Volume 6 Issue 11

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

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

Volume VI, Issue XI

Free

Thursday, March 8, 2007

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Global Warming: The Impending Doom on Earth

The Obsession With Celebrity Gossip Page 8

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It’s Called Vacation for a Reason Corbis

Should Diversity Week Be Changed to Commonality Week?

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Stuyvesant Open House TSS/Elissa Tam

BY JIMMY ZHANG NEWS EDITOR

On February 13 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Stuyvesant High School held its annual Open House. This year, 950 families were welcomed with free admission; in total, Stuyvesant accommodated over 3,000 guests. At 4 p.m., parents and eager eighth graders stormed into Stuyvesant looking forward to checking out the environment they will be involved in for the next four years. The program for the evening was divided into three sections. Each family had one of three schedules, which all included the same events, but in different orders. The first section was in the Murray Kahn Theater. It was an orientation regarding their admissions. In the second section, parents and children went to meet the assistant principals and depart-

Incoming freshmen arrive on the 2nd floor of Stuyvesant High School.

ment representatives. The y learned about the requirements of Stuyvesant and the possibilities in

courses. In the last section, the parents and children split up. The parents went to the sixth floor

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Wikipedia Banned For Research Within College Department For many Stuyvesant students, Wikipedia is the most common reference around. Information from the encyclopedia is often used as a source for reports, but students rarely spend the time to confirm if this information is actually true. At Middlebury College’s history department, students have been banned from citing Wikipedia after several professors noticed that students cited the website in their reports. Students, however, attributed this action to their high school teachers, who allowed them to use Wikipedia. The straw broke the camel’s back, however, when Middlebury professor Dr. Neil Waters found that half a dozen students stated on his Japanese history exams

that Jesuits supported the Shimabara Rebellion in the 17th century. This incorrect information was picked up by students who were cramming for their exams using Wikipedia. As a result, the history department stated that Wikipedia could not be cited on papers or exams, and students could not “point to Wikipedia or any similar source that may appear in the future to escape the consequences of errors.” Students, however, may continue to use the website. “In fact, I use it myself,” said Dr. Waters. “But it is a useful beginning point that can point to better-vetted sources, or suggest possible research topics. It cannot serve as the end of the research process, and it cannot stand as an authoritative citation.”

Wikipedia

BY SANGHEE CHUNG COLUMNIST

where they were able to meet other parents and talk with people from the Parents’ Association. The PA’s goal for the night was to recruit at least 90 parents. The children went to either the third or fifth floor, where they were bombarded with requests to join various clubs and pubs represented by their club members. “It was great. I got a lot of people to sign up,” replied one junior club member. Even as the parents and children entered the doors leading in from the bridge, they were showered in cries of “Pink here!,” “Green Sheets here!,” and “Yellow People Follow Me!” These were the cries of Big Sibs and Arista members who had volunteered four hours of their free time. These people were to act as guides and help lost parents and children. They were to point peo-

America’s Worst Nightmare BY HESHAM SALEH STAFF WRITER

The Wikimedia foundation also was in agreement with the school’s decision. “We think that this is a sensible policy,” said a statement.

The thought of another war only four years after President Bush led the United States into the highly controversial war in Iraq seems almost certain now. In a United Nations resolution created in December, Iran had a period of 60 days to end its attempts at enriching uranium, which could be used for creating weapons. But on February 22, the International Atomic Energy Agency reported that Iran had continued to expand its uranium-enriching efforts. The main nuclear center in Iran is located in Natanz. The desert, which is very close by, is being used as an “experimental

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The logo of the free online encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

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Thursday, March 8, 2007 NEWS

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD  Founded 2001

      “Your School, Your 

World—Your News” 

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

FACULTY ADVISER EDITOR IN CHIEF MANAGING EDITOR CO-CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER CO-CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER LAYOUT EDITOR COPY CHIEF NEWS EDITOR OPINIONS EDITOR ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR SPORTS EDITOR SCIENCE EDITOR BUSINESS 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. 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 LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Dear Readers, Even in today's technological world, newspapers play a prominent role in society. Whether their contents are viewed online or in the more conventional print form, they have the ability to bring news and information to their readers. Newspapers let people know what is happening in their world and give them opinions on important topics. Furthermore, newspapers have sections that are for people's enjoyment, such as puzzle and literary sections. The Stuyvesant Standard is a newspaper with a clear mission. It dedicates itself to providing local and world news to Stuyvesant High School and the surrounding communities. There is often more than one way to meet a mission and thus, The Standard has decided to make changes to better serve its mission and thus its readers. These changes will be enacted over the next couple of issues. When newspapers give opinions they get people to talk and figure out what their own opinions are. In order to fulfill this role, The Standard will be adding an editorial to each issue. For easy access, it will be located on the inside cover. We will also improve our existing opinions section by including more articles and making sure our topics are relevant to our readers. Furthermore, we want to hear from our readers. If you have an opinion on a topic that was not covered, or an opinion on an article written, let us know. Moreover, we have recently unveiled a new advice column, Ask The T. If you would like advice, please send an e-mail to [email protected] with Ask The T in the subject line. News is one of the staples of a newspaper. We desire to improve our news section by covering more local events. If there is an event happening, please let us know so we can send writers and photographers. We want to make sure that our news relates to you. We aim to include more interviews when possible, so you can understand the opinions of people involved. In our standard news columns, such as Meet This Teacher and Club Spotlight, we would like to highlight who and what you want to learn more about. In the past, some of our science and business articles have been difficult to understand for some of our readers. We will endeavor not to have this reoccur. We would like to see more people using our website. Although we recently dealt with some technical difficulties, our website is now up and running. We would like to see more people using our forum. It can be used to give us feedback and to discuss both in-school and out of school topics. You can also post comments to any article. In regards to our staff, The Standard will maintain its policy of accepting all students. We have boosted our workshop series to help our staff improve their skills as well as gain new ones. If you interested in joining, please send an e-mail to [email protected].

If you would like to advertise in THE STUYVESANT STANDARD, please e-mail [email protected] to request an advertisement form. We offer a broad range of options including full color capability for your advertising needs.

Regards, Jennifer Schlesinger Editor in Chief [email protected]

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ple in the right direction. Some stood around in the hallways to aid the newcomers. Others gave tours around Stuyvesant. Parents asked these tour guides questions regarding the student lifestyle. “Although some of the informa-

tion was not as useful, I especially liked the way they were so honest in talking with us,” said one satisfied father. On the half floor, the band played a lively performance to entertain everyone throughout the evening. ◙

LAST ISSUE’S CORRECTIONS Open House Pictures were not completely printed in Issue 10 due to a publishing error. Please visit our website stuystandard.org to see them.

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

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Thursday, March 8, 2007 NEWS

A Weather Update: The Apocalypse of Global Warming Corbis

BY JERRY WANG STAFF WRITER

When winter comes around, people are usually bundled in layers of clothing. However, the weather this winter has been very different from what normally happens. What started out as a hot November turned to an even hotter December. People began to exchange jackets for t-shirts and then, out of nowhere, were suddenly hit with a snow storm. The freaky weather was not caused by vengeful spirits or extraterrestrials, but by something frighteningly real and closer to home: global warming. Global warming may be the answer to all our weather questions but it is a dangerous problem to our environment. Twenty years ago, there were virtually no articles on global warming, but now the topic has become ingrained into our minds as much as Bradgelina and American Idol. The promotion of global warming is not uncalled for and should not

be ignored. With the exception of a world war, an uncontrollable plague or an attack from aliens, global warming is the largest threat to the human civilization. For years, we have released a hazardous amount of greenhouse

Meet Ms. Ambia! BY SANGHEE CHUNG COLUMNIST

Classes Taught: FS7, FS8 (Advanced Spanish Conversation and Spanish Literature) Raised in Peru, Frida Ambia arrived at the United States at the age of 12 and has nurtured and fostered a love for Spanish in herself and her students ever since. Her first teaching experience was at a Seward Park high school, teaching Spanish for one semester. She then taught at Norman Thomas High School for one year

“My students are wonderful, and I am thankful for that,” she said. “My favorite thing about Stuyvesant is that the students are highly motivated and want to learn for the sake of leaning. My least favorite thing, however, is that some students may be a bit arrogant because they all know that they are very bright.” In the classroom, Ms. Ambia hopes that her students become more aware of other cultures while trying and learning to like it to speak Spanish. For her, merely getting the lesson done does not

I really enjoy teaching...I also like kids. I think that liking kids is an important factor for a teacher.” and eventually came to Stuyvesant. This is Ms. Ambia’s seventh year teaching Spanish at Stuyvesant High School. She felt that she had an innate desire to teach. For her, teaching runs in the family, from her father to all of her siblings. “I really enjoy teaching,” she said. “I also like kids. I think that liking kids is an important factor for a teacher.” Ms. Ambia believes that she is lucky to be able to teach at Stuyvesant, because she feels that the students are bright and motivated.

suffice — the students need to have a love for the subject. Outside of teaching, some of Ms. Ambia’s passions include reading and writing. However, due to her busy lifestyle, she often finds it difficult to make time for these activities. One thing she does not miss out on is spending time with her family. At home, she enjoys being with her two daughters, making desserts and reading with them. In addition, she spends time with them at the movies, museums and parks. ◙

gases into the atmosphere and the environment has begun responding to the emissions. Hurricanes Rita, Katrina and Wilma have brought destruction to thousands of lives. Venice has sunk ten centimeters and there are now about

sixty floods a year. Scientists estimate that in one hundred years, beaches will be gone and the ocean will try to claim continental landmasses. What will happen in two hundred years? Three hundred years? According to the Business and Media Institute, our planet will continue to become warmer each year until we become like our sister planet, Venus, with a poisonous atmosphere, acid rain and incredibly hot temperatures. There are many ways to help prevent the earth from being demolished by global warming. The simplest actions like turning off the lights and picking up garbage can help save the world. If no attention is given to what is happening right in front of our faces and we continue to overlook the side effects of global warming, then when winter comes around again, bathing suits might be the new trend. ◙

CLUB SPOTLIGHT

Model U.N. BY YANA GONTCHAROVA COLUMNIST

Joining Model United Nations is a great opportunity for people to learn more about the policies of other countries, to sharpen their debate skills, or to just have a good time. This club emulates the real United Nations by holding mock conferences where real world issues are discussed. Those who attend these conferences must act like delegates, representing the views of their assigned nations on issues such as the crisis in Darfur, AIDS and children’s education.

At the conferences, there are many different committees, and the chosen committee affects the types of issues that are discussed. For example, UNICEF usually attempts to better the lives of children around the world while DISEC often concentrates on stopping the illegal smuggling of weapons. The goal of each committee is to come up with a successful resolution to the problems it discusses. Delegates will have to work together to make a resolution that will please, if not everyone, the majority of the countries at the conference. This is because, in order for a resolution

This club emulates the real United Nations by holding mock conferences where real world issues are discussed. Throughout the school year, Model U.N. holds many of these mock conferences, but the most exciting and important ones are the ones held at major universities. Every year, Stuyvesant’s Model U.N. team attends conferences held at schools such as Brown, Yale and Harvard. These conferences usually last three to four days, and are held during the weekend. Participants have to miss a day or two of school.

to pass, it must be voted on. Besides being informative, Model U.N. conferences are a lot of fun. Participants get to share hotel rooms with three or four of their friends, tour the university, explore the area during lunch and dinner time, and meet new people from other high schools at the conferences. If you’re interested in international affairs, this is definitely the club for you. ◙

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Thurday, March 8, 2007 NEWS/OPINIONS

Wikipedia Banned For Research Within College Department on Wikipedia, where experts could improve on their work. “Most were positive about the experience, especially the training in writing encyclopedia articles, which all of them came to realize is not an easy matter,” said professor Smith. “Many also retained their initial ambivalence about Wikipedia itself.” ◙

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“Wikipedia is the ideal place to start your research and get a global picture of a topic. However, it is not an authoritative source.” Some schools, on the other hand, choose to use Wikipedia as a learning tool. Columbia professor Henry Smith had graduate students create a Japanese project

America’s Worst Nightmare Continued from Page 1

center.” The main components are antiaircraft guns and a number of buildings which contain centrifuges. These centrifuges use the atomic weight differences between the two isotopes of uranium to obtain weapons-grade uranium. Iran also has pilot plants, buried deep underground, which also house centrifuges used to experiment on enriching uranium. Scarily, Iran has started to increase the speed of its attempts. One report said that Iran intends to install 3,000 centrifuges by May, less than three months away. Corbis

Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (center) said his country would not suspend uranium enrichment.

Despite the fact that Iran seems to be moving forward with a scary pace, they are still a great deal behind where they wanted to be at this point. For example, it originally planned to begin installing centrifuges by 2005. This delay suggests that Iran is having “technical difficulties” with its methods. A European diplomat, who wished to remain anonymous, said, “They’re forging ahead. They’re not moving at a huge pace, but they’re moving.” Of course, the United States

and Israel have not remained quiet on this issue. The Bush administration has accused Iran of supplying Iraq with weapons, possibly including explosives. The United States understands the possible consequences of speed at which Iran is progressing. President Bush has sent two aircraft groups to patrol certain areas in Iran. It is possible for Bush to order these planes to attack Iranian nuclear facilities. However, the Bush administration has confirmed that that strategy is not one of its intended plans. David Albright, President of the Institute for Science and International Security, said, “[The Iranians] are very serious . . . They are installing faster than expected." The United States is also trying to convince Iranians that their nuclear program will only isolate Iran from the rest of the world. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said, “There are people in Iran who recognize that the path that they’re on is not a useful path, not a constructive path.” Rice also said that the United States will be ready to resume negotiations with Iran “on whatever they would like to talk about" only after Iran suspends its nuclear activities. Other countries are worried about the recent activities of Iran as well. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said that Israel was deeply worried about the success that Iran has recently had with their nuclear attempts. Olmert, however, did not comment on the possibility of Israeli attacks on Iran. The situation in Iran, if it keeps growing, will definitely pose a major problem in the world. Unfortunately, it is very possible that the United States will enter another war very soon in the future. ◙

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

Grades On March 20, pandemonium will once again hit Stuyvesant High School. Students will run about the hallways with white pieces of paper in their hands, many with expressions of horror on their face. What is this event? It is the distribution of report cards. In general, Stuy students put much emphasis on their grades. They are motivated and want to do the best they can. Unfortunately, many students forget about what goes into the grade, knowledge learned, participation in class, test scores and more. This leads them to try to take courses in which they think they will get better grades. Instead, they should take courses that interest them and suit their abilities. This way, the course will challenge them and interest them. Furthermore, this way they will be moti vated to work hard out of interest, and may, in the long run, do better grade wise. A l m o s t every student has had a time when they felt they were missgraded. It is true that sometimes students do not accurately judge what their grades should be. However, in such cases, the students should talk to the teacher. If it becomes the case where a grade cannot be changed, students should try to look behind the grade. Maybe they feel that they improved and the teacher failed to acknowledge this. However, the student should remember that they improved and take pride in this and the fact that they can motivate themselves to achieve. Many students compare their grades to their classmates' grades. This is part of what leads to the competitive atmosphere at Stuy. It is good to strive to do the best one can. However, one should value their accomplishments based on their own merits. Thus, we encourage students to look at their grades as a measure of how well they are doing and not as a comparison to other students. We are not trying to down play the importance of grades, but encourage students to look at them in a new light. Jennifer Schlesinger Editor in Chief [email protected]

Power Struggle BY AMNA AHMAD STAFF WRITER

America is a world power. But, just what is it that makes it a world power? It definitely is not our education because we are lagging behind other nations in that aspect. It also isn’t our economy because while it is still thriving, it just isn’t what it used to be. Our popularity among nations is at an

perienced in the U.S. and work toward making our nation one that is looked up to by others as it once was. I have proposed that perhaps it is time for a new country to take the spotlight as the U.S. continues to struggle to meet the prestige of its innovative past. While America takes a good look in the mirror, at the billions of

We must take into consideration that this statistic looks pretty good for China’s future, as it was never deemed to be a world power before. all-time low, so I guess we can’t assume that the current status of the United States is a result of good foreign relations. It is difficult to understand just what it is that makes us call ourselves a world power, assuming that we are at some unreachable level of success. What we need to do is end the midlife crisis being ex-

dollars we’ve spent on an unnecessary war, on the irreconcilable dropout rates of our nation’s students, and on the thousands of people still suffering everyday, dozens of months subsequent to the disaster of a hurricane that tore our country apart, other nations continue to improve, grow Continued on Page 5

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

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Thursday, March 8, 2007 OPINIONS

Should Diversity Week Be Commonality Week? Corbis

BY SHADIA KARIM STAFF WRITER

Aah, it’s Diversity Week again. On my way out to the bridge, I couldn’t help but give the poster on the second floor a wry smile, and wonder if mine was the first one it received over the week, or if even the people responsible for posting it on the wall themselves gave it wry smiles. I hardly think a week needs to be set aside to celebrate diversity, simply because it makes the embracing-the-cultures bit seem somewhat imposed. For the various and many ethnic groups at Stuy, I’m sure that a week of celebrating diversity can actually be a tense and delicate matter, one that is best remedied when some of the misgivings are explored. It may not come as a surprise that most of Stuy is racially diverse, or that most cliques generally are not. Because it is difficult to determine whether or not this occurs consciously, racism might not be the right term to describe it. Nevertheless, Stuy is

Is our clique-filled school as diverse as it claims?

divided on racial and ethnic lines. Most people, when asked, will say that it is more natural for them to be part of a group with a common culture, or which shares common beliefs and values; and

BY HUI TING JIANG STAFF WRITER

Vacation is defined as “a scheduled period during which activity is suspended” by the Britannica Ready Reference. It is a time to relax and unwind oneself. It is a time to lie on a beach chair and get a tan. However, vacation means work, work and more work for Stuyvesant students. Teachers prefer to assign major projects or essays during the vacation so as to allow extra time for students to complete their work. On the other hand, sympathetic and compassionate teachers enjoy the idea of a vacation. Mr. D’Alleva, a math teacher, is in opposition to giving homework during vacations and weekends as well. D’Alleva lightheartedly tells his students to inform their teachers “not to give you guys homework.” Students uproariously laugh at that comment and say it’s impossible for projects or assignments not to be given. “Most people do their homework at the last minute,” commented freshman Jason. On top of the idea of a relaxing vacation, there are also religious matters involved. For example, the winter recess includes the celebration of Jesus Christ’s birth (Christmas) and the rededication

of the Second Temple of Jerusalem (Hanukah). This only applies to students of that particular faith, but it does not exempt them from assignments. When students were asked about their feelings towards projects given during vacation, many felt it is iniquitous and unjust. “I don’t want to stay home and work,” exclaimed junior Carrie. Freshman Sophia felt the same, saying that “it sucks, because I can’t go out and have fun.” This is the price to pay for being in such a prestigious school as Stuyvesant. Teachers claim homework “reinforces what you learn” and helps students “apply concepts learnt in class.” In addition, many parents say their child does nothing productive and stays home watching television all day if no homework is given. Personally, I think homework should not be given. Stuyvesant students are intelligent enough to apply themselves in everyday situations. When attending a movie, math skills are used to estimate the cost of tickets and snacks. When attending a museum, history lessons are revived in students’ minds. There are endless possibilities to what students can achieve in their own time. ◙

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Power Struggle Continued from Page 4 Corbis

It’s Called Vacation For A Reason

that, despite having such groups, they are open to members of any background. However, the standard for acceptance for new members is unnaturally high, making both those seeking inclusion and

those accepting uncomfortable. Worse still are groups who carefully avoid one another — in such cases, preconceived notions, i.e. stereotypes, take over. Of course, we don’t expect to carry on this way in the real world, but for now, most of us are content to let it be. But the reality of social interaction is set aside for one week at the end of February. What should be a day to overcome the fears of being judged often becomes a day in which cultural groups conform exclusively. In viewing cultural dances, for example, the audience may find steps that are distinctly American; in beliefs and values, they might find themselves agreeable to liberal ones that hint heavily of America. I don’t deny that there is an emerging multinational culture within today’s teenagers, but a cultural group under scrutiny should not be compelled to impress its audience. For us to get a true sense of the culture, it must be expressed without the

Is America too much of a world power?

and prosper. Perhaps that country that will soon take the spotlight will be China, as many political analysts now believe. The potential for China as a world power has arisen as a topic of discussion increasingly often, not only on the political spectrum, but also by regular everyday people worldwide. For instance, a survey was conducted by Germany’s Bertelsmann Foundation, with some very remarkable results. When 10,250 people from across the world were asked whether they thought that China would be a world power in the year 2020, 55 percent agreed, while when asked the same question about the United States, 57

percent agreed. We must take into consideration that this statistic looks pretty good for China’s future, as it was never deemed to be a world power before. However, the U.S. is usually the first on our minds when we think of a world power, while a considerable percent of people (43%) now believe that the U.S. will not retain its status for the near future. I may be laying it down a bit hard on the United States in this respect, because there are in fact other nations that are experiencing a bit of a status slump according to survey statistics as well, including the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Japan. America’s status as a world power should definitely not be the first priority on our agenda, whereas I do believe that if some internal issues are solved and relations with countries on an international level are fortified, there is no doubt that our status will slowly and steadily fall into place. For now, the U.S. is just going to need its ego constantly stroked by the diminishing population of undoubtedly loyal citizens who would rather lie to themselves about the current situation of the country than face the truth: America is engaged in a never-ending power struggle to salvage the little respect and patience that the world as a whole has left for the nation. ◙

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Thursday, March 8, 2007 OPED/BUSINESS

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD Corbis

Should Diversity Week Be Commonality Week? Continued from Page 5

pretentious flare, in its most natural form, not excepting the rituals and beliefs that clash horribly with our own. Part of the confusion may be that we don’t know what we’re celebrating under the name of diversity. If by “diverse” we mean “different,” then what are the cultures we are treated to different from? Our own culture? It can’t be; our culture is multinational. When assessing the differences between our culture (whatever it may be) and another, we should always ask ourselves what those differences mean to us. Do they capture the richness of that culture, or do they, in a strange catharsis, make us feel better about our own, nonwayward culture? Doesn’t diversity simply establish inequality and foster segregation, and in that case, wouldn’t we be better off celebrating commonality? Not necessarily. The truth, after all, is that each of us is different. Being a supporter of diversity means that you are willing to accept a culture as a whole,

with or without its “misconceptions” about America, life, or otherwise. It means that you are going to make an honest effort to look past your life and see what makes these values work for other people, what makes them who they are. Merely being an aloof observer, or celebrating diversity because you’ve been told it is morally and politically correct, can do you no good, and may at least partially account for why celebrating diversity has never evolved into something deeper and more meaningful insomuch as the simple expansion of a Stuy clique. Diversity Week gives us all a chance to appreciate the strength and endurance of our own heritages and those of others, as well as our collective heritage as Stuy students. Take advantage of the opportunity, but why let it end on the 6th? Remember that the most important thing about celebrating Diversity Week is not to let the show be over when it’s done. ◙

Wal-mart prepares for the opening of their first Shanghai outlet.

Wal-Mart Looking to Expand in China BY HANFORD CHIU BUSINESS EDITOR

Wal-Mart recently announced its intention to purchase Bounteous, a Taiwan-based company with over 100 “Trust-Mart” supermarkets in China, by 2010, in order to expand its global market share and reproduce the effects of its investments here in America. Wal-Mart has already purchased about 35 percent of Bounteous’s stock, and will eventually buy total control of the company if certain undisclosed conditions are fulfilled. The deal would make Wal-Mart the main competitor to French rival Carrefour as the largest supermarket operator in China. The timing of this move is most likely due to the fact that Wal-Mart would like to capitalize on the burgeoning market of China, having seen China’s economic rise and potential over the past few years. Furthermore, WalMart hopes to replicate the success of its American supermarkets while avoiding the pitfalls that it has made here. American sales rose only 7.8 percent last year, while international sales have seen a near 30 percent boost. Since its beginning here in America, Wal-Mart has been the enemy of unions, small business and the working class. Numerous lawsuits and protests about its workers’ wages, discrimination against women, and lack of medical benefits have been prevalent for years. Small “Main Street” businesses have been shuttered due to their inability to keep up with Wal-

Mart’s low prices. Furthermore, many major United States cities, including New York City, have denied Wal-Mart access to urban areas for fears of disrupting the urban economy by introducing relatively cheap “suburban” prices, as well as resentment from Democratic lawmakers for its efforts to keep workers from unionizing. Despite all this, WalMart has made a killing in earnings from its United States markets, and many of these problems would probably be avoided in a country such as China, which is not renowned for its human rights policies. Non-unionized workers are not uncommon, average wages and benefits in China are probably lower than those of WalMart employees here in the States, and the Chinese government would be supportive of WalMart’s activities because of the boost to the economy, which is agreeable with the government’s attempt to raise its global standing. If Wal-Mart’s Chinese endeavor succeeds, it is likely to move on to Russia as another potential market. A co-owner of the Russian supermarket chain Karusel claims to be interested in selling the chain, and that WalMart is among the possible buyers. Wal-Mart’s international success could mark a new consumer era of cheap, quality goods around the world, as well as a centralization of economic power not seen since the era of monopolies. ◙

Questions? Comments? Contact Us at [email protected]

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

Thursday, March 8, 2007 ADVERTISEMENT

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Thursday, March 8, 2007 BUSINESS/A&E

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

XM and Sirius Merger, A Monopoly of Airwaves Reuters

BY HANFORD CHIU BUSINESS EDITOR

Sirius and XM satellite radio providers have announced a possible merger in mid-February, bringing to mind the possibilities and concerns of having a monopoly in satellite radio. While Earth radio stations still exist and operate independently, it is likely that they would soon become obsolete when faced with the potential benefits of satellite radio, which provide a far larger array of narrower radio programs (for example, there would be a channel for alternative rock or metal exclusively, rather than just a rock radio station), commercial-free, with better access than standard radio (the FM radio band doesn’t work well in large enclosed areas such as cities with skyscrapers), for only quarters a day. But could this merger rouse the same trustbusting incentives of the past when commodities such as steel, oil and trains were under the mighty reach of a single corporation, which lead to price-gouging and poor quality for lack of com-

The recent rumors of an XM-Sirius merger could lead to a monopoly on satellite radio.

petition? Sirius CEO Mel Karmazin, who is slated to become the CEO of the merged company if the merger goes through, disagrees. “If we want to get more than the 10 percent of the population currently subscribing, we have to

The Obsession With Celebrity Gossip BY AMY QIU STAFF WRITER

Journey’s End Joins Broadway BY ROBERT STEVENSON STAFF WRITER

When the audience of a Broadway play walks out of the theater in silent admiration, you know the show must have been good. This is what happens at the Belasco Theatre on 44th Street and 6th Avenue every Tuesday through Saturday night at the end of the new Broadway show,

“Journey’s End,” which began previews on February 8. Written in 1928 by R.C. Sherriff, “Journey’s End” takes place over a period of four days in a British Army trench in France during the First World War. The main characters, all British soldiers, are forced to deal with death and the reality of war. Continued on Page 9 Paul Kolnik

Anyone with a craving for celebrity gossip can easily satisfy it by picking up a colorful tabloid and reading its made-to-shock headlines. According to recent sales data, it seems that more gossip lovers have been indulging in those pages of celebrity scandal and passion. Tabloids such as “Us,” “In Touch,” and “Star” have experienced an overall increase of about 50 percent in subscriptions and sales during the past two and a half years. It is a known fact that people love celebrity gossip but the reasons behind this are not as well publicized. For many, an interest in celebrities stems from the fact that they’re so well known. After you’ve admired actors or singers, it’s only natural to want to know more about their lives. In fact, there are some people who have received so much exposure that it would be almost impossible not to know about them. In some cases, gossip can also turn out to be good topics for conversation. When faced with someone with whom you barely have anything in common, sharing your thoughts about Britney’s developing melo-

drama can lead to a bonding experience. People who live in small towns often know everything about their neighbors. As city dwellers, the familiar faces we see in magazines are almost like those “neighbors” that we like to stay up to date on. Or maybe the interest in their lives lies in the simple fact that we never know what they’re going to do next. Their lives become a source of entertainment that allows ample room for speculation. “Are they going to get back together?” “Is she really pregnant with his baby?” At times, the real-life drama can prove to be as unpredictable as a soap opera. Unfortunately, what is at first an innocent desire for gossip can lead to unwanted consequences. Celebrities become victims of lack of privacy and harassment from nosy photographers. Reporters write stories that probably lean more towards fiction than fact, completely twisting the truth. It’s one thing to like gossip but when Britney’s decision to shave her head qualifies as breaking news, one cannot help but think that our obsession with celebrity news has gotten out of hand. ◙

make it financially attractive,” said Karmazin, ”and there are still so many people that haven’t been convinced that it’s worth their while to pay for radio. If we can’t get more subscribers at $12.95, what would make us think that we can get more at $15.95?” As for

programming choices, Karmazin plans to renegotiate contracts with XM’s content providers, whose agreements had never anticipated a merger between the two business rivals. Although after the merger, XM and Sirius plan to run as separate brands, there would also be savings passed along to the consumers because areas of redundancy would be reduced, such as two different R&D departments, customer service centers, marketing plans, etc. Nevertheless, consumer groups are protesting the proposed merger, citing the usual problems with trusts and monopolies. Separately, the two corporations seem like failures and poor stock choices. Both satellite providers have reported losses in most quarters, with XM never having reported a profit. Both stock prices have been on the decline, but they are likely to rise because of this news and probably more so if the merger is successful. It would go to show that two failures put together have potential to be a success. ◙

Hugh Dancy (left) and Justin Blanchard (right) star in R.C. Sheriff's World War I drama, “Journey's End.”

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Thursday, March 8, 2007 A&E/LITERARY

Helpless Outbreak of School Spirit Hits Stuy BY LOREN OUMAROVA STAFF WRITER

SINGivitis symptoms may include great dedication, sudden competitiveness and a strong craving for the limelight. Given the posters that line our walls, the actors rehearsing their lines over and over in the auditorium, and the dancers practicing routines in the hallways, it is undeniable that an epidemic has hit our school, and I’m afraid there is no cure. So what is this event that has infected so many high school students? SING! is the annual theatrical competition between the grades that usually gets everyone’s school spirit pumping. The shows are completely run by the students, who are divided into three teams according to grade (sophfrosh, junior and senior). Although the performances are officially scheduled for the end of March in Stuy, the madness hits our school as early as December!

ter and hallways and classrooms and stairwells. Then the rehearsing, directing, creating, dancing, painting, acting, planning begins. The students do not stop until about 4:45, when they are literally forced out of the building by the staff.

The long process of creating these traditionally outstanding performances begins with the selection of a slate of directors and producers for each team. Then, auditions are held to find directors of various dance styles, as well as the band, art crew, cos-

The best part of being in SING!, apart from doing what you love, is all the fun times you get to share with your friends. All this hard work and preparation finally boils down to three phenomenal nights, when all the auditorium seats are packed and the spotlights shine bright. Each performance is reviewed by a panel of judges according to a special point system. The team with the lowest number of points at the end wins. Though juniors manage to steal away the victory once in while, first place is usu-

tume crew and chorus. Afterwards, these chosen directors hold another set of auditions to choose their crews. By the time February rolls around, all the positions are filled and practice begins. The ringing of the tenth period bell is a sign of finality and freedom for most Stuy students, but for the dedicated members of SING! it is only the beginning. The crews scamper into the thea-

ally given to the seniors. Most of the students participating in SING! agree, however, that it is the experience itself that is important, rather than the prospect of winning. “The best part of being in SING!, apart from doing what you love, is all the fun times you get to share with your friends,” exclaimed Masha Gindler, a sophfrosh art crew member, as she looked up from a freshly painted prop piece. And if the fun and excitement of the competition isn’t enticing enough, there is always the surprise of achieving fame in later life. Records show that since its foundation in 1947, countless stars have taken part in their New York high school SING! before making it big. These include Neil Diamond, Barbra Streisand, Paul Simon and Neil Sedaka, as well as Tim Robbins and Paul Reiser of our own Stuyvesant High School! ◙

Journey’s End Joins Broadway Paul Kolnik

Continued from Page 8

Once he was finished writing the script, Sherriff had a great deal of trouble trying to get the play produced because the war had only ended ten years earlier. Finally, in 1929, after sending the script to dozens of producers, the play was staged at the Apollo Theatre, starring a very young Laurence Olivier as Captain Stanhope. In 1930, the play moved to Broadway and Sherriff co-wrote the novelized version. This newest production began on London’s West End where it was critically acclaimed, but now, after more than seventy years, “Journey’s End” has returned to Broadway. Sitting in the audience and seeing this production gives the feeling of actually being in a cramped British dugout in midMarch 1917. The sound of shells crashing outside and the mortar fire coming from across no-man’s land complete the effect. The set is very elaborate. It is made up of dirt walls lined with small bunks, a table with chairs, and a dirt stairway leading to the fighting lines. However, the most striking element of the set is the faux sunlight coming from the top of the dirt stairs. At the beginning of Act II, when the soldiers are waking up to the second morning of the play, the bright light makes you feel as if the morning sun is

The Flower BY STEPHANIE TAM STAFF WRITER

R.C. Sheriff's gripping play "Journey's End" wows Broadway.

actually just beyond those steps. And later, at the end of Act III, when the brown smoke and soft light come from the top of the stairs, it makes you feel that just beyond those steps, the regiment is making a midnight raid of the o p p o s i n g t r e n c he s i n t h e moonlight. “Journey’s End” packs a strong and tearful punch, worthy of any number of awards. I just hope that it will receive the acclaim it deserves. ◙

The blooming of the flower nears Drawing attention, joy, and cheers With petals so pink and so soft Sending spirits soaring and aloft This particular flower is like no other Glistening brighter than any other So precious this flower is to me Happiness it will guarantee When the season of life returns again My special flower will depend On sun and rain so it can grow My special flower, the delicate rose

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Thursday, March 08, 2007 COMICS/SCIENCE

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

Global Warming: The Impending Doom of Earth BY DEVYN BUCKLEY STAFF WRITER

Have you ever made a mistake such as touching a hot pan and having to quickly jump back in pain? In these situations, we quickly become aware of a problem because it is immediate and salient. However, the most threatening problems are often those that increase slowly and steadily at an almost insignificant level but become extremely effective over a long period of time. Such is the case with global warming. In his documentary on global warming, “An Inconvenient Truth,” Al Gore addresses the heart of the issue by stating that a frog, when placed in a pot of boiling water, will jump out, immediately sensing danger. However, when a frog is placed in lukewarm water and the temperature is gradually increased, until the water is brought to a boil, the frog will not jump out, but will instead boil to death. The same situation arises with human beings. The unawareness of our situation and lack of a

sense of immediate danger is what leads us to ignore possibly one of the biggest issues facing our planet and fate as human beings. Through his video, Al Gore reveals many of the hidden facts about global warming, many of which even the informed student will be surprised at learning. As shocking as his statements may be, research has only confirmed them. “I was looking for errors,” said Eric Steig, an earth scientist at the University of Washington in Seattle, to National Geographic magazine. “But nothing much struck me as overblown or wrong.” But before we can understand the consequence of global warming on our fragile and singular planet, we must first answer the question, “What exactly is

global warming and what evidence is there in favor of global warming? What about this evidence makes it uncertain enough for arguments to be made against global warming?” Global warming is the overall increase of the earth’s temperature due to the emission of greenhouse gases (mainl y water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and ozone), particularly carbon dioxide. All these gases are naturally occuring in nature and are required to maintain a temperature on earth capable of sustaining life. However, in nature these forces are kept in check by natural processes such as chemical reactions in the atmosphere (CH4 degrades to CO2 and water vapor, which are much less effective greenhouse gases, through oxidation); plants, which convert Corbis

CO2 to O2; high energy cosmic rays or lightning discharges, which break molecular bonds; mixing of atmospheric gases into the oceans at the boundary layer; and physical change (condensation and precipitation remove water vapor from the atmosphere). However, humans emit more gases than can be combated by these natural processes. Thus, gradually raising the temperature of the earth. The average American generates approximately 15,000 pounds of carbon dioxide every year from personal transportation, home energy use and from energy used in the creation of products and services people use. In fact, the emission of CO2 in the atmosphere due to the burning of fossil fuels would require over 10,000 years to remove by the natural means mentioned above. However, greenhouse gas emission is also combined with the cutting down of rainforests, removing thousands of trees which provide a source for the conversion of CO2 into O2. Continued on Page 13

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Friday, Feburary 16, 2007 CALENDAR

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Thursday, March 08, 2007 SCIENCE

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD Corbis

Is There Really A Safe Way To Lose Weight? BY RAMMIYA NALLAINATHAN STAFF WRITER

Every time we turn on the television, we hear numerous commercials telling us that we can lose weight quickly by just taking a few pills a day. However, these advertisements tell us that there are numerous side effects, and that the companies are not responsible if something happens. So, how safe are those pills? Recent studies have shown that using these weight loss pills is definitely not the best way to lose weight. Although some advertisements may claim that people have lost weight using these pills, there really is no substantial evidence showing that using these pills has really helped anyone. In fact there is much more evidence to the contrary. There is one known dietary supplement called Ephedra that is said to decrease appetite. However, the side effects are as follows: high blood pressure, irregular heart rate, sleeplessness, seizures, heart attacks, strokes and death. If people are informed about this, they will realize that

their overall health and their lives are more important than just losing a few pounds very quickly. However, some people are still deceived because of the ingredients listed on the bottle. Although there may be many vitamins, minerals, and herbs listed, there really is no way to see if all of it is true. It may even be hard to tell how your body will react when all these ingredients are put together. Other dietary supplements include Hoodia, green tea extract, Country mallow (heartleaf), and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), and symptoms can also include diarrhea, indigestion, vomiting and bloating. Overall, there really is no shortcut to losing weight. Even if you take these pills, you will still have to eat less and may have to continue using them so that the weight does not come back. So, rather than risking your life just to lose a few pounds, it may be easier to go the simple way and just cut down on how much you eat and continue to exercise. So get out there, and make the best of your physical education class! ◙

Fritz Berkthold, who is in charge of slope conditions at the ski resort Fellhorn, watches a snow cannon fire a jet of powder onto the grounds.

Hits the Slopes BY KENNETH LAM STAFF WRITER

An extremely common winter pastime in America is skiing. People flock to snowy slopes during the cold season to strap on skis and simply have fun. However, skis come in many shapes and sizes, and although they may seem to serve the same purpose, different skis perform differently. The reason? The technology behind each ski is different, and a different shape will lead to a different pattern of use. Another question remains: what does snow have to do with it? Skis are often pieces of fiberglass or aluminum wrapped around a lightweight core. The core is generally made of wood, but can sometimes be made of foam. The top of a ski is predominantly fiberglass, and this serves well since it is light. However, the base is usually a polyurethane synthetic material surrounded on the edges by steel; this configuration is chosen for its low coefficient of friction. However, what

Moisture on Mars? BY OMAR AHMAD STAFF WRITER

One of the most heated astronomical debates of our time is that of Martian life. Due to the loneliness of our planet in an infinite universe, there has always

been a hope that life exists beyond Earth. Scientists have recently claimed that there is indeed water on our brother planet Mars, which makes it possible that life exists or existed on the Continued on Page 14

exactly makes each ski so different? One main difference between skis is shape. A shaped ski generally provides more control, since it is smaller and has more flexibility. Shaped skis are essentially skis that curve inwards towards the center and are wider towards the ends. They are also shorter than normal straight skis, and this allows for greater control. B u t what happens if Mother Nature is feeling particularly dry? A winter with few storms would leave very little snow on the ground for an intrepid skier to ski on, and he may find himself skiing not on snow, but on solid ground instead! At this point, we must rely on the next best thing: machines. A snow machine is often used when there isn’t enough snow on the slopes for skiers to safely ski on. This machine typically works using water and pressurized air, as well as a nucleator. Water first enters the machine and is mixed with a nucleating agent, which breaks it up so that it is easier to Continued on Page 14

AP

Your School, Your World, Your News Are all just a short click away.

Come visit our website. This image provided by the journal Science shows colorful rock layers in a small valley on Mars, a region of interest to scientists because of the presence of clay-like minerals, which probably formed in the presence of water.

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD WWW.STUYSTANDARD.ORG

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

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Thursday, March 8, 2007 SCIENCE

Global Warming: The Impending Doom of Earth Continued from Page 10

Earth’s temperature, as predicted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), is to increase by 2.0 to 11.5°F between between 1990 and 2100, depending on the amount of gas emission. The most devastating effect of such an increase in temperature is the irreversible chain reaction it begins. Increased temperature results in the melting of polar ice caps, which are in turn replaced by land and water. Water and land are less reflective than ice and absorb radiation from the sun, upping the temperature even more. An increase in temperature would also result in frequent precipitation, flooding, and less of a distinction between seasons, which would detriment agriculture enormously. Thus, the amount of CO2 -converting plants would be lowered and allow for a further increase in temperature. The evidence for global warming can be found in many sources and is sound and agreed upon by an overwhelming majority of the scientific community as fact. According to “An Inconvenient Truth,” “2005 was the hottest year on Earth since the late 19th century, when scientists began collecting temperature data. The past decade featured five of the warmest years ever recorded, with the second hottest year being 1998.” Furthermore, “the number of Category 4 and 5 hurricanes has almost doubled in the last 30 years.” Although there is no direct correlation between global warming and Hurricane Katrina, a minor increase in temperature, even of only a degree, could influence the formation of a hurricane or allow a hurricane to continue in a destructive path and build strength without the barrier

of colder temperatures. In addition, global warming increases chances of precipitation and flooding. “Potential deaths due to global warming are predicted to double in just 25 years — to 300,000 people a year.” Besides giving storms a mighty fist of fury, global warming also gives disease a more inviting environment to live. “Malaria has spread

ganizations to fight global warming, such as creating more energy-efficient products, hybrid cars, searching for alternative energy sources, banning products harmful to the environment, encouraging recycling and, most of all, providing you with the means to reduce stress on the environment as well. James Inhofe, who considered global warming farcical and described it as “the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the America people,” ceded his chairmanship to Barbara Boxer, who aims to pass a bill reducing American CO2 emissions by 80 percent. Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi has created a committee to deal with the issue of global warming. At their last meeting, the IPCC finally recognized human responsibility for climate change for the first time. Here are some steps you can take to reduce CO2 emissions: 1. Using fluorescent lighting instead of regular lighting can reduce CO2 emissions by 150 pounds a year. 2. Avoid cars and emission-producing transportation when possible. 3. Recycling can save 2,400 pounds of CO2 per year! 4. Check tires to insure no wasted mileage. 5. Use less hot water (which takes energy to heat). 6. Avoid products with a lot of packaging (in other words, do not shop at Wal-Mart) 7. Moving a thermostat down by 2 degrees could save 2,000 pounds of CO2 a year. 8. Plant a tree 9. Avoid electronic devices like television, video games, computers, DVD players and stereos. 10. Encourage others to help and visit this w e b s i t e : www.stopglobalwarming.org. ◙

global warming often use the argument that the earth experiences natural periods of warming and cooling. This is not inaccurate. By studying measurements of CO2 from ice core extractions, it was found that during the Jurassic Period there was a significant increase in temperature, of up to 5 degrees. There was also a warming period during the Middle

Corbis

to higher altitudes in places like the Colombian Andes, 7,000 feet above sea level,” due to higher temperatures at higher altitudes. Global warming also threatens at least 279 species of plants and animals, which are already responding by moving closer to the poles.” Animals already at the poles suffer, as they have nowhere to go. Polar bears cannot find land as the “flow of ice from glaciers in Greenland has more than doubled over the past decade.” Those in opposition to

Ages. However, the drastic increase in temperature, starting from approximately the beginning of the Industrial Revolution to modern times, is far more dramatic than the increases found in these periods of warming and is a clear indicator of the effect of human greenhouse gas emission on the earth’s environment. (See Graph). Now, this brings us to the final point. Is humanity doomed? No. In fact, steps are being taken by world leaders and various or-

Regeneration of Fingers and Possibly Even Limbs AP Photo

BY SANGHEE CHUNG COLUMNIST

Scientists are attempting to find methods of regrowing fingers and possibly limbs to help the injured. They are planning to see if powdered pig extract can help the injured after one man was able to regrow a fingertip that had been sliced off. They are also trying to uncover how animals are able to regenerate and hopefully apply this knowledge with humans. Even a small repair could make the difference between the ability to pick up small objects and the inability to button a button. Scientists are hoping that eventually parts of the heart and spine can be

This salamander with an experimentally grown extra arm is being studied to find ways to regrow limbs.

replaced and wounds can be healed with new skin.

Researchers at the University of California-Irvine were able to

bring back hind leg movements in rats with severed spinal cords. “Regeneration is considered very difficult because the damaged area apparently inhibits growth of new nerve-cell connections,” said professor Dr. Vernon Lin. “This study gets us closer to arriving at the right combination of growth factors, nerve cells and physical stimulation to overcome these inhibitions and successfully treat spinal cord injury.” Lee Spievack, a hobby-store salesman, severed his middle finger one day while helping a customer with the engine of a model airplane. The missing piece of his finger was never found. A hand Continued on Page 14

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Thursday, March 8, 2007 SCIENCE/SPORTS

Regeneration of Fingers and Possibly Even Limbs Continued from Page 13

surgeon advised a skin graft to cover the finger’s remains. Adults such as Spievack may not be able to easily regrow fingers, though children up to the age of two can constantly regenerate their fingers. Rather than following the surgeon’s directions, he tried using a powdered pig extract after the advice of his brother, a surgeon who founded a company that made the extract for healing and regeneration. By applying the powder every other day for four weeks, the finger went back to its original length, and in four months, “it looked like my normal finger.” The only difference is a slight scar and a faster nail growth rate on the finger. “I’m quite impressed,” he

After a model airplane accident, Lee Spievack has found a new remedy that helped regrow his finger -- pig blood.

said. After this event, scientists will try to use the powder this summer in San Antonio for sol-

Moisture On Mars? Continued from Page 12 NASA

Tectonic fractures within the Candor Chasma region of Valles Marineris, Mars, retain ridge-like shapes as the surrounding bedrock erodes away. This points to past episodes of fluid alteration along the fractures and reveals clues into past fluid flow and geochemical conditions below the surface.

fourth rock from the Sun. The following discovery does not necessarily indicate intelligent life on Mars, or even life at this point in time, but assists in proving that ancient bacterial organisms thrived on Mars many years ago. NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter recently transmitted new footage of the surface of Mars. This transmission was like no other. The usual rocky layers of rock were evident, but with some features never seen before. The breaks within certain rock structures revealed leveled weathering of rock, most likely caused by the rapid flow of liquids. One of which, scientists

believe, is water. The lead author of “Science,” Chris Okubo, has released an article in this journal describing the processes that go into determining fluid action. Okubo said that “halos” of color were found surrounding large fractures in rock. Similarly, on Earth, “bleaching of rock surrounding a fracture is a clear indication of chemical interactions between fluids circulating within the fracture. These halos of color represent the bleaching of surrounding rocks. The conclusion that this substance is in fact water was made by Alfred McEwen, Okubo’s research partner. McEwen stated, “Water is the most abundant substance in our world, and the atmosphere would expel other common substances, although water would remain.” This deposition of minerals was also presented earlier by the Mars Global Surveyor indicating that certain changes have occurred in specific craters that have been viewed constantl y. Th ese changes strongly support the hypothesis that Mars still retains water today. The investigation of water on Mars is still in progress and will not be claimed successful until sufficient evidence is obtained. For now, evidence points strongly in the direction of scientists who deem that there is indeed water on Mars and forms of life still preserved today. ◙

diers who face finger loss due to burns. “Fingers are particularly vulnerable to burns because they are small and their skin is thin, says wound specialist David Baer. “The five to 10 patients in the project will be chosen because they have major losses in all their fingers and thumbs, preventing them from performing the pinching motion they need to hold a toothbrush, for example.” Currently, however, the only hope that these scientists are holding is to grow only a fraction of the finger rather than an entire ligament. “This is a real shot in the dark,” said Dr. Stephen Badylak, a regeneration expert. “There's literally nothing else these individuals have to try. They have nothing to lose.” ◙

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

The Best of he Best Continued from Page 16

Michael Jordan, and many other superstars. Charles Barkley was named one of the 50 Greatest NBA Players of all time. Hakeem Olajuwon, the number one overall pick that year, led the Houston Rockets to their only two championship titles. You can’t forget John Stockton, who, alongside Karl Malone, led the Utah Jazz in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. Although all of the drafts produced extremely talented players, the effect that the players of the 1984 draft have had on the league is the greatest. They set “standards” for the NBA and have been role models for the players after them. ◙

Hits the Slopes Continued from Page 12

spread. Afterwards, the water is sent through an atomizer to make it into a fine mist. Pressurized air creates an even greater separation in the water. The water then hits a nucleator, which freezes it, and the “snow” is launched out of the machine and at the ground for people to ski on. This snow machine has made it far easier for

people to ski, and with improvements such as a rotating base and more efficient running methods, skiing is not only fun, but cost efficient as well. Modern technology and scientific developments have made possible simple enjoyments such as skiing. There is no telling what the future might bring next. ◙

Do you want to earn some money? Are you desperate to get rid of those review books that you will never open again?

There is a solution to your problem! The Stuyvesant Standard is now introducing new section – Sell Your Review Books, at the affordable and cheap introductory rate of 3 percent of the selling price. You can advertise your review books to not only the student community at Stuyvesant High School, but also to parents, teachers, the surrounding Tribeca area. An email with your books listed will also be sent to The Standard’s web group. Interested? Email Khoi Nguyen, The Chief Finacial Officer, at [email protected] with your Name, ID, contact info, and list of books with prices and conditions the books are in that you want to sell. This is an opportunity that cannot be missed.

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

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Thursday, March 8, 2007 SPORTS

Sports Calendar Thursday March 8

Friday March 9

Saturday March 10

Sunday March 11

Monday March 12

Tuesday March 13

Wednesday March 14

March 15

March 16

March 17

March 18

March 19

March 20

March 21

Boys Baseball

Boys Tennis

Vs. High School of Graphic and Communication Arts @James Madison HS 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM (doubleheader)

Vs. Herbert H Lehman @FDR Drive at Grand St. 4:00 PM

2007 MLB Preview Continued from Page 16 Corbis

Daisuke Matsuzaka of Japan reacts during a press conference announcing his contract with the Boston Red Sox worth 52 million US Dollars.

Gazing Into the Future Continued from Page 16

and Hernandez. Combine that with Moises Alou in the outfield and the ageless wonder Julio Franco on the bench, the Mets could be in serious trouble if any one of these important parts is injured for an extended period of time. Times Manny Ramirez is mentioned in a trade rumor: 27 It never gets old. Around July 1st, someone tells a reporter that Manny wants to be traded. For the next four weeks, we are bombarded with stories about the different trade scenarios and how close the Red Sox are to dealing away their problems. It has started even earlier this year, with the rumblings that Ramirez is unhappy and doesn’t want to report to Red Sox camp. Times Manny Ramirez gets traded: 0 If there’s one thing the Red Sox aren’t, it’s dumb. No one on Boston can protect David Ortiz in the lineup like Ramirez does. JD Drew, who is probably the third best hitter on the Red Sox after Ortiz and Ramirez, is injury prone. The Red Sox can not af-

ford to trade one of their biggest bats in the heat of a probable pennant race. Roger Clemens’s first start: July 1, 2007 for Houston If you consider the start of the 2006 season the day Roger Clemens made his first start for the Astros last year, no one had a lower earned run average than he. There are two things that will get Clemens to return to the Astros. The Astros let Clemens come and go as he pleases. He doesn’t have to be at the game on non-start days, and that flexibility will most likely not be offered by the Yankees or Red Sox. Finally, the NL Central will allow Clemens to have good stats. No lineup in the NL Central can compete with the depth of the lineup of the Yankees or Red Sox, one of which he’d have to face if he signed with either team. Though friend Andy Pettite is now on the Yankees, that won’t persuade Clemens to come to New York. World Series Winner: ??? Why say? I’ll just eat my words. ◙

Corbis

the year to do it. Mark Prior is said to be ready soon and Carlos Zambrano isn’t upset anymore. This year looks promising for them in the National League. Of course, there is still the rest of the National League for the Cubs to contend with. At the top should be the New York Mets, who made a few small but important changes, which should allow them to get the best record again. Their pitching rotation may be a little shaky because of the veterans and health issues, but the offense is amazing. David Wright, Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran and newly-acquired Moises Alou are a powerful group to have in the lineup. The defending champion St. Louis Cardinals should be more of a threat this year, even though they had a somewhat weak regular season last year. They added utility infielder Aaron Miles for depth, making their infield very strong with shortstop David Eckstein, second baseman Adam Kennedy, third baseman Scott Rolen, and first baseman Albert

Pujols. Pujols should cover everyone on offense, and a healthy Jim Edmonds should make them division champs. In the American League, the Tigers are contenders once again, with the addition of Gary Sheffield. Their pitching rotation is strong and their relief, anchored by Joel Zumaya, is hard to beat. The Tigers are only a “contender” because another team in their division is better than they are. The Minnesota Twins have much better starting pitching thanks to Cy Young winner Johan Santana and the dominant Francisco Liriano, who is expected to return later in the season due to shoulder surgery. The Central division is good but it is not the best. The best division in all of baseball would have to be the AL East. The Red Sox added J.D. Drew and Japanese phenomenon “Dice-K” Diasuke Matsuzaka, the Blue-Jays added Frank Thomas, even the Devil Rays look good with the outfield of Baldelli, Crawford, and Young. The best team in the league, however, has to be the New York Yankees. Their star-filled roster was worsened a bit by the departure of Sheffield, but the addition of Andy Pettitte and Kei Igawa should make up for it. The best team in the league seems to have only gotten better, and assuming that Alex Rodriguez does not have a slump like last year, the New York Yankees should be the favorites to win the World Series. Their competitors from the NL should end up being the Mets, as they have the best roster from that league. A Subway Series in the World Series is what everyone wants, and this year, it should happen. ◙

THE SPORTS BEAT

Houston Astros pitcher Roger Clemens (0-2) during the Detroit Tigers 4-0 win over the Houston Astros at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan.

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Thursday, March 8, 2007 SPORTS

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

2007 MLB Preview BY ZAKHAR SHTULBERG STAFF WRITER

The 2007 Major League Baseball season is fast approaching, as spring training already begun. The off-season was filled with lots of surprises and new teams are emerging as threats for the playoffs. The divisional races should be intense and the playoff races even more so. The big winners in the freeagent market were the Chicago

Cubs. Not only did they sign Alfonso Soriano and Ted Lilly, as well as resigning Aramis Ramirez and Juan Pierre, but they also managed to get one of the best managers around, Lou Piniella. He is coming off a year away from managing and is very excited about the upcoming season. The Cubs are still trying to recover from the infamous Bartman incident and this year seems like Continued on Page 15 Corbis

After last year's disappointing performance, The Yankees' recent additions Andy Pettitte(left) and Kei Igawa(right) are expected to make a big impact.

The Best of the Best Reuters

BY HESHAM SALEH STAFF WRITER

Gazing Into the Future injuries which includes back strains, bone chips in elbows, bruised buttocks, and broken ribs from a car crash. Just in case anyone’s counting, the Yankees have paid him around $4.3 million per win.

BY ERIC MAYO SPORTS EDITOR

It’s March, which means baseball is around the corner. All the people who think they know anything about baseball will be predicting the results of the new season. Most will be eating their words in a few weeks. Here are some predictions you can count on. Corbis

The NBA, founded in 1946, has seen a great number of drafts. A common controversy among experts and fans is the question of which draft produced the best players. Although there are a great deal of choices, experts usually narrow it down to three outstanding years: 1984, 1996 and 2003. The 2003 draft was exciting, to say the least. The NBA welcomed its next great superstar, Lebron James, as well as other talents such as Carmelo Anthony and Dwayne Wade. Last season, James led the Cleveland Cavaliers deep into the playoffs, but James and company were defeated by the Detroit Pistons in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Anthony has led the Denver Nuggets to three straight playoff appearances. Dwayne Wade, alongside Shaquille O’Neal, carried the Miami Heat to a NBA Championship last year. In 1996, another handful of great talents entered the NBA. Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson and Steve Nash have all had remarkable careers. Bryant has three NBA Championship rings and was named MVP of the 2007 All Star Game. In 2001, Iverson

THE SPORTS BEAT

LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers (23) takes to the air as he drives the lane past Antawn Jamison of the Washington Wizards (4) during the second half of their NBA game in Washington November 18, 2006.

nearly single-handedly led the 76ers to the NBA Finals. Nash has had the greatest impact on the league in the last two years. He is one of only three players to ever be named league MVP in consecutive seasons. He has also led the Phoenix Suns to the Western Conference Finals, even with Amare Stoudamire injured. The best draft class, in my opinion, is that of 1984. This draft had the greatest NBA player ever, Continued on Page 14

Carl Pavano throws live batting practice during New York Yankees Spring Training at Legends Field in Tampa.

Carl Pavano’s first injury – April 2nd, 2007 While walking out of the dugout on opening day, Pavano will strain a groin muscle. This will add to a fascinating list of

Barry Bonds breaks Hank Aaron’s homerun record – June 1st, 2007 After sitting out the last two games so he could break the homerun record in his home stadium so as to not get booed, Bonds finally hits number 756. The fans give Bonds a standing ovation, but neither Aaron nor Commissioner Bud Selig is anywhere to be found. Debate rages on for the next three months on whether or not he took steroids. Someone on the Mets files for Social Security: Likely The Mets are old. There’s no real way around that fact. Their pitching staff will be anchored by one starter who’s over 40 (Tom Glavine) and one who is probably over 40 (Orlando Hernandez). Pedro Martinez, when and if he gets back, is just as old as Glavine Continued on Page 15