That Was Then, New Computers are Now

Following the latest installments of MTHS’s new computers, students and staff have found remarkable changes. Mrs. Cook (guys, this is her first interview!) has become a fan of these computers due to their faster response to programs and software, easier application use, and larger, more assessable screens. Her students have also responded positively to these new computers. Although everything new takes time, almost everybody on campus has been adapting to the programs and software on the computers.

 However, the ASB room and Mrs. Lascola did not receive new computers because their computers did not qualify for the Refresh program: their computers were only 4 years old. Another problem is that the hard drives no longer contain storage for floppy disks. Hopefully, the kinks will work out in time.

But, I must say, I just love the sounds the keyboards make when you type. It makes me smile.

MTHS’s Christmas Present: New Computers!

Just a couple weeks ago, the elves from Santa’s workshop started spreading rumors about MTHS’s [early] Christmas present. Yes folks, you heard it: we’re getting presents – new computers, presumably around the first week of December!

Every five years, the government grants schools with new, updated computers right out of their pockets. And we don’t even have to pay a single dime, through a process called “Refresh”. Because of constant advances in computers and technology, the “new” computer has  quickly turned into the gray-haired “last year” computer. For the purpose of keeping school computers up to date, Refresh was established. So, every five years, schools are granted with a new batch of updated computers tied with bows, well, for MTHS at least.

This year will be MTHS’s first Refresh, courtesy of federal money. All of our old, rusty, slow computers will be replaced with newer ones, with more RAM (Random Access Memory), allowing for faster responses. Our current computers have 15” monitors, 512 megabytes of RAM and an older version of Microsoft. The new computers we will be getting will consist of 17” monitors, 2 gigabytes of RAM, Microsoft 2007 and will have a different operating system, Vista or Windows 7.

Because of strict federal regulations regarding computers, the school is not allowed to sell or give away the old computers. Therefore, we will use our old computers for lab dissections and for models for the Computer Science classes. The mouses and other appliances will be kept as spares in storage. Thinking about the new computers makes you wish it was already December, doesn’t it?

Say Anything Will Say Anything at All

Say Anything – Say Anything
Genre: Pop Punk
Release Date: Nov 3, 2009

This is Say Anything’s fourth studio album, and first self-titled album.  It’s average; a very catchy and poppy album with faults, such as the lyrical content.  Max Bemis reveals his feelings toward people in the song “Hate Everyone”, and repeats in the chorus that he does indeed “hate everyone.”  The song forces rhymes that seemingly make no since: “I hate my ex-girlfriend even though she’s feminine.”  I suppose this would appeal to many young teenagers who enjoy little temper tantrums.  It seems that Max Bemis is quite the bitter fellow, and he probably is, based on this song and “Mara and Me.”

 I can hardly relate to the lyrics at all, but I must admit the instrumentation is enjoyable and the choruses are very catchy.  The humor at times is hilarious but most often it is unneeded like Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen.

 I don’t believe I would be able to listen to the album all the way through a second time.  It is just too long, clocking in at 46 minutes (which is shorter than their other albums). Not to mention, its tiresome listening Max Bemis speak his thoughts for that long of a time. Overall, I believe most Say Anything fans would enjoy the album, although it is more poppy than any of their other albums – I would recommend it to anybody that enjoys catchy pop music.

 73 out of 100
Favorite Track:  Less Cute

Weezer’s “Raditude” Lacks the Rad

Weezer – Raditude
Genre: Pop Rock
Release Date: Nov 3, 2009

 Weezer’s new album, Raditude, starts lame and cheesy and ends lame and cheesy  The thought of even brainstorming the name, Raditude, shows that Rivers Cuomo probably didn’t even try to take the album all that seriously.  And what is this: a dog with its tongue hanging out, seemingly to be in a jumping motion, in a living room plastered on the cover?  This is ludicrous.

 Album cover aside, I do not think the album is bad, but I do not believe it is good either.  I do consider it Weezer’s third best album.  Obviously Pinkerton and The Blue Album are the top two.  Anyways, the album starts with the catchy, acoustic riff ridden and verbose title carrying “(If You’re Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To”, and then genre jumps to straight Bowling for Soup-type of pop rock, to some hip hop/electronic thing akin to Cobra Starship,  and pops in a Bollywood verse, randomly I suppose.  It’s all somewhat catchy but it’s totally bland.  It seems as if Weezer tried to immerse themselves into the deep recesses of pop music and resurfaced with poor imitations of trendy music.

 Or perhaps, Weezer has finally perfected the joke/parody sound and this is the result.  Maybe, it is Rivers Cuomo being serious and creating music that he enjoys.  Either way, I most likely would not listen to this fully again.  Some songs really do not appeal to me, while the other songs generate nothing but indifference.  Die hard Weezer fans would enjoy this, but any other demographic might not be so partial.  To be quite honest, it could have used more features by Lil Wayne.

 Rated 68 out of 100
Favorite Track:  Love is the Answer

Zombieland: ’28 Days Later’ Meets ‘Shaun Of The Dead’

With a heavy sigh, I must admit that gone are the days of the classic zombie. The shambling undead are slowly being replaced with sprinting ‘infected’. While it is sad to see the old on its way out, it is also great to see the new on its way in, ripe with possibilities. The movie Zombieland is the latest from the new generation.

The film centers around the story of Columbus, an anti-social and neurotic college kid trying to survive the zombie apocalypse. He eventually teams up with Tallahassee, a gun totting zombie slayer whose epic quest revolves around searching for some of the world’s last Twinkies, and a pair of sisters who want to fight their way to an abandoned amusement park.

As outrageous as the plot may seem, Zombieland does an incredible job of keeping it all together and making the story both believable and enjoyable. The film mixes both comedy and melodrama, as there are scenes where characters compare the loss of loved ones, and then the same characters run around on comical zombie murdering rampages – and there are plenty of those. Zombieland does not disappoint with the action, for it is filled from start to finish with excessive violence and over-the-top deaths. The movie has some of the most elaborate and original kills I have ever seen in a zombie film, with techniques ranging from dropping pianos to eccentric uses of carnival rides as death traps.

This brings up the topic of gore. I will flat out state that this film is not for the squeamish. Columbus and friends fight the ‘wettest’ zombies I have ever seen before, as virtually every imaginable fluid seems to drain from the films countless undead. As a nice change of pace, Zombieland is filled with running gags and motif that set it apart from other films of the genre. Such examples could be the zombie kill of the week highlights and Columbus’ dead-pan humor narration. Personally, my favorite motif of the film is the use of Columbus’ set of zombie survival rules. Through the film, every time a rule is acted out or set in motion, the rule will appear on the screen and remind the audience of its importance.

Zombieland is one of those blunt films that doesn’t take itself too seriously or try to be something it’s not. Zombieland tries to be nothing more than a gory, fresh new comedy, and for that it is a must see.