This time around, Troy and Chris discuss how to go about improving public education in America. As always, we aim to objectively approach and discuss the issues at hand.

Stay tuned for future editions of The Editors’ Table. Let us know which topics you would like us to cover by sending us an email at ahsthenest@gmail.com or leaving a comment below. And of course, if you’re interested in voicing your opinion, feel free to stop by any Tuesday in room 111 and join in the conversation!

Click below to see the video:

The Editors’ Table: Public Education Reform

Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.), if you haven’t been following the series so far, is a playboy inventor who, after getting into a bit of a scrape somewhere in the Middle East, fashions himself a suit of armor with which to fight crime and global terrorism, thus turning into Iron Man. After dealing with space aliens in The Avengers, Tony goes back to his home in L.A. for a little R & R with his new girlfriend Virginia “Pepper” Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow). Little does he know that the past is about to come back to bite him in the rear end in the form of the Mandarin (Ben Kingsley), a vaguely Asian terrorist who has stereotypically terrorist designs on America.

The movie just seems to cut straight to the point…here’s a prime example of how foolish our Iron Man hero can be. Should be quite simple to guess what will happen to Mr. Stark after this statement he makes in the film:

Tony Stark: “Here’s a little holiday greeting I’ve been wanting to send to the Mandarin. I just didn’t know how to phrase it until now. My name is Tony Stark and I’m not afraid of you. I know you’re a coward. So I’ve decided that you just died pal. I’m gonna come get the body. There’s no politics here, it’s just old fashioned revenge. There’s no pentagon, it’s just you and me. And on the off chance you’re a man, here’s my home address, 10880 Malibu Point 90265, I’ll leave the door unlocked. That’s what you wanted, right?”

Funny thing is…that address doesn’t even exist in real life. It’s actually a just a very popular beach area chosen by directors for filming known as Point Dume. The Normandy landings of the film D-Day the Sixth of June were filmed at Point Dume, and important scenes in the Planet of the Apes series were also filmed at Point Dume’s Westward Beach.

Jests aside, the film was still very enjoyable; it included a lot of action scenes mixed with some comedic relief from Robert Downey Jr. This film was his last solo salvation gimmick as a superhero. The Nest gives a 8.5/10 and says farewell to The Great Gatsby…oops, we mean…Iron Man.

Citizenship Academy

• Citizenship recently organized a cleanup of Albany’s Krank Park. Students throughout Albany High School and the county demonstrated how they can make a difference through community service.

Discovery Academy

• The end of the school year always features a host of concerts. Starting the season is the highly anticipated Massry Concert on May 17^th at 7:30pm; for more information, see the event’s website, the Discovery Academy website, and our recent article promoting the concert. The season continues with three school concerts, with the Albanettes, Men’s Ensemble, String Quartet, and Jazz Band performing May 29^th; the Symphonic Band, Vocal Music, and Orchestra performing June 3^rd; and the Wind Ensemble, Select Choir, and Advanced Orchestra performing June 4^th. All concerts are set for 7pm.
• The works of twelve of Mr. Sickler’s video production students will be presented at the Media Arts Festival at Proctors on May 21^st at 7pm. The students include freshman Aden Suchak; sophomores Micko Newell and Olivia Parker; juniors Ali Alalkawi, Muneib Chater, Jabari Walker, Naaman Azad, Eli Kligerman, Dennis Dominguez, Jose Vega, and William Dayer; and senior Siobhan Granich.

Innovation Academy

• The NanoHigh program recently conducted its final lab at the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering. A graduation ceremony in recognition of the students’ work throughout the year will be held this month.

Leadership Academy

• On Tuesday, May 14th, Leadership student Liz John and Theme Coordinator Ms. Hatfield hosted a courtyard cleanup. The cleanup had originally been scheduled for Saturday, May 11th, but was postponed due to the weather. In addition to cleaning the courtyard, students and staff planting flowers to make the courtyard look livelier now that the spring months are here.

Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austin                        

Oliver Twist, by Charles Dickens

Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte                                 

Withering Heights, by Emily Bronte

The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy, by Douglas Adams            

Dracula, by Bram Stoker

Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll                        

The Hobbit, by J. R. R. Tolkien

To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee                                                      

The Giver, by Louis Lowry

The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton                                                    

 The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini

My Sister’s Keeper, by Jodi Picoult          

The Time Traveler’s Wife, by Audrey Niffenegger

These books might not fall under your favorite genre, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t worth a try. One of these might be the book that opens you up to new possibilities. One of these might inspire you to go above and beyond; to dream big and soar high. As Cecelia Ahern once said, “Shoot for the moon, even if you fail, you’ll land among the stars.”

The concert, however, promises to be more than just an evening of fantastic musical performances. On July 3^rd, 2012, choral director Mr. Hoffman’s good friend Matthew James Koehler, whom he knew from Mt. Sinai High School on Long Island, passed away after a brief battle with kidney cancer. He was thirty-two years old. The Hopestrong concert will serve as a memorial to both Matthew as well as anyone who has battled cancer in any way.

Also in our thoughts at the concert is Dr. David Griggs-Janower, Albany Pro Musica conductor. Dr. Janower suffered a stroke during surgery in March and though his condition has improved considerably since then, he remains in physical therapy. His presence will certainly be missed on May 17^th, but the show will go on—and that’s exactly what he would expect from this ensemble.

The Select Choir heads into the concert fresh off a history making performance at the New York State School Music Association Choral Festival at Bethlehem High School on Thursday, May 2^nd. They performed at Level VI, the highest degree of complexity offered at the festival. They sang Rest by Vaughan Williams, The Battle of Jericho by Moses Hogan, and Sanctus from Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem. And they received a rating of Gold with Distinction—the highest rating offered, reserved only for the most exceptional performances.

During the first half of the concert, each ensemble will perform its own set of music. There will then be an intermission during which members of the audience can view memorials outside the recital hall. Members of the community are encouraged to submit information about and pictures of loved ones whom they would like to be honored in these memorials; they can do so through the Discovery Academy website. Also at this time, representatives from the Dana Farber Cancer Research Institute and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society will be on hand to discuss their research efforts. Though admission is free, there is a suggested donation of $20 per seat, to be split evenly between the two organizations.

Following the intermission, Albany High’s Select Choir and Orchestra, the Mt. Sinai High School Choir, Albany Pro Musica, and professional soloists Woodrow Bynum and Carla Fisk will all combine to perform Fauré’s Requiem. The Requiem is considered a choral masterwork, one which promises to pay due homage to those battling cancer.

Promotion for the concert has been nothing short of extensive. The music department has launched a website for the concert, featuring information about the evening, a dedication to Matthew Koehler, and footage from last year’s concert at the Massry, with more content to follow. In addition, the music department and the video production program have collaborated to create a pair of commercials for the concert. And as with any event of this nature, simple methods like word of mouth go a long way.

The concert is set for Friday, May 17^th, at 7:30pm at the Massry Center. All are encouraged to attend and enjoy a night of great music as well as make a difference in the ongoing battle against cancer.

Hopestrong.

The show takes place in the upper west side of NYC during the mid-1950s in a blue collar neighborhood. It tells the story of the forbidden love between gang member Tony (Lucas Phayre-Gonzales) of the Jets and Maria (Rachel Kaziyev) of the Puerto Rican gang of immigrants known as the Sharks. The head of the Sharks is Bernardo (Ahston McLaughlin), Maria’s older brother. When Bernardo finds out about Maria and Tony’s secret love, he becomes infuriated and threatens Tony, but Tony is no longer interested in violence and instead encourages his fellow Jets to ignore the Sharks to rise against the hate.

Albany High’s Theatre Ensemble has grown tremendously since last year’s production of My Fair Lady. This year’s dancers performed amazingly choreographed and executed numbers way beyond their years. The musical numbers featured incredible soloists such as Rachel Kaziyev, Bryana Greer, and Shannon Bradley, all seniors who have been involved in the music department throughout high school. We would also like to reccognize the ”techies” for their swift set changes; although there were no major scene changes in this production, it is important to be able to clear the stage smoothly so that the audience does not lose interest or get distracted.

The Theatre Ensemble is always welcoming new members in all areas, including costuming, set construction, backstage work, and of course on stage.

We would like to congratulate the cast of West Side Story for creating a show more than worth the price of admission!

The Nest: When did you develop such a strong love toward animals?

Abby: I’ve always loved animals. But when I was in the ninth grade, I saw a dog being abused at the Gay Pride Parade and it really made me upset. I wanted to be able to advocate, get out there, and give these animals a voice.

The Nest: We understand that you eventually adopted a vegan lifestyle. Did the dog situation have anything to do with this?

Abby: No. When I first got involved in the circus protests, I added all of the demonstrators on Facebook, and it’s hard to still eat meat after seeing all of the things they post.

The Nest: Speaking about the protests, let’s talk about your club and the protests that occur in front of the Times Union Center. Who organizes them?

Abby: I don’t organize the protests. The protests are organized by Donna Reynolds, who is affiliated with PETA.

The Nest: How many people do the protests usually see?

Abby: There were fifty people at opening night last year.

The Nest: Tell us about what goes on at the protests.

Abby: We hand out leaflets and pamphlets, distributing information about what goes on behind the scenes of the circus. A lot of people don’t know or think about the cruelty. We hold up posters of pictures of the elephant training. Lots of people yell at us as they pass by.

The Nest: How do you react and what do you do when people yell at you?

Abby: If they yell at us, we usually just say, “It’s okay, it’s okay.” Sometimes people try to have a dialogue with us and we do engage in that. Others come up to us and make remarks like, “Do you have a dog?” or, “Do you wash your face? Well, that’s killing animals.”

The Nest: To be fair, they do have a point. What do you think about owning animals and having them as pets? Do you find that restricting?

Abby: We already have domesticated animals, which is terrible, but it can’t be undone. We can, however, put an end to the cruelty within the circus. We can stop taking elephants and other animals from the wild and stop breeding them. Wild animals belong in the wild.

The Nest: Let’s go back to the protests. How long are these events?

Abby: We protest during the hour before each show.

The Nest: So these are during the actual circus days? Does the Times Union Center allow this?

Abby: Yes, and it’s not up to the Times Union Center. The Times Union Center doesn’t own the sidewalk.

The Nest: Has anyone ever tried to interfere?

Abby: Donna Reynolds has a really good relationship with the police department, so they’re very lenient about the whole issue. They know we’re not here to hurt people, we’re here to spread our message.

The Nest: Have you seen any sort of improvement brought about by these protests?

Abby: Last year, we had a lot of people who said, “Thank you for the information, I’m not going to go next year.” We had a couple of people come out from the circus and say that they couldn’t stay any more because they were so disgusted.

The Nest: Let’s imagine I didn’t know anything about this and I approached you during the protest. What exactly would you try to do or say to convince me the circus is wrong?

Abby: I would offer you the information provided by PETA. I would tell you that even if the animals weren’t under any abusive training, they’re still not in their natural environment. They’re in the basement of the Times Union Center, which is the case for all their demonstrations. And in addition to that, the workers use aggresive methods to train the animals.

The Nest: Do you think the audiences in the circuses will die out?

Abby: Yes, I strongly believe that they will. There is a clear solution for Ringling Brothers to stop using animals in their performances. The Performing Animals Welfare Society (PAWS) has reached out to Ringling Brothers and offered to take and retire all of the Ringling animals to the sanctuaries in California.

The Nest: Do you have one message to tell anyone who is still on the fence about all this?

Abby: With everything that you do concerning the animals, you need to be aware of the consequences and of what’s taking place beyond your viewpoint. You need to do research then decide if it’s something you can be a part of and if it’s something you can morally support. You have to remember that they are living creatures and that they have feelings as well. To quote Jeremy Bentham,”The question is not, Can they reason? nor, Can they talk? but, Can they suffer?”

The Nest: Thank you for your time. We look forward to the protests and admire your passion for animal equality.

The protests run Thursday, May 2nd, at 5:30pm; Friday, May 3rd, at 11:30am and 6:00pm; Saturday, May 4th, at 10:00am, 2:00pm, and 6:00pm; and Sunday, May 5th, at 12:00pm and 4:00pm. Join Abby and let these animals’ voices be heard!

The two suspects were brothers of Chechen descent, the older of whom is thought by officials to have become a radical Muslim during a recent trip to Russia. The brothers’ parents denied the possibility of any wrongdoing committed by their sons, whereas their uncle spoke harshly against their acts.

The younger brother, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, is seriously wounded but in stable condition. He has been charged with using a weapon of mass destruction, the penalty for which can be death. Prominent defense lawyer Judy Clarke, who also provided legal assistance to the likes of Ted Kaczynski (the “Unabomber”) and Jared Loughner (the man responsible for shooting U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords and eighteen others in January 2011), has been selected to serve as Tsarnaev’s counsel.

Since 2011, Russian security officials have been keeping tabs on the older brother, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, for suspected radical Islamist ties. Twice these officials contacted their American counterparts to warn them of possible threats, but there is no indication that the Americans did anything more than interview Tsarnaev. A Russian wiretap of a conversation between the older brother and his mother was  recently released. A portion of the conversation “vaguely discussed jihad,” reports the Huffington Post. If the phone call had indeed suggested a possible attack, and if the Russian officials released the recording to the Americans, the FBI might possibly have been able to preemptively halt the attack.

On April 29th, The Wall Street Journal reported that a female’s DNA had been found on one of the bombs. There is no clear indication as to whether the DNA belonged to an accomplice. Some security officials caution against conjecture, saying that the genetic material could have come from any number of sources and did not necessarily mean that the two men were part of a larger scheme. FBI spokesperson Jason Peck said that he is not “permitted to discuss specific aspects of the case.” However, it is reasonable to think that more information pertaining to the female DNA will surface in the coming days.

The investigation will certainly continue to unfold over the coming weeks and months. For now, we as Americans join Boston in moving forward stronger than ever.

The story follows Lee Everett, former college professor and convicted murder. Riding in a police car on his way to prison, Lee is knocked unconscious after the car hits a Walker and veers off the road. Awaking to a broken leg and the sheriff’s corpse outside the car, Lee investigates the area. After freeing himself from his cuffs, he is then attacked by the sheriff and must protect himself. Fleeing from the attracted Walkers, Lee finds an abandoned house and enters in search of help. It’s here that he meets Clementine, an eight-year-old girl hiding out in her treehouse. After killing her undead babysitter, Lee befriends Clementine and the two begin their long journey to find a safe haven.

The gameplay is mostly puzzle-based, having you find items you can use to progress. But that’s not the focus of the game. It’s not the things you do so much as the decisions you make. During cutscenes and conversations, you choose nearly everything you do and say. As a result, you feel like you’re in control of the story. The moral ambiguity, the uncertainty, the regret; you feel these things when you make any major decision.

Take these events for example:  When you find a woman who is bitten, her last wish is to not become one of the undead. Will you give her the gun and grant her wish, or will you keep it from her in the hope that she can be cured? Will you tell people that you were a convicted murderer before all this began, or will you keep it from them in fear they may not accept you anymore? Will you take from a possibly abandoned car, full of food and other supplies, or will you refuse, even though your group is close to starving? Those aren’t even the toughest questions that you’ll ask yourself. Some of the choices and results will make you want to cry, some will make you feel like a villain, and some will make you feel like throwing up in disgust.

That’s the thing about this game–it’s all about the pressure. While you play this game, you won’t always be able to maintain a righteous path. In the heat of the moment, in that split second you have to decide, you may deviate from your morals. In all the panic and frenzy, you may make a decision that you will regret immediately afterwards. You might tell yourself that you won’t do that, that you’ll always stick to your morals, but until you’re in that situation, you won’t understand the feeling.

What makes this game so perfect isn’t just the spectacular writing or the riveting story. It’s the immersion. You forget everything around you and enter their world. Everything becomes real–the people, the emotions, the reactions, everything. You hold their lives, knowing that they look to you for guidance, a weight made all the more onerous by the fact that you make the choices. You can’t rely on the game making the choices for you, no matter how much easier it would be. But in this case, we wouldn’t have it any other way. That’s why this game easily gets a score of a 10/10; it’s one of those games to which you compare all others. It’s a game that is memorable the whole way through, and will not only show you for who you really are, but also demonstrate that it’s always possible to become the person you strive to be. It’s a game that reminds you to never give up hope, because you’ll see that there will always be good and beauty in the world, even as the world crumbles to dust around you.

The second film, The Matrix Reloaded, has no refreshers to bring us back into the world of the original Matrix, as it literally starts with a bang as a woman in black breaks into some sort of secure facility and fights off the guards. And just like that, we’re back in a world where the machines use humans for fuel, lulling people into thinking that they’re living mundane lives so that they won’t realize that they’re merely an energy source. Only a few humans know the truth, and Morpheus and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) believe that one of them, Neo, is “the One” who’s destined to defeat the machines. The action shifts back and forth between Zion, the city where the humans who resist the machines live, and the illusory “city” maintained by the Matrix.

The third installment, Matrix Revolutions, focuses on two storylines. First, Niobe (Jada Pinkett Smith) has to pilot a ship through some very tricky situations while guys in huge robots fight off hordes of cool flying octopus-like machines. Meanwhile, Neo and Trinity, on another ship, are heading straight for a city occupied by the machines for a Dorothy-and-the-wizard-in-Emerald City-style confrontation. There’s a brief encounter with the Frenchman and Persephone (Monica Belluci) in a nightclub that appears to be occupied with writhing bondage-and-discipline freaks. Neo visits the Oracle (now played by Mary Alice, replacing the late Gloria Foster) in her cozy kitchen and has a strange conversation about love and karma in an antiseptic train station.

Inspired by a variety of sources such as Japanese anime, The Matrix Trilogy is a one of a kind series way ahead of its time. There’s something in the films for everyone, even if you’re just watching them for pure enjoyment. The trilogy was directed and written by Andy and Larry Wachowski. It gives a visionary mixture of technology, puts philosophy to its extremes, and combines it all with thrilling action. It’s nearly impossible to summarize the depth and symbolism found in the films’ plots, as they make you think deeply about our society.