Chatsworth High School The Clarion December 2005 School Water Some Say, ‘Ho Ho Ho’ Others Just Say No Sinks Student By Trang Nguyen no wonder they call Santa St. mom fills in,” said freshman Staff Writer Nick. Saint Nick was a gener- Shannon Gordon. Taste Buds ous bishop (religious man) born “Of course I do [believe in The spirit of Santa Claus in a village now known as Tur- Santa]. He doesn’t like my By Trang Nguyen will always remain within some key. He loved children and cookies though,” said tenth Staff Member of us high school students, but helped the unfortunate. That grader Skeye Wells. for others, Santa is just an an- very man, St. Nick, is now por- The funky taste of our cient, imaginary, and magical trayed as a jolly, bearded man in “I still do believe in Santa school water fountains has re- friend. red with a bag flowing with ‘cause I’m gullible,” said Reggé pelled some of us from drinking “I stopped believing in toys. Prince, a senior. the water again. Santa when I was like eight. I Nevertheless many people Others just grew out of it “The water tastes bitter,” recognized my dad’s writing in here claim they do believe in the because they found out Santa said Theresa Ambwa, ninth a label [on the present] and spirit of Santa: maybe wasn’t really real. grade. when I asked for a bike, I re- “Heck yes! I believe in “I knew he wasn’t after “The water tastes [like] member one room was locked. Santa. I saw someone outside watching a movie,” said fresh- metallic,” said Mrs. Velez. When I opened it, I saw the bike who was not one of my parents man Stephanie Sarmiento. Recent experiments done by that I had asked for. I wasn’t Staff photo by Trang Nguyen and he was like six feet tall,” “I stopped believing in him a chemistry class have tested the shocked and I didn’t really care Regge Prince shows her holiday said sophomore Michael Mar- at seven when I saw my parents school’s tap water for chloride, because I got the present any- spirit. rerl. sneaking presents under the sulfate, iron, and calcium. way,” said freshman Veronica “I believe in Santa because Christmas tree. I was upset but the oldest traditions celebrated “Well there is no sulfate, Lucatero. I have a heart of a child,” said I pretended to believe in him ‘til among us. Little did we know, iron, or calcium, but our tools The story of Santa Claus and ninth grader Karen Diaz. like ten just to get more pre- this tale began from a factual aren’t as sensitive as tools used the North Pole has been one of “I believe he’s real but sents,” said freshman Karishma character named Saint Nicholas- in the Department of Water and sometimes he gets sick and my Khatry. Power. There is chloride… [which is] not harmful to your body…unless there are large amounts of chloride taken. Why Gifts For Every Budget there’s a weird taste, we didn’t conduct any experiment for that,” said Mrs. Sitzman, a Thrifty Gifts for Less Nifty Gifts For More chemistry teacher. There were many comments By Nidia Espino ful scarves for only ten dollars. By Trang Nguyen about the water such as: Staff Writer If you have any teenage Staff Writer “It tastes like soap and girls on your list you can always smells like sewer,” said junior Christmas is coming soon, go to Forever 21. They have It is repetitively said that Janae Sullivan. maybe even sooner than many cute stuff that most girls seem to the meaning in holiday gifts is “The water tastes fine in T of us expect. With gas prices like for less. You can find shirts what matters most, but perhaps building,” said freshman De- being so high for the past few for as low as seven dollars. the price tags on the items are sirae Lupien. months not everyone has They also have accessories, un- what really count to today’s “ The water smells like fish enough money to afford expen- derwear, and many more inter- teenagers. in the art room,” said Crystal sive gifts. esting things. From the most recent tech- Ng, a senior. If you happen to be in this On the other hand, if even nology gadgets such as cell Staff photo by Trang Nguyen “I love the one near the situation it might be a good idea these stores are too much for phones and iPods, to high-end girls’ P.E. locker,” said fresh- got an iPod and I would be to go bargain hunting. There are your Christmas budget, you can fashion trends, these splurges man Eddie Reid. jumping up and down for joy,” many places where you can get come up with creative things to will be sure to bring smiles upon Mr. Gunn, the plant man- said senior Reggie Coffman. We great stuff for less money. make that your family and every receiver’s face during the ager, said, “The water comes You can go to stores like friends might enjoy. holidays. all know that iPods have been from the Department of Water Ross, TJ Maxx, and Marshalls For example, senior Fatima “I want the Xbox 360. It’s the popular mp3 player brand and Power. The water gets to get brand name clothing for Barrientos said, “I bake each the tightest most amazing game since last year, and apparently, tested and the water [in the wa- better prices than at the mall. At person’s favorite dessert for system. I’d be so happy if I got they still are. IPods vary in all ter fountain] gets flushed. We Ross you can find Roxy shirts Christmas dinner and that’s their it, I’d cry. I would value it more different kinds from the latest run them every morning for for six or seven dollars when at gift from me.” than something sentimental be- iPod Nano, starting at about thirty seconds. $200, to the video iPod which the mall they vary from about You can always buy a really cause I would actually use it,” Gunn added that the pipes costs about $300. twelve to twenty four dollars. inexpensive picture frame for as said senior Jon Weber. are 40 years old and repairing or Among most girls, expen- Also, Old Navy has great low as two dollars at Wal-Mart The prices of the Xbox 360, replacing them would cost about sive fashion items are most fa- stuff for winter and it’s very or Target, decorate it with handy along with other high tech gifts $2 million.. vorable. “Anything from Aber- inexpensive. They have sweat- stuff that most of us already such as the SideKick II can Mrs. Rizzotti, from the crombie or Hollister is cute to ers, jackets, gloves, and every- have at home, put a meaningful range well in the hundreds but school improvement office thing you might need for this picture in it and give it to your will surely bring satisfaction. Continued on page 2 Continued on page 2 cold weather. They have color- Continued on page 2 “I’d be extremely happy if I me and I like it,” said junior 2005: A Truly Disastrous Year Worldwide By Peter Tran c a n e K a t r i n a a nd t h e r el i e f e f- e x t r e m e l y d i ff i c u lt . sources of income. A few days Florida and up the east coast of Staff Writer forts, but not many people are later, another typhoon in China the U.S. Wilma added to one of familiar with the various earth- 2. Food shortages in West and resulted in hundreds of thousands the stormiest years for the Car- The second half of 2005 quakes, famines, and monsoons. Southern Africa b e i n g e v a c u at e d f r o m s o m e a r e a s . i b b e a n r e g i o n , f u e l i n g m o r e alone seems to have witnessed a Across Southern Africa, discussion about climate number of natural disasters, 1. Pakistan and Indian Earth- some 12 million are, or will be, 4. Devastating Hurricanes affect- change. such as earthquakes, ferocious quake affected by poor rains and ing Central America and the US hurricanes, mudslides, floods, October 2005 saw a devas- failing crops. Malawi has al- Hurricane Stan’s immense Hurricane Katrina, a Cate- droughts, forest fires, failing tating earthquake in Pakistan, ready declared a national disas- devastation in Central America gory 4 hurricane and one of the crops, and more. As a matter of around the Kashmir region, ter as almost half the population just a few weeks earlier than the most powerful to hit the U.S., fact, we have experienced so which also impacted bordering is threatened by food shortages. Pakistan earthquake was less re- devastated the Louisiana and many different hurricanes this regions in India. The BBC re- Some 5 million people need ported. BBC reported that nearly Mississippi. coast, landing just season alone, the National ported that Pakistan said 38,000 food aid in West Africa due to 800 people were killed and the east of New Orleans with 140 Weather Service has run out of people died in the quake, 60,000 failing crops, locust infestations, number has the potential to rise to mph winds.