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VOLUME III       ISSUE 2       FEBRUARY 1998
T A B L E   O F   C O N T E N T S . . .
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- A WORD FROM OUR STAFF
- THE EVOLUTION OF A LIFESTYLE (PART 1)
- STATUS SYMBOLS: THINGS TEENS STRIDE FOR
- TITANIC AND LAWYERS
- KIDS START WITH A CLICHE

L A Y A !  looks best when viewed with 10 point Arial font.

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         A   W O R D   F R O M   O U R   S T A F F
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Hey all you reader peoples out there...
Now that LAYA! has established a reputation in the both the computer and
non-computer world out there, we welcome all the new subscribers and
welcome back the old.  As a matter of fact, LAYA! has been featured in
the local Los Altos Town Crier, the (much) larger San Jose Mercury News,
and in a TV interview (Channel 26 KTSF).  Fame may be nice (the cliche
"everyone gets their fifteen minutes of fame"), but meanwhile, we're
still churning out issues as usual.  This month's issue has been delayed
as a result of the above, but we hope you'll enjoy it all the same!

The LAYA! Staff
info@laya.com

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 T H E  E V O L U T I O N  O F  A  L I F E S T Y L E
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PART 1 of 4

Over the decades, life as a teen has changed dramatically (to say the
least).  From Flower Power to political correctness, from "when I was
your age…" to "kids have it too easy nowadays."  On the contrary though,
many parents of current teens NEVER say, "When I was your age, I went to
bed at two in the morning," or "When I was your age, I had to do
community service to graduate from high school."  As a matter of fact, a
number of parents haven't even heard about this new-fangled "community
service."  For as long as technology's impact on life increases, student
's lives will become more and more complex.  Computers, calculators, and
spell checks will dominate, homework and community service requirements
will expand, and social lives will flourish.  Therefore, it is only
logical that sleeping time will be condensed as time goes on.

The idioms say that "you are only as old as you think you are" and "of
all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most."  Many have grown up
using pencils, paper, slide rules, and dictionaries-in the forms of
books.   As technology crashes in around us, the younger generation has
been raised upon computers, calculators, and electronic everything.
Although so-called experts advocate the necessity of an electronic
living, many have already experienced the troubles that this can cause.
Technology dependent living can be shaky, precariously balancing on
machines which are liable to crash, break, or be stolen.  And without
these machines in operation, entire cities can be shut down.  With the
mere cutting of a wire, electricity can be terminated, distressing the
lifestyles of thousands, even millions, of people.  Numerous adults' and
children's lives are centered around computers (just look at Silicon
Valley), which without there would be no such thing as existence.

Let's use my ten-year old younger brother as an example.  He is a fifth
grader who views computers as the focal point of life.  Work and play
centers around our P.C.; as a matter of fact, he'd rather talk to his
friends through online chat than in person.  Pencils mean naught to
him…his handwriting is unbelievably sloppy.  While attempting to help
him with math homework, I discovered he cannot function without a
calculator.  Long division, multiplication, addition, and subtraction
are impossible unless that grey plastic and metal thing is present.
Dictionaries are not even a part of his life-if no one will tell him
what a word means or how to spell it, he'll either guess or turn on the
computer to use spell checking and the accompanying thesaurus.  I doubt
that he could use a dictionary, even if he had wanted to.

On the other hand, I manually wrote out almost every single piece of
writing I did in junior high English, down to the titles in calligraphy.
I keep a dictionary and thesaurus (in book form!) near my desk, and
could not function with out my drawing pencils and purple pens.  True, I
do type up papers now and then, I do use calculators, and I do a bulk of
my communicating is done through e-mail and online chats, but I still
prefer a paper and ink dictionary to anything a computer can provide
(albeit spell checks do prove helpful) amongst other "old-fashioned"
items (our family doesn't have a microwave or an automatic garage door,
one of our cars has an eight-track [ancient…], and we still have a black
and white TV-not to mention two record players and tons of records to go
with them…don't ask about the rest).  But I highly doubt that a bulk of
humanity could function without a microwave, much less without running
water and electricity; all of these were once novelty items and are now
widely accepted as a part of daily life.  So, in the large picture, take
away all the technology found in today's world and what's left?

By: Serena Chang
     serena@laya.com

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   STATUS  SYMBOLS:  THE  THINGS  TEENS  STRIDE  FOR
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Popular acceptance.  It seems to be a common goal on the list of things
that teens stride for.  Money, cars, and the right to vote are all
familiar examples of what exactly is on this list.  While some teens
struggle to get their driver's licenses, others experiment with drugs,
smoking, and other ways in order to gain acceptance by their friends.
We never question acceptance, although we often do question the means by
which acceptance is gained.  Why is it every teen's greatest wish to
gain acceptance?  Why do we question those who are not accepted?

The answer lies in who we are as people.  As the world around us
evolves, we too are evolving to fit the image of a perfect person in not
only our own eyes, but in the eyes of those around us.  As our friends
convince us to try new things, this is how we evolve -- trying out new
ideas, learning what they mean to us, and trying to make ourselves
better people.

Another factor involved is the fact that some who are not accepted
wander around by themselves, while others wander around in groups.
Aside from the fact that a single person cannot reproduce, history
proves that those who live in groups have higher survival rates.  In
order for us to release the ideas of popular acceptance and to accept
the ideals of being an individual, we must learn to think on our own,
try new things, and not worry about what others think.  It is, after
all, your life.  And everyone is not the same.  Popular acceptance
should not be a priority; individuality should.

By: Robert Chin
     robert@laya.com

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   T I T A N I C   A N D   L A W Y E R S
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One day, a teacher, a garbage collector, and a lawyer all die and go to
Heaven. St. Peter's there, and when they get to the gate, he informs
them that there will be a test to get into Heaven: they each have to
answer one question.

To the teacher, he says, "What was the name of the ship that crashed
into the iceberg and sunk with all its passengers?"

The teacher thinks for a sec, and then replies: "That would have been
the Titanic, right?". St. Peter lets him through the gate.

St. Peter turns to the garbage man, and, figuring that Heaven doesn't
REALLY need all the stink that this guy would bring into heaven, decides
to make the question a little harder:  "How many people died on the
ship?"

The garbage man guesses: "1228"
St. Peter replies, "That happens to be right; go ahead."

St. Peter turns to the Lawyer: "Name them."

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   K I D S   S T A R T   W I T H   A   C L I C H E
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I teach fourth grade at Westlake Elementary School in Ventura County,
California.  As a fun assignment, I gave the students the beginning of a
list of famous sayings and asked them to provide original endings for
each one.  Here are some examples of what my students submitted.
The grass is always greener when you leave the sprinkler on.
A rolling stone plays the guitar.
The grass is always greener when you remember to water it.
A bird in the hand is a real mess.
No news is no newspaper.
It's better to light one candle than to waste electricity.
It's always darkest just before I open my eyes.
You have nothing to fear but homework.
If you can't stand the heat, don't start the fireplace.
If you can't stand the heat, go swimming.
Never put off 'til tomorrow what you should have done yesterday.
A penny saved is nothing in the real world.
The squeaking wheel gets annoying.
We have nothing to fear but our principal.
To err is human.  To eat a muskrat is not.
I think, therefore I get a headache.
Laugh and the world laughs with you.  Cry, and someone yells, "Shut up!"
Better to light a candle than to light an explosive.
It's always darkest before 9:30 p.m.
Early to bed and early to rise is first in the bathroom.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a blister.
There is nothing new under the bed.
The grass is always greener when you put manure on it.
Don't count your chickens -- it takes too long.

Submitted by: Chuck Palmer

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L A Y A ' s  S T A F F . . .

Robert Chin
President
robert@laya.com

Daniel Cheng
Layout & Design
daniel@laya.com

Chris Lin
Perspective Editor
chris@laya.com

Serena Chang
Editor/Lead Writer
serena@laya.com

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