Next-Gen Show Down: PS3 vs. Wii - Alaa S., Chris M., and Brian L.

Both Sony’s PlayStation 3 (PS3) and the Nintendo Wii were released in late November. As far as hardware goes, there’s a great difference between them. The most revolutionary thing about either system is by far the Wii’s new controller; it is fully motion controlled to allow for new ways of playing video games. The PS3’s controller, on the other hand, has limited motion capacity and has lost its force feedback. The PS3 comes with a 20GB or 60GB hard drive, while the Wii comes with a mere 512MB flash memory with maximum capabilities of up to 2GB. The PS3 uses the new Blu-Ray disc format, while the Wii still uses last-gen DVDs.

The PS3—while backwards compatible—is still having difficulties playing all PS1 and PS2 games, while the Wii has no trouble at all playing GameCube games. Renowned gaming magazine, Electronic Gaming Monthly, rated launch titles for both systems out of ten and the average scores of the PS3 and Wii launch titles were 6.1 and 6.4 respectively. Sony’s PS3 is priced at a staggering $499-$599 based on the 20GB or 60GB hard drive, while Nintendo’s Wii is priced at a comparatively measly $249, including a free game: Wii Sports. Based on future game titles and hardware alone, the PS3 is the Wii’s superior in most ways. However, based on the price tag, current games, and the Wii’s funky new controller innovations, the Wii seems to be the prime choice—for now.

works cited:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_3
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wii
Electronic Gaming Monthly – Issue # 211
(Picture) http://movietrap.sakura.ne.jp/images/ps3_wii.gif

A Look Back On Recent Weather - Amber C.

Is that…? Is this a dream? Oh man, I am so happy. It’s just so beautiful.

It’s snow.

As many students walked out to the parking lot Thursday afternoon, the sights of flurries was nothing short of long awaited. With 60 days until the arrival of spring, the question on all school aged children’s minds has been where is winter? When the hope of a snow day is enough to make anyone sleep with their pajamas inside out and backward, the anticipation was finally broken when our first official snowfall appeared today. With a Hi of 40ºF and a layer of snow on the ground, it is hard to believe how it is possible that only weeks ago on Saturday, January 6 the Hi was 71ºF. Crazy weather, huh?

According to the Long-range Weather Forecast predicted by The Old Farmer’s Almanac for the Atlantic Corridor, this winter is supposed to be slightly below normal through near normal precipitation and above normal snowfall. It has been forecasted February will be the coldest, snowiest month of the year with the snowiest times in mid and late February, and the coldest weather occurring in early and late in the month; although December was also expected to have to coldest temperatures with heavy amounts of snowfall, and early and late January also with coldest weather. Only time will tell if the futures holds any snow days. In the meantime, dress warmly, watch your step, drive carefully, and pray for always enjoyed day off.

The Over Crowded Senior Lounge - Lynette J.

Great boulders of furniture are pushed against the walls, and so many shifting bodies populate every square foot of space in the small alcove. Here the temperature rivals an average summer, as this room has its own sun, it seems. The only thing that can freely move about is the breeze that sometimes blows by the entrance.

The Welcome to the Senior Lounge, and be sure not to step on anything that moves. The Lounge is over crowded. It is a known fact by all seniors, and probably the administration as well.

The Senior Lounge works on a first come, first served basis. Yet is seems that some people have been writing their names in invisible ink on various seats. One student said, "It is annoying, especially those who claim seats for every co-curricular." The Lounge also contains limited furniture and space, but that is not believed to be the main problem. Various students see the 'mounds of bodies', as one senior described it, as the ultimate source to the over crowding. "I can never relax in the senior 'lounge' comfortably," says another student who uses the Lounge daily. But not everyone sees the over crowding as a problem. Some believe that if the consumed space is unbearable, there is always the option of going some where else. "I am content in the hallway," said another senior.

The Over crowding-- serious to some, slight to others. It's a presence that will always stay while the appeal of the Senior Lounge remains high.

Hagane No Renkinjutsushi - Lyzette J.

Alchemy: the mystical power to alter the natural world; something between magic, art, and science." Fullmetal Alchemist is a manga by mangaka Hiromu Arakawa. Manga are Japanese comic books. Fullmetal Alchemist is about Edward Elric and his brother Alphonse who travel to find the Philosopher’s Stone. His father, also an alchemist, left the family when Edward was a small boy. Their sickly mother died and left the two boys alone. Having learned alchemy from the books left behind from their father, Ed and Al decide to attempt the forbidden act of trying to create a human life to bring back their mother. The process took away Alphonse’s body and Edward’s left leg. Ed then sacrificed his right arm to bind his brother’s soul to a suit of armour. They realized the consequences of trying to create life using alchemy. They burned down their house and left to find a way to restore their bodies back. Ed’s left leg and right arm are replaced with metal parts called automail. During their travels, they come across others who also want the Philosopher’s Stone. This series is of the action genre with many fights using alchemy, many mysterious characters, and twists that you can't foresee. The drawing style is clear cut and the flow of the comic panels are easy to understand. The plot is intriguing and it never fails to surprise the reader with the things that Ed finds out in his search for the Philosopher's Stone and the story behind it.

Execution of Barzan Ibrahim Goes Wrong - Jamison A.

Due to a miscalculation in the rope length, a hanging in Iraq went horribly wrong. Ibrahim was to be hanged along with Awad Hamed al-Bandar, the both of them guilty of killing one hundred forty eight Shiites. Ibrahim and al-Bandar were scheduled to be hanged the same day as Saddam Hussein, but the Iraqi government postponed their execution in order to make Saddam’s day a “special day”. A week and two days after his half-brother Saddam’s execution, Ibrahim and al-Bandar were scheduled to be executed. At first, the execution was going as planned, the ten to twelve onlookers agreed to a waiver stating they wouldn’t provoke the executioneed and they had ropes. The lever was pulled and Ibrahim dropped eight feet before the rope would catch him. “His head just snapped off, just like that, in an instant,” said John Burns of the New York Times, witness of the execution. Ibrahim was decapitated by the force of the rope during his execution. Some looked on in horror, as some looked on and embraced it. There are no plans to release the video of the executions to the public.

Movies of 2006 - Mike K.

2006 was yet another average year for movies. It started off uneventfully after Oscar season with a slew of relatively unnoticed late blockbuster wannabes like Bloodrayne, Glory Road, Last Holiday, and Annapolis. In the meantime, more low-key pictures such as The Matador and Tsotsi began leaking out, garnering much critical praise but little attention from the masses.

The industry finally began to pick up around March, when pictures like V For Vendetta and Ice Age: The Meltdown began making big money at the box office. It wasn’t until April, however, that the gap between critical approval and audience acceptance was bridged by the success of United 93. More quality films were released in its wake, such as Art School Confidential and The Proposition, but it would take some time before any big releases made as much buzz.

The coming of summer soon brought a slew of blockbuster films, like Cars, Superman Returns, Pirates of the Caribbean, Snakes on a Plane, and Talladega Nights. Summer also brought a number of other films that both toted quality and made a good deal of money, like A Prairie Home Companion, Little Miss Sunshine, and The Descent.

Autumn began uneventfully, soon improving as Oscar season officially began with the release of the popular The Departed, followed by more big winners with the critics like The Queen and Babel. From there, Borat, Casino Royale, Dreamgirls, Children of Men, Letters From Iwo Jima, and Pan’s Labyrinth led the rush of praised moneymakers to the year’s end.

2007 Music Preview by Erin S.

Looks like 2007 will be a year for reunions, comebacks, and genre experimentation in the music world. Reunited groups working on albums to release this year include Smashing Pumpkins, Guns n’ Roses, Oasis, Metallica, and The Police. Other music industry veterans Carly Simon, John Mellencamp, and Ozzy Osbourne will also release new albums in the first few months of the year. Finallly, Courtney Love’s How Dirty Girls Get Clean will be released in late February. Don’t say you’re not excited.

The growth of indie rock and several new descendants of hip hop guarantee a year full of fresh sounds. New indie and alternative rock albums due out this year include The Shins, Death Cab for Cutie, Interpol, Bright Eyes, Of Montreal, Arcade Fire, Kaiser Chiefs, and Aqualung. Hip hop should find some interesting, new styles with releases from rap novices such as Chamillionaire and Lupe Fiasco. However, better known hip hop heavyweights 50 Cent, Dr. Dre, and Eminem will all find time between producing most of the year’s other hip hop albums to put out their own.

For those uninterested in reminiscing or looking to the future with their music choices, the typical pop/top 40 suspects can be counted on for new radio hits. Artists slated to release new albums this year includes Norah Jones (January 30), Kelly Clarkson, Usher, Good Charlotte, and Britney Spears. Whoever you choose to listen to, don’t miss out on the 2007 year in music, because it looks like it will shape up to be a good one.

Alumni Night - Lyanne D.

On January 9th the Student Council and PTA of Magnet High School held their first Alumni night. It was an evening full of reminiscing and nostalgia. The set-up was simple. Student Council Advisor Mr. McGovern sent out invitations to alumni inviting them to an evening with current students. The turn out was spectacular! Baxel Hall was bursting at the seams with seventy alumni. In attendance, alumni from the 2001 graduating class as well as the recent 2006 class. Students were encouraged to approach the alumni and ask any questions concerning college and the admissions process.

The evening ran smoothly. Although it was a little awkward at first, alumni seemed willing and ready to answer all underclassmen's questions. They offered great advice; almost every question had an answer to it. They imparted advice on professors, class schedules, location, and the admissions process. All around the room you could hear alumni from prestigious universities like Johns Hopkins, Cornell, and Columbia speak with students. All the alumni offered this resonating piece of advice; it can be done. They eased the fear of all the current students that are stressed about the college process and doubtful of their choices. They even revealed the party antics of some universities (when teachers were out of the room of course). Overall the night was a fun one for current students and alumni. It offered students a glimpse of what real college life is like as well as letting alumni recall older times.

New Miles Rule - By Rebecca B and Martina V

The miles department in Magnet High School recently issued a new rule concerning miles. In the past, students who have participated in sports programs in their hometown school have been able to use their practices and games towards their mile counts with a signature from their coach or instructor. Now, however, the new rule states that these athletes can only gain 20% of their miles this way. The rest, excluding their at home miles, must be done in school. There are also changes in the amount of miles students receive per practice.

This presents a problem for all students who are required to partake in the miles program. Since there is only one fitness center available after school, it is very difficult to get a machine because of the large amount of students who need them done. Because of the new rule, there is an even larger amount of students present because of the athletes who previously were able to get their miles elsewhere. Also, the students who play sports generally do not have time after school to do miles, as they already spend their time at practices and games.

The miles department recognizes that this may not be the ideal situation for miles. However, they feel that it may be a way to restrict the amount of students who lie about their miles. In response to the complaints of overcrowding, a twenty-five minute limit is instated on days where there are many people who need machines.

Albums of 2006 - Martina V. and Rebecca B.

Crane Wife – The Decemberists

The Crane Wife was released in October of 2006, and was an instant hit among Decemberists fans. It is their fourth full length album, but their first with a major record company.

Pearl Jam – Pearl Jam

In May of 2006, Pearl Jam released their self-titled album. Pearl Jam is the band’s eighth release and contains 13 tracks. The album is generally very well liked; however, some fans are not enamored with the political messages found throughout the album.

Continuum – John Mayer

John Mayer’s third album, Continuum, was released in September of 2006 and contains 12 tracks. Adored by both fans and critics, Continuum combines sounds of both pop and blues.

King-T.I.

T.I.'s new CD, which was released March 28, 2006, was one of the top selling albums this year. It includes 18 tracks with various guest rappers, such as the top playing song What You Know.

FutureSex/LoveSounds-Justin Timberlake

With catchy beats and songs that make you want to dance, Justin Timberlake's new album, which hit stores September 12, 2006, was a popular pick for most teenage listeners.

Other albums released this year include:

Awake – Josh Groban

Stadium Arcadium – Red Hot Chili Peppers

St. Elsewhere – Gnarls Barkley

The Dutchess – Fergie

Highway Companion – Tom Petty

Begin to Hope – Regina Spektor

The Tragic Treasury – The Gothic Archies

An Other Cup – Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens)

Loose – Nelly Furtado

Konvicted – Akon

Breakaway – Kelly Clarkson

HD-DVD vs. Blu-Ray - Jamison A.

In the twenty-first century, the world is stepping up into the realm of what is called “High Definition.” Sharp, clear pictures and clean, crisp audio dazzles onlookers. However, in this futuristic world of high definition, a war over which medium high definition will be on is taking place, one disc…to rule them all. Sony and Phillips’s Blu-Ray is battling it out with Toshiba and the HD-DVD.

Blu-Ray is an oddity to many people, as it just sounds like a new futuristic technology. Blu-Ray is a disc, much like a DVD, but has nearly twenty times more space than a standard DVD has at two-hundred gigabytes of storage available. Blu-Ray is gathering support in movie and video game production studios due to the massive amount of space only one disc can hold.
I’m sure the letters HD and DVD sound familiar, and that all “HD-DVD” means is that they’re put together. But what does that really mean? HD-DVD is like a dvd, but can hold more data. HD-DVD holds fifty gigabytes.

So the Blu-Ray can obviously hold more data than the HD-DVD, so why would you not automatically go for the Blu-Ray? The price tag has the ability to throw up red flags for many. At Bestbuy.com, the cheapest Blu-Ray player is the LG Blu-Ray player, which weighs in at a whopping $1199.99. Prices for the discs themselves range from $29.99 to $34.99. A Toshiba HD-DVD player costs $499.99 and an HD-DVD movie ranges from $24.99 to $34.99. Since there is no player that plays both types of discs, a consumer has to choose between the two.