Welcome to the Nerd Zone, We’ve Got Fun and Games
By David Feigenbaum, ’10
Highlights Staff Writer
DEAR READER,
Over the next few columns you are going to take a journey with me into
the unknown, rather strange place known as The Nerd Zone. I know you’ve
often wondered about the life of a nerd. The time for answers is now.
Read on and JOIN THE REVOLUTION - or just read on:
Books
Nerds and their books is like guys and their cars – one is always
thinking about the other. The book has become the quintessential nerd
element, since very few non-nerds read for pleasure nowadays (ha-ha).
Most nerds go for the fantasy or sci-fi genre; no sissy “historical
fiction” or “romance” novels for them. In fact, at most
bookstores, one of the biggest sections just happens to be “Sci-fi/
Fantasy.” The reasons that these TWO (some crazy people think they
are one) genres’ popularity among the nerds is so high is that they
are about completely out of this world experiences and they make the reader
feel powerful and attached to the strong characters, just like nerds TRY
to get attached to “strong” people. There are many authors
and series that hold sway with nerds of today (I’m a poet and I
didn’t even know it.) My personal favorite is the wordy and often
sadistic Terry Goodkind. He is the renowned writer of the Sword of Truth
series. These books inspire nerds everywhere (that is if they can lift
the hefty 800 page book).
If shorter and funnier is more your style (I’m 4’11'’
and that’s pretty funny to you pretty single chicks out there),
then there’s a fantasy option for you. The name of the author is
Piers Anthony. His series, Xanth, is pun-tastic. I can’t do justice
to his works so just go out and buy it…now.
Video Games
Another common nerd hobby, for the males of the species at least, is an
insatiable love for video games. After recently playing through the classics,
such as Knights of the Old Republic and Super Mario 64, I can tell you
why: it puts a usually inconsequential person in positions where the fate
of the galaxy is in his hands. But, as many players know, with great power
comes great responsibility, so one must wield it appropriately. These
gamers tend to play games based in…you guessed it, sci-fi and fantasy
realms. I am seeing a common thread here…
Some great games for a starter nerd like yourself would be Guitar Hero
(where you jam out on a guitar peripheral) for the Play Station 2. Also
for the PS2 is Shadow of the Colossus. This unique title pits you against
giants called Colossi. It’s set in a beautiful world with no enemies
except said giants. Buy it… now.
Table-Top RPGs
Now this category is only meant for the most hard-core nerds. “What’s
a table-top RPG?” a casual person might ask. “What’s
eating and breathing?” I would cleverly reply in return.
To anyone who has played a tabletop RPG, you must know that once you pop,
you can’t stop. If you have a good dungeon master, or a storyteller
(depending on the game) there’s no end to the good times.
If this doesn’t exactly answer the above question, this will: D
& D. Even you non-nerds must be familiar with these two letters and
the ampersand. Yes they do stand for Donkeys and Dolls. No, no they don’t,
and if you believed that please put down this paper right now, find the
nearest cliff, and hurl all your donkeys and dolls down it, you weirdo.
It stands for Dungeons and Dragons, of course. This is a game where a
dungeon master creates a scenario based on predetermined rules, but I’m
sure you’re all familiar with the basics.
“So that’s what a table-top RPG is,” you say. “Si…
Si,” comes the reply.
So this concludes our adventures into the life of a nerd, young Padawan.
And remember, merry HannuChristmakwanza.
Photo/Ariel Palter
A first hand glace at what it’s like to hug Dave Feigenbaum
(8th grader).
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SCRABBLE: It’s Worth 14 Points
By Jeremy Garfinkel, ’06
Highlights Staff Writer
FOR YEARS AND YEARS you’ve been studying vocabulary in English
class, and you’ve probably always wondered why. Why must we learn
these useless words that we’re probably never going to need in normal
conversation? Well, my friends, the answer has finally appeared: Scrabble.
Scrabble is the new fad that’s taking the school by storm. Well,
perhaps that’s the wrong way to put it. In truth, Scrabble is a
new obsession for a select handful of people who play it at every given
opportunity. These brave souls, who are willing to put their coolness
on the line to partake in a somewhat educational game, are true heroes.
The truth of the matter is Scrabble is anything but a “loser game.”
In a way, Scrabble actually allows you to prove how much smarter you are
than your friends. People who are bad at Scrabble are the real losers,
while those who succeed deserve all sorts of gifts and money, and perhaps
their own TV show and new house.
As an avid Scrabbler myself, I brazenly (22 points) roam the halls looking
for anyone foolish enough to challenge my dexterity (20 points). Scrabble
has become a bit of a tradition at my seventh period lunch table, but
we are certainly not the only ones who play.
More and more people are discovering the fun and excitement, yes excitement,
of Scrabble. In fact, this year brought about the founding of the school’s
first ever Scrabble Club. The most remarkable thing about the success
of Scrabble is the way that it became popular with small groups of friends.
After I started playing the game with my friends in fourth and seventh
period, I began to hear stories of kids meeting up regularly in the library
or designated classrooms for games. Over time, these people were recruited
by Scrabble Club, whose attendance significantly.
With the popularity of Scrabble rising, the ability of various players
is becoming quite obvious. While it’s possibly to become better
with practice and the studying of word lists, certain people are currently
far more advanced than the norm in Scrabbling ability.
One specific player who has shown to be exceedingly talented at Scrabble
is senior David Kauffman. Kauffman has completely memorized every legal
two-letter word and many of the legal three-letter words, an invaluable
talent in Scrabble. In my experiences playing against Kauffman, he has
soundly beaten me every time, once getting two bingos (a word using all
seven of your letters for a 50 point bonus) in one game to defeat me by
280 points. In fact, I have actually seen Kaufmann cause an opponent to
expire on the spot. He put down “cirques” for 128 points.
His opponent realized that there was no reason to go on, and simply died.
Kauffman also has the nasty habit of attacking patrons who exercise the
SOWPODS dictionary, a list of foreign words that are not typically accepted
in the Scrabble community, rather than the TWL98.
As good as Kauffman is, his talent is about at the level of a chimpanzee
when compared to that of English teacher Cary Blocker (favorite word:
quagmire). Mr. Blocker is undeniably the best Scrabble player in the school,
often doubling his opponent’s score at the end of games. “Scrabble,
like ping-pong and memorizing the names of third-rate actors, is a true
test of useless genius.” Blocker says. I have challenged Mr. Blocker
to Scrabble matches, but to this point we have not been able to successfully
start one. From the little that we have played, I’m sure he could
make me cry after three rounds.
You may be wondering how one improves his or her Scrabble ability. The
most important thing to remember is that you don’t actually have
to know what words mean. Some of the most commonly played words have completely
mysterious meanings that nobody has bothered to look up. An average Scrabble
game will see such words as “qat,” “xi,” “cwm,”
“qi,” “crwth,” “mho,” “pyx,”
“xyst,” “typps,” “mycs,” and senior
Dan Hill-Moses’ personal favorite: “Quizzardly.”
Wait a second… “Quizzardly”? No, I don’t think
that’s actually a word.
CHALLENGE!!
Now let’s see here... “Quixote”… “Quixotic”…
“Quixotry”… “Quiz”… “Quizzer.”
Nope; no “Quizzardly.” Well, if anybody can even get a word
like “quizzardly” down in a game, I’d be willing to
accept it as a real word on account of bravado alone.
Challenges add a whole other aspect of strategy to Scrabble. Sometimes
when left with no other choice, one is forced to make up a word using
your available tiles. If you can successfully convince your opponents
that a word like “glyxar” is a real word, they may be wary
to challenge you at risk of losing their turn.
In fact, the more successful and professional a player is, the more likely
she or he is to get away with fake words. Nobody would dare challenge
Dave Kauffman if he put down a word like “hilaxier” or “smouring,”
even though they’re completely fake. Indeed, one’s reputation
can add to your ability to win, creating a sort of vicious cycle of crushing
opponent after opponent into oblivion.
So, my fair reader, play Scrabble. Play it often, and play it well.
Photo/Ariel Palter
Kauffman and Blocker take a break from a championship scrabble
game.
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We’re Trying To Prove Why Everyone’s Anti-Social
By Jasmine Harris, ’07
Highlights Staff Writer
TEENS ARE VERY SOCIAL, but when it comes to socializing with friends,
what methods do students prefer? Nowadays, our lines of communication
have progressed so much with the phone, e-mail, text messaging and instant
messenger that one on one conversation seems as if it’s dieing.
So, the curious questio`n that had to be asked was, “Do you prefer
to talk online or in person, face to face?”
Here are the replies:
“In my opinion taking online to people is easier; I enjoy talking
in person; but, when you’re talking online to someone it might be
easier to say things to them because you don’t see their reaction.
Talking online lets you express emotions that you may not be able to do
in person.”
Diana Sherman, ’07
“Face to face definitely. Listen to this WHAT? & WHAT? One
“what” may be that you don’t understand what someone’s
saying to you, the other “what” could be an agitated “what.”
I think when you type it while talking online it may come across the wrong
way. I prefer talking face to face to see that person’s reaction
as to get a better understanding and concept of the conversation.”
Ke’Anna Jackson, ’06
“I think it’s easier talking to people online, but I like
talking in person as well. It’s easier to say things when the other
person isn’t sitting right there. Talking online makes it easier
to say what you really think because there’s less pressure than
talking in person.”
Lara Solinsky, ’07
“I would rather talk to people online than in person because it
makes you feel better. You can talk about anything online, but in person
the conversation feels more intense to the point that I really don’t
want to talk.”
Alex Huynh, ’06
“I choose to talk online more then in person because it’s
more open then talking in person. Online you can keep a conversation going
and you can end it at anytime rather then waiting for both people to end
it.”
Todd Levesque, ’06
“I’d rather talk in person than online because you can actually
tell what facial expressions and tones people are making and using. I
don’t mind talking online, though. Talking in person is -just more
effective and more enjoyable.”
Josh Rubock, ’06
“As much as I talk, I prefer talking in person than on AIM. Don’t
get me wrong, IM can be fun at times when you’re at home and want
some time just to relax and talk to your friends, but the down side is
you really can’t display your true emotions and feelings so you
respond to them with smiles faces and explanation points. Thank you, but
no thank you. When you talk in person, it allows you to show all of your
emotions, feelings, and facial expressions so the other person you are
associating with knows exactly where you’re coming from.”
Jordan Ross, ’08
As nice as AIM and e-mail are for our daily hectic lives, talking face
to face with your peers gives you a completely different feeling emotionally.
We enjoy other people’s company and that’s a void that electronics
can never fill.
Photo/ Danny Chan
“Yes, I would agree that cell phones are quickly becoming
the most influential technology in the world, which is certainly not a
good thing.”
Photo/Danny Chan
Gina doesn’t know that Danny is taking this picture of her
IMing from his top-secret - no girls allowed - loft in the corner of the
graphics room.
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By This Time, You Probably Already Work For Whole Foods
By Emma Staffaroni, ’06
Highlights Staff Writer
AS I BROWSED THROUGH the Whole Foods Market web page, I came across
their mission statement. It reads as follows: “We believe in a virtuous
circle entwining the food chain, human beings and Mother Earth: each is
reliant upon the others through a beautiful and delicate symbiosis”
(http://www.wholefoods.org). Puzzled, I asked myself what this means.
After all, every time I drive down good old Trout Brook Drive, I have
to look at this huge new market, the beginning of what will soon be a
whole new commercial area in my humble suburb.
Now I definitely believe in the food chain. No doubt about it: certain
creatures just have to eat each other in order to maintain a balance in
our eco-system. And, I’m not going to start bringing up all of the
luscious trees that were pulverized for the construction of shiny, pretty,
sensational Whole Foods. I don’t mean to criticize this new craze.
I only mean to explore its role in West Hartford.
Whole Foods has 180 locations nationwide. It was founded in Austin, Texas,
in the very state our President was born. The chain grew and grew, reaching
all the way to the East Coast, where it has many locations in the Massachusetts
area. Before recently, the only Whole Foods Market in Connecticut was
in Greenwich. It became crucial that central Connecticut get a taste of
what’s cooking at this organic paradise.
So what is all the hype about? Of course, when you walk in, your senses
overflow with the bold aromas of flowers, spices, and bread. The lighting
fixtures resemble that of a stage, and the fruit is stacked in neat geometric
rows—very appealing to the order-seeking human brain. All of the
colors surround you, all of the smells overwhelm you: what can you do?
Oh, the possibilities.
There are, of course, the many food bars. Pizza bar, chocolate bar, coffee
bar, antipasti bar, bread bar, cold bar, hot bar…the prepared food
options are endless. Employee of Whole Foods like Hall High senior Abby
Magro feel that the vast prepared food selection makes Whole Foods stand
out above the rest (like its grand competitor up the road, Wild Oats).
“I mean, you can’t get fresh baked bread from Wild Oats,”
she reminds us. “And the best part is that it is all organic and
fresh, unlike the prepared foods you’d find at your average supermarket.”
Magro sure has a point: Whole Foods gives West Hartford the healthiest
option around. People with wheat allergies find the widest selection of
gluten-free products. Vegetarians are in tofu heaven. And many ethnic
groups, who have had to search high and low for the ingredients specific
to their cultural foods, find exactly what they need. A grocery store
that brings people of many cultures and backgrounds together for a delicious
nutritious America? I like it.
Best of all, everything is accessible, even the help. Employees of Whole
Foods are always roaming the aisles, ready with crucial information to
aid you in your exploration. As my mother and I stood at the antipasti
bar contemplating the 14 different kinds of olives, for instance, a Whole
Foods worker came over and told us (a) where the olives originate, (b)
their various purposes, and (c) which ones taste the best. She knew her
olives, man. That’s what I like in customer service: the research.
So the ultimate question we are really boiling down to is, of course,
“What’s in it for us?” How do we as teenagers—always
looking for something to do—interact with this interesting new establishment?
Well, made possible by Whole Foods’ tidy eat-in area, we can eat
and chat, a combination that we all love. We love bright colors and lights.
We love pizza and curry chicken and chocolate and pretty much everything
else. It’s a great place for people-watching (lots of interesting
people eat health food). On the whole, Whole Foods is a wholesome place
to chill.
Or if that doesn’t satisfy you, then you can sign up for “Pesto
University,” a class all about making pesto. And for the athletic
types, take a “Whole Foods/Whole Body Workout” class which
uses fruits and veggies in your daily aerobic workout. I’m completely
serious.
Graphic/Cat Gold
Frankly, I’m just speechless. I, I......just don’t
know what to say
