On the brink of nomination: Obama's victory

According to the press, Barack Obama has been "on the brink" of nomination for several weeks now. His website boasts his role as the leader of "the largest grassroots movement in the history of presidential politics." As you click onto his homepage, a splash greets you, reading "Barack Obama needs 10 delegates to clinch the Democratic nomination!"

So when's it gonna happen? When can the amazing phenomenon himself actually claim victory over Hillary Clinton?

Press and pundits alike give varied answers. "When Clinton concedes." "When he gets his 10 more delegates." "When it becomes clear that Clinton cannot win."
This last one expired several weeks ago, today the press said that Obama had "effectively sewed up the 2118 delegates needed for the nomination", and yet, Barack Obama has not officially declared himself the Democratic Party's nominee.

While his politeness in not edging out Ms. Clinton is certainly commendable, most Democrats agree that, as Obama himself said recently, "The sooner we bring the party together [presumably around him], the sooner we can start focusing on John McCain and the November election." A formal victory speech seems in order here.

But how much will the actual speech mean? It has been clear that Obama is the stronger candidate for a while now, and although the radio, the newspapers, and television all say that Obama will have clinched the nomination by tonight, the most the assertion can provide is, finally, a sense of satisfaction and stability for Democrats.

And, on a different note, what will Ms. Clinton's role be in the new administration? The media has delighted in publishing articles giving a plethora of reasons for stubbornly keeping her campaign alive.

"Ms. Clinton has privately consulted with Mr. Obama about his campaign helping her to retire her campaign's debt."

"Ms. Clinton is staying in the race to ensure that Obama will give her a prestigious place in his administration."

"Mr. Obama's campaign is working on recruiting Ms. Clinton's top fundraisers."

"Ms. Clinton said that she is open to being Barack Obama's running mate."

While few but Ms. Clinton herself could truthfully answer these questions, speculations will, no doubt, continue until she calls it quits.

And with John McCain not having had much to do in the past several months other than raise money and not spend it, there is certainly something to be said for the Democratic party finally coming together to support a candidate, not two.

But all three campaigns have certainly enlightened much of America, if not the world, to the inner workings of American presidential politics - whether we wanted to hear it or not.

And if all this talk of elections has got you down, laugh it off with the Capitol Steps' hilarious musical satire at www.capsteps.com!

Finally, in local news, go vote in Palo Alto's elections tonight!

Update: Barack Obama claimed the Democratic nomination tonight in St. Paul, Minnesota, becoming the first major party black candidate in American history.

STAR TESTING: PART II

They're back again.

The dreaded, terrible, disgusting, epitome-of-the-absolute- demise-of-American- school-systems STAR tests. The mere name is so dastardly it demands all capitals.

And with them come the exemption letters from parents, the new rules dictating a required minimum score for AP participation, and the simplistic, almost insulting test questions.

Here's a little sample of what millions of students around California have had to put up with in the past few weeks.

"You are going to take a test that will assess what you have learned. Some questions will be easy and some will be harder. Don't worry about the ones that seem hard, just do your best and don't spend too much time on any one question.

Before you begin, please mark your ethnicity in the bubbles below.
o Asian
o Pacific Islander
o African American
o Hispanic
o White

Ready? Begin.

Read the sentence.
"And with them come the exemption letters from parents, the new rules dictating a required minimum score for AP participation, and the simplistic, almost insulting test questions."

What is the best way to rewrite the above sentence?
A) The STAR tests bring a barrage of letters, rules, and insulting test questions.
B) Exemption for come with them almost students and, future letters insulting.
C) Future AP students must now score a minimum of "Proficient" on the STAR tests, which by the way make parents write angry letters and insult students with stupid questions.
D) STAR tests are bad.

The following question is not related to a reading.

Which of the socially unjust institutions related to STAR testing is the worst? (Yes, there is a right answer.)
A) Making students who will be in college in a few years read about why the mother of the author decided to try and replicate her great-grandfather's recipe for a mint snowball.
B) Asking students who will be in college in a few years whether the word "volcano" comes from the name of the ancient fire god "Pele", "Hephaestus", or "Vulcan".
C) George Bush's decision to pass the NCLB (also known as nicklebee or, for those who can't spell but are creative when it comes to acronyms, NLotBC - Nothing Learned (or taught) By Choice)
D) The fact that there is SO much more one could do with their time than try to decide which circle with a little letter in it to color in.

STOP.

You still have an hour and a half left in your testing time.

You may not use a cell phone, iPod, or any other electronic device.

Your results will be mailed to you by next spring. Of course, these results really mean nothing because a) by next spring you won't care anymore, if you ever did in the first place, and b) if your school was really going to be closed because of atrocious test scores, it wouldn't matter what your score was anyway.

I think the quote that bests sums up standardized testing was uttered by President Bush. In a speech at Townsend Elementary School in Tennessee, he said quite simply,

"You teach a child to read and he or her will be able to pass a literacy test."

Enough said.

Politics: When enough is enough

"Clinton Pledges to Fight On Despite Split Primary Result."
"Obama picks up superdelegates; undecideds moving his way."
"Clinton vows to press on as time, options running out."

These are just a few of the headlines from today's top AP stories. As the wills (and egos) of the candidates battle on without an end in sight, New York Times reporters must be finding it difficult to make their four-articles-per-day quota.

As the primary campaigns head into the summer home stretch, even diehard fans and politicos are beginning to wilt. "I was really excited at the beginning of the campaigns," said one Paly teacher. "But now, it's almost like I don't even care anymore."

Sure, all the buzz about Jeremiah Wright and Bill Clinton and the name-calling between candidates was fun for a while. I love a good debate as much as the next person. But after all the same scandals were discussed and all the same names were called, the market for new political information got thin - and now it's getting to the point where I'm tired of hearing our two favorite candidates bash each other with the same old hammers.

Of course, if most of the two Democratic candidates' faults are displayed to the public (and republicans) during the primary season, it could make for a less gruesome (or at least less shocking) general election in November.

And speaking of red elephants across the aisle, John McCain will be in Atherton on May 22. The event - and indeed, the candidate himself - have been receiving remarkably little press in the past month. We can only assume Mr. McCain is biding his time (and saving his money) for a harder general election campaign.

But on the whole, whether blue or red, the collective color of United States voters seems to be fading a little. I only hope the candidates still have the energy to inspire us into a darker shade of enthusiasm before November.

The Source, by James A Michener: If you read this, you don't have to read the book

In light of my recent adventures abroad, I have summarized my experience with a book review of a novel that fits my voyage to Greece and Israel quite nicely.

The Source
by James A. Michener

It may be difficult to imagine that a ten thousand year history of the Jewish faith could be a #1 bestseller. It may be even more surprising that such a book can grab and hold the attention of a high school student. And although the novel is not without its fair share of tedious passages, the overall “Da Vinci Code” style with which it presents its content is enthralling.

The entire book takes place on a tell (a raised mound of earth some 200 yards long and 71 feet tall) in what is now Northern Israel, near the ancient city of Akko. The 1964 archaeologic dig that begins the novel introduces the amazing quality of this specific site: at some point in time, pagans, Jews, Christians, and Muslims have each occupied this most desirable piece of real estate. What’s more, the tell has witnessed a good majority of the major historical events that have occurred in the Holy Land since 9843 BCE.

The chapters are organized in chronological order, beginning with the oldest and working their way up through history. Although the reverse method of ordering could have been more realistic (archaeologists move backward through time as they uncover new layers of civilization), this way is more logical for one reading the book forwards.

The story of each era is heralded by an archaeological find that indicates a way of life at that time in history. For instance, the first artifact, several sharpened flints used as a sickle for reaping grain, precede a narrative of the first cave dweller to intentionally plant wild grain in a location convenient for harvesting, thereby becoming one of the first farmers in history.

Each mini-novel is infused with familiar societal institutions: the oppression and distrust of women, the wild animal turned tame friend for a young girl, the father desperate for a strong son just like him. This literary device effectively draws the reader in by recounting recognizable traits of legend and modern society.

The author also draws parallels more obviously by interspersing the ancient tales with short chapters about the four main characters working on the dig. These snatches of modernity are mostly limited to the thoughts of one Dr. John Cullinane, the only Catholic working on the dig and, to a certain extent, our hero. His heroic stature is not determined by his faith; rather, by the way he strives to immerse himself in and completely understand the Jewish faith with a slightly unrealistic passion. For instance, he is the only of the four who attends synagogue (as well as church) on Shabbat; the two Jews refuse and the Muslim explains quite drolly, “I find that if I enter a local synagogue dressed in full Arab robes, bow toward Mecca and cry, “Allah is Allah and Muhammad is his Prophet,” I am apt to cause resentment.”

However, the idea that a single place can have been host to so many different civilizations is quite a real one. In Greece, I learned that the Parthenon, after being a temple for Greek pagan worship, acquired a golden dome in its capacity as a Muslim mosque, and later lost its roof entirely under Ottoman rule because a Venetian shell struck the building, which was at the time being used for gunpowder storage. And Caesarea, King Herod’s opulent Roman port and resort city in Northern Israel, became a Crusader town as the Europeans strove to control the Holy Land.

One of the reasons Judaism is unique is because, at least in more conservative synagogues, many of the ancient customs are adhered to. However, one of the themes this book explores is that this unwillingness to change with the times has caused some of Judaism’s former adherents to convert or just to stop practicing. Michener has done a masterful job of capturing both sides: Judaism’s stubborn traditions and its ancient beauty.

DESTINATION: SPRING BREAK

Sunwashed days in a Cancun resort, at the beach, in the pool, at cafes. Wild nights at crazy parties, dancing the night away to the sound of ocean surf. Midnight swims in hotel pools. Such is a typical Spring Break stereotype.

But is it true? Is it realistic? Where are Paly students REALLY going this March?

Exhibit A: Leadership Conference in San Jose. "It could have rained, snowed, hailed, or have been beautiful outside, I wouldn't know: we had to stay inside the hotel at all times."
Exhibit B: Brussels, Belgium and Oxford, England. "Right now it's two degrees above freezing."
Exhibit C: HAWAII!!! [No comment.]

As appealing as all these exotic locales may sound, Palo Alto's weather has been nothing to sneeze at in the past few days. Stubbornly sunny days should continue most of the week, with a slight chance of precipitation on Wednesday.

If you're looking for a pleasant lunch location to soak up some rays right here in Palo Alto, Stanford's Cantor Arts Museum has a great cafe that offers outdoor seating with plenty of sun.

Staying home doesn't have to be boring. Spring Break's a perfect time to shoot some hoops, practice guitar, or watch all those movies you never seem to have time to watch on weekends.

And if all this hasn't been enough and you still want to go to Cancun, let me know. I have connections.

The AP Question

"I'm taking APUSH next year."
"I'm sorry, are you suicidal?"
This exchange is an example of just a few of students' views on AP classes.

Should I sign up for AP Environmental Science? Is BC Calc AP really worth it? How many AP's should I take to impress colleges and yet maintain my basic human sanity?

Stanford says, "Always sign up from among the most challenging courses that excite you the most." On the other hand, "Do not feel pressured to take Honors or Advanced Placement courses just because they are Honors or Advanced Placement Courses."

The question of how much is too much is too often forgotten in the average overachiever's quest for college admissions. Five AP's per year is regarded as ridiculous; one is not challenging enough. The magic number must lie somewhere between.

Advanced Placement classes, according to CollegeBoard, help you "enter a universe of knowledge that might otherwise remain unexplored in high school" and AP exams give you "the opportunity to earn credit or advanced standing at most of the nation's colleges and universities." However, most of the students who take AP courses in high school do not plan to finish college early, as the original purpose dictates. Has an AP course become just another ruler by which colleges measure their prospective applicants? And above all, is the result worth the rigors?

Six Paly students shared their experiences.
A, a senior, took AP US History her junior year and AP's in all core subjects her senior year. She wrote a piece on the unreliability of college admissions for Verde (http://voice.paly.net/view_story.php?id=6146).

K, a senior, took one AP and one Honors class her junior year, and three AP's her senior year.

T, a senior, took one AP her junior year and three her senior year, but dropped one, leaving her with Spanish 5AP and AP Statistics in her schedule. "AP Stats is really different from the other math classes," she said, without saying it was harder or easier.

K, a junior, is taking no AP's this year, and expressed incredulity when I told her I planned on taking four my junior year.

E, a senior, took two AP's as a junior and four as a senior. A prospective Political Science major who recently interviewed for Brown, he manipulated his schedule to take multiple social studies classes his sophomore year "to make colleges see that I'm serious about the subject." In other areas, however, he did not plan quite as well. "Believe me, you do not want to take Living Skills your senior year," he said, referring to the traditionally sophomore-dominated class that includes First Aid training, among other "life skills."

M, a senior headed to Stanford for track, took two AP's her junior year and three her senior year. She also holds the school track record in the 400 and 800m.

Paly, a demanding school in itself, offers a wide array of honors and advanced placement classes, making it possible to sign up for an all-AP schedule of 7 classes in 12th grade, provided one has completed the prerequisites.

Favorite AP Environmental Science is looked upon as a less stressful AP, but requires a year of Physics. Senior A described the AP College English teacher as "crazy," but laughed as she said it. An endless combination of social studies electives begins with AP US History (dubbed "A-PUSH" by students) in junior year, and culminates, some would say, in AP Psychology, a class exclusively for seniors. And then there is the KING OF ALL AP CLASSES: BC Calculus AP. A Stanford engineering professor, whose child took the class, reportedly said it was excruciatingly and unnecessarily painful.

Of course, the moral of the story ought to be that it doesn't matter how many AP's you take if you do what you love. And to a certain degree, this is true; take senior M as proof. However, it is also true that colleges love to see you focusing on a challenging class in a subject about which you are passionate.

So, sign up for as many AP classes as you think you can handle, but take them with a pinch of realistic expectations, self-awareness, and - oh yeah - salt.

Palo Alto Theater Gets a Little Drama

The set: Palo Alto. The scene: Children's Theater. Picture this: some cash goes missing. Then a video camera. Next to go is some "hard to find" equipment. Who is behind it? No one can say.

What happens? An anonymous person calls the police, who storm in, evacuate the building, place the four employees on paid leave, and promise to investigate while providing insubstantial "reports" on their actions to the public. Subplot: three of these four employees are union workers. What do the police do? They forbid the union members to talk to the union president. Subsubplot: one of these union workers is currently in the hospital dying of stomach cancer.

With Hollywood writers on strike, I think we might just have a blockbuster here.

This drama, of course, revolves around the shutdown of the Palo Alto Children's Theater.

Who called the police? Unknown to public. Why did the person call the police if they suspected inside theft instead of disciplining the suspects (as would any company with suspicions of employee misbehavior)? Unknown to anyone. What are the police really doing? Unknown to public. And what would theater staff be doing with a bunch of video and audio equipment?

Planning their comeback by making a music video, probably.

The two main directors, both long LONG time employees of the Children's Theater, are city employees. This means the city finances the Children's Theater even though it only makes a fraction of what it spends. However, when it comes to accountability, who is the boss of these two veteran directors? This is the question.

The Friends of the Children's Theater provides additional financial support to buy "extras" that are out of the $1 million annual budget. They are not financially responsible for the theater nor do they have any control over the theater management. They don't even see spending records.

If you understand all this, explain it to me.

As will happen with a scandal, there are those who accuse the police and the city of destroying the reputations of four honorable citizens. To a certain degree, it's a valid point. If there is no definitive evidence, what are the police hoping to find? A document saying, "I took the video camera?" And if there is definitive evidence, why are the police keeping so quiet about it?

Of course, there are also those who believe it's about time for some new blood; directors who don't insist upon a Jordan outreach show being performed to a CD instead of live music. (i.e. younger people who aren't quite so controlling and resistant to change.)

All you need now to nicely round out the plot is the sister of the box office worker secretly being in love with the former husband of the theater director, who coincidentally overheard some illegal dealings between the costume designer and her fiance, who is actually planning to escape to Swaziland by the next boat to cover up his 14 jail terms before the day of the wedding is set.

But hey! That's drama.

Update: Well-known long-time director Michael Litfin died of cancer on Friday, February 1. A celebration of his life will be held at the Childrens' Theatre on February 17.