The James Logan Courier

By Allen Grove (MCT)

.As a new academic semester begins, educators around the country are haunted by New Zealand's decision to allow text-speak — those short-cuts and abbreviations used in text messaging — on national exams.

What does the New Zealand Qualifications Authority's policy say about the future of our language? Are we to condone Suzi who cant use apostrophes? and what about chad, a student i know whos given up on capitals? Worse yet, what do we do about Johnny (u wont blieve this 1) who drops vowels and uses acronyms?

By Jackie Burrell
Contra Costa Times (MCT)

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. — It's been quite a year for alternate reality game designer Jane McGonigal.

She hasn't had much time to dust her 2005 Webby — won for her design work on the cutting edge game "ILoveBees" — or the framed plaudits from a New York Times Year in Review, which called the game one of the most significant cultural phenomena of 2004.

Instead, the Berkeley graduate student has been jetting off to global conferences on game design, negotiating publishing rights to her just-finished doctoral dissertation, and enjoying the fame and attention that comes when MIT fetes you as one of the nation's "Top 35 Innovators Under 35."

By Jackie Burrell
Contra Costa Times (MCT)

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. — Hearts hammering, 40 blue-tagged runners raced through the night, darting frenetically through hotel lobbies, weaving down increasingly empty streets and crawling, Ninja-style, through Golden Gate Park to flee an ever-escalating number of pursuers.

The adrenaline rush only subsided when they crested the last hill and caught sight of the roaring bonfire and glistening surf of Ocean Beach, and smelled the unmistakable sweet scent of s'mores.

There was a time when the words "alternate reality" conjured up visions of friendless geeks clutching game controllers. But there's another world of alternate reality where games like SFZero happen in the real world, not on-screen.

By Jonathan V. Last
The Philadelphia Inquirer (MCT)

Dear Diary:
I'm worried about Brit-Brit. I know I shouldn't care — splitting with her was totally the right thing to do. I did not want Nick Lachey's la-lame la-life. Getting sympathy dates and deodorant commercials. No thanks. I've got my art. I've got the sexy back. And I don't care what everyone says about Cameron — in the right light she's totally cute. At least she keeps her pants on in public.

But Brit-Brit is out of control. And I'm worried it's my fault.

First off, I never dreamed she'd rebound with Vanilla Ice. Or that she'd pop out a couple of kids. And start wearing mom jeans. It was all so sad. And then, on top of everything, to have Xtina going around telling reporters, "It's a shame Britney doesn't go to any shows or awards anymore, because they are so much fun, even if you're not nominated for things." Whatever. It's called magniloquence, blondie. Give it a try.

By Ray Dequina, Courier Opinion Editor

The last chapter of this epic saga saw the valiant hero (me) foiled at every turn by fate most cruel. Like brave Odysseus, I found myself with nary a hope of reaching my goal, but instead of returning to my kingdom, my prize was a cheap piece of plastic that plays video games. And I'm not brave or striking. And I'm more than certainly not getting any from "evil" pseudo-goddesses whose only want is to keep me all to themselves. And I'm not Odysseus. Yeah, big difference there.

By Korie Wilkins
Detroit Free Press (MCT)

DETROIT — A secretary in Dearborn, Mich., Bonnie Monroe never expected to play a role in saving the lives of soldiers in Iraq.

But the idea to help came from watching a news story — about Silly String.

The pressurized foam spray is being used to detect trip wires around bombs.