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Sophomores prepare for standardized tests

By Christopher Consolino | March 12, 2005, midnight | In Print »

Blair sophomores took part in an MSA/HSA-style practice test administered in English classes on Thursday, March 3 and Friday, March 4. The test was graded by Blair's entire faculty on Monday, March 7. The intent was to familiarize students with the format of standardized tests, according to Assistant Principal Linda Wolf.

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: Patrick with Birds

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

Senior Patrick Brice with birds he just killed.

Photo courtesy of Patrick Brice

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.

Despite criticism, Blazers pursue their passion for hunting

By Julyssa Lopez | March 11, 2005, midnight | In Print »

Senior Patrick Brice still remembers back to that day last month - he had stood silently in the woods for nearly four hours, occasionally radioing two of his friends who were further from him. His hand rested tiredly on his gun, a muzzleloader, as he waited for an animal to come. Finally, he heard the crunching of leaves as footsteps slowly approached. Raising his muzzleloader with his eye fixed intently on the target, Brice squeezed the trigger. The last shot rang out and then soundlessly, the body thumped to the ground. Brice's first deer lay dead.

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: California Tortilla- Bethesda

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

Customers of all ages enjoy meals at California Tortilla.

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.

Subliminally sublime "Trees"

By Nick Falgout | March 11, 2005, midnight | In Print »

Despite what conventional wisdom would have us believe, it isn't always a crime to judge a book, or CD, by its cover. Take, for example, the album cover for Eluvium's third CD, "Talk Amongst the Trees." Said cover depicts several human figures and a couple of maybe fenceposts consumed in a nearly blinding fog-snow. It is breathtaking and heavenly, much like the music encoded on the plastic disc inside.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Photo: c1-alley

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

ACC Tournament 2005: Clemson

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

Team record: 5-14, 5-11 conference Coach: Oliver Purnell Second year coach Oliver Purnell has the usually dreadful Clemson Tigers headed towards an NIT berth. Consistently the worst team in the ACC over the last five seasons prior, Clemson was still bad this year, Purnell lead an underclassmen-laden squad to ninth place in the league. The Tigers are anchored by Suitland, Md.'s Sherrod Ford, who led the team in points (15.6) and rebounds (8.3). Clemson, buoyed by a light non-conference schedule, started the season 7-1, but were 1-7 in ACC play before stunning then-No. 24 Maryland on Feb. 1. Including the win over the Terrapins, Clemson finished the second half of conference action with a solid 4-4 record, including a three-game winning streak. They swept Maryland this season, and also beat in-state rival South Carolina.

ACC Tournament 2005: NC State

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

Team record: 17-12, 7-9 conference Coach: Herb Sendek The North Carolina State Wolfpack are the third North Carolina team in the ACC. The Wolfpack are the only North Carolina team that might not advance the NCAA tournament.

ACC Tournament 2005: Duke

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

Team record: 22-5, 11-5 conference Coach: Mike Krzyzewski The Duke Blue Devils are always favorites to win the ACC tournament because they do it with such consistency. The Blue Devils are out to show that last year's loss in the finals to Maryland was an aberration as before that they won five straight.