What Students Want For Christmas
Thursday, 07 January 2010 22:43
Amy Leong
Amidst the wide range of coloring tools and the priceless picture frames, electronics reign as the most wanted presents this Christmas. Because of its never-ending entertainment and thoroughly enhanced digital graphics, it has been chosen as the top choice by many AHS students. In a poll consisted of 100 students, the first choice was the resourceful, yet eye-catching laptop. 58% of students voted for this as their most wanted Christmas present this year. Though it mostly attracted seniors who need laptops for college, this resourceful gizmo is perfect for portability and finishing homework. Freshman Holly Yamagata said, “I really want a laptop! My brother is a junior and once he has a lot of homework, he hogs the computer for hours. I want my own laptop so I can get on a computer whenever I need to." For such a useful novelty, laptops are taking the place of desktop computers, marking a new generation of this epic breakthrough. Various designs and accessories also fit the needs of everyone. With laptops, the possibilities lie anywhere from the high-resolution display of the Mac to the portability of the PC, regarding it as another one of the greatest gadgets of the time. As special as it is, the iPod touch takes second place with an 18% vote for most wanted Christmas presents. With its slick new handheld grip and built-in speakers, the iPod touch is without a doubt one of the greatest gadgets of the season. Similar to the iPhone, the latest version includes voice control, genius mixes, and so much exciting applications that have students craving this nonstop entertainment. Sophomore Amy Wen said, “I don't have an iPod and have never had an iPod before, but I think it would be nice to actually have something to listen to when I don't want to talk to people, or when I'm just sitting around do my homework.” With an 11% vote, cell phones take the third rank in this category. Most students admit that the new generation of cell phones is a must-have this year. Senior Lauren Hanna admits, “My cell phone is three years old, so I would like a new one for Christmas. The new iPhone is definitely on the top of my list.” Some popular picks of the year include the iPhone 3G, Blackberry, and Sidekick. According to www.cell-phone-plans.net, cell phones are loaded with a “veritable smorgasbord of features,” prizing these handheld electronics at the top of the Christmas list. The next popular gift was voted 8% by students and refers to the small, yet resourceful gadget, the digital camera. Having numerous amounts of priceless memories, many students desire this amazing gadget. Some of the popular brands include Cannon and Sony for their adherence of the latest technology with touch screens as well as built-in slideshows of favorite holiday reminiscences. As Apple soars in Christmas sales, Nintendo is also faring very well with its all time videogame legends. Although it ranks with a whopping 5% in student polls, there is nothing like the brand new Guitar Hero that came out with its fifth edition of the favorite band playing fun. Though these guitar games are quite an accomplishment for Nintendo, their new DJ Hero is a new, yet interesting game of disk scratching and mix switching pleasure. This December, Santa will definitely be making plenty of trips to Best Buy and Toys R Us for all those electronic, most-wanted, top of the list presents. Who would disagree that electronics mark the present and future entertainment of the world.
Winter Getaways
Thursday, 07 January 2010 22:42
Jenny Li
It’s December and that means the winter holidays are fast approaching! Without a doubt, this is the time of year to be celebrating because winter holidays mean less school, more sleep, presents, and, of course, the highly anticipated winter vacation. Finding the perfect getaway can be really hard sometimes, especially when hitting up the yellow book and searching for hours just doesn’t seem all that appealing. Here’s where I step in to relieve you of that problem. After extensive research, here are the top winter getaways located near or in California.
First thought that comes to mind when one thinks of winter is snow however, seeing as we live in Arcadia, we don’t get too much of it around. But fortunately for us, we do live near magnificent mountains that are coated with snow during the winter season. Places like Big Bear Lake and Lake Tahoe located on those high mountains offer cozy lodges that’ll keep you and your family warm while still enjoying the icy cold activities like skiing and snowboarding. Now, with just a click of a button at their individual websites, you and your family are on the way to a fantastic winter break!
If you and your family are not up for the chilly mountains, then perhaps a relaxing spa resort will do the trick. It’s a simple getaway option but one that does not fail in meeting the needs of the whole family. Places such as Calistoga Golden Haven Hot Springs are currently offering special winter vacation packages that are quite affordable even if the whole family goes. They offer a variety of activities and are equipped with the best tools to relax the mind and soul, a great break from the strenuous everyday work. Mud baths, spa treatments, and hot springs will guarantee that you leave feeling refreshed and ready to tackle another year!
If the winter getaways so far seem too tame for your tastes, then maybe a trip to the wild is needed. One of the most beautiful places in the world that shelters some of the rarest animals is Yosemite Park. Known for its wild and breathtaking scenery, Yosemite Park is the ultimate getaway for those who want to experience a different environment from that in their daily lives. The Park offers not only its wilderness but also skiing, snowboarding, and special events and places that are found nowhere else. The events include world-class cooking and wine seminars, a legendary Renaissance yuletide feast, a tribute to art deco era, and fantastic New Year’s Eve celebrations to wrap things up. Hurry and plan your visit to the park while its special vacation packages are still available!
These are just a few top suggestions as to where you and your family should plan your winter getaway, but don’t limit your vacation plans to just those places. Just be creative and make sure to find some place that will provide fun and relaxation. There are numerous alternatives that will make this winter vacation one you’ll always remember!
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Christ Homemade Gifts
Thursday, 07 January 2010 22:41
Jenny Li
So Christmas is coming around the corner and you just can’t afford to spend hundreds of dollars buying gifts for your friends and family. Don’t panic! Gifts don’t always have to be expensive items to make your loved ones happy. Simple but heartfelt gifts are enough to warm them to the heart. Handmade gifts are especially touching because they show that you put effort and love into making the gifts for them, instead of simply walking into a store and buying it. So to solve your crisis, I’ve gathered from my own experience, asked peers, and scoured the web to bring to you this list of creative make-it-yourself gifts.
1. One way to give someone the ultimate gift is to create a personalized gift basket. The instructions to making this gift are simple. Find a basket and fill it with tidbits of everything the person likes. Items can range from food to stuffed animals; choosing what to put in is entirely up to you and shows that you know them well[,] which is what makes this gift so special.
2. Personalized tree ornaments are one of the most popular gifts to give because they are simple yet beautiful. Unpainted ornament models can be found at local craft stores and are relatively cheap. They come in different shapes and sizes so that you can make a unique one for each of your friends and family members.
3. Food is always a great present to give to someone, but the problem is that edible presents don’t last long. However, making your loved ones some homemade cookie dough in a jar is the perfect solution to that problem. Just find your favorite cookie recipe and whip up a batch, and then stick the raw cookie dough in a jar that you can decorate. The person who receives this gift will be ecstatic that they can now make a batch of delicious cookies whenever they want to!
4. Memories are the most precious gift of all, and what better way to treasure them than with a picture book / scrapbook? Filled with favorite photos, this is just the present for a relative or special family friend, particularly one your family sees less often than you'd like. Scrapbook kits can be found in your local crafts store and are relatively affordable.
5. The last nifty gift on this list is your own mixed CD created as a present. It’s a simple present that is Very fast to make but takes a bit of research beforehand. You can find someone's favorite songs and burn them onto a CD or maybe even create an album dedicated to the meaning of your relationship. You can write a short explanation as to why you chose each of the songs and the meaning behind the song.
All the gifts I have listed are homemade and very affordable, which means you’re saving money and adding meaning to your Christmas presents. But be sure to plan ahead because if you’re making a lot of them, then you better get started and soon; Christmas is just around the corner!
Germs are the Reason for Flu Season
Thursday, 07 January 2010 22:40
Theresa Lee
Secrets to Steering Clear of Sicknesses!/A Healthy Body is a Happy Body/Germs are the Reason for Flu Season
It’s that time of year again! And no, I don’t mean the holidays. I’m talking about that year round period when everyone gets a visit from the…flu bug! We all get sick from time to time, but winter is the season when people are most vulnerable to illnesses. And I’m sure you wouldn’t want to be locked up in your room while your family is out snowboarding at Big Bear or playing with new presents. So, you want to know how to avoid catching that nasty cold or recover from that pestering flu? Read on for some tips:
1. Wash your hands frequently! Germs are spread most commonly by contact, especially through hands. In a 2005 survey of hand washing by the American Society for Microbiology, 68% of people said they did not wash their hands after sneezing or coughing. I’m not germophobic, but that is just disgustingly sick (no pun intended). You may want to think about washing your hands after you’ve used your best friend's pencil (which she borrowed from her boyfriend, who arm wrestled with his sick friend). A good 15-second washing should do the trick (that’s about the same amount of time for you to sing "Happy Birthday" once). Not only do you have a higher chance of preventing sickness for yourself, but also limit the chances of getting others sick as well.
2. Take a daily dose of vitamins. Vitamin C is essential to keeping your immune system strong and armed. You can eat a few vitamin C pills or enough food that is high in vitamin C such as citruses, broccoli, papaya, mango, peppers, potatoes, or kiwi. Another source of vitamin C is the well-known cold prevention medicine called Airborne. These fizzy tablets provide heavy doses of vitamin C to strengthen your immune system.
3. Drink lots of fluids. Keeping yourself hydrated is a must in keeping your body healthy and strong. When sick, you also need to balance out your body’s loss of fluids. By constantly replenishing your fluid intake, you can help your body excrete toxins, waste, and bacteria. It also doesn’t hurt to drink warm fluids, such as chicken noodle soup, to help clear mucus and keep warm. Stock up on some Gatorade or Smart Water, too, because they have electrolytes, which keep your body more hydrated than normal water.
4. Rest up. Sleeping helps your body recover from and fight off sicknesses. Sheldon Cohen, a psychology professor at Carnegie Mellon University, notes that people who slept less than seven hours were about three times more likely to get a cold than people who slept eight hours or more a night. That's about... 99% of all students! When you are sick, sleep allows your body to concentrate all its energy into healing itself, as opposed to only partial use of energy during simple activities, such as watching TV. Try to get at least eight hours a night, especially all you procrastinators who “study” until three in the morning.
These are only a few suggestions for you to ward off the spreading sicknesses. If you follow them closely, I guarantee you will lessen the chances of catching a cold this winter. Remember to stay warm and stay healthy!
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