Volume 5 Issue 12

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

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

Volume V, Issue 12

March 2, 2006

Free

The World Celebrates the 2006 Torino Olympics categories were several divisions. Skating included figure skating, ice dancing, speed skating, and short track speed skating. Skiing

The 2006 Winter Olympics took place in Torino, Italy from February 10 to February 26. The games officially started at the ceremony on February 10 when Stefania Belmondo lit the torch at the opening ceremony. The Olympic flag was carried by actresses Sofia Loren and Susan Sarandon. About 15,000 days worth of work went into the ceremony. Two billion spectators watched the opening ceremony with 35,000 present at the stadium itself. The ceremony had dancing, skating, and lights, and was broadcasted to 200 countries worldwide. The games contained sevencategories: biathlon, bobsleigh, curling, ice hockey, luge, skating, and skiing. Within each of these

Reuters

BY NEETA MALVIYA STAFF WRITER

The fireworks from the Olympic Rings at the Opening Ceremony.

Clubs at the Stuyvesant Open House BY TAMIR YEWDAEV STAFF WRITER

sleigh consisted of two categories which were bobsleigh and skeleton. As of February 27, Germany was in first place in terms of number of medals, followed by Austria and the United States. Germany had 7 gold, 7 silver, and 4 bronze medals for a total of 18. Austria and

had 5 subcategories: alpine skiing, cross country skiing, freestyle skiing, Nordic combined ski jumping, and snowboarding. Bob-

Tenth Planet Sparks Debate

setting up tables and making sure that the newcomers would know

Xena, or 2003 UB313, is 1864 miles across, making it larger than Pluto, whose diameter is

BY BENNETT HONG STAFF WRITER A possible tenth planet was announced on July 29, 2005.

Continued on Page 9 BBC

A view of the sun from the new planet.

TSS/Henry Zhang

Continued on Page 3 On Thursday, February 16, Stuyvesant’s halls were flooded as hundreds of incoming 8th Open House Recruitment on the third floor. graders came to view their future school. There were “swarms of little people,” explains sophomore Yan Slavinsky. A full night was planned, ending at around 7:30. This year there were so many visitors that it was decided they would be divided into 3 groups, each with an hour-long session. Among the crowd, many current Stuyvesant students could also be seen guiding, answering and screaming. Redshirted Big Sibs began preparations for the night at around 3:00, posting signs in various places,

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE -------------News...........................2-4 Business......................4-5 Opinions.....................5 Literary.......................6

Puzzles..............................7 Science……………….......8-9 Arts & Entertainment........9-10 Sports................................10-12

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March 2, 2006 News

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD  Founded 2001

“Your School, Your World—Your News” 

Executive Leadership Team DR. JOHN NIKOL JENNIFER SCHLESINGER DEREK WENG KHOI NGUYEN FANNY TANG DANNY ZHU JIMMY ZHANG PRISCILLA MELO EMMA RABINOVICH ERIC MAYO JOSEPH KRUTOV HANFORD CHIU LADA KUKUY HENRY ZHANG HENRY ZHANG DANIEL EGERS (‘03) ERNEST BASKIN (‘04)

FACULTY ADVISER EDITOR IN CHIEF MANAGING EDITOR CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER LAYOUT EDITOR COPY CHIEF NEWS EDITOR OPINIONS EDITOR ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR SPORTS EDITOR SCIENCE EDITOR BUSINESS EDITOR LITERARY EDITOR WEBMASTER DIRECTOR OF PHOTOJOURNALISM FOUNDER EDITOR EMERITUS

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

The Almost Snow Day BY DAVID YIN STAFF WRITER During the evening of Saturday, February 11 and throughout the day of Sunday, February 12, a blizzard hit New York City. This snowstorm was the biggest since record-keeping began in 1869, with an enormous 26.9 inches of snow falling in 24 hours. This amount was half an inch higher than the old record, set in 1947. Although this snowfall broke all previous records, the storm itself was not that severe; it felt no different than a regular flurry. How is it possible that this record-breaking blizzard was relatively quiet and uneventful? The timing of the snow was one reason for the calmness. The blizzard occurred during the

weekend, so there was no rush hour and no commuters struggling through the snow, injuring themselves trying to get to work. With the small number of people on the streets compared to weekdays, the number of accidents on the streets was kept to a minimum. Another reason for this uneventful blizzard was the “fluffy” effect. The snow came from an offshore area, making the snow very dry. It did not come from wet warm ocean air of the northeast. The snow was so light that it did not pile up much on high areas. Thus, instead of snapping tree branches onto power lines, the dry, light, and fluffy snow blew right off the trees. Continued on Page 4

New York City suburban areas receive unheard of amounts of snow.

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. TSS/Henry Zhang

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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Dick Cheney Hunting Accident without following proper hunting procedure and announcing his arrival. Just then Cheney, with his On February 11, at approxiback to Whittington, saw more mately 5:30 P.M. local time, Dick birds flying Cheney pepaway and pered Harr y turned to Whittington, a shoot one well-known with his 28Texas lawyer, gauge shotwith shotgun gun, when he pellets while accidentally hunting quail. shot WhitReportedly, Mr. tington inChe n e y wa s stead. Secret hunting with S e r v i c e Whittington and agents and Pamela Pitzer me d i c a l Willeford, the aides, who United States were close at ambassador to hand due to Switzerland and Cheney’s Li e c h t en s t e i n, history of Dick Cheney, our Vice President. when Whittingheart probton shot a couple lems, soon rushed Whitof quail and went to recover tington to the hospital. Three them. Whittington then returned

BY JONATHAN XIKIS STAFF WRITER

CNN

Continued on Page 3

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

Clubs at the Stuyvesant Open House Continued from Page 1

what was going on. Like the Big Sibs, many students stayed after school, eager to draw new recruits to their clubs. The entire third floor atrium was filled with tables, posters and screaming club members. It was possible to see everything from kung fu, to dance, and politics as Stu yvesant’s diversity was

However, the task of recruitment was not easy. Slavinsky, who was there recruiting for his club Junior Statesmen of America (JSA) explains, “Some of them are really stuck up. They can’t even say ‘No, I don’t want to join your club.’ They just walk by ignoring you. In spite of this, the experience for most was fun. Sophomore Jimmy Zhang de-

scribed it as “amazing.” He and his fellow recruiters managed to get more than three pages of names for The Standard. Zhang continues, “It was really fun to shout out very loudly.” An interesting thing to note was the progression of the visitors' willingness to sign up. At

first, most of the screams were to no avail. Most of the 8th graders were too shocked and afraid to sign up for anything. This makes sense; prior to coming to Stuyvesant most students have not had much experience with crazed, club-loyal students willing to scream and convince even when it seemed there was no point. But eventually, they got used to it. “They must have come to realize that we're not vicious maneating monsters,” Zhang explained. In spite of the vast number and diversity of clubs, pubs and teams present at the open house, many were absent. Sophomore Simon Hu, president of the Stock Market Game club, decided not to go. He explains that, “they're not even freshmen yet. There’s not much point in recruiting them now since they’ll probably forget about it by the time next year comes. I’ll get them next year at the Club/ Pub Fair.” Perhaps Hu is right about the value of the open house to the clubs but regardless it was a very good experience. Stuyvesant students were able to see how they used to be before coming to Stuyvesant and the change is great. Looking at them makes Stuyvesant students realize how much they have changed. ◙

stated that “there may (have been) a beer or two in there, but remember not everyone in the party was shooting.” Finally, happened, it did not disclose any Cheney did not have a $7 “upland information about it until the next game bird stamp” from the Texas day. Others point to the stateParks and Wildlife Department, ments made by Katharine Armmaking it illegal for him to hunt quail in that area, although the requirement was new and it was explained away as a mistake on Cheney’s part. A Republican close to the White House said, “This is either a cover-up story or an incompetence story.” On February 15, Cheney publicly announced on the Fox News Channel Cheney receives a rifle from the NRA: that he was responPresident Kayne Robinson, right; Vice President Wayne LaPierre, left. sible for shooting Whittington, saying “I'm the guy who pulled the strong, the owner of the ranch, trigger that fired the round that who at first testified in an official hit Harry” and calling it “one of investigation that “that there was the worst days of my life.” ◙ no alcohol, or misconduct involved in the incident,” but later

Dick Cheney Hunting Accident Continued from Page 2

days later, Whittington suffered a minor heart attack due to one or more pellets lodged in the vicinity of his heart. Cheney’s hunting mishap is making waves throughout America, where many look for any opportunity to pick on the widely criticized Bush administration, as well as Cheney himself, who is believed to be one of the most powerful Vice Presidents in American history. Although much of the condemnation is merely poking fun at Cheney – for instance, numerous gags on late-night talk shows and newspaper headlines – some believe that the cover story for the shooting accident is merely a cover-up for a more serious infraction. These conspiracy theories are fanned by the fact that, although the White House knew about the incident the day it

Gene Puskar

Club Spotlight: Stuyvesant Stock Market Game BY JIMMY ZHANG NEWS EDITOR The Stuyvesant Stock Market Game Club (SMG) allows its participants to invest and play with real stocks. The club competes with schools all over the country in an online tournament where each school tries to make the most virtual profit over the course of the game. The club is operated entirely online. All conversations and suggestions are posted onto a forum where other members can respond instantaneously. All transactions are to be debated several days before taking place, although this rule is frequently SMG Club

TSS/Henry Zhang

Teitel delivers a speech to the incoming freshmen and their parents.

thrown full blast at the small and confused 8th graders. Looking at them makes us realize how much most of us have changed. Stuyvesant has taken us from little secluded freshmen to aggressive individuals screaming at the top of our lungs in order to attract attention.

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March 2, 2006 News

The Stock Market Gaming Club’s logo.

broken. The use of the forum removes the need for after-school meetings. David Yin, sophomore, said, “It’s convenient that there are hardly ever meetings because it won’t interfere with our schedules.” In the Fall 2005 game, the club was given two accounts for this tournament. Due to the inexperience and the inactivity of the new members, the club had a net loss in both accounts. Ranked at about 150 out of 189 and with a net loss of about $7,000, the club aims to do better in the Spring

“We’re going to win!” 2005 game. Tamir Yewdaev, sophomore Vice President, said, “We [tried] and we took risks. Partly I blame the particularly low rank on bad communication as several purchases were made without anyone being notified. These ended up being bad purchases and much money was lost in this way.” To combat the inexperience of his members, Simon Hu, sophomore President, is hypocritically advocating the use of Investopedia during the off-game season. This allows the members to experiment with real stocks

Continued on Page 4

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March 2, 2006 News/Business

The Almost Snow Day Continued from Page 2

Snow records themselves are not very accurate. For one thing, the snow measurements are taken only in Central Park, so even though the National Weather Service claims that this snowstorm broke the record, this was only in Central Park. In fact, most areas besides Central Park had less snow and did not have records broken at all. Also, the people that take the measurements are not exactly reliable. The height of the snow is measured by the security guards at the Central Park Zoo. Although they probably do not completely make up their measurements it is

Scientific Journals? Or Tabloids?

also not likely that they would kill themselves over the accuracy of the measurements. So although the snowstorm may have broken records, the commuters of New York were not affected a lot. The city had piles of salt ready for use due to the relatively small amount of snow that had fallen over the winter. Sanitation workers had plowed and salted all the streets by the next morning. Most of the inconvenience had passed already, and by Monday, public schools were declared open and people were on the streets going t o w o r k . ◙

BY HANFORD CHIU BUSINESS EDITOR Recently, Hwang Woo Suk's stem cell fabrication scandal was exposed. Yet science journals and newspapers containing science articles failed to even test the authenticity of this issue before publishing it. Now, the media is starting to look at science journals more skeptically. But other than that, the media has not changed its views on scientific journals, as they admittedly depend on them for most of their information relating to science. For example, the Los Angeles Times uses information from these journals in at least half of their articles. Information is also

The World Celebrates the 2006 Torino Olympics Continued from Page 1

the United States both had 7 gold, 5 silver, and 3 bronze medals for a total of 15 medals each. The majority of the U.S. medals were in snowboarding and speed skat-

ing while the majority of Austria’s medals were in alpine skiing and ski jumping. Germany had at least one of each medal in biathlon. ◙

Nature

The opening ceremony at Torino 2006.

Getty Images

The cover of Nature magazine.

Comic Book Investment’s Comeback BY HANFORD CHIU BUSINESS EDITOR Comic book investing has resurfaced recently as an arguably safe form of investment. Comic book prices have been on the rise as well as a renewed interest in the market. Midtown Comics, a comic book store in Manhattan, reported a sales increase of more than 10 percent over last year. Vintage comics have seen returns of hundreds of thousands above their selling prices. Newer comics

also have seen their prices doubling or tripling in a matter of weeks. What are the reasons for this sudden interest in a market which would have been unimaginable as an investment alternative 5 or 6 years ago? Over the past few years, movies based on comic book characters such as “SpiderMan”, “X-men” and “Fantastic Four” have aroused an interest in a market that was otherwise dead. Continued on Page 5

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

mentioned on the television, radio and web sites. However, journals and newspapers have very little ways to check the authenticity of scientific papers themselves, as they are not scientists. Some journals

give reporters several days to call specialists in the field to try to scrutinize the results, but it is not a reliable method of truly ascertaining the truthfulness of a paper. Some journals also have their own peer review processes, but with large amounts of submissions yearly, peer reviewers are often overworked. Newspapers also adopted new guidelines to check conflicts of interest involving researchers who submit papers. Their financial ties to their studies are under heavy review and included in the newspaper’s articles The Hwang case was not the first time journals published fake or misleading papers. The New England Journal of Medicine published 2 cancer papers with fabricated information. The same journal also published a paper on the painkiller Vioxx which had omitted the fact that there were patients who died from heart attacks from using the medicine in trials. The Journal of the American Medical Association printed papers from a study on the painkiller Celebrex, which included only 6 months of data instead of the 12 months they had collected. Nonetheless, there are many credible articles printed in these journals, but the amount of discredited papers included is quite disappointing. If these science journals are to maintain their integrity, they must increase their security procedures even further to screen out these fraudulent papers. ◙

Club Spotlight: Stuyvesant Stock Market Game Continued from Page 3

before the actual game. Hu wrote an extensive “basic stock info” section on the forum to help the newcomers. Hu is also planning to give “training sessions” to the inexperienced. However, he still believes that learning is up to the learned. “They’ll get better if

they want to get better. Most [people] don’t care,” said Hu. Expecting much from the Spring Term, it is certain that it will be a prosperous one. Looking into the oil industries, Hu and Yin expect to make much of it. “We’re going to win!” exclaims Hu. ◙

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

March 2, 2006 Business/Opinion

Comic Book Investment’s Comeback in terms of price. This market has a lot of potential in the coming A movie about Superman schedyears, or it could turn out to be a uled for June also helps fuel the repeat of the early 90’s, but at fire in this market. This newfound least you would end up with some interest has not been seen since enjoyable comic books. ◙ the early 90’s in which many speculators purchased many comic books they had bet would rise in price, but ended in the mid 90’s due to gimmicks like DC Comics' killing off Superman in 1992, only to bring him back to life nine months later. However, investors are cautiously skeptical about investing in this market. Collectors would have to be knowledgeable to expect a good return. Very few investors consider putting more than 10 percent of their money into this area of investment. Nevertheless, other investors believe this form of investment is as safe as the stock market, due to a similar percentage of growth between Dow Jones and the Metropolis Index, which tracks the value of the top 30 comics The first issue of the original Superman

The Media and Islam BY HANFORD CHIU BUSINESS EDITOR

White House Press Corps.

The No Child Left Behind Act was meant to diminish the education gap between underprivileged and well-off children. This law requires failing schools to offer their students a new school or tutoring from private companies or other groups, paid for with federal money. Yet there

are still many students being left behind. According to a New York Times report, less than 12 percent of the children eligible for the free tutoring program are actually getting it. Many that are signed up for the actual tutoring usually do not return after a few sessions. This means the Board of Education has not done enough to augment participation, especially for lower-income families. Many

President Bush talks about his No Child Left Behind

Credits Unspecified

BY PRISCILLA MELO OPINIONS EDITOR

not condonethis violence. In the Middle East, Muslims think that

In September 2005, a Danish newspaper printed several cartoons depicting Mohammed and Islam in a distasteful light. Months later, other European newspapers reprinted the cartoons and Muslim unrest began to flare. Riots cropped up, Danish embassies were attacked, and death threats were made by outraged Muslims. The West used these predicted retaliations as propaganda against the entire Islamic world. Well, who is good and who is evil here? If you are a Westerner, you might believe that all Muslims either stood by or laughed when radicals committed Protests concerning the publication of acts of terrorism across the West. If you live in the the West is out to get them. But Middle East, you might believe obviously, they aren’t aware of that the West is endlessly liberals who condone wars and “crusading” and conspiring to prejudice against the Muslim destroy all Muslims. Unfortuworld. nately, both sides would be thinkSo what really happened ing what they have been made to here? Some radical Western think, thanks to the media and newspaper prints provocative propaganda. It is a general conimages; Muslim propaganda calls ception here that all or most Musit proof that the West is conspirlims participate in terrorist activing. Some radical Muslims riot; i t y. F or e xa mp l e , M a yo r Western propaganda calls it proof Bloomberg opposed Dubai, a that all Muslims are terrorists. Muslim but anti-terrorist country, Well, it appears that neither side when it tried to legally buy and is good, nor has it accomplished manage some US ports, including anything but foster hate and ignosome in New York, over concerns rance. Thus, it is vital for the of security.. It is because of the world to overcome propaganda, propaganda of the media that peoand embrace peace and tolerance, ple believe these misconceptions, rather than battle over cartoons even though in reality only a and riots. ◙ small percentage of Muslims support terrorism; most of them do Credits Unspecified

Continued from Page 4

Many Children Left Behind

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students have never even heard of this resource. The Board of Education has not advertised this well enough to parents, especially in communities with many poor, and subsequently failing, students. What aren’t the school districts using the contact information they incessantly bothered us with the first days of school? It is true there are still some families that do not own phones or computers, but letters are usually safe. If schools cannot contact some parents, they should

work harder to do so. For example, meetings should not be held during school days, when most parents are working or busy at home. Although contacting parents can be a costly endeavor, failing students might eventually become the future’s unemployed who hinder the economy in a larger sense. There also needs to be more enforcement of the act. Failing students need all the help they can get, and this is a wonderful opportunity that should not be dismantled by lack of funds. Instead of spending millions of dollars on ID scanners for schools like Stuyvesant, which does not need any extra embellishment, the government needs to siphon as much money as possible to the No Child Left Behind Act and its implementation. ◙

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

_Éäx BY ANNA GINZBURG STAFF WRITER Love is but a simple four-letter word Yet muttering it to you would feel absurd Your lips are perfect as are you But I still will never get a clue Loving you hurts so much And yet I fear we will never touch Oh how I wish I can talk with you To hear your voice wouldn’t make me blue But rather joyous and oh so full of shock But until then all I hear is my friend mock Yet I know for v-day I’ll flirt like crazy And as corny as it is, I’ll make you my little daisy

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March 2, 2006 Literary

Surreal (II) BY JENNIFER LEE STAFF WRITER But then, they came. Just when we were on the edge of Insanity, Moon burning hot white, Came them. It was quiet at first. No one knew About the things that would make us fly. They decided to take pity on us. I was sitting by the window when I saw Them. My nose and body pressed against the glass, I wanted to make sure I wasn’t hallucinating. They looked like they were made of porcelain, no clothes or shoes. Their skin was pale, cream white and if I squinted enough, I think I could see their delicate features that graced their countenance. And on their thin backs were a pair of beating white wings. I was beginning to think I had already lost my sanity. “Who are they?” I looked up, alarmed. The silence was broken with a breathless whisper. It was Mariposa. She was also staring out at the creatures outside. I shivered, not so sure if I wanted to meet them. Here, in this house, I was safe. Safe and silent, watching the world pass by in secret. I absentmindedly trailed my fingers down the sill, feeling the cracks and crevices, nooks that ran jagged on the smooth cherry-wood. Dust collected there in clandestine. Dust that stayed burrowed deep under lines. “You see them too.” It wasn’t a question.

The Match Girl BY EILEEN L. CHANG STAFF WRITER Such bitter winds that nip me cold, Readying darkness, frosted night unfold. And along the path of slosh and snow, There exists not a single soul. I clutch the matches in my hand, Tread the scattered layer sand. Others pass laughter heartily heavy, Warm aura shared brings me at envy. Why must I remain the lone? Must I take then untaken road? I strike my match against the night, And pray a fire will ignite.

She nodded, awed by the ivory skinned and angel wings. “They’re… there; their wings. They can fly.” We sat there, just looking at Them. What were they? And why did they come here? Here, of all the other places? Why…? They used their hands, moved their lips, blinked, walked…but they also had wings. Humans didn’t have wings. And they were so pale. So, so, pale. I felt my heart froze when one of them caught me peering at them. The beautiful creature pointed its slender finger at my window and motioned to the others. They turned their heads and talked excitedly. And adding to my fear, they began to walk towards here. My heart started beating again. But each pump was a roar of blood, rushing to my head. I jumped away from the window and grabbed Mariposa’s hand. It was ice cold . “We have to hide.” I told her. As if shaken awaken from a trance, she yanked her hand away from mine and told me that one defying word that chilled me to the bones. “No.” That brief word cost us the time we could have hidden, because then, I heard a knock. Mariposa smiled. It was a gentle one, but I could see the haunted look in her eyes. She swiveled around and walked to the direction of the locked door. I couldn’t stop her. It was like I was tied by chains to the ground. Stiff and solid, heavy under water. My breath grew shallower as the locks clicked open. And Mariposa twisted the knob. The door creaked open as cool moonlight flooded in. Scents of pine, sea, and wind drifted together, melding into a sweet melody. The winged creature stood glowing like the stars, behind him a plethora of other bright lights. The angel looked at Mariposa with his lucid eyes and spoke with a quiet but clear as glass, voice. “We have come to make you fly.” Mariposa gazed at the being for such a long time, I thought time had stopped. The angel offered a hand out, palm waiting. And she placed hers over his. “Take me away.”

With Love In My Heart Not A Trace BY LADA KUKUY LITERARY EDITOR To be emotionally lonely And ever so confused, unreal Shall be the cross of my life only If I now answer your appeal. Please do not blame me for existing With love in my heart not a trace, For when, in moonlit nights I’m dreaming, I see near mine another face. We are so different, so unchanging In our diverse and polar ways That it will be a crime worth hanging To let this painful game take place…

Writer's Block BY CAROLINE HUGH SENIOR STAFF WRITER Trapped in the sense that words repeat, and the essence remains immortal. The clock chimes My heart quickens yet no longer can my thoughts take shape. The barrier holds and my tongue shall not loosen My funnel collapses, lacking breath. What endless swirling! a beating of dust and leaves brings silt to my eyes that I cannot see. My journeys-

tiresome restless travels, passersby's dumb motions, a reprieve by the sighing river, a joining and dying of hands, years of locked emotionsall leave the same way like a colossal droplet joining a monotonous basin: one resounding burp and then, Silence.

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March 2, 2006 Puzzles

Crossword Puzzle BY JESSIE LUK PUZZLE COLUMNIST 1

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Olympic Word Search

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD Down 1. Pull behind 2. Hurry 3. Building wing 4. Prom date 5. Lip 6. Aviation heroes 7. Screening 8. Certain horses 9. Solitary 10. “____ got it!” Father 16. Three ____ kind 20. “Spartacus,” e. g. 21. Sample sip 22. “P.S. ____You” 23. Be sickly 24. L.A. haze 26. Dignify 27. Shaving mishaps 30. Lyricist Gershwin 31. Egyptian River 34. Existed 35. “Get ‘em , Fido!” 37. Horsemen 38. Phillippine capital 40. Transplant 42. Doze 44. Candidate’s staffer 45. Small explosion 48. Altar vow 50. Cry noisily 51. Cheer sound 52. Bard’s “before” 53. Beaver building

Across 1. Quaker’s “you” 5. Ewe’s mister Recompensed 12. Fixed a squeak 13. Cool cubes 14. Edison’s middle name 15. Greetings 17. Female student 18. Piece ____ cake! 19. Radiance 21. Crowns 25. Primp and ____ 28. Returned to earth 29. Short skirts 32. 11, to Nero 33. Scale note 34. ____acid (mild antiseptic) 35. Cul-de-___ 36. Television, for short 37. Stately 38. Dairy output 39. Causing goosebumps 41. Makes into law 43. Ferber and others 46. Wise as ____ owl 47. What Santa smokes 49. Incited 54. Scent 55. Pair 56. Zhivago’s love 57. Kitchenware 58. Wane 59. Call for attention

Last Issue’s Solution

BY JONATHAN XIKIS STAFF WRITER

N H A Q O Y K A B G O S B O S

Q O X R E L Q P Y M Q A A D O

A L L K C U L M J G V I S N F

N T C H A H N A G N O L E O T

B O H T T A E N B I L I B W B

H O I L S A I R S T L N A K A

O C X T E L I I Y F E G L E L

S D I I C T N R L I Y K L A L

G C U Y N N I F T L B G S T L

S C C J E G C C C T A N G A A

F O O T B A L L S H L I N K B

B A D M I N T O N G L C I A D

G N I L T S E R W I N N W Y N

N A I R T S E U Q E R E O A A

G N I T O O H S L W D F R K H

Word Bank AQUATICS ARCHERY ATHLETICS BADMINTON BASEBALL BASKETBALL BOXING CYCLING EQUESTRIAN FENCING

FOOTBALL GYMNASTICS HANDBALL HOCKEY JUDO KAYAK ROWING SAILING SHOOTING SOFTBALL

Sudoku Solution 9

TAEKWONDO TENNIS TRIATHLON VOLLEYBALL WEIGHTLIFTING WRESTLING

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March 2, 2006 Science

Extreme Gaming: In the Army? BY KENNETH LAM STAFF WRITER You are in a dark room, holding a rifle. Suddenly, a dozen men appear in front of you. Taking your rifle, you shoot each and every one of them. Blood splatters everywhere. Then, another man appears in front of you and shoots you in the chest. You would expect to die, but you don’t. Instead, you take off the set of goggles you are wearing and put down the gun, which is a

fake. It turns out that everything was in a virtual reality. It seems like a gamer’s heaven, but it is really a training program for soldiers. It is called VirtuSphere. VirtuSphere is found in the US Naval Research library. It is fundamentally a gigantic ball with sensors mounted everywhere on its surface. By bouncing sound off the walls, these sensors can determine the VirtuSphere’s orientation in space and translate that into movement in the virtual reality goggles the user wears.

Robots: DARPAs Vision of a New Era BY JOSEPH KRUTOV SCIENCE EDITOR

The actual sphere itself is mounted on wheels that allow it to spin rapidly in place. However, this can be detrimental. For instance, stopping after breaking out into a run is much harder, as one must stop the ball from rotating. Even with this disadvantage, VirtuSphere is highly useful. The goggles are essentially displays mounted on the user’s eyes. The user sees what a soldier would see, and nothing else. Although the technology is advanced, the graphical capabilities of the VirtuSphere are limited to that of a typical computer game. However, the experience is far more powerful than one can get from a video game, as one is actually “fighting” in a war.

Another version of VirtuSphere is Gaiter. Rather than being placed into a giant ball reminiscent of a hamster wheel, the user is strapped into a harness hung from the ceiling. By wearing specially equipped shin guards, elbow guards, rifle and helmet, the soldier is then transported into the virtual world. The system uses light to determine the movements of the user, rather than sound. The orientation in space of the shin guards determines the speed of the user’s walk. If the user is “running” in space, which in reality is lifting the knees up very high, the user’s virtual self is running in the simulator. These systems do not come cheap. The VirtuSphere is about $50,000 to $100,000, nothing an average gamer can afford. However, for those people who still want to try out the VirtuSphere, models are being made that may soon be placed in arcades. The VirtuSphere, however, is not a game. It is a simulation used to show soldiers-in-training what war is like. The simulator even induces the fatigue that soldiers experience after a battle. The budding heroes can experience firsthand the fear that soldiers face every time they combat. ◙

truck itself prove fruitful. Competitors are not only fueled by the desire to save American life, but also by the drive created by the hefty prize. This year the Stanford Racing Team (SRT) was awarded $2 million for its first place completion of the course in 6 hours and 53 minutes. The SRT vehicle, Stanley,

ware system that used inertial sensing for position estimation, and lasers, vision, and RADAR for perceiving the environment. This sensor data was incorporated into a drivability map that set the direction and velocity of the vehicle. The SRT believed the competition to be a software one, and concentrated on its software and vehicle intelligence. The team was confident that commercial SUVs were fully capable of negotiating the terrain. It was the software’s job to keep the vehicle on the road, driving at a suitable speed. The SRT also placed an emphasis on in-field testing and development, and this may have contributed to their win. In 2004, the best-performing robot drove a little more than seven miles. The progress from 2004’s 7 miles to 2005’s 132 miles shows Congress’s mandate that 30 percent of military vehicles be unmanned by 2015 to be within reach. Before long, driverless cars will be the norm and robots will be more populous than humans. Automatons will herald in the age of light-speed travel and planetary colonies. With the results from the 2005 DARPA Grand Challenge, it’s not far away. So look busy. ◙

web.engr.oregonstate.edu

Imagine a world of tomorrow where autonomous cars traverse the deserts and artificial intelligence thrives. That goal is becoming more and more plausible with the advent of competitions such as the 2005 DARPA Grand Challenge. DARPA, or the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, is the main research and development organization for the Department of Defense. DARPAs mission is to create technologies that can be used on the battlefield. The Grand Challenge is an effort to challenge people in America in developing unmanned vehicles. These vehicles would ideally be cost-effective and would lower the risk to American life. DARPA Grand Challenge pits self-directed ground vehicles against each other in the grueling

conditions of, in this year’s case, 132 miles of desert terrain. People have no place in the actual competition. All contestants can

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The DARPA Grand Challenge Team at Oregon State University

do is watch and hope; hope that their efforts in designing the software and choosing the car or

was based on a reinforced Volkswagen Touareg, and housed six computers. Stanley was controlled through a distributed soft-

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

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March 2, 2006 A&E/Science

Tenth Planet Sparks Debate “planet”, but with the discovery of Xena, the International Astro1429 miles. Xena’s orbit is tilted nomical Union (IAU) may be at a 44 degree angle to the eclipforced to precisely define the tic plane, extreme compared to word. Possible definitions include the orbits of planets in our solar picking an arbitrary size to insystem. Scientists are not sure clude Pluto and Xena as planwhether it is a planet. Xena is the ets. Another possibility is to demost distant object yet seen in the fine it as solar system “ a n yt h i n g and the largthat has est since asA possible tenth planet was enough tronomers announced on July 20, mass to be discovered spherical,” 2005. Xena, or 2003 Neptune in which will UB313, is 1864 miles 1846. It, like lead to inPluto, can be across, making it larger s t a n t found in the than Pluto, whose diameter “planet Kuiper Belt, a i n f l a is 1429 miles. region more tion.” The Scientists are not sure than 50 times IAU may about whether it is a planet. the distance also conbetween the sider definEarth and the ing “planet” as “any object that Sun. The region encompasses has a unique orbit and whose objects formed from the remnants gravity dominates its neighborof the early cloud of dust and gas hood.” This would demote Pluto dating to The Big Bang. to a non-planet status. However, the real buzz “Nature hasn’t been very nice around the discovery of Xena to us,” says Dr. Sheppard, who relates to Pluto’s comparative considers Xena the “nail in the size and therefore the “Is Pluto a coffin” of the Pluto-is-planet arReal Planet?” debate. Currently gument. ◙ there is no exact definition for Continued from Page 1

Winter Games: Olympic Ratings Hit a Low Point Continued from Page 10

With Americans’ disappointing performances and the absence of well-known names such as Michelle Kwan, NBC ratings were already taking a hit, but with the airing of new programming from ABC (“Desperate Housewives”, “Lost”, etc.) and Fox (“House”), this decline has escalated. “People have relationships with these programs. You don’t get that very visceral connection to the content of the Olympics. It’s a two-week-long event with a lot of people you don’t really know,” said Stacy Lyn Koerner, an analyst for Initiative Media. The downward trend started with the opening ceremonies, which attracted only 22.2 million viewers, down almost half from Salt Lake City in 2002 and 5 mil-

BBC

Award Shows Organizers Make Losing More Profitable Than Winning Continued from Page 10

A size comparison of the planets.

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lion from Nagano, Japan in 1998. Although domestic Olympics have always attracted more viewers, the disappointing 36 percent drop in the Nielsen ratings through six nights since 2002 will mean that NBC might have to provide advertisers more commercial time. To decrease its losses, NBC has spread Olympic coverage to its cable channels, USA, CNBC, and MSNBC, which have experienced a 35 percent increase in ratings compared to the same time last year. But while NBC talks about expanding its Olympic horizons, focus still stays on primetime when a 30 second commercial can cost from $500,000 to $700,000. ◙

places like Antarctica and Tasmania. How can such extravagance pay off? “Celebrities are very discerning. If they like a product, it translates to the public as trendsetting. Buzz starts building around that type of interaction,” explains Karen Wood, the president of “Backstage Creations,” who organized the Screen Actors Guild lounge of swag. However, in many cases the “buzz” never actually gets generated as studies show that only about only 5 percent to 10 percent of costly trips included in the gift packages are ever redeemed by the celebrity. The marketing phenomenon

originated at the Academy Awards in 1989 as a way to thank actors for presenting awards but has long outgrown its origins and raised new questions as to how the “gifts” should be treated in terms of income tax. Michael Harris, president of Paragon Business Management said, "If it's a fee for service, if you get this when you show up to do something, there would be taxable exposure. The I.R.S.'s appetite to enforce this type of transaction would depend on the perceived value." Judging from the estimated values above, the I.R.S. may grow hungrier very soon. ◙

AP EXAM REGISTRATION AP Exam Registration is done on-line at grades.stuy.edu until Thursday, March 23rd. The website will be shut down on Thursday, March 23rd at 12 Noon. Registration print out and checks (no cash)

“Start here...go anywhere”

are due on or before Thursday, March 23rd to Room 209. Your registration is not complete until all paperwork and checks are turned into Room 209. AP Exam

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Bulletins are also available in Room 209.

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March 2, 2006 A&E, Sports

Sports of the World: Curling

Winter Games: Olympic Ratings Hit a Low Point BY EMMA RABINOVICH ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Continued from Page 12

and “American Idol” (Fox) have both attracted viewers in their respective time slots. While NBC still dominates the arena in terms

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reference to the game occurred in Scotland in 1541. The game later spread to the Netherlands and then throughout Europe. The first curling club in the Western Hemisphere was established in 1807 in Montreal, and the game was introduced to America in 1832. The sport today is most popular in Canada. The easiest way to think of curling is a three-hour game of shuffleboard. Instead of a cement court, however, it’s played on an indoor ice rink. The object is to get the most stones closest to the “button”, or target, which is surrounded by a giant bullseye called the house. There are 10 ends or rounds. In each end, the four team members take turns “curling” stones across the length of the rink, while the rest of the team “sweeps” the stone down the ice. The game begins by each team’s respective lead, or first player, curling their respective stones. Naturally, the second

Bemidji, Minnesota), there are opportunities to curl in the New York area. The closest curling club to Stuyvesant is the Canadian Club of New York on West 43rd Street. According to the United States Curling Web site, they are a paper club, which means they are looking for ice. The closest ice sheets are at the New York Caledonian Curling Club in Bronxville, New York. You would be surprised at how popular curling is in New York. Ardsley High School, located in Westchester County, actually fields a curling team. They compete against other Westchester high schools like Dobbs Ferry, Hastings, and Irvington. No word yet on whether the PSAL will begin having curling competitions. In Turin, the American men are having a successful Olympics. As of February 20, the American men are 6-3 and have clinched a spot in the semifinals. Their next opponent is Canada, who they lost to 6-3 during round-robin NCBOlympics.com

This year's Olympics in Turin, Italy were disappointing for more than just athletes and their supporters. The official Torino 2006 logo N B C , which purchased the Olympic television rights from 2000 to 2012 for $5.7 billion (i n clu d in g the $613 million it spent to carry the T u r i n Games) has been suffering as well, from significantl y of total primetime viewership, the lower ratings. The Olympic tradition of airing repeats and Games, once a dominating force shrinking away from the competiin primetime, have recently lost tion seems to have ended for most that dominance to other popular networks. shows. “Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC)

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

Continued on Page 9

Award Shows Organizers Make Losing More Profitable Than Winning March, the cost of such a “gift bag” can be tens of thousands of dollars. The values vary slightly With the awards season in with the prestige and type of the full swing, celebrities have been award show as well as the recipicashing in on their success or in ents. The estimated value of the some cases failure. The consolagift basket tion prize for distributed to losing an the presenters Academy and performAward, for Studies show that only ers at this example, about only 5 percent y e a r ' s includes a G r a m m y to 10 percent of costly three-night Awards, for stay at the trips included in the example, was Mirage Hotel $ 5 4 , 0 0 0 gift packages are ever in Las Vegas, while celebria coupon for redeemed by the celebties who atlaser eye surrity. tended the gery and a G o l d e n set of highGlobes rethread-count ceived swag whose retail is estibed linens. And while companies mated to be around $62,000 and are not allowed to reveal their which included paid trips to participation until the end of

BY EMMA RABINOVICH ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Continued on Page 9

U.S. Women’s Curling Team during the preliminary round of the women’s curling between the United States and Norway.

throws the second stone. After the second, strategy becomes a very important factor. The vice-skip, or third thrower, has to decide how to knock the opponent’s stones out of bounds without affecting their own stones. The final stones of the end are played by the skips or captains. Once the skips curl their stones, whoever has the closest stone to the button receives one point. If the team with the closest stone also has the second closest stone, they receive two points and so on. While the majority of American curlers comes from Minnesota or Wisconsin (three out of the eight team members reside in

play. The team includes Scott Baird, who sets the record for the oldest Winter Olympian ever. He is 54 years old and an alternate on Team USA. The American women had much higher hopes coming into the games. They finished second at the most recent world championships and were looking to capitalize on that success. However, the team, led by Minnesota native sisters Cassie and Jamie Johnson, failed to live up to expectations. They finished round-robin play 27, tied for eighth and out of the semifinals. The future is still bright, however. No member of the team is over 30 years old. ◙

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Baseball Takes the World Stage allowed), this team has one thing going for it: motivation. What better way to get back at the American government then by beating them at their sport? I predict Cuba squeaks by Panama into the quarterfinals. Pool D is the most clear-cut

Continued from Page 12

Fenway Park: Yankee’s vs. Red Sox 2005

group of the four. The Australians and the Italians will be no match for the Dominicans and the Venezuelans. The Dominicans will be able to win this group rather easily. While their pitching hopes rest on Pedro Martinez’s toe, their hitting is easily the best in the tournament. In one lineup, the

group will be the Venezuelans. The Venezuelans have the deepest staff in the tournament. Led by Cy Young winner Johan Santana and Cubs star Carlos Zambrano, the Venezuelans will try to win on their pitching. Their hitting, however, is not as good. Their outfield of Miguel Cabrera,

continue on to skate a perfect long program, which earned him fourth place overall. Johnny Weir skated a cautious long program, which earned him mediocre marks. He finished fifth overall. The third American, Matt Savoie, finished seventh. The gold medal went to Plushenko, who had an amazing 27-point lead. The third skating event to take place was the ice dancing competition. In this event, each team skates three different Italian figure skating team falling during their original programs. After the first dance, Americans Tanith dance segment. Belbin and Ben Agosto of minutes, they continued their were sixth. In the second dance, program from where they stopped they skated cleanly and moved to and were rewarded with wild apsecond. After the final dance, plause from the audience. they remained in second and took The next competition to take home the silver medal. This is the place was the men’s. After the first Olympic ice dancing silver short program, Russian Yevgeny medal to be earned by an AmeriPlushenko was in first place and can team, and the first American American Johnny Weir was in Olympic ice dancing medal of second. Another American, Evan any color in 30 years. Lysacek, finished 10th in the The gold medal went to the short program after a disastrous Russian team of Tatyana Navka skate. However, he was battling a and Roman Kostomarov, and the bad case of stomach flu, which bronze medal was won by Yelena left him unsure if he’d be able to Grushina and Ruslan Goncharov stay in the competition. He did of Ukraine. The other two Ameri-

The Joys and Sorrows of Olympic Figure Skating gold medalist, skated. The first figure skating event to commence was the pairs competition. In the short program, Americans Rena Inoue and John Baldwin made Olympic history by landing the first throw triple axel. However, after a fall in their long program on the same jump, they finished seventh overall. Inoue said, “I’m very pleased with the way we skated. I thought it was a very good overall performance.” The second American team to compete, Marcy Hinzmann and Aaron Parchem, finished 13th. Tatiana Totmianina and Maxim Marinin won gold and continued the Russian dominance in pairs skating. They looked hesitant in their program, yet still won with a lead of 10 points over Zhang Dan and Zhang Hao of China. During their long program, they attempted a throw quadruple jump. Zhang Dan crashed down on the ice injuring herself. After a break of a couple

Dominicans have Angels star Vladimir Guerrero, St. Louis’s Albert Pujols, Boston’s David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez, the Orioles' Miguel Tejada, and exYankee and current National Alfonso Soriano. Their bench could probably beat a few teams, with Mets star Jose Reyes and Cubs third basemen Aramis Ramirez. The second place team in this

NBC

credibly dangerous with Yankee infielders Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter. When you add the speed of Johnny Damon and the power of Rangers star Mark Teixeira, the Americans are going to do fine. The second team to make it through this group will be Mexico. Mexico’s team is not nearly on the level of the Americans, but the other teams in the group are much weaker. The Mexican pitchers are led by former Yankee Esteban Loaiza, and the hitting by former Oakland first basemen Erubiel Durazo. The other teams in this group are Canada and South Africa. Pool C is the most competitive group in the tournament. This group includes Cuba, The Netherlands, Panama, and Puerto Rico. My pick to win the group is Puerto Rico. The most balanced team in the group, Puerto Rico has quality major league pitching (Javier Vazquez and Joel Piniero), along with quality hitting (Mets Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado). For second in this group, I’d like to go out on a limb and say Cuba. While boasting no major leaguers (the defected Americans were not

Continued from Page 12

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March 2, 2006 Sports

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Bobby Abreu, and Magglio Ordonez must be the offense for the entire team. An interesting side note is Italy, where ex-Mets catcher Mike Piazza will be starring. Why Italy? His grandparents were born there, and in the incredibly relaxed rules concerning country status, that qualifies him as an Italian. In the first quarterfinal group in Anaheim, California, the Americans and Japanese should be able to get by the Mexicans and Koreans. The second quarterfinal group will be much more interesting. The Dominican wrecking crew will make it past, but Venezuela and Puerto Rico will have a tough battle for that second spot. My pick is Venezuela, because I think their pitching will be enough to overcome the Puerto Ricans. The semifinals in San Diego will not be surprising. The Americans will beat the Japanese team easily, and the Dominicans will do the same to the Venezuelans. My prediction for the first ever World Baseball Champion is the Dominicans. Pitching in a tournament where pitch count rules will be strictly enforced won’t make or break a team to an extent. The offense will be the most important, and the Dominicans have much more firepower then their American counterparts. ◙ can teams, Melissa Gregory and Denis Petukhov, and Jamie Silverstein and Ryan O’Meara finished 14th and 16th, respectively. On February 21 the most popular event commenced, the ladies' figure skating competition. After the short program, American Sasha Cohen, was in first place, ahead of Irina Slutskaya of Russia by three one-hundredths of a point. In third place by less than a point was Shizuka Arakawa of Japan. After the free skate on February 23, Arakawa managed to take the lead and win the gold, the first Japanese gold medal of the Turin Olympics and the first Japanese Olympic gold medal in figure skating. After disappointing performances, Cohen finished second, and Slutskaya third. Cohen was happy with her overall placement and said, “I definitely gave 100 percent in my effort, I gave it my all. So I have no regrets with that. But it just wasn't my night.” The other American skaters, Kimmie Meissner and Emily Hughes, finished sixth and seventh. ◙

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March 2, 2006 Sports

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

Baseball Takes the World Stage BY ERIC MAYO SPORTS EDITOR Though the calendar says spring starts on March 20, it starts much earlier for baseball fans across the country. In fact, spring for most baseball fans started on February 15, the first day pitchers and catchers were to report to their respective teams. This year, there is a unique twist to spring training. For the first time ever, players will be leaving their teams’ training camps to play for their (or their grandparents’) countries. The World Baseball Classic begins March 3rd in Tokyo, and will culminate on March 20 in San Diego. Sixteen different nations will be split into 4 groups. Within each group, each team will play every other team once. The top two teams from each pool move on to a second round robin round, where the top two teams advance to the semi-final games. The two semi-final game winners will play to determine who has the right to be called the real World Champion. Pool A, which includes China, Chinese Taipei, Japan and Korea, will play its games in the Tokyo Dome in Japan. The favor-

ite here has to be Japan. Japan consistently provides quality free agents to Major League Baseball, and some of them will be there, as well as others who will soon be in the majors. Japan will have star right fielder Ichiro Suzuki, as well as Diasuke Matzuaka, a star Japanese pitcher who will most likely be signing with a major league team next season. Second in this group will be close. My prediction is Korea. They have quality starting pitchers, which is a rarity in this tournament. Those include ex-Met Jae Seo and Padres pitcher Chan Ho Park. Their offense, while not terribly strong, does include Dodgers first baseman Hee Sop Choi. Look for those two teams to make it out of this pool, which also includes Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) and China. In Pool B, the overwhelming favorite is the Americans. They are the only team that has all major-leaguers, and they are one of the favorites to win the entire tournament. The Americans will be led by Roger Clemens, who could be making his last competitive starts before he retires. On offense, the Americans are in-

The Joys and Sorrows of Olympic Figure Skating

Continued on Page 11

Sports of the World: Curling What makes an Olympic sport? They range from the normal, like swimming in the summer and skiing in the winter, to the odd like table tennis. However, there is always one sport

BY JENNIFER SCHLESINGER EDITOR IN CHIEF

that is particularly fascinating. The sport that has captivated the American audience this Olympics is curling. What is it, and why is it being mentioned everywhere? Curling’s history dates back over 400 years. The first written Continued on Page 10

NBC

US team at Torino 2006.

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BY ERIC MAYO SPORTS EDITOR

On February 10, the Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, began with the opening ceremony, which was watched by millions across the globe. Some of the most anticipated events were the various ice skating competitions. For some skaters, just getting to go to the Olympics was a dream come true. Others had their sights set on medals of gold, Team USA during the original dance segment. silver, and bronze. Unfortunately for Michelle Kwan, the nine-time from performing her best. Kwan United States figure skating said, “Taking myself off the team champion and Olympic silver and is the most difficult decision I’ve bronze medalist, her quest for ever had to make, but it’s the Olympic gold ended before her right decision.” In her place, first competition skate. She Emily Hughes, sister of Sarah pulled a muscle in her hip, which Hughes, the 2002 ladies Olympic she decided would prevent her Continued on Page 11