Upon learning that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous and beloved detective was to be presented on the big screen with flairs of action and romance, many fans may feel doubtful, even shocked. This new Sherlock Holmes in question, directed by Guy Ritchie, famous for his action gigs, shows a brand new, more human side of the crime-solving machine Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.), both in his interactions with close friend Dr. Watson (Jude Law) and his romantic involvement with the mysterious yet attractive Irene Adler (Rachel McAdams). (continue reading…)

Some people believe that appearance is the only way fame and success can be obtained. However, in the spring of 2009, a forty-seven year old woman from a compilation of villages in Blackburn, Scotland, changed the view of the world of the ideal celebrity. Susan Boyle was her name. (continue reading…)

Often we come across days where we wish that life could be just a little better. We walk past a mall, wishing that our parents gave us a few more dollars to buy one more shirt to hang in our closet for the next six months, whereas others of us wish that we could be dismissed from the immense pressure to do well at school. Completely submerged in fulfilling our own desires, we forget about those who ask to live for just one more day, those who pray to fill the stomachs of their children for just one more night and those children who yearn to be educated. (continue reading…)

There was a time when an AP or IB class was a destination, kind of like an academic Bali. But it seems that this is no longer the case,  AP and IB courses have become mere layovers on the way to something better, akin to the 4 hour layover in Bangkok. To compete in the meritocracy that is the modern world, TAS students strive to build their resumes with credentials that are sure to impress the gatekeepers of their ambition.  So here at TAS we not only consume a steady diet of AP and IB coursework that some marketing department has labeled “college-level”, but we have started to look for more ways to challenge students to prove their academic worth. (continue reading…)

In light of Tiger Wood’s latest media coverage, maybe it’s time to rethink the adage, “there is no such thing as bad publicity.”

This past December, headlines and articles revealing the news of Tiger Woods’ marital infidelity flooded the papers, and flashed across the globe quickly, inciting shock and dismay from his many fans.

Woods announced on his website on December 11, 2009 that he would be taking an “indefinite break” from professional golf to try and rebuild his personal life. “I am deeply aware of the disappointment and hurt that my infidelity has caused to so many people, most of all my wife and children… I am profoundly sorry and that I ask forgiveness. It may not be possible to repair the damage I’ve done, but I want to do my best to try,” said Woods. (continue reading…)

With an increase of celebrities in fashion and gossip magazines, they are becoming fashion icons. Entire magazine spreads are dedicated to what celebrities are wearing at the moment, whether it is leather jackets, high heels, or scarves.  Because of this, celebrities dictate the trends that teenagers such as the students at TAS buy. Victoria Chi (10) said, “I think people buy clothes that their favorite celebrities wear because they want to have the lifestyle they have.  They admire them so they want to dress the way they do, the magazines just make it easier for people to copy them”.

Websites such as www.people.com have features on how you can get celebrity style; readers can find where they can get Taylor Swift’s scarf, or Rachel McAdams’ sweater. The repercussions of this can be seen at any high school, or even on the street. While not openly apparent, students unconsciously compare each other’s outfits and judge each other based on what the other is wearing. Vivian Huang (10) said, “a few years ago, no one wore skinny jeans, but once magazines started featuring celebrities wearing skinny jeans the trend caught on, and now everyone wears them.”

Besides fashion, even hair and makeup styles are modeled after celebrities. “When I was choosing a hairstyle for frolic, I immediately looked in magazines for celebrity hairstyles,” said Jennifer Huang (10). (continue reading…)

Brands seldom fail to escape the eye when one walks around campus. Uggs in hallways. Coach bags on shoulders. Tory Burch flats. The mass of Abercrombie & Fitch hoodies. Flip open a magazine in the middle of the library, and find a dazzling array of outfits. “Pair these True Religion jeans with a cute top for effect,” says Seventeen magazine, while on another page, there are cheaper “lookalikes” (Forever 21, H&M) of high-end outfits. Juicy Couture. Marc Jacobs. Christian Dior. Pages of $100+ outfits draped on sunlight-dappled and heavily airbrushed models sitting in tall grass appear in Vogue photoshoots. Even in Runners World magazine, brands pop up: Nike, Asics, Adidas. But what do TAS students think about it all? (continue reading…)