It was a crisp fall evening as my friend, Alex, and I walked over to the party at Neiman Marcus’s party for Fashion’s Night Out. An annual event created by Anna Wintour, editor of American Vogue, last year to make the shopping experience more fun while raising money for charity in New York City.
San Francisco has its own version of Fashion’s Night Out by holding special events in stores throughout the city from 6 to 9pm. The stores also had a variety of attractions like dance floors, DJs spinning, cosmetic makeovers, prizes to be won, a few celebrity appearances, sketch artists, and of course, clothes to be bought; or in my case, drooled upon.
As we were walking there, you could definitely tell who knew about the special night or if they were just tourists by the way they were dressed. A clan of girls in high heels with Peter Som inspired sunglasses and vibrant dresses passed by all giggles and smiles.
When we reached the store, I realized that I was suddenly underdressed in my black and gold lace dress, opaque tights, and kitten heels.
“I should of dressed up like I was going to an awards show, or prom!” I thought.
Girls in short, sparkly dresses and spiky, skyscraper heels. Men in velvet D&G suits with hair slicked back and aviators. I had never seen so many fashionable people in my life! I didn’t know it was taken this seriously. That’s when I made a mental note for myself for next year.
At the door we were greeted by a red carpet and a professional photographer ready for a photo op with the official Fashion’s Night Out backdrop.
It was surely a night to be seen and remembered.

Senior Jenae Lee posing with models on the red carpet at the Neiman Marcus party at Fashion's Night Out. Photo by Moanalani Jeffrey.

The DJ spins music at Neiman Marcus's party for Fashion's Night Out. Photo by Moanalani Jeffrey.

Grade: 12

How you would describe your style? My style is plain and simple: I like to feel comfortable. I don’t really consider myself as a fashionable person. I like clothes that make me feel comfortable and it ends up on my body.

How you decide what to wear when you get up in the morning? Some nice fitted jeans and a V-neck will do it for me. I’m not that into graphic designs so you mostly see me wearing plain shirts or flannels.

What/ who inspires you to dress the way you do? I don’t know, I just wake up in the morning, look whats left in my closet, and try to wear what’s good.

Where do you shop? One of my favorite stores to shop is Forever 21. I have to admit they got some nice gear for guys.

What is your favorite piece of clothing? I like v-necks.

Is there an item you are currently looking for? Right now, I’m trying to buy a pair of Nike deltas that caught my eye. I normally don’t buy expensive shoes, but those shoes look sick.

Quality or Quantity? (Like do you prefer spending money on good quality clothes or a lot of cheaper clothes?) I buy inexpensive clothes and find a good deal around. Target has some stuff too!

Your fashion advice to others? I think the best fashion advice is to be yourself. Wear whatever makes you comfortable. Don’t be afraid to be bold and different. If you feel comfortable, you’ll look comfortable and fresh. Own it and you’ll have swag!

3-D movies are the next level to the holographic that we see in Star Wars. They give people the wow factor making people feel like they are in the movie itself. In Avatar, everything was more amplified when it was in 3-D.

3-D movies seem like a phase but since it is the latest technology, we will only see a rise in 3-D entertainment until there are more advancements that literally put people in the movie.

Sophomore Francesco Fernando is one of the many B-boys that dances the halls at WHS. He’s been seriously dancing for about two and a half years.

“I just tried it out one day and I found that I liked it.” Fernando said.

He used to take classes at the Steps Styles and Spotlights dance studio for one year. His teacher was B-boy Kool Raul (RJ) from Supreme Soul on “America’s Best Dance Crew.” Now Fernando doesn’t dance in a group any more.

He also competes in choreography at the dance studio.

“The thing I like most about it is that it builds character. You also make new friends. The dance itself is very unique and challenging, from matching your moves to the music and the ability to do the moves at all.” Fernando said.

For him, the hardest part about dancing is perfecting the moves.

He plans on continuing dancing after high school but isn’t sure about becoming a professional dancer.

“Maybe I’d like to join a crew or start one of my own.” Fernando said.

The film is based upon the graphic novel of same name, created by Mark Millar, who also created the graphic novel Wanted. Many similarities can be drawn between Kick-Ass and Wanted, especially in the “stylized violence” realm.

Vaughn served as producer of a few Guy Ritchie films such as Snatch and Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels. His “style” in Kick-Ass is strongly influenced by Ritchie’s, though not nearly as crafty.

Essentially, the film is about superheroes. Well, more like vigilantes. The storytelling is an attempted satire of previous costumed hero flicks like Spider-man. Whiny wimp Dave Lizewski, played by newcomer Aaron Johnson, attempts to be a masked hero named “Kick-Ass,” in NYC and endures much trouble. That’s about it. The ending is thoroughly violent and totally open for a $equel, oops, I mean sequel. Along the way Kick-Ass meets other vigilantes who work in the big city, and they turn out to be just as unreal and preposterous as “Kick-Ass”.

However, amidst the bland story lies the film’s only spark: Chloe Moretz. She was only twelve years old during filming and yet, her character’s actions are probably the biggest reason why this film garnered an “R” rating. Her character, a brainwashed psychotic killer cutely named “hit-girl,” represents a Lolita of the modern age. But beware, “hit-girl” has no inhibitions about chopping off limbs and skewering people. Herein lies the meat of the film: violence.

As a satirical contrast to regular hero films, Kick-Ass sets out to show that even the good guy gets his ass kicked from time to time. The fight scenes and gun battles are laden with blood and guts in a fashion that would make Sam Peckinpah proud. However, it seems as if, toward the end of the film, the violence becomes more and more unrealistic and unnecessary. The initial intentions of satire are lost in a sea of blood, butterfly knives and bazookas.

The dialogue, a mish-mash of how adults think teens talk, is bland. There are many unique situations in which witty banter could have helped the film, but no such banter was written.

The box-office has proved that Kick-Ass isn’t the next Zombieland, but listening to the students around campus, it seems Kick-Ass found an audience.
Verdict: D+

This spring there are different materials to be worn. Depending on the color, lace can be sexy if it is in black or red and delicate if in white or pastel colors. Instead of wearing denim pants, try wearing a jean jacket or vest. These are best paired with floral dresses and skirts. Be careful about wearing denim-on-denim, or else you could look like you came from the ’80s.

Something you could also play with is print-on-print. You have to be careful when choosing which ones to pair together or you’ll look too busy. You could try thin horizontal stripes with big polka dots or a large floral print, an unlikely but lovable pair. Staying in the same color palette or putting together muted hues for a sophisticated look are also some other ways.

Cut-outs are also a new trend. They are featured in the backs of dresses or shirts and in leggings and shoes. Some trends from the runway include going “All-American” in stripes, sporty jumpsuits, stars and red lipstick. Step into the wild with a safari look consisting of cargo pants, dark dyes, distressed denim, khaki rompers and bangles.

As for accessories, trade your zippers and chains for ropes and ethnic beads.

Paint your nails in jewel tones or pastel colors. Get inspired by Chanel and paint your nails cool mint green.

One accessory that is becoming a favorite among both guys and girls is vintage belts. Oxford shoes, tan suede boots and macramé or hemp shoes are also in. To keep cool, straw fedora hats and pork pie hats are here for spring.

For guys, this spring seems to be all about pastel-colored linen button shirts. A new material for these shirts is chambray, best paired with chino shorts, or shorts of a different color.

Of course, people tend to forget that some of the most revered films ever made, Gone with the Wind, The Godfather, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, just to name a few, were adapted from novels.

Harry Potter started the fantasy series to film phenomenon by grossing billions in the international box-office. While passionate fans may complain about the lack of details or how the two to three hour time frame does not cover enough of J.K. Rowling’s captivating, magical universe, the films are, at the very least, quite entertaining. However, the soon-to-be-released two-part adaptation of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is a desperate idea. Yes, the fans got their wish: This will be the most detailed adaptation of a Harry Potter book.

Speaking of lightning rod teen phenomenons, there is also the Twilight series. The films are loyal to the novels, though some fans claim that the scenes are not exactly as they imagined it to be. Each film-maker has his own vision and are determined to fulfill their own visions.

“The movies are too jumpy and I think the character development is better in the books,” senior Kelly Mcginnis said.

Yet teenagers are curious people who have all the time in the world to spend their Friday nights watching something that they predict will suck.

Not surprisingly, recent adult fiction has had their struggles in movie land as well.

The Da Vinci Code, the controversial New York Times Bestseller, is the kind of film that cannot be conventionally adapted onto screen without being a didactic mess, despite its box-office success. Ron Howard is too much of a straight-edge director to ever make The Da Vinci Code the suspenseful screen roller coaster that it deserves to be. That simple fact does not stop the film from being boring.

Nicholas Sparks has undeniably entered the forefront of modern cinema. Sparks’ films seem to attract great talents, yet no matter how pretty the faces and beaches are, they end up being obnoxiously sentimental. Some argue that the books are more detailed and less shallow than the glossy movies.

“When you’re reading [the Sparks books], you can kind of hold back the urge to assume or predict because you’re actually waiting for it to happen. With the movies, it just happens,” senior Shobana Anbazhagan said.

Anbazhagan is surely not alone. She speaks for millions of bookworms who yearn for the build-up and surprise on screen, despite the fact that they already know how it ends.

Every day more and more students are using technology to enhance their education. Freshman Connor Pitta uses the internet for multiple subjects.

 ”I use technology to research things I don’t understand, or to help me better understand stuff like computers, biology, and geometry,”  Pitta said.

However, teachers do acknowledge the dangers of technology being too pervasive in students lives. Mrs. Garbarini, who teaches Computers, stresses the importance of students “distinguishing the difference between internet slang and formal speech”. For example, it isn’t socially acceptable to say “LOL” in public or an interview, and doing so can potentially be  damaging to your reputation.

Mrs. Garbarini also believes that it is necessary for students to be “able to use Google Docs” and that they must know proper Internet etiquette, especially knowing not to “troll”.

For a long time however, schools tried to stem the tide of technological advancement that was taking over. However, as time has progressed, schools have learned to utilize resources such as the World Wide Web to teach students as well as engaging them in their schoolwork. Washington is a prime example of this; computer class is mandatory for freshman, and many classes reserve library dates just for the access to computers. We also have elective courses that utilize technology, such as Digital Imaging. And at Mission Valley ROP, there are numerous programs that utilize computers such as Computer Animation and Digital Sound.

Technology in our education has become a fact of life. It is now apparent that it is not some “passing fad”. Day by day, technology becomes a more crucial and essential part in teaching students. As long as teachers learn to use technology efficiently, it can only be beneficial that technology is so intertwined with student’s education. The possibilities are endless, and Washington High School should be thankful that we are one of the first generations to experience the synergy of education and technology.

The characters have to face the fact that it is Valentine’s Day. Every couple has a separate story. Reed Bennett (Kutcher) starts the day off by proposing to his girlfriend, Morley Clarkson (Alba). Meanwhile, Kelvin Moore (Foxx), who doesn’t like Valentine’s Day, is sent on the streets to bring romance to his newscast. Other couples such as Dr. Harrison Copeland (Dempsey) and Julia Fitzpatrick (Garner), and Liz (Hathaway) and her boyfriend encounter troubles on this love-filled holiday. One woman, Kara Monahan (Biel), is strictly against Valentine’s Day and throws an annual “I Hate Valentine’s Day” dinner that no one attends until the end of the day when everyone is once again single.

This movie shows love at all ages as an older couple who discover surprising truths and a love-sick ten year old. It features teenage romance as Willy (Lautner) and Felicia (Switft), and Grace (Emma Roberts) and her boyfriend celebrate Valentine’s Day. It brings together a captain (Roberts) who is flying for 14 hours just to spend Valentine’s Day with her special someone while she also makes a new friend, Holden (Cooper). Each character is connected by their situations on this holiday.

The beginning is slow and doesn’t completely bewitch the viewer until Kara’s “I Hate Valentine’s Day” dinner. There are parts where the story just lags, but the movie continues to be comedic throughout. It takes a while to figure out who’s who and how they all relate to each other.

There are unexpected twists to the outcome of each couple. It is captivating as to who Captian Kate Hazeltine’s (Roberts) mystery man is and what will happen to each couple. Unexpected romance appears in this film. Those who didn’t expect to find love found it. Verdict: B+

The Union will sell you artificial organs for every part of the body with a reasonable payment plan that suits your income. Or, at least, that’s what they tell you. Then, when you slow up on payments, The Union reclaims their property, from your body, without proper surgery. This, essentially, is the film Repo Men.

Starring the always likable British Jude Law, and his American counter-part, Forest Whitaker, Repo Men is a good idea with terrible execution. It can be considered original, except for the fact that a rock opera film called Repo: The Genetic Opera! milked this plot back in 2008. However, no lawsuits are forthcoming  so it’s clear.

The shortcomings of this film are, sadly, the very things that the production company is marketing it for: Action. This is not an action film. There is quite a bit of blood, a lot of blood in fact. An excess of blood, as the camera does not shy away from showing, say, a repossession of an artificial kidney.

During frantic fight scenes, deep red blood seems to gush and spurt out of people unnaturally. This film is not for the squeamish. There is an attempt at a romantic sub-plot, but the chemistry between Jude Law and Alice Braga is extremely weak. Their cheesy intimate scenes are very poorly scripted and acted.

The ending, depending on how one is feeling about the film up to this point, can either ruin the entire experience, or complete it with a nice bow. The ending, to me, felt like a direct lift off the ending to Terry Gilliam’s Brazil, and if you’ve seen Brazil you know what I’m talking about.

In short, do not take a date to see this film. In fact, wait for the DVD if you feel you have to see this film. It isn’t worth the outrageous box-office ticket price. Trust me, I’m from The Union. Verdict: C-