Volume 6 Issue 9

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

The Stuyvesant Standard

www.stuystandard.org

“Your School, Your World—Your News” 

Volume VI, Issue 9

Free

Friday, February 02, 2007

Candy for Sale Freak Chickens Produce Drug Containing Eggs

OPINIONS P/3

SCIENCE P/8

healthscotland.org.uk

priorityfundraising.com

Parents: Where Did They Go Wrong?

Harvard Proposes Campus Expansion BY HESHAM SALEH STAFF WRITER

On January 11, Harvard University announced its plan to expand the Harvard campus from Cambridge to Allston, which is across the Charles River. This plan is supposed to convert over 200 acres of land into another Harvard Square, which will have academic and athletic buildings, as well as student dormitories. This proposal looks very beneficial to the Allston community because it will create 14,000 to 15,000 jobs. However, this pro-

ject will take about 50 years and billions of dollars to complete. The proposal, which is still awaiting city approval, would change Allston in a dramatic fashion. First, it will move Soldiers Field Road, a major street in Allston, underground. This change will give students easier access to the Harvard campus. The plan will create wider streets and 30 acres of free space. Harvard’s football stadium and Harvard Business School are already situated in Allston. The Continued on Page 3

SCIENCE P/8

PLUS Video Game Review Special, Stuy Voice, The Sports Beat, and much more inside...

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Junior Comedy Night BY DAVID YIN STAFF WRITER

Junior Comedy Night took place on Friday, January 19 at the Laugh Factory near Times Square from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Comedians entertained the various juniors who attended. The students were served chips and soda as they laughed wildly at the performances.

Several students who went to the event found the experience to be incredibly hilarious. Junior Tracy Mak said, “It was really fun. The comedians were great. They really gave us good jokes.” Indeed, the jokes dished out by the comedians kept the students laughing and craving more. When asked which joke was the most Continued on Page 2

Results of the Columbia Invitational BY GARRY CHIEN STAFF WRITER

From January 19 to 21, The Stuyvesant Speech and Debate Team competed in the Columbia Invitational Tournament located at Columbia University. In Lincoln-Douglas and Public Forum Debate, competitors

take part in five preliminary rounds. In Lincoln-Douglas (LD) Debate, the debate is one-on-one. In Public Forum Debate, it is twoon-two. There are two divisions in Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Junior Varsity and Varsity; Public Forum has one division. In each Continued on Page 3

An Interview with Olivier Martinez Nintendo

BY JENNIFER SCHLESINGER EDITOR IN CHIEF

Olivier Mart inez pl a ys Gabriel, the leader of a group of loup garoux, humans who can turn into wolf-like creatures, in “Blood and Chocolate,” which debuted on January 26. I recently had the chance to interview the actor along with other student journalists. Martinez was asked many questions about his role in “Blood and Chocolate.” He felt the role was a challenge because “[he] was being half-man [and] halfwolf.” He said that he was “sharing [the] role with [the] wolf.” In order to help Martinez and the rest of the cast learn about

French actor Olivier Martinez.

wolves, they went to a “wolfcamp.” Martinez called the experience very interesting and exContinued on Page 7

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Friday, February 02, 2007 NEWS

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD  Wii Contest Kills Woman Founded 2001

BY ALLEN WANG STAFF WRITER news.bbc.co.uk

      “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

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The contestants started on small bottles and worked up.

A contest to win a brand-new Nintendo Wii was the cause of death of a 28-year-old women, Jennifer Strange, who would have been the runner-up of the contest. The contest, called “Hold Your Wee for a Wii,” was held by KDND 107.9 in California. It pitted contestants against one another to see which one of them could drink the most water without having to go to the restroom. Contestants were given eightounce bottles to drink every 15 minutes, although it’s unclear how much water Strange actually took in. “They were small little half-pint bottles, so we thought it

was going to be easy,” said fellow contestant James Ybarra of Woodland. “They told us if you don't feel like you can do this; don't put your health at risk.” Under normal circumstances water intoxication is a very rare condition. It happens when a person intake too much water in a short period of time causing the tissues of the body to swell with water, which in turn can cause seizures, comas and death if not treated. One of her coworkers, Laura Rios, had a phone conversation with Strange. She said that Strange’s head was hurting very much as she was on her way home. “She was crying and that was the last that anyone has heard from her.” Strange was trying to win one of the consoles for her three children. She was later found dead in her home. After a preliminary autopsy, it was determined that she died from water intoxication. John Geary, vice president and marketing manager for Entercom Sacramento, the station’s owner, said station staff were “stunned” at the tragedy. The radio station immediately fired 10 people, including all of the DJ’s related to this incident. ◙

Junior Comedy Night Continued from Page 1

memorable, junior Sam Crisanto replied, “[the] Asian guy when he [just arrived in] America [and] couldn’t get his Metrocard to work. Too fast, too slow, too fast, too slow… you should take bus! . . . too fast, too slow . . .” Crisanto also said that “the best comedian there was the main act with the African American,” who consistently threw funny sexual innuendos at the crowd. After the show, there was a raffle, with many small prizes. Anybody who went was eligible to win a free smoothie, a Starbucks gift card worth five dollars or a free movie pass. Upon entrance, members of the audience

were given raffle tickets, and at the end of the show, one of the comedians, along with junior president Michelle Lee, drew the raffle tickets. Mak said, “I wanted to win the Starbucks gift card.” Junior Alvis Yuen won a movie pass through the raffle. Junior Comedy Night was a great experience for many students. The comics were hysterically funny and told incredibly side-splitting jokes. Chips and soda were served and constantly refilled. Many students found the raffle to be a nice ending to the show. As Crisanto put it, “Overall, this was a fun event to celebrate the end of a term.” ◙

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Friday, February 02, 2007 NEWS/OPINIONS

Harvard Proposes Campus Expansion corbis

Continued from Page 1

plan intends to also move the science research and athletic facilities into Allston, as well as the Harvard Graduate School of Education and the Harvard School of Public Health. The plan will also create an industrialized community. There will be room for stores, museums, performance centers and a mall. In many ways, the community will be the linkage between the residential neighborhood of Allston and the Cambridge campus. There are some people who approve of the plan, and others who are opposed to it. Mayor Thomas Menino commended the proposal for the new community, saying, “The community will benefit with the job creation efforts and new amenities.”

Rowers on the Charles River paddle toward an arched bridge near Harvard and Cambridge Universities.

Although the mayor has shown his approval of the plan,

many people in the community have not. Bob van Meter, Presi-

Results of the Columbia Invitational Continued from Page 1

Rosenbaum & Hon placed fifth. Extemporaneous Speaking is a category where each speaker is given a topic to write a speech on and limited time to write the speech. In this category Suman Som made it to the semifinal round and Shabil Billah made it to the quarterfinal round. For Oral Interpretation, each speaker reads a piece of literature in an engaging manner. Evan Kolesnick placed third, and Miles Purinton and Nina Charap made it to the semifinal round. Warlito deLeon, Jennifer Lau and Paul Silverman made it to the quarterfinal round. The Original Oratory Category is one in which speakers write their own speeches and give them. Stuyvesant did very well in this division, with Maureen Chung placing third, Michelle Luo placing fourth and Evan Schwartz placing fifth. Overall, the Stuyvesant Speech and Debate Team did well at the Columbia Invitational. ◙

Sometimes the overwhelming amount of schoolwork and preoccupation we have with securing a successful future force us to ignore the things about our generation that make it stick out from all the others. Then again the question surfaces of whether there would be anything at all that we’ll be able look back on in our old

One in three Americans skip breakfast on a regular basis. This is shocking, considering the numerous studies that make clear the dire consequences of this illadvised choice. For Stuyvesant students, it is either going to school early to get the free breakfast available in the cafeteria or rushing up the steps and buying a candy bar from a vendor. Everyone knows an ideal nutritious breakfast is something that is not

ing a dead woman’s clothes just to look like Madonna is a desperate attempt to duplicate an earlier age. In accordance with this view, 86 percent of students agree that our generation of pop culture borrows from or imitates past generations. As far as music is concerned, I find myself preferring music from decades ago over the music of today. It’s evident that teenag-

only healthy, but satisfying and wholesome as well. But who actually takes the time to sit down and enjoy the lost meal we call breakfast? “I just get some SweetTarts or chocolate,” said freshman Yvonne. Who is the accomplice to the crime of choosing a bad breakfast? It might just be you: the person who carries a box of candy around the halls of Stuyvesant. The consumer can choose from the “satisfying” Snickers bar, cubes of sugar known as Starbursts, or the peanut-buttery taste of Reese’s Cups. The sugar con-

Continued on Page 4

Continued on Page 4

Generation Imitation age and laugh at. When I think of the fashion that defines our generation, I think of Chuck Taylors, multicolored tights, and teased skinny jeans. But isn’t that what teenagers have been wearing since the 1980’s? After looking through an old yearbook from 1985, I’m not sure what I’ll do if I see another pair of Chuck Taylors again. Vintage clothing seems to be in fashion lately, but to me, exploit-

BY HUI TING JIANG STAFF WRITER

Many of what is sold are not healthy for students.

STUY VOICE BY AMNA AHMAD COLUMNIST

Candy for Sale

hartenterprisesfr.com

preliminary round, there is one judge, who decides the winner of the round and gives speaker points. The number of speaker points ranges from 1 to 30 and is based on how well a debater spoke. The first two preliminary rounds are based on random selection. After that, the rounds are “power matched,” so that competitors debate against people with similar win/loss records and speaker points. After the five preliminary rounds, the top 32 debaters in each division advance to the elimination rounds. The elimination rounds are double-octos, octos, quarters, semifinals, and finals. In these rounds, there is more than one judge. If the decision isn’t unanimous, it goes by majority. In the Junior Varsity LD Debate competition, Arthur L. Johnson High School’s Alexander Castro defeated TJ Golden from Sacred Heart High School to win. Lee Schleifer-Katz of Stuyvesant made it to the semifinals, losing

to Castro. In Junior Varsity, Stuyvesant’s Khatiya Chelidze and Neha Sharma made it to doubleoctos.In the Varsity division, Niskayuna High School’s Sam Grondahl defeated Walt Whitman High School’s Xiaoqi Zhu. Stuyvesant’s Jared Dummitt and Yan Slavinskiy made it to the quarters, losing to finalist Grondahl and Hunter College’s Zayn Siddique. Stuyvesant’s Claire Bulger and Georgia Stasinopoulos made it to double-octos. For the speech side of the tournament, the speakers are grouped into groups of about six and judges rank them. The topranked speakers make it to the elimination rounds. In the Declamation Speech contest, for which students give speeches written by other people, Stuyvesant’s Jimmy Wang, Christine Yeoun and Karthiga Emmanuel made it to the semifinals. In the Duo Interpretation Category, for which two speakers work together a give a performance of a piece of literature, Stuyvesant’s team of

dent of the Allston Brighton Community Development Corporation, said, “Folks in the community are trying to figure out how Harvard’s growth can coexist with a vital urban neighborhood.” He was also a bit uneasy about the plan himself, saying “I think there’s still a lot of unanswered questions.” Some residents, such as Harry Mattison, are afraid that the plan, if it is carried out, will cut the two communities apart. This contradicts the original purpose of the plan — to unite these two communities. Mattison summed up many people’s worries when he said, “Could it be that they’ll [Allston and Cambridge] be divided by not that much distance, but in some ways be miles apart?” ◙

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Friday, February 02, 2007 OPED/BUSINESS

Candy for Sale Continued from Page 3 corbis

A healthy alternative to candy bars is trail mix.

tent in candy bars is staggering. A Hershey’s Milk Chocolate bar alone contains 22 grams of sugar. Some like, Ada Leung, call it a “sugar rush in the morning.” At this rate, the only rush you’ll be getting is one to the hospital if you don’t change your eating habits. Even Hershey’s warns you to “enjoy in moderation.” Although the profit goes to the funding of Stuyvesant’s numerous clubs, the

consequences are not so profitable. The apparent decrease in health has already been noted by the government. Physical education tests have been issued in some elementary and middle schools. A ban of trans fat was recently put into effect. Commercials offering pills for weight loss such as the NV pill are commonplace. Even school lunches are getting health-conscious by baking foods that are usually fried. As for selling candy for the benefit of clubs/pubs at Stuyvesant, I suggest vending wiser food choices such as whole grain granola bars, or hearty trail mix. The occasional indulgent Dark Chocolate Raisinets won’t be a problem since Stuyvesant has ten stories for students to walk up and down. When purchasing these snacks, keep in mind that you’re helping the Stuyvesant community as well as your grumbling stomach, which needs vitamins and minerals. Bon appetit! ◙

Keep Cool In a Hot Market Or You Might Just Get Burned BY SIHONG HUANG STAFF WRITER

Today’s market is filled with excitement as talk of recordbreaking highs circulates around Wall Street. The reactions from investors and brokers are usually one of two: a) Stocks are rolling again; I must get in on the action. b) I’ve seen this before, better keep it safe and bail. Usually when 55 percent of investment newsletter writers are bullish, the market is at the top. As of right now we’re at: • 14 percent: 2006 return of the S&P 500 • 60 percent: newsletter writers who are optimistic (bullish) • 56 percent: bulls in January 2000 before the market crashed One of the reasons investors should stay cool in a hot market is that when a market is at the top, the fall could hurt. People tend to feel optimistic after hearing about bonus pays for Wall Street firms reach new heights and that there is invested cash sitting in mutual funds, but in this kind of situation people also feel giddy or scared. When you’re feeling a lack of

control, the way to get it back is not to initiate a rash commitment that will be regretted in the future. People are better off investing if they get over the impulse to try to “nail it.” People do greater harm than good when they mess with their portfolios. Brett N. Steenbarger, a clinical psychologist and author of “Enhancing Trader Performance,” stated that humans experience nervous breakdowns when a big gain or loss in wealth occurs, that our brains don’t work correctly the way they do when we’re calm. In an unscientific survey conducted by Money magazine, three people were asked if they were a bull or a bear in response to the current market: a) “A bull. Real estate will correct a bit, but everything else is moving along.” – Cary b) “I’m a bull, I’m a bull.” – John Woram c) “A bear. Times are changing and things are going to get tough.” – Lloyd Clunie Sr. Most people fall for the trap and act bullish when it is more opportune (according to experts) to stay a bear. ◙

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

STUY VOICE

Generation Imitation Continued from Page 3

ers today simply cannot let go of the classics of the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s such as Queen, The Beastie Boys and Nirvana. Maybe it has something to do with a long streak of bad music in our current generation. For me, it’s difficult to decipher one song from another and everything just sounds like organized noise.

n’t deserve. I’m sure that everyone has heard an older person describe how much harder school was without the Internet. Because of this technology, too much is expected of us. I guess that certain individuals are reluctant to consider the possibility of a computer crash within minutes of a Saturday deadline for a report, or the possibility of your

...86 percent of students agree that our generation of pop culture borrows from or imitates past generations. Just what is it that causes our generation to lag behind in uniqueness? It may have something to do with the current advancements in techn olog y. Maybe if teenagers of our generation spent more time playing sports in the street with the neighborhood kids like our parents did, rather than hanging out on YouTube, we’d be getting somewhere. When asked whether technology in a way defines our current generation, 95 percent of students responded “yes.” In addition to having far too great of an impact on the life of a typical teenager, technology has given our generation a label that it does-

homework being posted on Sunday at four in the afternoon and due the next morning. It’s arguable what we should think of our generation now, but the truth about it will be revealed in the near future when we look back and see how little things have actually changed. I wonder what I’ll say to my kids when they ask me what life was like when I was a teen. As disappointing as it may seem, I’m not sure if I’ll have anything interesting to say because it seems that the social evolution of the world has come to an end — a generational Armageddon. ◙

The Next Wall Street Could Be in China or Europe BY HANFORD CHIU BUSINESS EDITOR

According to a report issued in part by Mayor Bloomberg, New York City is trailing behind the rest of the world as a leading financial capital, and could soon lose the title in as little as 10 years. Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) joins with Bloomberg in issuing a 134-page report urging legal and regulatory reform to make the United States market more attractive.

The report concluded that New York and the United States were trailing in the following three ways: lack of regulation against frivolous lawsuits, complicated regulatory laws and a declining pool of talented workers. One of the concerns is the red tape of regulation all over large businesses since the collapse of Enron. In response to that and other accounting fraud, Congress passed the Sarbanes-Oxley Continued on Page 5

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

The Next Wall Street Could Be in China or Europe Continued from Page 4

Dreamgirls: Just Another Pretty Face

IPO’s (initial public offerings) were listed in New York, contrasted to Europe’s 63 percent share, more than double last year’s percentage. The United States is still the world’s largest financial market with $51 trillion worth of equities, debt and bank deposits in 2005, but markets in Europe and Asia are growing faster, and securities jobs are increasingly being created overseas, while financial services in New York are declining. ◙

BY EMMA RABINOVICH ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR movies.yahoo.com

Act in 2002 to impose a number of financial control reforms. The act is policy that fails to emphasize principles of ethics, but rather imposes many small rules. Furthermore, strict immigration policies have affected the number of skilled professionals allowed to work in their fields, leaving college-educated immigrants working in jobs food carts on the streets. The impact of this regulation is clear in the effects on Wall Street. Just 16 percent of global

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Friday, February 02, 2007 BUSINESS/A&E

sitcomsonline.com

Sharon Leal, Beyonce Knowles, and Anika Noni Rose in DreamWorks Pictures' and Paramount Pictures “Dreamgirls.”

With all the Golden Globe buzz surrounding the movie, I expected another bittersweet tale of three girls who came from the wrong side of town, fought against the odds, and finally made it, singing along the way. Fortunately, in terms of plotline and musical number, the movie definitely exceeded expectations. The musical numbers were A collage of “All in the Family,” a controversial CBS sitcom that aired from 1971 to 1983.

All in the Family “All in the Family” aired on CBS from 1971 to 1983. For five years, it was the top-rated show on American television and won four consecutive Emmy Awards for Outstanding Comedy Series. “All in the Family” was one of the most successful, significant and influential sitcoms in history. It began a new era of American television filled with programs that weren’t afraid of addressing controversial or social subjects. The plot of “All in the Family” centered on the Bunker family in Queens, New York. The family patriarch, Archie Bunker, played by Carroll O’Connor, was a bigoted loading dock worker bothered by the changes in American society. To Archie, achievements by the “Spades,” “Spics” or “Hebes” of America (as he usually referred to Blacks, Hispanics and Jews, respectively), came at his expense and that of other lower-middle class “whites.” His sweet but flighty “dingbat” wife, Edith, was the

complete opposite. Edith, played by Jean Stapleton, usually tolerated Archie’s rants in order to avoid disagreement. However, that wasn’t the case with Archie’s live-in son-in-law Mike Stivic, played by Rob Reiner. Mike was a liberal college student who married the Bunkers’ daughter, Gloria, played by Sally Struthers. The quarrels between Archie and Mike, or as Archie called him, “Meathead,” served as the foundation for much of the show’s comedy. Because both characters were extremely vocal about their viewpoints, heated conflict between the two was guaranteed. “All in the Family” seemed to revel in breaking primetime’s previously unshakable prohibitions. Archie’s regular attacks laced with racial and ethnic labels, Mike and Gloria’s apparently active sex life, and the sounds of Archie’s belching and of flushing toilets all broke sitcom convention. Even though the show’s pilot episode consistently rated below average in research Continued on Page 7

Continued on Page 7

Children of Men BY ROBERT COLBOURN STAFF WRITER Yahoo! Movies

BY TASSO BOUNTOUVAS STAFF WRITER

well placed and helped the movie gain momentum. The fact that they were sung by girls with powerhouse voices is just icing on the cake. “Listen,” which acts as Beyonce’s little coming-out party, is actually so good you’ll want to buy the soundtrack. Created by writer and director Bill Condon, “Dreamgirls” is based on the Broadway musical about a trio of black female soul singers who cross over to the pop charts in the early 1960’s. Deena Jones (Beyonce), Effie White (former American Idol contestant Jennifer Hudson) and Lorrell Robinson (Anika Noni Rose) start out as small-time singers aiming for the top, with Effie in the lead. However, when their manager Curtis Taylor Jr. (Jamie Foxx) decides that the slimmer, prettier Deena should sing lead, tensions explode and Effie ends up leaving the group. Fortunately, the swinging door goes both ways and she’s quickly replaced by Michelle Morris (Sharon Leal). There is a 10--minute interlude when you’re bombarded by a collage of pretty images of Beyonce in different outfits and hairstyles that acts as an “and

Poster of Universal “Children of Men.”

Pictures'

For most of 2006, sci-fi movie-goers were undoubtedly disappointed by the severe lack of decent science fiction movies. However, they definitely felt a sense of awe and relief if they saw “Children of Men” this December. A depiction of a dark, post-apocalyptic future is just

what the public needed. It clearly surpassed all expectations in its use of computer-generated imagery, and the cast was perfectly put together. Its controversial view of 2027 was an emotional thriller, with virtually no comedic relief to break the moment. Theo Faron (Clive Owen), a reluctant activist-turnedbureaucrat, is living in a world in which the youngest person in the world has just died at 18. Women have become infertile slowly, with no known scientific reason. It is a time of complete anarchy; the only nation in the world that has not been thrown into chaos is Britain. As a result, it has to act as a refuge for many people in the world, causing a war between the government, which is trying to limit immigration, and terrorist groups, which are trying to create equal rights for the refugees. Yet when one refugee woman, Kee (Claire-Hope Ashitey), is found to be pregnant, hope for the survival of the human race emerges. Theo, now thrust in a struggle to protect this woman, goes through a jourContinued on Page 7

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Friday, February 02, 2007 A&E

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

Video Game Review Special Castlevania Elite Beat Back to the Future of Gaming BY JONATHAN XIKIS COLUMNIST

BY JONATHAN XIKIS COLUMNIST Nintendo

Elite Beat Agents, a game for the Nintendo DS.

Continued on Page 8

The year is 1944. World War II has taken its toll, and millions of souls wander the Earth without peace. In the midst of destruction and chaos arises the ultimate evil: Dracula’s Castle. However, there is hope, in the form of novice vampire hunter Jonathan Morris and teenage witch Charlotte Aulin. This unlikely duo possesses the skills needed to destroy Dracula once and for all — assuming the two manage to get past Brauner, a powerful vampire who has barred the way using magical paintings of immense power, as well as his two daughters, who hide a dark secret. “Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin” is the newest game in the Castlevania series, which is famous for making good use of old-school side-scrolling action. “Portrait of Ruin” improves on its predecessor, “Dawn of Sorrow,” in many ways. Now, you control not just one, but two char-

The two main characters in Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin.

acters at once, on their quest to fight their way through Dracula’s Castle and save the world. Jonathan is confident and strong with physical attacks, while Charlotte is skilled in magic, but otherwise weak. The well-developed partner system allows you to fight with both characters at once, or use them separately to solve puzzles.

Along with this, new skills have been introduced which allow the characters to use powerful team attacks or jump on each other’s shoulders to reach high areas. A quest system has been introduced, in which you can find rare items and spells. Finally, the frustrating “dominance” system from DoS, in which the main character would randoml y absorb monsters’ “souls” to gain special attacks, has been eliminated in favor of a more predictable, skill-based system, in which your attacks increase in power the more you use them. A slew of new monsters, weapons and items have been added since Dawn of Sorrow. The most interesting is Jonathan’s use of whips, specifically the powerful Vampire Killer, which will be instantly recognizable to veterans. The game even goes so far as to place some of the previous game’s best-loved bosses into a special area, the “Den of Evil,” Continued on Page 7

Battlefield 2142 Has the Series Frozen Over? bdgamers.com

Imagine, for a moment, that you are a teenage girl and you want to go steady with your football jock boyfriend. Just as you are about to ask him, the doorbell rings and you are given four rowdy children to baby-sit for! Who could possibly save you from this plight? Time to call in the Elite Beat Agents! These government agents help people solve ordinary — or extraordinary — problems through the power of dance. Also known as EBA, this long-awaited rhythm pseudogame for Nintendo DS looks deceptively simple, but is jam-packed with quality music, amazing graphics and four difficulty levels, each with different main characters, catering to everyone from the first-timer to the experienced master. The mechanics of EBA are almost exactly like those of “Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan!,” a Japanese game released in 2005, which, though it had limited success in its home country, soon became an import phenomenon. Its pick-upand-play nature made it fun even for those who couldn’t understand Japanese. EBA takes this winning formula, upgrades it, and sets it in Americanized surroundings, with completely new scenarios and songs. In both games, you play as a secret agent, specially trained in the art of dance, who uses the uplifting power of music to help people in trouble around the world. EBA replaces the trenchcoat-clad dancers of Ouendan wi t h b l a c k - s u i t e d , B l u e s Brothers-esque agents, who travel around in a 60’s-style convertible. The goal of the game is to help the person, who is intro-

IGN.com

Agents

BY JONATHAN XIKIS STAFF WRITER

After a century of political stalling and nonstop atmospheric pollution, humankind has realized that global warming is, indeed, very real. After melting the Earth’s ice caps, it has caused a phenomenon resembling “The Day After Tomorrow,” plunging the Earth into a new ice age. The last fertile land left, around the equator, is enough to fight — and die — for. This is where the online first-person shooter Battlefield 2142 begins, as you play the role of a soldier from one of two opposing factions, the European Union and the Pan-Asian Coalition, both of which are fighting for control of Europe and the unfrozen land of North Africa. BF2142 offers nonstop action, but sticks too much to the formula of its predecessor, Battlefield 2, for its own good. BF2142 still accommodates up to 64 players at once on truly gigantic maps. This makes for epic battles, in which multiple things can be happening at once. Undoubtedly, there will be at least one moment in which you are

A screenshot of Battlefield 2142

stunned by your Rambo-esque act of bravery, such as singlehandedly destroying the core of a giant flying fortress and parachuting to safety. This is countered by the fact that you may be banging your keyboard after being repeatedly killed by an overzealous APC gunner or a bad pilot. The game’s graphics are slightly better than BF2’s, with enhanced explosions and dust effects that will put a load on all but the most advanced

graphics cards. A staple of the series is its large variety of vehicles, such as the tank and the air transport. Unfortunately, the only new vehicle types added since BF2 are the Battlewalker (a slow but powerful mech-like tank) and Gunship (a future version of the helicopter with a jet engine). This change has given more power to ground forces, which were once at the mercy of a good jet pilot. One Continued on Page 8

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Friday, February 02, 2006 A&E movies.yahoo.com

Children of Men which everyone has lost hope and the world is being torn apart. Its use of CGI is also fantastic. CGI is not used in many instances (besides for showing futuristic technology), but it flows seamlessly when it is. This film is not something that one would watch while in search of some light-hearted scifi. This is a film that will make one question governmental actions and the meaning of life. This is a must-see for anyone looking for a deep, emotional, theatrical experience. ◙

Continued from Page 5

Olivier Martinez in MGM’s “Blood and Chocolate.”

An Interview with Olivier Martinez citing. He said, “I am fascinated by [the] wild in general, [the] wolf in particular.” He enjoyed experiencing the knowledge of the wolf as he felt wolves could perceive one’s feelings, so people must not be afraid around them. The filming of the movie was done in Romania. However, Martinez said that he did not see much of Romania, as he was working hard and had to concentrate on his part. The actor was unable to categorize roles in such groupings as villain or good guy. He said, “I don’t see a role as good or bad.” Instead, he tends to see roles as “interesting or not.” Of his role as Gabriel, he said that humans may see him as a villain, but from the point of the wolf he is just fulfilling his nature. Of roles in general, Martinez said, “all [of my] roles have a common point, me.” Martinez was also asked questions about his acting in general. Of his choice to become an actor, he said, “I did it by chance.” He used to be a boxer,

Dreamgirls: Just Another Pretty Face Continued from Page 5 movies.yahoo.com

Beyonce Knowles and Jamie Foxx in DreamWorks Pictures' and Paramount Pictures' “Dreamgirls.”

then some time later,” but after a while even the biggest Beyonce fan will feel overwhelmed. In fact, the movie’s greatest shortcoming is its inability to take the camera off its leading lady long enough to give someone else a

turn. The sudden change in mood in the second half of the movie (after the exit of Effie) is also too drastic. It goes from hopeful to melancholy too quickly with nothing in between; the Dreamgirls fight for their dream and then the dream falls apart. The movie takes a very clichéd approach to success and only shows that it destroys people and corrupts friendships, which makes the girls’ dreams of success seem meaningless and empty. However, the actors give terrific performances (especially Jamie Foxx and Jennifer Hudson) and the music is great, so in the end, everything falls into place. ◙

All in the Family Continued from Page 5 thatcherwilliams.com

but a car accident left him unable to continue. In his own words, he “didn’t know what to do.” Looking back, the actor said, “I don’t regret [the decision].” Despite the fact that his family did not believe in him, Martinez kept dreaming, and dreaming big. He is more interested in enjoying his profession than its benefits. Martinez sees the awards that he has won as a result of circumstances and nice, but not extraordinary. He said that being recognized does not bother him. Overall, he said, “I consider myself a very privileged person” Martinez feels that any role is a challenge as the actor cannot control the role. He said an actor has to improvise, especially when working with children or animals. Fortunately, Martinez likes this aspect of his job. He said he must always show the best to the crowd even though an actor’s performances are a mix of “what you want to do and can do.” However, he did note that an actor never stands alone; there is always a team behind him. ◙

Continued from Page 1

ney of confusion, heartbreak and a drive to actually make a difference in the world. The concept behind this movie was amazing. The highest points had to be its cast of characters. Claire-Hope was a newcomer to Hollywood, and yet she was able to stand out with the best in this movie, such as Michael Caine and Julianne Moore. Every character added significantly to the plot, even the minor ones. They set the mood of the movie: a bleak and hopeless world in

The cast of “All In The Family,” a sitcom that aired on CBS from 1978 to 1983.

tests conducted by both ABC and CBS, CBS debuted the show on January 12, 1971, though with fairly little publicity. The first show began with an unforgettable exchange between Archie and Edith: ARCHIE: “If your spics and spades want their rightful share of the American dream, let them get

out there and hustle for it, like I done. I didn’t have no people marchin’ and protestin’ to get my job.” EDITH: “No, his uncle got it for him.” The impact of “All in the Family” impact was so strong that it went beyond the world of television. The show became the heart of a fiery national debate on whether the use of comedy was an appropriate means by which to fight prejudice and social inequality. Archie Bunker also became an American symbol because of his sympathetic qualities, allowing many viewers to see Archie in a positive light despite his obvious faults. The show’s influence on American television is difficult to ignore. It helped introduce a new generation of comedic programs that replaced the light plotlines of television’s early years with topical themes of social importance. In this way, its impact on primetime programming continues to be sensed decades later. ◙

Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin: Back to the Future of Gaming Continued from Page 6

which is unlocked when most of the map has been explored. Portrait of Ruin’s graphics have been revamped, with some enemies and backgrounds being rendered in full 3D. The diverse assortment of areas within Brauner’s paintings assures more variety and a much larger map than were present in Dawn of Sorrow; however, some bosses are a bit easier than in the previous game. This does not mean the game is easy — in fact, upon completion, the game lets you use secret characters and play on difficulty levels that would be challenging even to the most battle-hardened Castlevania veteran. Portrait of Ruin includes a

new online mode, in which players from around the world can try their hand at co-op mode to try and defeat a gauntlet of bosses in the least time, or sell their hardearned items in a virtual store to friends who have extra gold. The online mode is not perfect, however, due to a number of small glitches which have been discovered. One allows you to get unlimited items from quests, allowing any player to sell them for unlimited gold. Regardless, Portrait of Ruin should be obtained by anyone looking for a quality game for the Nintendo DS, as it reaches the gold standard set by Dawn of Sorrow. ◙

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Friday, February 02, 2007 A&E/SCIENCE

Elite Beat Agents Review Continued from Page 6

but. Although some of the songs might seem downright ridiculous, they fit in perfectly with the game, thanks to sound-alikes that are better than many of the original singers. The ultimate goal is to achieve a perfect “S” ranking for each and every song, but that will require much practice. EBA also manages to throw in some improved features, such as being able to skip scenes and adding a replay mode to show the world your “elite skills.” The game’s multiplayer mode is icing on the cake, and lets you face off against a rival in battle — if you make a mistake with your tapping, your opponent gets the upper hand. Elite Beat Agents is a fun and involving game, with a few twists and an insanely intense ending that will leave you wanting more . . . and more . . . and more. You will have to beat the game at least twice in order to unlock the final difficulty level, “Hard ROCK,” in which you play as the beautiful “Elite Beat Divas.” This game has to be played to be believed, and should definitely be picked up by anyone with a Nintendo DS. ◙

Parents: Where Did They Go Wrong? BY KENNETH LAM STAFF WRITER

A child runs around the house, screaming and breaking things as he runs. A frustrated mother runs behind him, yelling and screaming for her child to stop. When she finally catches up to him, she grabs him and screams in his face. The child begins to cry, and the

Corbis

mother angrily begins to spank him, but to no avail. Eventually she lets him go and slumps to the ground, exhausted, her head between her arms. She says to herself, “Where did I go wrong?” This sounds like a job for the Supernanny! What leads to a need for such desperate measures? The answer is simple: a lack of proper discipline of the child. A new study showed that 31 percent of parents do not find their methods of teaching their children to be efContinued on Page 10

Battlefield 2142: Has the Series Frozen Over? Continued from Page 6

player from each team can apply to be the Commander, who has a detailed battle view and can send orders to squads using his laptop. The rest of the players can choose from one of four classes — down from seven in BF2 — each with its own specialties. For example, the Engineer class can defend with mines or attack with a rocket launcher, while a player who choses Recon can specialize in Special Forces training or sniping. A new feature in BF2142 allows you to customize your kit with a multitude of different upgrades, all of which have to be unlocked by IGN.com

duced by a manga-style animated comic on the top screen; you solve the dilemma by guiding the agents’ dance moves using the stylus and the touch screen. This is done by tapping multicolored dots to the beat, as well as holding down on moving balls and spinners to make the agents, rendered in full 3D, get their groove on. You can string together combos and earn points to make your “Elite-O-Meter,” which is constantly decreasing, go up, much like Dance Dance Revolution. If you make too many mistakes, however, it might drop dangerously low, causing the person on the upper screen to mess things up, to hilarious effect. If the meter drops to zero, you’re through. Although this may seem like a piece of cake, it soon becomes harder to handle, as the dots appear at a blindingly fast rate on the higher difficulty levels. This might sound frustrating, but thanks to the carefully chosen, high-quality songs, ranging in genre from “September” by Earth, Wind and Fire to “La La” by Ashlee Simpson, the game is anything

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

A screenshot of Battlefield 2142.

gaining ranks through playing online before you can use them. Although you can use some gadgets almost immediately, it takes a while to unlock a gun. However, it seems that weaponry has not changed much since 2007; in fact, it got weaker. That’s right — in more than a century, there are no lasers, plasma rifles, microwave beams or death rays. The soldiers use inaccurate conventional weapons, and the anti-air emplacements have gone from missiles to flak cannons. To be fair, many weapons were toned down for balance issues, and now feel more realistic. Some of the gadgets, such as the antipersonnel mine or C4, are just futuristic carbon copies of the current version. There are some useful exceptions, though, such as spawn beacons, auto-turrets and active camouflage. In BF2142, there are two dif-

ferent gameplay modes. “Conquest” is the most popular mode, where players compete to capture and hold “control points” and ultimately deplete the other team’s “tickets,” or chances to spawn, to zero. ”Titan” is the new kid on the block, and features two mammoth flying transport ships called “Titans” (one per team) which players fight to destroy by either capturing missile silos or, once their shields are down, boarding them. This new mode adds new depth to the game, although there is a major problem: lag. While the Titan is moving, your soldier, as well as any items or bodies on the floor, tend to move jerkily by themselves, as they are not exactly in sync with the movement of the ship. Although a recent patch disallowed Titan movement once its shields are down, it is still a nuisance. While Battlefield 2142 is addicting and fun, it suffers from some minor problems and glitches. For example, you might be frustrated to learn that the Gunship’s TV missile is too fast and almost impossible to aim and that the transport you were piloting has exploded after crashing into a tree. The game’s menu looks almost the same as BF2’s, which, though it is familiar to veteran players, feels stale. Finally, the much-loathed EA Games felt it necessary to include controversial in-game ads to deepen their pockets, and are suspected of including spyware (although the software is supposed to collect region information only). There are a few minor improvements, such as with the server browser and the allowance of the creation of multiple soldiers with the same account. This game should be bought by any Battlefield aficionado who wants more of the winning formula, but if you need an introduction to the series, buy Battlefield 2 first. ◙

Freak Chickens Produce Eggs Containing Drugs BY RAMMIYA NALLAINATHAN STAFF WRITER

As weird as it may seem, people have long imagined different things that could be found in chicken eggs. However, no one really thought about finding drugs in chicken eggs until now. Scientists confirmed on January 15, that genetically modified hens could produce drugs. These drugs would be found in the albumen (white) of eggs. Helen Sang and other researchers of Roslin Biocentre

inserted genes for miR24, an antibody, and interferon b-1a, an antiviral drug, into the genes of a hen which produce ovalbumin, which makes up about half of the egg white. The hens were thus made to produce the two substances in their egg whites. This technology is a great advance for pharmaceutical companies. Current methods for producing drugs are very expensive. With this method, production will be a lot cheaper. This is because once a trans-

genic hen is made, it can pass along the gene from generation to generation. After the eggs are laid, the white can be separated from the yolk and purified. It would go through certain trials to make sure it is safe. To avoid any bad effects, the chickens would not be eaten by humans, though they do not seem to be any different from regular hens except for the special proteins found in their egg whites. Transgenic hens have been produced in the past. However,

they had very low success rates. Animals other than chickens have also been used in this kind of experimentation, including goats, rabbits, sheep and cattle. Cattle can produce the proteins so that they end up in milk. Researchers and scientists have come a long way since the first transgenic animal was made. Now, the question is how these results will affect our future. Will it be for better or for worse? ◙

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

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Friday, February 02, 2007 BUSINESS/A&E

Chewing Gum in Development to Combat Obesity BY SANGHEE CHUNG COLUMNIST

A chewing gum that can fight obesity has just started to be developed. At Imperial College London, scientists have developed a drug based on a natural hormone that makes the body feel full and satisfied. The scientists have received £2.2 million ($4.4 million) to create the drug in the form of chewing gum. Professor Steve Bloom, who has studied appetite control for over 20 years, believes that this natural hormone, called pancreatic polypeptide (PP), is key to solving the worldwide problem of obesity. So far, the hormone has only been used experimentally, but the long-term goals are to create it into a chewing gum or nasal spray that may be used for

that patients with a pancreatic tumor generated more PP and had relatively thin bodies without ill side effects. “People with benign pancreatic tumors who secrete large quantities of PP remain chronically thin but have no other side

life. “We hit on the idea of a chewing gum because obese people like chewing,” said Professor Bloom. Pancreatic polypeptide is produced by the pancreas after each meal and alerts the brain that

Chewing gum would be key to solving the worldwide problem of obesity. effects,” said Professor Bloom. “When the hormone is given to volunteers who are then allowed to eat as much as they like, the amount they eat is reduced by between 15 and 25 percent.” The hormone was tested on a group of 35 overweight but

the stomach is full so that eating does not go out of control. It has also been found that different people have different levels of the hormone and being overweight tends to decrease the amounts of the hormone in the body. The effects of the hormone were first noted after discovering Corbis

Two-Headed Reptile Is Discovered In China: A Fossil, That Is BY LOREN OUMAROVA STAFF WRITER

Differences in HDL and triacylglycerols observed in different ethnic groups may be due in part to carbohydrate intake.

BY OMAR AHMAD STAFF WRITER

Scientists have been puzzled for many years by certain conditions that are prevalent only in certain ethnicities. These conditions include some diseases, fat intake, longer lifespan, and even high cholesterol level. Recently, specific tests were conducted that helped determine the answer to the cholesterol differences between two ethnicities. Dr. Anwar T. Merchant of the Population Health Research Institute in Hamilton, Ontario stated that previous research had been done on this topic with diet, lifestyle, genes and obesity as possible factors, but none gave sufficient information. Recently, he noticed that most studies were concerned with only the fat consumed in diets, not carbohydrates or proteins.

Cholesterol in the blood that can be of two forms: LDL or HDL. LDL, or low-density lipoprotein, is the form which can be dangerous to the human body and is normally related to disease. HDL, or high-density lipoprotein, is harmless and actually assists the body in maintaining the cell membranes of all animal cells. It is now known that the consumption of certain carbohydrates can affect the conversion of lipoproteins into cholesterol or their storage as energy for the body. Not only does it affect the conversion rate, it also influences the levels of these cholesterol cells that are evident in the body. The two groups that Anwar Merchant recently studied were South Asians and Chinese. Those who were studied were monitored for several months. The South Continued on Page 10

“When I saw it, I immediately realized it was something extremely unusual,” said paleontologist Eric Buffetaut of the Centre National de la Recherché Scientifique (CNRS) in Paris, France. He was referring to an ancient fossil, recently discovered in the Yixian Formation of northeastern China. For years, the site

barrel-shaped body, short tail, and long serpentine neck. Only one interesting aspect alienated it from the rest of its species: it had two heads with two separate necks fused at the base! Scientists believe that this small creature is the earliest known victim of a birth defect called axial bifurcation (two-headedness).This defect occurs when an embryo is damaged in the womb. Usually, a leRoyal Society

Cholesterol Levels Related to Ethnicity

healthy volunteers. They were offered buffet meals and were free to eat as they wished. Those who received the PP injection ended up feeling less hungry and ate 15 to 25 percent less than those who merely received an inactive salt solution. In the United Kingdom, approximately one in five adults is obese and this figure could rise to one in three by 2010. Obesity causes 1,000 deaths a week. “This need for effective antiobesity therapies is currently unmet,” said Dr. Ted Bianco of the Wellcome Trust, the organization that gave Bloom the funding. “We believe that Professor Bloom’s research holds great promise and, with our support, can be translated into tangible benefits to health.” ◙

A tiny dinosaur-era reptile with two heads has been found in China—the first time the extremely rare developmental anomaly has been seen in a fossil.

has been a famous treasure trove of feathered dinosaur and early bird remains from the Cretaceous period, around 120 million years ago. Dozens of well-preserved imprints can be found in the fine grain sediments and volcanic rocks of the formation. What makes this latest discovery so particularly special? The small fossil was classified as an ancient reptile called Hyphalosaurus lingyuanensis, similar to many others that were found around it. It had a typical

sion will form, causing a certain part of the offspring’s body to duplicate itself. Nowadays, axial bifurcation is a relatively common birth defect among lizards, snakes, turtles, tortoises, and other modern reptiles. This birth defect is a strong piece of evidence against the saying that two heads are better than one. “Having two heads obviously causes huge coordination and behavior problems, since it means having two brains which function Continued on Page 10

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Friday, February 02, 2007 SCIENCE/SPORTS

Cholesterol Levels Related to Ethnicity Continued from Page 9

Continued from Page 9

more or less independently, while other organs within the body cavity, such as the heart and digestive tube, are usually not duplicated,” Dr. Buffetaut explains. In fact, one report describes a twoheaded snake one of whose heads bit the other off! Although two-headed creatures have been known to live over ten years in captivity, this is a very rare case. Most victims of axial bifurcation die at a very young age, especially in the wild. The newest fossil from China is no exception to that rule. The small reptile imprint is 2.8 inches (7 centimeters) long. This is tiny compared to the average length of an adult Hyphalosauras, which was about one meter long. The two-headed reptile was merely a hatchling when it died. It was either still-born or it passed away in the very early stages of its life. Two-headed creatures are not only figments of our imaginations, but actually exist. Though two heads impair motor function and other necessary processes, there’s no denying how amazing they are! ◙

Continued from Page 8

fective. Among these methods are yelling and spanking. However, another statistic also shows that 38 percent of parents are simply using the techniques that their parents once used on them. This leads to the question: What is the best method for parenting? There are many techniques that can be used in parenting. However, these techniques vary with age, and will tend to develop into negotiation as the child grows older. Rather than simply yelling and screaming at a child to teach them, parents should attempt to reason with the child. In addition, such negotiations should be specific to the task at hand, instead of simply telling a child not to do something. A parent should make an active effort to act more on the positive side by rewarding good behavior rather than punishing bad behavior. Although there are many positive ways to deal with children, there are also many wrong approaches to disciplining a child. One such example of a negative approach to parenting is to make empty threats. Empty threats in-

clude threats that are exaggerated, such as threatening to ban some activity for life, or any threat made and not followed through with. By making an empty threat, one is undermining one’s authority over the child, and the child will begin to think that the parent

Spanking teaches children that violence can solve problems, and will cause children to fear their parents rather than to come to them with problems.

really does not wish to punish him or her, and will continue with the wayward activities. In addition, as children grow older and enter their teen years, parents will generally use the removal of privileges to teach a teen right from wrong. However, they should also give teens more free-

THE SPORTS BEAT

The Double Standard Continued from Page 12

season, Merriman was suspended for four games for violating the NFL’s policy on steroids and related substances. He blamed the test results initially on an overthe-counter supplement he was using, but declined to appeal the suspension and sat out the four games. When he returned, it was as if nothing happened. He was being seriously considered for Defensive Player of the Year before finishing third to Jason Taylor of Miami and Champ Bailey of Denver. The hard thing to fathom is the hypocritical actions by the media in this case. Merriman is a known steroid user, something that should put his entire career under intense scrutiny. He should be held to the same standard has disgraced former slugger Rafael Palmiero, who tested positive for steroids at the end of his career and threw any chance he had at the Hall of Fame out the window. An yone who watched McGwire over the end of his career knew he was taking something. He has admitted to taking supplements, but not steroids. The point is that there is no proof that McGwire took anything he wasn’t supposed to. Though he does not deserve to make the Hall of Fame

McGwire was recently up for induction into the baseball Hall of Fame.

until he tells what he knows about steroids, he doesn’t deserve to be the poster boy for the steroid era. It boils down to the high standards that we place on baseball. Baseball is the American pastime, and as much a part of the American spirit as the flag itself. America brought baseball to the world. Football, while a true American sport, doesn’t have the same international appeal as baseball. A baseball problem is a global issue. A football problem is a national issue. That doesn’t excuse the double standard. ◙

dom, as this will teach their children independence and decisionmaking skills. An extremely common negative approach to disciplining children is spanking. This practice is generally frowned upon, but many parents still engage in it, as they think it is the only way to get a message through to a child that doing something is wrong. However, this method fails to communicate the message. Instead, it conveys conflicting messages to what one wants one’s child to learn. It teaches children that violence can solve problems, and will cause children to fear their parents and not come to them with problems. Although nearly a third of parents state that their methods are failing to bring the message across the board to their children, two-thirds of these parents will use methods that they feel are effective, such as time-outs. However, there is no clear-cut solution to parenting. Each child is different, and correspondingly each parent’s parenting style will differ. ◙

Super Bowl XLI Preview Corbis

Two-Headed Reptile Is Discovered In China: A Fossil, That Is

Parents: Where Did They Go Wrong?

Corbis

Asians, who consumed the most carbohydrates on a daily basis, had the lowest levels of HDL and the highest levels of LDL, and the Chinese, who ate the smallest amount of carbohydrates high levels of HDL and low levels of LDL. The lifestyles of these people had a great influence on their cholesterol levels and this study shows that carbohydrates increase your risk of high cholesterol significantly, and a low level of carbohydrates can assist in maintaining health. This study is further evidence of the disparity between different ethnicities in regard to health. It is not only what you do that can affect your health, but your ethnic background as well. ◙

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

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attack. This game is just too evenly matched. With the offenses and defenses perfectly aligned, it will come down to special teams. Devin Hester for the Bears may have been a threat in the regular season, but so far in the playoffs, he has not put up a single big gain on a return. Robbie Gould has been known to struggle in warm weather, and the game is to be played in Miami. For the Colts, Terrence Wilkins has not been playing up to par on his returns, leaving only one player on special teams with any importance, Vinatieri. So far this year, he has been perfect in warm weather, 912 on grass, 9-11 outdoors (all misses were over 50 yards), and perfect against the NFC. Each of those factors will be satisfied during the Super Bowl. As the offensive and defensive units clash, the scoring will either be high or low, but either way, it will be close. Vinatieri has three gamewinning kicks in Super Bowls, and another one would not be a surprise. My score for the Super Bowl is 24-21 in favor of the Colts, with Adam Vinatieri driving in a game-winning field goal, again. ◙

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

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Friday, Feburary 02, 2007 SPORTS

Sports Calendar Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

February 5

February 6

February 7

February 8

February 9

February 10

February 11

Boys Basketball

Boys JV Basketball

February 17

February 18

Boys Basketball

Vs. HS of Math, Science, and Engineering @ Stuy 4:30 PM

Vs. HS of Food and Finance @ High School of Food and Finance 4:30 PM

Vs. George Washington @ Stuy 4:30 PM

vs. Washington Irving @ Stuy 4:30 PM

vs. Baruch College Campus @ Stuy 4:30 PM

Boys JV Basketball

Boys Gymnastics

Vs. High School of Food and Finance @ High School of Food and Finance 4:30 PM

February 12

February 13

Boys Gymnastics

Boys JV Basketball

Vs. Dewitt Clinton @ Stuy 4:00 PM

Vs. John F Kennedy @ Stuy 4:00 PM

February 14

Vs. Beacon @ Stuy 4:30 PM

February 15 Boys JV Basketball

The Best Show in Town Continued from Page 12

with Brown. Marbury started the season off at a mediocre level, but his game has flourished during January, during which he has averaged 21.1 ppg and 6.1 assists per game (apg). Quentin Richardson had an awful season last year, with nearly no impact on the Knicks. This year, however, he is performing much better. He is averaging 14.1 ppg and 7.1 rpg. David Lee is also playing very well this season. He is averaging 10.7 ppg and 10.4 rpg. He is one of only eleven players in the NBA to average a doubledouble in points and rebounds. With veterans performing at an all-star level and a crop of impressive youngsters, the Knicks look to build upon their decent first half of the season and make a run for the playoffs. ◙

Yao Ming, the Chinese center for the Houston Rockets, is the all-time leading vote-getter, with a record-breaking 2,342,738 votes in 2006.

Corbis

Eddie Curry, left, leads all Eastern Conference centers in terms of scoring.

@ The Armory

Corbis

The Knicks started the season with a record of 5-11, losing 11 of their first 16 games. Since then, however, they have been decent, with a record of 12-12. This season, for the most part, has been much better than last year’s. With still another half of the season to play, the Knicks need only six more wins to tie their total wins for last year. Unmistakably, the Knicks have improved this season, and there are several key players responsible for this transformation. Eddie Curry has in fact been playing like an all-star this season. He’s averaged 19.1 points per game (ppg) and 7.3 rebounds per game (rpg). In fact, Curry leads all Eastern Conference centers in terms of scoring. Stephon Marbury faced much criticism last year, especially during his strife

Indoor Track Manhattan Championships

Vs. Martin Luther King Jr @ Martin Luther King Jr 4:30 PM

The Unpredictable Knicks Continued from Page 12

February 16

forward, guard and center. The voting is done by the general public, and this is the time when loyal fans show their avid support for their favorite players. Of course, what the All-Star game really comes down to is a popularity contest. The players who sell the most jerseys or run the most sneaker ads are usually the ones who get chosen. Or, in the case of Yao Ming, whoever’s country has the most voters. Yao Ming, the Chinese center for the Houston Rockets, is the all-time leading vote-getter, with a recordbreaking 2,342,738 votes in 2006. He has been a starting center since 2003, and expect no less from him this year. Last year, the East starters were: Allen Iverson, Dwayne Wade, LeBron James,

Vince Carter and Shaquille O’Neal. The West had Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Tim Duncan, Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady. 2006, with LeBron as MVP, was all about the rise of the new generation of emerging young stars, along with Wade and Anthony. For 2007, expect more of these young players like forward Chris Bosh, center Dwight Howard and guard Chris Paul to step up. This year, All-Star veterans return as well, players who were once young stars themselves like Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett. Time seems to pass by so quickly, as it was just yesterday they first accepted their acceptances with wide smiles, to now, when it has become an expected tradition and duty to perform their best in the game. The current active players with the longest All-Star tenure are probably Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant, former teammates of the Lakers dynasty. For 2007, they will go head-to-head again, because of Shaq’s trade to Miami two years ago. Iverson’s trade to Denver will shift some guard power to the West, but look for James and Wade to fill in and dominate. The West used to have the big men, but with the East’s Shaq, Wallace and Howard, it has evened out. Look for Bryant guarding James, Carter defending cousin McGrady, and O’Neal on Yao. Look for spectacular Nash alley-oops, James sky-walking, and Yao facials. This time, there will be old faces, and there will be new faces. But either way, the 2007 NBA All-Star game will be a blast. ◙

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Friday, February 02, 2007 SPORTS

THE STUYVESANT STANDARD

Corbis

Bears middle linebacker Brian Urlacher (left) holds up the NFC Championship trophy

Super Bowl XLI Preview BY ZAKHAR SHTULBERG STAFF WRITER

The 2007 Super Bowl will be one for the ages. The Chicago Bears will battle the Indianapolis Colts for the NFL championship, and it will all come down to one man: the man who won three Super Bowls by himself, Adam Vinatieri. Here’s why. The contending teams are matched too closely for the game to be a blowout. The Bears have the best defense in the league, led by Brian Urlacher. The Colts have the best offense in the

league, showcasing substance over style, led by Peyton Manning. The Bears beat the most explosive offense in the NFC championship game, and the Colts beat the most consistent defense in the AFC championship game. The Bears lost a key player in the defensive running game, Tommy Harris. The Colts don’t have much of a running game. The Colts’ run defense has been weak against the NFC in recent games; the Bears don’t have much of offensive running

The Unpredictable Knicks

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BY HESHAM SALEH STAFF WRITER

THE SPORTS BEAT

The Double Standard Corbis

BY ERIC MAYO SPORTS EDITOR

One player has been rumored to have been taking steroids. One player has been caught and suspended for using steroids. One was held out of the Hall of Fame. The other was rewarded with a trip to the Pro Bowl and serious consideration for Defensive Player of the Year. The difference? One plays baseball, and the other football. I’m referring to Mark McGwire and Shawne Merriman. McGwire, former all-star first basemen with the Cardinals and Athletics, was recently up for induction into the baseball Hall of Fame. He only received 23.5 percent of the vote, far short of the 75 percent needed for entry. Many writers refused to vote for McGwire because of his suspected steroid use during the “juiced” era of the late 90’s. His testimony on Capitol Hill during

This might be Isaiah Thomas’s last season as the Knicks’ head coach — or it might not be. After firing Larry Brown, James Dolan gave Thomas a one-year ultimatum to turn the Knicks into a decent team with potential. The Knicks played their 41st game on January 19 against the New Jersey Nets, which marks

exactly half of the season. Their record as of that game was 17-24. Although that puts them in the 11th seed in the Eastern Division, all they need is a couple of wins to become the Atlantic Division leaders, and ensure themselves a playoff berth. But that might be much easier said than done, especially for such an up-and-down team as the Knicks. Continued on Page 11

The Best Show in Town BY RICHARD MAI STAFF WRITER

Shawne Merriman of the San Diego Chargers is a known steroid user.

the steroid hearings two years ago added further circumstantial evidence to his story when he remarked, “I am not here to talk about the past.” Merriman is an outside linebacker for the San Diego Chargers. Before Week 8 of the regular Continued on Page 10

Mark your calendars: February 18. The event? The 56th annual NBA All-Star game, which is being hosted in Las Vegas, where it is sure to be the best show in town. The yearly event is a big draw in the NBA. It is where players can make or break their careers; everything from their egos to their performance for the rest of the season can be on the line. Some of the greatest moments in basketball occur here, where the best of the NBA play

together on the same court for one unforgettable night. The All-Star game, however, is also a game just for fun. Every year, NBA fans from across the globe with Internet access are able to vote for the members of the NBA All-Star team. There are two teams, the West and the East. Players whose teams are in the western U.S. are chosen for the Western Division and players whose teams are in the East are chosen for the Eastern Division. Voters online are able to select players according to their respective positions, such as Continued on Page 11