The James Logan Courier

By Rene Rodriguez
McClatchy Newspapers (MCT)

MIAMI — Halfway through the filming of "The Road," director John Hillcoat made a difficult decision: No matter what, he was going to remain faithful to Cormac McCarthy's novel, about a father and son traveling across a post-apocalyptic landscape _ even if such a promise meant shooting a seemingly unfilmable scene involving cannibals and a baby.

By Billy O'Keefe
McClatchy-Tribune (MCT)

What does a sequel look like when it's turned around in a year by a studio notorious for taking twice as long to develop an episodic expansion pack?

Actually, if you're the audience Valve is targeting with "Left 4 Dead 2," it looks pretty good. "L4D2" is a wholly incremental upgrade over its 2008 predecessor, but it hits all the marks — new campaigns, new characters, new modes and new infected freaks to play as online — it needed to hit to command another $60 from play who still have the original in heavy rotation.

Elementarily speaking, "L4D2" changes nothing: It's a first person shooter, starring you as one of four human survivors navigating a zombie apocalypse (this time, in New Orleans and its outskirts). The objective: Kill hordes of attacking zombies, and less common but exponentially more dangerous special infected, whose attacks are more powerful and harder to circumvent.
As per last time, the game splits into five bite-sized, hour-plus-long campaigns, and it dynamically rearranges how and from where the infected attack each time you play. You can take on campaigns solo (with three A.I.-controlled allies) or with friends (two-player split-screen, up to four online).

By Brandie Moore, Courier Books Editor

At midnight, the premier of Twilight’s second movie, New Moon, opened in theaters.

Many, many people went to the theater at Union Landing to attend this event. Some may have expected the throngs of Twilight fans to just be teenage girls , but there were actually many adults and children, boys and girls. People came early to wait in line for the multiple showings of the film.

“I came around 6 p.m. and the line was already started. I was amazed. I think this movie is going to do really well. The only bad thing about this situation though is that they make you wait outside and it’s so cold out here.” Sally, a fan of Twilight, said.

By Brandie Moore, Courier Book Editor

Pink, also known as Alecia Moore, came out with her 5th CD in 2008.

Her previous albums include Can't Take Me Home, M!ssundaztood, Try This, and I'm Not Dead. All of her CD's have been successful, but her single "So What" on her new CD Funhouse has become her first number one hit since "Lady Marmalade," which she sang with Christina Aguilera, Mya, and Lil' Kim. "Lady Marmalade" was a massive hit in both the United States and the U.K.

By Beatrice Esteban, Courier Staff Writer

Underground Japanese producer Nujabes (real name Jun Seba) emerged onto the scene in 2003 with melodic, jazz-based beats and meaningful lyrics. People from both Japan and other countries developed an appreciation and respect for his music, finding it to be a stark contrast to mainstream hiphop’s repetitive hooks and misogynistic lyrics. Over the years he has not disappointed listeners, collaborating with other producers and artists to deliver such albums as 2005’s Modal Soul. The follow-up Mellow Beats, Friends & Lovers, released in July of this year, was intended on preserving his reputation as a musical mastermind.

By Eric Brown, Courier Music Editor
The supergroup is a volatile entity. Whether one chooses to look at the ensembles formed by jazz titans in the 1950’s and 60’s or collaborations of a more modern bent, bands composed of various famous musicians rarely meet their expectations. The occasional supergroup, such as famous Eric Clapton project Cream, enjoys success and prospers, but for the most part supergroups collapse quickly due to infighting or simply fail to produce good music.

By Olivia Guitron, Courier Staff Writer


My Sister’s Keeper is a sad and tragic story of a girl who was created just to be a provider for her sister. This novel presents various characters’ points of view and fleshes out the story with their contributions.


Anna has been artificially created to be a perfect genetic match for her sick older sister, Kate, who has leukemia. Anna, fed up with having to use her body without directly being asked, reaches a breaking point when she is asked to give up her kidney for her sister. She hires a lawyer for medical emancipation: being free from having to give up her body parts without her consent.

By Gabriele Di Fiore, Courier Staff Writer


Twelve Angry Jurors is a play about a jury that cannot reach a verdict. The case is about a black teenage boy accused of murdering his father. I included the word "black" because this play is set in the 1950's, a time when racism was still open and obvious in a lot of places.


Even in the jury room.

By Leslie Espino, Courier Staff Writer
The Courier received a free review copy of this book from the publisher.


It’s been a few months since I got my dad’s car, and I still know little about it, but after reading Erika Stalder’s In The Drivers Seat: A girl’s guide to her first car, I am more confident that I can fix my own car.


The way she explained things made things so simple to understand, and the illustrations helped me out a lot as well.

By Troy Wolverton
San Jose Mercury News (MCT)

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Sezmi, a Silicon Valley startup that's pioneering a new type of TV service, is opening up a public test of its system Monday in California.

Consumers in the San Francisco area and Los Angeles who are accepted into the program will be able to test out Sezmi's service for free for about three months.

In Los Angeles, Sezmi's service will offer cable TV channels such as the Comedy Channel, TNT and CNN; Internet video from such sites as YouTube; 6,000 on-demand movies and television shows, as well as local broadcast channels. In the Bay Area, Sezmi won't be offering cable programming — at least not initially — but will include everything else.

By Billy O'Keefe
McClatchy-Tribune (MCT)

If you're one of those poor souls who enjoys the trappings of a good role-playing, real-time strategy and/or tower defense game, then boy, does "Half-Minute Hero" have a wholly unique and brilliantly original deal for you.

"Hero" arrives divided into three (and, after a little unlocking, six) pieces, with each piece representing an era in the game's storytelling legend. Additionally, four of them represent a separate popular (and, in three cases, traditionally complex) gaming genre. The "Hero 30" chapter is "Hero's" answer to role-playing games, while "Evil Lord 30," "Princess 30" and "Knight 30" respectively take on tactical strategy, overhead 2D arcade shooting and tower defense.
"Hero's" willingness to cover all four of these bases is potentially remarkable in its own respect, but it's how the game does it — and where it gets the "Half-Minute" part of its name — that elevates it to a world all its own.

By Anjelica Ramos,
Courier Staff Artist
The Courier received free tickets to this show from a promotion company.

The Glamour Kills Tour, which stopped in San Francisco Wednesday, was completely crazy from the beginning. I arrived around 5 PM and the line was already wrapping around the venue and into the alleyway next to the Grand Ballroom at the Regency Center. Being in San Francisco, I was freezing waiting near the buses that held the headlining band, All Time Low. Every time one of the boys came out, someone screamed fanatically. It started off my night at a bad point because I just thought that was annoying and I was so cold.

By Anjelica Ramos, Courier Staff Artist

PacTour, a series of shows by a variety of music acts, sponsored by clothier PacSun, stopped by San Francisco's Sunday.

This stop of the tour consisted of local San Francisco band Picture Me Broken, Eye Alaska, Innerpartysystem, and P.O.S., with Saosin as the headliner. The show took place at The Fillmore. There was also an in-store acoustic performance that took place at the San Francisco Shopping Centre in PacSun.

By Eric Brown, Courier Music Editor
The Courier received a free review copy of Esmee’s single, and other promotional materials, as well.

In the modern age of technology the Internet has altered many aspects of daily life, so it is not surprising that the music business has changed dramatically. For the past few years artists have been taking advantage of promotions on social networking websites such as MySpace and Facebook to expand their audience and exhibit themselves to record company executives who are eager to find the radio stars of tomorrow. The undeniably talented Esmee Denters is one the few musicians who have emerged from the sea of mediocre Internet hopefuls to acquire a chance in the legitimate music world.

By Olivia Guitron, Courier Staff Writer

This year is one of the most exciting years in Union City and at Logan. Logan will be celebrating, big time, with many events this weekend. This is the 50th anniversary of Union City being established as a city, and of Logan as the only public high school in Union City.

Firstly, there will be a homecoming game on Friday, November 13 at 7 p.m. There will be a show by the Marching band and the Colorguard at halftime, so surely if football is not your thing, you should go for the band performance and the Colorguard, as well, not to mention the Homecoming Floats which are sure to impress. After the game there will be a “Meet and Greet” where food, like cake and refreshments will be provided,. This would be a good time to socialize and meet other students and families that you do not normally see during a hectic school day.

By Olivia Guitron, Courier Staff Writer

A new band that just hit the market with its first album is Hot Chelle Rae, or HCR for short. “Lovesick Electric”. As such, I must say that, for beginners, they definitely know how to put a song together.

Their music is comprised of good lyrics that are catchy. Their songs get stuck in your head for hours at a time, plus their music is phenomenal. Their bassist can really put out a good beat. Take, for example, the song “Say (Half Past Nine),” which starts and ends with a superb mix of guitar, bass, and drums.

By Gabriele Di Fiore, Courier Staff Writer

Logan Live, James Logan televised morning announcement and news show, remains off the air while repairs and upgrades to the school's video distribution system are undertaken.

Shortcomings in the distribution system, which have prevented much of the school from seeing the student-produced daily show, and the need to move the show from its old home on channel 45 to channel 75, forced the show off the air until the issues are resolved, said James Rardin, the video production teacher.

By Billy O'Keefe
McClatchy-Tribune (MCT)

It's been only four years since "Guitar Hero" first took the planet by storm, but an oversaturation of incremental sequels, offshoots and competitors' products has made it feel at least twice as long.

How nice, then, that "DJ Hero" has the gall not only to freshen up the landscape, but do so with greater concern for achieving its vision than trying to please everybody the way its spiritual predecessors so often have.
"Hero" shares structural similarities to its guitar-based cousins, and during the first tutorial lesson, it appears to be the same old game with a new controller and soundtrack. Notes slide toward you down a track, and you need to press the correct buttons in time with those notes. Been there, right?

By Alyssa Pimentel, Courier School News Editor
Jenjon’s Café, conveniently located near the Logan campus, has become a hit among teens that wants a good meal for a cheaper price offered at the popular and overcrowded Tapioca Express.

Jenjon’s Cafe, though small for a restaurant, seem to provide more room than Tapioca because barely anyone goes there. The service by these workers is speedy and given with a friendly smile.

When entering the café, they greet you and give you a menu where you can order from a variety of foods such as sandwiches, burgers, salads, and other favorites like hot wings. With that order, you can buy smoothies, coffee, milk tea and other drinks.

By Beatrice Esteban, Courier Staff Writer
On our trip to Waikiki, my family and I were unaccompanied by extended family members who knew the area, so we were unaccustomed to the streets and places to go. We were walking along Kailana Road looking for a place to eat, and my dad began to make small talk with one of those seemingly-annoying people that pass out fliers. He gave my dad a flier that promised ten percent off breakfast, so we went to try the restaurant.

Due Divino is an Italian restaurant located on Ena Road, near the ABC convenience store. It’s a small little “hole-in-the-wall” restaurant next to a tattoo place. Not exactly what you’d envision for a “nice” breakfast, but my family and I were definitely willing to give it a try.

By Ranjana Prasad, Courier Staff Writer

Candace Nelson founded Sprinkles Cupcakes. Her great grandmother had a restaurant in San Francisco and was renowned for her wonderful desserts during the 1930s. So as a result of this Candace and her husband decided to continue this and they opened their own cupcake bakery in Beverly Hills. The legacy of her great grandmother still continues.

Sprinkles, billed as the world's first cupcake bakery, has now spread to many other states and they have established a place in the Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto. Also, stores will be opening in many more places in the future.

By Micah Mahinay, Courier Staff Writer

The Evil 105 Subsonic Spookfest took place on October 30 at the Cow Palace. It was the debut of the first Subsonic Electronic music festival created by the one and only Bay Area alternative radio station, Live 105.

The festival featured had various dj’s and bands performing live on had two stages. The Death Dome, also known as the main stage, had performances by The Faint, Basement Jaxx, The Crystal Method, Diplo plus much more. The Deadly Disco Dungeon, the second stage, had dj’s and dj duos such as Dj Omar, Classixx, Paparazzi, Designer Drugs, Le Castle Vania, Steve Aoki, and Flosstradamus.

By Anjelica Ramos, Courier Staff Artist
In The Lovely Bones, by Alice Sebold, Susie Salmon, is a 14-year-old girl who lived in Norristown, Pennsylvania. On December 6th, 1973, Susie was murdered by one of her neighbors. The book is narrated by Susie, who is living in her own personal heaven that is filled with everything she could ever want and imagine. There she is able to watch all the people she once knew, from her family, her friends, even her crush, Ray Singh, continuing on with their lives after her death.

The only thing that troubles her in her perfect world is that her murderer, George Harvey has cleaned up his tracks so well that he will not be caught. Although her father later suspects that Mr. Harvey was, in fact, the one who did it. He tells the sheriff, Len Fenerman, of his suspicion, but Len cannot charge him for any crime because there is not nearly enough evidence.

By Krislyn Perez, Courier Staff Writer

The Diary of Mattie Spencer by Sandra Dallas is an incredible story of hardship from the year 1865 to 1869. Mattie Spencer is not beautiful and considered plain and an old maid by the people of her small Iowa town. So when the most handsome man of Fort Madison, Iowa, Luke Spencer, asks Mattie to be his wife, everyone is surprised.

Everyone had expected him to be with the beautiful and delicate Persia Chalmers who he had always had some kind of relationship with. Luke proposed to Mattie with “You are a suitable cook and well made for work, and you’ll have plenty of that where we’re going. You are a strong-minded woman and not given to foolish ways. I’m glad you’re not the kind to attract men like bees around honey… I’m bound for Colorado and if you’re agree able, you may come, too.” As you can see, there was no mention of love in this proposal. No hint of any feeling.

By Krislyn Perez, Courier Staff Writer

Lynn Weingarten’s Wherever Nina Lies tells the story of a 16-year-old girl named Ellie.

When Ellie was 14 her sister, Nina, the person she looked up to and adored most, ran away from home. Since then Ellie has been obsessed with finding her sister, but Nina never came back. Ellie eventually accepts that her sister is gone and stops talking about her altogether.

Two years later at a thrift store, Ellie finds a picture that Nina has drawn and left in a book. Ellie then throws accepting her sister’s disappearance out the window and decides to look for her sister.

Through a community bulletin board Ellie finds news of a party going on that her sister would most likely be attending and decides to attend the party herself. She has no luck finding her sister, but instead finds a cute boy named Sean who is willing to help her find Nina. So with Sean’s help Ellie goes on a cross-country road trip to find Nina. As you can probably predict, Sean and Ellie become very close and “fall in love.”

By Billy O'Keefe
McClatchy-Tribune (MCT)

If "Fallout 3" represented the courtship phase in the inevitable marriage of role-playing games and first-person shooters, then "Borderlands" marks the co-habitation period. There are some messy revelations that weren't apparent before and will need addressing in the future, but for right now, the net effect is pretty nice.

The changing tide is apparent almost immediately: Following a brief storyline introduction that doubles as a tutorial, "Borderlands" drops you into a gameplay flow that's more indicative of a massively multiplayer RPG than a first-person shooter. Different spots on the map post missions, and you're free to simultaneously take on as many as are available. A few of them trigger storyline advancements, but most (even those central to the story) offer little more than some dialogue text inside the mission info screen.