The James Logan Courier

By Sue Nowicki
McClatchy Newspapers (MCT)

MODESTO, Calif. — Halloween. The name comes from an early Christian festival on Nov. 1 — All Hallowmas or All Saints Day — and thus, the night before is Hallow's Eve or Hallow E'en, as it's called in Ireland.

In old English, the word "Hallow" meant "sanctify." It's the same word used in the familiar Lord's Prayer: "Our father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name."

Like some other holidays, this one contains a mix of Christian and pagan rituals, marking the end of the harvest season and the initiation of winter. But unlike other holidays, this one draws the ire of many evangelical Christians because of the overwhelming emphasis on costumes of witches, ghouls, ghosts, bloody and violent masks and other fierce characters. In "Star Wars" language, it would be all about the "dark side of the force."

By David McLemore
The Dallas Morning News (MCT)

FRISCO, Texas — Three years ago, Alex Horton joined the Army knowing he would go to war and hoping he'd find adventure. He did. The high school kid from Frisco who quoted dialogue from Patton verbatim learned quickly that it was nothing like the movies.

During his 15 months in Iraq with the 3rd Stryker Brigade, Spc. Horton, 21, faced sniper attacks, improvised explosive devices, moments of horror and the age-old tedium and Catch-22 absurdities of military life. He chronicled what he saw in his blog, Army of Dude, a Web-based journal that, in simple, eloquent prose, depicts the war as seen from a front-row seat.

By Krystal Henderson, Courier Staff Writer

Students dressed up as executives, superheroes and more Thursday as Spirit Week moved toward its climax with this afternoon's rally, the Homecoming Game against JFK High School, and the Homecoming Dance.

Thursday was “CEO Day” for seniors; “Plaid Day” for juniors; “Pajama Day” for sophomores; and “Superhero Day” for freshmen.

The Class of ’08 got businesslike for “CEO Day.” Seniors dressed in pinstriped suits and pencil skirts strutted from class to class. Some went the whole nine yards and carried briefcases in place of backpacks. Senior Rickey Gonzalez was ready for the’s theme, even though he missed other theme days. “I didn’t even know about Spirit Week until Thursday,” he said chuckling “It’s cool, though, I’ve got a lot of suits.”

By Debbie Ly, Courier Staff Writer

At first glance, she may seem just like an ordinary teacher, but James Logan Biotechnology teacher Sue Hinojoza is something of a magician, conjuring up $3.25 million for the school using just words on paper.

It all started when Hinojoza and Logan science teacher Emily Panico decided to start a biotechnology academy at Logan. They needed an adequate funding source, and wrote applications for grants to get the needed money, but were turned down twice. On the third try, however, Hinojoza's application won $290,000 and she was hooked from then on.

Samuel Jue, Courier Sports Editor

Former James Logan High School student Candice Nguyen has spent the last six weeks studying in Beijing, China, and now she's writing about her adventures in a weekly column that debuted yesterday in the Argus.

Nguyen, a Class of 2006 graduate and former ASB School Board representative, ventured long distances in the beginning of her adulthood by traveling to New York from California. She is now a NYU sophomore who is spending time studying in China.

On Wednesday, the Argus, the local newspaper, published Nguyen's article entitled ‘China---a study in fascination". In the article, she described her experiences of living in a new setting.

It's the first in a series of articles on her trip she's agreed to write for the Argus.

By Krystal Henderson, Courier Staff Writer


It’s that time again: time to show your school spirit during Spirit Week. Wednesday was Wild, Wild West Day for seniors; Greek Day for juniors; Rockstar Day for sophomores; and Oldskool Day for freshmen.

The seniors were all about cowboys. Andrea Pierce, Irena Headley, and Andreas Ramirez claimed they dressed up “as much as we could.” When asked how they liked the themes so far, they agreed that “Nerd Day” (Monday) was the best. “Prison Break Day” (Tuesday) didn’t get such positive feedback. Irena Headley said “'Prison Break' was the hardest—it was like, what are we supposed to do?”

By Bridget Carey
McClatchy Newspapers (MCT)

MIAMI — Pimped-out rides and custom choppers are nothing new. But what about professionally pimping your notebook computer?

A new company in Homestead, Fla., called NVousPC (pronounced "envious PC") makes custom notebooks and puts together everything from the hardware to the personalized paint job.

It goes beyond slap-on stickers. Customers work with graphic designers, and every panel — not just the cover — can be customized with art.

The company launched in late August and President Oscar M. Zapata sees the firm's tricked-out computers being big for college students and small businesses.

By Christine Surna Khayat, Courier Staff Writer

Ever wondered what people look like with no skin? Or with their skulls removed and their brains exposed? Well, neither had I until I heard about Body Worlds 2 and The Three Pound Gem, at the San Jose Tech museum, an exhibit of real human bodies, with a current special focus on the brain.

The Body World displays reveal how humans look during normal, everyday activities such as playing sports, reading, dancing, and more. The displays focus on specific body systems to further help students, teachers, and the general public alike to learn more in depth about the human body by actually seeing one, rather than a poor model.

By Sarena Bains, Courier Staff Writer
Every year around this time of year the career center is full of students looking for wisdom, transcripts, and various questions regarding college.

Many of the students who are interested in going to college after high school go and seek information in order to prepare themselves for the new phase in their lives. You can find answers to many of your questions regarding UC's, CSU's, Private Colleges, Community Colleges as well as Vocational/Technical schools in the career center.

Note: Intern Michael Soltau, featured in this story, is the author's brother.
By Rebecca Soltau, Entertainment Editor

Lurking among the teachers, sipping stale coffee in the staff lounge, there are some new faces on the staff ID cards. They nervously joke with the older teachers as they discuss their tentative future plans.

They are the intern teachers from California State University East Bay, and they’re working at Logan.

By Harman Badwal, Courier Staff Writer

Civil War enthusiast Richard Lawrence, the James Logan High School drafting teacher, showcased three of his cannons on the Big Green for history classes to observe last Thursday. Lawrence shared information about the cannons and its significance in the civil war.

Lawrence built the cannons himself and spent about $20,000, he said. Each cannon weighs at least 1600 pounds and can shoot up to three miles.

By Mike Wendland
Detroit Free Press (MCT)

The personal technology device that has most rocked my world this year is not the iPhone but a very affordable shirt-pocket-sized video camera called the Flip. Now a new model, the Flip Ultra, should appeal to an even wider audience.

Other than some software tweaks that make it faster to connect with computers and the Internet, the Flip Ultra doesn't offer a lot of changes from the previous one, which was released this spring. But it appears to have solved my one criticism of the old one, which got pretty dinged up with use.

The Flip came in a sort of brushed aluminum finish that was easily scratched. The new models appear much more scratch-resistant and they come in different colors.

By Karen Mui, Courier Staff Writer

Once again, Logan Math teacher Linda Rodrigues has discovered a way to make math more entertaining for her students.

She recently assigned her students a year-long project to write a math novel, in which they will portray the different math concepts learned throughout the year. The lucky students who are a part of this unique experience include her two Algebra classes during 1st and 2nd period.

By Jennifer Torres, Courier Staff Writer

Tom Woodhead is a recent addition to the Logan staff, but he's not new to Logan. He's a graduate who's returned to become a teacher.

For now, he teaches vocational education and coaches the James Logan Forensics program's debate team. He currently teaches periods 1, 2, and 4 and works with students ranging from freshmen to seniors.

By Debbie Ly, Courier Staff Writer

Algebra teacher Barry Parks has recently returned to James Logan High School after being away in China for three years.

Three years ago, after retiring, Parks had decided to move to China where he was given an opportunity to teach English at a school near Hong Kong. His life hasn't been the same since then. His said outlook on life is certainly different, and he is now able to help struggling Algebra students by teaching through the use of different methods he learned while abroad.

Jasmeen Banwait, Courier Staff Writer

Seniors planning to attend a CSU, UC or private college can apply to colleges beginning now.

CSU applications are available online from October 1 to November 30, and CSU campuses require either the SAT Reasoning Test or the ACT. UC applications are available online from October 1st and can be submitted between November 1 and November 30.

By Debbie Ly, Courier Staff Writer

Digital Art without computers? Is that unheard of? Well, necessity has made it a reality in the five periods of Digital Art A/B taught by Debra Collins.

The computers that used to be in her classroom were taken away before school started in order to be replaced by the brand new 20-inch flat screen iMacs now on teachers' desks.

Unfortunately, shipment of the computers is still underway and they won't be arriving until mid-October.

By Karen Mui, Courier Staff Writer

New World Literature Teacher Nhan Trinh is settling in to his new job and adjusting to a high school that's not much like his alma mater in Kansas.

As a World Literature teacher for seniors, Trinh's teaching schedule consists of three classes a day: 1st, 2nd, and 4th periods. Though he is a new teacher here at Logan, he certainly is not a novice at what he does.

Starting in about 1994, he has taught on-and-off for about 13 years in total. During these years, he has taught World Literature, American Literature, Poetry, Vietnamese Translation, as well as various other classes involved with the English language.

By Oscar Peńaranda, Courier Special Correspondent
Note: Filipino Poet, Author and Activist Oscar Peńaranda, teaches Filipino studies at James Logan High.

EARLY IN the year of 1565, Miguel Lopez de Legaspi arrived in Cebu from Mexico and, after four years of vigorous armed resistance by native leaders, officially colonized the Philippines for Spain. By June 1st of that year, the first of hundreds of ships called galleons would cross the Pacific to and from Manila and Acapulco for East/West Trade and Commerce. These ships contained up to 300 people, one half to two-thirds of which were natives of the islands. That means 150 to 200 Filipinos each trip. The voyage took 6 months. From Manila, before reaching Acapulco, the current (to this day) would take vessels to the coast of what is now California, and the ships would, for safety's sake, hug the coast all the way down to Acapulco. The first ship, the San Pablo, arrived in Acapulco around Christmas of 1565. The Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade would continue until 1815—two hundred and fifty years!