Nowadays, I keep myself up to day with current events and my friends’ latest aventures through the Internet.
In a conversation with a friend about his newly ordered sunglasses, over instant messaging went something like this:
“OMG! MY GLASSES CAME IN THE MAIL!”
“No way! What do they look like?”
“I posted a photo on Facebook/Tumblr/Instagram. Check it out!”
Every day, I feel the need to check various sorts of social networking sites just to keep up with my friends. But, as an added benefit, these sites happen to keep me up to date with everyday events. The applications that integrate news websites with Facebook constantly update my news feed with articles friends have recently read. Twitter explodes with friend and celebrity tweets about breaking news, or spreads the word with the notorious #hashtag.
Yet, as distracting as these networks are, I find it hard to avoid checking these various sites simply because they keep me up to date with my superficial life. Yes, I really needed to hear and see that so-and-so went to someplace and had dinner at this restaurant and ate this dish. Or maybe, I can flip through those photos and imagine the life I could be having, if I had the time to “go adventuring.”
I am really no expert on the addictiveness of the Internet, but it clearly is changing the way everyone his or her life. Keeping up with all these events is really fascinating, and I would not want to be “out of the loop.”
Live like a possibly supersmart caveman, or live like a tired, grade-struggling socialite?

With the use of social media to spread global issues and events in recent years, media has become the newest medium of worldwide communication. Yet, with these new methods of connecting people from different parts of the world comes the ability for people to negatively judge recent social awakening.
The Arab Spring of 2011 was one of the first emergences of the use of social media to spread global awareness. Revolutionaries used Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sites to spread their cause and voice their opinions to the entire world. The use of social media was so extensive that many people refer to the Arab Spring as the “social media revolution.”
KONY 2012, a thirty-minute video created by Invisible Children Inc., has recently spread across the internet, quickly becoming one of the most viewed videos on the internet. With the intent of educating the public about the atrocities being committed by Joseph Kony and his Lord’s Resistance Army in Uganda, the thirty-minute narrative has received harsh criticism from many viewers, attacking supporters of the KONY 2012 movement for being ignorant of other problems around the world. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter: comments and photos praising the video are surrounded by condemning comments, blaming supporters for following so-called ephemeral, bandwagon movements, forgetting about them after their popularity has waned.
Movements publicized through social media should not be criticized for attracting supporters. Similar to a regular teenage kid updating their relationship status on Facebook, people all over the globe use social media to expose their problems, desires, and pleas of help. Many movements may be transitory, but they are still a social awakening for people all over the globe, an emergence from ignorance. Their interest in something may be fleeting, but the overall impact of global movements through social media on people’s lives will be positive. Social media makes helping people on the other side of the globe easy with a click of button, allowing people at home to help others.

Mills High has shocked the biology field, uncovering a new and unique plant species found exclusively in center court.

The new species, named Bellis roseus, is a common daisy with a pinkish tint. However, its revolutionary changes come from several of its unique adaptations that have been naturally selected in center court’s rigorous environment. Its adaptations, beyond then pinkish tint, include a thicker stem, shorter height, and unique secondary compounds.

The Mills biology teachers have been tracking the changes of the daisy population for the last twenty years. With data compiled by previous biology teachers, enthusiastic AP Biology teachers Aiko Michot and Steven Wang have been analyzing the data and specimen samples this past year with Mills’s Biology department.

The teachers, or rather, biologists, have strong evidence that the current population of daisies can be considered a new species.

“It fulfills the guidelines of a new species: these pinkish daisies can reproduce and make new offspring, and their offspring are viable and can reproduce themselves,” says Wang. “We recently tried to interbreed a daisy found in center court with a common daisy. The plants successfully pollinated but no fertilization occurred. Gametic isolation is present somewhere, resulting in these two plant species. It’s really clear evidence.”

Geographical isolation is noted as the main barrier for this new strain of daisies.

Aiko Michot had been studying this barrier for the past year.

“Considering the design of this high school, center court is quite isolated from the outside world. The buildings have probably prevented any outside pollen from entering or leaving the area. Center court is also quite a difficult environment to live in–it’s no surprise that these daisies have had to develop new adaptations to survive in this environment.”

Chemist and biology teacher Charles Olson agrees. He has been taking soil samples ever since he joined the Mills staff in 2005. “I’ve noticed a high concentration of methane, which is a common chemical found in decomposing trash. I suspect that a lot of the abnormalities in center court’s soil are due to the overabundance of trash found there. There is also an overabundance of uric acid, which is a major component of seagull feces. It’s no doubt that these two chemicals have affected the daisies.”

All the biologists agree that the multiple chemicals found in the soil ultimately stimulated a genetic mutation, resulting in the pink daisy’s unique qualities. The believe that a genetic mutation supposedly happened approximately ten years ago, and its advantageous qualities have been passed down for multiple generations of these common daisies. At the moment, it is estimated that ninety seven percent of the daisy population is part of this new species.

The biologists’ final test was a DNA sequencing test of the pink daisies compared to the common daisy, courtesy of biotechnology specialist Mary Rustia. Genetically, the two flowers showed several distinct differences, giving clear evidence that the pink daisy is a new species.

But that is not all.

Through more analysis of this new plant species, the biologists have noticed the advantages of the plant’s secondary compounds. Olson and Rustia worked together in identifying the special compound, and Michot and Wang tested the medical applications of this compound on various bacterial media. The compound allegedly may aid in curing the common cold, but more tests are needed before the biologists can make an accurate conclusion.

The biologists are currently writing up their final drafts for publication. They plan on submitting and publishing their findings in Nature, a reputable scientific journal. The publishing process will be long, and many scientists are expected to visit Mills to study the new species. The biology team expects their findings to be published by the end of the year.*

* = This is an April Fools article.

Lights, actions, kung-Chiu time! Ang Lee, the acclaimed director of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, recently discovered Mills math teacher Mrs. Betty Chiu’s hidden kung fu talent on March 1, 2011, which gave him the revolutionary idea of creating a sequel starring actor Jackie Chan as the leading male role and Mrs. Chiu as his wise-cracking, but extremely talented grandmother. They will be accompanied by the usual cast, which consists of Chow Yun Fat, Michelle Yeoh, and Zhang ZiYi.

“I am very honored to be working with such a great kung fu master. She will, without a doubt, be a rising star. Who knew there would be someone who could rival my kung fu? She’s full of humor and is definitely the key to take this movie to the next level,” said an excited Chan.

Strolling along the path of Golden Gate Park, troubled by his thoughts of who would be the leading female role for his sequel, director Lee suddenly caught a glimpse of concentrated, pepper-haired Chinese tai chi practitioners from the corner of his eye. Upon closer inspection, he found Mrs. Chiu in the alluring Cat Stance. Lee was awe-struck by her flawless and determined pose; it was the very rendition of the welcoming white cat at the doorway of Chinese restaurants.

“When I saw her, I knew she was the one to play as my Huang Mi. We’re ready to give her a make-over that’s complete with hair extensions, but to be honest, she already fits in the role perfectly. Not many changes needed,” said Lee.

Mrs. Chiu will be traveling to the filming site in Hong Kong next month and at Lee’s urging, has decided to take one student to the set with her. This lucky student will get to meet Jackie Chan and a few other movie stars in Hong Kong. However, there are certain conditions the student must meet in order to embark on this unforgettable journey to the East. Although the specifications are shrouded in mystery, rumor has it that the “requirements” that Mrs. Chiu has set will be almost impossible to pass.

The plot of the sequel is being held secret, with only gossips about the movie’s storyline in the air. Some say it will follow be similar to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, except set in modern time. Mr. Chiu is very excited to be able to work with other amazing actors and hopes that the sequel will be a smashing success in the United States, as well as in China. If you have not seen the first movie, Mrs. Chiu has it hidden somewhere in her classroom and is willing to lend it to anyone who finds it. Come after school and take a look for yourself.

Mrs. Chiu has not yet found a long-term substitute to replace her current position as a math teacher.  The entire Mills staff will miss her, especially the teachers in the math wing. Mrs. Dreyer, the Calculus and Geometry teacher, has mixed feelings after hearing of Mrs. Chiu’s sudden announcement of going to Hong Kong to shoot a kung fu movie.

“It was all so sudden! I mean, I knew she would make it to the big screen one day–it was only a matter of time. I am definitely going to miss her.” said Mrs. Dreyer.

It will be a  bittersweet day when Mrs. Chiu leaves to go on her trip to Hong Kong to film the exciting new action movie. However, the biggest question still looms ominously in the horizon: after the entire filming process, will Mrs. Chiu return and continue to pursue her career as a math teacher or as an amazing actress?

Mr. Lo, the allegedly “loyal” Cal Bears fan committed high treason when Juniors Aaron Lee and Alex Long spotted him cheering for the Cardinals during a Cal vs. Stanford football game on Saturday.

Many Mills students have witnessed this metaphorical death of a Cal fan and are in utter dismay. Mr. Lo was a spot of red in a sea of blue and gold at the football game where Stanford was defeated at the Cal Bears’ home.

“I never thought Mr. Lo would go against his team, but I noticed he waved his hands for both of Stanford’s touchdowns, I knew that what I was seeing was not a mistake,” Aaron Lee said.

The students who were at the game said they noticed an Asian man in a burgundy sweater waving his arms around frantically when Stanford scored touchdowns.

“We never in a million years would have thought it was Mr. Lo, we could have sworn it was Bobby Lee! It makes sense now why he ran away when we tried to get his autograph,” Alex Long said.

While the sources at the game were willing to give their side of the story, Mr. Lo did not respond to any of our inquiries about the matter. The only response he gave when asked if he was at the game was a self-explanatory simple phrase.

“Of course I was there, I would never miss a Stanford vs. Cal game” Mr. Lo retorted.

Simply putting Stanford first in a sentence is a way of telling one’s preferences according to many Stanford psychoanalysts. Apparently he prefers the little red Cardinal to the big gold bear.

Many of his students have complained about missing the certain competitive edge directed towards Stanford and believe a flap of the Cardinal’s wings has put out the flame that used to burn for Cal. Unfortunately until he speaks out on this shocking issue many unanswered questions will remain a mystery; Did he get rejected from Stanford and therefore go to Cal? If he liked Stanford why play trumpet in the Cal band? Why the sudden switch to the Stanford side? The science department teachers have a Cal intervention in the works but are not giving too much information, so Lo won’t find out.

Mr. Lo appeared to have everyone fooled with his room splattered in blue and gold, and his ‘love’ for his alma mater Cal. His Stanford slamming shirts and posters had everyone convinced that he was the perfect Cal Bears fan. Unfortunately though, the poor physics students who eye witnessed his fall from the Cal bears back were brought back down to earth just like the apple that fell from the tree.

Prank Idea: Take out all the books from a friend's locker and hide them somewhere. Then leave a note wishing them a "Happy April Fools'."

Place the note somewhere where your friend can see it, like on the locker's door. Don't sign the note- hopefully your friend will figure out you are the one who hid all the books. If it takes them awhile, even better!

It’s almost April, which means that April Fools’ Day is just around the corner. Want to pull a prank on someone but don’t have any idea how to? Follow these steps to have a fun-filled April Fools’.

1. Choose victims wisely. Can’t decide who to prank? Choose people you are close to because you can be sure that they will eventually forgive you. Or get revenge. Playing a trick on someone you don’t know well will just create an awkward situation. It may be funny, but I guarantee that you’d much rather see your best friend embarrassed. After you choose your victims, prank ideas will probably come to you more easily.

2. Plan. In order for a prank to be flawlessly executed, you must first plan out its details. Know where, when, and how you will execute the prank. Whether you’re pulling a prank on one person or multiple people, be sure to keep all the prank’s details a secret. The less they know, the more surprised (and embarrassed) they’ll be and the more epic the prank!

3. Pick the prank. Is your brother afraid of snakes? Place a bunch of fake snakes in his bed. Knowing your victim’s dislikes, weaknesses, and fears will help you plan a great prank. (That’s why choosing a victim who is close to you makes for a more enjoyable prank!)

4. Prepare. Get any supplies you will need ahead of time. Also, if you plan to have people help you execute the prank, ask them for help before you start planning out the prank. If you make any changes to the prank, notify anyone who is helping out and make sure no one gives away any details! Any mistakes or giveaways could ruin the fun and the entire prank.

5. Don’t cross the line. If you plan to prank someone at school or work, make sure you won’t be breaking any rules that could get you into serious trouble. April Fools’ pranks are supposed to be funny and entertaining. A prank that has the possibility of putting someone in danger or that may cause someone physical harm is not funny or entertaining. Neither is a prank that is offensive in anyway. Watch out or the joke will be on you!

Follow these steps and April Fools’ Day will be memorable for you and those around you. Just remember, plan ahead and carefully. Keep in mind that pranks should not be dangerous or physically or emotionally hurtful.
Good luck and have a great April Fools’!