Gadgets of 2010
Sunday, 09 May 2010 23:55
Jenny Li
Gadgets, gadgets, and even more gadgets! In our generation where technology is at its peak new gadgets are spewing forth 24/7 from all corners of the world. However some gadgets are just in a class of their own and I’m here to show you some of the hottest gadgets of 2010.
Whirlpool Vantage - $ Price Not Set
So this might not be the thing for you but imagine your mother’s face when you tell her that there’s a washer that’s capable of being taught how to wash clothes. Think of it this way, it’s like your own personal washer robot, designed to wash clothes the way you like it. What enables it to perform such a feat is its built-in USB port that allows you to add custom cycles (downloaded to a flash drive from your computer) for garment-specific instructions.
Sony Dash - $200
This seven inch Wi-Fi displayer is programmed to pick up thousands of free feeds. It will snatch up the latest headlines, keeping you updated at all times. Also includes of option of targeting specific favorite feeds.
Sharp Aquos LE920 - $3,600
Our eyes have always been able to pick up millions of colors but this HDTV will be the first ever to be able to broadcast as many. It has the ability to mix more than a trillion colors – giving you the greatest enhanced experience while watching television.
New Kinetix Re - $ Price Not Set
The spiffy new device is made so that when attached onto your iPhone its app will turn your phone into your very own personal remote. Its infrared emitter stores the codes for your TV and other devices, which it can learn from other remotes by capturing and replicating their signals.
DeLorme Earthmate PN-60w and SPOT Communicator - $ Price Not Set
Um remember all those recent scary earthquakes we’ve been having lately? Ever thought of what would happen to you if a big one hit and all phone lines are knocked out? Well have no fear because this communicator can keep you in touch in the most desolate situations. In times of need it hooks up to a satellite signal to send text messages of up to 50 characters. Can also be used for recreational means.
Samsung MD320 - $3,100
“Six Flags, More Flags, More Fun! “ Well apply that to monitors and the Samsun MD320 is what you’ll get. Samsung’s six-panel monitor combined with multi-screen high def can show one image as six separate views with six times the punch.
Philips Portable DVD Player PET749 - $180
Why enjoy TV only in your house when you can take it everywhere with you? The Philips Portable DVD Player not only allows you complete freedom as to where you watch your TV but also picks up free digital TV.
That’s seven of some of the hottest gadgets on the market right now and just a few of the amazing gadgets that are still to come. Each has a characteristic that makes it the best of the best and will no doubt be useful to you in one way or another
Nerd Crisis
Sunday, 09 May 2010 23:54
Jenny Li
To all you Arcadia students out there you must think I’m crazy when I say that the US may soon face a nerd crisis. In other words, a shortage of people with higher intelligence than the average Joe. I know it does seem impossible since we attend a high school that has such a high percentage rating in all our exams. Not only is our test scores high, but we go to a school where the “average” number of Advance Placement courses a student takes is three and a “fail” grade might just be a B. But we forget that Arcadia High School is just one high school out of the thousands of other schools in our nation. Also we are one of the best public schools in California in fact we were ranked by Newsweek as no. 521 on its 2008 list of the United States' 1300 best public high schools. So it definitely does come as a surprise to us to think that the U.S is facing a nerd crisis when our school is teeming with nerds – but it’s true.
According to Dr. Regina Dugan, director of DARPA (agency of the U.S responsible for the development of new technology), the US was facing a lack of a critical resource -- a lack so severe that it endangers the security of the nation. No it’s not oil, rare minerals, or natural resources (though we are severely lacking). It’s nerds. Yes, that’s right it’s those geeky, dorky, smarty pants that the nation is lacking.
The cause of this? Dugan claims that the lack of emphasis on science and engineering education in America is to blame. This lack of education is resulting in manpower shortages for occupations that Dugan herself called "the nation's elite army of futuristic technogeeks." Not only is this shortage effecting DARPA is it effecting all areas where technology may apply. This is no laughing matter seeing as technology was what made U.S the world power it is today. The shortage may also explain the increasing amount of technological innovations that are stemming from other nations like Japan.
Dugan points out that should this problem not be resolved soon than the U.S position as leading world power will longer be the case. Solutions that she herself suggests includes encouraging teenagers with scholarships, contests with iPod prizes, and career days as a means of generating interest in science, technology, engineering, and medicine. In September she also personally visited five different universities (Texas A&M, Caltech, UCLA, Stanford and Berkeley) to ask for “renewed commitment”.
So the next time you make fun of a nerd - or is a nerd and is made fun of – just think of how important a role nerds play in the future of our nation. They’re practically worth more than gold itself!
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Wacky Holidays around the World
Sunday, 09 May 2010 23:54
Joanna Shen
We gorge ourselves with delectable dishes of food on Thanksgiving, sing carols around Christmas, and clink glasses of apple cider on New Year’s. These traditions reflect the typical American experience when it comes to holidays— simple and heartwarming. While we are used to practices that are relatively common and normal even on non-holiday events, other countries are accustomed to celebrating their holidays in the most bizarre ways.
Bunol, Spain: Known as the famous La Tomatina, this Spanish holiday that occurs every August revolves around honoring the town’s patron saint. The townspeople honor him by spending a week throwing, hurdling, and barraging people with overripe tomatoes in the streets of Bunol. After a few hours of intense battling with tomatoes, firefighters spray down the streets and the participants alike with gallons of water. Though the epic food fight occurs for religious reasons, it’s safe to say the Spanish also have a lot of fun participating.
Whittlesey, England: Every January, the English celebrate what is known as Straw Bear Day, an ancient festival revived in 1980 by the Whittlesey Society. One young boy dons a five-pound bear costume made out of straw and performs celebratory dances in the streets in exchange for gifts of money and food. The bear is often followed by a procession of around 300 dancers, musicians, and performers. The following Sunday after the parade, the “Bear Burning” ceremony takes place, in which the bear costume is set aflame to ensure the creation of a new bear the following year to celebrate the harvest.
Lopburi, Thailand: We are used to holidays celebrating people and the comforts of family. However, every November the Thai celebrate an intelligent and curious animal, the monkey. The Lopburi Monkey Festival is a relatively new holiday in which more than 2,000 Macaque monkeys are served a buffet of delectable treats including fruits, ice cream, and even grilled sausages. These monkeys parade the town, wreaking havoc and stealing food from the hands of pedestrians. But no one minds because monkeys are rumored to bring prosperity to their town.
Gloucester, England: People from all around the world flock to Cooper Hill during May to participate in the exciting Cheese Rolling and Wake event. As one of England’s most popular events, the tradition is rumored to stem from Roman times or to have been involved in pagan healing rituals. The game begins when a round of Double Gloucester cheese is rolled down from the top of Cooper Hill. When the cheese begins rolling, competitors race down the hill after it, scrambling to catch the cheese before it crosses the finish line. Because the cheese can reach speeds up to 70 mph, the feat rarely occurs, so the first person to cross the finish line wins the competition. A number of injuries have occurred in the cheese frenzy, ranging from sprained ankles to concussions due to the steepness and unevenness of the terrain, which is why first aid service is now provided at the event for safety precautions.
Needless to say, hundreds of other wacky holidays occur throughout the world, and these are just a few to spark international interest. With these in mind, you are now justified in engaging in vicious tomato fights, parading around in straw, feeding monkeys your unwanted vegetables, and last but not least, rolling cheese down hills. After all, you are simply appreciating the diverse cultures of your world.
Obscure Sports
Sunday, 09 May 2010 23:53
Theresa Lee
How many times have you seen an odd sport on TV and wondered how that could possibly be considered a sport? Probably many times, right? Sorry to break your bubble but, news flash! There are far more weird sports in the world than dodgeball or snooker. Take a look at these astonishing activities:
Rock Paper Scissors: If you thought that this little game was just a simple way to settle trivial matters like who gets to eat the last scoop of Rocky Road ice cream, think again. The USA Rock Paper Scissors League (USARPS) has held annual tournaments since 2006 for any players wishing to show off their battling skills. Still don’t consider it a sport? What if I told you the cash prize for the champion Rock Paper Scissors player is $50,000? There is even an international set of rules and regulations for this quirky game. Talk about rocking fame.
Extreme Ironing: No, this isn’t what your mom has to do for your clothes every weekend because you are too lazy to do your own laundry. This is EXTREME IRONING. Originating in England, extreme ironing is basically what it sounds like…ironing in extreme places, whether it be on a river rapid, atop an ancient Redwood tree, underwater, anywhere! It combines the thrill of an extreme sport with the simplicity of a daily chore.
Quidditch: Okay, maybe this isn’t a sport. But this popular game that originated from Harry Potter has evolved into a somewhat widely participated activity among colleges. Occidental College, for example, has its own team. And obviously, this isn’t the same exact game seen in the movies….I mean, come on, people can’t fly on brooms! But termed “Muggle” Quidditch, this sport is very similar to the actual game in spirit and excitement. Players run around a field with a broomstick between their legs and the point of the game is simple: to score the most points by tossing a ball through the opponent’s hoop. Catching the “Golden Snitch,” a runner enclosed in golden costume, gives you even more points. It’s like a dream come true for many of us; don’t we all wish at some point we could live in the world of Harry Potter?
Wife Carrying: Hey tough guys! Think you’re strong enough to carry a 50 pound weight around a 250m obstacle track? Well then how about carrying a woman through it? That’s right. Invented in Finland, wife carrying is a contest to see how fast someone can carry his wife through a course. Certain rules apply, of course, like the weight requirement of the wife. Though major competitions take place in Finland, there is a North American Wife Carrying Championship that takes place every year in Maine. I know you guys are not yet eligible for this sport (hopefully), but maybe you can convince your parents to try this peculiar challenge. It might be time for mom to go on a diet though!
And these are just a handful of the many bizarre sports celebrated by people all over the world. Learning about them is quite interesting, although I must admit that it makes me wonder what people were thinking when they first invented these sports…
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