By Kristiana Trinidad
Junior Staff Writer

Emily Hong is one of A-TECH’s hardest working students. Along with the piles of homework that many students at this school are familiar with, she is also the President and Divisional Assistant of Key Club, secretary of College Prep Club, and a member of National Honor Society RESPECT.

“Emily is a very conscientious student,” the advisor of College Prep Club, Ms. Bouchard said. “She pays very close attention to detail, and she is, by far, the most productive and effective secretary that I’ve ever had in any organization.”

Of all the clubs Hong participates in, her favorite is Key Club.

“I have been an active member of Key Club for almost four years,” said Hong, “and Key Club has made me a more outgoing and confident person.”

“It’s really because of Emily that Key Club is as successful as it is,” says Mr. Meikle, the Key Club advisor. “She’s extremely hardworking, dedicated, and I’m going to hate to see her go because it’s her senior year, but she has done an absolutely great job for Key Club.”

One may wonder what the daily life of a person with so many activities is like. “My daily life usually revolves around homework, studying, eating, Key Club, and sleeping,” Hong comments.

Apart from her school activities, Hong also volunteers at the Sahara West Library.

On average, Hong has about three hours of homework a night, which mostly come from her AP classes. At times it hurts her grades to take on so many activities, and Hong ends up not having time to study for tests and quizzes. However, she still manages to earn straight A’s every quarter.

Hong only gets about four to five hours of sleep a night. To compensate for her lack of sleep, she takes afternoon naps, which help with the headaches caused from lack of sleep.

“I try to balance everything out so that I have time to do everything,” said Hong, “I know what I can accomplish, and if I take on a responsibility, I will try my best to complete it.”

Hong says she takes on so many activities because high school should be a memorable experience. She would like to say she participated in many activities and had fun in high school. There is, however, a price.

“Several times this year, I was overly stressed about tests and quizzes in my AP classes, major essays due, and Key Club deadlines to meet. I often had to yell at my computer for frequently freezing when I was doing work, just to release some stress,” Hong added.

Alexis Hanselman
Senior Staff Writer

Micheal Cisneros

Photos by Alexis Hanselman/ Maverick Messenger
Micheal Cisneros taking time out of his schedule to pose for a picture.

Micheal Cisneros, also known as Mike, is A-TECH’s newest tech guy. Mr. Cisneros has always loved computers and everything to do with them. He found A-TECH’s job posting while working as a contractor updating networks. Once he found the job at A-TECH he realized that he would be perfect for it. Now he loves it and hasn’t had any problems thus far.

“I would like to stay here as long as I possibly can,” said Mr. Cisneros,  “The only way they can get me out is if they drag me out.”

Even though Cisneros has loved computers since before he can remember, one of his friends got him interested in working with computers. He loves computer work, helping his friends, and web design. Web design is one of his favorite things to do with computers.

His favorite part about his job is meeting other people, whether it’s going to teachers’ rooms or to a friend of a friend to help with a computer problem.

Computers though are not his only love. He has been married for almost ten years and has three kids, who are fifteen, nine, and five. His children keep him busy outside of his job.  He enjoys spending time with his kids, whether it is playing the Wii or riding bikes outside.

So far this year, Mr. Cisneros has been distributing hardware to different teachers. He runs by the ticket system. Which means he goes and does whatever teachers need, when they need it done. His first day didn’t officially start till January 22, but Mr. Cisneros was here early. He likes being early because it gives him a chance to get familiar with things.

Titine Lawlis

With Mr. Kogos off to be a counselor at a junior high school, there is a new long-term substitute teacher to take his place. Titine Lawlis has an extreme passion for law. Ms. Lawlis went to nine different universities and graduated from the University of Central Florida. She was in the military, so she was often transferred and moved schools, which is why it took her sixteen years to graduate.

This very organized teacher is a widow with two cats. She loves to swim and help advocate for women’s rights.

Her two favorite movies at the moment are “The Notebook” and “Behind Enemy Lines.” “Behind Enemy Lines” shows her passion for action, spy, and military type movies, whereas “The Notebook” shows her other sensitive side. Lawlis said, “’The Notebook’ is well done. It reminds me of what my adopted parents are like.”

Ms. Lawlis would love to spend her time reading a good Alexander Mccall- Smith or Nelson Demille book or watching movie after movie but she sadly doesn’t have the time. Instead Lawlis looks to audio books to listen to while she is in the car. She becomes almost as excited as her students when a break comes around. Over winter break, she watched at least forty-five different movies.

Lawlis has substituted for A-TECH’s law program before, which was how she became aware of the program area. She kept checking into the system to see if there were any positions open in Legal Studies. When she saw the job posting, she was ecstatic about it.

So far, Ms. Lawlis is impressed with both the students and the staff. The students are nice, calm and respectful. Two days into her job and she already has the staff fixing what she needs. Ms. Lawlis says, “I would like to become a permanent part of this staff.”

By Allison Neighbors
Editor-in-Chief

Every year, Macworld holds a convention in which they predict what the new inventions for the year 2009. Also, at about the same time, the Consumer Electronic Show comes to Las Vegas to show what new companies have made for the year 2009.

During the past nine years, Macworld has put out its predictions for what the New Year holds for Apple and Mac users. The predictions are the opinions of “fortune-telling Mac journalists boldly guessing what Apple will do next” as they themselves put it. Macworld staff, along with others who input their opinion, firmly believe that all of the following will be coming in 2009, except for a few things that they just really want to be created.

According to macworldexpo.com, the first prediction is a “tablet”, which they predict will be like a super-sized iPod Touch as opposed to a Mac laptop that will hold MIMvista’s medical-imaging software.

The next prediction was a media server, which will bring much needed organization to Macs. A midrange desktop is another prediction for 2009, but seeing as how this was also a prediction for 2008 and Adam Engst, the publisher of TidBITS and Take Control Books, couldn’t even muster up enough excitement to write something different than the year before, the prediction most likely will not come true. Engst believes that the midrange desktop will come out and will be a “screenless Mac—something in between Mac Mini and the Mac Pro,” and will be excellent for “switchers,” those switching from PC to Mac.

A larger iPod Touch is also in the predictions, and is pretty much what is sounds like, an iPod touch with a larger screen, so large in fact that “it won’t fit in a pocket,” which defeats the purpose of the iPod Touch. Apple will also extend its Internet reach and will “beef up” the Web apps it already has and will also introduce more ways that the Internet can make Mac OSX better. Apple will also have a “constant experience from the office … to the living room” allowing Apple users to move from computer to computer with the same information on each. The Apple TV will be much simpler and will hopefully take over living rooms of Americans. They also predict that Apple’s stock prices will tumble, Steve Jobs will quit his job, Batman will become the new CEO, and that Jobs will apply for a retail position so the company will continue to pay for his personal airplane.

Macworld predicts what will come in the next year, but they also hold a conference in San Francisco, California. At the Macworld Conference and Expo, there are many different opportunities for attendees. They can attend an event in which they can learn to optimize their Macs, an education event where they learn to find hidden applications and see how technology is shaping education, they have a graphic design seminar, and they even have a seminar about digital photography.

Joy Castiglione, a senior graphic design student, said, “I think it’s great that Macworld offers a graphic design seminar. It would be awesome to be able to attend something like that.”

Even though some of these predictions seem odd, there are many new inventions coming in 2009. The Consumer Electronics Show came to Las Vegas for another year. The show was held from January 8-11, days in which many new, interesting electronics were introduced to the market. Companies come from all around the world to introduce their new products. In the past five years, the main buzz was around high-definition, and last year the main new invention was HD-DVD and Blueray.

According to cesweb.org, this year, however, the focus has turned to 3D. Samsung, Sony, and LG all have 3DTV’s to share with the world. 3D glasses will still have to be worn and Disney has already promised to make some movies in 3D, and George Lucas might remake Stars Wars into 3D format.

Another new invention is the Dolby volume feature, which will eliminate sudden increases in volume that occur on shows and movies. The new feature will allow scarier movies to be watched without too much sound being projected.

Palm launched its first smartphone at the CES show, which experts at the CES show are saying is the first real match for the Apple iPhone.

Last year the main gadget that captured the awe of the viewers at the CES show was the HD-DVD and Blueray, which became popular in 2008. Maybe the new inventions of CES 2009 will become just as popular in the upcoming year.

By Casey Goodwin
Editor in Chief

It’s official. We survived first semester. There are only ninety more days of school left before summer vacation frees us from our education confines.

Summer daydreaming aside, the new semester offers a perfect opportunity to start over in all aspects of school life. Grades in every class have been wiped clean of the first two quarters, so that even students who got a “C” in their English class have a chance to earn an “A”.

Before you get much farther into third quarter, take the time to clear our your backpack. Do you really need to keep the bug spray warnings your fourth period teacher passed out in September? The instructions for the social studies project you finished in October? The colored pencils you threw in your bag but never even used? No, you don’t. A clean, organized backpack will allow you to start the new semester with less stress.

If you’re having a hard time in any of your classes, this is the perfect time to ask around for a tutor. Talk to the students you know are doing well in class and ask them to help you out with the issues you don’t understand. If you don’t have to catch the bus, stay after school to ask your teachers for help.

This far into the school year, many students have forgotten their good study habits—if they had any to start with. The new semester is the perfect excuse to start up those habits again. Actually study for upcoming tests, and start doing your homework right after you get home, instead of waiting until the last possible minute and depriving yourself of much-needed sleep.

“I’m probably going to study more,” says senior Miriam Calderon on her plans for her eighth A-TECH semester.

Fellow senior Sonja Holsomback thinks along the same lines as Calderon. Holsomback says she also plans on studying more, to make sure she can receive the scholarships she hopes for.

Dear Dr. Hiz and Her,

In the beginning of the year, I started talking to this one guy who sat by me in one of my classes (we don’t sit by each other anymore) and I started liking him. We started to IM each other a lot and then we started talking more at school and we never ran out of things to talk about. For the past three weeks, he’s been quiet online. Whenever I ask him something like how his day was, he replies with one-word answers and it’s boring. He used to be random, talk A LOT, and he used to always IM me first whenever I logged on. I don’t understand why he’s being quiet. He’s not busy because if he were, he would put an away message or log off. And even if he were busy doing his homework, he would still talk to me. At school, he talks and flirts with me, but we don’t talk that much anymore. I feel like he’s pressured to talk to me at school because he doesn’t seem like the kind of person who would tell someone that he wants to stop talking to them. My friends and I think that he likes me, but he might think that I don’t like him back, so he’s trying to “back off.” I was thinking that I should tell him I like him even though I’m not ready to be in a relationship again. I’m really confused about this situation. Am I overreacting? Should I tell him I like him? Please help.

- Confused

Dear Confused,

We’ve all been in this situation. We start talking to a guy and assume he likes us, but then he suddenly stops talking. We don’t know what has happened. There is a very good possibility that there is something about the situation that you don’t know. For example, he could have liked you at one point, but if you didn’t make your feelings clear to him, he might have moved on to someone else. If you still like him but aren’t ready for a relationship, then the last thing you want to do is tell him. It would hurt both of you. You would be telling him that you like him but that you don’t want to go out with him. It’s not fair. I don’t think that your over-reacting, you’re just over thinking the situation. Just let it flow. Whatever is meant to happen, will happen.

-Dr. Her

Dear Confused,

It’s obvious that you like him way more than he likes you—if he likes you at all. But let’s assume, for a second, that he does like you. Why would you ask to be in a relationship with him if you’re not ready for one yourself? It seems to me that you haven’t thought this through. I believe your level of idiocy was outlawed in the lower forty-eight states.

-Dr. Hiz

Photo Illustration by Casey Goodwin/Maverick Messenger

By Madame Eliza
Resident Astrologist

Capricorn: December 23-January 20
Happy Birthday! Now that you are a year older and wiser, you probably expect life to be clearer. Sadly, 2009 will not work out that way. At times during this New Year, you may feel confused and bogged down with more information than you know what to do with. When this happens, you should take the time to sit back, relax, and take a short break from the subjects that are bothering you to gain new prospective.

Aquarius: January 21-February 19
After awhile, even the best things can turn rotten. Two thousand nine is the time to look at everything in your life—friends, relationships, material possessions—and ask yourself if they’re really as good as they once were. Just because Johnny was your best friend in second grade doesn’t mean he’s still a good influence on you now, and just because you’re still the same size doesn’t mean you should keep your wardrobe from middle school. Take a step back and ask yourself “is this really what’s best for me?”

Pisces: February 20-March 20
This is your year to shine. The hard work and tough decisions you have made in the past are finally going to start paying off. Don’t let this make you cocky, though. If you stop working hard, your new opportunities are going to fall apart, and bad choices can cause you to lose more than you can afford. Keep up your efforts and don’t be afraid to stand out from the crowd.

Aries: March 21-April 20
Your devotion to your interests is becoming a bit too extreme. To be better off in 2009, you need to accept that you don’t need to play WOW for 5 hours each night, eat only broccoli, or catch the eye of that hot guy in your English class. These passions are starting to become obsessions, and are bound to hurt you in the long run. Take a moment to read a book, eat a juicy hunk of steak, or flirt with someone new.

Taurus: April 21-May 21
Now is the time to loosen up. Over the past several years, you’ve been taking yourself more and more seriously. Relax: you are not the center of the universe. Actually, you’re not even the center of the solar system. Don’t be afraid to laugh at your mistakes and don’t scorn any constructive criticism you might be given. Few people enjoy the company of those who are too serious and self-righteous to be goofy when the situation calls for it.

Gemini: May 22-June 21
In 2009, you are going to be tempted to repeat mistakes you’ve made before. Just because she says she wants to give your relationship a second shot, or your cousin swears that he’ll pay the money back this time, doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s the best idea. Just because it’s a new year doesn’t mean that you can forget the lessons you learned in the past. Remember, only crazy people do the same thing over and over and are surprised when they get the same result.

Cancer: June 22-July 23
Remember your least favorite parts of 2008? They’re going to be back in full force in 2009, along with numerous other issues. That cold you had last March? You’ll have an even worse one this February. To avoid being too miserable this year, be sure to keep a positive mindset, no matter what goes wrong. At least if you pretend to happy, people won’t feel as sorry for you.

Leo: July 24-August 23
Your love life is going to take some major twists and turns in 2009. Nothing is going to be quite what you think it is in the romance department. The guy you think likes you won’t, and the girl you’ll be sure hates you is actually head over heels in love. If you already have a boyfriend or girlfriend, be prepared for the foundation of your relationship to alter greatly in the coming year. If you handle these changes poorly, a break up may be in your future.

Virgo: August 24-September 23
The New Year is the perfect opportunity for you to readjust your focus to the things in life that are truly important. Whether or not you get those cute $200 shoes you saw or beat your favorite video game won’t matter five or ten years from now. However, the way you treat your family, your friends, and your studies surely will. If you don’t take a second look at your priorities, you might be superficially happy for the short run, but in the long run you will be miserable.

Libra: September 24-October 23
So far, you’ve managed to get by without putting any major effort into anything. You take easier classes, avoid serious relationships, or keep forgetting to write that book you’ve had in your head for so long. This year is the year you need to start challenging yourself. Stop lazing around, letting life pass you by, and live life to the fullest. If you never work hard for anything you get, you won’t appreciate what you’ve earned. After all, which means more: an A in trigonometry/statistics or a B in AP Statistics?

Scorpio: October 24-November 22
Your stress levels are likely to reach an all-time high this year. Whether it’s college applications, tough classes, family problems, relationship drama, or just plain old frustration, life’s going to pile troubles on you until the pile feels like it’s high enough to reach Alpha Centauri. Now’s the time to practice meditation and deep breathing exercises, because you’re sure to need them in the near future.

Sagittarius: November 23-December 22
In the future, you’ll look back at 2009 as the year of bad hair days. Next time you go to get your hair cut, make sure you are extremely specific about what you want. The stars suggest that your hairstylist is likely to misinterpret your instructions. Or maybe her scissors will just slip. Either way, coupled with every day bed head and frizzy hair, you might want to consider shaving your locks off and wearing a wig until 2010.