Is Technology Fooling Us?

In these last ten years, advances in technology have been through the roof. Every month some new gadget comes out that is better than the prior one. No gadget has improved more than the cell phone. I remember when I was 10 and my mom had a Nokia 3315 cell phone. It was a brick. It didn't have a color screen, couldn't text message, and the only game she had was snake (which was actually pretty fun). I'm guessing the price of it was around $50. Looking in today's world the cheapest phones are selling for $150. It is insane how these cell phone companies can sell these products for over $300 and have people buy them. The iphone has created a new level of cell phones. AT&T has put themselves as the leader and making other companies create similar products to the iphone so they can keep their business. The main change in cell phones as of late has been the switch from flip, key pad phones to touch screens. Everybody wants a touch screen phone. The new blackberry is even a touch screen. Hell, my phone is a touch screen. But, I think Americans have been brainwashed into buying the phones with the extra gadgets. For example, the iphone can obviously play music, real web browsing, but the phenom is games for the iphone. Everyone is buying these games off the internet for $3 a month. Some people have over 10 games on their phones. At New Trier, if you have an iphone or itouch and don't have these games you are considered less than or not as cool. Everyone who doesn't have an iphone wants to play these dumb games too. The thing is...So do I. These games are intriguing and make you want to play again. Why can't we go back to the normal phones where they were used for calling people not MP3 players, video games, or a source for the internet? 

Its Madness

It's March Madness, the time where every sportsfan, including myself, put money into pools and never see that money again. It is also the time for ultimate surprise, enjoyment, fury, and astonishment. These next two weeks are a true testament of who has good luck in their blood. That is what wins the money, complete luck. I have thought myself to be a lucky guy, but not when it comes to March Madness pools. Last year i sadly finished 3rd to last out of 29 people. That is all going to change this year. Many of the experts keep saying this is the year where any team can win for a 1 seed to a 7 seed. I respectivly disagree, I think this is a year when the top seeds do shine. Just because the top seed can lose at anytime doesn't mean the lower seeds can lose as well. My final four is a compilation of 1 seeds with one 2 seed sneaking in. This is what is looks like:
Louisville (1) Pittsburgh (1)
vs. vs.
Memphis (2) North Carolina (1)
My championship consists of
Louisville (1) vs. North Carolina (1)
AND MY WINNER IS...
North Carolina.
Ty Lawson battled a toe injury during the ACC tournament which was a momumental reason why they didn't survive against Florida State. Dick Vital called a North Carolina minus Ty Lawson a Beautiful Rolls Royce without an engine. Lawson will be back for the tournament and i think he will be the player that holds their team together and leads them to their 5th NCAA Championship. I maybe alone on my choice of having three number 1 seeds in my final four but that is what opinions are all about. I will track my success as the tournament goes on. Hopefully win a few hundred dollars.

What 09' Brings Us: March Edition

This is the month of spring sports but it doesn't feel so much like spring. With the majority of spring sports having their try outs this week it creates tired, stressed, and anxious students. The last three days i have had baseball tryouts at 5:45 every morning. this sets up a long and tiring day. But it all pays off if you hear the 1 word everybody wants to hear, "Congratulations." Sports isn't only exciting at the high school level but also college. March Madness begins which means people lose their money, try to pick the 5 vs. 12 upset and one man goes home happy with some major dough. This has been a crazy year for college basketball because we have yet to see a true standout team. When the tournament rolls around I'm going to put my fake money on North Carolina, as will Doc Oc i imagine. Also March will hopefully have some mercy on the economy. Its not looking good so far but even if the market stagnates then I think that would be a success. Those are my three things to watch in March and good luck to everyone in their respected sports.

What's so Secret About it?

In class last week we were given the opportunity to look at arguably the most confidential document in New Trier. This article was the letter of concerned parents and their attempt to ban The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. For some odd reason this document is not allowed to be distributed or copied under any circumstances. All I want to know is why? We are allowed to look at it, we are allowed to copy it down if we wanted, and we are allowed to write back to the NT board about this insane banishment of Huck Finn. I think it is just stupid that a letter to the Principal of New Trier wrote 30 some odd years ago is still prohibited from student eyes. Luckily my sly and deceitful teachers have gotten around the rules and let us look at the document. That's not the point. My point is that 31 or so year old document is still not visible to students and even teachers. I think it would be a very interesting paper on why NT has hid this document and why they still hide it. After reading it I have come to a conclusion that by no means is it an offensive letter but also it is not a informal, friendly letter. It makes a strong point why HF should be banned. I don't totally agree with it but I see where they come from. I think it is time for the school to let go and not keep it so ostracized from the rest of the faculty and student body.

It's Oscar Night!

Tonight is one of the most watched award shows in the entire world, the Oscars. This year many brilliant movies have come out and have challenged others for the top prize of Best Picture. In this post I will predict the winners of the 5 biggest awards tonight. The awards I will be predicting are Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Supporting Actress. I have to warn you I haven't seen many of these films but I will give it my best shot.

Here are the nominees for Best Supporting Actress:

Amy Adams 'Doubt'
Penelope Cruz 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona'
Viola Davis 'Doubt'
Taraji P. Henson 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'
Marisa Tomei 'The Wrestler'

And the Oscar goes to...

Penelope Cruz. Some may say she is the favorite in this catagory and I will have to agree with them. Personally, I don't think either of the 'Doubt' women will win becasue I don't think they would take two women from the same movie and choose one.

Here are the nominees for Best Supporting Actor:

Josh Brolin 'Milk'

Robert Downey Jr. 'Tropic Thunder'

Philip Seymour Hoffman 'Doubt'

Heath Ledger "The Dark Knight'

Michael Shannon 'Revolutionary Road'

And the Oscar goes to...

Heath Ledger. The sympathy card is the one being played not the Joker. I believe Heath Ledger is getting the sympathy vote for this one. Yes, he did an outstanding job in 'The Dark Knight' but I still think that now he is dead more people are voting for him just to make it a great story. He is very qualified for the nominee and deserves it but I think he's getting votes he shouldn't be getting.

Here are the nominees for Best Actress:

Anne Hathaway 'Rachel Getting Married'

Angelina Jolie 'Changling'

Melissa Leo 'Frozen River'
Meryl Streep 'Doubt'

Kate Winslet 'The Reader'

And the Oscar goes to...

Meryl Streep. She is an Underdog unlike the last two winners. Some believe she is the most deserving for this award while others believe Kate Winslet will be crowned with an Oscar. This should be an exciting one to watch and another reason I have her winning is because I don't have 'Doubt' winning another big award.

Here are the nominees for Best Actor:

Richard Jenkins 'The Visitor'

Frank Lengella 'Frost/Nixon'

Sean Penn 'Milk'

Brad Pitt 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'

Mikey Rourke 'The Wrestler'

And the Oscar goes to...
Sean Penn. Another favorite gets the Oscar. I have been a big fan of Sean Penn and I am not surprised he is the favorite. Even though I have not seen 'Milk', I have heard tremendous things about his performance and I think that will show tonight.

Now the one you have all been waiting for

Here are the nominees for Best Picture:

'Slumdog Millionare'

'Milk'

'Frost/Nixon'

'The Reader'

'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'

And the Oscar goes to...

'Slumdog Millionare'. Who else? This movie is maybe one of the best movies I have seen. The way it is put together is just amazing. I hope it wins. It is the favorite in about every poll and I am not surprised one bit.

There are your 5 Oscar winner and Congrats to all and we will see how I fare after tonight.

What 09' Brings Us: Februray Edition

For all you long time viewers you know that at the beginning of every month i like to review each month and highlight certain events or days in a month to look out for. January was a pretty intense month with all the presidential stuff going around so some might say February will be a slow month. I have to disaggree. The 1st of February was an exciting day because arguably the one of the greatest Super Bowls was played. That game set the bar high for Feb. Feb 21, a New Trier favorite, Turnabout. In my opinion Turnabout is the best dance at NT. Not because of I don't have to gain the courage to ask a girl but the overall dance segment is always better. It also seems that the girls do a much better job planning and organizing the nights opposed to the guys who settle everything a week before Homecoming. Also Valentine's Day. Everyone and their loved ones get to share a day of chocolate and flowers. I personally don't have anyone to celebrate with but no biggie. The other important event to watch is Obama's Stimulus Plan. His plan to create 4 million jobs is not the most believeable idea to come accross the White House. These three events or days are on my watch in February. Even though it is the shortest month of the year it certaintly isn't the least exciting

Very Superstitious

Superstitions have sculpted the lives or almost every person to ever live. Superstitions can be found in athletics, academics, and many other aspects of life. Athletics and academics came to my mind first because I have superstitions for both. For me in sports, I am very superstitious. In night league, if i score a bunch of points or play well a certain night, I will make sure to wear the exact same thing the next week. Last week I scored a career high 25 points in my game. I was wearing my, sorry Doc Oc but, maryland basketball jersey, black new trier baseball shorts, a black nike head band, which was upside down, white nike high socks,  a sleeveless white undershirt, and Adidas basketball shoes. Tomorrow, sad to say, I will wear the exact same thing as last time. Even the upside down headband. Many professional athletes have these weird superstitions in all kinds of sports. Today in class we talked about Troy Polamalu crossing his chest every play of the Super Bowl. I'm not sure if he was actually praying to God every play or if he just had a mean case of Tourettes Syndrome. He by no means has the weirdest supersition. From getting slapped as hard as you can before each game to wearing a pair of your opposing team to sleep; here are the ten craziest sports superstitions according to Ethan Trek another blogger. In school i also have superstitions. these aren't as crazy as my night league rituals but they are a little goofy. For example, when i have to take a test, I can't sit in a wobbly chair, I have to use a mechanical pencil or pen when i write, and maybe my quirkiest one is that on every scantron sheet I use, I write the date in the period box and write the period in the date box (don't as why). to make my point clear i just wanted to show that many people have insane superstitions and you are not alone because I bet someone out there has a much crazier ritual than you.