The James Logan Courier

By Carmen Shiu, Courier Entertainment Editor

It has been almost five years since Maroon 5 released their first album, “Songs About Jane.” Just last week on May 22, 2007, “It Won’t Be Soon Before Long” dropped in stores. After a week of sales, Maroon 5 already made their stand of comeback as they took over the #1 spot on the Billboard 200 chart. Their new album shows growth and also allows their fans to simply dance to their amazing music. Lead singer Adam Levine is just so talented in every way possible. His touches on this album made it perfect.

Reviewed by Jessica Stewart, Courier Book Editor

The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Modern Library; New Ed edition (March 12, 2002)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0375759239
ISBN-13: 978-0375759239

“No one would have believed in the last years of the nineteenth century that this world was being watched keenly and closely by intelligences greater than man’s and yet as mortal as his own; that as men busied themselves about their various concerns they were scrutinized and studied, perhaps almost as narrowly as a man with a microscope might scrutinize the transient creatures that swarm and multiply in a drop of water. With infinite complacency men went to and fro over this globe and about their little affairs, serene in the assurance of their empire over matter.”

Beginning with such a statement might be hazardous to many authors as its keen insight and mature language raise the reader’s expectations immediately, but H. G. Wells succeeds in fulfilling these expectations. He is blatantly honest about human nature and the horrors brought about by our arrogant ignorance but his words do not offend as they are so obviously true. I have never been a huge fan of science fiction, dabbling in it a bit here and there every now and then, but I thought this novel might prove to be interesting, and I was proven right. Although the story is about extra terrestrials taking over Earth, it is also one of the more interesting commentaries about the faults and shortcomings of mankind, and the banality of heroism. It is certainly a good read, although sometimes difficult to comprehend without the help of a dictionary.

By John Chau, Courier Managing Editor

The night settles, and stars rose into the tranquil sky. On the ground however a group of desperate survivors were loading their weapons, adding debris onto the pile that was the only barrier between walking bags of fresh meat,

And the legions of zombies that was your life.

The first rotting mounds inches forwards, and across the bunker gunfire erupted. With a ‘boomstick’, you dispatch the shambling form that once volunteered at the local animal shelter, backing away to reload. Morale is low: eight grown men knew they have little chance to survive against the filth that hammered at their walls, eager for their morsel in their damnation.

Reviewed by Jacqueline Truong, Courier Staff Writer

BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse
Fashion Fair Regional Mall
715 E. Shaw Ave
Fresno , CA 93710
559.570.1900


For Mother's Day, my family and I drove in the middle of California, hoping that we can try something new—something away from the busy bay area. Literally in the middle of California: Fresno. After driving for nearly three hours, we stop by a shopping center called Fashion Fair Mall; the inner side of the shopping center consisted of mostly clothing stores, while the outer perimeter of the shopping center consisted a variety of restaurants. Since the wait for The Cheesecake Factory was literally lining out the door, we decided to try something we've never tried before (that was the purpose of the trip after all): BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse (yes, I'm
aware that there is one located in Oakridge Mall in San Jose, but, from what I hear, the service there is not that great).

By Iona Childers, Courier Foods Editor


Buca Di Beppo
643 Emerson St
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 329-0665
www.bucadibeppo.com/

As the volunteer coordinator for our Senior Ball group, there was one task that I feared above all others: trying to find a place to eat. It's times like those that I wish we didn't live near hundreds of different restaurants in the Bay Area (with food from Afghanistan to Vietnam, fish and chips to fine dining). On most occasions, the easiest way to narrow down the options would be to pick a cuisine and then go from there. Unfortunately for our group we picked Italian food; and it turns out that there are over two-hundred Italian restaurants in San Francisco alone.

Editor's Note: Two of The Courier's reviewers attended opening night showings of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End. Here are their two reviews:

Reviewed by Fermin Sierra, Courier Staff Writer


Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End opens this weekend to massive public anticipation as well as historic monetary expectations. After all, this is follow-up to one of the most successful movies of the past ten years, and potentially the end to one of the most influential franchises in box office history. Since the original Pirates was released in the summer of 2003, how many fantasy/comedy/action movies have been released in theaters? Correct, a bunch. And since many viewed last year’s Pirates sequel to be a bit of a letdown story-wise, the big question on everybody’s minds seems to be, “Is the third movie any good?”

Look below for Bethany Stringer's review.

Reviewed by Jacqueline Truong, Courier Staff Writer

At first glance, 200 Pounds Beauty may appear to follow the cliché, fairytale storyline with the ‘happily ever after’ ending; however, this Korean, romantic-comedy (personally, it should be more categorized as a melodrama) reveals how easy it is to lose one’s true self in a materialistic and superficial society.

By Carmen Shiu, Courier Entertainment Editor

Honestly, tell me who did not see that coming within the past few weeks? I know all the Blaker Girls, Melinda’s Backups, and even the LaDiva Nation had faith in their favorite American Idol contestants, the judges clearly showed their favorites lately as Jordin Sparks. With 74 million votes locked on, the amazing beatboxer Blake Lewis came in second. FOX dedicated two whole whoppin’ hours of singing, reminiscence of the past season, and Idol patting themselves on the back for Idol Gives Back.

By Carmen Shiu, Courier Entertainment Editor

It’s a brand new Mandy Moore this time around and she is here to stay. Watch her music video for her first single, “Extraordinary,” off of her newest album, “Wild Hope,” and you will see that it’s already a new turning point for this pop singer-turned actress. Moore’s fourth album, “Coverage,” exposed Moore’s desire to leave the bubblegum pop image that she was known for. She has made that stand on “Wild Hope.” Moore had the opportunity to get plenty of personal involvement with this one, finally finding her real musical self. This album will be in stores on Tuesday, June 19, 2007.

Reviewed by Jessica Stewart, Courier Book Editor

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Del Rey; Reissue edition (September 27, 1995)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0345391802
ISBN-13: 978-0345391803

“And then, one Thursday, nearly two thousand years after one man had been nailed to a tree for saying how great it would be to be nice to people for a change, a girl sitting on her own in a small café in Rickmansworth suddenly realized what it was the had been going wrong all this time, and she finally know how the world could be made a good a happy place. This time it was right, it would work, and no one would have to get nailed to anything
Sadly, however, before she could get to a phone to tell anyone about it, a terrible, stupid catastrophe occurred and the idea was lost for ever.
This is not her story.”

It is, in fact, the story of Arthur Dent and his adventures in space with Ford Prefect and various other friends after they escape Earth right before a galactic construction crew blows it up. The plot is outlandish and amusing. I often found myself giggling out loud, leading to several awkward moments as I attempted to explain what there was to laugh about without having to explain the whole plot. It was certainly worth it, though.

Reviewed by Jacqueline Truong, Courier Staff Writer

The Lives of a Cell by Lewis Thomas
Paperback: 160 pages
Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics); Reissue edition (February 23, 1978)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0140047433
ISBN-13: 978-0140047431

The Lives of a Cell by Lewis Thomas consists of twenty-nine essays that were originally published in the New England Journal of Medicine. These essays collections are a fusion of biology, language, and sociology. Thomas often connects the ‘cells’ that he speaks of to its biosphere as a whole. Moreover, Thomas’s series of essays emphasizes a central theme in regards to how the cells act like bodies, which act like species, which, in turn, act like ecosystems. He focuses his essays on the correspondence between cells and organisms, how humanity functions as one macro-organism, and the recapitulation of small cells within larger cells.

Reviewed by Jasmeen Banwait, Courier Staff Writer

Smack, By Melvin Burgess
Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen; Reprint edition (May 13, 2003)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0060521872
ISBN-13: 978-0060521875

“I’m really looking forward to being clean again. It’s this weird thing with smack. First off it makes you feel so good. But after a bit, after your body gets used to it, it stops working like that. You start needing it just to stay normal…Then you get sick of it and give it up for a few days. And that’s the really nasty thing because then, when you’re clean, that’s when it works so well.” (Excerpt from Smack, by Melvin Burgess).

Drugs, Addiction, Robbery, and Prostitution. This novel describes the life of a rebellious teenage couple living in the United Kingdom, by the names of David, better known as Tar, and Gemma.

McClatchy-Tribune News Service (MCT)

Here are the best-sellers for the week that ended Saturday, May 12, compiled from data from independent and chain bookstores, book wholesalers and independent distributors nationwide.

(Reprinted from Publishers Weekly, published by Cahners Publishing Co., a division of Reed Elsevier, USA. (c) 2007 by Reed Elsevier, USA)


HARDCOVER FICTION
1. The 6th Target. James Patterson and Maxine Paetro. Little, Brown, $27.99
Last Week: -; Weeks on List: 1
2. Simple Genius. David Baldacci. Warner, $26.99
Last Week: 1; Weeks on List: 3
3. The Yiddish Policemen's Union. Michael Chabon. HarperCollins, $26.95
Last Week: 2; Weeks on List: 2
4. I Heard That Song Before. Mary Higgins Clark. Simon & Schuster, $25.95
Last Week: 8; Weeks on List: 6
5. The Woods. Harlan Coben. Dutton, $26.95
Last Week: 5; Weeks on List: 4
6. The Children of Hurin. J.R.R. Tolkien, edited by Christopher Tolkien. Houghton Mifflin, $26
Last Week: 3; Weeks on List: 4
7. Rant. Chuck Palahniuk. Doubleday, $24.95
Last Week: 4; Weeks on List: 2
8. Nineteen Minutes. Jodi Picoult. Atria, $26.95
Last Week: 10; Weeks on List: 10
9. Body Surfing. Anita Shreve. Little, Brown, $25.99
Last Week: 7; Weeks on List: 3
10. The Good Husband of Zebra Drive. Alexander McCall Smith. Pantheon, $21.95
Last Week: 9; Weeks on List: 4

By Sarah Turner
MarketWatch (MCT)

LONDON — In the halls of a London private elementary school, in some ways not so different from the Hogwarts of J.K. Rowling's wizard world, talk turns often to the final installment of the Harry Potter saga.

Just how will students get their hands on the seventh and last Potter book, which hits the store shelves on July 21? Who will die? (Rowling herself has promised to kill off two characters.) Will stricken headmaster Dumbledore return from the dead? And what's in store for the dark lord, Voldemort, in what promises to be a page-turner extraordinaire for the under-16 crowd.

By Kim Peterson
The Seattle Times (MCT)

SEATTLE — That collective wail emanating across the Web on Wednesday was the sound of video gamers denied.

Microsoft had promised to debut a beta, or test, version Wednesday of multiplayer elements of the highly anticipated "Halo 3" for Xbox 360 users to try out.

The game would be open to players who had bought specially marked versions of another Xbox 360 game, "Crackdown."

But when players tried to access the beta, they were told to try later.

By Jacqueline Truong, Courier Staff Writer
Country Way
5325 Mowry Ave
Fremont, CA 94538
(510) 797‑3188

After hearing all the hype about Country Way, I could not help but give into
it. So, my friend and I decided to brunch there on a Tuesday, in hopes of
avoiding the weekend rush. Unfortunately, even at 10:30 in the morning,
there were swarms of people congregating at the door. The limited space in
the parking lot did not make matters any better because not only were most
of the parking spaces filled up, but it was very cramped (to the point where
I could barely open my car door and have enough space to get out of it).

This was just the beginning of our horrible experience at Country Way.

By Iona Childers, Courier Foods Editor

Shari's Restaurant and Pie Bakery
19365 SW Martinazzi Ave
Tualatin, OR 97062

After having to wake up at 5 AM last Friday to catch a flight with my family
to Portland, Oregon, I have come to two conclusions. First of all, it is
obscene to make a human being get out of bed before the sun comes up
(especially a senior who is used to late arrival and getting to school
at 9:06 AM). Second of all, eat something before you get on the plane.
Chances are the mid‑flight snack of a beverage and a pack of two cookies
just won't cut it (I'm sure the flight attendants would appreciate it if you didn't end up gnawing on your seat cushion).

By Bobbi Maas, Courier Staff Writer

A tearful goodbye was said Saturday night at the Golden Gate Theatre, as
the stars of the play Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolfe, took their final bows. Almost every seat was filled during this concluding performance and a standing ovation greeted the actors as the play came to a close.

The play was quite successful during its month long run, as many flocked to
the opportunity of seeing such stars as Kathleen Turner, a renowned movie
actress ,and Bill Irwin, a Tony award winner, depicting the well‑known
characters of Martha and George within the play. The audience had much to
say in praise of the actors, including one woman who said, "Kathleen was
phenomenal and Irwin was incredible."

By Jim Farber
New York Daily News
(MCT)

The record industry normally harvests its greatest bounty of releases in the fall.

But what's normal in the record industry these days?

Ravaged by dwindling sales — at least the legal kind — music labels have been under pressure to shake up every old strategy. Which means, among other things, added pressure from shareholders, retailers, downloading outlets, and even the bands' managers, to break the common pattern of releases and even out the flow throughout the year.

McClatchy-Tribune News Service (MCT)

Here are the best-sellers for the week that ended Saturday, May 5, compiled from data from independent and chain bookstores, book wholesalers and independent distributors nationwide.

(Reprinted from Publishers Weekly, published by Cahners Publishing Co., a division of Reed Elsevier, USA. (c) 2007 by Reed Elsevier, USA)

HARDCOVER FICTION
1. Simple Genius. David Baldacci. Warner, $26.99
Last Week: 1; Weeks on List: 2
2. The Yiddish Policemen's Union. Michael Chabon. HarperCollins, $26.95
Last Week: -; Weeks on List: 1
3. The Children of Hurin. J.R.R. Tolkien, edited by Christopher Tolkien. Houghton Mifflin, $26
Last Week: 2; Weeks on List: 3
4. Rant. Chuck Palahniuk. Doubleday, $24.95
Last Week: -; Weeks on List: 1
5. The Woods. Harlan Coben. Dutton, $26.95
Last Week: 3; Weeks on List: 3
6. All Together Dead. Charlaine Harris. Ace, $24.95
Last Week: -; Weeks on List: 1
7. Body Surfing. Anita Shreve. Little, Brown, $25.99
Last Week: 5; Weeks on List: 2
8. I Heard That Song Before. Mary Higgins Clark. Simon & Schuster, $25.95
Last Week: 6; Weeks on List: 5
9. The Good Husband of Zebra Drive. Alexander McCall Smith. Pantheon, $21.95
Last Week: 4; Weeks on List: 3
10. Nineteen Minutes. Jodi Picoult. Atria, $26.95
Last Week: 7; Weeks on List: 9

Note: Each week, The Courier spotlights books newly arrived, or expected to arrive, in the James Logan Media Center

New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Square Fish (May 15, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0312367465
ISBN-13: 978-0312367466

From stephaniemeyer.com:

"Shoot," I muttered when the paper sliced my finger; I pulled it out to examine the damage. A single drop of blood oozed from the tiny cut.

It all happened very quickly then.

Edward threw himself at me, flinging me back across the table...

I tumbled down to the floor by the piano, with my arms thrown out instinctively to catch my fall, into the jagged shards of glass. I felt the searing, stinging pain that ran from my wrist to the crease inside my elbow.

Dazed and disoriented, I looked up from the bright red blood pulsing out of my arm—into the fevered eyes of the six suddenly ravenous vampires.

Reviewed by Jessica Stewart, Courier Book Editor

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
Hardcover: 272 pages
Publisher: Random House (June 28, 2005)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1400060281
ISBN-13: 978-1400060283

“We, Miss Snow Flower of Tongkou Village and Miss Lily of Puwai Village, will be true to each other. We will comfort each other with kind words. We will ease each other’s hearts. We will whisper and embroider together in the women’s chamber. We will practice the Three Obediences and the Four Virtues. We will follow Confucian instruction as found in The Women’s Classic by behaving as good women. On this day, we, Miss Snow Flower and Miss Lily, have spoken true words. We swear a bond. For ten thousand li, we will be like two streams flowing into one river. For ten thousand years, we will be like two flowers in the same garden. Never a step apart, never a harsh word between us. We will be old sames until we die. Our hearts are glad.”

This is the contract signed by Lily and Snow Flower when they become laotongs, old sames, or as Americans call it, best friends forever. Their eight characters were matched, from their horoscopes to their foot binding, and they were deemed a perfect match. Sadly, as in all books, there has to be some conflict, and in this case it is Lily’s wish to make everything better for Snow Flower and Snow Flower’s wish to just fly away that present the central conflict. It is written beautifully. The language and the scenery truly bring to mind a China when women were relegated to their own rooms all day unless they were cooking and they endured foot binding in order to marry into a good family.

By Bobbi Maas, Courier Staff Writer

Jersey Boys
Curran Theater
445 Geary Street
San Francisco, CA 94102


Jersey Boys, a spectacular play at the Curran Theatre in San Francisco, has been extended through September due to its mammoth success. It is a
breathtaking tale of the banding together and rise to fame of the Four
Seasons, a popular band in the late fifties, who continued to play and
maintain popularity throughout the sixties. It brings to life the many
trials and tribulations that the band overcame in order to be cemented into
the sixties youth culture. The play tells their story through the bands
greatest hits, each correlating with chronological events in the lives of
the band members.

By Billy O'Keefe
McClatchy-Tribune News Service (MCT)

COMMAND & CONQUER 3: TIBERIUM WARS
For: Xbox 360
From: EA
ESRB Rating: Teen (animated blood, mild language, violence)

Game studios have tried for years to wedge real-time strategy games into our console gaming libraries, and the results have ranged from compromised ("Army Men RTS") to traumatic ("Starcraft 64").

But between the horsepower and high-definition graphics, this appears to be the generation in which the RTS gets some console cred. Case in point: "Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars," which not only comes from the genre's A-list, but also migrates from the PC to the 360 with minimal compromise and no dumbing down whatsoever.

By Diamond Floyd, Courier Staff Writer

Koi's Palace
365 Gellert Blvd
Daly City, CA

Koi's Palace, located at 365 Gellert Blvd. at the cross street of Hickey Boulevard in Daly City, is a pretty sight. Its 400-capacity seating space is accentuated with beautiful potted plants and peach-colored sheets draping from the ceiling illuminated by soft golden lights. A welcoming foyer displays a delicate glass waterwall. The atmosphere is majestic, hence the name Koi's Palace.

By Rebecca Soltau, Courier Staff Writer


Joey Basil's Pizzeria Bar and Grill
3720 Mowry Avenue
Fremont
(510)797-2900

The first impression is always the lasting impression, and I have to say, the moment you walk inside Joey Basil's Pizzeria Bar & Grill, and the delicious smell of baking pizzas and fresh pasta wafes over you, you will not forget the restaurant for a long while.

I went to Joey Basil's one night after a big volleyball game with my family, always an ordeal. But the staff handled us with extreme efficiency, getting us a comfortable booth almost the minute we walked in. Laden with water and bread sticks, our waiter arrived with menus and loads of suggestions, which were very useful considering we had almost no idea what to order.

Apple Computer Inc. (MCT)

Top 10 songs on iTunes Music Store for May 8:

1. "Makes Me Wonder," Maroon 5
2. "I'll Stand By You," Carrie Underwood
3. "Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin')," T-Pain featuring Yung Joc
4. "Never Again," Kelly Clarkson
5. "Girlfriend," Avril Lavigne
6. "Pop, Lock & Drop It," Huey
7. "(You Want To) Make a Memory," Bon Jovi
8. "Give It to Me," Timbaland featuring Justin Timberlake and Nelly Furtado
9. "Before He Cheats," Carrie Underwood
10. "Because of You," Ne-Yo

For more information, please visit the iTunes Web site at www.apple.com/itunes/.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

By Diamond Floyd, Courier Staff Writer

PlayRadioPlay! is an awesome breakthrough band that started out self-produced, released a self-produced EP on April 24th, and has accumulated over 5.9 million total song plays and over 1.7 million profile views on MySpace.

By Deuce P. Clayton, Courier Staff Writer

The New Rivals' "Fire for Effect" EP is a quick glimpse of their upcoming debut album, set to release in August. The four track preview shows a promising future for the punk band. All four tracks contain the energy and enthusiasim found in other established punk bands such as Rancid and NOFX.

"Hell is For Heroes", the opening track, showcases lead singer Toby Bevis' passionate vocals.

By Carmen Shiu, Courier Entertainment Editor

You’ve seen Corbin Bleu’s face and his signature curly hair everywhere on the Disney Channel, like their original movies “Jump In!” and the sensational “High School Musical.” Last week, this actor-turned-singer released his debut pop and R&B album, “Another Side.” Bleu is like a mix of the biggest R&B singers of today, like Usher, Chris Brown, Ne-Yo, and Omarion, but with a Disney twist. Is he the Disney pop prince in the making? More than likely.

Note: Each week, The Courier spotlights books newly arrived, or expected to arrive in the James Logan Media Center.

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 544 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers; Reprint edition (September 6, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0316015849
ISBN-13: 978-0316015844

From www.hachettebookgroupusa.com:
Isabella Swan's move to Forks, a small, perpetually rainy town in Washington, could have been the most boring move she ever made. But once she meets the mysterious and alluring Edward Cullen, Isabella's life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. Up until now, Edward has managed to keep his vampire identity a secret in the small community he lives in, but now nobody is safe, especially Isabella, the person Edward holds most dear. The lovers find themselves balanced precariously on the point of a knife—between desire and danger.

Deeply romantic and extraordinarily suspenseful, Twilight captures the struggle between defying our instincts and satisfying our desires. This is a love story with bite.

Reviewed by Jessica Stewart, Courier Book Editor

The World According to Garp by John Irving
Hardcover
Publisher: Ballantine Books (April 1999)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0345915593
ISBN-13: 978-0345915597

“’Why don’t you walk, Duncan?’
‘Why?’ Duncan said, exasperated.
So your spine won’t be severed when a car driven by a crazed teenager, or a drunken man suffering a heart attack, swipes you off the street, Garp thought—and your wonderful, warm chest is cracked against the curbstone, your special skull split open when you land on the sidewalk, and some ***hole wraps you in an old rug as if you were somebody’s pet discovered in the gutter. Then the dolts from the suburbs come out and guess who owns it (‘That green and white house on the corner of Elm and Dodge, I think’). Then someone drives you home, rings the bell and says to me, ‘Uh, sorry”; and pointing to the spillage in the bloody back seat, asks, ‘Is it yours?’ But all Garp said was, ‘Oh, go ahead, Duncan, take the bike. Just be careful!’”

This basically sums up the character of Garp, from his overactive and often disturbing imagination to his fierce desire to protect his loved ones from harm. This novel has got to be one of the best stories I have ever read. From the realistic and endearing characters to the outlandishly realistic plot, this book hooks the reader and reels ‘em in like an expert.

By Hassina Obaidy, Courier Staff Writer

Director Sam Raimi continues the trilogy of Spiderman with many twists in the storyline and intense fight sequences.

Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) and Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst) are both madly in love with each other in the beginning of the film. When MJ lands a role as a broadway singer, Peter Parker, alter-ego of Spiderman, tries to save the city by fighting crimes while working as a freelance photographer for the Daily Bugle. But tensions rise between the couple when MJ loses her part in the role and Peter fails to offer sympathy.

By Ray Dequina, Courier Opinion Editor

*Warning: potential Spider‑Man 3 movie spoilers. Because that's how a roll*

For many of us, the idea of being imbued with superpowers is something of a fun little fantasy to entertain while waiting for the bus or sitting through another boring lecture in class. After all, Superman doesn't have to wait for the bus. Superman can just faster‑than‑a‑speeding‑bullet his way over to where he wants to go. And if he doesn't want to stay in class, what's the administration going to do to him? They can't possibly pull a kryptonite‑encrusted referral on the guy; hell, they scarcely have enough funds to stop me from cutting, and I could barely beat my ex in arm wrestling.

By Billy O'Keefe
McClatchy-Tribune News Service (MCT)

XBOX 360 ELITE
From: Microsoft
Price: $479

Ask most people to describe the Xbox 360, and the words "video" and "game" are bound to come up, likely in sequence.

That's what makes the release of the Xbox 360 Elite a bit puzzling. It's the same Xbox 360 you know and maybe love, and it's still a top-notch gaming system. But there's no way Microsoft designed this with gamers in mind.

By Iona Childers, Courier Foods Editor


Koi Sushi Boat
1737 Decoto Rd
(between Alvarado Niles Rd & Meyers Dr)
Union City, CA 94587
(510) 324-1690


Ever since freshman year, Koi Sushi Boat has been my favorite place to eat lunch
on days when school ends early. Over the years, I realized that this is also
the favorite spot of teachers and administrators from Logan as well, and for
good reason!

By Bethany Stringer, Courier Staff Writer



Yoshi's Japanese Restaurant & World
Class Jazz House
510 Embarcadero W
Oakland, CA 94607
(510) 238-9200

With the prospect of a wonderful night of jazz and sushi, who could say no? I certainly couldn't when I was asked to join a few friends at Yoshi's on a Monday night to enjoy the Chabot jazz band as they performed in the jazz club adjacent to the restaurant itself. Though you don't need to eat in the club in order to enjoy the great food, the atmosphere is one that cannot be duplicated.

Apple Computer Inc. (MCT)

Top 10 albums on iTunes Music Store for May 2:
1. "It Won't Be Soon Before Long," Maroon 5
2. "Because of You," Ne-Yo
3. "Call Me Irresponsible," Michael Buble
4. "The Reminder," Feist
5. "Indiana," Jon McLaughlin
6. "Snakes & Arrows," Rush
7. "Back to Black," Amy Winehouse
8. "Favourite Worst Nightmare," Arctic Monkeys
9. "Lost Highway," Bon Jovi
10. "Idol Gives Back Charity Album," various artists

For more information, please visit the iTunes Web site at www.apple.com/itunes/.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

By Carmen Shiu, Courier Entertainment Editor

After a year of great songs from Ne-Yo, some of his own and some of his own writing material for other artists, he is back with a brand new album. “Because of You” (which undergone four title changes) hit stores Tuesday. Ne-Yo’s has yet changed since the style from his debut album, “So Sick,” shares a minimal difference with this new one. Like “So Sick,” Ne-Yo illustrates relationship troubles and romantic nights with his musical talents. Guest appearances include Jay-Z and Jennifer Hudson in this 12-tracked album.

Note: Each week, The Courier spotlights books newly arrived, or expected to arrive, in the James Logan Media Center

Poison, by Chris Wooding
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Scholastic Point (April 2, 2007)
ISBN-10: 0439943922
ISBN-13: 978-0439943925

From ChrisWooding.com:
Poison is a twisted fairytale fantasy about one girl's journey to reclaim her stolen infant sister. To do so she has to enter a world where humans are the lowest form of vermin, where a murderous pantheon of demigods plot and scheme to overthrow one another, and where someone is planning to do away with humankind altogether. But not before everything she knows as reality is turned upside down…

Reviewed by Jessica Stewart, Courier Book Editor

By Fire and By Sword by Elaine Coffman
Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Mira (April 1, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0778322882
ISBN-13: 978-0778322887

“She passed stone houses, where rows of chimneys blew wraithlike smoke into the frigid air. Occasionally, sprays of glittering snow driven by currents of wind slid from the pitched roofs and fell onto the walkway. The afternoon would soon begin to fade, already the number of people she saw was diminishing. The world around her was cold and white and terribly silent, as if she were the only person left on earth.”

This desolate scene one encounters upon first opening By Fire and By Sword foreshadows the terrible events that the main character, Lady Kenna Lennox, is destined to face, and also shows the reader how good Coffman is at describing the scenery beautifully. Sadly, the wonderful descriptions are the only redeeming qualities of the novel.

By Billy O'Keefe
McClatchy-Tribune News Service (MCT)

POKEMON: DIAMOND
POKEMON: PEARL
For: Nintendo DS
From: Game Freak/Nintendo
ESRB Rating: Everyone

Go ahead and egg it on, but Game Freak isn't rocking the boat. The arrivals of "Pokemon: Diamond" and "Pokemon: Pearl" mark the series' long-overdue debut on the Nintendo DS, but anyone expecting a revolution should probably just stop waiting. Game Freak's baby hasn't changed much since it debuted nine years ago, and the series' incredible enduring popularity merely validates the developer's refusal to break what isn't broken.

The game remains the same: You're a rookie Pokemon trainer with big dreams of winning the Pokemon League Championship. To do so, you collect and train Pokemon, which you then employ in turn-based battles against other trainers, your archrival and some bad guys who want more than a trophy cup.