Features

The first movie I watched by director Hayao Miyazaki was “My Neighbor Totoro,” a 1988 Japanese animated film. “My Neighbor Totoro” was a cute and audience-friendly movie about two sisters’ magical adventure with Totoro, a spirit from the forest behind their house. I felt a connection with the characters and enjoyed the way they captured what it’s like to be a child. For this reason, Totoro was one of my favorite movies. When I heard of Miyazaki’s new movie, “Ponyo,” I anticipated something as extraordinary as (or better than) “My Neighbor Totoro”.

With a dropout rate exceeding 20 percent in 2008, California’s high schools are in a state of disrepair causing school administrators throughout the state to search for a fix to the educational system.

John Mayer’s new album, “Battle Studies,” is hitting the shelves soon and has quickly become one of the most anticipated albums of the year.

Mayer has hinted at yet another reinvention of his style—incorporating a new method of songwriting, and generally changing the approach that he took in his most recent success, “Continuum.” Mayer said it involves advice, observations and lessons that he has learned over the years.

Mayer has said he is attempting to experiment with the new approach he is using through this album and gauge the reaction that it gets.

Some people know Kanye West as the rapper with record-selling songs and white shutter shades, but many know him for his notorious outbreaks. From his criticism of other celebrities to the apologies posted on his website, West has proven many times how outspoken he is—most recently at the MTV Video Music Awards when he took the microphone from Taylor Swift to proclaim the greatness of Beyoncé.

Junior Jackie Bae talks about her passion for drawing and why she has been committed to this hobby for 11 years. Using different types of media, mainly pencil, Bae expresses herself through this type of art and will begin to prepare for a portfolio due in November to showcase her artwork in preparation to show colleges next year.

Q: What types/kinds of art do you do?
A: I do mainly drawing. I basically draw anything I’m capable of drawing: people, animals, objects, and scenery. I use many different types of media, but I like to use pencil and paper most often.

Head bobbing up and down, world history teacher Mike Davey sings along to his favorite songs while working during tutorial. The posters on the wall, which sport The Beatles, Lord of the Rings and prominent figures such as Audrey Hepburn and the soft, patterned beige sofa in the corner make Davey’s classroom a comfortable place for students to relax and do work, though that is not the only interesting aspect of Davey’s teaching style.

Tensions rise especially during Homecoming week as each grade tries to top the other. But we all know that the seniors’ decorations will be the best and should be the best.

Ryan Masterson is a percussion teacher for the marching band, pianist, composer and … a cage fighter? Smashing the stereotypical mold of the dainty musician, the tall, athletic-looking Masterson trains for cage fights in his spare time.