Volume 5 Issue 10

TO THE COMMUNITIES OF STUYVESANT HIGH SCHOOL, TRIBECA, AND BATTERY PARK CITY

The Stuyvesant Standard “Your School, Your World—Your News” 

Volume V, Issue 10

January 18, 2006

Gadgets at Their Finest:   The 2006 Consumer   Electronics Show 

Continued on Page 9

BY HANFORD CHIU STAFF WRITER While advocacy groups for children in public schools seek to ban sugary drinks from public schools, several colleges are also seeking to ban Coca-Cola products. These colleges are motivated not out of health

concerns but from concern with the way they allege Coca-Cola manages factories in other countries. On January 1, the University of Michigan banned the sale of CocaCola products on its premises after a similar move by New York UniverContinued on Page 6

Killer Coke

The holiday season may be over, but electronics companies are already preparing a whole new lineup of products to stuff the stockings of the exceptionally good. The Winter Consumer Electronics Show, which ran from January 5 to 8 in Las Vegas, showcased some of what consumers can expect. If any grand new idea dominated the show, it was the concept of the "digital homes." Industry giant Microsoft demonstrated a central home display that helps families track their members, listing itineraries and location. Wireless technology let computers, televisions and cell phones all talk to each other in

Citing Abuses, Colleges Ban  Coca‐Cola From Campus  Associated Press

BY JACOB ARLUCK COPY CHIEF

Free

Sharp’s flat-panel TV display at the 2006 Consumer Electronics Show. College students are advocating to ban the sale of Coca-Cola after questions arose concerning the company’s business ethics.

A Search for Answers After a  Deadly Accident  tated to have learnt that the first rescuers didn’t go into the mine until 11 hours after the blast. Jim BenWidows, families, and friends net, 61, one of the victims who opgathered together at a small mining erated the mine’s shuttle car wrote a town in West Virginia to begin the note documenting his final hours wrenching process of bidding farewhile trapped, indicating that he well to the 12 miners who were was still trapped lucid 10 underground Ribbons line the fence as a memorial to the twelve minhours after and killed in ers who died at the Sago, West Virginia mine. the blast. an exploOfficials sion at the claimed that Sago Mine it was necon January essary to 2. The disclear out aster was poisonous the worst gases that coal-mining have filled accident in the mine. West VirThe miners ginia since were even1968, when t u a l l y 78 miners were killed in an explobrought out more than 40 hours after sion near Farmington. the explosion. As the town lay their fallen Meanwhile, the mining disasminers’ bodies to rest in separate ter’s lone survivor, Randal McCloy funerals, families and onlookers Jr., showed dramatic improvement were still struggling to cope with the despite remaining in critical condiawful ordeal of having a false report tion and was stable enough to show declare that most of the men had he is “awake underneath our coma,” survived the disaster. Only three as his physician Dr. Richard Shanhours later, their hopes were shatnan said. tered when just one miner was McCloy, 26, was taken off sebrought out alive. The others died dation and has been breathing withfrom carbon monoxide intoxication. out the help of a ventilator and is Family members are also devas-

New Computers   in the Library 

BY DEREK WENG JUNIOR STAFF WRITER

BY AMY LEUNG SENIOR STAFF WRITER Over the holiday break, fifteen new computers and two high-speed printers were installed in the library.

Continued on Page 2

TSS/Henry Zhang

Reuters

In coming weeks, four terminals will be set up at the technology desk for students to print documents and to conduct research with tools like Continued on Page 2

Students can now take advantage of new, working computers in the school library.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE -------------News...........................2-4 Business......................6-7 Opinions.....................6 Literary.......................7

Puzzles..............................8 Science……………….......9 Arts & Entertainment........10-11 Sports................................11-12

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January 18, 2006 News

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

 

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

New Computers in the Library

Founded 2001 

Continued from Page 1

“Your School, Your World—Your News” 

J-STOR, a database of scholarly articles. The new computers were the result of a $13,000 grant from the Chase Charitable Foundation. According to library officials, the library had just four working computers before the recent upgrades, all of them outdated. The computers were actually received earlier in the term, but were not installed due to a work backlog facing the school's computer staff. Students have responded very positively to these new computers, but some have encountered problems. According to librarians, some students are "configuring backgrounds and playing games" on the

Executive Leadership Team DR. JOHN NIKOL WINNIE LEE SHO UEMURA JESSICA THAM W INNIE DU JACOB ARLUCK LAURA HAN JENNIFER SCHLESINGER YANJ IE HOU JENNIFER WONG OSMAN NEMLI DEEP PARIKH MELISSA CHAN LADA KUKUY KAREN LIU KATIE BANKS DANIEL EGERS (‘03) ERNEST BASKIN (‘04)

FACULTY ADVISER EDITOR IN CHIEF M ANAGING EDITOR CHIEF F INANCIAL OFFICER LAYOUT EDITOR COPY CHIEF IN SCHOOL NEWS EDITOR OUT OF SCHOOL NEWS EDITOR OPINIONS EDITOR ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR SPORTS EDITOR SCIENCE EDITOR BUSINESS EDITOR LITERARY EDITOR WEBMASTER DIRECTOR OF PHOTOJOURNALISM FOUNDER EDITOR EMERITUS

Publication THE STUYVESANT STANDARD is a nonprofit and nonpartisan publication produced by the students of Stuyvesant High School. THE STUYVESANT STANDARD distributes 2,000 free copies on a bi-weekly basis to the students and faculty of Stuyvesant High School and throughout the adjoining neighborhoods of TriBeCa and Battery Park City. THE STUYVESANT STANDARD welcomes letters from its readers. THE STUYVESANT STANDARD reserves the right to edit any published material. The viewpoints of contributors do not necessarily reflect the views of the Standard staff.

computers. Officials also voiced complaints about students "breaking through the firewalls" and "printing a large number of pages," slowing down the printer and using up reams of paper. Nonetheless, the convenience and availability of computers and printing is a boon to the students. There is a shorter wait time for computers as students who are not using the computers for work are asked to get off. Sophomore Ivana Ng said, "It's great that there are so many computers now. They [librarians] also keep a stricter watch on people who play games, so now we don't have to wait so long to use a computer." ◙

Seniors Want to personalize your yearbook? Have your name stamped in gold foil on the cover of your yearbook. Interested? Stop by the table in front of room 209 and learn more. Is there a cost? Sure, but remember, you’re worth it! Deadline to sign up is January 27th.

Copyright ©2006 THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

Contact Us Please direct all correspondence to: THE STUYVESANT STANDARD 345 Chambers Street New York, NY 10282-1000 [email protected] Find us on the web at www.stuystandard.org

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A Search for Answers After a Deadly Accident Continued from Page 1

undergoing hyperbaric oxygen treatment, which forces pressurized oxygen into the body to treat carbon monoxide poisoning. Until McCloy comes out of the coma, doctors will be unable to assess the full extent of the damage. Even as the closely knit mining community grieves for the lost, others are closely following the investigation of the accident. Chief Executive Ben Hatfold, of the International Coal Group Inc, whose company was responsible for the troubled coal mine, said in a statement that the mine’s fan was working and circulating air. After the explosion, rescuers had to follow state and federal laws that require a methodical approach to avoid rescuers getting trapped, injured or killed themselves. Hatfold also told the Associated Press that “It is painful, and it’s slow, and it was maddening as we were all just doing our level best as we were attempting to get there…And we’re going to do our best to make sure that families understand.” Experts said many things could

have led to the explosion that occurred in a vacant section of the mine recently sealed with 40-inch thick concrete. A lightning strike or a spark from the miners’ equipment could have ignited potentially explosive methane gas trapped inside the sealed chamber. Federal inspectors have fined the mine for more than 270 safety citations in the last two years. Many of the safety citations were for violations that could potentially have set off explosions and shaft collapses. According to government records, the mine operators knew about the violations but failed to address them. In response to the disaster, state and federal mining experts immediately opened an investigation of the explosion. Senator Robert C. Byrd, Democrat of West Virginia, said “the families of the Sago miners deserve to know what happened in that mine, just as importantly, miners and their families across this country want to know that steps are being taken to prevent others from ever experiencing such pain.” ◙

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

Border Control is Tightened in Effort to  Stop Illegal Immigrants  gration laws they are going to be sent home and they are going to stay at home." The civilian group Minuteman

delayed implementation of "interior repatriation." This means returning illegal immigrants from Mexico into the interior of the country rather

Associated Press

BY EMMA RABINOVICH STAFF WRITER Despite a 60% increase in border security spending since President Bush took office, illegal immigration into the U.S. continues to rise. In fact, estimates of the number of illegal immigrants have more than tripled over the past two decades. The Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005, passed by Congress last December, is an attempt to address the problem. The law provides for 700 miles of fencing across the Mexican border, as well as accelerated deportation proceedings, and increased penalties for immigrant smuggling. Illegal immigrants would be labeled as felons, and as a result, would never be able to gain legal status. Federal aid to cities that provide services to these illegal immigrants would be restricted and the number of legal immigrants allowed to enter the country would be reduced, as well. President Bush has also shown support for the plan, but so far has

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January 18, 2006 News

Poles like these are being installed along stretches of the Mexican border as a deterrent to smugglers.

Civil Defense Corps conducted its own border patrol last year. The group drew great opposition from immigrant rights advocates and was called a “vigilante group” by members of the Bush Administration. George Taplin, president of the

than simply over the border, in an effort to make it harder for immigrants to simply try to sneak over the border again. "We're going to expand interior repatriation," Bush said. "We want to make it clear [that] when they violate U.S. immi-

Minutemen, defended the group. “I think the names are misplaced. We're not trying to tighten up the borders; we're trying to bring attention to the problem. We've done so. If you've noticed, the president has shifted his position on immigration, and Congress is now working on it,” he said. Bush has said he wants to convince illegal aliens to register with the government under a guest worker program that matches people with jobs for three years after which they are returned to their home countries. Arizona Republican Sen. John Kyl has supported Bush on this point and sponsored an immigration bill with a similar agenda. "The enforcement will be so stringent that any employer, who tries to employ them, will be caught," said Kyl. Senators John McCain, Republican of Arizona and Edward Kennedy, Democrat of Massachusetts, have sponsored legislation to give illegal aliens in the United States visas for up to six years. After that time expires, they must leave the country if they have not received a green card, which indicates lawful permanent residency. With so many programs in the works, senators and the president hope to stop the growing population of illegal aliens while providing for the 11 million already living in the country. ◙

Wildfires Sweep Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma  Since December 26, more than 80,000 acres of grassland in Texas have been consumed with wildfires, resulting in the destruction of 278 homes. In drought stricken areas of Oklahoma and New Mexico, the number of burned acres has reached 600,000 with 470 destroyed houses and 5 deaths. In Texas firefighters reported that in the course of a single day 72 homes were destroyed, 174 saved, and 3,200 residents in Montaigue

As “Fallout Boy” Would  Say “Dance, Dance”  BY ANNA GINZBURG STAFF WRITER On January 6, the Stuyvesant Student Union, held a New Year’s dance to welcome in 2006. The dance was held from 6 P.M. to 10 P.M., with a $4 admission fee; students with the Stuyvesant Advantage card saved a dollar. The Special Events Committee of the SU, headed by Special Events Director Amanda Wallace, organized the dance. DJ Phil was booked for the second time this year, spinning many popular tracks. A special Stuy Squad performance that left many in awe. As for the turnout, Junior President Michael Tsidulko said before

acre active blaze that threatened seven homes near Erath County was also calmed, according to the Texas

County evacuated. In Sterling County, 120 miles west of Dallas, a 20,000-acre fire was also burning out of control, the state Department of Emergency Management reported. In Eastland County, near the town of Carbon, 15,000 acres had burned and 35 homes were destroyed. Texan firefighters were successful in containing several fires. On January 4, a 50,000-acre wildfire that stretched across Irion and Reagan counties west of San Angelo was contained. In addition a 6,000-

the event, “I think this dance is going to be a success. The SU has done pretty well with the dances this year, and the fact that we're just getting off a vacation filled with holiday celebrations and New Year's parties should add to the turnout.” And in fact, the turnout was high, with a total of about 400 people. While the dance officially began at 6 P.M., the dancing did not really rev up until an hour later. Once students felt more comfortable dancing, everybody enjoyed the reggae and had a wonderful time. Junior Maria Kucheryavaya explained, “I think the dance was very successful. Many of my little sibs showed up and so did my friends.” ◙

Associated Press

BY BENNETT HONG STAFF WRITER

A helicopter attempts to suppress a grass fire in rural Texas.

Forest Service. Since November 1, a total of 363,341 acres have been consumed in Oklahoma, 220 homes have been destroyed, and 2 people have died, as a result of grass fires. Correspondingly, only a quarter-inch of rain has been recorded in Oklahoma City since then, and forecasters predict “no significant precipitation” in the next several days, leaving the surrounding Plains tinder-dry. A state wide ban on burning has been in effect since November 15 and has recently been extended to include prohibitions of campfires

and outdoor charcoal grilling and stricter requirements on outdoor welding. “We need people to continue to be diligent. I know it might be tempting to go outside and do some things that might initiate a spark, but if they can bear with us, it will not last forever,” said state fire information officer C.J. Norvell. However, legal bans have had no effect on unlawful people. Recently, on January 2, the son of a retired fire chief, Justin Wilkerson, was charged with setting four fires, one of which seriously damaged a vacant house. The next day, an arson-started fire that destroyed one home and an 80-year old schoolhouse was contained in Shamrock. In New Mexico, on January 3, firefighters contained a grass fire that blackened more than 53, 000 acres in the southeastern section of the state, destroying 10 homes and three barns west. Recently, the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced that it had approved requests from Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico for assistance from the nation’s Disaster Relief Fund to aid in firefighting efforts. However, once again, nature has proven her formidability as Army National Guard helicopters that were used to battle the fires have been grounded because of high winds and limited visibility. “We need rain in the forecast, and we need it quick,” said Oklahoma Cit y Ma yor Mick Cornett. Unfortunately, the recent trend has been high temperatures, high winds, and low humidity. ◙

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January 18, 2006 News

Club   Spotlight 

Stuy Squad  BY APRIL DALEY JUNIOR STAFF WRITER

During these practices, directors teach choreography and prepare for the annual show. Jazz, Step, Belly Dancing, Reggae, and two Girls’ Hip-Hop sections. Although most members belong to the hip-hop section, the other sections are not lacking members. Two new sections were added this year, Belly Dancing and Step. Because of these various sections, the club rarely is able to have all members practice in a single room. Each section meets on a day designated by the crew director. During these practices, directors teach choreography and prepare for the annual show. Yet besides the choreography and dance advisory Stuy Squad has something else to offer: camaraderie. Spending hours working with other dancers seems to form a bond among Stuy students. “I wasn’t really into dance and now that I’ve joined, I’ve had so much fun and I’m so happy that I decided to do this,” said junior Ilona Lazis. Despite this eagerness for membership, Stuy Squad only currently accepts members in the beginning of the year through an audition process designed to give prospective members a glimpse of what the rest of the year will be like. Although plans for the club during SING! Season are uncertain, Stuy Squad seems to give no indication of stopping. In the words of Vice-President Tamika Tannis, “We’re a group of people who dance. We’re just trying to make people who are interested in dance better dancers.” ◙ If you would like to have your club or publication featured in The Standard, send an e-mail to [email protected].

New Year’s Resolutions 

Come New Years, many Americans make a list of the resolutions more, to quit smoking or drinking, they would like keep during upcomand to get out of ing year. After debt. Others may about a month, resolve to learn With fewer resolumost break them. something new, to Some have altions to keep, fulfillvolunteer, or to get read y broken ing them is less organized. theirs. There is no easy According to stressful. way for many to polls, the top keep their resoluresolutions for tions. Judith Orloff, a physiologist, 2006 are to spend more time with wrote a book about this issue. She relatives and friends, to exercise said that many Americans begin more, to lose weight, to enjoy life their problems by starting out with

lengthy lists. Instead, she says, people should make a few practical resolutions. With fewer resolutions to keep, fulfilling them is less stressful. Then, people should break down their goals. Carol Nak, a psychiatrist, believes that people should constantly remind themselves of their goals. “Remind yourself that maybe you tried this before,” she said, “but this time you’re going to get it right. Start being more honest with yourself.” ◙

New Year’s Eve 2006 in Times Square  Reuters

If you know anything about dance at Stuy, then chances are you have heard of Stuy Squad, headed by senior Gregory Lee, the president, and vice presidents Hannah Frieman and Tamika Tannis, both juniors. Founded three years ago by Aija Minnis ’04, Stuy Squad has gradually made its presence known. With annual shows that showcase its talents, Stuy Squad continues to draw many new members every year. There is no bribery, no promises of candy, or favors. Members are lured simply because they “like to dance,” said President Gregory Lee. Its sixty plus members are dispersed throughout seven sections:

BY NOUSIN HAQUE STAFF WRITER

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

BY ANNA GINZBURG JUNIOR STAFF WRITER Sixty seconds before midnight, the 1,070-pound ball covered with 504 Waterford crystal triangles began to drop. The ball, which was engraved with the names of those who were lost in the World Trade Center attacks, featured 696 multicolored light bulbs, 96 high intensity strobe lights, and 90 rotating pyramid mirrors. During the afternoon of New Year’s Eve, people began to arrive in Times Square. By approximately 6:00 P.M., Times Square was fully closed to traffic. Police began directing people to designated viewing section in an effort to control the crowds. Revelers were kept excited by a special 30-second video countdown to mark the end of each hour starting at 6:58. The wireless surround system specially engineered for the Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration. At 9:30p.m the Times Square Business Improvement District had sanitation crews distribute thousands of freebies, including American flags, glittering multi-color

Crowds at Times Square on New Year’s Eve.

pom-poms, single-use cameras, bright red and blue balloons, and "Official Times Square Confetti Bags." Finally the moment everybody was waiting for came. The crowds watched as the beautiful descended 77 feet in the final minute. Once it had descended the countdown was over and so was 2005. Many left to attend after-parties while others

stayed to watch performances by Mariah Carey and others. The MTV headquarters at the heart of Times Square proclaimed Carey as the Woman of the Year on their New Years Eve Show. But she was not the only star present, and other performers such as Chris Brown and the All American Rejects were present to lift the crowd into celebration. ◙

Mourners Remember those   Who Died in the Tsunami  BY NEETA MALVIYA STAFF WRITER One year has past since a deadly tsunami devastated nearly a dozen countries near the Indian Ocean on December 24, 2004. An estimated 216,000 people lost their lives that day. “It was so brutal, so quick, and so extensive that we are still struggling to fully comprehend it,” said U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Survivors and relatives gathered at beaches and temples to grieve. In Thailand, survivors sent a boat adorned with flowers, candles, and incense out to sea. On the Andaman Islands, residents tossed paper lanterns into the sky in memory. Along India’s southern shore, thousands gathered to visit gravesites and share stories of their lost loved ones.

India, and Sri Lanka. "It was under the same blue A tsunami warning system in sky, exactly one year ago, that Sumatra, Indonesia is currently in Mother Earth unleashed her most the works and was destructive power tested for the first upon us," said Intime on December 26, donesian President “It was so brutal, 2005. A ringing siren Susilo Bambang so quick, and so ex- alerts people to Yudhoyono at a evacuate. Residents ceremony in tensive that we are of Sumatra practiced Banda Aceh. still struggling to evacuating to desigThe tsunami nated areas. The drill resulted in one of fully comprehend back memothe largest outit,” -U.N. Secretary, brought ries of the tsunami. pourings of forGeneral Kofi Annan India’s warning syseign aid ever, tem is said to be in some $13 billion. place by 2007. A MaReconstruction, laysian warning system is also being however, is far from complete. set up. No such system is in place Eighty percent of those left homefor Thailand. Coastal hotels and less due to the tsunami still do not resorts may not be prepared if anhave a permanent residence. A total other tsunami comes. ◙ of 308,000 homes are needed to house tsunami victims of Indonesia,

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

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January 18, 2006

INDICATOR 2006 Stuyvesant High School’s Yearbook The Indicator is offering you the opportunity to send a congratulatory message to your child. To be printed in the 2006 senior class yearbook. Yearbook pages are available for personal or business advertisements. The advertising contract can be completed as follows: 1. Please check a box to specify the size of the space desired. 2. Enclose a piece of paper with a message, photo, drawing, business card or other material you would like featured in your ad space. 3. Checks should be made payable to Stuyvesant High School Indicator 2006. 4. Send the signed contract with the advertisement and payment check to the address on the enclosed envelope. 5. If you would like to make a donation and become a Patron or Sponsor for the Indicator, your contribution would be greatly appreciated.

Sponsor = $15.00

Patron = $25.00

ALL ADS MUST BE RECEIVED BY MARCH 1, 2006 Thank you for your support of the graduating class of 2006. Contact Mr. Lonardo, Hyemin Park or Jennifer Tsang if you have any questions at [email protected] (212)312-4800 ext.2510; [email protected] (718)543-8942; [email protected] (718)961-5331 respectively. Ad Sizes and Prices Full Page 8 1/2 x 11 $300.00 Sincerely, Half Page 8 1/2 x 11 $175.00 Hyemin Park, Indicator Business Editor Quarter Page 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 $90.00 Jennifer Tsang, Indicator Business Editor Eighth Page 4 1/4 x 2 3/4 $50.00 James Lonardo, Indicator Faculty Advisor _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Business Agreement Indicator 2006 1. Prices for advertisement and ad dimensions can be found in the letter above. 2. We reserve the right to edit or refuse all advertisements which we find to include offensive material such as but not limited to (drug use, nudity, smoking, consumption of alcoholic beverages, obscenities, racial and/or ethnic slurs.) 3. If desired, the Indicator Layout Staff can prepare you advertisement at no extra fee. 4. I hereby agree to the provisions stated above. Signature: _____________________________ __________________________________ Date: __________________________________ Printed Name: _____________________________________________________________

Stuyvesant Student Photo Calendar Contest Deadline January 23, 2006 The Stuyvesant PA invites all Stuy students to submit their photographs. The photo should represent ‘A Slice of Life at Stuy’. Suggestions: First day of school, Halloween, Holidays, Stuy events (Camp Stuy, SING, sports…). Twelve photographs will be selected to be printed in a July 2006-June 2007 desktop calendar presented in a CD case. The calendar will be used for Parent Association Fundraising. Winners will be invited to the Lunar Feast Fundraising Dinner on March 3, 2006. You will also receive a thank you certificate from the PA for your winning submission to add to your portfolio. The calendars will be $10 and sold at the Lunar Feast Fundraising Dinner and at PA meetings. The deadline for all submissions is 12:01AM Monday morning on January 23, 2006. One photo entry per student. The photographs will be judged by members of the PA Silent Auction Committee on January 28, 2006. The decision made by the judges is final. Photo release forms will be required to be signed if your photo is selected for the calendar. Please email your submissions to Hannah Li: [email protected]. Include your name, email, phone # and class (freshman, sophomore, junior, senior). All submissions should be: -emailed -Jpg file -at least 1 meg -untouched -taken from a digital camera or camera phone -color photo is preferred If you have any questions, please contact Hannah Li.

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January 18, 2006 Business/Opinions

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

Point-Counterpoint Helping Our Enemies?  BY HANFORD CHIU STAFF WRITER Anyone who owns a television or a computer can keep up with the latest developments in the Iraq war. It is also probable that people have access to combat operations, statistics, raw photos and the current scandals such as the unfounded initial cause of the Iraq war. The existence of all of these sensitive and

Unfortunately, today’s media lost its sense of loyalty to America and has long crossed the line of betrayal. morale damaging information stems from an uncontrolled media which will dole out any type of news relating to the war which might capture the attention of Americans and terrorists alike all for the sake of profit. Such a philosophy may cost America the war, not just our reputation. The extensive reports on the negative aspects of the war by the liberal media, such as the poor intelligence reports surrounding the premises of war, the Abu Gharib scandal, and the general condition of Iraq for soldiers, have incited

much anti-American sentiment, around the world and in America. For example, Bush’s approval ratings on Iraq War have been slipping over the past few months, hitting a low of 32% in October which occurred after media reports of the new death tolls in Iraq. In other countries, Muslims have a mainly pessimistic view of the US, mainly because of their local networks like Al-Jazeera, and the America media itself. The raw photos of Abu Gharib prominently displayed in many American newspapers after the event only served to anger the Muslim community even more and further encouraged the strings of kidnapping of foreigners in Iraq. If the media had such a negative attitude during WWII, the people and soldiers would have been drained of their patriotism and reverted back to isolationism and allowed Hitler to conquer all of Europe. Unfortunately, today’s media lost its sense of loyalty to America and has long crossed the line of betrayal. If our president were not as determined as he is, he may have already surrendered the war to dictators and terrorists based on the mounting dissident protests against the war. Perhaps it is time for the press to stop focusing on its identity as the media and more on their duties as Americans. ◙

Is Security Worth   Our Freedom?  BY ALVIS YUEN STAFF WRITER Everyday we can read about the events of Iraq and Afghanistan in the newspapers. However, there are some people who wish to take away this right to knowledge. The American public knows about these events only through the media. Currently, the media is not restricted in the events it covers. However, some

Censorship for the sake of security will undermine the very reason we fought this war and risked our security. argue that the media should not be allowed complete freedom during times of crisis because such uncensored coverage reduces the morale of the U.S troops overseas and puts the security of the country at risk. These ideas, however, are baseless and short-sighted. Media coverage during wartime does not necessarily reduce the morale of the troops; in fact, it can produce the opposite effect. The media increases troops’ morale by giving soldiers a

sense of acknowledgement by the populace for their valiant actions. And while the security of the nation might be slightly compromised due to unrestricted coverage during wartime, we pay an even more significant price if we restrict media coverage. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are fought to spread freedom. More than two thousand soldiers have died to preserve our freedoms and rights. America is a symbol of freedom. Censorship for the sake of security will undermine the very reason we fought this war and risked our security. It is oxymoronic for the American government to take away our rights to protect them. The government was created to ensure and protect our undeniable rights, such as the freedom of the media. The media also monitor the actions of the government. Therefore, not only is freedom of expression inherent, freedom of media is necessary. Before rushing to support the government’s actions to limit media coverage, we must first consider the implications. Before we irreversibly place the power of media into the hands of the government, we must first consider its consequences. The decision: Freedom or Security. Is it worth it? ◙

Pop Goes the Housing Bubble  BY STEPHANIE TAM STAFF WRITER “What goes up must come down,” or so the old saying goes. But is this the case for U.S. housing prices? Housing bubbles occur periodically in local or global real estate markets. They are characterized by rapid increases in the price of real estate relative to income and other economic indicators. Will the housing bubble burst? What will happen if it does? And

Englund and others attribute the current boom to a glut of borrowing… The average American household has $10,000 of credit card debt. what impact will it have on society? Economic specialists say that the housing bubble is close to bursting. The main question is when. Eric Englund, an analyst who has an MBA from Boise State University,

speculates that it will begin to burst around December 2006. He said: “Ultimately, we have a housing boom built on credit and not savings which has lead to labor and materials shortages and has lead to over leveraged consumers. This is why I see a bust – as indicated by accelerating mortgage defaults and a general decline in housing prices – commencing well before June of 2007.” Englund and others attribute the current boom to a glut of borrowing, sparked by low interest rates in the past five years. The average American household has $10,000 of credit card debt. Analysts who agree with Englund include Mark Zandi, chief economist at the consulting firm Economy.com, and Phillip Neuhart, an economic analyst with the Wachovia Corporation. In an interview from December of 2005, Mark Zandi said that “Housing has peaked. […] All indications are that sales will weaken further in the months ahead.” Neuhart said, “We're predicting a 3 to 5 percent decline in new home sales next year, which is not a crash-and-burn sce-

nario. We're predicting a soft landing, but a landing nevertheless.” Other evidence suggests that the boom may already be ending. Americans bought far fewer new homes than expected in November and the number of unsold homes that builders are carrying jumped to a record high. The Commerce Department reported that about 1,245,000 new single-family homes were sold in November at an annual rate, a pre-

cipitous drop of 11.3 percent from October's all-time high and the biggest monthly drop in almost 12 years. A fall in housing prices may have positive effects, however. Many families, priced out of houses in the current boom, are waiting for prices to fall before buying. And once these homes become more affordable, these people will start buying, preventing the market from falling too far. ◙

Publish pieces reflecting your thoughts and ideas! Send your work to [email protected] Let your voice be heard!

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

January 18, 2006 Business/Literary

On a Physics Teacher’s Birthday BY ROBERT STEVENSON STAFF WRITER

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The Dangling Conversation BY PENNY MALAMUD STAFF WRITER

Forces, Vectors, Motion, Work, Physics lingo that makes me smirk. Friction, Gravity, and Mass Are all things that Physics has. This poem’s Purpose is Complicated But here is why, At First, I made it: I wanted to find for you the Coefficient of Friction of Glue. After Hours of Computations, My Brain Shut Down from all the Information. And so, I put the problem aside And this is what I came to Decide. Since You’ve Taught me so many things, You are now crowned the

Physics King.

Train Track BY JENNIFER LEE STAFF WRITER The station window looked plastic. I longed to spread my fingers out and press my palm against the door, but I watched the sky instead. Inside this quiet train, no one whispered a word. It was always quiet on the M. And it wasn’t too hot in here. I could feel the cold tendrils of the AC tickle my hair on my neck. Shivers. The sky is cotton blue. Wisps of clouds high beyond reach. It’s turning into night. I unwind my gaze from the sky to a girl next to the door. I can tell she craves for attention. Tight green top and frizzed curly black hair. A cheap black handbag made to look expensive. She looks tough though. Skin of caramel frappacino and dark exotic eyes. She makes everything look so easy.

It’s War BY ROBERT STEVENSON STAFF WRITER

"Isolationism is a human practice," she says. She thumbs through the recipe booklet. "What will today's delicacy be?" "So is loneliness," I reply. I look over her shoulder, sigh. "Nothing sweet, please." She shakes her head, turns to another section of the book. "Loneliness isn't a practice, Shiri, it's the human condition." She looks intently at the pages. "How about Frogmore Stew?" "Disgusting," I reply. "Pick something else." She sighs, “Unconscious escapism born of guilt.” It pulls a bark of a laugh out of me, “You can’t eat escapism.” “You can eat escapees,” she says, a smile flickering and disappearing. “How about Vienna Schnitzel?” “You’re always so morbid,” I say, but I don’t disagree. She nods and begins gathering the ingredients. I turn on the stove, prepare the pots and pans. We fall into our daily routine so easily. “If isolationism is a human practice, what is this?” I ask her. “I told you before, unconscious escapism born of guilt.” The words are exasperated, but her tone isn’t. We’ve been through this before. “We can’t accept that we are all there is, so we cling to another person. It never lasts.” I never agree with her. “It always has before.” “Before what?” I love hearing her laugh, hate when it’s at me. “There was nothing before this.” She whirls around the kitchen. “This is all there is.” "Virtue. You don't need a reason to help people." (Zidane) "Devotion. Someday I will be queen, but I will always be myself." (Garnet) "Despair. To be forgotten is worse than death." (Freya) "Dilemma. Having sword fealty, must I spend my life in servitude?" (Steiner) "Sorrow. How do you prove that you exist...? Maybe we don't exist..." (Vivi) "Indulgence. I do what I want, you have problem!?" (Quina)

The world is strengthening, The cries are deafening. So I shed a salty tear,

"Solitude. I don't wanna be alone anymore..." (Eiko)

Citing Abuses, Colleges Ban Coca-Cola from Campus fortunate. The actual volume in terms of sales is small but it is the sity in December, following longlarger issue of our reputation, these term concerns with the company’s allegations are false environmental pracbut we do share the tices in India as well concerns with isas labor practices in On January 1, 2005, sues." Colombia. In May In India, Coca-Cola the University of 2005, a dozen uniis accused of disversities formed a Michigan banned tributing worthless commission to inthe sale of Cocaand hazardous fervestigate the company's labor pracCola on its premises tilizers to local farmers that are tices in Colombia after a similar move made of its factory with the company’s byproducts. Critics by New York Unipermission, but the also said that company and the versity in December. have the company concommission could taminated groundnot agree on water with factory runoff. whether the findings should be adThe company’s Colombian afmissible in a lawsuit against Cocafiliate is accused of hiring paramiliCola on similar matters. Since the tary groups to eliminate union activdeadline of Dec. 31, 2005 set for all ists and leaders in its factories. parties to agree to the terms for the The company’s stock price commission’s investigation was not dropped slightly after the move, but met, Michigan stopped the purchase the impact on its sales volume will of Coca-Cola products temporarily. likely be small, as Coca-Cola is still Coca-Cola has denied these available off-campus. ◙ allegations, and a spokesperson for the company said, “It is a very unContinued from Page 1

With death drawing ever near. The taste of rotting flesh seeps into my tongue, As the nightingale’s melancholy tune is sung. With anger burning in my heart, Sorrow strikes me with its dart. Bodies strewn across the abyss, Death blew its mesmerizing kiss. The soldiers lying lifeless in the trench, Paying no attention to the pungent stench. What’s all this for? It’s war.

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January 18, 2006 Puzzles

Last Issue’s Solutions  Crossword Puzzle E D I T M O D E

A V I V M I N I

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BY JESSIE LUK PUZZLE COLUMNIST 1

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Crypto Corner  BY JOHN REUEL STAFF WRITER What is a Cryptogram? Cryptograms are writing that has been coded by substituting each letter with a different letter. For instance, if T=A, H=B, and E=C, then the word "the" would appear as "abc" throughout the puzzle. Ckuije ohnce yuzij db ohnnz czi hni yn jnchfq bdh c kuizuoqe ftnch. Czi

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jeczi uz cyn db xlhzuzo tuoqej qnhctij db shufn-ecooni fqnnh. Hnadufn! Hnoctn! Nmshnjj pdlh kuheq! jcp eqdjn yqd ydlti xnolutn Jd kczp edti ed jkutn qchi pne jd kczp qchitp jkutn. Dlh jdltj chn fqcbni, dlh ycttnej xtni dlh bcfnj jqdy eqn jehcuz. Pne shdxtnkj eqdloq yn equzg yn qcrn jqdlti kcgn lj equzg cocuz. - A.I. “Uttuci” Bhcwnh

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Fill in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9.

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BY JOHN REUEL STAFF WRITER

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My favorite holidays? Thanksgiving because our whole family is home, Christmas because they aren’t.

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THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

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Across 1.Boxer’s weapon 5. rowing need 8. “Moo” sayer 11. “ ____ There” 12. Health centers 14. Wedding reply (2wds) 15. Remember 17. Also 18. August zodiac sign 19. Autumn drinks 21. Screams 24. “ ____ Toledo!” 25. Bullring shouts 26. Looters 29. Bob Hope’s org. 30. Bouquet’s background 31. Exclamation of triumph 33. Ledger recordings 35. “True ___” (John Wayne film) 36. Is victorious 37. Actress Verdugo 38. Empty the moving van 41. Before, poetically 42. Mai __ (cocktail) 43. Limitation 48. “I ___ Rock” (2 wds.) 49. Country capital 50. “____ Lisa” 51. Not him 52. Bread type 53. Hard fat

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Down 1. Supporting 2. Common contraction 3. Min. part 4. Mythical bridge denizens 5. Norwegian capital 6. Chimpanzee, e.g. 7. Trashcan raiders 8. Quote 9. Stench 10. Romances 13. Wading birds 16. Bandleader Brown 20. Staining agent 21. Thou 22. Other than 23. Ponce de ___ 24. Employs 26. Rudolph, e.g. 27. Prime rib order 28. Leg front 30. Certain brothers 32. ____ glance (2wds.) 34. Tango need 35. Shines 37. Slip Up 38. Beehive state 39. ____-brand 40. Fibber 41. Kitchen follower 44. Speak 45. Debt letters 46. compass point (abbr.) 47. Tit for ____

BRIDGE BUILDING CONTEST

Your Answer:

Students interested in participating in the bridge building contest should fill out a registration form and complete the bridge building activity. The registration form and bridge building activity sheet can be found at www.stuy.edu. Students should submit the registration form and completed bridge building activity sheet no later than Thursday, January 19th, 2006.

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

Page 9

January 18, 2006 Science

Gadgets at Their Finest: The 2006 Consumer Electronics Show of competitors. Rival companies' gadgets offered everything from cameras to voice recording to integrated speakers, though fe w matched the aesthetic brilliance of Apple's signature design The show also highlighted two competing technologies that aim to be the successor to the aging DVD format. The DVD's 4.7 gigabytecapacity, enough for several hours of video and seven times that of a CD-ROM, was revolutionary in its time, and the disk has almost totally supplanted video cassettes. But the storage requirements for the highest-quality video are too much even for a DVD, and manufacturers are struggling to get a replacement on the market. High Definition DVDs, known as HD-DVDs, have about three times the capacity of the regular DVD. Designed and promoted by NEC, Sanyo, Toshiba, Microsoft and Intel, the first HD-DVD players

Continued from Page 1 video recorder that lets viewers record television shows to save favorharmony – a man driving to work ites or avoid ads. LG Electronics could have his favorite show seamdemonstrated a PVR integrated into lessly follow him from the TV to a a flat-screen televidashboard video sion, while Scientificdisplay. Manufacturers The show also high- Atlantic unveiled a PVR that works with presented various lighted two compet- a cell phone, letting approaches at people configure the ing technologies bringing the comdevice to record their puter into the livthat aim to be the favorite shows reing room. "Media successor to the ag- motely. Center" PCs, a Yet another method much-ballyhooed ing DVD format. was the IPTV, or attempt at combininternet protocol teleing a desktop comvision, a service spearheaded by puter with TV recording and stereo Microsoft. IPTV involves transmitplayback ability, are no longer just a ting television over a broadband curiosity. New designs offer sleeker internet connection, allowing comform factors and no longer seem puter users to watch TV on their out-of-place standing next to a fancy computers along with bundled addnew flat-screen TV. ons and features. Other companies took a bottomThe wild success of Apple's up approach, expanding on the suciPod media player has drawn dozens cess of the popular TiVo, a personal

will be available in March. Prices will start at $499-$699 but will likely drop as the technology matures. The Blu-Ray Disc, developed by an industry consortium that includes electronics companies like Apple, Dell and Sony as well as media giants like Disney and Fox, boast 60% more storage space than the HD-DVD. The cost of producing discs and players may be higher, however. The first media players will arrive in the middle of the year. The most prominent may be Sony's Playstation 3 video-game console. For sheer size, LG Electronics couldn't be beat, showing off a massive 102-inch LCD television. Less gigantic but nearly as impressive displays came from other companies, some with exceptionally high resolution, others sporting neverbefore seen image sharpness. It was a beautiful sight. ◙

Earliest Mayan Writing is Found  glyphs are more complex than those made by the Zapotecs from the same time period. Beyond this, these In a jungle in northern Guateearly Mayan writings are very difmala, archeologists have found a set ferent from those of the Zapotecs. of 10 hieroglyphs. The find, made in Scientists believe that even earApril, probably dates from between lier writing samples from the Maya 300 BC and 200 BC, may be found. and is the earliest William Saturno, written text found in Scientists believe a lead archeologist the Americas. said, “Given the Maya writing from The find follows form, and another recent, rean even earlier time graceful consistent line markable finding at width of these can be found. the same site. In 2001, symbols, it’s not the same archeologists likely [that] somefound the oldest one just picked up a brush and said known Mayan murals. The hiero‘I’m going to invent writing today.’ glyphs are approximately 100 years The complexity shows it has been older. The two were found in the around for awhile.” ◙ same building, a pyramid called Las Pinturas. A stone recently evacuated from a Maya The writing is mostly indeciroyal tomb shows an early sample of pherable. “It’s even more exotic Mayan writing. than the know Mayan glyphs,” said researcher David Stuart. One may represent a ruler, and another, a part of a calendar. A third hieroglyph shows a hand holding either a brush or a knife. However, the real importance of the find comes from what it has taught scientists. As Mary Miller, a Mayan art expert said, “People have long been hoping to find a carved stone monument from this period of the Maya. It turned out not to be carved in stone, but instead associated with this incredible complex of early paintings.” The existence of the hieroglyphs proves that the Mayan writing probably goes back further than scientists previously believed. It also voids the theory that Mayan writing is linked to the writing of the Zapotecs, a group that lived in central Mexico. This is because the Mayan hiero-

BY JENNIFER SCHLESINGER OUT-OF-SCHOOL NEWS EDITOR

THE RESEARCH SCIENCE INSTITUTE AT MIT If you are a junior and have enrolled in Intel for the upcoming spring or if you have a strong interest in a summer program in the sciences (math, science, or engineering) you should consider applying to the following program. Students attend college-level classes and complete hands-on research with top mentors at corporations, universities, and research organizations. Many RSI students use their RSI research projects as a basis for entry to science competitions, garnering top awards in the annual Intel Science Talent Search, the Siemens-Westinghouse Science and Technology Competition, and the All-USA High School Academic Scholarship. Reuters

It is suggested that your math PSAT scores be at least 75 and combined math and verbal PSAT scores be at least 140. There is no cost to students for tuition, room and board. The only expense is for transportation to and from MIT (students are responsible for initial and final transportation to and from the RSI program). Please visit http://www.cee.org/rsi/index.shtmL to download an application. Applications are due to RSI by Feburary 1st. However, you must have an endorsement from the school. Please contact Ms. Daves at [email protected] as soon as possible set up an interview before January 25th. To your interview please bring: -An original and a photocopy of the completed application form -Answers to the essay questions -A copy of your official transcript -Teacher recommendations in sealed envelopes -A check for the $30 processing fee payable to CEE

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January 18, 2006 Arts & Entertainment

Turning Finals Week  Into Movie Week 

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

A & E’s New Year’s  Resolutions 

BY SARA MILLER JUNIOR STAFF WRITER

BY EMMA RABINOVICH & JENNIFER WONG STAFF WRITER AND ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Looking for something to pull you through Regents/Finals week? Watch one of these flicks as a pick-me-up after a difficult final, or celebrate the end of the term with friends.

Every year, we make resolutions to improve our life – in areas of health, work and relationships – but how many of these resolutions actually go fulfilled? Why not boost your self-esteem this New Year’s by making resolutions that are easier to fulfill, and resolve to watch and play some of the year’s most highly anticipated movies and games? Please remember that all release dates are liable to change.

Munich In the spirit of the 2006 Winter Olympics that are less than a month away, watch “Munich,” based on the true events that occurred at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Eric Bana stars as the leader of a team of assassins assigned to kill the Palestinian terrorists that murdered 11 Israeli athletes. Let’s hope for less drama this year. Bloodrayne Looking for a vampire movie but hesitant to go watch the sequel to “Underworld’? “Bloodrayne” just may be the fix you’re looking for. Based on the popular video game, “Bloodrayne” follows Rayne (Kristanna Loken), a half-human, half-vampire, who searches for her evil and power-hungry vampire father, Kagan, before he can succeed in his conquest of ruling the world. Grandma’s Boy In this flick, 36-year-old video-game nut, Alex, is forced to move into his grandmother’s house. Let this be an incentive to put away that PSP and do well in your finals or else you may be finding yourself in the same predicament as Alex. Hostel Perhaps the only thing scarier than Finals Week is a gory, sick and violent horror movie - but only by a little. In this flick, three men backpack through Europe looking for a fun time. Ironically, the fun ends when they find themselves in a hostel with gorgeous women. As stated in the trailer, the weak and faint-hearted are warned. Glory Road Are you itching to go back to sports practice? Take a study break to stretch your legs and go see “Glory Road,” the true story of how the Texas Western basketball team won the 1966 NCAA title with the first team in basketball history to start five African-Americans. Josh Lucas plays the inspiring coach Don Haskins who dedicated himself to his team and challenged the history of basketball and racism. Hoodwinked Remember the good old days when there were no essays or finals, only fairy tales? Remember Little Red Riding Hood? Well, she’s back in this computer-animated version of the Brothers Grimm tale. Leaving off where the fairy tale ended, cops from the animal world investigate a domestic disturbance at Granny’s cottage. The movie features an all-star cast that includes the voices of Anne Hathaway, Glenn Close, Jim Belushi and Cedric the Entertainer. Last Holiday So you failed your biology final, and your parents will absolutely kill you. But before report cards come out, live life to its fullest like Georgia Byrd (Queen Latifah) does in Last Holiday. In this remake, Georgia is diagnosed with a fatal disease, and with nothing to lose, she quits her job, travels to Europe, and enjoys the short amount of time she has left. Tristan & Isolde If your history final includes the medieval period you may want to do some last minute studying by heading to this movie. In this period piece, English knight Tristan (James Franco) and Irish princess Isolde (Sophia Myles) are in love, but are threatened to be torn apart by the shaky peace between their countries. Maybe this movie is not the best piece to use in reviewing for the history final, but it’s a good excuse to procrastinate. ◙

Questions? Comments? It is the policy of The Standard to remain accessible to its readers. Please contact us at [email protected]

Movies The Star Wars prequels may be over but the releases in 2006 are sure to please. Flight 93—April 26 The controversial film is a fictional interpretation of the September 11 flight that was intended to crash into the Capitol Building in Washington D.C. but never reached its destination thanks to a revolt by the brave passengers aboard the flight. The movie poses the question of whether we would sit passively or fight in the face of almost certain death. But the release of “Flight 93” – only five years after 9-11 – raises another question. Is America is ready for such a movie? Mission Impossible 3—May 5 Tom Cruise returns as special agent Ethan Hunt in the third installment of the Mission Impossible series. Directed by J.J. Abrams, the creator of ABC’s Lost and Alias, this one promises to be the best one yet. The Da Vinci Code—May 19 Director Ron Howard takes on the bestselling novel by Dan Brown. After Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) is accused of a murder at the Louvre in Paris, he and Sophie Neveu (Audrey Tautou from “Amelie”) struggle to discover the real killer while uncovering the clues to a mystery protected by a secret society that counts Leonardo de Vinci and other great minds in history as members.

DVDs If you missed any of the biggest hits in 2005, expect to see them on DVD shelves this year with plenty of extras. The Aristocrats—January 24 Comedian veterans Penn Jillette (of Penn and Teller) and Paul Provenza gather their friends (which happens to include comedy greats George Carlin, Drew Carey, Sarah Silverman, Robin Williams and many more) to discuss, analyze and retell their own version of one of the world’s oldest and dirtiest jokes. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire—Summer 2006 Harry’s fourth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry became the most successful film of 2005, grossing an impressive $816 million worldwide. Now you can watch the two and a half hour film at home with deleted extras and commentary by director Mike Newell.

Games Different worlds and life-changing quests are all part of the fun in these exciting upcoming releases. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (GameCube) —May 15 When the peaceful borderlands of Hyrule are threatened, everyone’s favorite green-clad, sword-wielding hero must find the strength to defend his village. Link soon finds himself on an epic quest that will transform and challenge him endlessly. Be prepared to be stuck to your GameCube and ignore homework for the next few weeks following this release. Kingdom Hearts 2 (Playstation 2)—March 1 Kingdom Hearts 2 follows Sora, Donald, and Goofy on their continuing quest. The game picks up a year after the Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories game (released on the Nintendo DS); Sora and company find themselves in a new town called “Twilight Town.” Staying true to the formula of traveling from one Disney world to another, Kingdom Hearts 2 offers players the chance to see the worlds of “Mulan,” “Pirates of the Caribbean,” and “The Lion King” plus old favorites such as the Coliseum from “Hercules.” ◙

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

January 18, 2006 Arts & Entertainment/Sports

First Impressions of First Impressions  BY JOS DIAZ STAFF WRITER

BY ERIC MAYO STAFF WRITER From the beginning of the NBA to the late 1990’s, when you said New York basketball, you meant the New York Knicks. However, with the Knicks playing uninspiring basketball since 2001, the best New York basketball is found across the Hudson. The Knicks owe their woes to a variety of factors. Aside from their most recent picks, the Knicks’ draft picks have been lousy. Has anyone heard of guys like Donnell Harvey, Frederick Weiss, or Frank Williams? Those are all first round picks by the Knicks. Has anyone heard of players like Michael Redd, Ron Artest, or Amare Stoudemire? The Knicks passed them up. The Knicks have a plethora of bad contracts. Shooting guard Penny Hardaway is being paid $14.6 million to watch the games courtside. Allan Houston, who hasn’t played over 50 games in a season since 2003-2004, got paid nearly $30 million during that stretch. He retired due to knee troubles before this season. The reason why the Knicks were able to get sharp-shooter Quentin Richardson and draft picks from the Suns for Kurt Thomas?

Continued from Page 8

and lose to his idol, Andre Agassi, in the quarterfinals. His drive shines through his playing, and he will be a force to be reckoned with next year. Lleyton Hewitt, who finished fourth last year, is quite possibly the quickest player on the court today. Former number 1 and holder of 24 titles, Hewitt is determined and deadly, and is capable of defeating the very best. Although his instability has cost him much, at his best he is almost unstoppable. Another great player who’s been around for some time, Marat Safin, has shown potential to be ranked in the top 10 and also in the bottom 10, with his mercurial talents and volatile temper. He has a

of times. The Strokes, however, manage to strike gold almost every single time, with incredibly ambitious instrumentation previously The new Strokes album, First Impressions of unseen with the power and intensity Earth. of Room on Fire present in every note hit by Casablancas’ glorious drone. No longer just a retro glory band, the Strokes personify the steps forward modern rock has taken in the past few years. While First Impressions of Earth may not be too radical a departure from any of the Strokes’ earlier releases, it is something entirely different from anything that they have done before. Gone is the rough New York punk attitude, replaced by a more mature and serious

How to Fix the Knicks  NBA

Eddy Curry, the best Richardson inside presence the signed a 6-year Knicks have had $48 million deal since Patrick Ewing. in July of 2004, Coach Larry Brown, meaning the fresh off back to Knicks will be back appearances in paying him until the NBA Finals with 2010. This past Detroit, would teach off-season, the team defense, Jerome James, something so desbest known for perately needed. his excellent perThen it started to formance in the unravel. NBA playoffs As of January 15, last year, was the Knicks are 13signed to a five 22, the sixth-worst year contract record in the NBA. valued at 30 milWhile this normally lion. He came to means a high draft training camp pick, the Knicks overweight, lost his starting cen- Nate Robinson’s contribution to the New traded their draft ter job to Eddy York Knicks is believed to bring the team pick to Chicago in the Eddy Curry Curry, and was to a brighter future. trade. If the Knicks suspended Januwant to turn the season around, they ary 2 for showing up to practice have to follow some very simple “unprepared.” steps. Even with all these problems, The first thing the Knicks have the Knicks had high hopes coming to do is hit their free-throws. into the season. The team was exThey’re called free-throws for a cited by the trade for 22 year old reason, it’s because they should be

2006: The Hit List history of disappearing for months from the tennis world, and then reappearing only to win another title. He began in 2000, when he defeated Sampras in straight sets to win the U.S open and was ranked number 1 at that time. In 2005, he broke Federer’s 24-match winning streak and defeated him in an epic 5-setter, where he showed rare calm and incredible shot selection. If all goes well for him, he is capable of ruling the tennis world with his 6 foot 5 stature and pinpoint precision. 2006 will be an exciting year for all tennis fans, and players old and new will compete for icon appeal and admiration. Will Federer continue to set records, or will he drop from the pedestal at the hands of a new hero? Only time will tell. ◙

musical persona. No longer just some cool new gang of rockers whose logo you wear on your Tshirt as a fashion statement, the Strokes will remain as one of this decade’s best contributions to music. ◙

free points. The Knicks are making the least of this opportunity, shooting collectively 70.9%, fifth worst in the league. Take the January 2 game versus Phoenix as an example. Though the Knicks pulled out a thrilling overtime win, they missed 22 free throws. Hitting 50% more free throws would have won them that game before overtime. Larry Brown has to play his younger players much more. Though he is known for not playing his younger players at all (see Darko Milicic), the Knicks are not going anywhere this year. Guys like Channing Frye, Nate Robinson and David Lee should not be sitting behind Malik Rose, Maurice Taylor, and Antonio Davis. The rookies should be playing to gain valuable experience. This has seemed to work for the Knicks in their last few games. Channing Frye scored 30 points in a 113-92 victory over Washington. David Lee has excelled in his new role of small forward, the Knicks’ weakest position. Words can not describe Nate Robinson. The pesky 5’9” guard from Washington is a human highlight reel. He brings a tremendous amount of energy to the table. The Knicks present might not be bright, but their future sure is. ◙

Ole and Manchester, United Again Continued from Page 8

Manchester United’s goalie problem which has seemed unsolvable since world- class keeper Peter Schmeichel. With Ole’s return Sir Alex Ferguson, manager of 20 years at Manchester United, will have a lot of flexibility in his offense and midfield. He will find all that in Ole, who will need a good three months to get back up on the top of his game. Manchester United already have one of the greatest offenses in the world with names such as rookie all-star Wayne Rooney, and great Dutch striker, Ruud Van Nistelrooy, and with the addition of Ole, this arsenal will only become stronger. If Chelsea wins the Premier

League again, and the chances of that happening is very high, then next year their job will be much harder, and it is highly probable that Manchester United will oust them with a rather weaker side not only in defense but also in goal-scoring. Another important fact not to forget is that Chelsea’s only loss this year came from the Red Devils, Manchester United. Just as they defeated Chelsea the first time around, it is just as likely that they will do it again, against a team which has a record for losing least amount of games, matches, and points. All that matters now however, is that Ole and Manchester have been united again! ◙

Amazon

“They love you or they hate you but they will never let you be,” laments The Strokes’ front man Julian Casablancas, asking listeners to accept him and his band for what they are. Certainly, after five years of being one of pop music’s most important rock groups, they deserve some rest. Hailed as the saviors of pop music with their 2001 debut release Is This It?, The Strokes were the messianic band expected to finally break through the congested world of one-hit radio and front the new ruling class of rock. Nothing seemed to stand in their way, and when their 2003 sophomore release

came out, it was expected to secure their future as New York’s best musical export since the proto-punk scene and The Velvet Underground. However, something had changed in the two years that they were touring and their Interpol-loving hipster fans turned their backs on 2003’s shamefully underrated Room on Fire. First Impressions of Earth is their chance to regain the ground they have lost. If the Strokes don’t regain their fan base with the new album, the world has officially lost its good taste in music. Almost as long as the last two records combined, the sheer space for exploration in this release would be enough for any band to get lucky a couple

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January 18, 2006 Sports

2006: The Hit List  BY ALEX MARGULIS STAFF WRITER

Ole and Manchester,  United Again 

Open Era. Andy Roddick is another player to look for this year. Unfazed by the same iconic status that poisoned Anna Kourikova’s career, Roddick has injected the game with the tes-

BY OSMAN NEMLI SPORTS EDITOR Associated Press

Associated Press

Roger Federer

tosterone of 155 mile per hour and who will take the credit for deserves and biting forehands. Alfeating the 24-year old legend? The though 2005 was bittersweet for him 2006 tennis season offers promise with 5 titles and 2 finals losses to with many young Federer, his postplayers whose game play sughunger only inAlthough 2005 was bitgests that he will creases with their to train tersweet for him with 5 continue skill and maturity and compete, on the court. titles and 2 final losses l e t t i n g m e r e One of the losses bloom into to Federer, Andy Rodfew people that opportunities to tasted victory dick’s post-game wit learn. over Federer in The 19-year-old gave away that will con2005 is Raphael Gasquet tinue to train and com- Richard Nadal. The 19has also had a year-old Spaniard pete, letting mere losses taste of Federer’s is marked by tears after defeatbloom into opportunispeed, maturity, ing him in a and an intensity ties to learn from. shocking quarterthat commands final at the Monte respect. In 2005, Carlo Masters. His graceful onehe won 11 titles in addition to sethanded backhand and court coverting the record for the longest winage are uncommon in today’s sport, ning streak by any teenager of the and his childish temper and immaturity are the only things that keep him from the top spots. The Americans Robby Ginepri and James Blake have also made their names this year. Ginepri, when he made it to the semifinals of the U.S. Open, established himself to be not only a breakout player, but also a consistent breakout player, winning four straight 5setters. James Blake made headlines for different reasons this past year. After a broken neck and losing his father to cancer, Blake entered the U.S. Open as a wild card, and was one of the most cheered players. He went on to defeat number two seed Rafael Nadal Lleyton Hewitt Continued on Page 7

This New Year brings few major changes in the English Premier League with Chelsea continuing its dominating performance to stay at the top for the second year in a row, and Manchester following behind by the same nine to twelve points margin it faced after the first ten games. Thierry Henry is still leading his team to try and catch a Champions League spot now that it has lost the chance to be Premier League Champions, and Defoe and Tottenham Hotspurs are continuing their run behind Manchester United, trying to get their best result in the Premier League ever. Fans can find comfort however, in the fact that the small changes that occurred in the EPL this past month are going to turn into big changes for some of the big teams, no matter how they do this season. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Manchester United’s veteran striker, made his return this past week and came out as captain following Roy Keane’s surprise departure from his club of ten years, recovering from his long- term knee injury that kept him sidelined from May 2004 on-

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

wards. In recent weeks Manchester United has undergone many changes ranging from Roy Keane’s controversial unaired interview on Man U TV where he complained about some of the younger players to Continued on Page 7

Associated Press

As 2005 comes to a close, tennis fans are wondering one thing: When will Roger Federer slip up,

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