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Is it cool to be dumb?

By Amina Baird | Dec. 31, 1969, 7 p.m. | In Print »

There are five minutes left in sophomore Rocky Hadadi's Algebra II class, just enough time for the students to look over their grades on the last test. "Oh my God,” one of the students says, "I bombed that test so hard!” "Yeah?” one of the others challenges, "Well I got an E; how do you like that?” Two freshmen standing in the circle look sheepishly down at their A's and, in a split-second decision, cast the truth aside to join in on the bragging.

Silver City: not just for the politically aware

By Danny Scheer | Dec. 31, 1969, 7 p.m. | In Print »

Photo: Front of Wheaton

By Andrew Kirwan | Dec. 31, 1969, 7 p.m. | In ‎Latest »

The front of Wheaton High School.

No end in sight

By Rocky Hadadi | Dec. 31, 1969, 7 p.m. | In Print »

"Iraq is steeped in history. It is the site of the Garden of Eden, of the Great Flood and the birthplace of Abraham. Tread lightly there.” On March 20, 2003, Lieutenant Tim Collins gave this advice to his battle group, the 1st Battalion of the Royal Irish at Fort Blair Mayne desert camp, 20 miles from the Iraqi border. Collins' words of advice to his troops could not be more correct—our involvement in Iraq should have been done with care, finesse and expertise. Instead, we refused to "tread lightly” and have tried to force our democratic ideals on a nation that continues to staunchly refuse them. In fact, the use of guerrilla warfare now by insurgents threatens to turn Iraq into another Vietnam.

Photo: Chicken Kebabs

By Claire Sleigh | Dec. 31, 1969, 7 p.m. | In ‎Latest »

The chicken kebabs are excessively spicy.

Photo: mega mart1

By Andrew Kirwan | Dec. 31, 1969, 7 p.m. | In ‎Latest »

Customers check out on a busy day at Mega Mart.

Photo: Smith

By Lorena Kowalewski | Dec. 31, 1969, 7 p.m. | In ‎Latest »

Smith surges ahead of two Magruder players.

Photo: Chicken Tikka Masala

By Claire Sleigh | Dec. 31, 1969, 7 p.m. | In ‎Latest »

Chicken Tikka Masala is one of the many tasty options at Planet Bollywood.

Photo: Chicken Tikka Masala

By Claire Sleigh | Dec. 31, 1969, 7 p.m. | In ‎Latest »

Chicken Tikka Masala is one of the many tasty options at Planet Bollywood.

Photo: Eli Manning Giants

By espn.go.com | Dec. 31, 1969, 7 p.m. | In ‎Latest »

Photo: Michael Sam

By Chicagophoenix.com | Dec. 31, 1969, 7 p.m. | In ‎Latest »

Photo: Redskins v Cowboys

By Getty Images | Dec. 31, 1969, 7 p.m. | In ‎Latest »

Photo: Frost/Nixon

By | Dec. 31, 1969, 7 p.m. | In ‎Latest »

David Frost (Michael Sheen) and President Richard M. Nixon (Frank Langella) lock horns during the last of four interviews. Photo courtesy of Universal.

Photo: Big Ben

By AP | Dec. 31, 1969, 7 p.m. | In ‎Latest »

Photo: Forte

By ESPN | Dec. 31, 1969, 7 p.m. | In ‎Latest »

Summaries stunt students' studies

By Gabriel Morden-Snipper | Dec. 31, 1969, 7 p.m. | In Print »

We said, ‘we're gonna make books about books for people who like reading, and to help people enjoy reading.' And that's exactly what we've done,” said Justin Kestler, editorial director of SparkNotes, in an Aug 1 interview for NPR's Talk of the Nation.

Pep Rally Approaching

By Shewit Woldu | Dec. 31, 1969, 7 p.m. | In Print »

Pep rally will be on Wednesday, March 31 and will be a combination of winter and spring sports.

Renovations Spring into action

By Tina Peng, Eliot Stein | Dec. 31, 1969, 7 p.m. | In Print »

The Discovery Communications building's warmly lit main lobby smells of plastic, Windex and fresh paint. A cheerfully dinging mechanical contraption pushes and shakes rainbow-colored balls down a series of tracks. Outside, as a family passes by on the sidewalk, its wide-eyed toddler glances back five times at "Stan,” a Tyrannosaurus Rex fossil replica that glares malevolently through the glass wall.

Gainous: ex-football star

By | Dec. 31, 1969, 7 p.m. | In Features »

Late in the fourth quarter in the 1965 Orange Bowl, a future Hall of Famer and world class sprinter for Florida A and M fields a punt and goes straight ahead, full speed. Boom! He runs into a brick wall.

The downside of lighting up

By Jennie Breads | Dec. 31, 1969, 7 p.m. | In Print »

Two before first period. Another on the walk home. A few more throughout the evening, and by the time she goes to bed, junior Kimberly Montgomery will finish a half pack of cigarettes. "I am an addict,” she admits with a shrug. "It's as simple as that. I need to smoke.”

Thespians prepare to make fans fall in Love

By Sally Colwell | Dec. 31, 1969, 7 p.m. | In Print »

Minority Report: the best movie everyone will see this summer

By Griff Rees | Dec. 31, 1969, 7 p.m. | In Print »

Most summer movies are designed for one thing, money making. Mile high hype equals even higher profits, especially when coupled with expensive eye-candy (Triple X being the most recent and stereotypical offender). Minority Report, however, like many Spielberg films, encompasses not only the cash-cow ethics of summer salivation but also the legitimate respectability associated with the director of Schindler's List and The Color Purple. Minority Report joins the accessibility of Jurassic Park, the dystopian sci-fi future of A. I., and an as of yet untouched (by Spielberg) element: film noir.

Hispanic Club Performance

By Zach Mellman | Dec. 31, 1969, 7 p.m. | In Print »

The Hispanic club will be performing dances and beautiful messages for their parents and the Blair community in the SAC, on Friday, December 6, at 7:00 PM. All are invited to view this presentation of Hispanic traditions and culture.

Blazers can't heat up against WJ

By Luke Bostian, Zach Mellman | Dec. 31, 1969, 7 p.m. | In Print »

With the clock winding down in the girls' basketball team's game against the Walter Johnson (WJ) Wildcats, the Blazers were forced to foul in order to stop the clock. This is a common technique, but Blair failed to grasp one key aspect of the strategy: Foul the other team's worst free-throw shooter. Blair, instead, fouled Wildcat star Alex Porter four times late in the game. She hit all her shots to keep the lead for the Wildcats. So despite a valiant effort from the Blazers, WJ proved to be too strong, and Blair lost, 47-38.

Elementary school's long gone, but we've still got recess

By Laurel Jefferson | Dec. 31, 1969, 7 p.m. | In Print »

Senior traditions include harassing freshman, loud spirit at pep rallies, and… whiffle ball? A bit unusual, but the 2003 senior class has indeed begun a new Blair senior ritual: lunch whiffleball games.