New England Patriots
There has been big news for the New England Patriots this week. First, star LB Colvin was released early this week. I can understand why the Patriots made this move, as Colvin was being paid a lot of money but spent most of the season injured. Next, the Patriot’s secondary (safeties and cornerbacks) has taken a big hit.
The Pats released safety Wilson while veteran safety R Harrison might not be returning next season as he is considering retirement. Not only have the New England Patriots lost their two starting safeties, but also their two starting cornerbacks. Star CB Samuel is leaving after completing his one-year franchise deal (gets paid the average of the three highest paid players on the team, the contract is only for one year). Starting on the other side, CB Randall Gay has also been released.
This means the Patriots have 5 starting spots on defense to fill before the start of the 2008-2009 season. The team also faces great expectations, as the Pats managed to go 18-1 last season, only losing their final game. As Free Agency started friday, the Patriots have a major priority to shop defense players, unlike last off season, where they added key offensive players to Tom Brady’s arsenal.
Flashback, flashforward, flash-two-places-at-once?
Last night’s episode of Lost brought the intensity of the story to a whole new dimension. Literally. We’ve seen Desmond’s flashes of the future before and learned that time on the island was weird, but this episode really delved into the subject.
Not only was Desmond transported back in time, the quality of the writing was a blast from the past seasons with intensity normally only seen on the season finales. I mentioned in an earlier blog post that Lost has really redeemed itself after the pathetic third season, and I now I think it really has potential to be better than ever before.
The fourth season of Lost, however, is addictive and intense in a different kind of way than the first two seasons. The show used to have so many undertones and subplots of religion and philosophy, but it seems that the writers are abandoning much of that to go deeper into the sci-fi aspects of the island than before. Daniel the physicist seems to be a character that’s going to help us understand more about the island, and so far I really like him. By “like him” I mean “trust him.” Don’t get me started on Charlotte and Miles. They creep me out.
I’m glad that the new science-heavy Lost isn’t losing the humanness that made the earlier seasons so good. The flashbacks were such a great way to get to know characters, and the connections between the characters that were shown were always fun—especially because the characters themselves didn’t know the connections exist (ex. Clare and Jack are half-siblings, but don’t know it). Anyway, bringing Penny back as Desmond’s “constant” was a great way to keep the personal, emotional touch.
I’m so glad that Penny was back, even though we probably won’t see her again for a while. Her storyline drives me crazy because it has the most holes in it. Why was the communications room on the ship sabotaged and who did it? Why aren’t the people on the ship allowed to take Penny’s calls? And HOW DID SHE FIND OUT ABOUT THE ISLAND IN THE FIRST PLACE?
I can’t wait for next week’s episode.
Vantage points downward
So over vacation I saw a couple movies. Okay, I saw more than a couple. I actually saw so many that I couldn’t even keep track. One of those being Vantage Point.
The beginning was good. The president was assassinated at a conference in Spain, and there are about five different viewpoints of the assassination. The end of each viewpoint was left on a cliffhanger, and at the end of each I was wondering how the heck they were all going to tie back together.
They did. But not well. The motives of the assassination were unclear even after the credits were rolling. I thought the producers could have done a better job with that.
Despite my opinion, the movie is currently at the top of the box office.
Oh, and one other thing. Do presidents actually have body doubles?
Michael Clayton: A combination of everything good
Michael Clayton, George Clooney’s latest movie, is up for best picture, and I believe Clooney is up for best actor as well. In the movie, Clooney plays a lawyer who is considered a “fixer-upper,” and just does all of his firm’s dirty work. The case that Clayton’s firm is working on deals with a company called UNorth, who makes pesticides and other chemicals. A class action lawsuit has been brought against UNorth in terms of billions of dollars because they made faulty pesticides, which caused tissue deterioration in many farmers and was blamed for the deaths of 430+ farmers who died as a result of UNorth’s negligence.
One of Michael’s coworkers named Arthur, who was originally heading the defense for UNorth, realizes what he is doing defending a company that has killed so many (“I have blood on my hands Michael!” as he often exclaims), and thus he goes crazy. During all of this there are many plot twists involved, and who is good and who is bad seems to get jumbled together and get confusing at times.
It seems though that Michael Clayton is a deserving nomination for best picture and best actor, as Clooney did an amazing job acting, and when the film ends and you realize who has won and who has lost, you feel good “supporting” Michael through everything that has happened. Tilda Swinton also very much deserved best supporting actress as the nervous, paranoid executive at UNorth.
Also, Michael Clayton managed to provide a combination of what everyone wants, a little bit of humor here, a little bit of action and cars exploding there, and a lot of wit, good writing, acting and plot twists.
iPods are great.
Chloe Bashian is about to embark on a trip that will most likely be a once in a lifetime experience.: the photo trip to Italy.
This type of trip is completely new to Bashian. “I have never left the country,” she said. She will be spending ten days exploring “the Boot” with friends and peers, as will as Ms. Ciluffo and Mr. Johnson.
Bashian is going on the trip because of photography; however, anybody who participates in any of the art classes is eligible to go. “I love photography” she said, “when Mr. Johnson told us about the trip I really wanted to go.”
The group leaves Thursday, February 13 which means, unfortunately, Bashian has to turn in her Junior Thesis a day early. She does not seem concerned, “it will be such a great opportunity” she said.
A trip to Italy is thrilling; however, Bashian is also excited for the photography aspect of it. “I am really passionate about photo,” she said “I think I’m equally excited for both the photography and the travel aspect of it.”
Bashian has been involved in photo since eighth grade but did not develop a real passion for it until her freshman year. Since then, she has worked her way through the intermediate course and now participates in advanced class. “You can create your own perspective on something,” Bashian said when describing her love for the art. “I’m not the best at drawing so photo lets me show my artistic ability.”
In terms of the trip, Bashian showed excitement. “We are traveling a lot” she said, almost hesitantly, for fear of worn out feet. Overall, Bashian, as well as many of her peers seemed thrilled for their trip to Italy. It combines art with a travel experience that will be one of the most memorable for many.
PS-interview coming soon….after technical difficulties are sorted out.
Tourney Time
For three of our Wellesley High School winter athletic teams, their seasons were extended as they were able to qualify for the state tournament. The three teams that did so were the boy’s hockey team, the girl’s basketball team, and the girl’s hockey team.
For the girl’s basketball team, they were able to win their first tournament game last night, at home against Duxbury and will face Whitman-Hanson Saturday afternoon, at home as well. The boy’s hockey team, which has been a big story this winter, with their extremely successful season, is playing in their first tournament game Sunday in Bourne, against Milton High School, who the boy’s beat twice this season, both times by big margins.
The final team that made the tournament this winter is girl’s hockey. Unfortunately, their tournament life was short lived as they fell to Newton North in a game that came down to the final seconds. The girl’s though, should feel good that they were able to get into the tournament by winning their last couple of games during the regular season. Both teams that remain from the school in the tourney have a chance to bring home a state championship trophy, and hopefully one of those teams will finish the job and get that trophy.
When laziness becomes detrimental to life
Since second semester began, I have become the laziest person ever. Every day after school I used to go to the gym, do all my homework and then maybe watch some TV. But this has all changed, especially since I just had my last February break in my life. This past week I have done perhaps a total of two hours of homework without having a TV show playing on my computer. I have not gone to the gym since last Saturday because I’m too lazy to drive to BSC.
Although I enjoy being able to watch TV for the first time in my high school career, I do feel a sense of guilt when my teachers ask questions about the past night’s homework, because it is clear I’m not the only one in my classes who have adopted this life of indifference to academics. It must be hard to be a senior year teacher during the second semester, they see us slacking off. They know we do. But the way I see it is, I’ve worked my life away at this school, and the next four years of college will be filled with all-nighters at the library, I need these last months of school to enjoy being a teenager!
So I suppose what I’m trying to say is, work hard now as underclassmen because second semester of your senior year can be used as a time to enjoy high school like they do on television and in the movies.
Wild, Wild West
Lebron James and the powerful Cleavland Cavaliers came to Boston to face our beloved Boston Celtics. Although Lebron made NBA history by being the youngest player to score 10,000 points, the Celtics were able to hold off the rest off his team and come away with a 92-87 victory. Kevin Garnett solidified his own place in history by grabbing his 11,000 career rebound,becoming only the 28th player in history to achieve this.
Prior to this historical win, the Celtics faced some serious dilemmas while traveling the Western part of the U.S. Coming off of the all-star game, the Celtics suffered three straight losses to teams they’ve already beaten. Even though the losses to the Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, and Phoenix Suns were all close games, the Celtics proved that they were a better team over the course of the season. The Celtics showed that they were still at the top of their game by defeating the young and talented Portland Trail Blazers, and crushing the Los Angeles Clippers.
In my opinion, this little skid the Celtics experienced was nothing more than a prime example of players being tired. It is almost impossible for basketball players yo maintain a high level of intensity for an entire season. I believe that the Celtics will get back to their winning ways and continue to dominate the entire league.
I don’t want it back
I have not had a social life for the past three months. As I am a junior in high school, the following information might shock you: I liked it.
DO NOT POKE THE DAMN BEAR.
It’s February 29th. This day comes once every 4 years. And if Randy Moss isn’t wearing Patriot colors next year, it will be remembered as the worst mistake in franchise history.
Today marked the beginning of NFL unrestricted free agency, and the biggest name in need of a contract has the possibility of leaving Foxborough. The Patriots decided against placing the franchise tag on Moss when they had the opportunity to last week. He could be guaranteed to be back for next season already. Instead, Pats brass decided to gamble with house money by allowing Randy Moss, without a doubt the best receiver on the Pats and possibly in the league, to become an unrestricted free agent at 12:01 AM on February 29th, 2008.
And if he leaves, prepare to see the Patriots dynasty collapse.
Before the angry mob starts to form after that last statement, consider how important Moss is to this team. The usually reserved Tom Brady went so far as to say that he and Moss “are a package deal.” If there is any argument about Moss’ importance, there is none about Tom Terrific. He is the greatest in franchise history. He could set records for Super Bowl Championships when it’s all said and done. And oh yeah, he is coming off a 16-0 season in which he threw an NFL record 50 touchdown passes (23 of which landed in the hands of one Randy Moss) while led the Pats to within 35 seconds of the greatest season ever.
If Tom wants Randy, give him Randy. The last time Brady publicly voiced support for a receiver, the Pats sent Deion Branch to the Pacific Northwest for a first-round pick in the 2006 season. Brady, upset by the trade, struggled with a mediocre receiving core and failed in the playoffs for just the second time. Moss is more important to Tom than Branch ever was. The Pats have two options: repeat the mistakes of the past and watch an MVP fume, or resign the best receiver in the game and aim for a fourth title.
I’d take option two, but maybe that’s just me.
Conor
