InFlight

Playlist of the Week: Duncan Morrow

duncanmorrow — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 19:28:15 +0000

1. Shabazz Palaces – “Swerve…the Reeping of All That Is Worthwhile (Noir Notwithstanding)”

Ridiculous song title notwithstanding, this was the standout track on Shabazz Palaces’ debut album that dropped last year. It was probably the only track off of the album that wasn’t exceedingly dreamy and ethereal, but we won’t get into that. Swerve is really just a great, straight hip-hop track with an incredible beat and one of the more memorable guest spots I’ve heard in a while.

2. Thee Oh Sees – Contraption/Soul Desert

SUPPORT LOCAL MUSIC. Especially when said local music has a great 70’s punk throwback sound, an incredible sense of energy, and two (!) drumsets. It’s hard to pull off a great, energetic punk song that lasts for more than 3 minutes while maintaining a constant drive throughout, and these guys really nailed it.

3. The Roots – Lighthouse

The Roots’ Undun was definitely one of the best hip-hop albums of the year, if not the best. A concept album about the death of a gangster told in reverse (he dies in the first song), it really brings up great themes existentialism and futility and all that noise. It sounds pretty damn good, too.

4. Black Lips – New Direction

Another great punk song, if you can still call it punk – it was produced by Mark Ronson, famous for producing for Amy Winehouse and making classic R&B. As a result, you can hear the pop influences throughout the song, but it really enhances it more than anything. Plus, you can pretend you’re paying tribute to Amy Winehouse.

5. Flying Lotus – Do the Astral Plane

Flying Lotus, or FlyLo as those of us in the know call him, is really one of the most original DJs working in the business. Although, it’s hard not to be gifted when the great John Coltrane is your uncle. Jazz influences can definitely be seen here, but in reality it’s just a slappin’ track.

6. The Brian Jonestown Massacre – Vacuum Boots

Not only are BJM the proud owners of the greatest band name in history, they produce some really great 60’s rock throwback music. This track in particular sounds like it came straight out of a tiny London garage circa 1966, maybe with the assistance of a pre-drug Keith Richards. Or a pre-drowning Brian Jones, I guess.

7. Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks – Forever 28

While we’re on the subject of throwbacks, Stephen Malkmus. He originally came to relative fame as the frontman of Pavement, a band that released some of the best albums of the 90’s, before he disappeared for 10 years. While, not really disappeared, he made music, but no one really cared until last year. Whatever he’s been doing, this is a great song the harkens back to his 90’s slacker-rock heyday.

8. The Flaming Lips – This Here Giraffe

Fun fact: The Flaming Lips were a band that released more than “Do You Realize?”. In fact, they were around since the 80’s . This is from the period in the 90’s when they were, more or less, a straight rock band that wrote songs about zoos, I guess. The bass line is so nice, the trademark Flaming Lips non-sensical lyrics won’t even register.

9. Blur – Badhead

You’re probably familiar with the singer in Blur more as the singer in Gorillaz, but Blur was one of the most popular bands in British history, so it’s nice to pay respect for that over here in the States. This is one of their softer songs, but the rich instrumentation really makes the song. Also the great guitar solos. Those are cool too.

10. Cat’s Eyes – Face in the Crowd

Cat’s Eyes are a really unique band, mainly because they’re an early 60’s pop throwback (I’m sensing a theme here) fronted by Ferris Badwan, a pretty popular goth rock musician, and an operatic soprano Rachel Zeiffra. The result is this really classic, poppy sound that manages to be incredibly unique.

Listen to this playlist on Spotify!

Songs from the heart: Valentine’s Day playlist

kellymcdeavitt — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 06:08:01 +0000

Forget about dreading Valentine’s Day. Whether you’re a hopeless romantic or a cynical single, we all need music to make it through the day. Let this playlist pump you up before giving a special something to someone you love or help you bask in the pure glory of your singleness.

1. “Silly Love Songs” – Paul McCartney (1976)

This song is perfect for those madly in love. “You’d think that people would have had enough of silly love songs,” but we can’t get enough of this one.

2. “Someone Like You” – Adele (2011)

For those still hating on their exes, take Adele’s example and show him or her that you’ve got it going on. After listening to this (overplayed) song, you’ll be strutting your way into a new relationship in no time.

3. “I Want to Hold Your Hand” – The Beatles (1963)

This song is an excellent pep talk for the secret admirers out there. Holding back on asking someone out? Go for it! The Beatles are behind you all the way.

4. “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)” – Beyonce (2008)

Who cares about being in love? Ladies can be on their own just fine. Enjoy your freedom with Beyonce this Valentine’s Day.

5. “Blue Moon” – Ella Fitzgerald (composed in 1934, performed by Fitzgerald in 1956)

This holiday just got better with this classic love song. Sit back with a loved one and listen to this sweet tune.

6. “You Make My Dreams Come True” – Hall and Oates (1980)

The only way to describe this song is synchronized dancing in a park with animated birds and your own band. Yes, your loved one is just that awesome.

7. “Falling Slowly” – Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova (2006)

On a more serious note, love has its rough moments. If a breakup is in sight, listen to this beautiful song for some inspiration. “Take this sinking boat and point it home” – you still have time.

8. “The Only Exception” – Paramore (2010)

Cynical singles, keep your eyes open for “the only exception” as Valentine’s Day hits your heart. You never know who’s as against Valentine’s Day as you are.

9. “There Is A Light That Never Goes Out” – The Smiths (1986)

It’s a beautiful song about beautiful relationships. If you think dying by your loved one would be “such a heavenly way to die,” then you’ll enjoy this ’80s love song.

10. “Us” – Regina Spektor (2004)

Regina knows how to move the grooves and share the love. Jam to this optimistic view of timeless love in “Us.”

Whether or not you have a valentine this year, the possibilities are endless. Enjoy being single; enjoy being in love; but most of all, enjoy the things – like these songs – that make you happy.

Oscar Predictions 2012

briannajanes — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 03:10:49 +0000

It’s February again, a time where an academy of seasoned professionals selects the best of film in the 84th Annual Academy Awards. But, with widely publicized snubs across the board and a blatant favoritism for nostalgia, one has to wonder: will their choices really capture the amazing cinematic moments of this year?

Who should win? Who will win?

And the nominees are:

Best Actor

Demian Bichir, “A Better Life”
George Clooney, “The Descendants”
Jean Dujardin, “The Artist”
Gary Oldman, “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”
Brad Pitt, “Moneyball”

Should Win: Gary Oldman
Will Win: Jean Dujardin

For carrying a film with nothing but body language and charm, “The Artist’s” lead will snag the golden trophy. Once again, Gary Oldman will walk away Oscarless despite having the most finessed performance of his eclectic and inspired career.

Best Actress
Glenn Close, “Albert Nobbs”
Viola Davis, “The Help”
Rooney Mara, “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo”
Meryl Streep, “The Iron Lady”
Michelle Williams, “My Week With Marilyn”

Should Win: Rooney Mara
Will Win: Rooney Mara

From dominatrix to demure in 3.5 seconds, no one can deny the gut-wrenching, powerful performance of “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” herself.

Best Supporting Actor
Kenneth Branagh, “My Week With Marilyn”
Jonah Hill, “Moneyball”
Nick Nolte, “Warrior”
Christopher Plummer, “Beginners”
Max Von Sydow, “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close”

Should Win: Nick Nolte
Will Win: Nick Nolte

A broken alcoholic father tries and fails to win back the love of his sons. Wait, that was an actor?

Best Supporting Actress
Berenice Bejo, “The Artist”
Jessica Chastain, “The Help”
Melissa McCarthy, “Bridesmaids”
Janet McTeer, “Albert Nobbs”
Octavia Spencer, “The Help”

Should Win: Octavia Spencer
Will Win: Berenice Bejo

It should be abundantly clear by now that a nostalgic silent film will sweep the acting categories this year.

Best Director
Woody Allen, “Midnight in Paris”
Michel Hazanavicius, “The Artist”
Terrence Malick, “The Tree of Life”
Alexander Payne, “The Descendants”
Martin Scorsese, “Hugo”

Should Win: Terrence Malick
Will Win: Michel Hazanavicius

At the risk of looking unbelievably pretentious, which he did to many, Terrence Malick tried something new. He went entirely on pathos and core human consciousness, taking out the barrier of language and dialogue to communicate on a deeper level. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a level that many viewers could reach.

Best Original Screenplay
Woody Allen, “Midnight in Paris”
JC Chandor, “Margin Call”
Asghar Farhadi, “A Separation”
Michel Hazanavicius, “The Artist”
Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo, “Bridesmaids”

Should Win: 50/50
Will Win: Midnight in Paris

Yes, 50/50 isn’t even on this list. It was by far the biggest snub of the Oscars this year, skirting the line between laughter and crying in almost every scene.

Best Adapted Screenplay
Alexander Payne, Nat Faxton, Jim Rash, “The Descendants”
John Logan, “Hugo”
George Clooney, Grant Heslov, Beau Willimon, “The Ides of March”
Aaron Sorkin, Steven Zaillian, “Moneyball”
Bridget O’Connor, Peter Straughn, “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy”

Should Win: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Will Win: Moneyball

The overwhelming detail and intricate dialogue of “Tinker Tailor” falters in comparison to “Moneyball,” which deserves in its own right to win for its pathos, though it shouldn’t in terms of execution.

Best Picture
“The Artist”
“The Descendants”
“Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close”
“Hugo”
“Midnight in Paris”
“The Help”
“Moneyball”
“War Horse”
“The Tree of Life”

Should Win: Midnight in Paris
Will Win: The Artist

Both films boast stellar directing and themes of the past, though “Midnight in Paris” triumphs over “The Artist” in terms of pacing and dialogue. Nonetheless, the Academy will no doubt pick Awards-favorite “The Artist” for its bold choice to run as a silent film.

In a year of so many greats, there will always be snubs. For the Oscars, this is ‘Year of the Past.’ Nostalgia and history lead the race, while more modern-age films such as “Drive” and “50/50″ will fall by the wayside.

Industrial Innovator Bob Borchers Visits Foothill

jasonalmeida — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:30:07 +0000

Bob Borchers was raised in Livermore and was a student at Livermore High School. He graduated from Stanford with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering and later acquired his Masters Degree from MIT in Biomechanics. Bob has worked at numerous companies, including Nike, Nokia, and Apple (as head of Product Market for the original iPhone) and he now works as a VC at Opus Capital.

On Wednesday, Bob dropped in and gave a presentation, entitled Design and Innovation, to Foothill students. He shared experiences from his past and examples from the industries he was familiar with in order show how true innovation occurred. “Simply inventing something is not necessarily innovating,” he said, “Innovation occurs when something changes how the world works or alters how people perceive the world.”

Bob argued that being first is overrated as what really matters at the end of the day is how people feel when they interact with a product. He felt attention to detail, something many consumers recognize, and fundamentally great design were two essential aspects of product design. “Design is absolutely critical… the design that goes into a product is what differentiates it.” He used the iPhone as an example, pointing out that the technology used in the original iPhone had already been out for approximately 5 years.

Lastly, Bob talked about the rules and how many innovators changed the rules of the game in order to be successful. Before FedEx, the USPS had a monopoly on mail in the US. FedEx’s founder, Frederick W. Smith, thought he could do it better, but there were laws in place that prevented him from doing so. Smith spent numerous years pushing laws that would allow his business to succeed, and eventually he achieved his goal and made FedEx the company it is today. Bob stated that like Smith, many innovators try to see how the world should be, and it’s this perspective that allows them to innovate the way they do.

Foothill v. Amador Basketball

aarondevera — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:38:25 +0000

InFlight is going to be streaming live at the Amador v. Foothill basketball game coming up at Foothill High School. Tune in at 7 to see Varsity play, featuring the full game video along with play by play commentary by Sohan Shah and Matt Hardwick. To use the chatroom, go to http://livestream.com/fhsinflight and click the FACEBOOK tab at the top of the chatroom box. Or you can comment below on this page in the Facebook Comment box.

Watch live streaming video from fhsinflight at livestream.com

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aarondevera — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 06:28:12 +0000

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Here at InFlight, we try our best. Our best to adopt new standards in internet journalism, while actively publishing our written publications. But at our core, we are a student newspaper. The class itself is an opportunity for students interested in- for students willing- to try their hand at editorials, news, social media, design, video, and photography.

When a student plagiarizes in their English class, they might get a drop in their essay grade. They might fail the essay all together. But in the real world, the consequences are much more harsh: you lose your credibility. You lose your integrity. There are no second chances, if you plagiarize, you’re over.

But as I form these words, I’m typing in a font I didn’t create. I’m looking at a design layout I only designed maybe 10% of. And half the images on this site, while under a legal and allowed Creative Commons license, are borrowed from their credited and respected authors who we extend our utmost gratitude. The internet is a community, like any other, and to think that we don’t all contribute something to it is an utter fallacy. We didn’t learn about John Locke in our history class. We learned about John Locke from the internet.

It’s less crucial for us. There aren’t jobs on the line if we get censored. Just young minds interested in what I’m sure will be a gateway to many non-existent industries if SOPA and PIPA are passed. It’s the kid who codes a content aggregator micro-blog site (Tumblr) that is going to get struck hardest with the authoritarian ban-hammer that is SOPA. It’ll be the graphic designer whose use of Neutraface typeface will justify the dismantling of the entire news conglomeration they work for.

SOPA and PIPA are a war on American creativity, innovation, and expression. Our cause is right; our cause is just. Let’s keep the internet special.

Use this guide to join Google, Wikipedia, Craigslist, and hundreds of other companies, along with millions of Americans, in stopping this crime against creative humanity.

by ████████████

UPDATE <22:36:36>: Much more eloquent words have been said than that of above, so in short, we are Spartacus.

Congressman McNerney Visit | FHS InFlight Presents

aarondevera — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 06:09:35 +0000

Congressman Jerry McNerney (D-CA11) visited Foothill High School on January 10, 2012, answering a broad range of questions from the National Defense Authorization Act to party polarization. Video after the break:

Click here to see more videos on our YouTube channel.

What’s the point of writing on bathroom stalls?

anthonykuo — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 02:37:18 +0000

High school is characterized by rebellion, but is it more detrimental than beneficial to students? Vandalism in the restrooms has been increasing at Foothill High School, and has been causing problems not only for faculty, but also for students as well. Campus supervisor Bud Mayes, attributes this problem to students’ “overdeveloped sense of entitlement.” Perhaps he’s right.

Recently, Foothill has been experiencing a couple different types of vandalism. According to Head Custodian Richard Leal, boys do “lots of tagging.” Tagging is a way for males to sign their names or represent themselves in public places, using “different names.” But, come on boys, we all know the Joker from Batman was once a cool role model, but even he did not vandalize; his “mark” was simply a card.

During trips to the bathrooms, I have also seen bad words and pictures of body parts scrawled into the walls of the bathroom stalls as well. I fail to understand how defacing school property with inappropriate drawings and pictures is fun. If anything, it should embarrass the perpetrators.It’s “just dumb stuff,” explains Leal, “boys get bored.” Vandalism is a selfish way of expressing boredom. Nobody gave students the right or permission to deface school property. At the pleasure of one human being, the whole student body suffers.

“Girls write things about other people,” says Leal. Gossiping and conservations on who’s hot and not are written on the stalls. Though there may be the occasional inspirational quote to balance out the negativity, the majority is frivolous expression and perpetuation of the forever changing ways of high school we call the social ladder.So the real question is: who is this graffiti really hurting? It “mostly impacts you guys,” says Leal. When reflecting on vandalism, most students don’t realize that it’s an adversity to them as well as the custodial staff. Students are affected the most because bathroom closures are inconvenient and force students to walk further in order to use one. Imagine being in class in the D building and having to go all the way to the bathrooms near the office because a classmate has decided to illegally express himself on school property.

In addition, the messages that are left by perpetrators can be hurtful and emotionally disruptive to other students. There have been numerous racial and sexual remarks that just aren’t okay for a high school environment.

Finally, vandalism in the bathrooms is costly and destructive to our school. Leal said that up to three hundred dollars is spent a week “depending on which bathroom they [students] hit.” Custodians spend hours just to get a few tags off the bathroom stalls. According to Bud, custodians spend half an hour removing one defacing on the walls or tiles and even longer, an hour, just to remove one act of vandalism from a stall partition. Imagine what could be used during this time. The custodial staff have other jobs to do. Having them spend more time on clearing vandalism takes away from the time they need to keep the school clean. Combine the increased work load with the recent staff cuts and we get a school that is not as clean as it can be.

Students who vandalize are just not courageous enough to speak their minds aloud and put their names behind their words. If those who vandalize feel they want to change society, start by appreciating the school and its facilities. Only when we recognize the school’s efforts can we realize that the huge “revolutions” students try to spark can be expressed differently. And for those who are merely bored and have nothing else to do, read a book.

Dealing with the Winter Blues

leahromm — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 02:48:08 +0000

It’s that time of year again: winter is rolling around, and some people suddenly feel sleepier, heavier, and…sadder? Yes, sadder. Sometimes known as the “winter blues,” seasonal affective disorder (S.A.D.) is beginning to take its toll.

According to Web M.D., S.A.D. is a mood disorder in which a person has normal mental health during most of the year but experiences symptoms of depression during a specific season. For some, these symptoms flare up with the cold winter days; for others, summer’s sunny months bring gloom instead of joy.

ScienceDaily, an internet science news website, states that the S.A.D. affects about six percent of the Americans. S.A.D. is provoked by a change in people’s circadian rhythms; that is, a person’s sleep cycle can be disrupted as the seasons change. This disturbance occurs because of a change in the amount of light a person is exposed to. In the winter, there is less sunlight, which keeps our bodies from stopping the production of melatonin, our bodies’ natural sleeping pill. People feel sleepier for longer durations, which can lead to feelings of sadness.

“A client I had reported that she felt unmotivated and lethargic. It’s like waking up and thinking, ‘I just can’t and don’t want to get out of bed,’” says Beth Christensen, one of Foothill’s support counselors.

Luckily, there are ways to deal with seasonal affective disorder. Mental Health America, a non-profit organization, states that light therapy is a common treatment in which people suffering from S.A.D. are exposed to sunlight or extremely bright lights that mimic sunlight. This helps regulate melatonin which, in turn, helps people feel more awake. Other patients have to resort to antidepressants or therapy.

“What people need to understand,” says A.P. Psychology teacher, David Middleton, “is that depression is common. There shouldn’t be a stigma associated with it, whether it’s short-term like with S.A.D. or full-blown depression. Don’t internalize it, and, instead, seek help for those who need it.”

If you or someone you know is feeling unusually down this winter, don’t hesitate to get help! Perhaps it’s S.A.D. or just the cold, gloomy weather getting to you. Whatever the case, put on some fuzzy socks, cuddle with your cat, drink some hot cocoa, and feel better!

Putting the Plus In Google+

jasonalmeida — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 01:43:20 +0000

Google is almost synonymous with the internet. But after Wave and Buzz, it seemed that the only thing on the web that Google couldn’t get right was social networking. Then Google+ came along.

Within the first few days of its release, Google+ grabbed many early adopters, including tech enthusiasts and people who wanted to try something other than Facebook. For the most part, people didn’t have any problems with Google+. However, Google+ did lack the majority of their friends, so when people found the next hilarious cat meme, they went to Facebook to share it instead of Google+.

So is Google+ dead? The short answer is no. Google+ is currently in a weird state of limbo. Unlike Buzz and Wave, people actually like using Google+, and if they had more friends on it, they would definitely use it. So what can Google+ do now to appeal to more people?

Integrate other Google services – Google already has services that people use on a day to day basis. “I would love for Google to integrate all of its services into one entity: essentially bringing Gmail, Google Voice, Google Talk, etc. all into a single, streamlined area.” Vikram Sreekanti (‘12). This would make Google+ the centralized hub for the things people do on the web.

Open the platform – Google+ was very isolated. It didn’t really interact with external web content at first. There was no “Share on Google+” button like there is with Facebook, so you had to go to Google+ each time to share something cool you found. You could have just clicked the Share on Facebook button.

Fix current user annoyances – While not many, there are certain things Google+ lacks that people want. “It needs a better mobile application. It needs a better chat system. Its homepage also needs to offer more valuable information.” Thomas Im (‘12). Other features like more games and the introduction of apps could definitely make Google+ more useful. By addressing many of these issues, Google+ can attract more people to use it on a daily basis.

Google+ is a great social network; now it needs to become a great online platform. Now, the one factor that is out of Google’s control is people’s satisfaction with Facebook and if people are content with Facebook, it’ll be harder to pull them away. So even though Google+ might gain users by doing all of this, it can gain way more if Zuckerberg messes things up.