as the 40 day challenge of giving up an enjoyable aspect of your life as a token of faithfulness toward the Lord. It all leads up Easter: the celebration of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus.

The forty days represent the amount of time Jesus fasted in the desert before enduring the temptation of Satan. Staying committed to what you believe in is the main lesson in this activity. Satan persuaded him to do wrong, but Jesus just kept on fasting and would not lead into temptation.

“If Jesus fasted (did not eat) for forty days, then it shouldn’t be hard to give up just one thing in your life for forty days. Besides, Sundays are freebies!” said freshman Monica Venturini.

The choice is all yours. Some ideas of offerings to the Lord are giving up watching television, socializing on Facebook, and not eating desserts.

Instead of giving up, you may also start a commitment, such as exercising daily, being nice to your siblings, praying more often, and volunteering at a church.

“Me and my friend are giving up sweets and junk food for this years Lent. Even though I am Jewish, I just want to challenge my abilities of being healthy,” said freshman Maddy Gaylord.

So if you are a Christian and want to test your abilities in staying true to Jesus and not sneaking over to Satan or if you just want to challenge yourself, make a commitment for Lent. There are only a few more weeks left!

On March 2, 2010 the 14th season of The Bachelor came to an end in its most dramatic season finale to date. Jake Pavelka was forced to choose between to women, and he had fallen in love with both of them. Devoted Bachelor fans waited anxiously for months as the gorgeous pilot embarked on a search for true love. It came down to the final two: Tenley and Vienna.

Through out the season Vienna didn’t get along with the other girls in the house. She explained to Jake that she was there for him and she didn’t care about making friends with the other girls, and this decision along the way. She endured harsh criticism from her roommates and her relationship with Jake was jeopardized. But as Jake’s feelings towards Vienna grew stronger, he chose to disregard the warnings from the other girls and let his heart lead him.

Tenley came onto the show looking for love as well. She claimed the first impression rose and through out the journey she grabbed hold of Jake’s heart. After recovering from a messy divorce, this College Admissions advisor from Huntington Beach decided it was time to find love again. “I trusted Jake with my heart,” said Tenley along the course of the season. She laid her heart on the line for him and made it all the way to the final two.

“I like Tenley better than Vienna because she seems really nice,” said freshman Courtney Lang, “and I think she is prettier than Vienna.”

The highly anticipated season finale left fans speechless. Tenley came face to face with Jake first, nervously awaiting the news. Jake explained to her that there was something missing in their relationship, and sent her packing with a broken heart. On the way out to the car Tenley told Jake that he had given her hope that she could find love again, but she was still unsure why they had to say goodbye.

As Vienna grazed the stone pathway up to Jake bachelor fans were shocked. Trying to mislead viewers Jake handed Vienna back her promise ring that she had given to him the night before. After tears Jake got down on one knee and expressed his love with one question, “Vienna, will you marry me?”

America sat shocked as he revealed his decision. Vienna leapt into the arms of her fiancé and with a simple, “yes,” the Bachelor had yet another successful season.

“I was really upset that Vienna won because Jake was unsure about her along the way and they she was picked in the end,” said freshman Nicole Folsom, “it just didn’t make sense.”

Following the season finale was the show, “After the Final Rose.” Tenley returned and got to talk to Jake, working through her unanswered questions. Then Vienna came out and the happy couple revealed themselves to the public eye for the first time. They discussed the tabloids and how they were all false rumors. Jake and Vienna remain happy in love and are looking forward to a lifetime with each other.

More big news was released during, “After the Final Rose.” The next bachlorette was chosen and shown to America in the last five minutes from the show. Contestant Ali that had captured the heart of thousands during the season, announced that she would be returning in May in the hope of finding true love.

Bachelor fans are waiting for the next season to see the girl they have grown to love, find her soul mate. The next time around, The Bachelor is said to have more drama, more love, and more hearts broken as Ali begins the search for her husband.

Sleep may sometimes seem more optional than otherwise, but sleep is just as important to one’s life as water, food, and air—it is a necessity. Learn the facts, understand the consequences, and develop a healthy lifestyle.

According to the American Sleep Disorders Association, the average teenager needs 9.5 hours of sleep each night. For a student starting school at the standard time of 8:00 AM and assuming he or she wakes up at 7:00 AM, this would mean going to sleep at 9:30 PM the night before. However, studies show that teenagers generally get an average of only 7.4 hours of sleep each night. Teens often assume that sleeping in on weekends can compensate for the hours of sleep lost during the week. Irregular sleeping patterns such as this, however, can be extremely harmful by disrupting individuals’ biological clocks.

Along with our general health, sleep has an incredible impact on school performance. Loss of sleep can cause concentration problems, reduced quality of schoolwork, worsened class behavior, and even internalized symptoms such as anxiety and sadness.

While sleep deprivation is obviously harmful to oneself, it can be just as harmful, or more harmful, to others. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drowsiness causes over 100,000 crashes each year, and teenagers are driving in over half of those crashes. CdM’s infamous crowded lanes in the morning are especially unsafe with tired young drivers behind the wheels.

Additionally, lack of sleep can actually cause one to have acne and other skin problems. No one likes pimples!

Solutions

1. In order to prevent an unsteady sleeping schedule, establish a bedtime to commit to every night. A consistent sleep routine will allow one to be more lively and awake throughout the day, contributing to safer driving and better grades.

2. Avoid all electronics, including television, phones, and computers. Especially with video games, texting, Facebook, and other modern devices, electronics can be extremely distracting and cause one to go to bed even later.

Freshman Kelsey Schmitt said, “I usually end up going to bed around 11:00 or 11:30 and often it is just because I lost track of time while on Facebook.”

3. Naps can be beneficial, but consider the time of day. Naps taken too close to one’s established bedtime can adversely affect the quantity and quality of one’s sleep.

4. Choose light snacks, rather than entire meals, when eating close to bedtime. Eating too much too late simply causes part of one’s body to continue working while the rest of his or her body has shut down. The result is less effective sleep, which in turn develops a greater need for sleep, making it even more difficult to wake up in the morning.

Hopefully, these tips will ensure future health and safety. Remember that sleep is important and should not be taken lightly. Sweet dreams!

At 3:34 am, the streets of Concepcion and Santiago, Chile rocked, trembled, shook, and fell. More than 100 people never even knew what was happening because they were crushed by the tumbling buildings before they had a chance to escape. The 8.8 magnitude earthquake left obvious damages to Chile, physically and mentally.

Just one month ago, people of the United States were shocked by the devastation of the 7.0 magnitude earthquake on the island of Haiti. The images of children, women, and men dying in the streets, being covered up by towels and blankets put a permanent image of evil in the minds of all. There are multiple organizations still working to give Haiti support.

Now, Chile is the victim. An earthquake so large that bridges collapsed instantly and the ground seemed to just swollow cars in the road. While some buildings were lucky enough to have a stable foundation, others fell to the waves of the quake. Chaos flooded the streets of Concepcion, Santiago, and many other cities who stood in the way of this natural disaster.

However, a tsunami warning has been issued, and those in the city of Concepcion, which has lost all sources of communication, must find their courage and run inland so as to escape disaster number two.

On this same morning, the entire state of Hawaii received a tsunami warning. All islands are at risk of being hit. The cause of the tsunami warning, which triggered alarms on the island at 6 am local time, is the giant earthquake that hit the coast of Chile. The tsunami is expected to hit at 11 am Hawaiian time. If this tsunami occurs, it will be the first since the tragedy that struck the island back in 1994.

But let’s not forget about California. A tsunami warning has also been issued for the coast of California due to this 8.8 devastation. The warning stretches from the Bay Area north of San Fransisco to San Diego County, and the southern most tip of California. However, the threat to Hawaii is much more severe. The tsunami, if it occurs, is expected to hit later this afternoon. 

That is all the information that has been released so far. For further updates keep your eyes on CNN, MSNBC, and other news stations.

Math teacher Dave Sizer was honored today by students dressed like him, or at least that was the plan. In reality, only two students dressed up. The lack of participation was caused more by inadequate organization on the part of the event’s sponsors than anything to do with how much Mr. Sizer is appreciated on campus.

Proudly dressed like Mr. Sizer.

In my junior year, trigonometry turned into a joyful class because Dave Sizer was the teacher. I remember him standing outside of class every morning, shaking students hands and greeting them with a kind “good morning” or a subtle nod. His quirks and teaching style, as well as his quiet candor and enigmatic qualities have made him an admired campus figure. When I saw someone was planning “Sizer day” I was excited to have a reason to show my admiration.

Sadly, only myself and Shane Corwin dressed up. We copied Sizer’s iconic style, his old Hawaiian shirts, the loafers, khaki slacks and a belt.  I even went so far as to stand outside his door and shake student’s hands.

It wasn’t hard to dress like him, anyone who has been in his class remembers his usual garb. Senior Doug Watt described Sizer’s clothing as “Baller… Biggie Smalls looked to Mr. Sizer for information on style.”

Sizer is admired for a number of reasons. I like him because he presented things in a logical way, was a reasonable teacher, and because he is a veteran–he’s been at CdM for a very long time.

Junior Daniel Flaxman had this to say about Mr. Sizer, “Sizer has taught me many lessons… few of which had to do with math, but all of which had relevance in the real world.”

Shot from the back of Mr. Sizer dressed as a gangster at the 2009 Salsa competion.

Surprisingly, at the 2009 Salsa dance off orchestrated by Mr. Rojas, a guest appearance was made by Mr. Sizer in which he dawned a less typical outfit for the bemusement of the audience as seen in the photo to the right.

The event was orchestrated on Facebook by Zachary Asdourian and Riley Crone, who could not be reached for comment.