This is not an isolated incident—it’s happening in classrooms all over the campus. Students are taking advantage of the Internet here to log in to their Netflix accounts and start streaming whatever they want with subtitles to avoid the sound. It looks as if they are focusing on the notes on their laptop screen, which is far from the truth.

Before I go any further here, there’s a distinction that needs to be made between multitasking online and watching Netflix. Multitasking involves taking notes on a laptop while other tabs (email, social networking sites or other webpages) are open in the background.

I am admittedly guilty of multitasking every now and then during class. It’s something that’s nearly impossible for teachers to eradicate from their classrooms while still allowing laptops—the accessibility and temptation of the Internet coupled with students’ ingrained multitasking habit makes it inevitable.

However, I don’t feel this break in the rules is as serious as watching a TV show or movie during class. Multitasking implies that at least one of the tasks in progress is listening and note-taking. When one is trying to watch a TV show’s action and read the subtitles to follow along, there’s no way any productive listening or note-taking is going on.

But why should I care? If other students want to watch a movie and get a C in the class, that has nothing to do with me. Except that it does.

It’s extremely distracting to students who are trying to focus on the teacher when others around them are watching shows. The amount of movement on the screen catches the eye far more than regular Word documents or Internet pages, and others may find themselves looking at the screen instead of the teacher out of curiosity. Especially if the show is interesting.

Though it’s not you who is paying thousands of dollars for a private school education, your parents certainly are. If Netflix seems like a better use of time than listening to the lesson, then why come to class at all? No one wins in this situation. Use your Netflix subscription money at home instead of somewhere that already costs serious amounts of money to attend.

Finally, being so blatantly tuned out in class, whether the teacher notices or not, is just plain disrespectful. Even if you find a class boring or unproductive, the teacher deserves at least some of your attention. People doing this in class are not only violating the school technology policy, but also being discourteous to the teacher. Don’t waste your time, your teachers’ time and your parents’ money. Watch TV on your own time.

Sunset Celebration Weekend

Whether you read Sunset magazine or not, their annual Celebration Weekend is a fun outing to kick off summer with your family or friends.  Held at the magazine’s headquarters in Menlo Park, Sunset Celebration Weekend hosts a variety of food trucks, specialty vendors and renowned lifestyle personalities from all over the West Coast to celebrate “The Best of the West.”  Put on your favorite sundress and spend the day sitting in on a cooking demo from Top Chef’s Fabio Viviani, walking through the headquarters’ flower gardens, buying some handmade candles and best of all, eating your own weight in free food samples!  Just make sure to save some room for Gerard’s Paella.  Tickets sold at the door for $18; June 1 and 2, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; 80 Willow Rd, Menlo Park.

Canoeing on the Russian River

Healdsburg is a two-hour drive north of San Jose, but it is totally worth it for a day spent on the scenic Russian River.  Drive up early to pick up some pastries from Downtown Bakery ($, 308 Center St) and a picnic lunch from Oakville Grocery ($$, 124 Matheson St), and then head over to River’s Edge Kayak and Canoe Trips for a half-day canoe trip (13840 Healdsburg Ave, make a reservation in advance, $80 per canoe). The 5-mile stretch of river is beautiful and calm, and the pace is leisurely–great for beginners.  Make sure to bring your bathing suit because there are several good places to stop along the shore to eat lunch and go swimming at some point. Afterwards, return to downtown Healdsburg for some window shopping and dinner at one of its many restaurants.

A Day on Fillmore Street

Going to a concert at the Fillmore in San Francisco?  Make a day out of it.  The heart of the Fillmore District is right up the street from the theater and is home to lots of great restaurants and boutiques.  A can’t-miss stop is an interior design shop called Nest ($$$, 2300 Fillmore St), which sells a unique selection of home decor and bedding.  It’s like the home section in Anthropology–but an entire store.  Also make sure to check out the exceptionally nice location of Crossroads Trading Company ($$, 1901 Fillmore St) for some secondhand shopping.  When you get hungry from all the walking and shopping, stop by Pizzeria Delfina ($$, 2406 California St, reservation recommended) for traditional Italian pizza loaded with fresh cheese and produce.  If you’re in the mood for seafood, get a buttery lobster roll at Woodhouse Fish Company ($$, 1914 Fillmore St) instead.  For dessert, Fraiche ($$, 1910 Fillmore St) serves properly tangy frozen yogurt with freshly baked toppings like brownies and seasonal fruit cobbler.

Rio Del Mar Beach

It wouldn’t be summer without the beach!  If you don’t feel like tanning (or burning) in the hot hours of the afternoon, try going in the evening after it cools off instead.  Rio Del Mar Beach in Aptos is a long, open stretch of shore that’s perfect for walking–and it’s dog friendly too.  The beach also has some public fire pits open until 10 p.m., so pack layers, blankets and s’more ingredients for a bonfire with your friends!

Just as I expected, this soundtrack did not fail to impress. Teaming up with Shawn (Jay-Z) Carter, Lurhmann creates a completely different world with the music of Gatsby–a world where anachronistic music makes sense. This eclectic collection of songs pulls from all genres–from hip-hop to pop to alternative.

If you have read this novel, hearing that modern day hip-hop is featured in the film may be slightly disconcerting. However, while the music may not necessarily be from the same time period, Lurhmann and Carter’s reasoning for incorporating it makes you appreciate it all the more.

“Jazz was this almost underground music at the time, like hip-hop started out. I like to think of it as a character, because it’s so interwoven into the storyline,” Jay-Z said to MTV.

The album begins with a hip-hop track called “100$ Bill” performed by Jay-Z. It opens with Leonardo DiCaprio as Jay Gatsby saying a line from the film, and then it transitions into Jay-Z rapping. The song has a great beat that immediately grabs your attention. This, along with the recurring lyrics about wealth, set the tone for the lavish and expensive lifestyles that are portrayed throughout the movie.

While this and other tracks like “No Church In the Wild” by Jay-Z and Kanye West represent the more upbeat songs of the soundtrack, other songs contain soft and melodic tunes.

One of my personal favorite songs on this soundtrack is Lana Del Rey’s “Young and Beautiful.” The song has a very simple melody that is hauntingly beautiful, and the lyrics reflect the romance between the movie’s titular character–Jay Gatsby–and his lover, Daisy Buchanan.

Lurhmann also continued his tradition of including inventive covers of previously existing songs for this soundtrack. For example, there is a rendition of Beyoncé’s “Crazy In Love” performed by Emeli Sandé & the Bryan Ferry Orchestra, which is unique in that it keeps the melody of the original song but replaces the accompanying music with jazz. While this cover is upbeat and cheerful, Beyoncé and Andre 3000’s cover of Amy Winehouse’s “Back to Black” has a more intense and thrilling sound.

Overall, I was highly impressed by the soundtrack of The Great Gatsby. Its ability to make me feel the emotions in the movie, while also taking a totally different approach from typical jazz music was not only admirable, but refreshing.

Tattoo art has been around for centuries. According to kidshealth.org, tattoos have been found on mummified bodies dating back to 3300 BC. However, this ancient tradition is one that stuck.

Tattoo art has become a popular form of expression, and is not just meant to define one’s societal status anymore. Tattoos have become part of our generation’s need to grow up. Because the law says that those who are under 18 cannot legally get tattoos without parental permission, the act of getting a tattoo often marks the passage into adulthood for some teens.

In January of 2007, The Pew Research Center found out that 36 percent of 18-to 35 -year-olds have at least one tattoo. But what really makes getting a tattoo so appealing to teens? Is it the rebellious act in and of itself or the fact that one simply seeks to artistically express herself through the use of her own body?

In order to get a better understanding of why teens get tattoos, the Voice caught up with one of Presentation’s very own seniors, Corina Martinez.

The Voice: What did you get a tattoo of and why?

Corina Martinez: “My first tattoo was a cross on my ankle. I knew I wanted a cross to be my first one because it’s something permanent and unforgettable, especially getting it the day I turned 18. Faith is something that for me will never go away and that I hope I will never forget. My second tattoo is the same markings that my horse, Destanee, has. Eight years doesn’t seem like a lot, but I’ve had him since fourth grade, so it feels like my entire life. We had to give him away recently, and since he was such a big part of my life, I wanted something to always remember him by. It’s on my shoulder, and it’s really unique–no other person in the entire world has it, I’m certain of that. I’m also really proud of it. People say, “Oh, it’s going to show at Prom or on your wedding day.” I think this is a great thing. Let it show; I miss Destanee everyday, and I’m not ashamed of some creative markings on my back.”

The Voice: Was the pain worth it? Did it hurt a lot, and how long did it take to get the tattoo(s) and then recover?

CM: “If anyone ever tells you the pain wasn’t worth it then they need to grow a backbone or get a different tattoo where the pain is worth it. It is the one on my shoulder that hurt more when the strap on my purse would rub against it or something. Other than that, I had no problems with pain. It takes less than a week to heal.”

The Voice: What do you think about tattoos in general? Do you have any advice for people interested in getting one?

CM: “Tattoos aren’t what they used to be ten or fifteen years ago. I don’t have a tramp stamp and I can positively say I am not in a gang. It’s an art form, a way of self expression. If you need someone to do a tattoo for you, I can give you someone who is totally trustworthy, cool and won’t rip you off! He explained to me the first time I got one that you are opening a door to a whole other part of yourself. One that can tell stories, heartbreak, happiness and faith by a simple picture.”

Warning–things to consider before getting a tattoo:

-At Pres, visible tattoos are against the handbook. If you are to get one, make sure it can be covered if you want to stay out of trouble.

-If the tattoo is prominent or very visible, consider how it may affect career opportunities or your appearance at certain events.

-A tattoo is permanent. Think seriously and for a good amount of time before getting a tattoo. There are forms of laser removal nowadays, but this is can be extremely expensive, difficult and painful.

-Getting a tattoo itself can be painful because the tattoo artist is injecting ink into the dermis, your second layer of skin, in order for the tattoo to be permanent.

-Depending on the size, location and detail of your desired design, tattoos can get very expensive.

-Make sure to go to a sanitary and trustworthy place where you know they will use clean equipment and tools.

But do you ever wonder about other sports and what sports have been thought of by your fellow Pres girls? Junior Kripa Sitaraman said, “I wish we had badminton because we play it in P.E. and not only is it a lot of fun, but everyone is really good at it.” Many students agree with Sitaraman especially because it is part of our curriculum. However, badminton has tried to be passed several times as a club but has never been considered as a sport.

There are several girls at Pres who play sports outside of Pres such as junior Phoebe Coffin who does synchronized swimming and senior Ally Cronan who does equestrian sports.

For those of us who don’t play sports whatsoever but still want to be apart of that Pres spirit, we could form a Quidditch club. Quidditch, for the people who haven’t read Harry Potter, is a sport where two teams fly around on broomsticks trying to throw different types of balls into 3 rings. There are are 3 types of balls: a Quaffle, Bludgers, and the Golden Snitch. The teams consist of 3 Chasers, 2 Beaters, a Keeper, and the Seeker. The way to win is by the Seeker catching the Golden Snitch, a flying golden ball that proves tricky to catch.

Obviously we can’t fly on broomsticks but this is still a different way to join together Pres girls that share a common interest. The International Quidditch Association (IQA), has established a heavily successful group, with over 900 teams in US and many more internationally. In 2005, they had the first “Quidditch World Cup”. So yes, it is an actual thing for the hopeful Harry Potter lovers. Junior Anna Waters said, “I would love to have a Quidditch club since a) I don’t play sports and b) who doesn’t love Harry Potter?”

Some other ideas are ultimate frisbee and bowling, both of which have become a more popular and competitive sport.

Perhaps you’ve heard the term “Illuminati” tossed about recently–especially after the Oscars and Grammys, as media hounded mainstream stars like Beyonce and Jay-Z for sporting alleged Illuminati symbols and jewelry. The history of the Illuminati dates back to the 1770’s as a secret elitist group that was outlawed by governmental systems and the Catholic Church for their extreme views involving who is worthy to live on this planet. Supposedly, the Illuminati want to reenact the Holocaust for those who aren’t valuable or talented. The main idea about this conspiracy is that the Illuminati want to take control of the entire world by brainwashing the masses–via media, (talented) celebrities, and whatnot.

JFK’s Assassination

This conspiracy will never be confirmed, but it proposes the idea that President John F. Kennedy was, in fact, shot by the U.S. government. Because this theory didn’t present itself until much after the actual event, there isn’t enough evidence to conclude this hypothesis but it sure is interesting. The Magic Bullet theory, or sometimes deemed Single Bullet Theory, suggests that the bullet that killed Kennedy was fired somewhere else than the other bullets fired. Therefore, there must have been a second source of Kennedy’s assassination, and of course fingers pointed left and right–one of which being our own government.

Operation Snow White

Sounds pretty innocent, right? Wrong. This conspiracy involves the sketchy actions of the Church dabbling with U.S. government affairs. Church of Scientology, that is. Apparently, Scientology operatives infiltrated government departments like the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to tap wires and steal documents. Over five thousand operatives were working on this mission–to protect the Church, but from what, is a bit unclear. However, they did mess with their tax papers and gave themselves tax exemptions.

Mermaids

When thinking of mermaids the first image that comes to mind is a redhead wearing a sea shell bra, but society has created many ways to describe this underwater species. Mermaid legends have existed for millennia– being described both as beautiful but also as creatures that would sing sailors to their deaths. Many people dismiss mermaids as mythological and as a legend that could not possibly exist. But 98 percent of the ocean is undiscovered, and there are countless species yet to be seen. It’s likely that mermaids could be one of those species. Real or not, mermaids have captured the imaginations of people across centuries and been a source of inspiration for both stories and art.

Area 51

About an hour drive from Las Vegas, Area 51 is one of the most well known military bases in the world. This is partly because the government continually ignores its existence and the base has serious ties to extraterrestrial activity.It is rumored to be a place for visiting extraterrestrials, alien autopsies, or a lab where UFOs are used for the military. For decades people have claimed to have seen bright lights near the base and insisted that these lights were in fact visiting aliens in their ships. Whether these sightings of alien spacecraft are real and not the effects of too much time spent in the desert is yet to be determined, but Area 51 is definitely a legend that has captured the imagination of Americans.

The Feared Bermuda Triangle

What started out as a routine training mission ended in the beginning of a legend when five Navy planes took off from their base in Florida 58 years ago never to be seen again. The Bermuda Triangle is an area between Miami, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico. In the last century, countless ships and planes have vanished without a trace within this imaginary triangle. The disappearances have been attributed to aliens, enormous sea monsters, or even a giant squid. But in reality the disappearances can be explained by Mother Nature, human error, shoddy craftsmanship, and bad luck.

The 9/11 Conspiracy

In a poll done by Newsweek, 50 percent of Americans answered “No” to the following question: “Do you think Saddam Hussein’s regime in Iraq was directly involved in planning, financing, or carrying out the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001?” Many questions have arisen due to conspiracists on the internet. Among the questions is whether the U.S. government is responsible for the attacks on 9/11.

There were eyewitness accounts and video footage of bombs in the World Trade Center, meaning some people believe the collapse was a controlled demolition. Professors and investigators have found explosions in the dust left by the Twin Towers. The dimensions of the damage done to the Pentagon do not match that of the commercial airplane that was supposedly hijacked and crashed. There are also numerous questions that should be answered by the U.S. Government about Building 7 and its collapse. The amount of unanswered questions and angry accusations is enough to make multiple documentaries on the subject. These are only a few of the accusations, and if the subjects interests you, you can watch the most infamous documentary Loose Change 9/11: An American Coup.

Elvis is Alive!

The rumors that the King of Pop Elvis Presley is still alive and well have not ceased since his death in 1977. The conspiracy is that Presley was recruited by the Drug Enforcement Agency to fight drug crime and communism. Since the agency needed a way to get Presley out of the limelight without sacrificing his reputation, they planned to fake his death. If Elvis really wanted to fight drug use, claiming to have died because of drugs would be the best weapon.

We Never Landed on the Moon

Another conspiracy theory is that the moon landing was faked by the U.S. Government and instead staged in a movie studio. They were so desperate to beat the Russians in their arms race that they fabricated the whole thing. One of the arguments to support this is the flag that was staked into the moon looks like it is blowing in the wind. Obviously there is no wind on the moon. Another reason for believing the moon landing was fake is the shadows that are in the pictures sent back to us, and it’s disputed whether or not there are shadows on the moon.

No, it’s not fairytale land. It’s not even a James Bond movie. Quite the opposite: It’s North Korea.

Recent events have brought North Korea under severe global scrutiny again, as Pyongyang continues its mad crusade to wage nuclear war on the United States. The recent and complete breaks in diplomacy between North and South Korea have led many to believe that North Korea is truly gearing up for total nuclear annihilation. Indeed, March was a very active month for North Korean diplomats, as they declared that the United States is  the “sworn enemy of the Korean people” and in the same breath severed their already weak ties with South Korea.

Are you panicking yet?

Not that North Korean missiles could actually reach the United States. Fortunately, the missile program has not advanced that rapidly. But the most likely victims of North Korean aggression are South Korea and Japan, both steadfast allies of the United States. If either nation is attacked, the U.S. would have no choice but to declare war on North Korea.

The global community is reacting. South Korea and Japan are on the ready, China has cut all financial ties to North Korea’s biggest bank and the United States is arming itself with the biggest and baddest guns and rhetoric it owns.

So the question really is, shouldn’t we all be cowering in fear? I mean, if the world’s most powerful players are stepping up, doesn’t that merit public response? Bring back the bunkers and the duck-and-cover drills!

Never fear. According to Evan Osnos, “It’s not so much that we worry about the idea that North Korea can actually make good on its threat to attack the United States or fire a nuclear weapon, because it really doesn’t have that capability.”

Furthermore, on the subject of American preparedness, Professor Bruce Cummings, the chair of the History Department at the University of Chicago,  said, “Even if North Korea actually wanted to up the ante by using nuclear weapons, they cannot, to my knowledge, deliver a nuclear weapon on the South short of trucking it across the border, or so-called in situ placement. If they put an A-bomb on a bomber it would be shot down immediately.”

 North Korea, according to some analysts, has numerous reasons to continue to play this game. Some believe that North Korea actually considers the United States a threat. Others maintain that North Korea waves around its red button just to get more aid through concessions for not pushing said button. Still others think that North Korea just wants attention.

So, we can come to equate North Korea to the small annoying child throwing a tantrum at the grocery store. The main point? North Korea is probably not a serious threat to you, or your well being. You can sleep safely at night with that knowledge in your mind.

Our very own Pres girls asked these questions and turned them into science fair projects. And they dominated with 10 girls winning awards at the Synopsys Science and Engineering Fair in March, and three of them advanced to the California State Science Fair.

The girls worked hard on their projects this year and finally presented them to judges at the science fair. Projects ranged from taking one week to a whole summer.

Senior Shay Rajavel, who worked with junior Nicolle Iacobacci said, “We did most of the work on Thursdays and Fridays because we would have the weekend to do homework assigned those days, and we prepared for the fair over break so it would not interfere with school work, but honestly, it was like taking an extra class.”

In the science fair, hundreds of middle and high school students from all over Silicon Valley compete within categories such as Engineering or Chemistry. Students set up their boards and prepare abstracts of their projects for judges to read the day before the fair.

On the day of the competition, the students crowd around the entry doors, waiting to be let in. After the doors open, they wait by their project boards, and interested judges come by. Students often begin with a presentation of the main points of their project and then answer any questions the judges may have. Rajavel said, “We were very nervous during judging. Both of us have never experienced such an environment, but after talking with our first judge we became a lot more comfortable and began having a casual conversation with the judge while explaining our project.”

There are category judges, special award judges and the much-coveted grand prize judges. Category judges help decide what place you receive in your category–first, second or honorable mention. Special award judges come from different companies around the Bay Area and give out unique awards ranging from printers to internships. The grand prize judges decide which projects are “best in show.”

Finally, chosen participants received their awards at an Award Ceremony in Great America. Junior Sanika Kulkarni, sophomore Shefali Patel and seniors Nepheli Aji, Ritika Pai and Soumya Banna all received Honorable Mention in their categories. Junior Sonia Kapoor and freshman Maya Varma received first place in their categories. Junior Anna Thomas, senior Shay Rajavel and junior Nicolle Iacobacci received first place in their categories and advanced to the California State Science Fair. Thomas received 1st place in Mammalian Biology at the state level.

When asked what her favorite part of the science fair is, Thomas said, “Moving beyond the existing literature and implementing a novel idea is a rare opportunity for a high school student, but through science fair, many students are able to do exactly that. I’ve also met a lot of really smart and inspiring people through the activity whom I hope to keep in touch with in the future.”

If you see these outstanding students, be sure to congratulate them on their hard work and success!

Pres girls are constantly finding ways to fundraise and help those in need, whether it be through for a local or global cause.  Last month, seniors Nepheli Aji and Alisha Nagendran organized a mixer as a fundraiser for two charities in India.

320 students attended the event, and due to ticket sales and donations the girls are able to donate approximately $2,700 to their charities. Aji was fundraising for the Theotokos Girls’ Orphanage in Calcutta, India and Nagendran fundraised for Rotary Bangladore Vidalaya in Bangladore, India.

Aji and Nagendran are proud of their efforts, and encourage their fellow Pres girls to follow in their footsteps. Aji said, “Each of you should find what you’re good at or what you enjoy and incorporate that to get creative with the way you live the motto, ‘Not Words but Deeds’. [Alisha and I] did what we love and had fun while serving others.”