The James Logan Courier

By Tawab Fakhri, Courier Technology Writer
Dynasty Warriors Gundam
For: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
From: Namco Bandai
ESRB rating: T for Teen

Namco has been working long and hard to reverse the decline in sales and ratings on their Dynasty Warriors saga. With the latest update, I think they got it right. Synergizing the popular anime series Gundam with most of the original mechanics, Dynasty Warriors Gundam takes us to a whole new level.

With two different single player modes, up to six friends in on and offline play in multi-player mode, and most of the main Mobile Suits (Gundams) in the series, DWG will have you hooked from the start. However some may ask for how long?

Courier Staff Report

A get-out-the-vote campaign by The Courier, the James Logan administration and the New Haven school district have helped online school news blog build a substantial lead over its closest rival, IvyGate, a blog serving the Ivy League universities.

The results as of about 3:30 p.m. show that The Courier has received more than 1,000 votes, while IvyGate has garnered just over 600.

Click "Read More" to see the latest totals.

Courier Staff Report

Logan Principal Don Montoya apologized to the school staff Monday for what many describe as the worst opening of school in memory.

At the school-wide staff meeting, held in the Little Theater after school, Montoya took the blame for the "Perfect Storm" of problems that have plagued teachers and students since August 29, the first day of school, even as he acknowledged that some of the problems are still ongoing.

LUNCH: Chicken Caesar Wrap, Milk, Fresh Fruit, Fun Chips
Main Cafeteria Pizza: Pork Sausage, Bell Peppers, Mushrooms, Fresh Tomato, and Olives

ACTIVITIES:
Make sure to pick up your id card and/or pictures in the Activities Office at lunch.

CLUBS:
No Mural Club this week, but be sure to attend next week in Room 86, so we can get started.

By Howard Yang, Courier Staff Writer

In today's fast-paced gaming industry, tactical shooter fans are hard pressed to find a high quality game that offers both depth of gameplay and long term replayability. Luckily for gamers, the United States Army has the answer they are looking for. America's Army: Special Forces is a online multi-player tactical shooting game that rivals the greatest titles from its genre, and best of all it's free!

Developed by the U.S. military, America's Army offers unparalleled authenticity and realism. Take the gameplay, for example, a new player must first pass a series of basic training courses in order to be given a rank and be permitted to participate in online gameplay. For those who wish to explore further, the game allows players to take on a grueling special forces training regiment that would frustrate even the most seasoned gamers. In order to become a medic, for example, the player must take an injury treatment course and even pass an exam!

By Reid Kanaley
The Philadelphia Inquirer (MCT)

With more than a million iPhones sold, we revisit the matter of how the much-hyped device from Apple Inc. stacks up with other smart phones. These Web sites have addressed the matter. If you think the issue is settled, read on.

TECHCRUNCH
Here, for business users, are results of a two-week summer test of the iPhone and a late version of the RIM BlackBerry by someone identified only as a venture capitalist. In this case, the BlackBerry comes out on top as a better telephone, with faster downloads. In posted comments, readers chide the anonymous VC for missing various features and for not testing other products.

By Karen Mui, Courier Staff Writer

Though it is well into a new school year, the clubs of James Logan continue to demonstrate their willingness to aid in charities and events in order to better the community.

As a prime example, the Logan M.E.Ch.A. club, an organization to help further the inclusion of Latino culture and history in school settings, is doing its part. M.E.Ch.A. is an acronym for Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan Instead of an individual event, the club has started a year‑round recycling event in order to raise money for various causes.

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

`RATCHET AND CLANK FUTURE: TOOLS OF DESTRUCTION'
For: Playstation 3
From: Insomniac/Sony
ESRB Rating: Everyone 10+ (alcohol reference, animated blood, crude humor, fantasy violence, language)

Everybody dances in "Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction." Doesn't matter if we're talking about a grunt, boss character, ally or even a gun turret. If you throw a Groovitron and it lands in someone's vicinity, they dance. Period.

From wikipedia:
Antoine-Joseph 'Adolphe' Sax (November 6, 1814 – February 3, 1894) was a Belgian musical instrument designer and musician (clarinetist), best known for inventing the saxophone.

Adolphe Sax was born in Dinant in Wallonia, Belgium. His father, Charles-Joseph Sax, was an instrument designer himself, who made several changes to the design of the horn. Adolphe began to make his own instruments at an early age, entering two of his flutes and a clarinet into a competition at the age of fifteen. He subsequently studied those two instruments at the Royal School of Singing in Brussels.

Read more about Adolphe Sax and the development of the saxophone and other instruments, from the Belgian website, Dinant.