Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Volume 5 Issue 9
Volume 5 Issue 9
TSS/Henry Zhang
BY RICHARD SHYONG
STAFF WRITER Death
Next time you pass by the secu-
rity desk on the first floor, look at BY JOSEPH KRUTOV
the area behind the desk. The first STAFF WRITER
thing that hits you as you walk back
there is the sound of people shout- Christina Desforges, 15 years
ing, balls bouncing, and sometimes old, died of an allergic reaction in
even cards flying. As the place November after kissing her boy-
comes into view, you might see peo- friend. Her boyfriend had eaten a
ple gathered around a ping-pong peanut butter and jelly sandwich
table, all ready to get in on the next hours before, and had not known of
game. Turn around the corner, and her extreme allergy to peanuts.
you see people on the floor, playing Christina was rushed to a hospital
with Magic cards or just watching but the facility was unable to treat
anime on their laptops. Looking Gambling in Stuy is not an her allergic reaction. She had previ-
around, you suddenly see a group of uncommon sight. ously been given a shot of epineph-
people, hunched together in a circle. rine, or adrenaline, as a standard
In their hands are poker cards, and treatment for anaphylactic shock,
some of them are taking notes on a shock resulting from a severe aller-
York public schools. The coura- As one gambler put it, “I’m sure gic reaction.
piece of paper. And then it hits you;
geous young fellows who put their that everyone has gambled at least Her death is only one of many
these students are gambling their
lives on the line to have a little fun once in their lives, so why outlaw cases. The number of people allergic
lunch money away.
consider the ban to be outrageous.
Gambling is banned in the New Continued on Page 3
Vaccines to eliminate
‘Tis the Season for Post-Holiday Shopping peanut allergies may
not be available for
BY DEREK WENG did not see the expected heavy foot waiting for better deals. With few 15 years.
JUNIOR STAFF WRITER traffic this December. Whether due notable exceptions, like Microsoft’s
to rising heating costs, or high gaso- Xbox 360 video game console and to specific substances has more than
After a rather tepid holiday sea-
line prices, many families are Apple Computer’s iPod line, a lack doubled in the last ten years. The
son, retailers nationwide are hoping
closely monitoring their budgets and of hot must-have items also contrib- Food and Drug Administration is
to boost merchandise sales as shop-
uted to the weak holiday sales. trying to reduce the number of aller-
CNN
CORRECTION FOR
DECEMBER 20 ISSUE
Photographs by Henry Zhang/The Stuyvesant Standard • “Nobel Prize for Bronx Sci-
ence Grad” was written by Jo-
seph Krutov.
Feingold, D-WI, in an
interview with CNN,
voiced his opinion that
Bush’s actions have
violated the Foreign
Intelligence Surveil-
lance Act. It is the
John R. Ryan, the new only official law to
chancellor of SUNY. authorize wiretaps and
permits such actions
only through a court
the board interviewed Gregory H. warrant, which Bush
sions are decided on an individual
Williams, the president of the City had never attained.
basis, and the qualifications for ad-
College of New York and Stephen L. "This administration is
mission aren't likely to change much
Weber, the president of San Diego playing fast and loose
with a new dean. Thus the effect will
State University. with the law in na-
be minimal.” Senior
SUNY’s current tional security. The
Alex Aminov dif-
chairman Thomas F. Ryan has already issue here is whether
fered, and explained Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, a
Egan believes that the president of the
laid out plans for that he was more firm supporter of Bush’s secret wiretaps.
Ryan is “an out- United States is put-
concerned with the
standing leader with SUNY’s future. ting himself above the
quality of education
a national reputa- law, and I believe he has done so,"
than acceptance. ing he has full authority to perform
tion.” He has already said Feingold.
"Well, considering that I might be such actions. Attorney General Al-
laid out plans for SUNY’s future. He Bush, however, maintained that
going to a SUNY school in Septem- berto Gonzales agrees. According to
expects to change some top managers in a time of crisis, conversations
ber, this may greatly affect me. It him, a congressional act passed after
in the next six months, hire about 200 need to be monitored so that terror-
would be the same effect as our pub- September 11 not only authorized
more professors and adopt a tuition ist plots could be stopped as quickly
lic schools getting a new chancellor. President Bush to use force in the
policy which would involve small as possible. "We know that a two-
It can change a lot of things. Let's just war on terror, it also gave him the
tuition increases yearly rather than minute phone conversation between
hope he's good." ◙ power to allow such wiretaps. ◙
large increases every seven or eight somebody linked to al Qaeda here
Page 4 January 5, 2006 News/Business THE STUYVESANT STANDARD
storms’ damage. They have also
Problems Remain for Hurricane Victims stated that they are working as
quickly as possible. However, many
local officials are not satisfied and
BY JENNIFER SCHLESINGER to sign leases and by trying to find of the rubble has been cleared. In have begun to terminate their deal
OUT-OF-SCHOOL NEWS EDITOR them jobs. However, in communi- total only 60% of all the rubble in with the Army Corps.
ties where there are many victims, the Gulf Coast has been cleared so Moreover, there have been de-
The holidays have always been
this has proven to be an almost im- far. “Something is very wrong bates over how the cleanups should
a time for gift-giving and charity,
possible task. here,” said Frank Leach, a Jackson be done. In Biloxi, Mississippi,
and this year many gave donations
Many communities hit by County Supervisor. “Our federal whole neighborhoods have been
to help those displaced by the Gulf
Katrina are still uninhabitable. In government is paying an extraordi- condemned. When a neighborhood
Coast hurricanes. Yet despite the
is condemned, a property owner can
hard work of many charities,
is costing us.”
past labor strikes, New Yorkers struggle to get to work in
Others, like
the most recent of the freezing weather during the strike.
Kenny Herbert
which was in
of Brooklyn,
1980, the walkout
disagreed. He
happened during
said, “It’s two
one of the busiest
arrogant groups
times of the year,
not caring that
the holiday sea-
7 million peo-
son.
ple are incon-
Metropolitan
BY ANNA GINZBURG venienced.”
JUNIOR STAFF WRITER
Playing ten people at chess in
Chess Club Transportation
Authority officals
a s we l l a s M a yo r M i c h a e l
Transit work-
ers, who make $35,000 to $55,000 a
one sitting is tough, but year, demanded a 24% pay increase
Bloomberg said that the strike vio-
that is exactly what Stuy- will be Chess Club president Justin in a new three-year contract, while
lated New York State’s Taylor Law,
vesant will witness at its Li, vice president Anna Ginzburg, the MTA offered 9 percent. A pro-
which bans strikes by public em-
posed pension plan may have been
Club Spotlight
third chess simul, or si- and secretary Danny Rhode. Re- ployees. State Justice Theodore
multaneous exhibition. gardless of the numbers, the event the last straw The MTA’s pension
Jones hit the union with a fine of $1
The event will be based on promises to be very exciting. Senior offer involved taking 6% of every
million a day. The union called for
the two organized last year Alex Aminov admitted, "God damn, new worker’s salary for their first
an appeal, claiming that the penalty
by then-senior, Josh that’s a lot of people.” 10 years of work to pay for pen-
was “excessive.”
Weinstein ‘05. Weinstein The event is scheduled for Janu- sions. The TWU also clashed with
The strike shut down the city's
took on 18 players at a ary 9 and will be held on the first the MTA over health care. The
bus and subway system and trig-
time. As soon as one game floor. Boards will be set all across MTA wanted workers to pay 1% of
gered the city's contingency plan,
was over, a new person the lobby, open to all comers. The their salary for health care, a pro-
which required all vehicles entering
filled the seat of the loser. event will run from 3:30 to 5:30. So posal the TWU vigorously opposed.
Manhattan south of 96th Street be-
Weinstein managed to if you wish to defeat any of the The strike ended on December
tween 5 A.M. and 11 A.M. to have
maintain a nearly perfect three, or are simply curious to 23, and subways and buses were up
at least four passengers. In addition,
score of over the course of watch, make sure to remember the and running by the morning of the
the plan called for some roadways to
50 or so games. date because another event like this 24th. Despite the MTA’s and the
be closed to all but emergency vehi-
This year’s event will be will not occur till spring. ◙ TWU’s differences, the strike is
cles and for taxis to enforce a zone-
run differently. Instead of If you would like to have your now over. “Everything will go back
based fare system. The full strike
one player taking on 18, club or publication featured in The to normal at midnight,” Bloomberg
included the two private bus lines,
two or three players will Standard, send email to said at a news conference. And
Triboro Coach Lines and Jamaica
take on ten opponents. The players inschoolnews@stuystandard.org. things are running smoothly, at least
Buses, that went on strike Monday.
for now. ◙
“The city is functioning, and
THE STUYVESANT STANDARD January 5, 2006 Business/Opinions Page 5
STAFF WRITER
4, trailing only the tionalist Party fled to Taiwan in
United States, In the December 3rd election,
1949, mainland China and Taiwan
Japan and Ger- Taiwan’s Nationalist Party won a
have functioned as de facto inde-
many while sur- landslide victory over the incumbent
pendent nations. However, Beijing
passing Britain Democratic Progressive Party, tak-
still views Taiwan as a renegade
and France, if ing 17 of the 23 municipal constitu-
island whose eventual destiny is
Hong Kong were encies. This marks the height of the
reunification with
to be included. island’s dissatis-
the ma i n l a n d .
China re- faction with DPP’s
Because of Taiwan’s Sixty years after
ported that its policies, which
economy is much many link to grow- strategic location, Ja- China’s civil war,
the same National-
bigger and less China is relying less on international exports, ing hostility to- pan is watching its po- ist Party is now
export-dependent such as French retailer Louis Vuitton. wards mainland
litical inclinations at advocating com-
than previously China. Polls place
promises across
noted. In a new charismatic nation- every moment and of- the Taiwan Strait,
Anthony’s College at Oxford Uni- alist Party Chair-
survey, the Chinese government leading to eventual
took into account the emerging ser-
versity. man Ma Ying-Jeou fering tremendous
Still, China’s trading partners reunification. The
vice business, a previously underre-
complain that its government-
as the frontrunner support to the pro- ruling Democratic
ported sector, and boosted projec- in the island’s
controlled currency exchange rates 2008 presidential
independence forces Progressive Party,
tions of China’s output for 2004 by headed by current
are too low, giving Chinese export- election. Should on the island.
16.8%. It also estimated China’s President Chen
ers an unfair price advantage. How- the Nationalist
2004 gross domestic product, or the Shui-Bian, holds a
ever, Li Deshui, director of the Chi- Party successfully retake power,
broadest measure of trade in goods strong anti-mainland view and is
nese Statistics Bureau, said, “that China’s influence in Taiwan may
and services, at 16 trillion yuan ($2 pushing for Taiwanese independ-
despite the upward revision in sheer grow. Until now, the United States
trillion), up 2.3 tril- ence.
economic size, and Japan have been able to use
lion yuan ($285 While the United States might
China’s vast popula- Taiwan as a counterweight to
billion) from previ- Undeniably they’re tion of 1.3 billion not see China as an enemy, it is still
ously reported num- China’s rise to power and maintain
pursuing actions to contain its rise
bers. The data also going to be the sec- people means it still the political and military status-quo
as a regional power. As a contain-
ranks below the top of the region.
highlighted the in- ond-largest econ- ment policy that has remained from
100 countries in The sleeping dragon has finally
creasingly important the Cold War, the United States has
omy in the world in output per capita. awoken. Its huge population, rapid
service sector’s pledged to defend Taiwan in case of
We still have a long economic growth, and increasing
share of the econ- a few years. way to go to catch an invasion from the mainland. Tai-
omy. It also reveals military modernization have made
up with the devel- wan serves as a focal point of an
that only 29% of mainland China a force to be reck-
oped countries.” encirclement of American allies and
China’s economy is export-based, oned with in Asia. The Chinese state
David Cohen of the consulting military bases around China. It is
rather than the previously stated line is that it wishes for a “peaceful
firm Action Economics in Singapore the link from Japan through Viet-
34%. rise” and a “harmonious multi-polar
poses a question on many econo- nam, to India. While the United
Analysts say this new data may world”. Yet, the United States and
mists mind: “Undeniably they’re States does not want to see Taiwan
ease fears that China’s export and Japan, the old guards of the Asian-
going to be the second-largest econ- declare formal independence, it also
investment rates were Pacific region, are increasingly
omy in the world in a few years. does not want to see Taiwan reunite
“unsustainably high,” because Chi- viewing China’s rise to power with
And then the question is: At what with China. The United States’ be-
nese consumers are spending much wary eyes. The United States and
point do they surpass the U.S. in lieve that it is in its best interest if
more than previously thought, fuel- Japan have formed a mutual alliance
size?” ◙ cross-strait relations remain at a
ing economic growth and reducing and enlisted Taiwan as a counter-
Continued on Page 6
Page 6 January 5, 2006 Opinions THE STUYVESANT STANDARD
Point-Counterpoint
A Solution Instead A Beacon for All Unions
of a Scapegoat BY HANFORD CHIU
STAFF WRITER
pensions as well as health care.
These may seem insignificant to us,
but to the TWU, it was an outrage.
The Transportation Worker’s
And to the TWU, outrages are not
BY ALVIS YUEN year contract with raises of 3%, 4%, Union’s strike on December 20,
taken lightly.
STAFF WRITER and 3.5%. As a tradeoff, the MTA 2005 was no doubt an inconven-
After all, the TWU is a very
wanted new employees to contribute ience to most people within the five
The transit strike crippled New militant union that is very protective
6% of wages toward pensions. The boroughs. This three-day strike dis-
York City for three days. And even of its workers. Compared to other
reason the TWU has been labeled by rupted workers and tourists alike,
though the strike is now over, the recent contract disputes, the one
some as greedy is that their current costing the city hundreds of millions
underlying problem remains. It is concerning TWU and the MTA was
contract is already very generous. of dollars each day in lost revenue.
arguable whether anybody gained obviously much larger with greater
Job qualifications for transit work- Yet though the consequences of the
anything from the transit strike. The implications. It only took a few days
ers are lower than those for other strike were severe, it is important to
transit strike was not something that of working without a contract for
employees of the city but transit remember the ideals and signifi-
happened overnight. Both the MTA the TWU to strike, as opposed to the
and the Transport Workers Union teacher’s union, which had teachers
working for years without a con-
World Socialist
Local 100 made mistakes which
precipitated the strike. tract. The TWU also broke the Tay-
The government has misman- lor Law, resulting in fines of mil-
aged the transit system for many lions of dollars. The TWU also en-
years. In the 1990s, Governor Pataki dured widespread criticism, severe
reduced the state’s contribution to economic impact, as well as threats
the MTA to finance his tax cuts. As of imprisonment to its leaders for a
a result, the MTA had to borrow decent contract for its workers.
massive amounts of money to pay It does not make sense for the
for new trains, buses, and other TWU to fight so hard and against
things needed to maintain New such obstacles for a seemingly triv-
York’s century-old transit system. ial cause. So maybe we have to
By 2007, the MTA will spend twice question our views. Maybe it is us
as much paying off its debt than it who do not realize the true conse-
contributes to the pension program. quences of these unfair contracts. It
After 9/11, the MTA has been During the strike on December 20, some transit is important to remember that un-
in a downward spiral in terms of workers decided to protest such as this. ions exist to protect the rights of
public relations. For the past few individual workers. Without unions,
years, commuters had to hold their society might revert back to times
breath every time drivers of a subsi- when there were strenuous child
workers are paid more and contrib- cance of unions and strikes in gen- labor, horrible living conditions, and
dized private bus line such as eral.
ute less to their pensions. A big rea- widespread oppression. Thus, do not
Greenline Buses threatened to One important reason that the
son the TWU is unwilling to budge simply confine this battle between
strike. Greenline bus drivers have TWU had to strike was the signifi-
from their contract demands is the the TWU and the MTA as benefit-
been working without a contract for cant changes that the MTA proposed
$1 billion surplus; Roger Toussaint, ing one group or union. This strike
3 years because of the city’s notori- to worker contracts. These included
president of the TWU, said, “With a should be an example for all unions
ously slow takeover of the private low yearly raise percentages, a
$1 billion surplus, this contract be- and corporations that workers are
bus lines. In addition, fares were shortened contract from three years
tween the MTA and the not to be mistreated and that they
raised to $2 in 2003, to two, a retirement plan that raised
Transport Workers Un- should be given fair working condi-
with the possibil- the retirement age by seven years
Job qualifica- ion should have been a tions. ◙
ity of even higher and forced small contributions to
no-brainer.” What
prices in the com- tions for transit Toussaint failed to
ing years. In
workers are lower realize is that out of
2004, M a yo r
Bloomberg gave than those for other the $1 billion surplus, Taiwan’s Place in
$450 million is al-
pink slips to many
city workers to
employees of the ready spent on pen-
sion. With large up-
Asian-Pacific Politics
balance the city but transit
coming debt pay-
budget; he re- workers are paid Continued from Page 5 control of these natural resources
ments, the MTA needs
duced the number status quo: with the anti-China DPP will decidedly gain an advantage in
of cleaners and
more and contrib- to spend the surplus
fueling its economy and military.
wisely; Toussaint is in power without provoking military
subway station ute less to their inconsiderate of the action from China by formal decla- Because of Taiwan’s strategic loca-
clerks, threatening pensions. ration of independence. tion, Japan is watching its political
MTA and its financial
to lower the stan- The Japanese interest in China’s inclinations at every moment and
woes. Despite the
dard of service even f u r t h e r . rise is much more evident. In a his- offering tremendous support to the
strikes, the TWU is still without a
In an attempt to regain the public’s tory marked by strife, the current pro-independence forces on the is-
contract.
favor, the MTA unraveled holiday Sino-Japanese fight for oil and natu- land.
There are many lessons to be
discounts with its $1 billion surplus. ral resources just adds more fuel to Though united by historical and
learned from the strike. But the most
But the transit workers, disen- the flame. Because it lacks natural cultural ties, Taiwan and Mainland
important lesson we should learn is
chanted by looming inflation and resources, Japan imports all of its China have distinctly different po-
the devastating effect of a transit
the layoffs, were irked when the oil. Most of Japan's oil is shipped litical systems. Should the National-
strike because in the end, everyone
MTA refused to accept their con- through two sea lanes: one directly ist Party win the 2008 election, it is
lost in some way. So instead of de-
tract proposal while it had so much south of Taiwan and another farther unlikely that they will significantly
bating who is more at fault, why not
available capital. south, which increases the shipping change the status quo for the near
use those brain cells to find solu-
However, the TWU is not with- length by a costly two day. With its future. We will not see the People’s
tions that will get to the roots of the
out faults. For one thing, the TWU rapid economic growth, China also Liberation Army in Taiwan for a
problem and prevent any future
rejected a generous offer from the has become a major consumer of few years to come. However, it
transit strikes. ◙
MTA. The MTA proposed a three- natural resources. The East China might also spell the beginning of the
Sea is the playing field for these two end of Taiwan as an American-
Asian powers. The one who gains Japanese ally against China. ◙
THE STUYVESANT STANDARD January 5, 2006 Literary Page 7
Give me a flower. Give me your poppy fields. I'm not a girly girl. I just
want to see life breathe.
BY JENNIFER LEE
STAFF WRITER
This angel.
She is not beautiful.
She is plain. Her face, weary and old,
Holidays Are Forever
But that is to be expected BY STEPHANIE TAM
From some being molded by children’s hands. STAFF WRITER
Those hands are called Faith. White little flakes
We keep something that others no longer keep Of snow fall down
At the darkest of times, The holiday season
The Cracking Walls breach apart, Approaches the town
And through amazing time and space, Families and friends
We children can visit that angel- Decorate trees
Behold, the fallen changing times. And, of course,
On that side of the Wall, we can fly There are festivities
In water of Blue roses and birds sing under School is out
The art-noveau’s symbols. For at least a week
There is something called the Impossible. Though the weather
We can reach that Impossible. Is somewhat bleak
Look- I‘m already stretching my wings, The New Year comes
Come-let’s fly together. Celebrations end
Until next year
When it happens again
S H C C N
T P K A D
4. 21 31
O E L I O T H B R I G A D E
7.
N B A O R G S
6.
J E R S E Y D E V I L E O I
R E M M
5. 22
S P A R K A O
E P V
27
R M E
8. 9. 23 24
K A W X E N O N
E W E N
33 11.
C L E A N E R A I S
P I
10. 25
S O D I U M P E N T A T H O L
N L O
21 12. 13.
G R A I N C O L T E
R L W S
15. 26
A D A M A N T I U M I I S
D O T S
16.
C O E L A C A N T H H T
THE STUYVESANT STANDARD January 5, 2006 Puzzles Page 9
Sudoku X-Men
BY JOHN REUEL BY JONATHAN XIKIS
STAFF WRITER STAFF WRITER
Fill in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3x3 box contains
the digits 1 through 9. R W R E U U U M L L T N D I I
R E I V A X A E K G U Y Q G R
2 B P L R R G G M J P A O E Q E
W E R W N N Y C C M N G I C I
4 7 P G N E A U M B C E R P L Y D
X S T A D R Z K N T E T S C E
3 4 7 1 6 2 G O Y C M H C I C U G I H L S
L L K L A E R T M K G B H O Z
8 9 5 7 S P N V O E C T H P U M F P R
V T O Q V C M I W G J A X S O
2 7 8 9 O K O L W R K H Z L I G K W G
T Z O R N L L E B G S N R F U
3 9 2 5 G W N X M S H A D O W C A T E
Y J Q O E Z U F C C E W J T J
9 6 7 5 3 1 A P J Z V B E A S T F R C B I
ANGEL NIGHTCRAWLER
4 6 BEAST PSYLOCKE
CYCLOPS ROGUE
GAMBIT SHADOWCAT
2 HAVOK STORM
ICEMAN WOLVERINE
JUGGERNAUT XAVIER
56 57 58 Crypto Corner
59 60 61 BY JEFFREY LIAW has been coded by substituting each
STAFF WRITER letter with a different letter. For
instance, if T=A, H=B, and E=C,
Across 20. Showy What is a Cryptogram? then the word "the" would appear as
1. ___ sum (Chinese breakfast) 22. Negative word Cryptograms are writing that "abc" throughout the puzzle.
4. Revise 23. Actor MacMurray
8. Tel ____ 24. Cobbler’s tool
OR JHSVYFBD CVEFGHRU? Your answer:
12. And so on (abbr.) 26. ___ Mahal
13. Method 32. Looks at BCHIAUNFSFIN TDZHWUD
14. Short skirt 34. Male turkey VWY MCVED JHOFER FU
15. Comic strip scream 36. Quits, as a battery CVOD, HIG ZCYFUBOHU
16. Satellite 37. Distinctive manner TDZHWUD BCDR HYDI’B.
17. Like Satan 39. Deli loaf
18. One saying “cheese” 41. Line
Page 10 January 5, 2006 Science THE STUYVESANT STANDARD
Interoptika
itself is
the school district that includes Do- Proponents of intelligent design simply de-
ver, Pa. could no longer teach intel- feel that the judge overstepped his teriorating?
ligent design in science classes. In- bounds. As Dr. Michael J. Behe, a At a glance,
telligent design posits that certain professor at Lehigh University and a eyeglasses
aspects of life are “irreducibly com- witness for the school board, said, appear to
plex” and must therefore have been “He talks about the ground rules of be accesso-
created by an intelligent entity. science. What has a judge to do with ries, but
The board had mandated that a the ground rules of science?” The looking
statement about intelligent design advocates are steadfast in their be- deeper in,
must be read in all ninth-grade biol- lief that intelligent design is science they have a
ogy classes. This was resented by and that it is useful in explaining the much more Pince-nez were commonly used in the 19th century.
parents and students, and 11 parents gaps in evolution. important
filed suit against the board. They also see the need for more use.
Judge Jones declared that intel- scientific study. As Richard Thomp- Eyeglasses are lenses that cor- More recently, glasses consisted
ligent design was a religious view- son, the lead lawyer for the school rect people’s vision. Almost 66 per- of a frame with two extensions that
point, not a scientific one, and there- board, said, “A thousand opinions cent of American adults wear grabbed onto the ears. The lenses
fore an infringement of the separa- by a court that a particular scientific glasses. Many of these people have were completely held in place by a
tion of church and state. Moreover, theory is invalid will not make the either nearsightedness or farsighted- metal loop, and were made of glass.
Judge Jones accused the members of scientific theory invalid. It is going ness. Nearly everybody in the world This is still the most common shape
the Dover school board of lying to to be up to the scientists who are has astigmatism to some degree. of frame. However, nowadays there
cover up religious motives. going to continue to do research in However, with the use of eye- is a wider variety of frames and
their lab that glasses, one may correct these prob- lenses. Some frames are made of
will ulti- lems. light metals, such as titanium, or
mately deter- In nearsightedness, usually the plastic. Some frames hold the lenses
mine that.” eyeball is too long. The result is the in place with two screws, and noth-
Overall, the focal point ending up somewhere in ing more.
trial re- the middle of the eye instead of on Lenses come in even greater
minded many the surface of the retina, causing variety. Polycarbonate lenses are
of the Scopes distant objects to appear fuzzy. This made out of plastic, and can be cut
“monkey” can also be caused by the cornea much thinner than glass. Some
trial, which being misshaped. Glasses will ex- lenses are multifocal lenses, which
took place in tend the focal point so that it hits the consist of multiple lenses com-
Tennessee in retina, resulting in normal vision. pounded together into one. Some
1925. In that Farsightedness is the exact op- lenses have protective coatings on
trial, a posite of nearsightedness. In far- them in order to protect the eye
Associated Press
teacher, John sightedness, the eyeball is too short, from UV rays, a harmful form of
Intelligent design may not be taught in Dover, Pa., schools.
T. Scopes, resulting in the focal point of light light. Aspheric lenses are very thin,
The trial was the first involving was accused of wrongfully teaching entering the eye extending beyond allowing for a lighter frame.
intelligent design. Although Judge evolution, which violated the Butler the retina. Again, glasses correct More and more people are mak-
Jones’s ruling only applies to the Act, which stated that the teaching this by moving the focal point. ing the change over to contact
Dover school district, it is a major of evolution in public schools was Astigmatism is a case in which lenses. Contact lenses hug the eye,
victory for critics of intelligent de- wrong because it contradicted the the surface of your eye is bumpy. and can only correct nearsighted-
sign. These critics include many account of creation in the Bible. The result is a blurry image when ness. Many people make this change
scientists, who have been vocal This act was repealed in 1967. How- light hits the retina. Most people, if in hopes of looking better, without
about the failings of intelligent de- ever, the Scopes trial started the not all, have astigmatism. Glasses large bulky frames to get in the way.
sign. They also believe intelligent fierce debate over what should be redirect the light so that once again, However, one thing’s for sure: with-
design to be unscientific. As Judge taught in science classes. This de- it hits the retina at the right point. out eyeglasses, many of the world’s
Jones said, “The fact that a scien- bate has not yet ended. ◙ Glasses have come a long way people would walk around blindly.
tific theory cannot yet render an from since the old days. In the past, ◙
glasses, or spectacles, were worn in
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THE STUYVESANT STANDARD January 5, 2006 A&E/Science/Sports Page 11
ing of products in order to make lated by an immune system that is STAFF WRITER
people aware of any allergen- hypersensitive to that allergen, or
In 2003 and 2004, aliens
containing ingredients. This Food any substance that triggers an aller-
touched down on the surface of
Allergen Labeling and Consumer gic reaction. The immune system
Mars. They came in peace from the
Protection Act came into effect on serves as the body’s defense mecha-
planet Earth. From three spacecraft,
January 1. The law requires manu- nism against biological influences.
two American and one European,
facturers to list the common names Used by the immune system in
rovers emerged with the purpose of
of any allergenic substances con- combating allergens, antibodies are
exploring the Martian landscape in
tained in their food. proteins that circulate in the blood-
search of life. Though the American
The severity of allergies varies stream. People who have allergies A Mars Global Surveyor image
rovers remained active long after
from person to person. Peanut al- produce an antibody called immu- of the possible crash site.
their predicted life spans, the Euro-
lergy symptoms can include hives, noglobulin E, or IgE. Each type of
pean probe, Beagle 2, never made atmosphere during the lander’s de-
low blood pressure, and swelling of IgE is cell-specific and will only
contact with its operators back on scent.
the face or throat, which constricts target certain allergens, making it a
Earth. Now NASA’s Mars Global Sur-
breathing. specific allergic response. When
Initial reports as to the failure veyor may have found the wreckage
Instances of peanut allergies that person comes into contact with
have doubled in the last ten years allergens, those allergens are cap- of Beagle 2. In photographs cap-
ESA
and more and more research is being tured by the IgE. This initiates the tured by the satellite, the locations
done on ways to eliminate them. release of chemical mediators, of the spacecraft, parachutes and
Effective medicines are still well in which produce the symptoms of an debris, closely resemble what was
the future; drugs to treat peanut al- allergic reaction. The allergic reac- predicted.
lergies will be available within the tion can continue if the mediators Though Beagle 2 cannot be re-
next five years while drugs to elimi- further inflame the tissue. paired, its remains may prove to be
nate the risk of peanut allergies alto- It is not yet understood why the source of invaluable scientific
gether are forecasted to be devel- some substances trigger allergic knowledge. Scientists may learn
An artist’s conception of
oped within 15 years. Currently, reactions and others do not. An im- the Beagle 2 lander.
what it was that made this landing
researchers are trying to find an- portant factor is genetic predisposi- unsuccessful. Whether the problem
other way to prevent peanut aller- tion, as the allergy may be heredi- was a calculation error, a sandstorm,
tary. ◙ of the British spacecraft suggested or simply harsh terrain, studying
gies by developing a new variety of that it failed after scientists miscal-
peanut without the characteristics Beagle 2 can reduce risks in future
culated the thickness of the Martian missions. ◙
Page 12 January 5, 2006 Sports THE STUYVESANT STANDARD
as much action as usual in the
New York Teams Spend the Dough Bronx.
The Mets need to very careful
of how they spend their money and
BY ERIC MAYO Players like Paul O’Neill, Scott Bro- ond starter Tom Glavine, is entering trade their prospects. The Yankees
STAFF WRITER sius, and Tino Martinez were play- the twilight of their career. The have killed themselves over the past
ing their final games of their Yan- Mets know that their time to win is five years by trading away most of
With the off-season in full their good prospects (see Nick John-
kee careers (though Tino did come now. What do they do? Start spend-
swing, an interesting trend is occur- son, Brandon Claussen, Mike
back). The Yankees had a win at all ing. They signed ex-Philadelphia
ring in the New York baseball land- Lowell) and have nothing to show in
costs mentality, and team owner Phillies closer Billy Wagner to a 4
scape. The big return. The Yankees
George Steinbrenner year 43 million dollar Newsday