Sunday, November 6, 2011
Google to “help” (buy out) Yahoo
Leaks and rumors are fueling the mist behind the Google-Yahoo merger. The past few weekends it has been speculated Google will help private equity firms purchase Yahoo (NYSE: 16.35.) Google, having over 68% of the search market, would combine with Yahoo to have internet market share of over 80%. Google (NYSE: 588.49) released strong third quarter results. Although Yahoo would not be a part of Google, its investment would push the stock up into the six hundred range, very good for a Silicon Valley internet firm. -By Alec B.
Outdoor Action Trip
This year the class of 2012 was able to experience OAT. It was a new adventure for all of us, and we are grateful that this trip brought us even closer together. Through challenging hikes and freeze-dried food, we were able to work as one through the Appalachian Trail. In total we hiked 20 miles. It was tough terrain, but the singing and laughing usually kept us occupied. The heavy backpacks were also a challenge. These backpacks were full of the necessary supplies we would need for the week ahead.
For some of us, the nights were the worst part. Shelters and tarps were available, but sleeping under the tarp was challenging. The wind in the night would blow my group’s tarp out of the ground. The sounds of raccoons also haunted us in the night. It seemed like every time I heard a twig snap, I would wake up! Knowing that we were all together made the spookiness of the night not as frightening.
The three days of hiking was truly a great time. The second day of hiking was the longest of the week. On this day we would hike ten miles. Although it was a hard hike, we were all together and we made the best of it.
I would say that OAT was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had at Country School. I’ve never felt closer to my classmates than I did after the Outdoor Action Trip. Even through the stress of climbing a mountain, and several injuries, I’m so happy to have been a member of the Jupiter Squad.
World is going up in flames: Europe’s problems are now our problems
With more procrastination coming from European finance ministers to shore up the worsening debt issues in Greece and other weaker European nations, the US is getting beat up by the backlash. The more Europe waits, the longer it will take the Dow Jones to get back to pre-2008 conditions. The Dow now stand around 12,000, a disappointing number, but after rallying 2,000 points in the last few months 12,000 is nothing but amazing. It isn’t the US’s fault Europe’s horrible debt numbers loom over the US like a tidal wave ready to knock out the weak American economy.
The European problem is not being solved. Even after protests by the G20 to fix the issues, Europe is taking its sweet time. Excuse the stereotype, but they are having afternoon tea and crumpets. It’s getting dangerous - the contagion has changed from continental to global. In a matter of weeks, we might not recognize the world’s economies. But, it’s not all negative: there are two outcomes to these problems. One is Europe solves its problems and the US continues solid gains on an uphill road to recovery. Or Europe doesn’t solve its problems, which could result in the final split in a cracking Eurozone and the end of a prosperous, relatively peaceful era in Europe. -By Alec B.
NCCS Honors 9/11
Ten years ago, on September 11th, 2001, our community experienced one of the darkest days in American history. Terrorists hijacked four planes and used them to attack our nation. One plane hit the Pentagon, two hit the World Trade Centers, and the last crashed in a field in Pennsylvania. Not only did those planes take down the twin towers, but they shook the rest of the nation as well. Our community suffered especially. All of us have friends and family who live or work in New York City. Also, most of us know someone who was lost on September 11th. This day will never be forgotten, and even ten years later we remember 9/11 as if it had happened yesterday.
On September 11th, 2011, the tenth anniversary of 9/11, our school honored the event that occurred ten years earlier. 9/11 became a point of focus in English and history classes. Also, we gathered on the 9th grade lawn to have a moment of silence for those lost on September 11th. Ten years later we still remember the tragedy that the September of 2001 bore. Although it was awful, 9/11 is a day that will be remembered forever, and will be a constant reminder of what the United States is fighting to stop.
– By James M.
Modern Family’s Sidesplitting Premier
After sweeping the Emmy awards on September 18th, the popular show Modern Family had to wow audiences on its September 21 premier. Of course, the hilarious show that no one can resist was successful in its one hour, two-episode premiere. To kick off the fall season, the Dunphy, Pritchett, and Tucker-Pritchett families traveled to a “Dude Ranch” in Wyoming. In this episode, all three families had to deal with many issues. Claire Dunphy was upset because her older daughter, Haley, brought her boyfriend on the trip, who then proposes later on in the episode. Phil was using the vacation to impress Jay and prove that he is manly. Haley was upset at her mother, as many teenagers are, because she thinks Claire is over-possessive about Dylan, and Alex was having mixed emotions of her own when a boy she does not like “steals” her first kiss. In the Pritchett family, Jay was upset because the cowboy was hitting on his wife, Gloria, who was oblivious. Finally, Mitchell was frustrated because he decided that if he was going to raise a boy, he had to be manlier himself, which led him to setting off one of Luke’s fireworks. I loved this episode, and I thought it was an exceptional start to a brand new season.
To conclude a night of comedy, there was a second episode that was even funnier than the first. The purpose of this episode was for Cam and Mitchell to announce to the rest of the family their decision to adopt a boy. The only problem was that Lily was opposed to sharing her dads because Cam coddled her and she picked up a sharing issue from Mitchell. Then, in the Dunphy family, Claire was trying to prove to her family that she was right about everything while her family was making fun of her. Lastly, Manny was struggling with the fact that he stole a locket from a girl and could not bring himself to admit it, but Jay predicts this and embarrasses him. After watching these two episodes, my stomach hurt and my throat was hoarse from laughing too much. If you do not already watch Modern Family, you need to, and I cannot wait to see the ridiculous variety of stories unfold in this upcoming season. - By Charlotte Z.
Steve Jobs Obituary
On October 5th, 2011, the world lost one of the greatest minds in history. Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple and Pixar, lost his battle with pancreatic cancer, but although he is gone, his legacy lives on. Steve Jobs revolutionized the way we watch movies, use our phones, and listen to music. He has touched all of our lives. Many of us would be lost without our iPhones, iPods, and MacBooks. Not to mention that most of us have seen a Pixar movie. We have Steve Jobs to thank for all of these great inventions.
Not only has he changed the world through his inventions, but he has also changed many lives by being a genuinely nice person. Many of you may remember “project red,” in which Apple sold red products and gave a percentage of the profits to charity. Through his inventions, philanthropy, and genius, Steve Jobs truly has “put a dent in the universe,” and he will be greatly missed.-By James Maguire
Glee Season Premiere
The “Glee” season premiere on September 20th was full of news about each character and their last days in New Directions. Rachel Barry, Finn Hudson, Kurt Hummel, Mike Chang, etc. will be graduating from high school and Glee Club this season. Overall, I thought the premiere was okay. I think the songs were not as amazing as they could’ve been. The idea of the “Purple Piano” was clever, but it lacked the interest that most other episodes have. Mr. Shue went overboard with firing Santana from glee and then not allowing Sugar to take part. Then he glitter- bombed Sue. Sue deserved it though. She is still up to her nasty ways, but this time she is forcing parents to believe the arts at school are a waste of money and overall a dumb idea. She wants to end Glee Club, as always. Not only does she do this, but she destroys one of the purple pianos. Another character who has lost it is Quinn. She changed her whole look and quit glee. I think she just doesn’t know what to do know that she lost her daughter. Although at the end of the 2nd episode she is back to normal, she wants to get her daughter back. This is not a good idea on Quinn’s part, but we shall see what happens in episodes to come. – By Maggie Small
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