Ekta Taneja


Name: Ekta Taneja
Position: Page Editor
Graduation Year: 2006
Ekta Taneja is a magnet senior with a passion for SCO, books and rugged-looking fighters from all universes and time periods. She's a modest poet with an unappeasable thirst for cinnamon-sprinkled hot chocolate overloaded with whipped cream and richly-flavored pina coladas that come with cute little umbrellas. Ekta aspires to be a spitfire first mate in the 15th century to a certain eccentric pirate with a bird for a last name who is captain to the fastest and blackest ship in the Caribbean. After that, she's considering visiting Drasnia to learn how to talk with her fingers, Middle-Earth to master archery and Florin to learn fencing from the Wizard, all in preparation for her ambitious plans of universal domination. The fun is in the conquest, so once she's universally addressed as Evil Overlady -embellish title to your heart's content-, she'll go on vacation to Saturn, leaving the universe to squabble over her vacated post.


Stories (23)


Two Blair students named Intel finalists

By Ekta Taneja | Jan. 26, 2006, midnight | In Print »

Two Blair students were named 2006 Intel Science Talent Search (STS) finalists in a Jan. 25 Intel press release.

Seventh grade girls attend FIST conference at Blair

By Ekta Taneja | Nov. 15, 2005, midnight | In Print »

The annual Females in Science and Technology (FIST) conference was held at Blair in the SAC and several classrooms on Nov. 12. The conference invited seventh grade girls from across the county to attend math, science and technology workshops.

UPDATE: New policy restricts hall pass use

By Ekta Taneja | Sept. 10, 2005, midnight | In Print »

Administrators placed restrictions on hall pass distribution this year to reduce student truancy, according to Assistant Principal Linda Wanner. The policymakers intend to keep students out of the halls and safe in the classroom.

Deep Throat's identity revealed

By Ekta Taneja | June 1, 2005, midnight | In Print »

FBI official W. Mark Felt was revealed yesterday as Deep Throat, the secret informant to Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein during the Watergate scandal. The Washington Post confirmed Felt's role in the Watergate scandal shortly after the story was released by Vanity Fair.

Northern Irish education officials visit Blair

By Ekta Taneja | March 22, 2005, midnight | In Print »

The principal of Ulidia College, a secondary school in North Ireland, and a governor on its regional school board visited Blair and spoke to classes on Friday, March 18. The officials were on a trip visiting high schools and universities in the Boston and D.C. areas.

Male Magnet teachers bond over baseball

By Ekta Taneja | March 18, 2005, midnight | In Print »

The male Magnet teachers took a brief trip to Florida on Friday, March 4, supposedly for "spring training." They weren't lying – well, not exactly. The teachers all took a couple of days out of their rigorous class schedules to spend some precious time bonding over the baseball spring training games.

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.

Blair teacher nominated for six Wammies

By Ekta Taneja | Feb. 25, 2005, midnight | In Print »

Magnet computer science teacher Karen Collins was recently nominated for six 2004 Washington Area Grammys, or "Wammies," for her solo and group country music performances. She did not win the awards in any of the categories.

Blair experiences fourth power outage this school year

By June Hu, Ekta Taneja | Feb. 3, 2005, midnight | In Print »

A brief power outage in the 60s and 70s hallways interrupted sixth period today, Feb. 3, cutting off power to many of the computers on the first, second and third floors for the fourth time this school year.

Inauguration week schedule released

By Ekta Taneja | Jan. 17, 2005, midnight | In Print »

The Washington Post published the Inauguration Week schedule in today's Metro section, along with a map detailing road closures and parking restrictions for Jan. 19 and 20.

Chips Online visits India

By Varun Gulati, Ekta Taneja | Jan. 16, 2005, midnight | In Print »

A small spark pops out of a decorated cone on the ground, followed by dozens more small sparks launching into the air. Seconds later, the anar firecracker showers bright sparks all across the vicinity. Several children and adults watch with delight as a man picks another firecracker and repeats the show.

Blair has most Intel semifinalists in the nation

By Ekta Taneja | Jan. 13, 2005, midnight | In Print »

Thirteen Blazers were selected to be among a group of 300 semifinalists in the 64th Intel Science Talent Search, according to a Jan. 12 Intel press release. No school in the country had more than Blair.

Tsunami realities and miracles

By Ekta Taneja, Emma Norvell | Jan. 13, 2005, midnight | In Print »

The tsunami, which hit Dec. 26, 2004 in southern Asia, is being called one of the "worst natural disasters in modern history" by many newspapers. The tsunami was caused by an earthquake, which sent waves crashing into the shores of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, and several other countries. Waves got up to 50 feet high.

Gmail: revolutionizing e-mail Google-style

By Ekta Taneja | Nov. 23, 2004, midnight | In Print »

Google it. These two unobtrusive words have set off a revolution and changed the way people use the Internet. After setting a new standard for search engines, the Google team is beginning to transform the Internet again through Gmail.

Veer Zaara: a tried and tested tale

By Ekta Taneja | Nov. 18, 2004, midnight | In Print »

FIST conference held at Blair

By Ekta Taneja | Nov. 17, 2004, midnight | In Print »

The Females in Science and Technology (FIST) conference was held at Blair in the SAC on Nov. 13. Seventh grade girls from across the county were invited to attend workshops on topics relating to math, science and technology.

Power outage disrupts seventh period

By June Hu, Ekta Taneja | Nov. 16, 2004, midnight | In Print »

Power to Blair's electric outlets was temporarily disconnected today, Nov. 16, during seventh period because a power surge tripped a breaker within the school's electrical system.

Maryland fraternity, Goucher College hold writing contests

By Ekta Taneja | Oct. 25, 2004, midnight | In Print »

The Lambda Gamma Gamma (LGG) Chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., located in Maryland, and Goucher College's English Dept. are holding writing contests open to college-bound high school seniors and high school women, respectively.

Bush, Kerry agree to three debates

By Ekta Taneja | Sept. 24, 2004, midnight | In Print »

President George W. Bush and Sen. John F. Kerry's campaigns settled on three face-to-face presidential debates on Sept. 20, according to The Washington Post. The debates are scheduled to take place starting Sept. 30.

Silver Chips nominated national finalist for Pacemaker award

By Ekta Taneja | Sept. 17, 2004, midnight | In Print »

Silver Chips was named one of 45 national finalists for the Pacemaker award co-sponsored by the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA) and the Newspaper Association of America Foundation on Sept. 15. Winners will be formally announced and awarded at the Journalism Education Association (JEA)/NSPA Fall National High School Journalism Convention on Nov. 18-21, 2004 in Atlanta, GA.

Students experience planbook delays for a second year

By Ekta Taneja | Sept. 6, 2004, midnight | In Print »

For the second year in a row, students did not receive planbooks during the first week of school.

CIA fails in a time of crisis

By Ekta Taneja | July 23, 2004, midnight | In Print »

The war has ended, yet soldiers are dying. Peace has been negotiated, yet violence continues. Terrorism is being fought, yet terrorists still wield their worst weapon: fear. And through this time of crisis, the CIA and other intelligence agencies have generated too much static that muddles their findings regarding national security.

Reality beats myth in King Arthur

By Ekta Taneja | July 13, 2004, midnight | In Print »

The ringing of swords being unsheathed hovers in the air as seven knights gallop at full speed down a hill to a bishop's rescue. Thus begins the battle-ridden journey in King Arthur, an extraordinary depiction of the legendary tale of Artorious Castus (Clive Owen) with a twist by director Antoine Fuqua (Training Day).



Images (2)


Photo: Accident Location

By Ekta Taneja | June 11, 2005, midnight | In ‎Latest »

The accident occured by the student parking lot at the exit to University Boulevard.

Photo: Accident Location

By Ekta Taneja | June 11, 2005, midnight | In ‎Latest »

The accident occured by the student parking lot at the exit to University Boulevard. Click here to enlarge.