With over 500,000 apps in Apple’s App Store, you can easily access the amazing features of a variety of apps ranging from games, utensils, social networking, and even photo editors. With an iPhone, iPod, or iPad, with a click of a button, you can download an app to your device and access it anywhere. 

1. Angry Birds

For less than a dollar, you can play the App Store’s most popular and cutest game. It is the #1 paid app in United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and other countries. The story line is the revenge of “angry” birds to kill evil green pigs that captured their bird eggs. In the game, you sling a variety of “angry” birds to knock down buildings with the green pigs. With HD quality game play and silly sounds, you will be addicted in no time.

2. Facebook

The world’s most popular social network is now being accessed by millions of people on their Apple device. With a Facebook app, you can access any feature that you can on your computer. The Facebook app allows you to connect with your friends and family.

3. Youtube

Youtube is the world’s most popular video sharing site and is viewed by billions of people over the world. And now, you can access it anywhere! You can easily make a video of you singing and playing a guitar, and upload onto Youtube immediately. You can watch adorable babies laugh or even a tutorial on how to play your favorite video game on your iPhone, iPod, or iPad!

4. Pandora

Just search your favorite band, song, or genre, and Pandora will create a play-list for you, matching your tastes. It is like a personalized radio. Create an account and you are able to access your music anywhere with internet.

5. Yelp

The most well known website and app to post your reviews about your favorite restaurant, hair salon, hotel, or business! You can even rate or review your personal doctor. You are able to share your opinions about a specific place and recommend people to go– or stay out of there. Whenever you are wondering if that new restaurant on the corner of the street is good, you can always Yelp the place and check its ratings!

Occupy Wall Street Protests - Do they have a goal?

The First Amendment of the Constitution gives all American citizens the right to freedom of speech and the right to peaceably assemble.  However, many people take this right to the next level, and thus do not achieve any of their goals.

Protests have existed throughout the world for a very long time as a way to bring needed change to better the lives of the majority.  In the United States, they were successful in ending the cruelty of slavery during the mid 19^th century and 100 years later they were successful during the Civil Rights Movement.  However, during the 21^st century, the meaning of protest and striking seems to have lost its true meaning and value to the American people and is instead used as a game or hobby for many.

For example, the recent “Occupy Wall Street” protests were horribly put together and the protesters managed to succeed in almost none of their goals.  The main purpose of the protest was to epitomize the disparity between the rich and the poor and to fix the troubles of the American economy.  Therefore, protesters who actually wanted this done were those who lost their jobs or who were suffering tremendously.  In spite of this, many of the protesters are self-proclaimed “professionals” whose sole goal is to rouse trouble and to achieve the opposite of the protest’s desires.  These people cause destruction and steal the movement’s meaningfulness, forcing many to turn away and to ultimately end all of the movement’s desires.

Protesting should be used as a tool to fight against the injustices cruelly placed upon the weak by the strong.  Recently, it has been used as a toy and the First Amendment has been abused by these professional protesters with no aim other than to make life worse for those who need help.

A protest or a strike needs to and should have a common goal felt by all who are protesting in order for it to be just and to be successful. Protesting and assembling together as one group to fight for the common good that you believe in is perfectly reasonable; it is when people go out to protest with no goal and only to cause trouble is when protesting is unreasonable and should not be allowed.

Protestors at the University of California in Davis were doused with pepper spray by campus police for not removing their tents during a protest on November 18th.

Tara Duval, a sophomore at the university said it was certainly “uncalled for”. Most protestors began removing tents when prompted by police, but a few went to their knees with heads bowed and linked arms, refusing to budge. The rest of the crowd gathered round to witness the spectacle, what officers later stated as a threat to their security, thus legitimizing their use of the spray.

A student witness said “the spraying was pretty violent.” Officers neglected both range and duration guidelines as they casually sprayed students and citizens like garden weeds, inflicting chemical burns among other effects. The encounter has sparked much animosity from students and the general public towards the schools’ administration, especially chancellor Linda Katehi. In the days following the horrid scene, a petition for the resignation of chancellor Katehi amassed 80,000 signatures. The officers have been placed on administrative leave and Katehi has announced that she did not authorize the use of force against students and has launched a 30 day investigation of the incident. Pressure on the chancellor has been steadily declining since the “chancellor is now working with us,” stated Tara.

For John Pike, one of the officers involved in the spraying, this isn’t the first time his character was in question. In 2003, former officer Calvin Chang filed a class action suit against the Davis police department for sexual discrimination. Chang received a settlement of $240,000 and Pike was accused of making derogatory remarks concerning Chang’s sexual orientation.

The occurrence at UC Davis is not an isolated event.

As one student at Davis put it, “the whole UC system kind of exploded.”

Protests associated with the Occupy Wall Street movement have been surfacing on numerous campuses, but contain one student-specific element: soaring tuition costs.

UC Berkeley students occupy Sproul Hall.

The Occupy Wall Street movement has remained as one of the top headline stories since the first protest occurred on September 17 at Zuccotti Park in New York’s financial district. From New York, the movement has spread to more than 100 US cities from Los Angeles to Philadelphia, Oklahoma City to Washington D.C, and more than 1900 cities worldwide. But despite its growth, the Occupy movement appears to mean little more than the pepper-spray ordeals, tent camps, and grievance-declaring signs to many people. High school students have little reason to care or be concerned about the Occupy protests on the television screen…or do they?

As adolescents who will soon be crossing the threshold into adulthood, it will not be long before high schoolers will have to deal with the issues at the core of the Occupy movement. For example, the recent Occupy incidents that took place at the UC Berkeley and UC Davis campuses portend what prospective college-bound students can expect in their collegiate years.  The protests that took place at the college campuses are not just another of UC Berkeley’s famous hippie gatherings or random occurrences at the UC Davis campus. College campuses are hotbeds for social unrest and demonstration because college students, who must worry about one-day re-paying their accumulating student loans even when they are maintaining constant frugality, are especially sensitive to economic and social conditions and trends that suggest what their future prospects may be. With an unemployment rate at 8.6%, and the paucity of job opportunities, college students fear that they have no future. Colleges are not doing students a favor by incessantly increasing their tuition fees either.

As the next generation to lead America and the world, students must realize the relevance the Occupy Wall Street movement has to their own lives, because it is their social responsibility to understand the situation in America regardless of what class they may belong to. If the physical act of occupying is not the average citizens’ cup of tea, he or she must have the knowledge to support the underlying message of the movement and the media attention and awareness that it has been able to solicit thus far.

Supporting the movement raises questions about the most effective way of doing so. Occupy Wall Street has been criticized for not having clear objectives, and it is unclear as to whether the protesters themselves have suggestions for possible solutions. Occupy campsites and activities have decreased sanitation conditions and cost cities millions of dollars towards the overtime of police and maintenance of public spaces. Moreover, demonstrations are occurring at the expense of surrounding businesses. In the end, however, the most powerful tool is the vote.

In November, the Thunderbolt investigated the rising importance of the youth vote, which will make up more than one third of the entire voting percentage in 2015. Government officials may acknowledge the Occupy Movement but will continue to prioritize the needs of corporations and banks until they face the threat of losing their position in an election. High schoolers who are eligible to vote must take advantage of their rights, and show Congress, corporations, and banks that they will not allow corruption to compromise their futures.

Features Editor Kat Pong, freshman Jake Lin, and I finished swim practice one cold Tuesday evening and decided to go out to Starbucks for a drink. We circled around Burlingame Avenue, hoping for a parking spot somewhere near the Burlingame Starbucks store, and we finally found a spot right behind Gap. As we got out of the car, the three of us saw a curious sign: Rue du Thé–Tea House. We took a chance and decided to get drinks there.

The service was great–Will, the owner, personally recommended their European styled hot chocolate, similar to the interior of a molten lava cake. The tea house, which serves teas, hot chocolates, coffees, as well as a variety of chocolates and cookies, has much to offer. Kat and I decided to go through their tea experience, smelling the various teas organized by the strength of the caffeine. Kat tried the fragrant and tropical Coco Blanc tea, while I went for the deep green tea flavors of the Organic Pearl Jas. Jake tried the highly recommended hot chocolate. It was exactly as Will described it: thick and creamy, but not excessively sweet like most of the other hot chocolates. While the chocolatey delight was rather expensive for the average high schooler (it was $4.50 for a small cup), the treat was worth every penny.

The three of us lounged around for a bit, sipping our warm drinks, admiring the interesting French art on the walls and tables, and savoring the San Franciscan vibe of the small tea shop. Will was curiously waving the cashier tray around, and it took me a while to realize that he was trying to get my attention. Puzzled, I approached him at the counter and he handed me three macaroons, free of charge. We were delighted, and even more so when we realized that the macaroons were expertly crafted to accompany our teas and hot chocolate. Enjoying the creaminess and sweetness of the macaroon with our teas enhanced the whole tea drinking experience.

This winter has been very cold; we bundle ourselves up in layers of clothes, and sometimes that is not even enough. A hot beverage is a simple cure to the harsh winter weather. Kat, Jake, and I are glad that we stopped for tea and hot chocolate that freezing Tuesday night. With friendly service and delectable treats, Rue du Thé is definitely our recommendation for a place to visit this holiday season.

To check out more information about Rue du Thé, visit http://www.rueduthe.com/

Rue du Thé is located on 1223 Donnelly Avenue, Burlingame, CA 94010

Using preparation books is a good way to study for the SAT or ACT. (Photo cred: sacramento-news.info)

The SAT and ACT are both standardized tests for college admissions, testing high school students’ abilities on a range of topics, namely English, mathematics and writing. Colleges accept either test, but there are big differences between the SAT and ACT.

The SAT is a three hour and forty-five minute comprehension test. It contains ten sections of different length that test critical reading, mathematics, and writing. One of these sections is the mandatory essay, which usually has an abstract topic that makes the student think deeply about the world. It contributes to the final score. The SAT is scored out of 2400 with a separate score out of 800 for each of the three subjects (critical reading, math, and writing). Students lose a quarter of a point for each wrong answer and therefore must be careful about guessing. Oftentimes, if students do not know the answer, they will omit the question. Students can take the SAT as many times as they want. To learn more or register for one of six test dates ($49), visit sat.collegeboard.com.

The ACT is a three hour and twenty-five minute test with an optional thirty-minute essay (without this essay, the test lasts two hours and fifty-five minutes). It is a content-based test that measures what the student has learned in school. It has five components: English, mathematics, reading, science, and the optional essay. The essay usually has a prompt related to high school students; it is scored on a scale from 2 to 12 and does not affect the final composite score. The composite score is the average of a student’s scores on the four multiple-choice sections (all out of 36). The ACT does not subtract points for wrong answers, so it is smart for students to use the process of elimination or guess if they do not know the answer. Students can take the ACT up to twelve times. To learn more or register for one of five test dates ($34 without essay and $49.50 with essay), visit actstudent.org.

Though most colleges require that students submit scores from the SAT or ACT, almost all colleges accept both and do not value one test over the other. The SAT is said to value vocabulary and reasoning skills, while the ACT contains more advanced math concepts and a science section. Timing-wise, the ACT contains more questions in a shorter period; however, its questions are said to be more straightforward. In the end, it is up to the student to decide which test fits him or her better. The best way to do so is through practice: familiarize yourself with each format in order to make an informed decision.

The Mills symphonic band, jazz band, orchestra, and choir prepared all semester to play in the Mills Winter Concert, held on December 7^th to deliver an exemplary performance.

Walking into the auditorium, the audience was greeted by the music of the Mills string quartet, comprised of Andrew Lin on violin, Valerie Fates on violin, Iris Yu on cello, and Michael Tom on viola.  The quartet played several festive, holiday tunes in what is known as a “green act.”  The members took their own time to practice their selections.  The quartet coordinated the opening (green) act.  The musicians played Mozart’s Divertimento No.1 and No.3, displaying true mastery of their instruments.

The jazz band performed after the string quartet.  This year, there were fewer traditional jazz band personnel, but the addition of instruments not normally part of a jazz band equipped the [band] with a unique sound.  The jazz band played a total of four songs in different jazz styles.  The first song the band played was “K.C. Blues,” which included several solos by Jason Chun on piano, Tyler Lindow on trumpet, Andrew Lin on violin, and Jad Ghawi on guitar.  The third song, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” included outstanding vocals by Iris Yu, who plays cello in both the orchestra and the jazz band.  The jazz performance was the last performance before the intermission in which the symphonic band, orchestra, and choir took time to prepare for their performance.

The second half of the concert was opened up by the orchestra with a very dynamic and captivating piece called “Synergy,” setting up the stage for the next song performed by the symphonic band.  The orchestra followed up with “Tango Noir,” a song with a very dark tone to it, and contained an improvisation solo by Andrew Lin.

This dark piece was contrasted by next song performed by the symphonic band, “Instinct,” which had a very aggressive tone and fast pace. The symphonic band played “Benjamin Franklin and the Art of Music,” which included a saxophone solo by Mitchell Wong.  It was very upbeat and full or energy.

Following the symphonic band, the choir performed a very entertaining song, “Old Dan Tucker.” The next song, “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother,” was a combined piece in which the symphonic band, orchestra, and choir all participated in.  Having only practiced together one time before the concert, the combined piece was played exceptionally well with little to no mistakes.  “Riversong,” a Celtic song played by the jazz band and choir, had a very organic feel.

The concert was concluded by another combined piece, performed by all three music groups.  “OurAmerica,” an arrangement of patriotic songs such as “This Land is Your Land,” “Yankee Doodle,” as well as several others provided the perfect bang to the end of the concert.

The winter concert was a successful performance of great musicianship.  The winter concert showed great promise for the next major performance, which will be held atDisneyland. Members of the symphonic band, orchestra, and choir will be performing several of the combined pieces atDisneyland.  The symphonic band, orchestra, jazz band, and choir are all working hard to learn their new pieces to make the spring concert just as splendid as the winter concert.

Ever received a Christmas present that was so atrocious that you wanted to burn it forever?

Well, some students at Mills have. When asked what was the worst Christmas present they have ever received, they responded as follows:

Madoka Oyama, senior – “Last Christmas, my mom got me pink socks with flowers on them.”

Andrew Leung, senior – “My friend wrapped three fuzzy pencils with some tissue paper and gave them to me.”

Belinda Hui, senior – “Kids Bopz CD. I was like, why are there annoying kids singing in the background!”

Adrienne Ou, senior – “A jacket that didn’t fit me, I think. It was ‘last year’ and far too small; it looked like the gifter thought I was nine.”

Alex Alvarez, senior – “An ugly picture frame. I don’t have any pictures to put in it!”

Justin Huang, junior – “I received a coupon to McDonald’s.”

Stephen Cooke, senior – “A new shower head.”

Stephanie Eng, sophomore – “I got a plastic go-kart car from Walgreens from my dad one time.”

Rachel Ng, sophomore – “Math practice workbook so that I could study over break.”

Tiffany Ho, senior – “I got a piece of paper with a Christmas tree on it before. It was terrible.”

Tiffany Tran, sophomore – “A pack of lip balm. Well, no, I needed it. Oh, I got a penny one time.”

As for me, I’ve gotten a Snickers bar and a bottle of coke.

Wondering what Mills students think about the holidays? Here are some fun things about what students have to say!

What was the weirdest Christmas present you received?

"The weirdest present I ever got was toilet paper and socks with money in them from my parents." -Olivia Chow, sophomore

What do you do with gifts you don’t like?

"I save them and give them to other people." -Angelina Dwyer, senior

"I'll keep them in a box labeled 'Gifts I Don't Like.' It's funny because I actually have one." -Rafael Rivas, senior

Do you believe in Santa? Why or why not?

"I do believe in Santa because he stands for happiness." -Danny Hogan, junior

"I believe in Santa because when I leave out ginger bread cookies for him and carrots and water for the reindeer, they are gone and eaten up in the morning. He also replies to the letters I give him." -Lindsey Huffman, sophomore

What would you do if  it suddenly started snowing in Millbrae?

"I would make a Facebook status about it." -Kendra McIntyre, junior

"I would go outside, make a snowman, and go sledding!" -Nate Gaffney

What’s the best way to celebrate the holidays?

"The best way is to spend it with the fam, friends, and loved ones." -RJ Reyes, sophomore

All Photo Credits: Serina Hersey