Awkward? No thanks. January 14, 2009 — by Kirstie Lee I would say that I’m pretty good at making most situations not awkward. I just talk incessantly, regardless of whether the other person can keep up with my fast-paced talking. If I’m placed in a situation where there are potential awkward silences, I’ll talk myself out of them. But there are a few situations when I can’t use words as my scapegoat. read more » Columnist’s guide to surviving California winters December 17, 2008 — by Dorey Schranz Baby, it’s cold outside. Thus goes a classic Dean Martin holiday duet. In its very innocently tongue-in-cheek mid 20th century style it basically (and I’m paraphrasing here) is the man telling his female friend at his apartment that she shouldn’t go home, even though she knows she should. His reasoning? Well, it’s cold outside. She decides to stay and I think it can probably be assumed he takes advantage of her. Men. Even Mother Nature is working in their favor. read more » Sibling’s creative gifts overshadow eager attempts December 12, 2008 — by Aditi Jayaraman It sucks to have an older sibling. Of course, we younger siblings ironically get the upper hand in deciding who has to take care of household chores – generally, we are “too young to know how,” or need “someone else to show how to do it first,” – and we usually get away with more than our role model siblings, who are forced to set a continuously positive example for us. When it comes to getting the perfect Christmas gifts, however, we are downright hopeless. read more » License to fear the road December 10, 2008 — by Nandini Ruparel The engine is running, and my clammy hands grip the wheel as I slowly press the accelerator. My mom, who’s sitting next to me, gives a small yell of fright as I swerve out of the way of a tree on the side of the road. Suddenly, there’s a crash, and when we get out of the car, the whole front is smashed through—the tree, however is completely unharmed. I have officially destroyed the family SUV. This is how I have always imagined my first time behind the wheel. I’ve always been scared of the whole concept of driving. It isn’t that I’ve been in any major accidents or have any other serious reasons to fear getting behind the wheel, but it’s more that I think that I will crash. This makes me feel even more pressure while driving, or doing something similar to it. read more » Cold medicine that kills more than the common cold December 2, 2008 — by Brian Kim I spent a week crossing my fingers, hoping I wouldn’t catch the bug my sniffling and coughing classmates were spreading. Unfortunately, I woke up with a full-blown cold in no time, feeling the worst I’d ever felt for months. read more » Saratoga academically friendlier than Monta Vista December 1, 2008 — by Pia Mishra From a young age we’ve been taught to compete and to come home victorious. At every AYSO soccer game, ballet recital and swim meet, we’ve been taught to have “friendly competition” with the next-door neighbor Johnny or with cousin Erin. But we all know, it won’t be friendly. It will be a fight even if it’s not easy to see. Getting to that soccer ball, landing that pirouette, reaching that wall is the difference between a celebratory ice cream at Coldstones and a quiet car ride home. That same spiteful sense of competition is what occurs between the most animalistic of humans, teenagers. read more » Rockin’ out or stressin’ out? November 19, 2008 — by Sophia Cooper High school dances. Students flock to them, administrators tolerate them and parents are appalled by them. Personally, I love them. It’s always a lot more fun to rock out to “Low” by FloRida with friends than to bop around my room to “Girlfriend” by Avril Lavigne. But sometimes I wonder if they’re worth all the trouble, especially when girls have it so much harder than guys. read more » Strange encounters at the DMV October 30, 2008 — by Shannon Galvin The DMV has always had a reputation for employing people who are a bit out of the ordinary. To begin with, what sane person would want to spend the day in a car with people who can barely drive? Nobody would choose to deal with people who’ve spent two hours in line waiting to just renew their license. A few months ago when I went to the local DMV office to take my permit test, I experienced the DMV in all its strange glory. read more » Only child spoiled? October 29, 2008 — by Grishma Athavale Spoiled? I don’t think so. My friends say that I’m lucky to be an only child, not having to fight with a brother or sister all the time. Others, however, say that it can get lonely. read more » Personal Column: Stop the side-pokes and leave me alone! October 21, 2008 — by Sophia Cooper It’s become an easy source of entertainment. You can access it any place where there are people. It’s guaranteed to bring laughter, shrieks and possibly make you cry. What is it? The side-poke. Being rather spastic, I often fall victim to this personal attack. People have found it entertaining to poke my side and see the resulting tsunami of flailing arms and legs. Even as I’m writing this story, I’m squished between two reporters who are constantly poking me. Thanks, Jordan and Nathan! read more » firstprevious...1020304050...130131132133134next
Columnist’s guide to surviving California winters December 17, 2008 — by Dorey Schranz Baby, it’s cold outside. Thus goes a classic Dean Martin holiday duet. In its very innocently tongue-in-cheek mid 20th century style it basically (and I’m paraphrasing here) is the man telling his female friend at his apartment that she shouldn’t go home, even though she knows she should. His reasoning? Well, it’s cold outside. She decides to stay and I think it can probably be assumed he takes advantage of her. Men. Even Mother Nature is working in their favor. read more » Sibling’s creative gifts overshadow eager attempts December 12, 2008 — by Aditi Jayaraman It sucks to have an older sibling. Of course, we younger siblings ironically get the upper hand in deciding who has to take care of household chores – generally, we are “too young to know how,” or need “someone else to show how to do it first,” – and we usually get away with more than our role model siblings, who are forced to set a continuously positive example for us. When it comes to getting the perfect Christmas gifts, however, we are downright hopeless. read more » License to fear the road December 10, 2008 — by Nandini Ruparel The engine is running, and my clammy hands grip the wheel as I slowly press the accelerator. My mom, who’s sitting next to me, gives a small yell of fright as I swerve out of the way of a tree on the side of the road. Suddenly, there’s a crash, and when we get out of the car, the whole front is smashed through—the tree, however is completely unharmed. I have officially destroyed the family SUV. This is how I have always imagined my first time behind the wheel. I’ve always been scared of the whole concept of driving. It isn’t that I’ve been in any major accidents or have any other serious reasons to fear getting behind the wheel, but it’s more that I think that I will crash. This makes me feel even more pressure while driving, or doing something similar to it. read more » Cold medicine that kills more than the common cold December 2, 2008 — by Brian Kim I spent a week crossing my fingers, hoping I wouldn’t catch the bug my sniffling and coughing classmates were spreading. Unfortunately, I woke up with a full-blown cold in no time, feeling the worst I’d ever felt for months. read more » Saratoga academically friendlier than Monta Vista December 1, 2008 — by Pia Mishra From a young age we’ve been taught to compete and to come home victorious. At every AYSO soccer game, ballet recital and swim meet, we’ve been taught to have “friendly competition” with the next-door neighbor Johnny or with cousin Erin. But we all know, it won’t be friendly. It will be a fight even if it’s not easy to see. Getting to that soccer ball, landing that pirouette, reaching that wall is the difference between a celebratory ice cream at Coldstones and a quiet car ride home. That same spiteful sense of competition is what occurs between the most animalistic of humans, teenagers. read more » Rockin’ out or stressin’ out? November 19, 2008 — by Sophia Cooper High school dances. Students flock to them, administrators tolerate them and parents are appalled by them. Personally, I love them. It’s always a lot more fun to rock out to “Low” by FloRida with friends than to bop around my room to “Girlfriend” by Avril Lavigne. But sometimes I wonder if they’re worth all the trouble, especially when girls have it so much harder than guys. read more » Strange encounters at the DMV October 30, 2008 — by Shannon Galvin The DMV has always had a reputation for employing people who are a bit out of the ordinary. To begin with, what sane person would want to spend the day in a car with people who can barely drive? Nobody would choose to deal with people who’ve spent two hours in line waiting to just renew their license. A few months ago when I went to the local DMV office to take my permit test, I experienced the DMV in all its strange glory. read more » Only child spoiled? October 29, 2008 — by Grishma Athavale Spoiled? I don’t think so. My friends say that I’m lucky to be an only child, not having to fight with a brother or sister all the time. Others, however, say that it can get lonely. read more » Personal Column: Stop the side-pokes and leave me alone! October 21, 2008 — by Sophia Cooper It’s become an easy source of entertainment. You can access it any place where there are people. It’s guaranteed to bring laughter, shrieks and possibly make you cry. What is it? The side-poke. Being rather spastic, I often fall victim to this personal attack. People have found it entertaining to poke my side and see the resulting tsunami of flailing arms and legs. Even as I’m writing this story, I’m squished between two reporters who are constantly poking me. Thanks, Jordan and Nathan! read more » firstprevious...1020304050...130131132133134next
Sibling’s creative gifts overshadow eager attempts December 12, 2008 — by Aditi Jayaraman It sucks to have an older sibling. Of course, we younger siblings ironically get the upper hand in deciding who has to take care of household chores – generally, we are “too young to know how,” or need “someone else to show how to do it first,” – and we usually get away with more than our role model siblings, who are forced to set a continuously positive example for us. When it comes to getting the perfect Christmas gifts, however, we are downright hopeless. read more » License to fear the road December 10, 2008 — by Nandini Ruparel The engine is running, and my clammy hands grip the wheel as I slowly press the accelerator. My mom, who’s sitting next to me, gives a small yell of fright as I swerve out of the way of a tree on the side of the road. Suddenly, there’s a crash, and when we get out of the car, the whole front is smashed through—the tree, however is completely unharmed. I have officially destroyed the family SUV. This is how I have always imagined my first time behind the wheel. I’ve always been scared of the whole concept of driving. It isn’t that I’ve been in any major accidents or have any other serious reasons to fear getting behind the wheel, but it’s more that I think that I will crash. This makes me feel even more pressure while driving, or doing something similar to it. read more » Cold medicine that kills more than the common cold December 2, 2008 — by Brian Kim I spent a week crossing my fingers, hoping I wouldn’t catch the bug my sniffling and coughing classmates were spreading. Unfortunately, I woke up with a full-blown cold in no time, feeling the worst I’d ever felt for months. read more » Saratoga academically friendlier than Monta Vista December 1, 2008 — by Pia Mishra From a young age we’ve been taught to compete and to come home victorious. At every AYSO soccer game, ballet recital and swim meet, we’ve been taught to have “friendly competition” with the next-door neighbor Johnny or with cousin Erin. But we all know, it won’t be friendly. It will be a fight even if it’s not easy to see. Getting to that soccer ball, landing that pirouette, reaching that wall is the difference between a celebratory ice cream at Coldstones and a quiet car ride home. That same spiteful sense of competition is what occurs between the most animalistic of humans, teenagers. read more » Rockin’ out or stressin’ out? November 19, 2008 — by Sophia Cooper High school dances. Students flock to them, administrators tolerate them and parents are appalled by them. Personally, I love them. It’s always a lot more fun to rock out to “Low” by FloRida with friends than to bop around my room to “Girlfriend” by Avril Lavigne. But sometimes I wonder if they’re worth all the trouble, especially when girls have it so much harder than guys. read more » Strange encounters at the DMV October 30, 2008 — by Shannon Galvin The DMV has always had a reputation for employing people who are a bit out of the ordinary. To begin with, what sane person would want to spend the day in a car with people who can barely drive? Nobody would choose to deal with people who’ve spent two hours in line waiting to just renew their license. A few months ago when I went to the local DMV office to take my permit test, I experienced the DMV in all its strange glory. read more » Only child spoiled? October 29, 2008 — by Grishma Athavale Spoiled? I don’t think so. My friends say that I’m lucky to be an only child, not having to fight with a brother or sister all the time. Others, however, say that it can get lonely. read more » Personal Column: Stop the side-pokes and leave me alone! October 21, 2008 — by Sophia Cooper It’s become an easy source of entertainment. You can access it any place where there are people. It’s guaranteed to bring laughter, shrieks and possibly make you cry. What is it? The side-poke. Being rather spastic, I often fall victim to this personal attack. People have found it entertaining to poke my side and see the resulting tsunami of flailing arms and legs. Even as I’m writing this story, I’m squished between two reporters who are constantly poking me. Thanks, Jordan and Nathan! read more » firstprevious...1020304050...130131132133134next
License to fear the road December 10, 2008 — by Nandini Ruparel The engine is running, and my clammy hands grip the wheel as I slowly press the accelerator. My mom, who’s sitting next to me, gives a small yell of fright as I swerve out of the way of a tree on the side of the road. Suddenly, there’s a crash, and when we get out of the car, the whole front is smashed through—the tree, however is completely unharmed. I have officially destroyed the family SUV. This is how I have always imagined my first time behind the wheel. I’ve always been scared of the whole concept of driving. It isn’t that I’ve been in any major accidents or have any other serious reasons to fear getting behind the wheel, but it’s more that I think that I will crash. This makes me feel even more pressure while driving, or doing something similar to it. read more » Cold medicine that kills more than the common cold December 2, 2008 — by Brian Kim I spent a week crossing my fingers, hoping I wouldn’t catch the bug my sniffling and coughing classmates were spreading. Unfortunately, I woke up with a full-blown cold in no time, feeling the worst I’d ever felt for months. read more » Saratoga academically friendlier than Monta Vista December 1, 2008 — by Pia Mishra From a young age we’ve been taught to compete and to come home victorious. At every AYSO soccer game, ballet recital and swim meet, we’ve been taught to have “friendly competition” with the next-door neighbor Johnny or with cousin Erin. But we all know, it won’t be friendly. It will be a fight even if it’s not easy to see. Getting to that soccer ball, landing that pirouette, reaching that wall is the difference between a celebratory ice cream at Coldstones and a quiet car ride home. That same spiteful sense of competition is what occurs between the most animalistic of humans, teenagers. read more » Rockin’ out or stressin’ out? November 19, 2008 — by Sophia Cooper High school dances. Students flock to them, administrators tolerate them and parents are appalled by them. Personally, I love them. It’s always a lot more fun to rock out to “Low” by FloRida with friends than to bop around my room to “Girlfriend” by Avril Lavigne. But sometimes I wonder if they’re worth all the trouble, especially when girls have it so much harder than guys. read more » Strange encounters at the DMV October 30, 2008 — by Shannon Galvin The DMV has always had a reputation for employing people who are a bit out of the ordinary. To begin with, what sane person would want to spend the day in a car with people who can barely drive? Nobody would choose to deal with people who’ve spent two hours in line waiting to just renew their license. A few months ago when I went to the local DMV office to take my permit test, I experienced the DMV in all its strange glory. read more » Only child spoiled? October 29, 2008 — by Grishma Athavale Spoiled? I don’t think so. My friends say that I’m lucky to be an only child, not having to fight with a brother or sister all the time. Others, however, say that it can get lonely. read more » Personal Column: Stop the side-pokes and leave me alone! October 21, 2008 — by Sophia Cooper It’s become an easy source of entertainment. You can access it any place where there are people. It’s guaranteed to bring laughter, shrieks and possibly make you cry. What is it? The side-poke. Being rather spastic, I often fall victim to this personal attack. People have found it entertaining to poke my side and see the resulting tsunami of flailing arms and legs. Even as I’m writing this story, I’m squished between two reporters who are constantly poking me. Thanks, Jordan and Nathan! read more » firstprevious...1020304050...130131132133134next
Cold medicine that kills more than the common cold December 2, 2008 — by Brian Kim I spent a week crossing my fingers, hoping I wouldn’t catch the bug my sniffling and coughing classmates were spreading. Unfortunately, I woke up with a full-blown cold in no time, feeling the worst I’d ever felt for months. read more » Saratoga academically friendlier than Monta Vista December 1, 2008 — by Pia Mishra From a young age we’ve been taught to compete and to come home victorious. At every AYSO soccer game, ballet recital and swim meet, we’ve been taught to have “friendly competition” with the next-door neighbor Johnny or with cousin Erin. But we all know, it won’t be friendly. It will be a fight even if it’s not easy to see. Getting to that soccer ball, landing that pirouette, reaching that wall is the difference between a celebratory ice cream at Coldstones and a quiet car ride home. That same spiteful sense of competition is what occurs between the most animalistic of humans, teenagers. read more » Rockin’ out or stressin’ out? November 19, 2008 — by Sophia Cooper High school dances. Students flock to them, administrators tolerate them and parents are appalled by them. Personally, I love them. It’s always a lot more fun to rock out to “Low” by FloRida with friends than to bop around my room to “Girlfriend” by Avril Lavigne. But sometimes I wonder if they’re worth all the trouble, especially when girls have it so much harder than guys. read more » Strange encounters at the DMV October 30, 2008 — by Shannon Galvin The DMV has always had a reputation for employing people who are a bit out of the ordinary. To begin with, what sane person would want to spend the day in a car with people who can barely drive? Nobody would choose to deal with people who’ve spent two hours in line waiting to just renew their license. A few months ago when I went to the local DMV office to take my permit test, I experienced the DMV in all its strange glory. read more » Only child spoiled? October 29, 2008 — by Grishma Athavale Spoiled? I don’t think so. My friends say that I’m lucky to be an only child, not having to fight with a brother or sister all the time. Others, however, say that it can get lonely. read more » Personal Column: Stop the side-pokes and leave me alone! October 21, 2008 — by Sophia Cooper It’s become an easy source of entertainment. You can access it any place where there are people. It’s guaranteed to bring laughter, shrieks and possibly make you cry. What is it? The side-poke. Being rather spastic, I often fall victim to this personal attack. People have found it entertaining to poke my side and see the resulting tsunami of flailing arms and legs. Even as I’m writing this story, I’m squished between two reporters who are constantly poking me. Thanks, Jordan and Nathan! read more » firstprevious...1020304050...130131132133134next
Saratoga academically friendlier than Monta Vista December 1, 2008 — by Pia Mishra From a young age we’ve been taught to compete and to come home victorious. At every AYSO soccer game, ballet recital and swim meet, we’ve been taught to have “friendly competition” with the next-door neighbor Johnny or with cousin Erin. But we all know, it won’t be friendly. It will be a fight even if it’s not easy to see. Getting to that soccer ball, landing that pirouette, reaching that wall is the difference between a celebratory ice cream at Coldstones and a quiet car ride home. That same spiteful sense of competition is what occurs between the most animalistic of humans, teenagers. read more » Rockin’ out or stressin’ out? November 19, 2008 — by Sophia Cooper High school dances. Students flock to them, administrators tolerate them and parents are appalled by them. Personally, I love them. It’s always a lot more fun to rock out to “Low” by FloRida with friends than to bop around my room to “Girlfriend” by Avril Lavigne. But sometimes I wonder if they’re worth all the trouble, especially when girls have it so much harder than guys. read more » Strange encounters at the DMV October 30, 2008 — by Shannon Galvin The DMV has always had a reputation for employing people who are a bit out of the ordinary. To begin with, what sane person would want to spend the day in a car with people who can barely drive? Nobody would choose to deal with people who’ve spent two hours in line waiting to just renew their license. A few months ago when I went to the local DMV office to take my permit test, I experienced the DMV in all its strange glory. read more » Only child spoiled? October 29, 2008 — by Grishma Athavale Spoiled? I don’t think so. My friends say that I’m lucky to be an only child, not having to fight with a brother or sister all the time. Others, however, say that it can get lonely. read more » Personal Column: Stop the side-pokes and leave me alone! October 21, 2008 — by Sophia Cooper It’s become an easy source of entertainment. You can access it any place where there are people. It’s guaranteed to bring laughter, shrieks and possibly make you cry. What is it? The side-poke. Being rather spastic, I often fall victim to this personal attack. People have found it entertaining to poke my side and see the resulting tsunami of flailing arms and legs. Even as I’m writing this story, I’m squished between two reporters who are constantly poking me. Thanks, Jordan and Nathan! read more » firstprevious...1020304050...130131132133134next
Rockin’ out or stressin’ out? November 19, 2008 — by Sophia Cooper High school dances. Students flock to them, administrators tolerate them and parents are appalled by them. Personally, I love them. It’s always a lot more fun to rock out to “Low” by FloRida with friends than to bop around my room to “Girlfriend” by Avril Lavigne. But sometimes I wonder if they’re worth all the trouble, especially when girls have it so much harder than guys. read more » Strange encounters at the DMV October 30, 2008 — by Shannon Galvin The DMV has always had a reputation for employing people who are a bit out of the ordinary. To begin with, what sane person would want to spend the day in a car with people who can barely drive? Nobody would choose to deal with people who’ve spent two hours in line waiting to just renew their license. A few months ago when I went to the local DMV office to take my permit test, I experienced the DMV in all its strange glory. read more » Only child spoiled? October 29, 2008 — by Grishma Athavale Spoiled? I don’t think so. My friends say that I’m lucky to be an only child, not having to fight with a brother or sister all the time. Others, however, say that it can get lonely. read more » Personal Column: Stop the side-pokes and leave me alone! October 21, 2008 — by Sophia Cooper It’s become an easy source of entertainment. You can access it any place where there are people. It’s guaranteed to bring laughter, shrieks and possibly make you cry. What is it? The side-poke. Being rather spastic, I often fall victim to this personal attack. People have found it entertaining to poke my side and see the resulting tsunami of flailing arms and legs. Even as I’m writing this story, I’m squished between two reporters who are constantly poking me. Thanks, Jordan and Nathan! read more » firstprevious...1020304050...130131132133134next
Strange encounters at the DMV October 30, 2008 — by Shannon Galvin The DMV has always had a reputation for employing people who are a bit out of the ordinary. To begin with, what sane person would want to spend the day in a car with people who can barely drive? Nobody would choose to deal with people who’ve spent two hours in line waiting to just renew their license. A few months ago when I went to the local DMV office to take my permit test, I experienced the DMV in all its strange glory. read more » Only child spoiled? October 29, 2008 — by Grishma Athavale Spoiled? I don’t think so. My friends say that I’m lucky to be an only child, not having to fight with a brother or sister all the time. Others, however, say that it can get lonely. read more » Personal Column: Stop the side-pokes and leave me alone! October 21, 2008 — by Sophia Cooper It’s become an easy source of entertainment. You can access it any place where there are people. It’s guaranteed to bring laughter, shrieks and possibly make you cry. What is it? The side-poke. Being rather spastic, I often fall victim to this personal attack. People have found it entertaining to poke my side and see the resulting tsunami of flailing arms and legs. Even as I’m writing this story, I’m squished between two reporters who are constantly poking me. Thanks, Jordan and Nathan! read more » firstprevious...1020304050...130131132133134next
Only child spoiled? October 29, 2008 — by Grishma Athavale Spoiled? I don’t think so. My friends say that I’m lucky to be an only child, not having to fight with a brother or sister all the time. Others, however, say that it can get lonely. read more » Personal Column: Stop the side-pokes and leave me alone! October 21, 2008 — by Sophia Cooper It’s become an easy source of entertainment. You can access it any place where there are people. It’s guaranteed to bring laughter, shrieks and possibly make you cry. What is it? The side-poke. Being rather spastic, I often fall victim to this personal attack. People have found it entertaining to poke my side and see the resulting tsunami of flailing arms and legs. Even as I’m writing this story, I’m squished between two reporters who are constantly poking me. Thanks, Jordan and Nathan! read more » firstprevious...1020304050...130131132133134next
Personal Column: Stop the side-pokes and leave me alone! October 21, 2008 — by Sophia Cooper It’s become an easy source of entertainment. You can access it any place where there are people. It’s guaranteed to bring laughter, shrieks and possibly make you cry. What is it? The side-poke. Being rather spastic, I often fall victim to this personal attack. People have found it entertaining to poke my side and see the resulting tsunami of flailing arms and legs. Even as I’m writing this story, I’m squished between two reporters who are constantly poking me. Thanks, Jordan and Nathan! read more » firstprevious...1020304050...130131132133134next