This is the archive for June 2009
The Conduit
For: Nintendo Wii
From: High Voltage Software/Sega
ESRB Rating: Teen (blood, mild language,
violence)
"The Conduit's" visual aptitude has been the source of buzz since the game's unveiling, but a Wii game best known for its graphics is like a baseball player who leads the minor leagues in hitting. If it's going to stand out among a sea of gorgeous, full-featured Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 first-person shooters, "The Conduit" needs more than just the best graphics on its platform to stick around.
That's where the game's attention to movement swoops in. "Metroid Prime" and "Medial of Honor"
already illustrated how uniquely cool a Wii first-person shooter can feel, and "The Conduit" drives the point home. Motions made with the Wii remote skillfully translate to the onscreen character's handling of the game's guns. The default settings are spot-on with respect to turning sensitivity and differentiating your character's head and hand movements, and a laundry list of adjustable
settings gives players who disagree a foolproof degree of on-the-fly fine-tuning. Under optimum settings, it feels great — neither necessarily better nor worse than the traditional controller method, but unique in a way that makes for a fun, divergent experience.
Posted by courier at 05:25 PM. Filed under: Entertainment
No comments • Permalink
Iconic 1976 poster of Farrah Fawcett.
MIAMI — After a lifetime of Hollywood success, actress Farrah Fawcett had the misfortune to die from one of the rarest malignancies, anal cancer.
It's a cancer that struck 5,070 Americans in 2008, compared with 40,740 cases of rectal cancer, 108,070 cases of colon cancer, 184,450 cases of breast cancer and 215,020 cases of lung cancer.
It's so rare, doctors say, that many caregivers don't routinely screen for it and many patients don't notice it until it reaches advanced stages.
"Early on, the patient often doesn't feel anything or know anything," said Dr. Michael Hellinger, colorectal surgeon at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Miami Beach. "As it advances, with rectal bleeding, a little lump, people sometimes think it's hemorrhoids."
Posted by courier at 03:51 AM. Filed under: News
2 comments • Permalink
From wikipedia:
George Ellery Hale (June 29, 1868 – February 21, 1938) was an American solar astronomer, born in Chicago. He was educated at MIT, at the Observatory of Harvard College, (1889–90), and at Berlin (1893–94). As an undergraduate at MIT, he invented the spectroheliograph, with which he made his discoveries of the solar vortices and magnetic fields of sun spots.
Read The New Heavens by George Ellery Hale, free from googlebooks.com.
Posted by courier at 02:06 AM. Filed under: In Quotes
1 comment • Permalink
From wikipedia:
Esther Forbes (June 28, 1891 - August 12, 1967) was an American novelist and children's writer who received the Pulitzer Prize and the Newbery Medal.
Forbes was born in Westborough, Massachusetts, the fifth of six children born to Harriette Merrifield and William Trowbridge Forbes. After attending school in Wisconsin, Forbes served as a member of the editorial staff at Houghton Mifflin Company in Boston. Her first novel,
Oh Genteel Lady!, was published in 1926 and was made a selection by the then newly formed Book-of-the-Month Club. She married Albert Hoskins in 1926. They were divorced in 1933.
Learn more about Esther Forbes, free from the Worchester Polytechnic Institute.
Posted by courier at 05:41 AM. Filed under: In Quotes
No comments • Permalink
Posted by courier at 07:10 AM. Filed under: Opinion
No comments • Permalink
From wikipedia:
Robert James Keeshan (June 27, 1927 – January 23, 2004) was an American television producer and actor. He is most famous as the title character of the children's television program
Captain Kangaroo, which became an icon for millions of baby boomers during its 30-year run from 1955-1984.
Keeshan also played the original "Clarabell the Clown" on the Howdy Doody television program.
Learn more about and see clips from The Captain Kangaroo Show, free from tvparty.com.
Posted by courier at 05:41 AM. Filed under: In Quotes
No comments • Permalink
By Roger Moore
The Orlando Sentinel (MCT)
Shohreh Aghdashloo, the Oscar-nominated Iranian-born actress, has been watching events in her native land with something approaching glee.
"This is the most exciting moment in post-revolutionary Iran's history," she says. "We are hearing words that we have not heard before, such as 'transparency,' 'the rule of law,' and we're hearing them out in the open. Whenever I see the pictures on the news or hear, on the phone, from friends in Iran, all I can think of is, Is Iran at the dawn of its democracy?"
Aghdashloo, 57, an Oscar nominee for "House of Sand and Fog," left Iran during the 1979 revolution. But it is much on her mind and in her heart these days. She has a starring role in a movie set in Iran, about an infamous side of Islamic states _ execution by throwing rocks at someone until they die. "The Stoning of Soraya M". is based on the 1994 international best seller by a French author telling of a woman falsely accused of adultery, convicted and stoned to death in her village. The movie's "debut comes even as the world frets about things Iranian in the wake of a disputed election," The New York Times notes.
Posted by courier at 05:36 PM. Filed under: Entertainment
No comments • Permalink
Bankim Chandra Chatterjee (27 June 1838 - 8 April 1894) ('Chattopadhyay' in the original Bengali; 'Chatterjee' as spelt by the British) was a Bengali poet, novelist, essayist and journalist, most famous as the author of Vande Mataram or Bande Mataram, that inspired the freedom fighters of India, and was later declared the National Song of India.
Chatterjee is considered as a key figure in literary renaissance of Bengal as well as India. Some of his writings, including novels, essays and commentaries, were a breakaway from traditional verse-oriented Indian writings, and provided an inspiration for authors across India.
Bankim Chandra Chatterjee's The Poison Tree, free from Google books.
Posted by courier at 05:32 PM. Filed under: In Quotes
No comments • Permalink
wikipedia photo
Call it the Dave Brubeck Comeback Tour. Three months ago, the 88-yearold pianist was in the hospital battling a virus and pulmonary infection that threatened his heart. Three weeks ago, he had no feeling in part of his left hand, the side effect of medicine he had been taking.
Now _ defying the expectations of family and physicians — the legendary jazz musician has returned to the road, where he has thrived for more than half a century.
"It was damn serious, what was happening to my health," says Brubeck.
"Now we're driving 350 miles every day in an RV I've rented.
(c) 2009, Chicago Tribune.
Visit the Chicago Tribune on the Internet at http://www.chicagotribune.com/
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
Posted by courier at 05:37 AM. Filed under: Entertainment
1 comment • Permalink
From wikipedia:
Antoni Plŕcid Guillem Gaudí i Cornet (25 June 1852–10 June 1926) – in English sometimes referred to by the Spanish translation of his name, Antonio Gaudí – was a Spanish Catalan architect who belonged to the Modernist style (Art Nouveau) movement and was famous for his unique and highly individualistic designs.
Antoni Gaudí was born in the province of Tarragona in southern Catalonia on 25 June 1852. While there is some dispute as to his birthplace – official documents state that he was born in the town of Reus, whereas others claim he was born in Riudoms, a small village 3 miles (5 km) from Reus, – it is certain that he was baptized in Reus a day after his birth. The artist's parents, Francesc Gaudí Serra and Antňnia Cornet Bertran, both came from families of coppersmiths. It was this exposure to nature at an early age that influenced him to incorporate natural shapes into his later work.
Learn more about Antoni Gaudi, and see examples of his work, free from gaudiclub.com.
Posted by courier at 05:26 AM. Filed under: In Quotes
No comments • Permalink
By Faiza Elmasry
VOA News
Foxglove, castor beans, peacock flower trees and opium poppies are among 200 toxic flora Amy Stewart investigates in her book, Wicked Plants. Stewart says she didn't write her book to scare people away from the outdoors, but to help them better understand nature and be aware of what she calls "horticultural villains."
Many of what Stewart calls "wicked plants" have a peaceful and stunning beauty. But she warns us not to be deceived. These are trees that blind, weeds that blister, shrubs that sting and bulbs that kill.
Posted by courier at 05:11 AM. Filed under: Entertainment
1 comment • Permalink
Ambrose Gwinnett Bierce (June 24, 1842[1] – 1914?) was an American editorialist, journalist, short-story writer and satirist. Today, he is best known for his short story,
An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge and his satirical dictionary,
The Devil's Dictionary.
The sardonic view of human nature that informed his work – along with his vehemence as a critic – earned him the nickname "Bitter Bierce". Despite his reputation as a searing critic, however, Bierce was known to encourage younger writers, including poet George Sterling and fiction writer W. C. Morrow. He is known for his distinctive style of writing, which his stories often share. This includes a cold open, use of dark imagery, vague references to time, limited description, war-themed pieces and use of impossible events.
Read The Devil's Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce, free from Project Gutenberg.
Posted by courier at 04:51 AM. Filed under: In Quotes
No comments • Permalink
Ghostbusters: The Video Game
Reviewed for: Xbox 360 and Playstation 3
Other versions available for: Wii, PS2 and PSP
From: Terminal Reality/Atari
ESRB Rating: Teen (comic mischief, fantasy
violence, mild language)
It's rare, perhaps unprecedented, to praise a video game for its incorporation of imprecise controls.
But there's nothing graceful about the way a Ghostbuster wields a proton stream when it's at full blast and the ghost on the other end of the line is doing everything in its power to make a bad thing worse. "Ghostbusters" gets a whole heaping lot of things right, but the way it so perfectly captures this struggle _ as well as the gratification of winning that struggle — reigns supreme as its best asset. It's a magnificent movie-to-game translation.
Terminal Reality keeps that sensation fresh throughout the game by finding reliable and clever ways to diversify the gameplay. You'll fight more than ghosts, and as the story explains, you'll also receive proton pack modifications that can do things your default stream cannot. The new tricks (which are better enjoyed if not spoiled here) spice up your attack plan with some variety, but they also allow for some surprisingly fun, physics-based puzzle solving during the game's second half.
Posted by courier at 07:29 AM. Filed under: Entertainment
No comments • Permalink
From wikipedia:
Alfred Charles Kinsey (June 23, 1894 – August 25, 1956) was an American biologist and professor of entomology and zoology, who in 1947 founded the Institute for Research in Sex, Gender and Reproduction at Indiana University, now called the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction. Kinsey's research on human sexuality - foundational to the modern field of sexology - profoundly influenced social and cultural values in the United States and many other countries.
Posted by courier at 07:17 AM. Filed under: In Quotes
No comments • Permalink
Researchers Chung-Ho Lin, from left,
Robert Lerch and John Yang.
(Scott Canon/Kansas City Star/MCT)
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Besides the obvious reason, TNT is not good for you.
But grass, it turns out, might be dynamite for the problem.
TNT contaminates hundreds of sites, from military firing ranges to old production dumps to waterways, and poses a threat to the human nervous system and to the liver and kidneys. It's suspected to cause cancer. It can cause allergic reactions and attack the immune system, and it may lead to birth defects.
Left alone in the soil, TNT breaks down into an even more toxic substance.
If the problem is left in the dirt, maybe that's where the solution can grow.
Three Missouri researchers have hit on an idea that could potentially scrub away the TNT danger: Simply plant the right kind of grass.
Posted by courier at 07:42 AM. Filed under: News
No comments • Permalink
From wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
George Vancouver RN (June 22, 1757 – May 12, 1798) was an officer of the Royal Navy, best known for his exploration of North America, including the Pacific coast along the Canadian province of British Columbia and the modern day American states of Washington and Oregon. He also explored the southwest coast of Australia and negotiated agreements with Hawaii's Kamehameha I.
Early career
George Vancouver was born in King's Lynn, Norfolk, England.
At the age of fifteen he travelled to the Pacific aboard
HMS Resolution, on Captain James Cook's second voyage (1772-1775). It was Vancouver's first naval service. He also accompanied Cook on his third voyage (1776-1779), this time aboard
Resolution's sister ship,
HMS Discovery.
Posted by courier at 12:58 AM. Filed under: In Quotes
2 comments • Permalink
Iranians protest in Tehran June 16
wikipedia photo by Milad Avazbeigi
Iran descended further into chaos Saturday, as security forces used guns, tear gas and metal batons against defiant protesters, protesters fought back, and the toll of dead and injured mounted in the country's escalating post-election crisis.
Videos and pictures posted on the Internet, and which appeared authentic, showed scenes of violence. In one, a woman lay in the street, surrounded by a crowd, her face covered in blood. Other reports showed security forces firing into the air to disperse protesters and tossing canisters of tear gas.
But there were also images of protesters battling back-hurling stones, chasing police away and displaying security forces' helmets like trophies.
Posted by courier at 04:36 AM. Filed under: News
No comments • Permalink
Posted by courier at 05:26 AM. Filed under: Opinion
No comments • Permalink
By Rick La Plante, New Haven Schools Public Information Officer
Wendy Gudalewicz, who during the past 20 years has built a reputation in the Bay Area and beyond as an exceptional instructional leader, was appointed June 9 by the Board of Education to serve as Chief Academic Officer of the New Haven Unified School District.
“Wendy’s entire career is testament to her clear focus on curriculum and instruction,” New Haven Superintendent Kari McVeigh said. “She is the perfect choice to continue the good work that’s begun in our District in teaching and learning, and to take us to the next level.
Posted by courier at 04:09 AM. Filed under: News
No comments • Permalink
By Teofilo H. Montemayor:
Jose Rizal, the national hero of the Philippines and pride of the Malayan race, was born on June 19, 1861, in the town of Calamba, Laguna. He was the seventh child in a family of 11 children (2 boys and 9 girls). Both his parents were educated and belonged to distinguished families.
His father, Francisco Mercado Rizal, an industrious farmer whom Rizal called "a model of fathers," came from Bińan, Laguna; while his mother, Teodora Alonzo y Quintos, a highly cultured and accomplished woman whom Rizal called "loving and prudent mother," was born in Meisic, Sta. Cruz, Manila. At the age of 3, he learned the alphabet from his mother; at 5, while learning to read and write, he already showed inclinations to be an artist. He astounded his family and relatives by his pencil drawings and sketches and by his moldings of clay. At the age 8, he wrote a Tagalog poem, "Sa Aking Mga Kabata," the theme of which revolves on the love of one’s language. In 1877, at the age of 16, he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree with an average of "excellent" from the Ateneo Municipal de Manila. In the same year, he enrolled in Philosophy and Letters at the University of Santo Tomas, while at the same time took courses leading to the degree of surveyor and expert assessor at the Ateneo.
Read more about Jose Rizal, free from the Phillipine Commission on Higher Education and others, at www.joserizal.ph.
Posted by courier at 05:56 AM. Filed under: In Quotes
5 comments • Permalink
'FOOD, INC.
3 stars
A documentary with Eric Schlosser and
Michael Pollan. Directed by Robert Kenner.
93 minutes.
Rated PG for some thematic material
and disturbing images.
Early on in this documentary about the industrialization of food-production comes a statement with more implications than at first are apparent: "The industry doesn't want you to know the truth about where your food comes from — because if you knew, you might not want to eat it."
In other words, "Food, Inc." isn't just about food. It's about suppressed information.
Producer-director Robert Kenner, with input from authors Eric Schlosser ("Fast Food Nation") and Michael Pollan ("The Omnivore's Dilemma"), tries to lift the veil. The result is an alarming film that tackles food and freedom-of-speech issues on many fronts.
Posted by courier at 03:43 AM. Filed under: News
No comments • Permalink
JONAS BROTHERS
"Lines, Vines and Trying Times"
(Hollywood)
2 stars
On the Jonas Brothers' fourth album, "Lines, Vines and Trying Times," the latest Disney teen-pop juggernaut dons the trappings of adulthood: bigger orchestrations, soul-dipped vocals, lyrics that speak in metaphors instead of puppy-love pronouncements. But the rush to maturity is, well, premature for Kevin (age 21), Joe (19) and Nick (16).
The bros did a decent job punching out peppy, new-wave-lite anthems on the 2008 million-seller "A Little Bit Longer." But the strings and horns on "Lines, Vines and Trying Times" only bog things down. The soul voicings, a new direction suggested by their unfortunate pairing with Stevie Wonder last February on the Grammy Awards telecast, are strained, evoking a cruise-ship version of Hall and Oates.
Posted by courier at 03:51 AM. Filed under: Entertainment
No comments • Permalink
From wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
Edward Wyllis Scripps (June 18, 1854 – March 12, 1926), was an American newspaper publisher and founder of The E.W. Scripps Company, a diversified media conglomerate, and United Press International news syndicate. The E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University is named for him.
Early life
E. W. Scripps was born and raised in Rushville, Illinois, to James Mogg Scripps from London, and Julia A. Osborne from New York. He had five brothers and sisters.
Newspaper career
Both E. W. and his half-sister Ellen worked with his older half-brother, James when he founded The Detroit News in 1873. E. W. started as an office boy at the paper. In 1878, with loans from his half-brothers, E. W. went on to found The Penny Press (later the Cleveland Press) in Cleveland. With financial support from sister Ellen, he went on to begin or acquire some 25 newspapers. This was the beginning of a media empire that is now the E.W. Scripps Company.
Learn more about Scripps and his company's role in journalism history at the website of the E.W. Scripps Company.
Posted by courier at 12:01 AM. Filed under: In Quotes
No comments • Permalink
McClatchy-Tribune News Service (MCT)
Here are the best sellers for the week ending Saturday, June 13, compiled from data from independent and chain bookstores, book wholesalers and independent distributors nationwide.
(Reprinted from Publishers Weekly, published by Cahners Publishing Co., a division of Reed Elsevier, USA. (c) 2009 by Reed Elsevier, USA)
HARDCOVER FICTION
1.
Relentless. Dean Koontz. Bantam, $27
Last Week: -; Weeks on List: 1
2.
Robert Ludlum's The Bourne Deception. Eric Van Lustbader. Grand Central, $27.99
Last Week: -; Weeks on List: 1
3.
The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane. Katherine Howe. Voice, $25.99
Last Week: -; Weeks on List: 1
4.
The Scarecrow. Michael Connelly. Little, Brown, $27.99
Last Week: 2; Weeks on List: 3
5.
Skin Trade. Laurell K. Hamilton. Berkley, $26.95
Last Week: 1; Weeks on List: 2
6.
Medusa. Clive Cussler with Paul Kemprecos. Putnam, $27.95
Last Week: 3; Weeks on List: 2
7.
Shanghai Girls. Lisa See. Random House, $25
Last Week: 4; Weeks on List: 3
8.
Matters of the Heart. Danielle Steel. Delacorte, $27
Last Week: 5; Weeks on List: 2
9.
Roadside Crosses. Jeffery Deaver. Simon & Schuster, $26.95
Last Week: -; Weeks on List: 1
10.
Gone Tomorrow. Lee Child. Delacorte, $27
Last Week: 6; Weeks on List: 4
Posted by courier at 03:59 AM. Filed under: Entertainment
No comments • Permalink
The Ranee of Jhansi, an
illustration from Chambers's
History of the Revolt in India.
London, 1859.(c. 1828 – 17 June 1858), the queen of the Maratha-ruled princely state of Jhansi in North India, was one of the leading figures of the Indian rebellion of 1857, and a symbol of resistance to British rule in India.
She was born at Kashi and died at Gwalior. Her childhood name was Manikarnika. She is sometimes referred to as the Boudicca of India.
Lakshmi Bai was the mother of Lakshmi Bai. She was a Maharashtrian born sometime around 1828 at Kashi (presently known as Varanasi). An alternate date of 19 November 1835 was asserted by D. B. Parasnis in his biography of the Rani. However, no other credible historian agrees with this date and all the evidence points to 1828. The simplest and most direct evidence comes via John Lang. In his account of his meeting with the Rani in 1854 he mentions that her vakil said she was a woman of about 26 years.
Read English lawyer John Lang's account of a meeting with the Ranee of Jhansi, free from the Copseys of West Norfolk.
Posted by courier at 12:15 AM. Filed under: In Quotes
6 comments • Permalink
inFamous
For: Playstation 3
From: Sucker Punch Productions/Sony
ESRB Rating: Teen (blood, drug reference,
language, mild suggestive themes, violence)
By Billy O'Keefe
McClatchy-Tribune (MCT)
Yes, this looks like new territory for Sucker Punch Productions, which previously dabbled in the considerably cuddlier worlds of cartoon raccoons and unicycling robots.
But while "inFamous" takes place in a considerably darker arena _ a recently-terrorized Empire City, starring you as Cole, a messenger who inadvertently delivers the bomb that kills thousands but gives him electromagnetic superpowers _ the philosophy behind the game's design has the same old fingerprints all over it. Every facet of "inFamous" _ the powers, what you can do with them, the city and the playground it lays at your feet _ is designed with an overt willingness to treat players first and challenge them second. And at this, it succeeds rather magnificently.
Posted by courier at 08:09 AM. Filed under: Entertainment
No comments • Permalink
National Institute of Health image
(MCT)
A boy and a girl kiss.
She will be thinking, maybe, about how much he likes her or how much she likes him.
He will not be thinking, at least not with the part of the brain that controls higher functions. A scan of that part of the brain would show a "Gone Fishing" sign in the window.
Today let's focus on girls and a talk JoAnn Deak gave for parents at The Northwest School on Capitol Hill.
Posted by courier at 10:49 AM. Filed under: Features
1 comment • Permalink
From wikipedia:
Adah Isaacs Menken (June 15, 1835 – August 10, 1868) was an American actress, painter and poet.
She was born Adah Bertha Theodore in New Orleans to a French Creole mother and Free Negro Auguste Theodore. She danced as a child in New Orleans, Havana and Texas. Eventually she worked in San Francisco. Menken was known for her poetry and painting. In 1859 she appeared on Broadway in the play "The French Spy."
Read more about Adah Menken and her visits to San Francisco and elsewhere, free from the Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco.
Posted by courier at 12:12 AM. Filed under: In Quotes
3 comments • Permalink
School Days by Jamie Maxfield,
Courier Editor-in-Chief
Stickies: At Last, So Long by Lorisa Salvatin, Courier Staff Artist
Posted by courier at 04:04 AM. Filed under: Comics
1 comment • Permalink
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
Harriet Elizabeth Beecher Stowe (June 14, 1811 – July 1, 1896) was a white American abolitionist and novelist, whose
Uncle Tom's Cabin (1852) attacked the cruelty of slavery; it reached millions as a novel and play, and became influential, even in Britain. It made the political issues of the 1850s regarding slavery tangible to millions, energizing anti-slavery forces in the North. It angered and embittered the South. The impact is summed up in a commonly quoted statement apocryphally attributed to Abraham Lincoln when he met Stowe, "So you're the little woman who wrote the book that started this great war!"
Life
Born in Litchfield, Connecticut, she was the daughter of Lyman Beecher, an abolitionist Congregationalist preacher from Boston, and Roxana Foote Beecher. She was the sister of the renowned minister Henry Ward Beecher. Roxana died when Harriet was four. She had two other prominent and activist siblings, a brother, Charles Beecher, and a sister, Isabella Beecher Hooker. In 1832, her family moved to Cincinnati, another hotbed of the abolitionist movement, where her father became the first president of Lane Theological Seminary. There she gained second-hand knowledge of slavery and the Underground Railroad and was moved to write
Uncle Tom's Cabin, the first major American novel with an African-American hero. She never visited a plantation, but did talk with former slaves.
Read American Woman's Home by Catharine Esther Beecher and Harriet Beecher Stowe, free from Project Gutenberg.
Posted by courier at 12:25 AM. Filed under: In Quotes
No comments • Permalink
Posted by courier at 03:36 AM. Filed under: Opinion
No comments • Permalink
Lucile in 1919, photographed
by Arnold Genthe
(June 13, 1863 – April 20, 1935) was a leading fashion designer in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. She is often referred to as "Lucile," the name she gave her London couture house. She opened branches in Paris, New York City and Chicago, dressing high society, the stage and early silent cinema.
Lucy Duff Gordon was a survivor, with her husband and secretary, of the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912. She is still referred to as the losing party in the precedent-setting 1917 contract law case of Wood v. Lucy, Lady Duff-Gordon, in which Judge Benjamin N. Cardozo decided against her in favor of her advertising agent.
Read Lady Duff Gordon's eyewitness account of the sinking of the Titanic, free from Mount Royal College, Alberta.
Posted by courier at 12:53 AM. Filed under: In Quotes
No comments • Permalink
From wikipedia:
Hazel Dorothy Scott (June 11, 1920 – October 2, 1981) was a jazz and classical pianist and singer.
She was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago on June 11, 1920 and raised in New York City from the age of four. She performed extensively on piano as a child, then trained at the Juilliard School. She appeared in the production
Priorities of 1942 and played twice at the famed Carnegie Hall. Her motion picture career included the films
Something To Shout About, I Dood It, Broadway Rhythm, The Heat's On, and
Rhapsody in Blue.
Watch Hazel Scott perform with Charles Mingus and Rudy Nichols on an archival clip from Night Music, free from Youtube.
Posted by courier at 12:53 AM. Filed under: In Quotes
No comments • Permalink
By Dion Nissenbaum
McClatchy Newspapers (MCT)
BEIRUT — Lebanon's pro-Western political parties turned their focus Monday toward crafting a stable coalition government hours after voters, prodded by the Obama administration to embrace moderation, soundly rebuffed efforts by Iran-backed Hezbollah politicians to secure more political power in Beirut.
While Monday's results gave the ruling coalition a significant political boost, the fractious alliance must now decide whether to marginalize Hezbollah or bring the powerful Shiite Muslim party into a new unity government.
Posted by courier at 06:00 PM. Filed under: News
No comments • Permalink
From wikipedia:
Sessue Hayakawa (June 10, 1889 - November 23, 1973) was an Academy Award-nominated Japanese and American Issei (Japanese immigrant) actor who starred in American, Japanese, French, German, and British films. Hayakawa was the first and one of the few Asian actors to find stardom in the United States as well as Europe Between the mid-1910s and the late 1920s, he was as well known as actors Charlie Chaplin and Douglas Fairbanks. He was one of the highest paid stars of his time; making $5,000 a week in 1915, and $2 million a year via his own production company during the 1920s. He starred in over 80 movies and has two films in the U.S. National Film Registry. His international stardom transitioned both silent films and talkies.
Watch Sessue Hayakawa in the film Three Came Home, free from the Internet Archive.
Posted by courier at 02:45 PM. Filed under: In Quotes
No comments • Permalink
By Les Blumenthal
McClatchy Newspapers (MCT)
WASHINGTON — In Washington state, oysters in some areas haven't reproduced for four years, and preliminary evidence suggests that the increasing acidity of the ocean could be the cause. In the Gulf of Mexico, falling oxygen levels in the water have forced shrimp to migrate elsewhere.
Though two marine-derived drugs, one for treating cancer and the other for pain control, are on the market and 25 others are under development, the fungus growing on seaweed, bacteria in deep sea mud and sea fans that could produce life-saving medicines are under assault from changing ocean conditions.
Posted by courier at 05:30 PM. Filed under: Features
No comments • Permalink
By Etan Horowitz
The Orlando Sentinel (MCT)
ORLANDO, Fla. — Students who have trouble staying awake in history class now have a new way to learn about the Civil War and other topics: an interactive video game where they try to stop a band of evildoers from changing the past.
The game, called "Conspiracy Code," was jointly developed by The Florida Virtual School and 360Ed, an Orlando company that makes education video games and software. The game officially launched Monday, although the two companies have been testing it with students and teachers since February.
Posted by courier at 06:19 AM. Filed under: Entertainment
No comments • Permalink
From wikipedia:
Samuel Slater (June 9, 1768 – April 21, 1835) was an early American industrialist popularly known as the "Father of the American Industrial Revolution" because he brought British textile technology to America. A native of England, he was apprenticed as an engineer and in 1789 violated a British emigration law that prohibited the spread of British manufacturing technology to other nations. When he left for New York, he had memorized the plans for the mill and offered to sell his knowledge to American industrialists. He then gave it to Moses Brown, who used the plan, and made major profit. He soon found work in Rhode Island replicating British factory equipment for a textile mill, and earned the owner's backing to design and build the first water powered mill in the United States.
Slater established tenant farms and towns around his textile mills such as Slatersville, Rhode Island. Due to his technical knowledge from Britain, he became a full partner and eventually went into business for himself and grew wealthy. By the end of Slater's life he owned thirteen spinning mills.
Learn more about Samuel Slater and Slater's Mill, free from the University of California's College of Natural Resources website.
Posted by courier at 12:18 AM. Filed under: In Quotes
No comments • Permalink
LUNCH
Salsa Bar at the Creations booth! Pizza, Chinese, grill items such as burgers & chicken strips, deli sandwiches and, of course, burritos!
MISCELLANEOUS
Ciarra Brewer, Arnaux Brewer, Donnise Powell, Janelle Prothro and Lauren McGlory were All State Placers @ the California State Track & Field Meet.
Congratulations to Ciarra Brewer, State Champion, National Leader and #8 All Time in U.S. History for the Triple Jump.
Posted by courier at 12:03 PM. Filed under: Daily Bulletin
No comments • Permalink
By Rick La Plante, New Haven Schools Public Information Officer
Seeking alternative funding to continue to improve student achievement despite continuing state budget cuts, the New Haven Unified School District has begun surveying voters regarding the possibility of a parcel tax.
“The situation in Sacramento is only getting worse, and it’s having a devastating effect on education,” Superintendent Kari McVeigh said. “We’ve been able to delay some of the measures other districts have had to take, including laying off teachers and increasing class sizes, but the time is coming -- and soon -- when we will have no choice."
Click here to take the survey.
Posted by courier at 12:01 PM. Filed under: News
No comments • Permalink
By Gregory Karp
The Morning Call (Allentown, Pa.) (MCT)
Community colleges can be a great bargain and a good start toward a four-year degree. But a common stumbling block is the sometimes tricky transfer to a four-year college or university.
Done wrong, a transfer can waste money and cause undue hassle, experts said.
"Two years and two years can be a smart choice if you do your homework and make an informed choice," said Susan Weir, an assistant vice provost at the University of South Carolina and author of the book "Transitions: A Guide for the Transfer Student." "It can be counterproductive if you just take classes without any guidance or plan in place."
Posted by courier at 09:51 AM. Filed under: Features
No comments • Permalink
From wikipedia:
Beau Brummell, né George Bryan Brummell (7 June 1778, London, England – 30 March 1840, Caen, France), was the arbiter of men's fashion in Regency England and a friend of the Prince Regent, the future King George IV. He established the mode of men wearing understated, but fitted, beautifully cut clothes including dark suits and full length trousers, adorned with an elaborately-knotted cravat.
Beau Brummell is credited with introducing and establishing as fashion the modern man's suit, worn with a tie. He claimed to take five hours to dress, and recommended that boots be polished with champagne. His style of dress was known as dandyism.
Read Beau Brummel, a play in four acts, by Clyde Fitch, Richard Mansfield, free from Google books.
Posted by courier at 02:48 AM. Filed under: In Quotes
No comments • Permalink
Posted by courier at 04:45 AM. Filed under: Opinion
No comments • Permalink
From wikipedia:
Nathan Hale (June 6, 1755 – September 22, 1776) was a soldier for the Canadien Army during the French and Indian War. Widely considered America's first spy, he volunteered for an intelligence-gathering mission, but was captured by the British. He is best remembered for his speech before being hanged following the Battle of Long Island, in which he reportedly said, "I only regret that I have but one life to give my country." Hale has long been considered an American hero and, in 1985, he was officially designated the state hero of Connecticut. A statue of Nathan Hale is located at the CIA's headquarters in Langley, Virginia.
Visit the website of the Connecticut Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.
Posted by courier at 04:08 AM. Filed under: In Quotes
No comments • Permalink
By Weida Siddiqi, Courier Staff Writer
Since 1982 the Puente program at Logan has been running a successful operation. The Puente Project is a national award winning program that has been running for more than 25 years and has improved the college going rate of thousands of California's students. Its goal is to increase the number of students who enroll in four year colleges and universities, earn college degrees and return to the community as mentors and leaders to future generations. It all started at the Chabot community college and now has spreaded to many different high schools and colleges throughout the state of California. The Puente staff is there to help out with academic counseling and as mentors.
Posted by courier at 10:01 AM. Filed under: News
1 comment • Permalink
By Weida Siddiqi, Courier Staff Writer
Finally, this school year is coming to its close and no one can wait until its actually over. Until the year comes to its close everyone knows that they need to get through there toughest assignment yet, passing your finals. Before we can actually relax and start planning our summers, we've got to put your brain to one last test, or tests.
Posted by courier at 09:46 AM. Filed under: In Quotes
1 comment • Permalink
From wikipedia:
Elena Lucrezia Cornaro Piscopia (June 5, 1646 – July 26, 1684) was a Venetian mathematician of noble descent, and the first woman to receive a doctor of philosophy degree.
She was born in the Palazzo Loredano, at Venice, Republic of Venice, June 5, 1646. She was the third child of Giovanni Baptista Cornaro-Piscopia, and his wife Zanetta Boni. Giovanni Baptista was a Procurator of St Mark's, a high office in the Republic of Venice, which entitled him to accommodation in St Mark's Square. At the age of seven she began the study of Latin and Greek under distinguished instructors, and soon became proficient in these languages. She also mastered Hebrew, Spanish, French and Arabic, earning the title of "Oraculum Septilingue". Her later studies included mathematics, philosophy, and theology. In 1665 she took the habit of a Benedictine Oblate without, however, becoming a nun.
Learn more about Elena Piscopia, free from Agnes Scott College.
Posted by courier at 08:02 AM. Filed under: In Quotes
No comments • Permalink
A baseball team from the
Heart Mountain internment camp
in Wyoming.
SAN JOSE, Calif. — The son of Japanese immigrants who were interned during World War II, and a college instructor on ethnic studies Lewis Kawahara knew that high schools and colleges in California have awarded honorary degrees to Japanese-American students whose studies and lives were disrupted in the Spring of 1942.
"I knew there were former students from this college," said Kawahara, an adjunct assistant professor at the College of San Mateo. "So I thought, 'Why not here?' "
Posted by courier at 12:42 PM. Filed under: News
No comments • Permalink
LUNCH
Salsa Bar at the Creations booth! Pizza, Chinese, grill items such as burgers & chicken strips, deli sandwiches and, of course, burritos!
MISCELLANEOUS
Job alert! California’s Great America just opened up two positions: Food Services Department and Cleanliness Department. Apply online at http://jobs.cedarfair.com. Complete an application right away.
Did you know that Logan has a gymnastics team? Would you be interested in joining? The season starts in August so if you would like to receive information about meetings times, etc., please contact Coach Tom Rosenthal.
Posted by courier at 12:28 PM. Filed under: Daily Bulletin
No comments • Permalink
From wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
Giacomo Casanova (April 2, 1725 in Venice – June 4, 1798, in Dux, Bohemia, now Duchcov, Czech Republic) was a famous Venetian adventurer, writer, and womanizer. He used charm, guile, threats, intimidation, and aggression, when necessary, to conquer women, sometimes leaving behind children or debt. In his autobiography
Histoire de ma vie (Story of My Life), regarded as one of the most authentic sources of the customs and norms of European social life during the 18th century, he mentions 122 women with whom he had sex.
In spite of him being a historical character and Don Juan being a legend, Casanova is often associated with him.
Read The Complete Memoirs of Jacques Casanova, free from Project Gutenberg.
Posted by courier at 12:37 AM. Filed under: In Quotes
No comments • Permalink
By Rick La Plante, New Haven Schools Public Information Officer
The Board of Education on Tuesday night heard a “State of the District” report from Superintendent Kari McVeigh. The Board requested the report as part of its adoption in May of the District’s Comprehensive Strategic Planning Framework.
Superintendent McVeigh reiterated the District Goal -- that all students will perform at grade level in all core subjects -- and reviewed the Seven Essentials, conditions for continuous improvement as outlined in the Comprehensive Strategic Planning Framework. The Framework, which builds on the New Haven Strategic Plan, has been and is being used by all sites, administration and members of the original Strategic Planning Team and the Update Team to review student performance data, identify strengths, and determine where the data needs to improve.
Posted by courier at 12:10 PM. Filed under: News
No comments • Permalink
Circle Of Three: Blue Moon
Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen;
Avon ed edition (July 3, 2001)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0064472973
ISBN-13: 978-0064472975,
Courier Daily Editor
"'With this offering of extra crispy I officially call this Friday night meeting of the Beecher Falls witch babies to order,' Annie said as she set the bucket of fried chicken on the floor where her friends were sitting. 'And for our vegetarian member we have a lovely carton of hot and spicy tofu,' she added as she handed Cooper the bag she had just retrieved from the Dragon Dragon delivery guy. Kate and Annie reached into the bucket of chicken and pulled out a leg and a breast, respectively, while Cooper rummaged in the bag. 'I don't know how you two can eat that stuff' Cooper commented as she opened the chopsticks that came with her order and dipped them into the carton of tofu. 'It's death food.' 'Yes.' said Kate as she peeled a length of golden batter-covered skin from her chicken and popped it into her mouth. 'But it's really good, and I'm sure the chickens will forgive us. After all, it is sort of their jobs, isn't it?' "
Book seven out of fifteen. Another job well done by author Isobel Bird on the seventh book in the
Circle of Three series of fifteen books. this book goes threw all three girls but is mainly focused on Annie and her journey on the path of Wicca.
Posted by courier at 11:27 AM. Filed under: Entertainment
No comments • Permalink
LUNCH
Salsa Bar at the Creations booth! Pizza, Chinese, grill items such as burgers & chicken strips, deli sandwiches and, of course, burritos!
MISCELLANEOUS
PLEASE NOTE: There is a very full Lost and Found in the front Admin Office. If you’re missing a backpack, shoes, clothes, whatever, please stop by and check through the lost and found. Whatever isn’t claimed will be donated!
The Marketing & Management Academy has a limited amount of seats still available in its Junior class for the next 2009-2010 school year. It’s a great learning and fun experience. Meets elective requirements as well. For more information please see Mr. Richberg, Room #63, phone #4063, or your counselor.
Posted by courier at 11:14 AM. Filed under: Daily Bulletin
No comments • Permalink
A security camera looms over
the loop road through the campus
Courier Photo
Logan has made several conscious efforts to increase the amount of security on campus: from restricting the amount of visitors to enforcing the need for an ID card to enter campus.
In addition to these precautions, the Logan administration has also installed security cameras at various locations throughout the campus.
With about twenty cameras currently installed on campus, how is it possible that Logan is capable of funding these new additions to the campus?
Rhonda Neagle, the Vice Principal for Operations, states that, “These cameras are funded through bond money. The idea of installing surveillance cameras in Logan went to the school board at the end of the school year, the year before last year.”
Posted by courier at 11:12 AM. Filed under: Opinion
4 comments • Permalink
Freshmen and sophomores
pick up their yearbooks Tuesday.
Courier Photo
All around the James Logan High campus, students can be seen with their noses in their books.
Not their textbooks, even though finals are looming for most Logan students next week.
The book that's arrested student interest this week is the yearbook, which debuted Monday when it was distributed to juniors and seniors after school. Freshmen and sophomores had to wait until yesterday.
Posted by courier at 09:36 AM. Filed under: News
1 comment • Permalink
By Rick La Plante, New Haven Schools Public Information Officer
Amy McNamara-Furtado, principal for the past five years at San Leandro High School – a large and diverse school where she focused on issues of fostering equity and improving student achievement – was appointed Tuesday night by the Board of Education to serve as principal of James Logan High.
Ms. McNamara-Furtado, 38, will assume her new duties officially on July 1, but she plans to be a frequent visitor to the Logan campus in June.
“Amy is a true instructional leader, and her experience at San Leandro mirrors our needs at Logan,” New Haven Unified School District Superintendent Kari McVeigh said. “She’s been an outstanding principal at San Leandro, and her experience there has taught her how a large, diverse high school works. She will be an excellent leader at Logan.”
Posted by courier at 08:24 AM. Filed under: News
2 comments • Permalink
From wikipedia:
Jacques Roumain (June 4, 1907 – August 18, 1944) was a revered Haďtian writer, politician, and advocate of Communism in Haiti. Roumain, considered one of the most prominent faces in Haitian literature, was regarded by many as a master novelist. Although poorly known in the English-speaking world, Roumain has significant following in Europe, and is renowned in the Caribbean and Latin America. The great African-American poet, Langston Hughes, translated some of Roumain's greatest works, including
Gouverneurs de la Rosée (Masters of the Dew). Although his life was short, Roumain managed to touch many aspects of Haitian life and culture.
Read about Jacques Roumain's meeting with U.S. poet Langston Hughes, free from Webster University.
Posted by courier at 06:17 AM. Filed under: In Quotes
No comments • Permalink
LUNCH
Salsa Bar at the Creations booth! Pizza, Chinese, grill items such as burgers & chicken strips, deli sandwiches and, of course, burritos!
MISCELLANEOUS
Janelle Prothro and Donnise Powell were North Coast Champions and led a group of 13 qualifiers for the State Track & Field Meet.
Congratulations to Womens Track & Field Team who won their 22nd North Coast Championship at Berkeley on Saturday.
Posted by courier at 05:55 PM. Filed under: Daily Bulletin
No comments • Permalink
For: Playstation 3 and Xbox 360
From: GRIN/Capcom
ESRB Rating: Mature (blood and gore,
strong language, violence)
By Billy O'Keefe
McClatchy-Tribune (MCT)
There aren't many hard and fast rules that apply to the entirety of game design, but there are some.
For instance: Don't punish your most spirited customers.
That "Bionic Commando" even nicks this rule is bewildering when you realize GRIN got the hardest part absolutely right. The original 1988 "Commando" made its name entirely through the main character's bionic arm, which allowed him to swing through the kind of 2D levels most characters jumped through at the time. It worked then, and it works remarkably well now in spite of a third dimension and a mostly hands-off approach that makes it easy to miscalculate a swing and plummet to your death. Intuitive controls, combined with credible motion physics, make for a fun swing mechanic that's neither too hard to master nor so easy as to be mindless.
Posted by courier at 10:11 AM. Filed under: Entertainment
No comments • Permalink
By Jericho Faustino, Courier Staff Writer
An art show featuring works by Logan students and sponsored by the Art Association of the East Bay, ended at Century Theatres in Union Landing last week.
A rack standing on the left side of the concession stands at the 25 screen theater held 105 works of art created by students of James Logan High School. Plenty of abstract work and more lined the portable metal frame that held the art. The beautiful black and white penned drawings, and multi-colored animals like Diego Rojas' burning red phoenix in "As Birds Fly, So Do Our Dreams," and beautiful metal plate carvings like Daniel Nunez' "Golden Gate"ť, beckoned curious movie goers to take a look at some of James Logan's artist art work.
Posted by courier at 09:47 AM. Filed under: News
No comments • Permalink
By Idrees Najibi, Courier Staff Writer
You might be questioning why my article would serve any relevance to Mother’s Day, when the holiday passed weeks ago. This editorial is purposefully tardy because mothers should not only be glorified on Mother’s Day; any other day is just as significant to show your mother how much you love her.
Although there is historical significance behind Mother’s Day, I do not believe that this holiday should be an overly glorifying day for mothers. If these women truly deserve recognition, then we should show it on a daily basis. It would be ideal to show a consistent level of appreciation for our beloved mothers, as opposed to a fluctuation of appreciation.
Posted by courier at 06:05 AM. Filed under: Opinion
No comments • Permalink
From wikipedia:
Thomas Hardy, OM (2 June 1840 – 11 January 1928) was an English novelist, short story writer, and poet of the naturalist movement. The bulk of his work, set mainly in the semi-imaginary county of Wessex, delineates characters struggling against their passions and circumstances. Hardy's poetry, first published in his fifties, has come to be as well regarded as his novels, especially after the 1960s Movement.
Biography
Thomas Hardy was born at Higher Bockhampton, a hamlet in the parish of Stinsford to the east of Dorchester in Dorset, England. His father worked as a stonemason and local builder. His mother was ambitious and well-read, supplementing his formal education, which ended at the age of 16 when he became apprenticed to John Hicks, a local architect. Hardy trained as an architect in Dorchester before moving to London in 1862. He won prizes from the Royal Institute of British Architects and the Architectural Association. He never really felt at home in London and he returned five years later to Dorset and decided to dedicate himself to writing.
Read The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy, one of
29 of his works available free from Project Gutenberg.
Posted by courier at 12:10 AM. Filed under: In Quotes
No comments • Permalink
By Alejandro Samaniego, Courier Staff Writer
As the 2008-2009 school year comes to an end, many people just look forward to summer as a way to relax, catch up on lost sleep, and most importantly have fun. That is the stereotypical summer, however does that accurately represent the actual students and teachers summer? I interviewed two students and one teacher from Logan to find out what they are actually going to be doing over summer, and exactly how much they truly will miss the school year.
Question: What about the 2008-2009 school year will you miss the most?
Kristine Le, sophomore, said, "I'm going to miss my friends that are graduating this year because although I will see them from time to time, it will never be the same. I'll also miss this years tennis season because I made varsity this year and it brought me closer to my team."
Posted by courier at 09:29 AM. Filed under: Features
No comments • Permalink
By Cait Baca, Courier Staff Writer
During this past week, Logan's Forensic Science class was MIA from school as they had two field trips.
In Forensic Science, (also known as CSI), juniors and seniors learn different aspects of the crime solving industry. They are taught how to solve various crimes using DNA samples such as hair, fingerprints, blood that humans naturally leave behind at crime scenes. Students also learn how victims died, and how suspects executed their crimes. Led by Ms. Panico, the Forensic Science class uses the information they comprehend through out the year in order to solve virtual crime scenes created by their teacher.
Posted by courier at 09:18 AM. Filed under: News
1 comment • Permalink
Courier staffers Chad Brady
and Tawab Fakhri at the Ball.
Courier photo
May 23, 2009, marked the highlight of the year for many James Logan seniors for it was the day that several twelfth graders attended the Senior Ball.
Although this dance was held on a very prestigious cruise under the Golden Gate Bridge, with a gourmet buffet and unlimited beverages, these tangible benefits were not the main factors that made the dance worth the price.
Jenelle Gallardo, a senior and Courier staffer who attended the dance believed, “It gave memories, experiences, and time with our fellow classmates.” In addition, senior and fellow Courier writer Sandhaya Mansfield shares a similar opinion with Gallardo for Mansfield responded that, “It gave us the chance to have one last good dance with our graduating class. The night was full of fun and made great memories.”
Posted by courier at 09:02 AM. Filed under: Features
2 comments • Permalink
From wikipedia:
Philip Kearny, Jr., (June 2, 1815 – September 1, 1862) was a United States Army officer, notably in the Mexican-American War and American Civil War. He was killed in action in the 1862 Battle of Chantilly.
Kearny was born in New York City to a wealthy family. His father and mother were Philip Kearny, Sr., and Sarah Watts. His maternal grandfather, Robert Watts, and his great-grandfather, John Watts, were some of New York's wealthiest residents, who had vast holdings in ships, mills, factories, banks, and investment houses. Kearny's father, was a Harvard educated New York City financier who owned his own brokerage firm and was also a founder of the New York Stock Exchange. Early in life, Kearny desired a career in the military. His parents died when he was young, and he was consequently raised by his grandfather, who insisted against the younger Kearny's wishes that he pursue a law career. Kearny attended Columbia College, attaining a law degree in 1833. His cousin John Watts de Peyster, who later penned an authoritative biography on Kearny, also attended Columbia.
Learn more about Philip Kearny, free from the New Jersey History's Mysteries website.
Posted by courier at 05:01 AM. Filed under: In Quotes
No comments • Permalink
.JPG "©2009 Lorisa Salvatin/Courier Comics")
