The Blair Robot Project placed 23rd among 65 participating teams at the 2009 FIRST FRC (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology Robotics Competition) Washington, D.C. regional in the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on Feb. 26.
During a financial crisis, you would think that marketing crews with Super Bowl ad spots would come out guns-blazing. They are paying $3 million a pop for a mere 30 seconds of screen time. Unfortunately, the commercials could not match up to the great game this year, disappointing viewers after a glorious year for advertisements in 2008.
The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) representatives renewed stalled negotiations on actor contracts this Tuesday following the ousting of SAG National Executive Director and chief negotiator Doug Allen, a strong proponent for calling a strike vote, on Jan. 26. Deliberations had been at a standstill on both sides since SAG's previous contract expired last June.
Blair's Winter Concert, featuring the concert and symphonic bands, string and symphonic orchestras and jazz lab and honors jazz bands, warmed up a cold and stormy Thursday night in the Blair auditorium. Conducted by music teachers Dustin M. Doyle and Michelle Roberts, the showcase of 19 diverse instrumental pieces, ranging from classical sonatas to buoyant marches to soulful jazz, captivated the large audience and lightened an otherwise dismal atmosphere.
With the expanding popularity of music networking sites, the Internet has replaced radio as the dominant source of new music over radio. As a result, the rise of Facebook, YouTube and MySpace has launched an era of interconnectivity and expression - and anyone with Internet access can connect. Although a plethora of music social networking sites are available, Silver Chips Online is here with a review of some of the most popular, overhyped and underrated music networking sites.
Our story begins with our humble food editor visibly salivating while watching a Japanese dubbed version of "Iron Chef." He remembers that he won't be eating for another hour. He looks out the window with sad eyes and remembers that winter is coming. People are closing up their barbecue sets, the leaves are coming down in droves of red, green, yellow and brown, the air is cold and heavy snows are taking their sweet time getting to Montgomery County. He looked back at the tube eyeing a succulent burger with a look of carnal desire, remembering that a wise man once said that vegetarians taste delicious. With this revelation, he frantically begged his peers to find the best local burgers and review them for the greater good of the Blair community, if not the world.
After a turbulent and chaotic television season distinguished by countless cancellations, dooming delays and screwed-up story-lines (thank you, writers), the industry has finally moved on with the show. Regrettably, most of our lives are still held up in high school (and not the glamorous "Gossip Girl" kind of place), and many will have to face the delicate dilemma of balancing dreaded homework with fall television premieres: what to do, watch the premiere of "Grey's Anatomy" or write that pesky English paper due the following day? Fortunately for those going back and forth, Silver Chips Online is here with a preview of the fall's hottest television shows - including the essential information on all of last season's cliff-hangers, upcoming guest stars and the confusing plot lines. We'll tell you everything you need to plan out your TV-viewing schedule and premiere parties.
As the school year winds down in a last-minute rush of assignments and final exams, everyone's looking forward to a well-deserved summer break. With releases ranging from "The Dark Knight" to "Wall-E" to "Get Smart," this is certainly a season to suit anyone's tastes. Moviegoers may be overwhelmed by the selection of movies but, fortunately, Silver Chips Online is here with an epic preview to cover all your cinematic desires.
Blair's string and symphonic orchestras captivated the audience with a diverse showcase of harmonious performances at the spring concert in the Blair auditorium on May 15. Seven total pieces, all introduced and led by conductor and instrumental music teacher Dustin Doyle, kept the small but appreciative audience enthralled.
The thundering cheers of a thousand high school students electrify a packed stadium as six robots zip around a track in the center of a scene described by junior participant Karen Luk as "hell in a stadium." The timer ticks down to zero, and the stadium explodes into an even louder uproar as the robots make their final lap and cross the finish line.
Blair's annual International Night captivated the audience, taking Blazers around the world with a superb showcase of diverse cultural talents. Although the crowd was small in the auditorium on April 11, the magnificent performances kept the eager audience fired up throughout the night.
Playing with food is rude and generally frowned upon, but those rules don't apply when you're cooking in the kitchen. A delicious delight for anyone, these sticky rice balls from China are not only delicious, they're fun to make. Because nearly anything in a fridge can be used as filling – from the traditional sesame seeds to red bean paste to meat (if you're feeling adventurous) – sticky rice balls have a little something for everyone.
Crushing disappointment came as the final seconds of the 22nd annual Changuris Cup championship ran down on Feb. 14. After losing 1-0 for three championship games in a row, floor hockey team "A Tribe Called Best" stepped off the gym floor in frustration, with some members in tears.
While Bob's 88 Shabu Shabu lacks the glamor of other restaurants and eateries that dot the aisles of the new Rockville town center, it more than makes up for its deficiencies with its unique do-it-yourself meals. Deviating from conventionally bland Asian cuisine, Bob's 88, not to be confused with Bob's Noodle 66 right across the street, mixes excellent cuisine with an experience to remember.
Two of Hollywood's most successful and revered actors star in "The Bucket List," which unfortunately has little to offer in return. Despite the excellent performances of Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, a lousy script and poor directing pulls this movie into a sappy sinkhole all the same.
The latest in a long line of Hollywood rip-offs of successful Japanese horror flicks, "One Missed Call" displays an incompetence that makes it more suitable as a comedy. Based on a grossly overused premise, the film bombards the audience with a story so worn-out that it could be considered its own sub-genre.
Behind a small counter, a student furiously fills in paperwork as more is passed up. Another student digs through mounds of forms and records information on a deposit log-sheet. Money passes through hands and makes its way securely into a cash box. As the first student completes the paperwork, a teacher in the background gives an approving nod.
The second annual Academy Career Day, featuring over 75 speakers from various professions, will take place Tuesday, according to Academies Coordinator Jennifer Kempf. The day is designed to give students opportunities to meet professionals from fields of their interests and explore possible career paths.
Blair's new policies this year have been a mixed bag of successes and failures. Earlier this month, students received their first report cards of the year as the first marking period ended. Now it's time to rate the school's new policies with Blair's own progress report.
"Saw" was brilliant. "Saw II" was enjoyable. "Saw III" was captivating. "Saw IV" is, at best, disappointing as a part of the series and even worse as a stand-alone movie. The once gripping psychological thrills have fallen to mediocrity, and the franchise has been reduced to a jumbled mess of disjointed plotlines.
Blair is participating in the Smart Sacks program this year to help fight childhood hunger throughout Montgomery County. Each week, Blair volunteers provide selected Piney Branch Elementary School students with backpacks full of food, according to Ilene Catzva, media center specialist.
All secondary schools in Montgomery County implemented Pinnacle, a grading software, at the beginning of this school year. Along with Edline, Pinnacle makes up the Online Achievement and Reporting System (OARS), a consistent tool for collecting and distributing grades.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the most important holidays in many Asian countries. It is celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month on the Chinese lunar calendar, typically falling between mid-September and mid-October on the western calendar. Originating from the legend of the moon goddess, the festival is a special time when family members come together to gaze at the full moon, put up lanterns and, most importantly, eat moon cake. Moon cake is served with a variety of fillings ranging from the popular and traditional red bean and lotus seed pastes to the more exotic and bizarre durian paste and tiramisu. Homemade moon cakes add an extra dimension to any Mid-Autumn Festival celebration.
Welcome to the wonderful world of "Resident Evil: Extinction," where viruses can dry up lakes and rivers, genetic mutations can grant telekinetic powers capable of frying computer chips in satellites thousands of miles away. The third installment of the hack and slash zombie series based on the popular "Resident Evil" video games, "Extinction," like its predecessors, falls into a painfully familiar rehashing that leaves the film as brainless as the zombies in it.
The 59th annual Montgomery County Agricultural Fair opened Friday, attracting tens of thousands of visitors with "country fun in the city sun," as advertised on the fair's website.
Conniving witches and flying pirates, treacherous princes and a captive princess, a fallen star and an unlikely hero - "Stardust" has it all. A tale of finding true love, adapted from Neil Gaiman's fantasy novella of the same name, enchants viewers with a wonderful balance of humor, romance and adventure.
Freshman Julian Lofton delivers a emotional solo in Benny Golson's jazz ballad, "I Remember Clifford."
Blair's symphonic orchestra continues to put on a fantastic show for the packed audience.
Conductor Dustin M. Doyle began the night by introducing the String Orchestra's first piece, Bach's "Ein' feste Burg ist unser Gott."
The Symphonic Orchestra played an exciting and energetic "Rienzi Overture" by Wagner.
Sticky rice balls are made in two parts: fillings of crushed peanut flour or black sesame powder (others such as red bean paste work as well) and rice balls of glutinous rice flour and almond powder.
Add honey to clump sugar and black sesame or peanut mixture together.
After adding water, knead dough to a fine, smooth blob.
Roll up inch-wide balls.
Pinch dough around to cover the filling and roll back up into a ball.
Cook in boiling water and remove balls with strainer.
Cover with powder and serve warm!
Make crater at center ball with thumb and insert filling. Watch out: this is the trickiest step of the recipe!
…and a meat portion. Diners can mix their own sauces from a variety of sauce choices and condiments.
Fish out the cooked items that are ready (experimentation may be needed) and enjoy!
Place the uncooked food into the pot and give ample time to cook.
Turn on the stove and allow the broth to come to a boil.
Hot pot orders come with a steel pot filled with chicken broth (normal or spicy) on built-in user-operated stoves…
…a large platter of a variety of vegetables, seafood and rice noodles.
Blair's own progress report card with grades for the ID policy, six minute passing/lockout, Pinnacle/Edline and advisories.
Blair's own progress report card with grades for the ID policy, six minute passing/lockout, Pinnacle/Edline and advisories.
Moon cake is a traditional dessert for the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Amusement rides and game booths line the fair's streets.
Nicole Hopkins stands in her AP Environmental Science and Biology classroom.