The Smoke Signal

     Whether it’s MSJ Warriors or the Golden State Warriors, look to us to keep you updated on the latest news from the world of sports. We’ll be giving you our take on various topics and we promise to stay true to our opinions. Whatever the issue, don’t be afraid to step up and speak the truth.      There is a difference between a veteran and a player who is too old to play. Athletes who can never call it quits not only harm the sport by holding playing time from talented rookies, but also hurt their own legacies with year…

     The world of sports has become more popular throughout the years as competitive leagues like the National Basketball Association and National Football League have grown to attract viewers from around the nation. A problem that has arisen, however, is the issue of having too many talented players on one team. The question of whether or not stacked teams are fair is one that only time and statistics can judge. Instead of the story of the underdog finishing first after months of rigorous training, the richer teams that can afford to sign superstar players are expected to take home the…

Daniel Yang Favorite Athlete: Dwyane Wade Favorite Quote: “Just Do It.” – Nike Interesting Fact: My right leg is slightly shorter than my left leg.      After leading the MSJ Boys’ Volleyball team to their first league title in 2009, Daniel Yang (Class of ‘09) is back at school coaching the sport he loves best. Hired in the offseason to become the new Girls’ Volleyball head coach, Yang looks forward to a rewarding season with the squad and hopes to continue the recent success of the team. The Smoke Signal spent some time with our newest head coach as he…

     On September 14, gamers worldwide flocked to stores to pick up the latest and final installment of the Halo series, Halo Reach. Since the release of the first game in 2001, the series has revolutionized the first person shooter genre, and what better way to end it than at the beginning.      Welcome to Reach, home planet of the famed Master Chief and headquarters of the Spartan super-soldier program. The game throws players into the shoes of Noble 6, the newest member of a covert squad of Spartans. The first mission has the player investigating a distress call from an…

In June, the Smoke Signal reported new Homecoming decoration rules and limitations that will be implemented this school year to encourage a more environmentally friendly approach and to minimize damage to school property. As Homecoming Week approaches—this year it is the week of October 25-29, with the game against Newark Memorial on Friday, October 29 and the dance on Saturday, October 30—rules and guidelines are being finalized to ensure that the week is safe, fun, and doesn’t interrupt class time. Here is a list of rules, both new and returning, that will be enforced this year: 1. Decoration areas will…

By Mary Lan International hit Avatar encouraged a whole new experience for moviegoers: a 3D option of “immersion” into a dreamlike reality. Such a huge success of 3D graphics prompted eager followers. A slew of Real-D/3D/IMAX features consumed movie theaters, jumping from three wide-released movies in 2008 to at least three movies a month of this year. The plastic glasses sensation has invaded the nation—with side effects including a thirty percent color loss, fifty percent illumination loss, and a slight headache. How’s that for “immersion”? Unlike the vividly designed Avatar (poster-child movie for the 3D campaign), recently featured films appear…

Welcome to a new school year at MSJ! Well, not really new. The school atmosphere is still the same, full of romantic snafus, competitive classmates, application pressure, and a fair amount of stress. In this issue, the Smoke Signal examines the MSJ social and academic scene.

The Dispute.      The Cordoba Initiative, headed by Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, is a plan to build an Islamic community center in New York City, three blocks away from Ground Zero. Media attention has magnified the dispute, and misinformation is common. Its proposed location polarized the nation, and the debate over the mosque grows more convoluted every day. Supporters of Mosque.      The most prominent supporter of the planned building is New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. In a speech defending the mosque, he cited New York’s history of religious freedom and tolerance. The Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer supports it,…

It’s not that fun being a senior. I mean, sure you get to go to Waterworld, show off your independence by driving yourself around, do all these senior things that you’ve been looking forward to since you stepped onto this campus. But on the other hand, all those seniors that you used to look up to for advice and have good times with are spread to the winds. When you start seeing the younger siblings of friends in your classes, you get the full blown impact of how old you are. Count yourself lucky though. At least you’re not doing…

In elementary school, it was dashing to sport the roller backpack look even if there was only a Spacemaker pencil box and some dried Elmer’s glue inside. Sometime during that period, telling other people to spell “icup” was pretty trendy, too. For a society that defines itself by opportunity and a generation that supposedly draws from originality, it seems the social phenomenon that connects us is actually come-and-go fads. Though we boast that the members of our society enjoy the freedom to express their minds, the majority do not embrace it. Be it the newest fad, fashion trend, or internet…