TheTheThe QuillQuillQuill

Volume  1  Issue  3

November,  2013

Have yourself a Merry Mega Christmas The very first play written by the ICS faculty premieres.

BY LEAH ROBINSON

Letter from the EditorGreetings readers,

2013 has been a dynamic year for The Quill, with modifications to our layouts and expansions to our publication crew in an effort to better serve you with the latest reports, ideas, and artworks from our school and around the world.

Right now, with the approach of the mid-term exams and Christmas, The Quill is brimming with excitement for the upcoming festive period. With the twinkle of sparkling lights, we proudly present to you our tips for the upcoming exams, perspective on Christmas, and recaps of events that happened at school for the past month. With the best ideas and stories, you are sure to have a jolly time.

Finally, I would like to offer you and all of our readers a very special thank you for your continued support and for making The Quill a part of your lives. From all The Quill’s crew, I wish you and your loved ones the best of luck on your exams, happiness, and joy for the holiday.

Quill-fully yours,

Will Leelamanthep

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEFWill Leelamanthep

ADVISORMs. Lissa Scott

LAYOUT DESIGNERWin Leelamanthep

GRAPHIC DESIGNERPoon Vorapanyasakul

PHOTOGRAPHERSPann SermchaiwongTime ChaiteerathTommy Withayarukson

SOCIAL MEDIA PERSONNELGrace Hsieh

EDITORSPoom SethabutrPrim ThientanakijYoung Kwang ShinKhem Somsak

WRITERSFayFay PrasutchaiGid JiranuntaratGrace HsiehJericca LooiJohn KimKeshav GargLeah RobinsonPoon VorapanyasakulPanPan SupatchapichaiPraise KittipolWin Leelamanthep

Inside...AROUNDICSThe TWO-ONE-O-FOUR Carnival 3

ICS Christmas Musical 4

Senior Session: Mimi Tanapathong 5

Eagle Eye: World Scholars Cup Competitors 6

ATHLETICS#Title 7

School Spirit 8

LIFESTYLESiam Style Selebration 9

Christmas Fashion 10

What Does the Fox Say? 10

Ten Tips to the Top 11

iPad Air 12

OUROPINIONSWaikay’s Corner: Spiderman vs. Batman 15

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It’s Payback Time!

The TWO-ONE-O-FOUR CarnivalBy Win Leelamanthep

With the class of 2014’s

graduation approaching moment-by-moment, a single day may provide quite a meaning, a story, or nostalgia

to remember for life. This year, the seniors organized the biggest

carnival ICS has seen, with the addition of the ginormous ARC that was recently opened. Activities

during the day varied, as this year is the first in a long while that all four

classes of the high school set up booths and fundraisers, aiming towards a memorable senior trip.

Starting from the all-new addition, first-time freshmen set up

an undoubtedly amazing photo-booth. Considering the fact that last year’s booth was nowhere near as

successful, the class reveals its potential to perhaps have the best

senior trip yet. One of the many people that made this possible, Tommy, was the photographer at the

booth. In a genial conversation, he

stated that it was “Very fun, although

very tiring and at times, even a bit menial.” However, it was a great experience for him and his class.

Adding to that, he also said that it was a very amazing day, to see the

people in his class work together like that. Moving up to the sophomores,

to whom the carnival signifies a lot of work. The sophomores held two

booths, one for decorating cup-cakes and the other for shaved-ice and pop bananas. As the class rep said, “It was

a great experience for all of the people who came to help. Although

the rotation of shifts were nowhere near as successful as I originally planned it to be, I did not expect to

generate that much money from just two booths.” In addition to that, he

would want to thank everyone who came to help, as it was a great experience for all.

Going up one more year, we

see the return of the glitter tattoos. ‘You cannot have too much glitter’, a poster at the front of the school said.

It remained successful. as the activity is both lucrative and fun. This year,

the juniors created an even bigger spirit than ever, having almost every single person in their year there.

Undefeated in the tug-of-war, the juniors are probably one of the most

united classes our school has ever seen. The host itself, the class of

2014 seniors, had another story to tell. Having a much bigger area that

had potential to become a much greater carnival, the seniors took the maze and the prizing system to

another level, and most likely, became more successful than any seniors ever

were. Their games varied and the fun increased from last year. Expectedly, the biggest prize of the raffle was the

iPhone, and this year, it is the iPhone

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The ICS play this year was A MERRY MEGA CHRISTMAS written by Mrs. Shelia and adapted b y M o r i a h . T h e m u s i c a l incorporated many aspects of ICS life. The story followed the lives of f o u r c h a r a c t e r s w h o we r e themselves ICS students; each student had their own unique characteristics that we saw develop throughout the product ion. Another main theme of this musical was a l s o t h e performances, as the musical was based in M E G A Bangna there w e r e performances from different g r o u p s w h o had come to MEGA to display their talents which included:

ensemble, dance, jazz, strings and instrumental groups. Being a Christian-themed play, one of the main characters witnessed to her American friend who was very defiant against Christianity; the girl who had personal issues at home resolved the play by proclaiming her new-found joy after her friend had spoken to her about her new found happiness. As

well as these themes, Tha i culture was also incorporated by d e ve l o p i n g a s tor y w i th a community in p o v e r t y t h a t were outreached by the church that the main actress went too.

T h e m u s i c a l brought many different ages of k i d s t o g e t h e r i n t h e I C S

community and was able to showcase many of the talents and activities of the school.

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5s. The supreme prize was won by a

sophomore, Praise. The other huge prize was for winning the most games, which was won by a seventh grader. He

received the Nintendo 3DS. Overall, this carnival was an

amazing carnival, an event that allowed bonding and sharing each wordless moment, not only with

classmates, but also with upper/lower-class men and former ICS students

alike. It was a successful year for every grade; the booths that were set up were just amazing. However, all of this

would not have been possible without the Class of 2014 seniors.

ICS Christmas MusicalBy Leah Robinson

The hardworking freshmen working on their photo booth

Something is up, but what is it?

Miriam and Kayla are two of the main actors.

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with Mimi TanapathongBy Poon Vorapanyasakul

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Mimi Tanapathong, Senior Class President, gives us an inside look on her thoughts of one of ICS’s most awaited annual events – the Carnival. As the President of her class, it was her responsibility to play an important role in organizing the event and we must say she did a wonderful job doing so!

Q: How long did the planning process of the Carnival take?A: I think it took about two-and-a-half months to plan the Carnival because we started around mid-September and went all the way till the day of the event.

Q: What were some of the obstacles you had to overcome?A: Some of the obstacles we had to overcome were getting everyone to work together before, during, and after the event (but everyone did a great job in the end), getting enough ice coolers to accommodate all the ice we had, (thank you everyone who lent us theirs), and coming up with last-minute games.

Q: What were your expectations?A: I was so worried about everything that I didn’t really have any expectations about the Carnival. I really didn't know what to expect. I was worried that I would let my class down and that the Carnival would fail.

Q: Would you say the Carnival was better than you expected it to be? Why?A: I would say that the Carnival turned out much better than my expectations. Everyone worked together really well and everything turned out great.

Q: What's your best memory from the Carnival?A: I don't really have one specific memory that I would call my favorite, but the Carnival as an event, as a whole, will always be an unforgettable memory for me. As seniors, this is one of the last events we will be able to work together on as a class, and even though it was tiring, it was definitely worth it.

Q: If there is one thing you could change, what would it be?A: If I could change something, I would probably want to change how I communicated the details of the Carnival to my class. I feel like there were some moments of confusion that were results of miscommunication mostly on my part.

Q: Looking back, how do you feel about it?A: Looking back, I'm pretty happy with how everything turned out. I'm very proud of the great way everyone worked together to make the Carnival turn out the way that it did. I wouldn't be ashamed to tell anybody that this Carnival was organized by the Class of 2014. :)

Mimi Tanapathong

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Q: How does it feel to represent the school at the World Scholar's Cup Championship? Khem: It’s a very interesting experience. Too much so, in fact.(Jo and Young Kwang nod in agreement.)

Q: What were your expectations of the event? Khem: I hadn’t expected it to be so challenging. My ranking’s downward spiral from Bangkok round to the Yale tournament (2nd, then 10th, then 14th) reminded me that stacked against the world’s best (which invariably seems to turn out to be Chinese), I am still far from competent. Q: What did you have to do at the competition?Khem: It’s a four-part tournament if I remember correctly: essay, test, debate, and a bowl (it’s like a television show game).

Q: What was the most difficult task you were given to do? Why?Khem: Dinner was provided after each competition and one of the evenings we had Mexican food. I hate Mexican food. I was forced to ingest them on pain of buying my own meal, and it was distinctly the most difficult experience I had in the whole trip.

Q: In addition to writing essays, completing tests, etc., did you have time to explore the area or do anything fun?Khem: Because we arrived at Yale almost a full day ahead of schedule, we got to walk around the university town a bit. It’s really scenic, though I must confess that there are far too many Thai restaurants for it to feel that foreign.Q: What was the best part of the trip?Khem: The thirty-seven hour flight delay, of course. What more can I ask for?

Q: Lastly, would you advise other ICS students to join World Scholar's?Khem: I’d love to see ICS’s involvement in World Scholar’s grow. It’s very helpful in developing your speaking skills, and a perfect opportunity to meet up with new friends the world over.(Once again, Jo and Young Kwang nod in agreement.)

with World Scholars Cup Competitors

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In this issue of Eagle Eye, we sit down with some of ICS’s most intellectual students Jo, Khem, and Young Kwang to talk about their success at the World Scholar’s Cup Championship. After their recent competition during the summer break in Dubai, they were able to make it into the championship round where they represented ICS among forty-nine other teams. Taking home the fourteenth spot, they have certainly represented ICS well.

Jo Jo, Khem Somsak, YoungKwag Shin

By Poon Vorapanyasakul

The World Scholars Cup Competitors: Jo Jo, YoungKwang Shin, Khem Somsak.

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#TitleBy Praise Kittipol

The basketba l l season i s starting back up again, and our varsity basketball girls are on fire! On Friday the 15th of December, the girls played ISB in our first ever “Spirit Night” of ICS history. With the girls being back-to-back BISAC champions and beating ISB in the finals, this was the game to watch. The ICS community showed great enthusiasm in supporting the girls, and filled the stands with an audience of over 300 people! The pep band, mascot, and MC created the perfect atmosphere for the excitement to fill the room as the girls entered the court to warm-up. Naturally, with all the noise and action going on, nerves can easily distract players from performing their best. This was not the case with our girls, however – they came out leading ISB by 4 points in just the first 5 minutes of the game. They’re strong defense and fast breaks earned them a well deserved and satisfying win of 44-37. After beating the school's arch-rival team once again, its safe to say that our ICS Varsity Girls Basketball team is up for a terrific season. Here are a few words from our captains, Sierra Sanchez: “Even though we're not the tallest, I think the thing that’s most unique about our team is that we focus on physical strength and therefore out muscle other teams. We're used to being

under high pressure therefore excel no matter what circumstance we're in, and I have tremendously high hopes for this season. I wouldn't ask for a different team for my senior year.”

Bethany Groot: "If you didn't come to Spirit Night, you really missed out. The pep band was cranking out tunes, the crowds were going crazy, Mr. Zach was our awesome eagle mascot, and there was just so much wild out-of-control energy in the gym. This first game against ISB was such a great way to start off the season, not only because it was a test to see where our team is at, but also because I was proud to beat them on home court with peers, teachers, and family supporting us. We've still got some kinks to work out, but I'm excited to see where this season will take us."

Other Players:Tassanee Sanchez: “Spirit night was an unforgettable memory. The fact that so many ICS students, teachers, alumni, and parents came out to support us was fantastic! I hope we can have another big event like this in the near future. Also, having a mascot was pretty cool – felt like I was back in America or Canada. My hopes are high for this season. Come support us some more peeps! Peace out!”

Tammy: I wasn't sure what basketball would be like this year, especially without Angel here, because she was such a big part of the team last year. I was so worried that I didn't feel like playing basketball after the first day of tryouts, but I definitely did not regret playing this year. I think we have a pretty strong team and with more practices and teamwork, I really think we could win Bisac again this year. I also hope that we would grow closer as a team and learn from each other. I'm really excited for the ACSC tournament and I can't wait to go to Taiwan.

Yelly: Basketball season has finally started, and so far, we're undefeated!(: This year I'm going in as a starter, and there’s a lot more responsibilities now. It's tough when so many things can go wrong and constant doubts in my mind make me think that I might mess up. But that's what teammates are for. They will yell at you for messing up but at the same time encourage you to push harder. Three- peat champions is a title that has never been recorded ever in ICS history. Threes also doubt that all the teams will want to beat us. This year we will do whatever it takes and claim the title.

Girl’s Varsity Soccer TeamDifferent skills, different nationalities, different personalities, one passion.

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This basketball season started off with a big bang! If you weren’t one of the 300+ people who came to the pep rally, you sure missed out on a fun night. It was amazing to see all of ICS come

together; teachers, parents, students and even alumni provided a great buzz of excitement to the air. Mr. Stephen announced every player by name, and we cheered as they lined up. Then out came Ernesto the Eagle! Our mascot made one fabulous debut with his pom-pom tail, leading us to chant “D”, “FENCE!” (defense!). Even Mr. Stephen joined in, cheering vigorously; “LET’S GO EAGLES LET’S GO!” to the beat of the big bass drum.

In case you haven’t figured it out, Mr. Zach is Ernesto!

How was it being the mascot? Mr. Zach: The crowd gave me the energy I needed to run around like a crazy person. Mr. Jason Bledsoe and the band really pumped everyone up and I felt real school spirit from the crowd. I thoroughly enjoyed my time as Ernesto the Eagle.

How did you prepare to be the mascot? Mr. Zach: My wife, Kelley, and I raided Daiso to acquire the necessary materials for my C+ costume. We put hours into that shabby outfit.

Mr. Zach: What would you like to do at the next pep rally? A halft ime show would be fun: something that involves the audience - maybe a game. We also need to seriously work on perfecting "the wave."

What was your favorite part of the pep rally / being the mascot? Mr. Zach: Watching the ICS girls varsity team hustle with great energy to earn their first win of the season! Also, the Sanchez family brought tons of candy to give away, which I gladly chucked into the clamoring crowd. Everyone did such a great job at executing Jack's master plan: the fans, the players, the band - I'll never forget it.

How was the pep rally for you basketball players?Isaac H.: It was nice, adrenaline was rushing as they cheered for us even though we didn’t do so well. It was nice to have people supporting us!Tammy S.: I was really nervous and I couldn't wait to get out of class because I was that excited. It turned out awesome thanks to you guys who came and supported us! I really enjoyed it and I

hope you guys did too, and I wish ICS would have a spirit night again this school year!

Amongst our dynamic crowd were Mr. B and the pep band members! Peter O., Erin S., Fayfay P., Dhvani S., Will L., Oscar H., Bright P., Esther H., So Jeong C., Khim K., Pack B., Tommy W. and Yiam M. and Tien K. at percussion, and Bethany G. who played the saxophone just barely after stepping off the basketball court.

How was your experience being in the pep band?

Tommy W.: I liked it, and it was exciting even through the pressure, -this was like a new thing for me. I had never played in a pep band for the sports team before! I would like to do it again.

Bethany G.: The pep band really did add an extra flare to the spirit night, I know it pumped me up while I was on the court and it was fun to jump in and be a part of it during the guys' game. I look forward to having them play for our games again.

Pack B.: It was really cool because it was ICS’s first pep band. I felt proud and excited because normally in ICS there aren’t really a lot of people who watch the games and stuff, but this time a lot of people went!

Yiam M.: It was just fun, just playing instruments and just enjoying myself !

The PEP BAND is right beside all of us.

School SpiritBy Jerrica Looi

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The EAGLES are ready to play DEFENSE!

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Siam Style SelebrationBy Keshav Garg

Seasons greetings fellow readers! I hope this article is published at least a week before break, in order to bring the very special essence of Christmas. In Thailand, Christmas is a joyous celebration that begins at least a month before the actual date! With that said, if you do stare carefully at my title you will notice an error in the word “celebration”; it has been spelled “Selebration.” As a little hint, this does relate to the miscommunication of the timeliness of the festive season itself; the error also adds to the glamorous alliteration. Anyways, without any further ado, let’s move on to the actual brunt of this article.

Christmas in Thailand starts exactly the same way it does in other nations (in which there is snow). It starts out with small amounts of white objects floating in the sky. The truth, however, is that these white o b j e c t s a r e t h e f l a s h e s o f smartphones. Of course, these exist in the minority: the real pictures are the front-camera-selfies. Applications like Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr thrive during this

period and are overflooded with images of many an indulgent Thai. Another funny thing about Thai Christmas is that more people choose to visit Thailand then to visit elsewhere in Southeast Asia. Let me fu r ther e xp la in . I have s een MILLIONS literally MILLIONS of Russians invading areas such as Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Phuket, and even Bangkok during winter time. They seem to help themselves by escaping the harsh winters that freeze both the land of Russia and the economy.

N o w t h a t y o u h a v e understood the spirit of Christmas in Thailand, let us talk business. If you ever visit Central stores, or even Siam Paragon related stores, then you will see how shrewd the marketeers are. They begin putting up Christmas trees, presents, and lights almost 3 weeks before the holiday and place the G I G A N T I C 5 0 % o f f p r i c e throughout their stalls. Their efforts attract people like outdoor electricity does light-bugs and in the end puts them in a depressing situation in

which the cost of the item, contrary to promises, still remains overpriced. Also, during this season parents tend to have a more enchanted spirit. It is one that makes them want to be warm

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Gaysorn Plaza, a thoroughly lightened up mall, is just like any other malls.

A typical Bangkok outdoor Christmas tree set up at malls

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LIFESTYLE Decem

ber 2013and gift their children with STUFF. I can personally testify: only yesterday do I remember my mother scolding me about my math grade, and today she asks me if I want a PS4 for Christmas! Quite a rapid change if you ask me. Thailand is a nation glowing with prosperity and heritage, and accompanied by the breezy winds and the soft sunlight, Christmas in Thailand is a pleasant variant of the holiday. You can go outside and breathe the fresh air of smog, and take relaxing, sanitary dips in the klongs. As for me, Christmas in Thailand brings my skin itchiness and allergies. My main suspect for now remains the

abundance of make-up powder on Thai citizens that seems to ONLY target me as victim. Anyways, once again, it’s time to wrap this article up. Although I can’t put my article in stuffy stockings or under the Christmas tree, I hope this article will be a welcome hol iday surprise. God Bless!

Christmas FashionBy PanPan Supatchapichai

1. Disco pants2. Red Balenciaga leather jacket 3. Isabel Marant for H&M knitted

jacket4. Ankle boots

Christmas is coming up and you might be wondering how to get dressed to match the festive season without looking like a Christmas tree. Here are a few winter staple pieces that will help spice up your style. Disco pants can easily brighten up your look by making it more cheerful in a simplistic manner. The shine on the pants will turn ordinary outfits edgy. Leather jackets compliment every look by giving your winter clothing a pop of texture and style. A red leather jacket suits perfectly for Christmas without make it seem as if you are trying too hard. You can never go wrong with oversized knitted sweaters – just throw one on and you are trendy in just a second. It’s the perfect clothing that’s able to make you warm, comfortable, and of course fashionable, at the same time! Ankle boots can go with every outfit and their neutral colors will make you flattering. Have fun dressing up, but don’t forget that confidence is key! Goodluck!

What Does the Fox Say?By FayFafy Prasutchai

The question has been asked so many times that it became trite. Yet, it is also a question not being unanswered for most of us, as asking the question prompts listeners to give the asker a fist to their face because the song that has popularized it has become terribly annoying and redundant. The said song was made Norwegian band called Ylvis and became a viral sensation overnight on Youtube, topping 235 million views. This article seeks to answer the question and pacify all those unfortunate souls

The common red fox, or known in the scientific circle as Vulpes vulpes, contrary to popular opinion, does not yelp ring-ding-ding-dingeringeding or any of those obnoxious onomatopoeias. The red-furred canids, surprisingly, make sounds similar to the screams of our neighbor’s baby that will never stop crying at 1 a.m. in morning. More clearly, they sound like fresh victims in a generic horror movie. This scream is emitted by female foxes in mating seasons to attract males. It is pretty

safe to say that at least the song had some close interpretations of the real sound.

Little had known, the foxes also bark. They really do, and it sounds the same as a tiny and fluffy Pomeranian’s bark. However, the fox’s bark is not generally meant to attract humans’ attention to give them cuddles or food like the dog’s does. Adult foxes bark to call for yo u n g f ox e s i n d a n g e r o u s situations.

Nonetheless, if you really want to track down and stalk the foxes, you will hardly hear any of the noises. Generally, foxes are stealthy beasts. One thing the song missed is that they aren’t really obnoxious. And that probably explains why we never include the sounds of the foxes in textbooks. Once the question is answered, do NOT ever ask againwhat the fox says. Let’s wait we start wondering what could be the sound of its friends. Maybe a giraffe.

A sweet couple accompanied by bright lights.

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By Grace Hsieh! It is the general consensus that high school students, with exceptions for the sparse anomalies, have only two major concerns. The first, in order of importance, is socializing. Coming close in second place is academics. Because the Quill’s staff is short on writers with great acumen in the politics of popularity, this article will pertain to the educational aspect of a high schooler’s life. For instructions on how to reach the pinnacle of the social food chain, look elsewhere, perhaps in the next issue of The Quill. However, for tips to reaching top marks on an exam, one need not look any further than here.

The first tip may seem fairly obvious, but many have come to realize the need to apply it in their daily habits. I suggest that students give themselves enough time to study. This does not mean a student must devote all of his or her time to memorizing their notes; rather, it simply implores all students to refrain from doing what is by far the most popular method of studying—cramming.

Tip number two expands on tip one by emphasizing the need to study consistently. Review notes and slide shows before the exam date is even announced.

The third tip goes hand in hand with the first and second. A sure way to study effectively is to create a study schedule that is easy to stick to. The well-liked Pomodoro Technique is one such schedule that comes highly recommended by esteemed psychologists. This time management technique allows one to effectively retain information without tiring out quickly. One would study for 25-30 minutes, then relax for five, and resume studying for another 25-30 minutes. Resume the cycle four times before taking a longer break, which should last 15-30 minutes. Pomodoro adherents are encouraged to reward themselves during the breaks, typically with food. Nutrition is another important part of studying. While it is impossible to instantly boost anyone’s IQ, sugar does increase blood flow in the brain. This increase of glucose leads to heightened alertness and a clear state of mind. Thus, the fourth tip is to chow down on dark chocolate when studying. For those allergic to chocolate or simply don’t have the appetite for the bitterness of the snack, berries and nuts like pecans and almonds are excellent alternatives. Treats like these enhance the student’s performance in studying and improve their comfort level, which is another major point in material retention. Remaining comfortable is imperative to effective studying, and the environment ultimately determines one’s ability to concentrate and relax. So understandably, the fifth tip is to find a good place to study. In order to find the perfect environment to study in, one must discover the conditions under which they personally thrive. Places where little distractions exist are preferable for all, but while some study better with music, others cannot concentrate with any sort of audible diversions. It is, however, proven that listening to music increases the brain’s alertness around 15 minutes afterwards, so this is a helpful way to make studying more enjoyable and beneficial. Many people turn to group studying to make studying less boring and help keep them on task. This is a technique that has proven itself to be a genuinely successful study method. Everybody knows that misery loves to seek company. But more importantly, tip number six, group studying, accomplishes two important study requirements: staying focused and actually remembering what is being studied.

The usage of mnemonics, tip seven, has been in practice since the ancient Greeks invented them. This ancient method utilizes imagery and imagination, as they ingrain memories by conjuring up vivid mental visual aides and creating acronyms of the information being studied. An example of picture mnemonics may be constructing an explicitly detailed depiction of a historical event, and one may employ acronymic mnemonics by remembering why Napoleon’s

Eating healthy is an essential part to be successful in academics.

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The iPad Air is the fifth incarnation of the Apple’s full-sized 9.7 inch iPad, replacing its 4th-generation predecessor which has been discontinued. It is 20 percent lighter and 20 percent thinner than its elder. The iPad Air is basically a bigger version of the retina iPad mini. They actually have an identical hardware spec – same proportions and same

internals. Nevertheless, the iPad Air is an extremely powerful, well-built, and overall an efficient device.

I n t h e s i z e a n d bu i l d department, the iPad Air is merely 7.5 millimeters thin and only weighs a pound. That’s as thin as the iPhone 5S weighing way less than any other full-sized tablets out in the market. Despite its petite size and lightweight build, however, the iPad Air doesn't feel at all flimsy. The unibody aluminum chassis is just as solid as that on older iPads. The sides have blunter edges this time around, so you’ll get more of a grip than on the gradually sloping edges on previous models.

In the performance department, the built-in A7 chip promises to be faster, more power-efficient, and more c o m p a t i b l e w i t h 6 4 - b i t applications.  Although the iPad Air performs twice as fast as the previous model, it still retains the incredible 10 hour battery life. The compatibility with 64-bit apps opens the gate for robust and powerful apps. This device

is definitely a beast.

When it comes to battery life, Apple's sweet spot appears to be 10 hours; this is the exact amount of runtime the company has claimed for every full-sized iPad. In the case of the

iPad Air, the battery size shrunk, but it has been proved to perform even be t t e r than that o f p rev ious generation iPads. No joke: the battery i s abso lute ly s tunning. W hen c o m b i n e d w i t h t h e p o w e r f u l performance, the impressive battery life makes iPad Air a beastly contender in the tablet market.

Wrapping up, the iPad Air is the most comfortable 10-inch tablet I ' v e e v e r t e s t e d . N o t e v e r y manufacturer can produce such a thin and light device without also making it feel cheap or flimsy, but Apple somehow did it. The design is neat, balanced, simple, yet simultaneously intricate – a paradox that has become Apple’s trademark over its impressive stay in the market. Performance and the battery life are marvelous. The last two iPads served up relatively few improvements, but the Air provides people with more of a reason to upgrade or even buy a tablet for the first time. Well done, Apple.

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Russian invasion failed by reciting People Like Doing Home Work, which stands for, poor logistics discipline health and weather. The last three tips to excellent exam marks are probably the ones reiterated the most often: listen in class, sleep well prior to the big test, and have confidence when entering the exam room. The last tip may sound rather irrelevant, but studies have shown that confidence really does influence the outcome of the test. Following these ten tips will not guarantee prodigious scores on midterms, but they do ensure marks that will do the parents proud. So get to work kids—winter midterms are coming.

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Santas and ElvesBy Gid Jiranuntarat

It has come to my realization that exams are dawning upon the student body in the coming weeks, and for some th i s may be terrifying. However for me, this event signifies a couple things. One, I’m getting ready to fail my Thai exams, because FSM knows how horrible I am at that. Secondly,

it’s going to be a horribly, mundane week, considering the fact that I have exams on every single day. But the most important thing about the exams is that Christmas break is approaching.

It must also then be noted that with Christmas, comes

presents. And presents mean Santa Claus is going to wake up in his lofty resting place of the North Po l e , and br ing about the fantastical moment of jolly cheer. Dropping his elf-made presents left and right, he chooses who’s naughty and who’s nice. His List of Names is the final decision, and those whose names are etched upon the Nice category receive their presents, while the unworthy receive a stocking full of coal. Imagine a fat bearded man, observing your children all day, throughout their lives. That sounds outright pedophilic and If that isn’t a red flag, then I don’t know what is.

Who decided that Jolly Old St. Nicholas’s final verdict is the correct one? Are we simply supposed to accept that whatever

When Christmas arrives, so does the load of snow and studying preparation for the finals.

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Merry Christmas!

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he says is accurate? Do we sit meek and silent against this type of autocracy? No, we must take up arms, and revolt. This tyranny must stop. How can one being hold this much power without check? A bearded fart who writes names down on lists is no basis for a system of judgment. To quote Monty Python, “Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from

the masses…” (Monty Python and the Holy Grail), not from some senile man who rides around on reindeers.

And so to this I raise up a proposition. What if instead of relying on our glorious Saint from the North Pole to judge us based on our deeds, we instead govern ourselves? Instead of waiting for presents from the chilly regions of the North, we instead make our own

and share it amongst ourselves. Why must we wait for things to come to us? It’s much better to simply go out there, and do it. The idea of a Santa Claus who determines whether our behavior was acceptable for the receipt of present or not, is outdated and impractical . No longer is it necessary for us to rely on Santa Claus to give presents for our children. Our abilities and our knowledge have enabled us to do what Santa does and more. Santa himself makes mistakes, because there are many kids who receive presents, but deserve coal and vice versa. But the worst sight is a child who receives neither. Which means that child was alone, and dejected. Not a single thought was given to that particular child, and non-acknowledgement is a worse pain than any other.

To counteract this problem, I propose that a new schema be established. Remove the petty judgment of Santa, and allow the people to decide the character of a child themselves. Outside, divine, or chilly intervention is no longer needed in his role. Mankind has advanced far enough that we no longer need the help of an absentee watcher, who positions himself in the North Pole. We can govern ourselves, and the violence inherent in the system will be phased out in time.

A proposal such as this should not require much effort. An organized opposition to Santa Claus can make a big enough change to allow us to break free from this dictatorship. And I would sleep better at night knowing that there no reclusive man spying on the children all over the world.Elf was a movie released around a decade ago!