Technology Now and Tomorrow (TNT)

TNT Technology now and tomorrow

By: Hazam C.

By: Cezar A.

By JPG

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Table of Contents Page 4 A Journalism Journey Page 5 Gun Club Shoots into LASA

Page 6 Tech Council Of LASA

Page 8 Homework Distracter Page 10 The Fallen Plumber Page 12 Dork Syndrome

Page 14 Most Recent Consoles

Page 20 Biography

Page 16 My Christmas

Technology Wishlist Page 18 The World’s 10 Most

Expensive Cars Page 23 Jump Page

TNT

A Journalism journey

How one teacher left the newsroom for the classroom.

K

By: Hazam C.

Picture taken by Hazam C.

endra Young waits by her door, greeting everyone in her presence.

She stands attentively at the door until the last block bell rings, letting her know that all of her E-Zine students should be in class and seated.

Young teaches a class called E-Zine that is only found at LASA. Ms. Young has been teaching in this school for over 3 years now, teaching most of what she knows to help students learn about new ideas.

Ezine is a required class that the Liberal Arts and Science Academy teaches. It is so that the students are more up to date with technological improvements and to make their writing and design skills.

Students work with computer programs such as Indesign and Photosho. Young said, “E-Zine was first introduced when I came here”. Before E-Zine there was just a journalism class that did not use the technology we use today.

When Young first started, they told her to make a class about an electronic magazine. And so E-Zine was made bringing with it the technology of the computer combined with the previous thought journalism class.

Young enjoys journalism.

“Now a day, journalism is moving online, and if I wanted to teach a media based class, then I had to also teach technology along”. Her

Kendra Young is helping a student of E-Zine on his computer work.

passion for the media seemed to fit thing she is the most interested in, into E-Zine since that is the center It was not easy for Young vase as to why Young was confito attain this job though. She first dent to teach it in the first place. had to get her bachelors degree in

If Young had the opporjournalism, and over 50 hours of tunity, she would enjoy teaching journalism credit. history as well as English. “ I

Besides her degree and her would never change it for E-Zine credit hours, Young Worked at though because you can get a little the Austin American-Statesmen, bit of both in the stories written” and as an editor of her college she said with a joyful expression newspaper. ““I think that the in her afternoon day. Even though experiences i had with the Austin she has been teaching this for over American-Statesmen and as an three years, she is still loyal to the editor in my college helped me out subject that she teaches, since it is more than any class that I took” on the media and journalism, the Continue on back....

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By: Cezar A.

Gun Club Shoots into LASA Ronny Risinger thinking about that the 2nd amendment has been ignored ever since. Until two senior girls come to him and tell him that they wanted to learn from and create a Gun Club and Mr. Risinger says yes to it. So Mr. Risinger goes to the office and tells Mr. Sanchez if he could create a Gun club. So Mr. Sanchez says of course with no resistance. his story will be about what Gun wanted to learn more about guns.

Club is and who is sponsoring it.

“Knowing that I had a I’m also going to say what other stu- background growing up in the dents think about Gun Club. Even country. They came to me and what they do in Gun Club and what asked me about guns and asked they talk about. I think this story is if they can form a Gun Club and important because I want to let some so we did,” said Ronny Risinger. other students know about an awe- when the girls told him that some club that I am in and that other they wanted to make a Gun Club, students and teachers should be in. they filled the Club formation

Gun Club is, “An organi- sheet and sent it to the office. zation that is devoted to learning “I think so. I think that the about the proper use and handling Mr. Sanchez has always been very of fire arms,” as stated by Ronny supportive of Gun Club since this exRisinger, the sponsor of Gun Club. ception. He did not give me any resisHe says that Gun Club was cre- tance to the formation of the Club. It ated by two senior girls three years was formed with no problems at all.” ago who found a bibi gun in their So when Mr. Risinger told Mr. garage and started shooting it and Sanchez, the principle of LASA found the gun fascinating and high school, about forming Gun

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Club he was okay with no problems or arguments about the club.

“I think that when they came in they didn’t know the difference between shotguns, rifles, revolvers, semi-automatic pistols.

They didn’t the difference between any of these, so when they left, not only had they learned the differences between them, they have learned how to use them.”

So the girls knew nothing about guns. Not even on how to cock it or to put the safety on.

“Absolutely gun safety is always something that needs to be talked about at first and so our first meeting we have talked about gun safety. You the basic principles that you know every gun is loaded and don’t point at anything you don’t want to kill. You be aware of things down in range. Just the basic principles that if learned and if every time will avoid accidents.”

Mr. Risinger always knows that safety is first and should never be avoided. That’s why in the Gun Club meetings he teaches all of the students on how to be safe with these weapons.

Continued on page 23

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Tech Council Of LASA

By JPG

O

n the hallways of the requirements to be in this class. To like a class that will make your Liberal Arts and Sci- get in to STAC class, you would have head hurt with too much work. ence Academy, there lies to have a resume, keep a GPA of “My favorite thing about hidden saviors. Saviors around 3.0, and of course have some this class is that it’s first period.” that ensure the education of their experience working with computers. Ismael says “It’s good to start the fellow students, through the use Though, people shouldn’t be day with something you like.” of their knowledge. These students intimated by these things. Students This class is always the first are known as the students of STAC. in this class weren’t forced to be in period of the day if you are interest The student ed, and just like what Ismael technology adminis- “My favorite thing about said, it’s a good thing to start tration council, better the morning with somethis class is that it’s first known as STAC, is a thing relaxing, so you will class composed of stu- period.” Ismael says “It’s not be like a normal tired dents whose job is to student, but one that might fix computers, replace good to start the day still want to be in school but things like programs with something you like.” is not complaining about it. in the computers, or It’s also a good thing that install computers for a whole class- there. Students of STAC like to be it starts in first period since it room. This class is an important in there because of various reasons. means that most students would part of LASA, for it makes sure that “I like it because I’m notice if something is wrong with students have what it needs to learn. a nerd”, said by Ismael, an- their computer and reports it to

“To ensure that computers other student of STAC. their teacher, and then have STAC work for students”, Jordan, a stu- Other thing to like is that work on it, so that students in dent from STAC, says, is the basic even though there is hard work later periods will not complain. responsibility these students have. in this class, there is an opposite STAC is a class that pre This class also benefits side to this class. This class is of pares students for computer jobs the school. It saves money for the course always not busy, in fact, students in this class wish to have. school, because the one’s doing the work only comes once every few “This class gives you experiwork are the students themselves days. This means that students in ence [for the future]” says Jordan. and so the school doesn’t have to this class have plenty of free time. hire someone to fix these comput- “I do homework [in STAC]” ers, or do what STAC already does. commented by Jordan, which

Being in this class is like proves that the class isn’t all work. having a job for the students except, Though it may prepare it’s easier and you don’t get paid for students for the future they have being in the class. Though, there are with computers, this class isn’t

TNT

By John Patrick G.

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Homework “Oh man I wasted 10 minutes chatting with J.P.�

Distracter Person 1

I

sit down front of the computer doing my reading essay that is due tomorrow. “Oh look!, J.P. wants to chat with me”. Well I can chat for a minute. “Oh man I wasted 10 minutes chatting with J.P.” Well I got to get back to work and I only have 5 minutes before I go to sleep.

When kids are doing homework on the computer they will soon get a chat request from one of their friends on Gmail, Facebook, MySpace, or get on computer games. Then they say that they are just going to be on for a minute, but then it turns into an hour and then they remember that they were doing their homework that is way more important.

Some examples are that they will stay longer chatting than they will be able to use that to finish their homework, but they waste that time by chatting. Also they don’t back to their homework until they finish chatting. They can’t multitask by being in chat mode and homework mode at the same time. Even they keep on chatting when they have to do homework because kids are easily distracted and want to do something more fun to do than homework. Unfortunately, this isn’t a good habit to get into because they will end up with very low grades at school and won’t be able to change it.

I know this from experience because every time I am doing my homework on the computer, I always

Person 1

get a chat request. I start chatting with that person for 10 min or so; It gets so sddicting after the first few words that I cannot stop doing it until someone exits out. I later remember that I have to finish homework but I’m allways to busy chatting that I can never get back into my home work until the next day. When this happens in that morning I don’t have time to finish it because I was to busy chatting or play video games last night, then doing my homework. What I will do to stop this is that I will get off these chatting sites and computer games and continue doing homework and not get on them until I’m done with all my homework.

A better way to chat and still do your homework with help from your friends is chat about the homework like “What was the homework?, what did you do for this problem?, how did you get that answer?, what was on the sience quiz/test?. Some people say that kids need to use self-control with these sites, but I think the Internet needs to be turned off completely (or just avoid any distracting sites altogether) when working on homework.

By: Cezar A. 9

TNT

T H E F A L L E N PLUMBER

By: Hazam C

O

ver 28 years ago, the world was introduced to a new hero, a new role model. a new world, a new God. Nowadays that hero is falling, he’s losing his heat, his popularity is declining, they call him...Mario.

I think that Mario games are becoming too boring and they are bringing Mario’s popularity down. Since Nintendo makes multiple Mario games every year, it seems that they don’t spend enough time in each one. Nintendo is murduring Mario.

I think that Nintendo has run out of ideas because with weird story lines, and the repetition of games. On the Mario games for the Nintendo DS, the only thing that Nintendo did was to make better graphics than the N64, but other than that, It is the same thing. Then in the new system called Wii, Nintendo made Mario in outer space called Mario galaxy, the same basic story, but in outer space and different game play. I believe that Mario Galaxy was the last interesting game that Nintendo has made yet, because of the cool graphics that the game has. But other than that it is the same storyline just in outer space. Mario Sunshine had a bad story line, I mean, how fun a game that you have to clean? It feels that Mario is losing popularity because of the pointless storylines and games that Nintendo has given Mario.

Mario sluggers was not a really good game that Nintendo made, Nintendo might have taught that they were losing popularity so they placed Mario in a baseball game. Later in the same year Nintendo made Mario and Sonic in the Olympic games, not that successful either.

Most of the game reviews rated these games with really low scores. Most of the game magazines like Nintendo power and game informer gave super Mario sluggers and Mario and Sonic in the Olympics a low score like a 5.5, not even a passing grade. They should spend more time and release one game a year or two, and spend that time creating the game, then if it good, they could sell it for more money and make the same profit as selling all those boring games.

Another reason that Nintendo is killing Mario is because they mix Mario with other boring characters. I do not think that Mario and sonic make a good couple, sonic is way different than Mario and they cannot be placed together. It is obvious that sonic is way faster and more of an athlete than Mario so that won’t make him popular but the opposite.

Every one that I know does not like that mix, and would have proffered Mario to be in his own Olympic video game instead of a game with Sonic.

There are still many Mario fans out there who buy these games to support their hero but they have to face the fact that some of the games are not good. I believe that Nintendo should spend more time in creating cool and interesting games, instead of making more and more boring games, that way Mario won’t lose its heat. They could also stop making Mario and Sonic games, even if they make a little profit out of them. There still are people who buy these games because of Mario, but it is pointless.

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TNT

Illustration copyright J.Pittman 2009 with permission of the illustrator

By: Michi DeSantiago

Dork Syndrome

By JPG

T

he best way to know if you have a computer virus is to check if you feel a cold wind passing through your scalp. This way of checking is one of the many things a person could tell if you have a computer virus. This computer virus is more commonly know as dork syndrome, which is the term we will be using for the rest of this paper. Dorks do different kind of things that make them dorks, and one of the ways to make someone a dork is to be addicted to an online game. Dorks can be classified even if you can’t see them in person. In my experience of playing online games, I have seen many dorks and have discovered a few ways of classifying them.

Though, the first thing that has to be known is that I

think dorks should avoid being classified because it makes them look bad, instead I advise that they be themselves so they can get actual friends in both a game and real life.

Most dorks would not admit their dorks in a game, in fact they would deny it badly.

Of course, if you accuse them of being a dork and they deny it, it wouldn’t necessarily mean that they are a dork. One way you could tell is by the way they act. Some dorks online try to hide their real faces by trying to act popular in real life. They do this by what a dork would think a popular person would do, which is usually seen in television.

Basically, they act like little children that copy what they see. By doing this, it makes them look more like a dork rather than popular. This way is not 100% accurate, this is mostly effective on my area just because people don’t act what they see in television.

“An old dork trying to be young says....I don’t have a life, ever”

9. Used Art credit to graphicshunt.com

When classifying dorks, people would have to know some variety of dorks. Most people should have seen some dorks in their life, and one type of online dork is an probably an old dork trying to be a cool kid. This is probably one of the saddest kind of dorks just because an old dork trying to pretending to be young spells out “ I don’t have a life, ever.” There are other kinds of dorks but I will have to let others classify those kinds since their not as sad as an old man living alone pretending to be cool when their actually complete dorks. This is basically masking a person completely, which I think is very bad because it’s like the real dork doesn’t even exist.

There is also another bad thing about dorks, which is some ways they act to hide their dorks. One of these ways is making fun of other dorks. This is an alert way of figuring out whose a dork. This is because it takes one to know one. Most of these dorks play it like in a story. They act like another person and make fun of other dorks to make it look it like their not dorks, but in truth their just

talking to themselves by saying things like “ You dork, you play way too much.” or “You take this games way too seriously.” This comments are may not always come from dorks, but when they do, it would be phrased in a way television would say which is “When you make insult others, you are insulting yourself,” or something like that.

My point is that dorks should never act like their someone else just because it makes them look complete losers because their so obvious. Dorks should admit their dorks, and some good things will happen and some bad things might happen, but it should all turn out well in the end. To some it up, it is basically something like “Be yourself, and you will find it easier to find where you belong.”

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TNT

‘09 Gaming

Nintendo Wii

PSP Go

The Nintendo Wii was first introducen to america in November 16th 2006. The Wii has been a best seller since then, having made over 44.96 million copies world wide, and selling over 15 thousand copies a week.

The Nintendo intrudeced a new gameplay with the nunchuck and Wii whireless remote. The player recives a more in-game feeling with the sensor in the mote. The gamer can also use the Wi-Fi Wii shop to buy Wii channels and even download some of their favorite old school games.

The PSP Go is one of Sony’s most recent released systems. The PSP first came out in america on october the first, 2009. The PSP GO is a hand held sytem. Unlike it’s previous version, the PSP 3000, the PSP Go does not require a UMD( game disc) in order to play games. This is less of an advantage to game store owners and the gamers themselves because of the game trading/exchange. Gamers will now have to acces s the PSP Netwoer to purchase, and download the games they want. On the good side, the PSP GO is much smaller, comes with built in memory, and bluetooth compatability.

Nintendo DSi

Nintendo fist introduced the DSi in agust 5th 2009. The NDSI is a new upgrated version of nintendo’s last hand held syste, the Nintendo Ds Lite. The only disadvantage is the removed gameboy advance gartridge sloth. With two built in camaras and the touch experience, makes the gamer have a better game play and enjoyment.

Along with some of the upgrades, Nintendo added a whireless DSi shop where gamers can buy some apps.

With the Dsi, people can play and mix their favorite music, record and play sounds.

Consoles By: Hazam C

PS3

The Ps3 ( Plays tation 3) is the third generation of Sony’s plays station family. The Ps3 was first introduced to America in november 17th 2006. The Ps3 has the best graphic desighns of all systems, giving the gamer a more realistic visual gameplay. With the Playstation Network, the gamer can take the gaming experience to the next level and compeat ove the web. The Ps3 is also compatible with blue-ray high definition movies.

XBox 360

PsP 3000

The XBox 360 is the second generation of Microsoft’s family of XBox. America was introduced to the 360 inNovember 22, 2005 The XBox 360 is a unique console because of it’s graphic design and the gameplay experience. With it’s good game story lines and graphic desighn, the XBox 360 gives the gamer a better gaming experience. Like the other consoles, the XBox is able to acess the web with XBox live where you are able to play with gamers world wide or friends arround the corner.

The PsP 3000 comes along with the PSP Go. The PsP 3000 is a symilar version of the Psp Go but unlike the Psp Go, the 3000 is compatible with UMD( game discs). The PsP is the third generation of Sony’s PsP. This newer model comes with a built in microphone for skype, and the most recent version of the playstation network. The PsP was introduced in america in october of 2008. Players can acces the the web trough a whireless system, download music, videos and pictures.

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TNT The Toshiba L300 Satellite Laptop Price: $498.98 Why it’s cool: it is an laptop to use the internet, for work, play movies, and play computer games.

Where to Buy it: At any computer store near you.

My Ult Christma nology W The Xbox 360 Elite Price: $299.99 Why it’s cool: it’s an awesome console to play video games Where to Buy it: At any Walmart near you.

The iPod Touch Price: $299.98 Why it’s cool: Its an awesome way to use the internet, play music, and download apps.

Even download videos to it. You can also use it to do math, and history homework with the calculator and the internet.

Where to Buy it: A Walmart near you.

The 2010 Saleen Mustang Price: Between $32,000 and $34,000 Why it’s cool: It is cool because it is an awesome car to be in. It even has cupholders unlike the Buggati.

It may be a different car company but the same feeling of having a 2010 Ford Mustang.

Where to Buy it: The closet place to buy it is at Bluebonnet Ford at New Braunfels.

timate as TechWishlist The Nintendo DS Lite Price: $140 Why it’s cool: Its aan awesome creation to play both Ds and Gameboy games in hanheld system.

Where to Buy it: At any Walmart near you.

The Ferrari v4 SuperBike Price: Around $32,000 and $33,000 Why it’s cool: It’s cool because this motorcycle is so advanced that it can go to at least the same speed s the ferrari enzo. so you can have the wind blowing to your face and hear the engine that is has been modified from the Ferrari Enzo.

Where to buy it: N/A

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Prove You’re a Rich Guy By Buying These!

By JPG

The most expensive car in the world with 20 or more quantities... The Aston Martin One-77. Costs around 1.5 million dollars with a top speed of over 200 miles per hour and reaching 60 miles per hour in 3.5 seconds

2. Bugatti Veyron

3. Lamborghini Reventon

$1.4 Million 987 horse power, and capable of reaching 60 miles per hour in just 2.46 seconds.

$1.3 Million Limited edition, and has 650 horse power, able to reach 60 miles per hour in 3.4 seconds.

5. SSC Ultimate Aero

6. Saleen S7 Twin Turbo

4. Enzo Ferrari

$640,000 Reaching 60 miles per hour in 3.14 seconds with top speed of 220 mph.

7. Koenigsegg CCX

$620,000

$585,000

$520,000 The fastest production car in The second American sports One fastest legal car in the world, the world, and manufactured here car in this list. This car has 750 this car can reach the speed of 60 in America by the Shelby Super- horsepower V8 engine with twin miles per hour in 3.2 seconds. cars. turbo.

8. Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren $450,000 A car that can go 60 miles per hour in 3.6 seconds and a top speed of 208 mph.

9. Porsche Carrera GT

10. Maybach 62 Sedan

$420,000

$390,000 This car has the ability to go 100 Has a twin turbo engine with 612 miles per hour in just 6.8 seconds horsepower. Usually only used by rich people with drivers. with 618 horsepower.

Information courtesy taken from stylecrave.com.

Image from seriouswheels.com 19

Do you know

My name is Hazam C. I went to Kealing ms last year all 3 years. I own many game system especially most of the Nintendo consoles, my favorite one is the Nintendo 64. I like the N64 because it has some of the most interesting games like Super Smash Bros, Super Mario 64, and Ocarina of Time. In my free time I like to play video games and sometimes draw whatever comes to my mind first. I currently attend to LASA high school in Austin, I am taking E-Zine as a required elective, and I also take orchestra as my fine arts credit.

I hope that one day I can graduate from a good school and have a good career in something that I like and can do, like architectural plantings.

My name is Cezar A. and I’m 15 years old and a freshman at the Liberal Arts and Science Academy. I am also half Guatemalan and half Mexican who was raised in Austin, Texas. My favorite car is the ’65 Mustang. I’m also a video game fan of Sonic the Hedgehog. My favorite game console is the Xbox 360. My favorite games for the Xbox 360 are Tekken 6, Modern Warfare 2, Halo 3, Halo 3 ODST, and Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe. My favorite handheld system is the Nintendo DS Lite because I can play DS games and play Gameboy advance games too. My favorite games for the DS Lite are Pokémon Diamond version, Megaman Starforce, and Mario Kart DS.

about US???

My name JPG (John Patrick G.) I am a freshman in the Liberal Arts and Science Academy (LASA). I came from the Philippines and came to America for higher education. I hope to finish High School and go to a good college where I can get started on the path of becoming a pediatrician. I went to Kealing Middle School for the majority of the time I’ve been here in the United States. So I have known Cezar for one year and Hazam for three years.

THANK YOU

For reading this magazine we worked on all semester long.

To see more information about us and this magazine check our blog in http://tnt-hjpc.blogspot.com/

Jump Page Continued from page 4 (A Young Teacher Story)

she said with a smile on her face. Besides all of her previous experiences, Young has not much experience with technology. Teaching this class is also helping her in her technological knowledge.

“My teaching certification is in English” she said, but when she was applying to teach LASA seemed to be the right school because of the technological advances it has. LASA seemed to fit with her journalism passion mixed with something the new advances in technology.

E-Zine has changed from since it first started. When the class began, the students had less computer supply than what we have today. Back in the days, the students would not use the computer as much, but it will do more hand written work than by computer. With the new improvement that the class has had, the students now have the privilege to work with blog podcast, and are now able to print out the magazine. If we were given aces to more technological resources, then our school could do so many new things, it truly could be a high tech school and will differentiate LASA from the rest of the schools.

Continued from page 5 (Gun Club Shoots into LASA)

“I think that the 2nd amendment is one of our fundamental rights that has long been ignored, and I think its time that for to learn as much about the second as they know about the first amendment and fourth amendment and especially because going to shoot a gun is fun.”

Mr. Risinger thinks that the 2nd amendment should be learned because people, mostly adults, also have the right to carry a weapon with them for protection if they are in a real emergency.

So now Gun Club has been real popular for some students in LASA high school thanks to those two senior girls who wanted to learn more about guns and started Gun Club.