By:

Bland office interior. Bleak weather. Tea and whiskey shared among old men and their young successors. If these images do not scream out “international spy thriller” to you, do not be surprised. In an age where films are filled with beautiful women, exotic locations, and explosive combat (look at the James Bond movies and the Mission: Impossible series), the Tomas Alfredson-directed Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is an apple among oranges. However, this change of pace and attention to detail is welcomed.

Continue Reading

By:

1. “Afterglow” – Phaeleh
This is real dubstep; perfect for doing homework to and not at all the “dubstep” that fills up the front page of youtube. Its room-shaking bass makes for nice homework vibes.

2. “Don’t Play No Game I Can’t Win” – Beastie Boys
The most dubby reggae chill session made by white people from Brooklyn since … ever?

3. “Heartbeat” – Childish Gambino
This guy oozes crossover appeal between races, genres and mediums. You already know him from Community, but Donald Glover can also rap Young Money under the table.

4. “Katy on a Mission” – Katy B
Continue Reading

By:

Students are quick to heap blame on their school for ugly ceilings, missing snow days, and parking snafus, but overlooked in the heap of blame shoved toward FCPS is a little shining nugget that someone got right.

I am talking about the salad bar. The salad bar, in the lunch-line furthest to the right of the cafeteria provides students not only with an alternative to an unhealthy lunch, but also with a better lunch. The result of “a confluence of good luck,” the bar is a good option for students looking to make healthy choices in the lunch line, principal Jay Pearson said.

Continue Reading

By:

The Golden Globes is traditionally a time for actresses to show off their unique red carpet style. This year, at the 69th annual ceremony on Jan. 15, there was no exception.

Actresses took risks with nude or pale colored dresses and plunging necklines. Mermaid style dresses, a prominent fashion trend at previous events in the past year, also dazzled on the red carpet last Sunday. Relaxed hairstyles and natural makeup with a pop of bright lip color accompanied the trend.

Best-Dressed:
Continue Reading

By:

This year’s freshman class is the first class required to meet the new Economics course requirement in order to graduate. Many people believe that if people learned more about economics and personal finance in high school, they would not have made some of the bad decisions that led to theContinue Reading

By:

Following a recommendation to principals from the FCPS Department of Information Technology, Statesmen are now allowed to use their smartphones, laptops and e-readers as freely as their teachers allow.

Teachers may designate their classrooms green, blue, yellow or red, with green designated as “general use” and red as “prohibited.”

“[Technology] is going to be ubiquitous,” Superintendent Jack Dale said. “The question like that is how do we use it?”

Continue Reading

By:

Have you read Looking for Alaska? You really should. As soon as possible. I say that to everyone I talk to about books, regardless of the topic of the discussion. It is my way of recognizing the quality of John Green’s writing; it is worth recommendation no matter the context. Green, who specializes in teenage slice of life/romance, has a rare gift: he can accurately write teenage characters in the first person.

Continue Reading

By:

After flying President Franklin Roosevelt to the Yalta Conference in 1945, former pilot Elmer Smith spoke on his experiences during a presentation hosted by the Social Studies Honor Society on Jan. 9.

At the event, the former colonel of the US military reminisced about his journeys around the world with important dignitaries, such as former secretary of state George Marshall.

Smith recalled experiences such as the time the plane “lost an engine with President Truman on board.”

Smith noted the differences between him and today’s pilots.

Continue Reading

By:

Surveillance systems will soon be installed in the cafeteria after the FCPS School Board approved their use in FCPS high schools on Dec. 16.

“It is a good practice for the safety and security of the staff,” principal Jay Pearson said. “For students waiting for rides, there would be a level of security and documentation.”

Continue Reading

By:

In search of the kind of charity work he had been part of in his past, senior Ryan Moore drew from his roots.

Before coming to Marshall in his junior year, Moore spent three years in Beijing, China, where, at the International School of Beijing (ISB), he was actively part of Nightingale, one of the school’s charity organizations. Nightingale is affiliated with the Ping An Medical Foster Home.

Continue Reading