Pinterest: what is it?

by AMANDA CRANSTON

Staff Writer

a German chocolate cake, inspired by Pinterest, made and photographed by the author of this article

I am addicted to Pinterest.com. I am obsessed with pinning recipes and shirt do overs and headband designs. The different sections of Pinterest make it easy to navigate through what topic you wish to be inspired by.

Cars & Motorcycles- A section where you can imagine your poor little 2002 Ford Focus turning into a 2012 Bugatti.
DIY & Crafts – Holds ways to double your wardrobe and make old things new. Shows how to make coasters, redo furniture, and has plenty of cheap gift ideas.
Film, Music & Books- To stay up with the new tunes, reads, and cinema.
Food & Drink- Contains recipes for dinner, breakfast, and lunch. My personal favorites are the dessert recipes in it; the decadent mixtures within ensure my taste buds’ lasting approval of this website.
Hair & Beauty- This section appeals mainly and really only to girls. It offers mani and pedi advice, along with new hairstyles, face masks, and ideas for makeup, as well as the places to find step by step instructions for trying these new things.
Health & Fitness-has workout plans, diet plans, and even low calorie desserts and meals.
Home Decor- In case you were thinking of becoming an interior designer or redoing your room.
Men’s Fashion- For the ladies, this section has men modeling clothes. For the men, this section tells you how to dress to get ladies.
Photography- If you enjoy taking pictures or wish to begin taking pictures, this has many revolutionary ideas on things other than taking pictures of your dinner.
Quotes- For those who wish to regurgitate old men’s words and sound “smartical”. This part is great for those moments when you really need a pick me up for your confidence.
Tattoos- A place to explore the creativity of others in painting the canvas we call our body.
Weddings- For those girls who are absolutely in love with the future and perhaps even with their current flame.
Women’s Fashion- Contains pictures of ensembles that cost as much as your house but can be reproduced in your own wardrobe at a minimal cost.

The beauty of Pinterest is that there is no “type” that uses it. Men, women, children, and teenagers alike can enjoy this plethora of knowledge and ideas.

Newly updated Apple products

by CHRIS TERCERO
Promotions Editor

assortment of Apple products

A few weeks ago Apple introduced their new lineup of products which included: A new iMac, MacBook Pro 13 inch with Retina display, Mac Mini, iPad with Retina display, and the iPad Mini.

• The new iMac is really thin and a lot faster. The screen is 75% less reflective and the LCD screen is closer to the glass. You can now get up to 3 TB of hard drive storage and 768 GB of flash storage. It has lightning bolt ports and USB 3 ports. The latest Intel Quad-Core processor is integrated into the new iMac and the new NVIDIA graphics, it is up to 60% more powerful. The new iMacs come in 4 different setups and can be customized to your liking. You also have the choice of a magic mouse or a trackpad.
• MacBook Pro 13 inch with Retina display was announced a few months after the 15 inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display, because of its growing popularity Apple made a smaller version of it. It has HD Facetiming and features the amazingly crisp Retina display. It has 7 hours of battery life and has the new MagSafe 2 charging port. It is nearly identical to the 15 inch version just 2 inches smaller. It starts at $1699 and can be customized to your liking.
• On the Mac Mini the processor is up to 2 times faster and has the new fusion drive that integrates the hard drive and the flash storage together. Lightning ports and USB 3 ports are new to the Mac Mini and make the connections to other devices faster. It also has an HDMI cable that will make the resolution to the screen it is connected to higher. The Mac Mini is the computer only,  you have to provide the monitor, the mouse, and the keyboard.
• iPad with Retina display has a new A6X core chip. It is twice as fast as the previous model and has a 10 hour battery. It offers a new HD Facetime camera and HD recording. The new iPad has ultra fast wifi and LTE connectivity in the cellular iPad. Siri and the lightning connector are also new with this iPad. Everything else is the same as the last iPAd. The iPad comes in white or black, wifi or wifi- cellular, and in 16 GB, 36 GB, and 64 GB models.
• iPad Mini is a 7.9 inch screen and it is a smaller version of the original iPad. It was made to compete with the smaller tablets with the lower price range. Morgan Lari, a freshman at El Diamante exclaims, “I think the new iPad mini is useless because it’s basically an iPod. I believe it’s just a way for them to make more money, when they don’t really need it.” It does not have a retina display but does have a much faster wifi connection. It has HD Facetime, 1080p recording, and a 5MP iSight camera. As well as all that it has the new lightning cord and a 10 hour battery. The iPad Mini is available in wifi only or wifi and cellular. It is offered in 16 GB, 36 GB, and 64 GB and the colors are white/silver and black/slate.

Apple keeps upping the ante for their products making it hard for consumers to keep up, but the new devices are a welcome change.

James Bond: through the ages

by AMANDA CRANSTON
Staff Writer

the poster for the newest movie in the James Bond saga: Skyfall

With the upcoming release of Skyfall, the 23rd movie of the James Bond saga, give or take a few lawsuits, the spotlight is once again on the mysterious 007. Daniel Craig, the current owner of the Bond name, is on his third stint as the famous MI6 agent, but the shoes he has stepped into he may never completely fill.

The man who pioneered James Bond was Sean Connery, a man with good looks, suave moves, and a complete natural for the role he pioneered. Dr. No was the first movie, and it was, ultimately, a hit. Connery went on to continue as Bond for many more movies as well.
Second up to the James Bond plate was George Lazenby, who only acted as the dangerous 007 once, in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. George Lazenby, an ex-Australian model definitely held the physical aspect of the elite image of James Bond, but the particular Bond he portrayed was one of all too corruptible and malleable, mainly by the women he himself corrupted.
The third James Bond was Roger Moore. Moore became the oldest of Bonds and was forgettable to many, but also a favorite of others as well. He was cursed with many of the worst Bond stories and still carried on the legacy and perhaps saved the franchise from the pit its executors dug for it.
The James Bond who is said to have communicated Fleming’s Bond most clearly, was the fourth man, Timothy Dalton. Dalton was Bond for two films, far too slim of a number in many people’s opinions. His Bond was dark, as shown in License to Kill, as Fleming wanted, but at the same time had the redeeming qualities that give Bond his legendary charm.

Fifth came Pierce Brosnan, who, like Moore, was laden with bad scripts and terrible opportunities. Brosnan’s Bond was one who was not loved by many, but was not hated either.

The latest James Bond, number six, is Daniel Craig. Craig is still exploring Bond, and Skyfall will reveal where the Bond road is taking him still farther. Craig’s first appearance as Bond in Casino Royale easily cemented him into the Bond history, for he was both riveting and moving, as Fleming’s first story well deserved.

We must explore the man himself to understand the men who have played him.  James Bond was the genius creation of Ian Fleming. Every man who both reads the books and/or watches the movie will feel differently about each man who plays Bond, James Bond. He was the ultimate man: a womanizer, a gentleman, a sharp mind, and a man of great physical capabilities. He pushed boundaries, upset people, but despite his indiscretions and transgressions, he is a man worth remembering and even loving.

Tips: How to have a fun rainy day

by MIRIAM SANDERS and CHRIS TERCERO
Assistant Editor and Promotions Editor
Uh oh! It’s raining! That means we will just be bored to death inside all day. Wrong. There are so many exciting rainy day activities for everyone to enjoy. The Cat in the Hat knows a lot about rainy days, and he has some great ideas; however, these tips won’t be so disastrous on the house. Have a fun rainy day, Miners!
1. Race Raindrops. Have you ever had a raindrop race? If not, you are clearly missing out on a ton of fun. The intensity of the game all depends on how fast the rain is coming down outside. A heavy storm means the race will go by quickly, since the drops will be moving faster on your window. To participate in a raindrop race, all you need is a window, and rain of course. To have even more fun, you can have a friend join you, and you two can battle it out between which raindrop will win. The fun is endless on this game.
2. Play outside in the rain. There is water falling out of the sky, and you aren’t excited about that? Wow. You need to experience the fun of getting wet outside. If you don’t want to get soaked, then you should put on a raincoat, a hat, and most importantly, some rain boots. Rain boots are the most essential item of the outfit because no one likes wet, cold feet. With rain boots, you can jump around in puddles without the consequence of having wet feet all day. You can dance in the rain, sing in the rain, or even catch rain drops on your tongue. Be careful when  you are outside, though. If it starts to get really cold or you hear thunder, go inside immediately. You do not want your fun to turn into you getting pneumonia or you turning into fried chicken because you were struck by lightning.
3. Have a Movie Marathon. Time to finally watch all of the Star Wars movies back to back! Movie Marathons are so much fun because you just basically sit in front of a television all day long. This activity is even more fun when you have a few friends over and make some tasty popcorn to go along with your movie, so it feels like you are at a movie theater. The movie that you choose determines whether you are going to laugh all day or scream all day.
4. Bake some cookies or anything you want. When it’s cold outside, it sounds like a good idea to bake something yummy to munch on. You could make cookies, brownies, cupcakes, cakepops, pies, or even some chex mix. This activity entertains you while you are kept inside on a rainy day all in the same time as giving you a rewarding treat when your creation is finished. When there is food involved, there is no argument to this activity. Baking by itself is fun, but when you get to eat your yummy food right after, it makes baking so much more fun. To add to the fun, invite some friends and make the creation together and decorate them as well. Be careful when you bake, though. The oven is hundreds of degrees, so make sure you wear some hot pads when you take your creation out of the oven.
5. Play games with and friends. When it rains, it is always the perfect time to invite your close friends over and play board games or digital games. There are so many different games that you could play to make the time go by fast and forget about the weather outside.
6. Make and umbrella tent with a friend. Gather up those umbrellas and take them outside. Place them so the rain falls away from you and your friend. It may take a few umbrellas to make the area big enough for you guys. Once it is built you guys can play games, read, or just sit there and talk about life.
7. Read by the window. Rain makes everything more peaceful and clears the mind. That is why reading when it rains is always the best time. Your mind is calm and the sound of the rain makes reading more soothing. You can focus more on your book and not on other things by listening to the rain while you read.
8. Take a trip to the local bowling alley or arcade. If you don’t like doing things at home then you should leave the house and go somewhere fun. The bowling alley and the arcade are two fun places to go when it rains because it is inside and there is fun stuff to do. If you go there be sure to take your friends.
9. Make some hot cocoa. Cold weather is always the best time to make a warm drink. The best warm drink for cold weather is hot cocoa. After you make the hot cocoa you can sit back and relax.
10. Sit back and relax/ Sleep. When it is raining outside, there is a perfect soothing noise on all your windows and roof. No need to waste your money on those relaxing sound CDs when there is a perfect sound happening in real life right outside your window. This sound is perfect to just relax to and slowly slip into a deep sleep. Who doesn’t like sleeping? Unless you have insomnia, this activity will be so relaxing and enjoyable because you will be rested for your next day. Granted, some people may have to go pee when hearing water droplets on their window, it can still be relaxing.

Overlooked music

by NOAH PRILL
Editor

SBTRK’s album cover.

With the rise of the internet, it’s easier than ever to hear all kinds of music. But with this giant sea of music comes many groups and projects being neglecting, even if they are fantastic. So here’s some of the best music from recent times that have been unfortunately overlooked by most.

The Log.Os: Electronic bliss is the easiest way to describe The Log.Os, with shy synths and soulful vocals soothing and caressing your ears. The group is a collaborative effort that features almost a dozen guest vocalists and musicians to build their 10 tracks on their only album, “λόγος”. (which is also free!)

Andy Stott: A Manchester based electronic producer who creates spacious, looming soundscapes that sound as if they’re emerging from 10,000ft. below the sea. His most recent EP “Passed Me By” serves as perfect introduction.

SBTRKT: Pronounced as “subtract”, his self titled album is filled with danceable electronic tracks with grooves that firmly implant themselves in your brain. Glossy vocals and swirling synths make up the 12 tracks. The single “Heatwave” is a great track to understand SBRTK’s style

BADBADNOTGOOD: An instrumental jazz trio that puts a twist on the usual jazz formula. Rather than sticking to the four bar loops, BBNG interprets modern hip-hop songs with their line-up of slick bass, pounding drums and silky smooth keys. One of their most popular and best received interpretations is Gucci Mane’s “Lemonade”, available on their free album BBNG2, which is a perfect starting point for this group.

Titus Andronicus: A punk group with purpose, Titus Andronicus breaks from the typical punk tropes with a Shakespeare inspired name and a concept album revolving around the Civil War (The album in question is “The Monitor”) while still maintaining the fiery punk sound and momentum.

Death Grips: A hip-hop project from Hell, Death Grips is what happens when punk and rap embrace in an unholy union. Shouted vocals, chaotic drums and glitchy electronics make up the madness, resulting in songs that are skull cracking, yet strangely catchy. Their new album “NOLOVEDEEPWEB” was released for free on their website, and all of their other released tracks are available for free streaming there as well.  

International Education Week will come soon.

by ANNA BALYSHEVA

Staff Writer

Dear students and teachers of El Diamante High School, let me tell you that soon you will have an opportunity to discover new countries and their cultures without leaving the U.S.A. During International Education Week (IEW) 2012 which runs from 12-16 November, six exchange students will present their native countries and all about them. It is a fantastic opportunity for schools to take part in a week of celebrations to mark the importance of international education in the USA.

International Education Week is a chance to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. This joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education is part of efforts to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and exchange experiences in the United States. This participation of all individuals is interested in international education and exchange activities, including schools, colleges and universities, embassies, international organizations, businesses, associations, and community organizations.

International Education Week began in 2000 and is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the U.S. Department of Education. This important week is observed all across the United States, in more than 100 countries overseas. IEW is celebrated in November each year during the week before the American holiday of Thanksgiving.

IEW is an opportunity for exchange students worldwide to share with their host communities their cultures and highlight their countries in the perspectives of Americans.

The worldwide celebration of IEW offers a unique opportunity to reach out to people in every nation, to develop a broader understanding of world cultures and languages, and to reiterate the conviction that enduring friendships and partnerships created through international education and exchange are very important for a secure future for all countries. You can make a difference by trying a different culture – history, government, language, food, holidays, school system and traditions.

It celebrates the benefits of understanding the world around us so we can better communicate and collaborate with others from different cultures. It is an ideal opportunity to inspire students to broaden their horizons through global learning, foreign languages and international exchange.There is no longer any doubt that local actions have international effects and consequences.

We must focus on integrating international perspectives into our classrooms. It is through education and exchange that we become better collaborators, competitors and compassionate neighbors in this global society. I hope that you will join me this November in highlighting the importance of international education and exchange.

It’s that time of year again

by AMANDA CRANSTON
Staff Writer

Perfect Pumpkin Cookies
2 ½  cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½  teaspoon ground nutmeg
½  teaspoon sea salt
1 ½  cups granulated sugar
½  cup butter (1 stick), softened
1 cup pumpkin puree
1  egg
1 ½  teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine wet and dry ingredients separately and then fold in together. Remember to separate egg shell from egg insides. If you fail to do this, your cookies will contain a delicious crunch, followed by a super fun trip to the emergency room.

The Best Pumpkin Pie Milkshake Ever
2 cups vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt
1 ⅓  cup pumpkin puree
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
1 ½  teaspoon vanilla
¾  teaspoon cinnamon
⅛  teaspoon nutmeg
¼  cup milk (or however much you want to add)

Combine ingredients and place in milkshake mixer. Mix to desired texture. If you do not own a milkshake mixer, place in blender and put to correct setting. If you lack all kitchen appliances, go to the caveman next door and borrow a rock spoon to stir. The pebbles add flavor.

Not all of us have the time or skill for baking or making delectable treats from scratch however. For you busybodies, there’s boxes. Pillsbury puts out a cake mixes, along with multiple flavors of frosting, all in the deliciousness of these holidays. There are also a variety of fun add ons to dress up your party or just your life. Food is November’s mantra, with Turkey Day and all, and December comes at us with even more opportunities for food of the sugar variety. Christmas may not have pumpkins, but it has enough sugar and butter and deliciousness to pack your taste buds with such a plethora of flavor that your waistline will never recover. Recipes for that, my friend, will follow most surely.

Community service can be fun!

by MELISSA VANG
Staff Writer

The word community service does not sound fun or attractive to any high school student. Most high school students want jobs because they want money to buy things they want. However, it does not have to be that way, community service can be fun!

I bet you when you hear the words community service you think of helping the elderly people in “old people homes” or picking up trash. No, it is not always that, unless it is something you are interested in, I am most definitely not. There is a search engine called “Google” where you can type down “community service” or “volunteer work” to search for places to volunteer near your residential area. Now, you do not have to do volunteer work you do not like; instead, search for something you enjoy. For example if you like sports look for volunteer work as an assistant coach for a kids soccer or baseball team; if you like to play an instrument search for volunteer work to teach free lessons. There are many things you can do with volunteer work, it should not be a hassle or a waste of time, because it should be something you already love to do.

As a senior in high school I see students trying to get job after job to get money. I understand that some students need money to pay for gas or even insurance, but most students have time to do anything. That anything is community service. Who knows? Maybe volunteering at that certain place may hire you after a certain amount of time, that happens to some volunteers that put in effort to be a great worker. You can even use your community service as a reference for future job applications. Experience is key.

Community service is handier than you think it is. Some students just need the extra push to get there. We have clubs to help you get started like Key Club. Bob Bhatti, President of Key Club said, “Well there is an entire list, we do a lot of community service. We try to do as much as we can to help our community.” Jeanie Nguyen, the Key Club Editor focused on the importance of Key Club, “It’s to benefit our community. If we help out our community we will be in a better environment which will benefit us.” Just imagine doing something you love by spreading your happiness and knowledge in that area to other people around you. From personal experience, I volunteer at PetSmart and it is absolutely fun! I love animals and working with them, it makes my volunteer work fly by faster. I play with the animals, walk them, and fill their water bowls. The feeling of volunteering is great! It is not as bad as you think it is once you try it out for the first time, it just seems intimidating when it really isn’t. So get out there and volunteer!

Here are a few websites where you can look for volunteer work around your area.

• http://www.volunteermatch.org/
• http://www.americantowns.com/ca/visalia-volunteer-organizations
• http://www.vrmhope.org/volunteer/volunteer-opportunities/

The month of the pink invasion

by MELISSA VANG
Staff Writer

Cancer is a very serious and sensitive topic for a lot of people. There may be students that attend our high school who deal with some type of cancer or students who are related or know those with cancer. It is said by scientists that there are more people who have cancer due to genetics or some unfortunate event like exposure to radiation.

Scientists have spent millions, even billions of dollars to find cures for all types of cancers and a cure for cancer has not been created yet. So far, chemotherapy has been developed to help slow down the process of cancer from spreading, but it can not cure cancer. Even then, chemotherapy is a very difficult process for cancer patients because it can also be dangerous for some of them. Some patients do not even go through chemotherapy and continue living until the cancer takes over their bodies.

Even though the month of October had passed it was Breast Cancer Awareness month. Many of you saw a lot of pink around this time; in this case, it was for breast cancer. There were many promotions for the awareness of breast cancer like the NFL, many of the players wore pink during games to promote awareness. There were even store items that were made to help promote the awareness like hats, lanyards, water bottle containers, and t-shirts. There was a breast cancer walk at Woodward park in Fresno, every year they have the walk in October. There is a small fee to join, but it is worth it to help make people aware of the causes of breast cancer.

Breast cancer can happen to anyone, no matter how healthy you are. Genny, a nurse from the Visalia Health Clinic said that “Patients that have been previously treated with breast cancer still come for check ups to check for any traces that might lead to breast cancer again. It is better to be safe then sorry.” On http://www.breastcancer.org, the US statistics inquire that 1 out of 8 women will encounter breast cancer in their life time. That is a lot of women considering that the population of Visalia is 130,000 alone.

The effects of breast cancer are not only physically damaging but mentally damaging as well. Breast cancer is a serious case of cancer that affects many people. So ladies, get your appointments ready for a check up! It doesn’t hurt to try, although it maybe uncomfortable, it is better to detect it early before it is too late.

A Devastating Storm…

by RACHAEL FEIL
Staff Writer

Over here, our problems cannot compare to the devastation that the West Coast is going through at this moment. Two weeks ago, Hurricane Sandy, the largest storm on record, flooded low-lying areas from Maryland to New York, covering highways, flooding subways, and destroying power lines. Transportation became nearly impossible, and more than 15,000 people lost their power in New Jersey, Long Island, and parts of Connecticut. Rick Knabb, the director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said that “this is a long-duration event.” It most certainly is, considering that with the heavy rains and flooding, much land is covered in 6-12 inches of water. Campaigning for the recent Presidential election has even been temporarily suspended as the candidates are doing all they can to support the affected states. Many schools have been closed and airlines in Philadelphia, New York and New Jersey airports have cancelled thousands of flights due to the terrible weather. As of the morning of November 1st, Hurricane Sandy claimed the lives of 72 people.
In attempt to catalyze the reconstruction of the hurricane’s damage, there was a telethon which aired live on Friday, November 2nd on several different channels* that featured performances from Aerosmith, Christina Aguilera, Mary J. Blige, Billy Joel, Sting, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, and Bon Jovi. All money collected from this event was donated to the American Red Cross relief efforts. The telethon was hosted by Matt Lauer, the anchor of NBC Today, who is very passionate towards this cause. His motives for his passion lie in the stories of the affected victims. He explained in events leading up to the telethon, “[There are] so many stories… One guy, who lost a son in 9/11, had a plane crash across the street from his business in 2001 as well, and then lost his business in a fire and flooding this week. So it gets to the point where you start to hear these stories, and you start to wonder– how much can people take?” He immediately decided to do anything that he could to contribute to the welfare of all those affected by this hurricane. After all, many people lost so much, whether it was physical items, like homes and possessions, or friends and family members.

We need to ask ourselves, how much can people take? We may never have a direct answer to that question, but we can be the solution. It would be in the best interest of our country to contribute our love and care to help the East Coast recover from all the severe hardships it has faced in the past few weeks. They can’t fight it alone.~

*NBC, MSNBC, HBO, USA, Bravo, Syfy, E!, Discovery Fit & Health, and Velocity.