Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Podcast

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

The NFL draft is on Thursday. That's cool.

I think that I speak for everyone when I say that the NFL draft is on Thursday, and that the NFL draft is cool. I'm pretty pumped. What should teams look for?

Atlanta looked great last season, and they were real contenders to win the Super Bowl (I hate you just a little bit for that, Green Bay.) However, they need to work on their passing game. One of their main problems is that defensive coordiantors can double-cover Roddy White, and they really have no equivalent weapons. If the Falcons can draft a great wide receiver, they can leave defenses scrambling. However, the Falcons' general manager has already said that he is looking to find a better third-string quarterback. Really?


I'm going to take a lot of heat for this, but I think that Jacksonville has real potential. They finished 8-8 in 2010, a solid finish for a team that was just founded in 1995. However, a star team needs a star quarterback, and I'm sorry, but Jason Garrard isn't going to cut it. I think that a truly great college quarterback picked up in the draft could really propel Jacksonville to a win, particularly in the passing department, since Jacksonville is blessed with Mike Sims-Walker, a very strong player.

The Vikings are going to need a new quarterback as well, after Brett Farve finally retires (bye, I don't miss you.) Unfortunately for them, they don't have a particularly good spot in the draft, so Cam Newton will probably be gone at that point. A nice alternate choice might be the former Washington Huskies quarterback. On the other hand, their offensive and defensive lines aren't looking particularly strong either, so they might go with a linebacker.

-Ishaan

Friday, April 22, 2011

PlayStation Network 'Suspended'

Millions of gamers are unable to play online as the Playstation Network remains unavailable.
Users are seeing error messages stating the network is "undergoing maintenance" or is "suspended".
The message received while attempting to log-in. 
In a blog post, makers Sony thanked users for their patience but warned the downtime, which has so far been for over 48 hours, could continue for "a day or two".

So far Sony has not released further information on the outage and is angering the gaming community which can be seen throughout Twitter and Gaming Forums. 
Not only is this a setback because of the 70 million plus users Sony has, but also comes on the most anticipated video game release week this year; and if you're trying to access other features including Netflix, then you're also out of luck as those services require you to sign-in.

Long Live the... Government?

If you remember, the first article that I wrote was about Libya, and now I want to revisit the situation in Libya. 

Since my original article was written, the situation has changed quite a bit. In light of the government forces using heavy artillery and tanks to fight the rebels, the UN has finally approved the use of air strikes on government forces in an attempt to help even out the situation. However, the air strikes came too late as the government already had taken back almost all the cities claimed by the rebels. Only the eastern cities of Libya remain in rebel hands and Misrata, the only western city held by rebels, has been under heavy attack by the government forces.

                                
Fierce fighting continues between the rebels and pro-Gaddafi troops

So, where is Libya heading? After the initial air strikes, the rebels launched a counterattack but where quickly beaten back as air support can only do so much. It seems that despite NATO's air support destroying 30%-40% of government forces and weapons, the rebels remain unable to effectively push toward Tripoli and bring an end to the Gaddafi rein. Gaddafi has managed to weather the initial storm and most importantly this army remains devotedly loyal to him. Compared to the rebels, they have the superior weapons, tactics and training.

                                  
Rebel walks past a burnt Pro-Gadaffi truck 

Currently, Gaddafi has been concentrating all his firepower on the last western city held in rebel hands, Misrata. It has under attack for over 2 weeks and it is unclear how long the rebels can hold out. There are evidence of cluster bombs being used in the city, which has been declared illegal and inhumane by over 100 countries around the world. This just goes to show how far Gaddafi is willing to go to defeat the rebels. 

                                    
A doctor's gloved hand covered in blood at a Misrata hospital

Sadly, it appears that the rebels won't win this war at the current state. Air strikes can only do so much and at this point, it's not enough. Already, all priority targets for the air force have already been destroyed, yet Gaddafi's army still functions. In response to this, Britain, France and Italy are sending teams of military advisors to try to educate and improve the rebel fighting forces, signifying the deeping of foreign involvement. The outcome of the fight at Misrata will determine whether or not the rebels lose or not. If Misrata falls, then short of NATO troops coming into Libya, the rebels will lose. Otherwise, they stand a chance at victory with more foreign involvement. 

The future is very unpredictable and volatile. For a review of what happened in Libya thus far, check out this timeline. Do you think that the rebels can win and overthrow Gaddafi, or will they lose? 

Friday, April 15, 2011

Friday, April 8, 2011

Ishaan's Feature Lead

Since I've already written my entire feature story, here's the lead that I want to use, since it fits perfectly with my feature. Of course, if you all don't think it's very good, I'll write a new one...

It’s eight o’clock PM, and the CBS hit TV show “Survivor” has just ended. For the most part, its thirteen million viewers are moving on with their lives. Many stick around to watch “Criminal Minds”. Some change the channel. Still others turn off the TV and finish the dishes, or put their kids to bed. But for twenty-five die-hard fans, the work has just begun.



d c feature leads

Leads:

Descriptive: A stack of pristine, untouched work papers lie on his desk. Next to is a jumble of half-chewed pencils, pens, erasers and a couple of pills of traditional Chinese herbal medicine. A man leans back in his soft-leather executive chair. He’s on the phone with a potential investor, trying to secure a large sum of investment to get the company by for the next few months. A few rays of light peek through the drab window shades, casting long shadows throughout the room. Green vegetation dot the room, slightly brightening up the grey and blue building. The man, having finished his call, stretches up and walks satisfyingly over to his window and looks out to the city below him.

Twist: Who is an entrepreneur? Society's opinion, and probably yours, is that an entrepreneur is a brave, smart, fearless and innovative person who through their charismatic leadership maintain a friendly yet working relationship with their employees. Their business starts small and grows exponentially, making big money while at the same time eventually becoming a shining symbol of their countries economies. Unfortunately, the truth cannot be further than this. For every successful start-up there are thousands that fail. To just reach a decade of existence is great challenge in itself, never mind making money.

Startling statement: After years of hard work and desperate perseverance, Wei Xingzhao finally realized that, “In the modern world, the company actually has very little power.”

Leads for Yahir

What do we use astronomy for? Local astronomy teacher, Ms Earnhart, argues that We used to use it for guidance, but now we have GPS for that. We used to use it to tell the seasons but now we have calendars for that. Nothing really. And so why study something for other than oo that’s pretty. So why is it still being taught?


“I still think it’s important and relevant for people to be learning about it because it makes think about things outside of ourselves, it makes us look beyond this little tiny speck of dust that humanity lives, it makes us humbled when we look at the vast expanse of space.” says astronomy teacher Ms Earnhart, “And studying astronomy is studying where we come from, the origins of reality itself so it’s helping us get a better picture of what reality is really like.”
Astronomy is something everybody everything should be taught about. It teaches one about history and is very intertwined with other subjects such as Greek Mythology. Senior Hannah Loopa, astronomy student, says she likes being able to look up and tell the constellations and why one god is angry at another.

Title for Sale

So, for my feature story I interviewed a Chinese entrepreneur because I thought that it would different than everyone else and give some inside info about how a company is really run. Oh, shut-up, I can already hear you moaning about how boring this is gonna be. Well, to be fair, thats what I thought at first since CEO's almost always just talk in circles, leaving you feeling confused. Fortunately, the interview went a lot better than expected. Its probably because I know him, but he was very open in saying stuff...  a bit too open in fact. I had to cut out some of his stuff when transcribing from Chinese to English (which by the way is freaking hard because people talk in Chinese a lot faster than I can type in English) because it was slightly too colorful and opinionated. It also would have probably pissed off quite a bit of people... lets just leave it at that. And no, he doesn't use child labor. 

                            
The entrance gate to his company 

I conducted the interview over the phone because I obviously wasn't gonna fly myself over to China. I couldn't do it over the computer because email is way to slow and skype doesn't exists in China (they used something called QQ instead). So, phone it was. Like I've said before, him talking in Chinese > how fast I can write. As a result, I had to record the interview and then later transcribe all the stuff that he said. Unfortunately, the recording quality left much to be desired... oh well. He also went on some pretty long rants but they were very informational and contained tons of awesome quotes. The interview in total took about 40 minutes. Overall an enjoyable experience. Not only did it go a lot better than I expected but I actually learned something from him.  

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Oh darn! (snap of the finger)

I had several interviews planned and all but one failed. Some were reliable and some were more like jokes. This doesn't make great use of your time but one has to understand that people are busy and have unexpected things that they have to attend. That just sucks.
Now MY interview went great. The interviewee, Ms Earnhart, spoke without much of a question needed to be asked and that was extremely helpful in achieving your goal of getting good quotes. I also got to explore this whole other world of astronomy she and students share during some period during the day and every Wednesday during lunch. OK now to right about what I need to write about. 
The Man.
The interview was a good and a great experience that expanded my view on astronomy as a whole. 

Monday, April 4, 2011

Ishaan Ranks the Top 10 Musicians Who I Wish Had Been 1-Hit Wonders

10. Lady Gaga


     Lady Gaga is often hailed as a musical genius. Congratulations, you've discovered how to successfully design clothing while strung out on crack! Anyone as bizarre as Lady Gaga should have had maybe 2 months in the spotlight, tops. I get expressing yourself, I do. But this is a bit much. "I saw a golden pineapple in my dream, so I knew that I had to put it in my music video."



9. Pitbull


     Pitbull annoys me to no end. All his songs sound EXACTLY the same. And it's not the good kind of exactly the same, either. Uno, dos, tres, quatro. EVERY SONG HE DOES THIS! At least Lady Gaga is amusing, in a train-wreck-Charlie-Sheen-meets-Autotune way.
8. Eminem


     Hi, Eminem. You know, at first, your raps about your drug problem were interesting. At this point, I'm about ready for you to move on. Honestly, do we have to know your life story in 4 minutes every single song? "Uhh, I was on drugs, but then I got divorced, but I have a daughter, and she's named Hailee, and I'm even more annoying than that T.G.I. Friday's server, Jenny." (I hate you, Jenny)

7. P!nk





     At first, I enjoyed your rebellious, anti-societal rambling. Your first few songs, about how you were going to steal someone's drink at a bar and leave him with the tab, and so on, were interesting. But now you have this feminist-be-yourself-rocker style, which doesn't really work. In her latest single, P!nk states "I'm done looking for the critics because they're everywhere/They don't like my jeans, they don't get my hair." No, P!nk, I have no idea what's going on there, but you should look into changing it. Can I recommend Serenity Wig Spa?

6. Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana
     Well, that's not strictly true, I would rather you were a 0-hit wonder, but I could live with an annoying song on the radio for two months or so. Why don't you go live in Shrevport with Jamie Lynn Spears and smoke crack together with your deadbeat boyfriends? Oh, wait- you already do one of those things (hint: not Shrevport.)

5. Gwyneth Paltrow


       When I first heard Gwyneth's musical debut, "Country Strong," I had many thoughts. However, none of them are appropriate for our blog, which is, of course, family-friendly. Please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please please quit. I don't know if I can take much more of you. Actually, I'm quite sure I can't handle another song. 

4. Justin Bieber


      When you first started out, you were this interesting, talented child who Usher found on YouTube. Now, he's the annoying, egotistical child whose hair I very much dislike. He's SO punchable. No joke.

3. BOB


     I don't hate BOB so much as I hate the radio for playing his songs over and over again. "Nothin' on You" was played literally every single hour. That song makes my blood pressure go up. (I totally learned what blood pressure is from House. That's a good show, by the way)

2. Ke$ha


     I thought, "This lady is no way going to last for longer than 2 months". I was wrong. So very wrong. It strikes me that Ke$ha is a former IB scholar who is an expert on cold war history who dropped out to become THIS. Really? 

1. Rebecca Black




     I know what you're saying. You're saying, "But Rebecca Black IS a one-hit wonder!" Not so. TMZ reports that she has begun work on a new single. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Military Expert: The World Could Never Survive a Real 'Battle: Los Angeles'

From "The War of the Worlds," "Independence Day," "Transformers," "The Day the Earth Stood Still," "V" and the current box office favorite, "Battle: Los Angeles," alien invasion is most definitely part of our culture -- and maybe our fears.
But, in the real world, if predatory ETs come to Earth to take us over, for whatever their reasons, could we, in fact, prevent it from happening? Could we actually survive such an attack?
Scene for War of the Worlds
"The bottom line for a hostile engagement between aliens and humans is not a pretty picture, and there is no happy ending for us," according to John Alexander, a retired Army colonel who spent 25 years searching top levels of the U.S. government for evidence of a reported UFO cover-up -- and couldn't find one.
"We know how we and animals respond when threatened -- they don't try to negotiate, they attack and defend themselves. If we're supposed to be above that, then it ought to be handled a little bit more cognitively."
From a strategic point of view, Alexander suggests that invading aliens wouldn't simply "resort to fighting our military forces directly" when there are so many easy ways to accomplish that mission.

"If they chose to use physical force, they would simply destroy our infrastructure, power, communications, transportation and economic systems. While a terribly blunt approach, it could be accomplished without any danger to the aliens, or direct confrontation with any military system."
"If depopulation of Earth is an objective, the simplest way to accomplish that would be to introduce one or more biological organisms that kill humans.
"There is no reason for them to engage in the time-consuming effort to physically eliminate the armed forces of Earth. Biological warfare would be the most efficacious, energy-efficient and safest means for them to conquer Earth. For the aliens, this is a no-risk option."


Thursday, March 31, 2011

Cricket diplomacy?

I'm sure that many people in our school are aware of the Cricket World Cup that is currently taking place. If you didn't, well now you do. Just yesterday, the highly anticipated semi-finals match between India and Pakistan took place and it is estimated that over a billion people worldwide watched India beat Pakistan by 29 runs. This match has been one of the most keenly anticipated contests between the two countries with many fans in both countries proudly displaying their pride for their team. Even the prime ministers of both countries attended the match. In Delhi, India, the skies lit up with fireworks for their teams victory and it was said to be like watching a rerun of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights.

                                    
          
         India wins much to the dismay of Pakistan fans. 

However, this match holds much more signification than just the outcome as it is also a key factor in mending the rocky relationship between Pakistan and India. Since the 2008 Mumbai attacks suspected to have been carried out by Pakistan-based militants, the relationship between Pakistan and India has been frosty and precarious. It is hoped that through this meeting and friendly competition, the ties between these two countries will improve. Already, India has said that an extremely positive and encouraging spirit has been generated as a result of yesterday's meeting. 

Do you think that Cricket or sports in general can actually mend relationships between nations? Or is this all just for publicity?

Saturday, March 26, 2011

"24": Unwatchable or Unbelievable?

TVWatch Week 2
Ishaan Golding

      WARNING: SPOILERS ARE IN THIS ARTICLE.

     If you read my last column, you would know that I love reality shows. However, in the spirit of the season, I have given them up for lent (except Survivor, of course, I have to stay alive till lent is over!) I'll tell you right now- it's worse than heroin withdrawal. I know that for a fact- I'm a faithful viewer of Intervention and My Strange Addiction, and those people deserved what they got anyway.

     Moving on- TV has so much to offer that it's hard to know where to turn next. But I enjoy controversy as much as the next person, so I decided to profile 24. 24 is a revolutionary show, for many reasons. It pushes the boundaries of what you can and can't show on TV. Since its airing in 2001, it has captivated the minds of its viewers and given them a whole new perspective on law enforcement.
The cast of Season 1 of 24- Kim Bauer (Elisha Cuthbert), Teri Bauer (Leslie Hope), Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland), President David Palmer (Dennis Haysbert), and Nina Myers (Sarah Clarke).

PROS:

     One of the best things about 24 is the format of the show. Each episode consists of one hour in the day of the Counter Terrorist Unit, a government agency dedicated to stopping foreign nationals from using their horrible nuclear/biological/conventional/kidnapping tactics on the unsuspecting population. In the meantime, each character has some sort of personal problem, which ranges from a heroin addiction to a secret baby hidden under a desk to being a mole (there is at least one mole every season, and it's always ridiculous when they're exposed, because there's no way they could possibly be a secret agent, but it's still great fun to watch anyway.) It's very smooth presentation all the way around, minus the fact that Jack Bauer can drive anywhere in southern California during a commercial break.

     Another fantastic part of 24 is the casting. Admittedly, it's not perfect (Janeane Garofolo is the. worst. FBI. agent. ever) and somehow all data analysts are women in their 20s, but for the most part, the casting is amazing. Kiefer Sutherland portrays Jack Bauer convincingly and with just the right emotional touch to make him tough yet sympathetic.

CONS: 

     Anyone can operate a gun, hack into government servers, and operate helicopters, boats, planes, and aerial drones, even when wounded. I'm willing to suspend logic for a while, but some of it is just too much.




I don't think so, blondie.


You're a senior data analyst? How old are you, 25?
   Some of the plot lines are a little shaky, too. I'm sorry- a small little African country cannot afford to bribe like half the secret service and the FBI at the same time. All government buildings are not, contrary to 24, easy to walk in and out of. Prisoners can be tortured for hours on end without anyone noticing (or caring). Sometimes, it's just ridiculous.


  Overall, despite some strange or ridiculous scenes, 24 is a fantastic show, and I give it 4 stars.




Thursday, March 24, 2011

The Search For... Abomidable Snowmen?

The Russians are actually considering opening an institute to reseach the Yeti. This seems absurd to me but its their money so yeah. They argue that the 30 Russian scientists studying yetis could work together at the planned institute. 
They've got a photograph


Yetis, or Abominable Snowmen, are hairy apelike creatures of popular myth, that are generally believed to inhabit the Himalayas. 
But some believe Russia also holds a population of yetis, which it calls Snow Men, in remote areas of Siberia such as the mountains in the southern part of Kemerovo around Tashtagol.


Yahir

The Salt Craze

Hey people. Firstly, I want to give my condolences to Japan who are dealing with a disaster of mind-boggling proportions. Not only were they devastated by one of the strongest earthquakes ever measured in history followed by a huge tsunami, but now they have to deal with a possible nuclear meltdown. What I find great is that despite being hit by an earthquake, a tsunami and then finding out that a nuclear facility might explode, there have been very little reports of looting and crazy, psycho panic occurring in Japan. 

However, the same cannot be said about its neighbor to the West. So what are the Chinese so afraid of? Nuclear Radiation. Its funny that despite being 750 miles away and having zero reasons to fear (the wind from Japan blows to the East), the Chinese people are actually more scared than the Japanese are. They are absolutely terrified that the Japanese nuclear facility will explode and cause them to be infected with radiation poisoning. So, the Chinese decided to take preemptive measures, namely by stocking up on SALT. Apparently, the Chinese heard that iodine was useful in protecting against radiation poisoning and the only thing they could think of that had iodine in it was salt. And thus begins the salt craze. See the pictures and understand how crazy it actually got.

                                 

                           

                                

                                

Even in Chengdu which is over 2000 miles away, people were climbing over each other to buy cartons of salt. Salt got SUPER expensive, growing to a price over 1000 times the normal. With everyone getting enough salt to last around, say 100 years (see above picture), the supermarkets understandably ran out of salt pretty quickly. So, with salt sold out, desperate people started turning to stuff that are salty, like soy sauce...

                                                              
Soy sauce definitely has iodine in it...

I know that one of you is bound to say, "Oh, but salt does have iodine in it, so it is helpful." Yeah, if you eat 7 pounds of it. Good luck not dying in 1 week. With that said, how do you feel about this issue? Of course its funny but its also terrifying at the same time. The Chinese people didn't actually think as to why they are getting salt, its just everyone else was doing it so people followed in suit. Remember that this craze is over NOTHING. Radiation is very unlikely to affect or even reach China at all. Can anyone help explain this situation? 

d c

Friday, March 11, 2011

Why's there a crack on the road?

FYI, the biggest earthquake to ever hit JAPAN acually  hit JAPAN today. That thing made cracks in so many places and even had enough power to make a freakin' tsunami that killed a yet unknown number of people.
Even though the earthquake has stopped there is quite a bit of damage done to the country. The hardest-hit areas are the farms in the low-lands where homes were sweeped away and cars could now be used as boats.


The Fire Department is on their Way!
The PM of the country pulled the fire alarm and called both the local fire department and even the fire department in the next town.
President Obama announced that another U.S. aircraft carrier was en route to assist another warship already off the coast of Japan, and other U.S. naval vessels were poised to provide relief throughout the Pacific areas inundated or threatened by the tsunami that continued to roll across the ocean.

Japan has mobilized more than 8,000 troops and 300 aircraft to evacuate those stranded and move those displaced to areas where they can be sheltered and fed, Cabinet Minister Yukio Edano said. President Obama announced that another U.S. aircraft carrier was en route to assist another warship already off the coast of Japan, and other U.S. naval vessels were poised to provide relief throughout the Pacific areas inundated or threatened by the tsunami that continued to roll across the ocean.

Redemption or Remission? The Debate about "Beyond Scared Straight"

TVWATCH
WEEK ONE

     A&E's newest hit drama documentary "Beyond Scared Straight" doesn't fall far from the tree. After all, it airs on A&E, the channel behind the disturbing "Intervention" and the bizarre yet entrancing "Dog the Bounty Hunter". However, "Beyond Scared Straight" has attracted the ire of TV watchdogs and children's rights groups like no other program, for one reason: it features juvenile delinquents.

     In the most recent episode, which featured female juveniles in the Jessup Correctional Facility, the teenage miscreants arrived as you would expect them to- flippant, arrogant, and contemptuous. But their resistance quickly began to dissolve when they met the inmates. It was very fulfilling to watch these irritating girls (sans fighter/shoplifter Brandi, whom I identified with) have tearful meltdowns in front of intimidating women who gleefully informed them of their horrifically violent criminal backgrounds. "Green Eyes", an intimindating murderer with a life sentence took particular issue with the disrespectful youth, dragging at least 3 inmates off-camera and doing who-knows-what to them (they didn't have attitude problems after that, so I suppose it worked.)


As the California budget crisis increased, the stringent requirements for youth counselors became looser, and looser, and looser, until Green Eyes happened.


     The inmates' fear and intimidation tactics, such as locking poor Brandi in a solitary confinement cell and forcing her to sit on the toilet, introducing the juvenile delinquents to various insane prisoners who had lost it over the years, and forcing the inmates to walk through the graves of prisoners who had been murdered during their incarceration, were disturbing. I was beginning to think this show was just a shock-and-awe program with no real value.



See: programs with no real value.*

     I was wrong. After the juveniles left the prison, they went through what seems to me like an impossible metamorphosis. Brandi hasn't assaulted anyone since the prison visit. Kassandra quit selling marijuana and cut down on her truancy. Megan wrote a heartbreaking letter of apology to the owner of the store she shoplifted (full of spelling mistakes, but I digress). It was incredible to see just how far they'd come from their criminal backgrounds. It was truly inspirational, not to mention entertaining, and it is one of the finest television programs I have had the privilege to see. Overall, I give it:




     Don't forget to catch TVWatch next week- my review won't be quite as complimentary, but it'll still be enjoyable! Brought to you by Buy The Best PC, an extremely helpful website which allows you to compare and contrast computers and computer parts.

-Ishaan

     *I kid, I kid.