features

Technology tries to put an end to stranger danger

By Neva Taylor | March 23, 2017, 12:18 p.m. | In Features »

Tinder, Uber and other services that rely on the trust of strangers are changing the way people interact online. Technology is making it easier and faster to meet, talk to, and work with strangers. But is it safe?

Out of this world planet names

By Alyssa Berrios | March 16, 2017, 1:04 p.m. | In Features »

Bumper stickers of Blair

By Charles Lott | March 14, 2017, 8:28 p.m. | In Features »

For the students who drive themselves to school everyday, the car that they take can be one of two things. In the style of "Humans of New York," these are the bumper stickers of Blair.

Flying forward but still looking backward

By Mehana Daftary | March 12, 2017, 10:08 p.m. | In Features »

Black History Month is a time to celebrate black culture and history, which has had an immeasurable impact on America and the world, while acknowledging the hardships the black community has faced. Students learn about black history in classes and through Sankofa.

Redefining the hazy Blazer

By Charles Lott | Feb. 27, 2017, 6:23 p.m. | In Features »

The Blazer is one of the more cryptic mascots in MCPS. Einstein's Titan or Kennedy's Cavalier, just to name a few, are pretty simple to figure out, and even reuse the logos of other prominent sports teams like the Tennessee Titans and the Cleveland Cavaliers. At Blair, different students have different ideas of what the Blazer is. In fact, there are different Blazers all over Blair.

Getting down and dirty

By Amy Forsbacka | Feb. 18, 2017, 7:21 p.m. | In Features »

Secluded in its own little niche just off of the 210s hallway, it's unlikely that many Blazers have ever actually been inside the greenhouse. But for those who yearn to roll up their sleeves and get dirty or to discover the green thumb they never knew they had, this small, glass-paneled classroom is a haven.

Athletically incorrect

By Charles Lott | Feb. 7, 2017, 1:18 p.m. | In Features »

According to some sports enthusiasts, it isn't taboo to go on wearing a politically incorrect jersey. For others, by wearing a player's jersey, a fan condones both what the athlete does on and off the field.

Bocce on the rise

By Amy Forsbacka | Feb. 7, 2017, 12:59 p.m. | In Features »

Junior Falla Mathieu bends down. After a moment of concentration, she gently tosses a ball forward. It bounces once, twice, then glides down the gym floor before coming to stop. It's now the closest to the yellow ball, and Blair wins the game. The sport is bocce, and a small but dedicated crowd goes wild for Blair's close victory.

Measuring snow in pencils instead of inches

By Nikita Singh | Jan. 25, 2017, 10:06 p.m. | In Features »

"Hey, it's supposed to snow next week! Do you think we'll have a day off?" "Maybe; What does MoCo Snow say?"

Skate like a girl

By Ryan Handel | Jan. 25, 2017, 1:31 p.m. | In Features »

The casual observer might not even realize that Blair hockey number nine is sophomore Mollie Dalbey, the only girl on the Blair ice hockey team.

The story behind the ink

By Ellie Williams | Jan. 15, 2017, 7:46 p.m. | In Features »

Is there anything you'd be willing to have inked on your body for the rest of your life? For some, a display so permanent might seem like a mistake, but others think tattoos are a cool way of expressing oneself through art. For a few Blazers, tattoos are a way of connecting and paying tribute to loved ones.

A Classier Classroom

By Neva Taylor | Jan. 9, 2017, 1:17 p.m. | In Features »

A common misconception about Blair is that it's easy to get lost traversing the halls because of the school's size. What really makes it hard to find your way is that all the classrooms look the same. Imagine if each room had its own unique decor or theme, making them easy to distinguish not just by the number on the door, but by what it actually looks like.

A steaming cup of comfort

By Zoe Friedman | Jan. 2, 2017, 2:35 p.m. | In Features »

The Cups club is a student-run club that works in conjunction with 7 Cups of Tea, an organization that connects trained listeners, therapists and counselors online with people who need to talk to someone. Every Friday during sixth period lunch, the members of Cups club act as student-listeners.

State pride reaches far and wide

By Amy Forsbacka | Dec. 19, 2016, 9:24 p.m. | In Features »

It's everywhere. It finds its way onto athletic wear, shorts, sweatshirts and hats. People are obsessed with it. Its presence is so constant that that the average Marylander doesn't even notice it anymore. What is it? It's the coolest state flag of all: the red and white cross and black and yellow checkers of Maryland.

The Blazer Spirit

By Nate Bodner, Neva Taylor | Dec. 17, 2016, 2:05 p.m. | In Features »

Whether as a player on the field or a spectator in the stands, being on a winning team is a fantastic feeling. The players give it their all, the spectators yell and cheer, the parents hold their breath and the clock winds down. Then it's over. The buzzer goes off and all that exciting energy is dispersed over the crowd as people cheer and hug, and players and coaches alike high five and celebrate.

Tamales for Christmas?

By Mehana Daftary | Dec. 16, 2016, 1:38 p.m. | In Features »

Walking down Blair Boulevard during a typical lunch period, you'll hear multiple languages and see people of different ethnicities, religions and cultures from all over the world. There are many students who have just recently immigrated to the United States, and others who have been here their entire lives. Wherever they come from, all Blazers experience the same American holidays, but in very different ways.

Finding the finest fountain

By Charles Lott | Dec. 6, 2016, 8:11 p.m. | In Features »

Sometimes the water fountains in public schools get a bad rap. They're lukewarm, covered in chewing gum, and often the water isn't as clear as water should be. But could there be a diamond in the rough? Here is a comprehensive study of all of Blair's water fountains, along with SCO's choice for the best one in the school.

How to trade a paperclip for an Xbox

By Nate Bodner, Charles Lott | Nov. 28, 2016, 2:15 p.m. | In Features »

What ever happened to the barter system? A little research into modern instances of bartering leads to a Montreal man who traded his way from a red paperclip up to a house. We decided to prove that Montreal ain't got nothing on Blair.

Picking up the pieces

By Amy Forsbacka | Nov. 15, 2016, 2:10 p.m. | In Features »

The explosion that ripped through a Long Branch apartment building this summer also tore apart many of the lives of the families affected. Heard from a mile away, the explosion killed seven and left many others displaced. The community pitched in to attend to the immediate needs of the victims, but two months later, numerous families are still in need.

Social Media Showdown: Instagram vs Snapchat

By Zoe Friedman | Nov. 10, 2016, 12:57 p.m. | In Lifestyle »

Instagram and Snapchat both have more than 200 million monthly users. But which one is better: the 'Gram or Snapchat? While both Instagram and Snapchat allow users to connect with friends and even celebrities through photos and videos, each app is unique.

Grandiosa celebración del Día de los Muertos

By Gisell Ramirez | Nov. 1, 2016, 6:43 p.m. | In Features »

Día de los Muertos es celebrado desde el 1 de noviembre hasta el 2 de noviembre. Para personas que no participan en esta celebración, estos días pueden ser confusos, pero para la cultura mexicana, estos momentos son para celebrar la vida.

Comunidad Latina se prepara para elegir al nuevo Presidente

By Gisell Ramirez | Oct. 27, 2016, 12:08 a.m. | In Features »

La elección para elegir al presidente de los Estados Unidos será el 8 de noviembre. A solo días de la elección, el voto Latino es esencial porque es el que va a determinar quién gana.

Behind-the-scenes of Blair's Homecoming

By Mehana Daftary | Oct. 25, 2016, 10:24 p.m. | In Features »

Homecoming week is very important around Blair. The majority of the student body takes part in the week's festivities, but the work starts months earlier for the people who put it all together. Making sure that the football game, spirit week, pep rally and dance run smoothly is a joint effort by the Student Government Association (SGA) and by a select group of dedicated students and staff.

If Blair were a school of 100 students...

By Adeola Vassall, Charles Lott | Oct. 25, 2016, 8:45 p.m. | In Features »

Blair is always portrayed as one of the most diverse schools in Montgomery County, but what does that really mean? An easier way to look at the makeup of Blair's Blazers is on a scale of one school of one hundred students.

A day in the life of Blair's principal

By Neva Taylor, Charles Lott | Oct. 19, 2016, 1:17 p.m. | In Features »

Ms. Renay Johnson is the principal of Blair, but her daily activities are something of a mystery for Blair's Blazers. What really goes into a day in the life of Blair's principal?