Finally, you’ve made it to your senior year. Take a breath, sit back and relax. Think about all the years of hard work that have brought you to this moment.

Now get back to work.

Blowing-off senior year is not your reward for all those late-night study sessions, time invested in extra-curricular activities and practicing for the ACT’s. In fact, most college admissions representatives continue to follow student performance well into the second semester of the final year of high school to make sure their ready for the challenge of higher education. Letting senior year slide, even if you’ve already received your college acceptance letter, can come with serious repercussions.

Take the following quiz to see if you’ve got a case of senioritis.

1. Your classes this year include:
   1. AP and college-track courses. You’re even considering taking a class open to high school students at the college or university in your area.
   2. Mostly college-track courses with a few fluff courses. You know you’ll breeze through most of the year.
   3. The easiest course you could take to fulfill the requirements to graduate. You’ll have plenty of time to socialize throughout the many study halls you’ve signed up for.
2. After school, you’re busy:
   1. Volunteering at the local community center or practicing with the team. With all of your extra-curricular activities, it’s a wonder you’re able to maintain your grades.
   2. Trying to extra-curricular activities, schoolwork and friends.
   3. Figuring out how to convince your parents that staying out until midnight on a school night isn’t a big deal – you’re almost eighteen aren’t you?
3. When you picture your life after graduation, you see yourself:
   1. Attending a great college. After receiving so many acceptance letters, you feel confident the school you chose is a perfect fit. It should be, right? You worked your butt off to get here!
   2. Getting into school. You know you’ll get a great education. So what if it wasn’t your first choice?
   3. Happily experiencing the freedom of life after high school.
4. Becoming a senior means:
   1. It’s time to buckle-down and pull out all the stops. Now’s the time to prove you’ve got what it takes to succeed in the world of higher education.
   2. You’ve worked hard throughout high school, now you can finally relax a little. Maybe you’ll let a few extra-curricular activities slide.
   3. You’ve hit easy street. It’s time to sit back, relax and enjoy the ride. You’ve only got one year left to enjoy being a kid and you’re going to make the most of it.
5. On average, you work around ___ hours a week at your after-school job.
   1. 0 – 10. With trying to balance schoolwork, family, friends, and extra-curricular activities you don’t have the time to work any more.
   2. 10 – 20. You’ve got a lot on your plate. If you worked anymore, your grades would suffer or you’d have to give up your extra-curricular activity.
   3. 20-40. You’ve got to pay for car insurance some how. So what if you have to sacrifice sleep or skim through Moby Dick instead of reading it?
6. On average, your grades are:
   1. Great. You’ve been working hard to maintain you’re A’s, and even harder to bring up your B’s.
   2. Fine. They’re about the same as always.
   3. Suffering. You’ve been busy concentrating on other things.
7. When you think about college life, you feel:
   1. Completely prepared and totally excited. You’re ready to conquer a new challenge.
   2. Good. You’re slightly anxious about such a huge change, but you’re ready to face the future.
   3. Terrified! How are you supposed to figure out college-life when you haven’t even figured out yourself?
8. You see AP courses as:
   1. A great opportunity to earn college credit while you’re still in high school.
   2. Classes you wish you had time and energy for.
   3. A waste of time. Who’s thinking about college credit now? You haven’t even graduated yet.
9. Your class attendance is:
   1. Great. Nothing could tear you away from that desk!
   2. Pretty good. There are just some classes you can get away with skipping.
   3. Enough to get by. You spend as little time in class as possible.
10. When your teacher assigns a big project you:
    1. Get started on research immediately. You want to do the best possible work in the time allowed. Plus, there’s nothing wrong with turning work in early.
    2. Do a little preliminary work and then scramble to complete it the night the before it’s due.
    3. Ask for an extension on the due-date. You forgot all about it.

Let’s review the results. If you got:

Mostly As
You’re on the right track! Senior year comes with a lot of responsibilities. Managing to balance school work, extra-curricular activities, friends, family and the pressure of knowing “the real world” is just a graduation ceremony away can be extremely difficult. You can breathe a little easier – the effort that you’re putting into your final year of high school proves to admissions representatives that you’re ready for the transition to higher education.

Mostly Bs
You’re doing a dangerous dance – one that has the potential to keep you from getting admitted to the school of your choice. The good news is that you haven’t completely slipped into the pitfalls of the senior slump. Even though you’ve let your performance slide, you still know that senior year is important. Step it up a notch by staying active in extra-curricular activities. Or, earn college credit by taking AP classes or by enrolling in your local community college. You’ve put your all into the first three years of high school; don’t let one misstep keep you from a future you’ve always dreamed about.

Mostly Cs
You’ve got a nasty case of senioritis. Allowing laziness to overshadow the performance of the rest of your high school career is dangerous. It can cause your admission to college to be revoked, or in extreme cases, keep you from crossing the stage with your peers. It’s time you asked yourself some tough questions. Is your future important to you? Is partying with your friends more important than your education? Senior year is the last phase of life before you enter “the real world” – does that scare you? Whatever your reason for falling into the slump, it’s time you moved on. Find a charitable organization to volunteer with, join the soccer team or find a study club. Do whatever it takes to stay active. You’re classmates are headed into the world of higher education, there’s still time for you to join them.

To you, it’s a fun way to keep in touch with friends, tell everyone the highlights of your weekend or meet new people. To an employer or college club advisor, Web sites like MySpace and Facebook are research tools used to level the playing field.

Keeping in touch
Social networking sites are a great way to keep in touch with friends, no matter where you live. Checking out online entries of friends who are going to school far from your hometown can make you feel like you’re still a part of their life. After all, you can post blog entries, pictures, video and music on the site so everyone knows what you’ve been up to lately and what your interested in now.

Meeting new people
Many people also use social networking sites to meet new people. They can search user profiles to find people that meet certain criteria such as age, location, relationship status and common interests. If you know someone’s full name, you can even search for their specific site.

A word to the wise
While these sites can be fun and entertaining, beware what you post. Something you might find amusing could be seen as distasteful by others. You never know who’ll be searching the Internet to find out more about you.

“There are a lot of different audiences out there who might be accessing the information you put out,” said Andy Schadwinkel, Assistant Director of the Office of Admissions at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. “I think Facebook or myspace can be helpful or useful tools, but you have to be mindful of which audiences can use it and put your best face forward at all times.”

You never know when a college professor might check your Facebook page to verify that you really did miss class because you were at a family reunion and not just worn out from a long weekend of partying. Are you interested in getting into a prestigious college honor society? The group’s membership committee could check out your myspace to learn more about you. If you’ve posted items of a questionable nature, these organizations might not deem you worthy for membership.

In a conference this May, members of the Tennessee Association of Colleges spoke with employers who said they’ve used social networking sites to research potential employees. Inman Otey, Tennessee State University Career Center Director said employers reported that they didn’t continue the interview process and even decided not to offer jobs to candidates who had inappropriate content posted on their sites.

Use these powers for good, not evil
While its true that content posted on social networking sites can come back to haunt you, these sites can also help you get into highly competitive organizations or land a coveted internship.

Schadwinkle said these sites are a great way for organizations to gain positive information about students.

“They can show the way they interact with people,” he said. “It can show they care about friends and networks and enjoy getting involved with other people.”

Regardless of what you post on the Internet, just remember: what you post today can be accessed for years to come. If you would be embarrassed by your grandma or church pastor seeing something about you on Facebook or Bebo, you’re probably better off not posting it.

Sidebar
Work it! How to use social networking sites in your favor

Inman Otey, Career Center Director at Tennessee State University offers students the following advice about positive things students can post on their myspace of Facebook sites to help them get into top organizations or land awesome internships:

• Present a poised and put-together image through well written posts and appropriate photos.
• Showcase your skill sets and talents so college organizations and potential employers see you in a favorable light.
• Elaborate on extracurricular involvement in activities like athletics, theater, campus ministry, etc.
• Highlight involvement in community service and your work experience.

Your college digs may be small, crowded or horribly plain, but it’s still your new home. If your living conditions aren’t up to par, never fear, there are ways to make your space a place you’ll want to spend your spare time.

The main reason I decided to pledge a sorority was to meet people. I
grew up in a small town and was attending a large university. I felt
like a very small fish in a very big pond. I thought it would be a good
way to make friends and get involved.

There are a lot of factors that make decorating difficult for most undergraduates – small budget, lack of time and not a lot of room. But some basic decorating concepts apply no matter what your budget, and can turn your living space into a fun niche that is all you!

Remember these three essential rules for in thrifty, yet stylish decorating:

• Paint: A little bit of paint can transform a random mix of mismatched items into a coordinated group. Don’t be afraid to paint anything from furniture to mirrors to picture frames.
• Fabrics: You can create anything out of fabrics; wall-hangings, bedspreads, curtains, or pillows! Purchase a bunch of discounted fabrics at your local craft store. Don’t let a lack of sewing skills turn you away. You can create a simple hem using iron on fabric-tape and folding the edges.
• Color: Finding items in a similar color scheme pulls a look together, and creates the mood. Whatever you choose, a vibrant pink or subtle earth-tones, stick with this color spectrum for furniture and accessories.

With these fundamentals, you can develop a five-part plan to make your room as creative as any interior designer’s:

1. Develop a theme: Your space will look planned and pulled together with a simple theme to unify your items. Get creative and come up with something that represents you; anything from a wild jungle theme to a more classic shabby-chic look can be done with a few unifying items.
2. Be fun: You’re not decorating your family home – this one is all about you. Go all out with wild colors and unique items. Get interesting items from your local thrift or discount store and make your space unusual!
3. Remember comfort: Although you’ll be spending a lot of time in class and out with friends, you’ll still pass plenty of hours studying or hanging out in your college space. Filling your place with things like giant floor pillows and cozy bedding make sure you will spend that time in comfort.
4. Create space: Any dorm room or apartment will likely be pretty small than the family home you’re used to. Make sure you have a lot of storage items, such as crates, clothing racks and bookshelves to keep yourself organized and avoid being cramped.
5. Include the floors and walls: Buy a giant, inexpensive rug or cover your walls with oversized art. If your budget is low and you don’t have much to hang, purchase oversized canvases at a craft store and spray paint them in colors that match your color scheme.

Don't forget your roomate!

Establish a good relationship with the person you’ll be living with for awhile by not barging in and taking over the room. These three ideas can help keep the peace:

• Brainstorm for ideas together. Your roomie might have some great ideas that you may not have considered.
• Work out coordinating themes. You can have a day theme and they can have night theme. Or you can merely agree on colors that will go well together.
• Compromise. Don’t throw a fit if they can’t see themselves living in your dream of a pink, cat-themed room. Work out something you can both agree on. After all, you’ll both be living there.

I was just walking back to my room from my friend Katie’s room (where she rocked me at Super Smash Bros. and I rocked her at Diddy Kong Racing) and got super introspective on the way. It is really bizarre to think that I live here. I mean, I know it’s what, seven weeks in?, and I’m thinking this way. But I got here, and I have never gotten homesick. … The closest I’ve gotten is kittysick. I just feel super-comfortable and at home here. I even call my room home, which led to confusion when I was talking to Bob. There was no awkward transition. St. Ben’s was just suddenly home.

This opening paragraph isn’t a scene from a reality TV show about anxious college students. It’s an entry from the blog of Kathy Cosmano, sophomore in English Education at the College of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph, Minn.

If these thoughts seem a bit personal, well, that’s because they are intended for Cosmano’s friends and family. Cosmano, like thousands of other college students, has discovered that blogging is an affective way to keep in touch with friends and family.

A blog is a web-based publication consisting primarily of periodic articles. Blogs range in scope from personal diaries to news outlets to corporate identity vehicles. No reliable statistics exist for the number of active blogs today, but if one blog provider is any indication, the number is huge and growing every day. MSN alone has created 4.5 million blog accounts so far this year.

Cosmano started her blog at the end of her senior year in high school, but didn’t regularly use it until arriving at college her freshman year.

“It’s a good way to keep in touch and see what’s going on in my life,” said Cosmano. “It is easier than calling everyone.”

Reach out and blog someone

Staying connected to her community of family and friends is important to Cosmano, but so is the idea that she is creating a history of her college years.

“It’s nice to be able to share my frustrations or my excitement about what’s going on,” she said. “And my blog is always going to be there, whether I look at it again or not.”

Keeping the blog updated can be a chore, Cosmano said, and some weeks it doesn’t get updated as often as it should. Still, she tries to post a few times a week.

“It distracts me a lot from homework,” she said, “but it’s a good timesaver. I have a lot of people to keep in touch with, so it’s nice to have that one place to go to keep in touch with everyone.”

Blogging does have its downsides, according to Cosmano, so you must be cautious.

“Sometimes people will type in things that make them mad about friends and it gets around and gets made into a big tadoo. I’ve avoided that thankfully.”

She’s aware that future employers may very well find her blog while doing background research during the hiring process, but it is not a concern to her.

“I think it’s crazy and not a thing to worry about when you go out into the real world,” she said. “I use pretty good grammar, and I don’t think I’ve written anything terrible.”

Beginning a Blog

A number of blog providers offer free blog space, including Blogger.com. Once you register, simply select a template for your blog and a blogger profile. Then you are ready to start blogging.
It’s important to remember that even though the blog is being written for a specific group of people, it can be found by anyone who knows how to search the Internet. A good rule of thumb – don’t write anything that could not be shown to a parent, friend or potential employer.

I was never great at making quick choices. I’m someone who likes to deliberate on things a bit. I’m more likely to go my own way. I’m not Coke or Pepsi, I’m like Fresca, see? So I’m heading into my first year of college and it seemed like I was overwhelmed with decisions:

• Where was I going to live?
• Where’s the best eats?
• Where do I spend my time between classes?
• Should I talk to that girl who keeps looking at me?
• Boxers or briefs?

My head was beginning to spin and I had barely started the ride.

Like most colleges, the university I chose to attend made a lot of effort to get students to meet and start forming new friendships. I would cautiously attend these lunches and meetings where leaders of campus organizations would try and convince you that you would make a good member of their team. It was like a fraternity rush without the Greek letters and oddly-fitting togas.

There were a lot of good groups at these gatherings, but at this point, I was looking for something more like camaraderie. The camaraderie of a fraternity at such a large school seemed chaotic, especially during rush week. It just didn’t feel personal to me.

I was looking for something different – something less structured, but more self-determined.

So some new friends and I were talking (actually, it was more like complaining) about how belonging to some groups would require too much time or too much money. The room eventually turned quiet. Most organizations just didn’t seem to address things that about which we were individually passionate. Then a friend said, “Wait, why do we have to join anything? I’m looking for unique things to do, not something conventional.”

Before we knew it, we all had cut the cord and decided to be independent students.

To me, being an independent student doesn’t mean you’re not involved or that you keep yourself separated from students that are affiliated with official organizations.
Far from it. We were merely more interested in dictating how our skills and talents would help us through school and after school. Our decision was made in the interest of leading, rather than being led. So eventually, we went from being independent students to being independent student organizers.

As independents, we were the kids on campus that used our education and resources to start small businesses, form our own action groups or organize concerts. My own small group started a graphics lab to design T-shirts and stickers to promote any idea we were interested in.

Together, we published a free monthly magazine dedicated to local art and music. We organized evening poetry readings that got many students out of a stifling classroom setting and into clubs with dim lights and music accompaniment.

Our largest undertaking – Springpeace, a celebration of music, activism and campus renewal – taught me the most about what independent students can accomplish if they set their minds to it. Picture 10 kids with no official campus affiliation rigging an 8,000 watt PA system, two stages, 14 booths for campus groups and a food wagon – all set up in the center of school grounds, ready to blast for two days. And we did it without a single dime from the university, or any campus organization.

Today, I realize that doing things my own way helped give me an edge on things that mattered after school was over with. Being an independent student doesn’t mean you’re in danger of coming out of college with a degree and a blank resumé from missed opportunities. You have the freedom to make your own opportunities.

If you feel as I did, that there just wasn’t a perfect affiliation to match your passions, I would encourage you to forge your own path. College doesn’t have to be conventional and independent does not have to mean “alone.”

This may be the nastiest part of spring, but that doesn’t mean your wardrobe has to suffer. Come rain, sleet or snow, we have the hottest wardrobe items to keep you warm.

Ladies, this is a season of cropped sweaters and textured blazers. Ditch the snowflake print for something simple like plain colors or small lace details. Velvet and corduroy are most popular for blazers. Guys, look for track jackets to layer over t-shirts and poofy vests to wear over long-sleeved shirts.

The key to warmth is layers, and coats are perfect for that. Everyone needs a coat this season, and there are many styles and choices. Guys should look for a nice leather coat in black, brown or tan for going out and a sporty coat in a dark color for casual wear. Avoid extremely bright colors unless you’re hitting the slopes. Girls have a variety of styles to choose from. Military jackets are in, as well as knee-length coats in simple colors or tweed textures. Match your coat with a nice pair of warm boots.

ACCESSORIES AND MORE

Boots are the hottest item of the season, so don’t be shy to step out of your comfort zone. Cowboy boots were huge in the fall and can still be worn this season. Match a pair of suede wedge boots with a plush jacket to get a seventies look. If you’re a sweater kind of girl, a pair of lace-up snow bunny boots worn over your jeans are a perfect match.

With any cold weather attire, don’t forget accessories. Scarves, gloves and hats are never out of style if worn in simple colors. Avoid a noisy print and go for texture. Black, gold and deep hues are a must.

These additions to your closet will keep you warm and help you finish out the season in style. Always pass on cheesy snowflake print, and remember to keep things simple. Cold weather fashion is just as cool as any other style if you know what to look for.

Stomach in knots and palms sweaty, you let the large manila envelope slip from your fingers. Your application has been mailed and the suspense mounts.

While you know what to do if you get an acceptance letter (start packing!), what happens if your application is denied? With the right attitude and attack plan, you can use feelings of rejection or uncertainty to your advantage.

Handling Rejection

So the first letter said your application was declined. Don’t worry; it’s not the end of the world. Naturally, the most common reaction to this kind of news is disappointment, anger and frustration. But don’t give in to those emotions. Instead, use the opportunity to examine your application process more closely:

• Review: Look over your application for spelling, punctuation and any other grammatical errors.
• Get a second opinion: Ask a teacher, counselor or friend to read your application to be certain you are communicating the appropriate attitude and enthusiasm for the school.
• Shift perspectives: Try experimenting with another viewpoint from which you can direct your letter the next time you apply.
• Be positive: Develop the attitude that your acceptance simply wasn’t meant to be . at this time, anyway. Then, use the experience as a motivational tool for you to work that much harder, focusing even more on GPA, extracurricular activities and school involvement. If it’s an option, apply again.

The reasons why you might not be accepted are countless and, in many cases, are entirely out of your control. Some common explanations include limits on class-size and out-of-state students or “inaccurate forecasting,” where the school underestimates the number of admitted students who will actually attend classes.

No matter what the reasoning might be, remember that a letter of rejection is not a rejection of you. The letter is a tool for you to use in reviewing, reevaluating and improving your application.

The college-application process can be an excellent opportunity for you to really get to know more about yourself. Seize each and every opportunity to become better and know that whichever school that welcomes you – with hard work and motivation – you can make it the best four years of your life.

The hundreds of aircraft that take off everyday from the New River Valley Airport in Dublin, Va., do so almost unnoticed. Neighbors have grown accustomed to the sound of engines breaking the silence of the day, barely aware of the airplane-shaped shadows that are cast over the rooftops and fields.

Really, the only ones who pay any attention to the airplanes are visitors to the community and children. In the summer of 1984, the noise of a passing airplane drew the attention of two-year-old Ryan Olson, who pointed to the steel underbelly of a passenger aircraft.

From that day on, his life was about leaving this planet behind for the enjoyment and freedom of flight. What began as an innocent attraction to flying led to his becoming one of the most brilliant young minds in aviation, and created Olson’s hopes for a career at NASA.

“I have always been amazed that a plane like that would fly as opposed to a car that would drive on the ground,” Olson said. “It amazed me that a vehicle like that could take off from the ground a fly like a bird. I don’t even know how to explain it.”

At age five, Olson first asked his parents to take him flying. At age seven, he attended space camp. At age 12, he took his first flying lesson and won a community service award that allowed him to meet and astronaut and senator John Glenn. When he turned 17, he got his private flying license. And, finally, at age 18, he achieved his commercial license.

But perhaps the biggest landmark came by the way of chance when Olson met Ken Able, who would become his mentor in the study of aviation. Able spent weeknights and weekends instructing Olson throughout high school in scientific experiments and projects related to flight. Together, the two spent more than 1,000 hours building a large-scale model plane, though unfortunately it didn’t fly.

“In the beginning, it was mostly a matter of me demonstrating techniques and having him use those on the projects we working on,” Able said. “Gradually, we moved the responsibility over to his shoulders. By the time he was a senior, he was originating his own concepts and work with me to test them out.”

A month before graduating from Giles High in rural Pearisburg, Va., Olson competed in the International Space Olympics in Russia, had taken enough community college courses to earn an associate’s degree and won a NASA competition for his proposal on the practicality of a flying car.

Olson’s paper concluded that a present day flying car is highly impractical given the expense involved with materials and the construction of the vehicle. But he sees the day where air travel will be a commonality and people will be able to park airplanes in their garages. He’s even developed his own idea of what a flying vehicle might look like, which resembles a hybrid of a motorcycle and airplane.

“He was always interested in flight from the time he could talk,” said Dr. Pam Olson, Ryan’s mother, who encouraged her son’s early fascination with airplanes. “He used to spend hours and hours building things with blocks. Ryan was also big into dimensions, construction and flight. Flight was it. That’s what he wanted to learn about.”

Completing hours of extensive research and study outside of the classroom, Olson eventually earned the honor of attending Southwest Virginia Governor’s School for Science, Mathematics and Technology in Dublin, Va., while still attending Giles High. The school draws top students from six counties and offers dual enrollment with the local community college.

In addition to his research and placement in academic contests, Olson was one of 20 students named to the 2005 All-USA High School Academic First Team, USA Today’s recognition program for outstanding high school students. He received a trophy and $2,500 in cash./p>

Olson followed that by earning a scholarship to Embry-Riddle University in Daytona Beach, Fla., which was rated as the No. 1 school in the nation for aeronautical engineering by US News and World Report. His goal is to be a test pilot or NASA researcher.

“The students I go to school with now look at airplanes with the same fascination,” Olson said. “When a plan flies over, everyone looks at it. At any other normal place, nobody would look up.”

These academic accolades have positioned Olson for a bright career in aviation and aeronautics, but it is his love for flying that has inspired him most.

“It’s a rush,” Olson said. “Flying is freedom. You’re leaving the Earth. You’re really kind of alone. There is a sense of freedom from the Earth if you fly somewhat near the clouds.”

1. The StrokesJuicebox Somebody get this guy some Binaca – his voice is so loud you’ll be able to smell his breath through the speakers.
2. The KillersAll These Things I’ve Done This glam group from Vegas rocks this one out with a little soul, asking for forgiveness from the only woman who cares to listen.
3. Death Cab For CutieSoul Meets Body Take a journey through the thoughts of life and discovery of cleanliness with these suddenly hip geek rockers.
4. Keith UrbanBetter Life The upbeat tempo in “Better Life” brings to life the promise of tomorrow. Keith Urban’s happy, hopeful vocals make you look forwared to the future he’s singing of.
5. The SubwaysRock & Roll Queen Raw and unapologetic plea to be his rock-n-roll queen – repeat – be his rock-n-roll queen – repeat – be his rock-n-roll queen.
6. KornTwisted Transistor The crown princes of suburban un-metal angst strike again. This time around they prove if the lyrics can’t be upbeat, at least the dance floor-ready music can be.
7. Lindsey Lohan Confessions of a Broken Heart Herbie’s troubled teen pal gives a shout out to Daddy Dearest. This song basically disproves the notion that artists create their best work while starving.
8. System of a Down Hypnotize The most eclectic band in metal is back with the sequel to their May release, Mezmerize. This title track is stunning, sweeping, beautiful and deadly serious. A must have.
9. Kanye West Gold Digger Jamie Foxx channels Ray Charles once again to bombastic effect on his second tag team knockout with Kanye. Proof positive that Kanye is most secure in his trappings of fame and infamy.
10. Gorillaz Demon Days: Feel Good, Inc. Gorillaz continues the 2D dance party in The Matrix with direct effect, minus Dan the Automator behind the decks, but flexible bass lines and surgically placed vocal samples bring you back with shaking booty, once again.
11. 50 Cent Window Shopper 50 Cent proves that he’s no dime store bargain when it comes to lyrical flow. This smooth groovin’ cut features top shelf production, courtesy of the G-Unit Family.
12. Josh Ritter Thin Blue Flame Idaho-native Josh Ritter believes Ozzy shouldn’t have all the fun. Folksingers can sing about the apocalypse, too. Download TBF months before Josh’s CD release, The Animal Years.
13. Madonna Hung Up Madonna doesn’t exactly reinvent herself with her newest single, but she knows the perfect pop music equation: repeat same 13 words = easy top-10 hit.
14. Sufjan Stevens Chicago From the concept record Come On Feel the IlliNOISE, this tribute to the Windy City proves Sufjan can maintain his indie-cred while playing band instruments
15. Eminem When I’m Gone As Dylan is the poet laureate of Rock’n Roll, Em is the master wordsmith of Hip-Hop. When I’m Gone is the most honest look at the real Slim Shady to date.
16. Jace Everett Bad Things We suspect Jace has heard of Johnny Cash. We think he’s probably even listened to J.C.’s music . just minutes before he wrote Bad Things.

Manufacturer: Lucas Arts

Release Date: November 1st 2005

Playability: This follow up more than lives up to its prequel. If you don’t have the first Front, get them both. For the beginner or expert, these games provide limitless combinations and battle actions.

Graphics/Sound: The digital amenities of this game have been bumped up a notch. The addition of trooper comments add an element of realism not present in the prequel.

Challenge: The first person infantry mode hasn’t changed and doesn’t take long to get used to for a beginner. Learning to fly an X-Wing properly provides some difficulty and requires a little patience but is well worth the practice.

Replay Value: You are a Rebel, a Wookie, a Storm trooper, a Droidika, a Pilot, a Sith Lord and a Jedi Night. With the new addition of the Episode III battles, there is more than enough space (no pun intended) to flex your Republic, CIS, Clone or Imperial muscles.

Overall rating: Being that there are few games that offer similar experiences for Playstation II I would give this epic adventure part deux, five out of five X-wings. Non-stop action, flying eight different fighters and finally getting to wield Luke’s blade make this a must have.

Putt Nutz

By David Obenauf, Staff Writer

Manufacturer: Black Mountain Games

Playability: Your ability to play Putt Nutz is wholly determined by one thing, your balls. The game features huge amounts of special balls for specific situations.

Graphics/Sound: Putt Nutz is a mixed bag. The backgrounds are sweet and the courses are vibrant, but the character models are deformed and chunky.

Challenge: This game is hard. The courses can get pretty wicked and if you don’t have the right ball you’re stuck.

Replay Value: Even though you have 6 characters to choose from, they all play more or less the same but there are a ton of courses if you have the patience to unlock them.

Overall rating: From the outset it’s clear that the game has potential. Once you start playing however, you’re overwhelmed by how it falls short. I give this game 2 out of 5 balls.

Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King

By Tracy Benbrook, Staff Writer

Manufacturer: Square Enix, Level 5

Release Date: Nov 15, 2005

Playability: While the gameplay is not perfect, Dragon Quest VIII is engaging enough that the flaws are easily overlooked. Navigation, combat and the various menus are intuitive and easy to learn. Strategy can be summed up fairly simply – talk to everybody you see, take everything you find and kill anything that attacks!

Graphics/Sound: The graphics are beautiful, richly detailed and filled with small touches which make the game incredibly realistic. Sound quality is excellent, and the voices and personalities of the various characters are a lot of fun.

Challenge: Combat is turn-based, making the game more about strategy than reflexes. The most important thing is to thoroughly explore the different areas.

Replay Value: Much of the charm of the game is in the discovery and dialogue of the first run through . Combat encounters are random and will add some variety, but once you’ve discovered the various NPCs and surprises, it won’t be quite the same the second time around!

Overall rating: Possibly the best way to describe Dragon Quest VIII is relentlessly cute. The game is light-hearted and a lot of fun to play. Overall, I give the game 4 out of 5 dragons, a high humor factor keeps the game lively and fun and some moments may actually make you laugh out loud in surprise.

Mario Cart DS

By Aaron Lindberg, Staff Writer

Manufacturer: Nintendo

Release Date: November 14th 2005

Playability: Mario Cart on the Nintendo DS is a highly addictive fast paced racer. Throw in the Wi-Fi USB connector which allows you to compete with thousands of people across the country and you have a successful handheld head to head video game that can fit in your back pocket.

Graphics/Sound: The vibrant colors and funny maps will keep your pulse raised as you barrel through various levels while unlocking new drivers and maps.

Challenge: Easy to pick up and hard to put down. One of the coolest features is the split-screen DS. It allows you to still see where you are going while you have an oil spill on your windshield.

Replay Value: Once you unlock all tracks and drivers it can be disappointing. Luckily with the Wi-Fi network, you can keep playing and challenging other players around the nation.

Overall rating: Great game, if you love any of Nintendo’s other Mario Carts than you will defiantly want to pick this game up and rock out on Nintendo’s Wi-Fi connection.

Tips & Tricks: Jak X: Combat Racing

• Grab all the Blue Eco you can.
• Don’t Sit On One Weapon For Too Long!
• Keep using up both your Yellow and Red Eco Weapons, especially if you’re about to run over a new Eco pod – this increase your chances of getting one of the really awesome weapons.
• There’s a cool secret short-cut in the Icebound Citadel that isn’t shown on any of the maps. From the start of the track, go forwards a short way, and then head left under into the triangular gap between the wooden beams.
• You’ll find a narrow alley with a terrifying jump across a pit of spikes – just make sure that you have enough Blue Eco to turbo-boost across the gap, and you’ll be certain to shave valuable seconds off your lap time!