Next-Generation Consoles Dominating Market as Holiday Shopping Season Begins
By Nate Bayer
As the fiscal year draws to an end, the much anticipated next generation of gaming consoles are being released to the public after years of development. The Xbox one and the Playstation 4 are being sold at a retail price of $500 and $400, respectively.
While the prices of both the consoles are rather high for the average consumer, both microsoft and sony sold a combined 2 million units on opening day.
The timing of the releases coincided with black friday this year, boosting the participation of shoppers by reaching out to a large demographic of gamers eager to receive a deal on one of the year’s most pricey accommodations
“I’m not getting an Xbox one, yet,” says Junior Nathan Giblett, “but I know a lot of kids who are getting one. I just don’t have enough money for one right now”
Nathan is one of many students who, despite the large discounts implemented on black friday, still cannot afford an Xbox One. The prices should drop for each console by about $100 to $200 in the next 2 years, depending on the success of the launch.
Still, the release of the consoles has been the largest hardware release in history, and the number of units sold continues to climb at a very steady rate. The decision to release the consoles on black friday gave a supplemental boost to the overall number of consoles sold.
As the price of the hardware begins to fall, we should see sales rise, but that is not expected for a very long time
The holidays are officially here, and what's better than a good movie to start the holiday season off? Especially if the movie is the Hunger Games: Catching Fire.
I’m sure we can all agree the first movie was good, but it had it’s moments. Whether it was cheesy lines, or unnecessary shaky cameras scenes that would leave you with massive headaches. But, I can assure you this movie will make you forget all those bad moments.
The movie begins where it left off with the story of the first Hunger Games. Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) have won the previous year’s Hunger Games and are trying to adjust to their new lives. At the same time Katniss tries to deal with the non stop nightmares/flashbacks of the people she killed in the Hunger Games. All she wants is to be left alone and forgotten. Although the Capital has another plan for her. Little does Katniss know districts have been protesting ever since her defiance against the capital. Now she is threatened to either attempt to end the revolution that is forming in the districts, or her family and best friend (potential love interest?), Gale (Liam Hemsworth), will be killed. And that’s only the first 30 minutes of the movie.
The movie progresses in a good pace, making sure people who tend to fall asleep during movies (like myself) are on their toes the entire time with Jennifer Lawrence’s wonderful acting and the introduction of people’s new favorites: hunky Finnick Odiar (Sam Claflin), cheeky Joanna Mason (Jena Malone), and sweet quite Mags (Lynn Cohen).
The movie, just like the first, had you picking favorites in no time and hoping (with all your might) that your character would survive. (Mine didn’t.)
Overall the movie is wonderful, and if you’re looking for a movie besides the regular holiday cheer you should watch Hunger Games: Catching Fire, because you will never know what is going to happen next.
Tis the season for decorated houses and trees wrapped in strings of lights. But are many houses we see more cluttered than decorated? So where can you see good christmas lights? Fear not, here are some great places to get cozy and look at the elegant lights.
Other houses have a similar look. Some have dropping lights, sparkly snowflakes and candy cane lanterns. Almost every single house has some sort of light display; if a house is dark, it looks out of place.
However, drive around Eldorado circle and you will run into a house with the biggest display of rock creek. Whether you think this display is cluttered or festive, it is definitely eye catching. This house is decorated with countless blow up items including Santa, snowmen, reindeer and even a blow up nativity scene.
If you are feeling brave enough to step out of your warm car into the chilly air, you will hear christmas music coming from various speakers around their yard. And to top it all off, they have colored christmas lights on every window, roof, and door. Talk about an electricity bill!
Another house that has incredible lights is in Louisville, Colorado. This house is on Harper street and it grabs every passerby’s attention. It has a nativity scene set up and a lighted path to it. It was set up so people could walk around the yard and explore all the decorations. This house has music as well, but it is softer and wordless, making it very calming.
Of course if you want a little bit more of an adventure, you could hike up to the star off of Flagstaff. This is a slippery, cold, and treacherous hike, but it is well worth it.
Drive up to Flagstaff and once you see the star you can climb up that slippery hill. Once you get there, the star provides a twinkling light over the landscape and if you turn around you can see a stunning view of all of Boulder. The city is lit up with tons of lights, so you can’t help but feel in the christmas spirit, especially if you have some hot chocolate to warm you up.
Having trouble deciding what songs to listen to this coming holiday season? Don’t worry! Because we’ve asked 50 Fairview Students to choose their favorites from a list of songs and found their top holiday songs to help you get your playlist ready!
Options:
Rudolph the Rednose Reindeer
All I Want for Christmas is You
Jingle Bells
Jingle Bells Rock
Santa Baby
Silent Night
Dreidel Song
White Christmas
Last Christmas
Holly Jolly Christmas
O Christmas Tree
Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree
The Twelve Days of Christmas
Other
Out of all of the songs Fairview Student’s picked:
Rudolph the Rednose Reindeer came in first with 35%. Nothing can beat this holiday classic about a little reindeer, and his rise to popularity through his genetic advantage.
Santa Baby came in second with 34% of the votes. Many Fairview students like this song because it’s different from most of the other holiday tunes. “It’s weird, but the weird you enjoy,” said freshman Sarah King.
Next came the Dreidel Song with 24%. When making your playlist don’t forget this catchy Hanukkah Song!
And lastly Jingle Bells with 7%. This song, with all it’s childish parodies, is sure to lighten everyone’s moods the instant you play it. “Jingle Bells is one of my favorite holiday sons because it gets you into the spirit of the season right away,” said junior Jayden Slater.
Now with these and your own personal choices you have the ingredients to make the best holiday playlist! Happy Holidays!
Boulder’s topography and plentiful parks provide ample space for sledding and many people have a favorite place to go.
In South Boulder the hill betwixt Fairview and the rec center is a favorite, its safe enough for small children and there is lots of parking. Throughout the winter you can see iced over sled runs and jumps made by skiers and sledders alike.
Another South Boulder favorite is Tantra park, the hill is much more steep and you can get going at amazing speeds. Junior Max Brachvogel said that his favorite place to sled was Tantra without a doubt. The trees at the bottom have large foam mats wrapped around them to protect anyone that is out of control, but its better just to bail than to hit one of them.
One of the greatest hills of them all is NCAR (National Center for Atmospheric Research). You need to drive up, have another car at the bottom to shuttle, and pray that you don’t get caught by the police. Given that NCAR is a federal building the security usually isn’t too pleased with teenagers flying down the front of their property, but its fun enough that its worth the risk.
In central Boulder there is Scott Carpenter park, a much gentler hill thats better for small children and cowardly adults. Unless you are very young or a parent there isn’t any real reason to be there. Sophomore Julia Combs said that “Scott Carpenter is my favorite just because I used to go there so much when I was younger.”
In North Boulder Casey Middle school has a good hill, its short but very steep. Many build jumps at the bottom to take advantage of the impressive speed you can build up over the short distance.
The penultimate sledding area in Boulder is Betasso preserve. Provided there is enough snow, the hill is the perfect grade for serious sledders, or any skiing/snowboarding. Some of the aforementioned areas are pretty safe, but Betasso is steep enough that it is essential to wear a helmet. A sled that will float over the snow is highly recommended, if there is enough snow up there for sledding, there is too much for sleds with runners. I suggest getting a snow skate (a snowboard without bindings), as soon as you get the hang of it its very fun and rewarding.
Despite Boulder’s prime sledding, many students said that their favorite location was outside of Boulder ( Eldorado and Louisville were both popular), and some students even said they didn’t have one. I don’t want to speculate about what kind of childhood these students have had, but I suspect that it has not been a healthy and happy one. If you know someone that has never been sledding, take them out to one of the aforementioned locations and introduce them to this wonderful winter pastime.
With the high possibility for snow this week, its a good idea to know where you are going and what to expect before you slide the slopes. Remember that sometimes its actually a good idea to wear a helmet, despite how nerdy you might look and what your friends say. Stay warm and stay safe fairview.
Tis the season to drink sugary drinks. That’s right stock up on your hot chocolate because it’s about to snow. But which brand should you buy? We investigated which brand was the best tasting*.
Swiss Miss Marshmallow Lovers
-Too many marshmallows that got in the way of my drink enjoyment
-The marshmallows taste way too sugary. They tasted like sugar cubes.
-The top of it looked beautiful and creamy.
-The hot chocolate is a bit too watery.
-Tastes very creamy
-I would curl up with a book if it weren’t so packed with marshmallows
4.5/5
Kroger Mini Marshmallows Milk Chocolate Dutch Hot Chocolate Mix
-MY MARSHMALLOWS SANK
-Looks like soup broth on the surface.
-Tastes like stale plastic chocolate
-Much too watery
-Not creamy
-Generally a bad hot chocolate mix
2/5
Nestle Dark Chocolate
-Mix does not combine and dissolve well in hot water
-Looks unnaturally dark
-Bitter tasting, but in a good way
-Tastes like a liquefied version of dark chocolate. Good!
-Tastes a bit watery
3.5/5
Dagoba
- An extremely “natural” brand focussed on organic ingredients and not sugar.
- Extremely bitter to the point where one's tongue cringes
- Watery, but the richness of the chocolate makes up for it.
-Although sour at first, a good aftertaste
-Nothing worth choosing over good old sugar even if it has the same name as Yoda’s planet.
3/5
*All brand were made with one packet and the suggested amount of hot water following the microwave directions.
Getting into any TV show is hard, let alone a long-runner like Doctor Who. It’d take more than two weeks to watch every episode, from the classic series onward (though things would get a bit easier once you know that there’s a whopping 96 missing episodes). With the 50th anniversary special coming up, now is a perfect time to binge; for those who don’t want to, here’s 50 years of Doctor Who in a nutshell. (Spoilers follow.)
1. The Doctor(s)
The Doctor - the definite article, you might say - is a time-travelling space alien from the planet Gallifrey that doesn’t die. As of the most recent season, he’s over 1000 years old. Over the course of his life, he’s had at least eleven faces (soon to be twelve):
The eccentric, grumpy, smug first Doctor (William Hartnell);
The fun, “cosmic hobo” second Doctor (Patrick Troughton);
The action-oriented, gentlemanly third Doctor (Jon Pertwee);
The bug-eyed and incredibly alien fourth Doctor (Tom Baker);
The noble yet vulnerable fifth Doctor (Peter Davison);
The confident, prideful and sadly short-lived sixth Doctor (Colin Baker);
The cunning and mischievous seventh Doctor (Sylvester McCoy);
The charming and romantic eighth Doctor (Paul McGann), who has only had two on-screen appearances as the Doctor;
The survivor-guilty but very sassy ninth Doctor (Christopher Eccleston);
The cute and human yet definitely psycho tenth Doctor (David Tennant);
And the eleventh Doctor (Matt Smith), who is either an old man in a young man’s body or a young man in an old man’s body.
The reason the Doctor has had so many faces - and actors to play him - over time is due to a perk that all members of the Doctor’s species, the Time Lords, have: regeneration. When one body is near death - through radiation, old age, falling from high places, or absorbing an entire vortex, among other things - it can regenerate into a totally new man, with a new actor to play him. His personality, outfit, and stories vary from regeneration to regeneration, with some doctors being more popular than others. (David Tennant and Tom Baker are usually the favorites of new series fans and classic series fans, respectively). Either way, all eleven have stories worth watching.
The Doctor travels through time and space in a TARDIS - an acronym for “Time and Relative Dimension in Space”. She is a living spaceship that’s way bigger on the inside than she is on the outside, and has had a human form about once. On the outside, due to a glitchy chameleon circuit, she appears as a 1963 police box, wherever she is. It’s inconvenient, but the Doctor loves her all the same.
2. The Companions
The Doctor has all of time and space to see, but he doesn’t do it alone. 49 people - called companions - have traveled with the Doctor over the course of Doctor Who’s run. In the classic series, companions were mostly there to ask the Doctor questions and have him show them things. With the revival series, the companions have more roles - saving the Doctor, snogging him, or sometimes both. Notable companions include:
Susan Foreman (Carole Ann Ford), the Doctor’s granddaughter, one of his three first companions, and the one he ran away from his planet with;
Jamie McCrimmon (Frazer Hines), the longest running male companion to date and the second Doctor’s best friend;
Brigadier Sir Alastair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart (Nicholas Courtney), an iconic companion and UNIT employee who has starred alongside the first seven Doctors;
Sarah Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen), the only classic series companion to return for New Who, and the first Doctor Who companion to get her own spin-off series, The Sarah Jane Adventures;
Dr. Grace Holloway (Daphne Ashbrook), the first companion to both kiss on-screen and kill the Doctor;
Rose Tyler (Billie Piper), the first new series companion, a shopgirl with a fairly boring life until the Doctor changes literally everything about her;
Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman), an immortal American time agent that flirts with anything that moves, who also received a spinoff in the form of Torchwood;
Donna Noble (Catherine Tate), who first appeared as a one-off character in a Christmas Special, before serving as a new companion and meeting the most tragic non-death end of any companion ever;
Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman), a medical student whose only real mistake was falling in love with the Doctor;
Amelia “Amy” Pond (Karen Gillan), the first companion for the eleventh Doctor, who actually first met him as a young girl;
River Song (various actors, most notably Alex Kingston), who has an odd relationship with the Doctor. The first time he met her, she died, and the first time she met him, she was a baby;
Clara Oswald (Jenna Coleman), who keeps popping up in odd places and dying to save the Doctor.
From the show’s beginning in 1963, the Doctor has always had at least one companion to travel with him. The trouble with that is that they almost always meet horribly tragic ends, especially in the new series. Adric’s death - crashing a spaceship he was desperately trying to stop, killing the dinosaurs and making way for mankind, alone - was the first and only time in the show’s history, and that’s not counting what happened to Rose, Donna, Amy, and Rory. One rule of companions is to not get favorites, they’ll die - or worse.
Every. Single. Time.
3. The Bad Guys
Planets to see, people to save - but what are they being saved from? The answer? Everything. Even the Doctor’s own species, the Time Lords, become villains at one point in the series. And, of course, there are monsters - everything from extremely xenophobic salt shakers to statues that snap your neck to your own shadow. Notable villains, aliens, and monsters include:
The Daleks, a race of xenophobic mutans determined to EX-TER-MIN-ATE any non-Dalek life, trapped in a protective shell that makes them look like salt shakers;
The Cybermen, whose origins generally vary, but are ruthless killers with the ability to convert humans into Cybermen nonetheless;
The Weeping Angels, statues that appear normal when you look at them, but the second you look away or blink, you’re dead. To add to the creepiness, anything that has the image of an angel become an angel, and the Statue of Liberty was briefly one;
The Master (various actors; most recently John Simm), another Time Lord and the Doctor’s best-friend-turned-arch-nemesis, who will probably return after seemingly dying permanently;
Davros (various actors; most recently Julian Bleach), the creator of the Daleks, best described as Stephen King meets Adolf Hitler;
Rassilon (Richard Matthews in 1983, Timothy Dalton in 2009-10), the founder of Time Lord society, whose plan for the Last Great Time War was to kill everything non-Time Lord and ascend to a higher plane of existence.
Of course, some villains have made more appearances than others; every series has had the Daleks show up at some point, and the Master’s been around since the third Doctor’s first season. The Weeping Angels are easily the most popular monsters of the new series, if only due to their sheer creepiness. And this isn’t counting minor villains or one-offs, or stuff in spin-offs.
Certain classic serials and seasons one through six of the New Series are on Netflix; pick the ones that seem interesting to you (and “Blink”) and get going. Or, if you have no interest in going episode by episode, many wesbites like TV Tropes have recaps of the show. The special airs on November 23rd at 12:50 PM on BBC America - good luck, and don’t blink!
It’s no surprise that here in Colorado, many people from all walks of life love to ski. This love for the outdoors is no more prevalent than at Fairview.
Out of 50 students surveyed, 34 said they had already purchased a ski pass, or were planning on buying one in the near future, and with Keystone and Breckenridge opening in the recent weeks, students have already been scrambling to the mountains to spend some time in the long-awaited powder.
The enthusiasm for winter sports here in Colorado is nothing short of impressive, and with great pre-season conditions, more and more students are beginning to take interest in heading towards the mountains for these winter weekends.
You can practically feel the crackling of the energy of Fairview’s skiers when they are asked if they are hitting the slopes this weekend, “If I think about skiing during the week, the day seems to go by ten times longer, so I have to force myself to think about something else”, says junior Ben Gould, “but when the weekend finally comes, I feel like I’m turning a dream into reality.”
With so much to look forward to, including the opening of Peak 9 at Breckenridge this saturday, we expect to see many Knights valiantly conquering the slopes in the near future.
Seasonal affective disorder, also known as SAD, is a disorder in which one becomes suddenly or gradually depressed during a season. People who already have depression can have it intensify during a season as well.
While most people experience the effects of SAD in the winter months, others find that the winter time gives them relief from their seasonal sadness.
Jackie Reed, a senior at Fairview High School currently suffering from depression explains how she feels better in the colder months than the warmer months.
“Last year when they were talking to me about my depression they asked if I got depressed when it’s snowing and I was like no, that’s really odd.”
Seasonal affective disorder is not subject to the winter months.
“I hate the heat so when it is cold or rainy I feel more comfortable and not as depressed.”
Weather and where you feel better can impact one greatly on their mood and therefore your overall depression.
“I think maybe because the cold makes you kind of like contract, you know like that thing where its like where you’re hot, like, in a hot tub you kind of like, splay out everywhere. I think my natural self is comfortable with being, like, inwards and contracted and not out and I feel like the heat kind of forces your body to do that physically and I just don’t want to do that mentally.”
So while some individuals are more likely to be less depressed in the warmer months, it is really dependant on what environment they are the most comfortable in.
“Now it is becoming cold so a lot of it is not on weather but if you’re coming from the weather perspective it makes you less aware of it I guess.”
In Boulder, many people claim to know precursors to upcoming snow storms. Whether it’s the smell of the air, clouds, or just a superstitious feeling, everyone seems to have some method of predicting the upcoming weather. We asked the student body how they know when it will snow.
Can you tell when it is about to snow without a weather report? How?
“It’s not like I can smell muffins and I know it’s going to snow”
It's Snowden: A Comedic Interpretation of The News Relating to Edward Snowden
By Ben Gelderloos
New Study From NSA Finds That German Chancellor Has Not Purchased New Phone Since 2002
Putin States He Granted Snowden Asylum to Pick Fights For Russian Hockey Team
Bing Outraged That NSA Didn’t Spy On Its Own Search Engine Users
New Study From NSA Finds That German Chancellor Has Not Purchased New Phone Since 2002
A new study that examined German chancellor, Angela Merkel's behavior on her personal phone found that she has not gotten a new phone since 2002, when the study started.
"We couldn't understand the language that the chancellor was speaking in, and we didn't learn much about her lifestyle," said Keith Alexander, the director of the National Security Agency, "but we did learn that she has not bothered to buy a new phone or even change her phone number in that last ten years."
The study, released in newspapers across the world and in many German tabloids, monitored the phone calls of over 35 world leaders hoping to learn how individuals in important positions talk on the phone. Of all of the data collected, Markel's surprising cell-phone history was found to be an interesting result.
"We were only trying to find some connection between the way people talk on the cell phone to how successful they become," head researcher Andrew Bellock said, "The results that we actually found were astounding."
In a press conference last Friday, Chancellor Merkel apologized to her citizens and fellow world leaders saying that she was ashamed of her failure to upgrade her phone and hoped that they would forgive her for living with a filthy flip phone.
" I realize that I have made a huge mistake, but I just felt that my plan was the best deal I could get," she said.
This is just one of a string of studies that the NSA has published to help American citizens learn more about their foreign and next-door neighbors. The highly praised organization says that they are simply trying to keep American’s secret-free.
"This is the kind of thing that the world should know about," said Edward Snowden, "This kind of study makes me proud to be an American and have the NSA protecting me."
After learning that Angela Merkel did not have an iPhone Obama and Conservatives from Congress were able to unanimously pass a bill declaring themselves to not be friends with the leader anymore.
"I just can't believe that she is that out of touch with the current events that have been happening," said Barrack Obama, "From now on, I will not let her talk to me or ask me how Michael Jackson is doing."
The chancellor, who reportedly saved all of her money, will be going to the Apple store on Thursday to play all the apps for a while and then maybe buy something.
"I believe that the scientific process is something that we must embrace. We must act on new scientific studies that effect us, but don't come crying to me America when the smart phones get too smart."
Putin States He Granted Snowden Asylum to Pick Fights For The Russian Hockey Team.
MOSCOW-- On Wednesday night, Russian president Vladimir Putin, stood beside Edward Snowden whispering threats in his ear as the NSA defector signed onto the Russian national hockey team.
“He is such a big and masculine guy,” Putin said, “When I granted him asylum, I made sure that his participation in the Winter Olympics was a mandatory part of the agreement.”
Snowden has been designated the official fight starter for the national team in hopes that he can help beat the americans in a fist fight.
“It just makes sense,” head coach Zinetula Bilyaletdinov said, “He hates america and is really tough, a perfect member of the team!”
This comes with the enthusiasm for the upcoming Winter Olympics to be held in Russia. Critics of Snowdens asylum in Russia point out the irony that it is likely foreigners coming to the games will be spied on.
“Those commies are probably strapping cameras on siberian huskies as we speak,”said Oklahoma representative Tom Cole, “It's no wonder they want to keep Edward busy, we would assign him a meaningless task like reading a million secret papers just to keep him from getting smart and telling some secret to the public.”
Despite disapproval from the US, Russia, and the Olympic Community, Putin insists that Snowden will be a great member of the Russian Olympic Team.
“If a muscular, attractive man showed up at your door would you simply let him stay there free of charge?” he said, “No, you would make him do manly things for you in a big uniform. At least I would.”
Bing Outraged That NSA Didn't Spy On Its Own Search Engine Users
REDMOND, WA -- In an interview Friday, Yusuf Mehdi, senior vice president of Microsoft’s Online Services Division, stated that the Microsoft search engine was very upset that the National Security Agency had chosen to exclude Bing in its monitoring of major search engines such as Yahoo and Google.
“Just because we are a smaller search engine doesn’t mean that they can just forget about us,” he said, “You just wait, in ten years the NSA will be monitoring Bing with everything they got! That will be the day!”
The information originally leaked by Edward Snowden on Wednesday was just one of many documents that he has released in order to bring attention to the horrible things that are going on in the NSA.
“The world needs to know this horrible discrimination going on in the NSA,” he said in a telephone interview from Russia, “To choose to spy on the innocent citizens of one search engine over the other is a horrible crime that warrants the highest punishment.”
Bing, a search engine that is struggling to succeed and grow its client base, has been the subject of much discrimination such as Yahoo’s “Skroogle” campaign.
“Why?! Couldn't they also say ‘Skring’ and include us? But NO, they only try to decrease the search users of Google! Its so unfair,” Mehdi said as he rolled on the ground crying.
Although many Bing users are pleased that their search engine has not been spied on, the Microsoft corporation said in a press conference, that they would address this discrimination through spying on their own users for free in order to make it a better search engine.
For some people, gathering by the fireside with family and friends is enough to make the holiday season a bright one. Others scorn the holidays completely, treating the winter season like...well, like it’s just a season. This helpful guide shows you how to spend your Christmas using bits of both the mainstream and the edge - that is to say, spending your holidays like a hipster.
1. Don’t Celebrate Christmas
Really, celebrating a Christian holiday is buying into the mainstream, ignoring minorities, AND ignoring the magic baby that the holiday is really all about. As a hipster, it’s your job to stay a level above the mainstream crowd, and calling them out for their ignorance of other cultures as well as the holiday’s true meaning is what makes a hipster’s heart beat. Buy Christmas presents, decorate your tree, take advantage of sales - just make sure you’re celebrating the winter spirit, or Yuletide, or the solstice.
2. Make the Sacred Pilgrimage to Starbucks
The era of Pumpkin Spice lattes is far over. Now that the holiday season has come about, it’s your job to get at least one Caramel Brulee latte, Peppermint mocha, Gingerbread latte or Eggnog latte every week. You can also now order Butterbeer at Starbucks now. (A creme frappuccino with whole milk, 3 pumps of caramel syrup, and 3 pumps of toffee nut syrup, topped with whipped cream and drizzled with caramel.) Before drinking your holiday-themed beverage, be sure to snap a picture for Instagram. #holidays, anyone?
3. Get an Ugly Christmas Sweater
Or just a Christmas sweater in general. Get a sweater decorated with snowmen, snow, a tree, ornaments, whatever, and don it for the rest of the holiday season. Pair with skinny jeans, high-top Converse sneakers, oversized and not necessarily necessary glasses, and one scarf.
4. Get Obscure Gifts for Everyone
Screw iPhones, new video games, or socks. As a hipster, it’s your duty to get your loved ones gifts that confuse everyone. Get your mother an ice cream lamp, your father a make-your-own-ukulele kit, your kid sibling a miniature beanie, your girlfriend a set of 32 hair chalks, and your boyfriend a classic rap pencil set. They’ll be surprised at first, but the fact that they’re moving straight to the basement just means they love their gifts, promise!
5. Complain About Everything
“Other than getting a camaro and an ipad this christmas sucks,” tweeted one; “No Iphone. I hate my dad,” tweeted another. It doesn’t matter how great your presents are. You must have some reason to complain. Your parents get you a white iPhone instead of a blue one? That’s gotta be so earth-shattering it ruins your life. Tweet, tumble, Instagram or - if you’re desperate - update your status about how angry you are.
6. Have Fun
It’s a rather mainstream option for a last step in a guide, but really, the holiday season is about happiness. If you’re not enjoying your hipster Christmas, it’s fine to stick to mainstream ideals of what the holiday season is all about - that is to say, being happy. So be happy this holiday season.
With ski season just beyond the horizon, the citizens of colorado are once again gearing up for a winter season full of moguls, powder, and backcountry exploration. However, without the necessary equipment, you can be left at a competitive and physical disadvantage.
This review of the K2 Apache Xplorer skis will provide insight about what should be donned on day 1 of the 2013-14 ski season.
Skis: K2 Apache Xplorer MX
Length: 177 centimeters
Weight: 9.3 pounds
The Apache Xplorer line of skis is designed for all mountain use, ranging from the icy, early season slopes, to the viscous powder that falls late into the winter. The highly flexible core allows for extreme bending, while the fiberglass provides a lightweight frame in which to ride on. they are extremely versatile, I’ve taken them to practically every skiing “biome” that colorado has to offer, and they handle each condition like a dream. Quick carves and a decent width provide for great powder skiing, as well.
While these skis are perfect for anyone at almost any skill level, they sell at MSRP $1,200. A very hefty pricetag. I consider myself extremely lucky to be the recipient of these skis as a hand me down. A used pair can easily go for half price, but the tuning and refurbishing brings with it it’s own detriment to your wallet. With all these factors in mind, I would recommend this ski to anybody in the intermediate to advanced skill level. After you tackle the sharp learning curve, there’s nothing but smooth runs and slick curves ahead of you
The debate has raged since Jake Burton Carpenter revolutionized snowboarding in 1977 and his protege came into conflict with the ancient tradition of skiing. What is the best way to slide the slopes? A variety of other methods have since become present, and 10% of Fairview students prefer something else (monoboard, ski bike, etc…) but skis and snowboards remain dominant in resorts.
Snowboarding is just as fun as skiing, and while snowboards may not be half as useful as skis, they are a whole new experience. I have compiled a list of what I see to be advantages of both skis and snowboards below. I also asked twenty three fairview students ranging from freshman to seniors about which they preferred, and the results were pretty conclusive.
Skis- Designed for the slopes, not comfort. 60% of fairview students prefer skiing.
Pros:
-Skis are really fast, with less surface area and wicked edges, you can reach extreme speeds.
-There is virtually no hassle at lifts and no need to mess with bindings.
-Traversing a slope to a better line is very easy, where as with a snowboard you sorta just slide in that general direction.
-If your DIN setting is correct and your bindings release, falling isn’t nearly as bad as you might think.
-You can use your poles to push yourself out of a flat spot.
Cons:
- You have to deal with poles on the lift and the possibility of dropping one.
-Ski boots are infamously uncomfortable, and awful to walk in.
-If your DIN isnt set correctly and your skis don’t release or only one does, its pretty painful.
(The DIN setting is how much pressure is needed for your boots to release from your bindings during a crash. DIN stands for “Deutsche Industrie Norman”)
Snowboarding- Surprisingly easy and painful. 30% of Fairview students prefer snowboarding.
Pros:
-Cool tricks aren’t that hard to master (riding switch, 180’s).
-The boots are super easy to walk in and very warm.
-When walking to and from the area its easy to carry just a snowboard.
-You can get larger graphics and cool artwork done on it.
Cons:
-Its a huge hassle getting on and off of lifts.
-If you are stuck on a flat spot you are screwed, unless a skier helps you out.
-No traction on ice.
-Catching an edge going fast is extremely painful and embarrassing.
- Lots of snowboarders are annoying middleschoolers, and you are thus guilty by association.
Both have merits and shortcomings, and it would be hard to truly say that one is better than the other. There isn’t a clear answer, and ones own opinion and a level head is the only way to wade through the trash talk and bias.
- By the Snow Globe’s editor and resident ski fiend Bruce Kreutzer.
Christmas time is, indeed, here; while most are preparing for facing their families, the nerds of the world are preparing for winter TV shows and Christmas specials. From The Polar Express to the Doctor, here’s a list of the shows to look forward to this November, December and January.
1. Doctor Who
Though Series 7 of the hit British TV show has ended, there’s still two specials left in 11th Doctor Matt Smith’s run. The first of which, in chronological order, is the show’s 50th anniversary special, featuring Matt Smith, David Tennant as the 10th Doctor, Jenna Coleman as Clara Oswald, Billie Piper as Rose Tyler, and John Hurt as a previously unknown version of the Doctor. Fan theories are running rampant about who this mysterious figure is, or why Rose is back after being trapped in another dimension, or what the 75-minute long special will be like in general - but one thing’s for sure. The Day of the Doctor will not be forgotten for a long time.
On the other hand, mostly nothing is known about Matt Smith’s final episode as the Doctor, 2013’s Christmas Special. What is known about it is that the 11th Doctor will regenerate into the 12th Doctor, played by Peter Capaldi. Hopefully, it’ll be an ending that satisfies 11’s fans, and gets people pumped up for the slightly contested (he’s not young and cute, and therefore has a hatedom) 12th Doctor.
The Day of the Doctor premieres on 11/23, and the as-of-yet unnamed Christmas special airs on 12/25.
2. Sherlock
The ending of Sherlock’s second series left more questions in the fandom than it did answers. Sherlock jumped off of a building, so how is he still alive? Moriarty shot himself, but is he really that dead? If Watson gets married, will his wife die like in the original books? Is Johnlock over for good, despite the pair’s gigantic following? And what in the world is going on with John Watson’s facial hair?! On January 19th, Sherlock will return to Masterpiece Theatre on PBS, back-to-back with Downton Abbey. Hopefully, Steven Moffat - the showrunner for both Sherlock and Doctor Who and a notorious troll - will do the opposite of what he usually does, and explain what on earth happened during The Reichenbach Fall. Though the first episode of Series 3 isn’t airing on Christmas, it is airing in the winter.
3. ABC's 25 Days of Christmas
In case death and regeneration just don’t please you on Christmas, ABC Family is still doing their 25 Days of Christmas for more mainstream holiday spirit. Here are highlights from the programming schedule:
Day 1: The Polar Express
Day 7: Doctor Seuss’s How The Grinch Stole Christmas
Day 13: Toy Story, Toy Story 2, and Toy Story 3
Day 14: The Little Mermaid
Day 18: Mary Poppins
And, as an added bonus? ABC Family is also showing all of those semi-obscure Christmas shows from the 60’s, which are always fun and a bit strange. 25 Days of Christmas starts on December 1st.
Fandom or not, there’s something for everyone this winter; just turn on the TV. You’ll be able to find something new or stick to what you love, so make sure to tune in this winter.
