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Photo: Patrick with Birds

By | March 11, 2005, midnight | In ‎Latest »

Senior Patrick Brice with birds he just killed.

Photo courtesy of Patrick Brice

Ask Chips 12: We succumb to the outsourcing craze

By | March 11, 2005, midnight | In Ask Chips »

Due to the highly complex nature of the questions for this installment of Ask Chips, we decided to do what all technical companies are doing and outsource the labor. This week, we have invited a special guest answerer to tackle these mind numbingly boring questions in the hopes that this will spur you all on to much more meaningful queries. Our special guest for this round will be AP Physics teacher Mr. Schafer, who has graciously offered his expertise in answering these questions.

Photo: Brice with his Deer

By | March 11, 2005, midnight | In ‎Latest »

Patrick Brice with a deer he just shot.

Photo courtesy of Patrick Brice

Photo: California Tortilla- Bethesda

By Caitlin Garlow | March 11, 2005, midnight | In ‎Latest »

Customers of all ages enjoy meals at California Tortilla.

Blair teacher featured in local newspaper

By Adith Sekaran | March 11, 2005, midnight | In Print »

Blair business teacher Jacquelyn Shropshire was featured in The Washington Daily News article "Martin County's 'bloody Sunday'" for her leadership in a march against racism at her high school. As a student, Shropshire had attended the all-black E.J Hayes High School in North Carolina in the 1960s. The black population in the South was fed up with their unfair treatment, and the students at her school decided to act. In 1963, Shropshire led a student protest march despite the threats of violence.

Should MCPS put BMI on report cards? YES: Schools should fight obesity

By Monica Huang | March 11, 2005, midnight | In Print »

An epidemic is spreading amongst the American youth with no sign of stopping. Fries, ice cream, lack of exercise and television, among other culprits, are leading to an array of health conditions ranging from high blood pressure to heart problems to death. Kids today are heavier than ever " obesity among boys and girls has quadrupled in the last 25 years, according to the American Obesity Association.

Photo: c1-alley

By | March 11, 2005, midnight | In ‎Latest »

Cutting away the pain

By Camille Mackler | March 11, 2005, midnight | In Print »

Anthony, a junior, stares silently, intensely fixated on the flame before him. Without any hesitation, he lifts the lighter closer to his hand, this time so that it touches his flesh. He waits and clenches his fist as the flame engulfs his knuckle. Five, 10, then 30 seconds go by until he finally drops the lighter. He is left with nothing but an empty mind and a scar to remind him of his pain.

Two cultures join hands to defeat discrimination

By Yicong Liu | March 11, 2005, midnight | In Print »

When science teacher Aaron Williams strolled through the halls of Blair as a student in 1996, he was taken aback by the many "pockets of racism" he saw in a school famed for its diversity. The disparity was clear from a quick glance: One hall was filled with blacks, while others were occupied mostly by white students. Despite promising racial statistics, self-segregation loomed in every corner.

Cal-Tor has food all teens adore

By Caitlin Garlow | March 11, 2005, midnight | In Print »

When looking for a restaurant that matches both their wallets and their schedules, teenagers often find themselves continually visiting fast-food restaurants, where the food is cheap and good but often lacks any kind of nutrients or variety. Tex-mex fans who have exhausted their Chipotle sprees may wish to consider a smaller Tex-mex chain that has kept the feel of an independent restaurant without increasing prices too much or reducing the menu options.

Behind the music

By Jody Pollock | March 11, 2005, midnight | In ‎Latest »

The walls tremble, and the floor shakes. Blue lights sweep across the crowd in broad circles. Wide black speakers burst with sound. Though it is still light outside - in fact, it's only noon - Nation, a Washington, D.C., nightclub and music venue, is packed.

Photo: Recycling Assembly

By Diana Frey | March 11, 2005, midnight | In ‎Latest »

Freshmen in Connections attend an assembly on recycling in the auditorium during sixth period. Students watched a video and listened to speakers on March 10 as part of a program to bring awareness to recycling around Blair.

Blair alumnus publishes novel about being in the CIA

By Amanda Lee | March 11, 2005, midnight | In Print »

In the middle of a written test on explosives, CIA spy-in-training Lindsay Moran is suddenly taken out of class and blindfolded. An hour later, she finds herself in a car as masked men leap from the shadows and pound on her windshield, shooting off rounds from an AK-47 and yelling threatening obscenities. As one of the men starts to enter the back of her car, Moran floors it and the vehicle surges forward, smashing through two parked cars.

Lockheed Martin Vice President comes to Blair

By Anthony Glynn | March 10, 2005, midnight | In Print »

The Vice President and General Manager of the Advanced Technology Center of Lockheed Martin gave a presentation about research and advancements in space engineering to engineering-interested Blazers during fourth period today.

Supreme Court finally abolishes death penalty for juveniles

By Ekta Taneja | March 10, 2005, midnight | In Print »

In the 1989 case Stanford v. Kentucky, the justices of the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the death penalty for juveniles older than 15 years of age. On Tuesday, March 1, in a 5 to 4 decision in Roper v. Simmons, the Supreme Court overturned its earlier ruling, abolishing the death penalty for juveniles who committed crimes when they were younger than 18. This decision should have been made three years ago, when instead of acknowledging that juvenile executions have long ceased to adhere to "evolving standards of decency," the Court rejected appeals from juveniles under 18 even though it banned execution for mentally retarded persons. Not only was it an outdated, distasteful practice, but it was one on which the United States stood alone.

Repeated mercury spills occur at Cardoza High School

By Kelly Ferguson | March 10, 2005, midnight | In Print »

On Wednesday, Feb. 23, Cardoza Senior High School in Washington D.C. was evacuated after health officials discovered droplets of mercury in three places throughout the building. The school was expected to remain closed for at least a week so that a thorough cleaning could take place. After the school reopened, it was closed again after more mercury was found.

Coed volleyball is optimistic

By Anthony Glynn | March 10, 2005, midnight | In Print »

After graduating four-season varsity setter captain Amanda Hsiung to a 5-7 season, the coed volleyball team will have to make a "tough adjustment," according to coach John Mott. Mott also believes, though, that the leadership of Tina Yang and Yicong Liu, the only two returning seniors, and newcomers freshman setter Julie Zhu and sophomore Carl Burton, who the Blazers believe will lead in the baseline attack, will be able to get the team to a better than .500 season and "strong showing at playoffs."

Photo: Lockheed Martin Vice President

By Diana Frey | March 10, 2005, midnight | In ‎Latest »

Vice-President Mika describes some of Lockheed Martin's most famous projects.

Photo: 5000 shirt

By Diana Frey | March 9, 2005, midnight | In ‎Latest »

Editor in Cheif Ely Portillio presents Staff Writer Chris Consolino with the 5000th story marker shirt.

Full cast list

By | March 9, 2005, midnight | In Plays »

ACC Tournament 2005: Virginia

By Michael Bushnell | March 9, 2005, midnight | In Print »

Team record: 13-14, 4-12 conference Coach: Pete Gillen The Virginia Cavaliers enter the ACC Tournament dead last in the conference. The same team that started 6-0, including a win in November over 10th ranked Arizona bottomed out, losing their last five games of the regular season to finish with and under .500 record. Seniors Devin Smith and Elton Brown combined this year to average over points per game. But the team was plagued by poor play at the end of games, none more emblematic than their 92-89 home loss to Maryland last month, where they shot 42% from the free throw line. Head Coach Pete Gillen has not led the Cavs to the NCAA Tournament since 2001, and after yet another deeply disappointing season, his days as head coach at Virginia may be very near the end. That said, the team will return all but three players next season, including starting point guard Sean Singletary, who will be just a sophomore next year. He averaged over 10 points per game this season.

ACC Tournament 2005: Miami

By Pratik Bhandari | March 9, 2005, midnight | In Print »

Team record: 16-11, 7-9 conference Coach: Frank Haith (16-11) One of two new additions to the ACC this year, Miami has proved to be a pleasant surprise with wins over then No. 18 Florida and No. 24 Maryland, earning a very respectable sixth seed in the ACC Tournament, ahead of more heralded teams like Maryland.

ACC Tournament 2005: North Carolina

By Adith Sekaran | March 9, 2005, midnight | In Print »

Team record: 26-3, 14-2 conference Coach: Roy Williams The Tar Heels have dominated the ACC and most of the country for the entire season finishing with a record of 26-3. The team has matured in their second year under coaching great Roy Williams and is a favorite to advance far in the ACC and NCAA tournament.

ACC Tournament 2005: Georgia Tech

By Michael Bushnell | March 9, 2005, midnight | In Print »

Team record: 17-10, 8-8 conference Coach: Paul Hewitt The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets are on the NCAA Tournament bubble, but their season ending win at home against Clemson moved them to .500 in the ACC and likely in to the Big Dance. The Jackets, who made it to the National Championship game last season, before losing to UConn, struggled mightily through the first half of conference play, losing four games out of five at one point, with their only victory in that span a 102-101 win over Wake Forest at home. The team that started the year 10-2 and ranked in the Top Ten nationally was 11-5 and hurting, figuratively and literally. The team went 4-5 without B.J. Elder at guard. But the Jackets, coached by Paul Hewitt, managed to cajole a turnaround that should be enough to earn them a face-saving NCAA bid. They went 6-5 in their final 11 ACC games, with ever win during that span being followed by a loss, and vice-versa. Teams that finish .500 or better in the ACC have gotten into the Big Dance 94% of the time, so their prospects look bright at least for this year. But next year could be a struggle, as the team will lose five seniors and perhaps Jarrett Jack, a junior, who may decide to declare himself eligible for the NBA Draft. Jack led the team in points (15.9) and assists (4.6) per game, but the second, third fourth and fifth leading scorers (B.J. Elder, Will Bynum, Luke Schenscher, Isma'il Muhammad) all departing after this year. In the NCAA Tournament, where they will likely be a seven or eight seed, they could pose a very real threat to a top seed in the second round.

ACC Tournament 2005: Wake Forest

By Michael Bushnell | March 9, 2005, midnight | In Print »

Wake Forest: Team record: 26-4, 13-3 conference Coach: Skip Prosser The Wake Forest Demon Deacons have the second longest name in the ACC and the second best team in the league as well. The Deacons were ranked in the top five most of the year, and started the year 15-1, rising as high as No. 2 nationally in the Associated Press and ESPN polls. They are currently ranked third in the nation, ending the regular season last Sunday with a buzzer-beating win at N.C. State. Until their loss on Jan. 18 at Florida State, their only loss was at Illinois, who finished the season 29-1. Wake Forest was 14-0 at home in Winston-Salem, N.C. this year. They are likely to get a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament if they go deep in the ACC Tournament this weekend. They have the second seed in Washington this week. The team will lose four seniors this year, but their three leading scorers- Justin Gray, Chris Paul, and Eric Williams- all have at least one year of eligibility left. Whether Paul, a sophomore who averaged 16.3 points per game this year, leaves for the NBA this summer is yet to be seen. The trio combined for over 47 points per game this year, and Williams led the team with 7.7 rebounds each night. The Deacons only shot 69% from the foul line this season, but more than made up for their mediocrity there by shooting over 40% on three point attempts, with Paul making half the threes he put up. Paul will miss the first game of the ACC Tourney against either N.C. State or Florida State, eating the suspension after he punched the Wolfpack's Julius Hodge below the belt in the Wake win last Sunday.