We invite you to read and respond to The Paly Voice’s ongoing staff blog, where we talk informally about the Voice, campus life, and other things on our minds. Enjoy — and click on the feedback link on the bottom if you want to participate by adding your own comment.

Unfair grading policies in Math department (Mar. 23, 2005)

After much contemplation, I have recently concluded that there is no justice in the correction of math homework in our math department. The math teachers are clearly to blame for this department flaw because they are the ones designing the grading scale for an average homework assignment. When I turn in a thirty-problem assignment, I loose one whole point when I get one answer wrong or do not show enough work on a given problem. This gives me a grade of a four out of five, or more appropriately an eighty percent on the given assignment. These small point deductions add up and eventually lower my homework grade percentage, which is the only thing in the class I can control, due to the fact that I can correct problems in class before the assignment is to be turned in. It is unjust that I loose a whole point when realistically, on a 30-problem assignment, that problem is worth a mere 16th of a point. To rectify this department flaw, it seems only fair to make the 4/5 homework grade a 4.84/5, which is still an A and accurately reflects the hard work I put in to that given assignment to my teacher.

–Jessie Ebert

Nor Cal Basketball Championships updates! (Mar. 11, 2005)

The Voice will be posting updates every quarter on the Nor Cal basketball championships in Sacramento tomorrow! Check http://voice.paly.net/view_story.php?id=2750 and refresh often for updates on scores, player stats, and game notes.

Basketball’s unique aura (Jan. 31, 2005)

Two Friday nights ago, while photographing the Gunn-Paly
basketball game, I had a realization. Somewhere between the Gunn
sections’ chants of, "Paly sucks!" reverberating off the walls and
Brian Baskauskas’s stellar play, it struck me that basketball has got
to be the greatest sport ever.

There’s an unique aura to basketball, a certain feeling that you
get when you’re standing courtside, that no other sport can boast of.
After thinking long and hard, I’ve come to realize that what makes
basketball so great is the proximity of it all.

I’m talking about the proximity that allowed me to talk it up with
point guard Jeremy Lin while he was going through his pre-game routine
and the same proximity that let me congratulate center Greg Walder on
his team’s hammering of the Titans. The proximity that let fans
clearly see the sweat, strife, and emotion shown on the player’s
faces. The proximity that allowed the Paly and Gunn student sections
to have heated verbal exchanges from opposite ends of the court which
ultimately ended in Viking’s fans singing their victory song, "Na na
na na, na na na na, hey hey hey, goodbye.”

At the end of this week, the Voice will have blanket coverage of
Paly’s round two bout with the Titans. I’m really looking forward not
only to have the opportunity to watch the greatest sport in the world,
but also to watch the Vikings whoop the Titans . . . again.

–Nathan Lui

"I do what I want . . . kind of" (Jan. 31, 2005)

The editors, Dominic, and I are now second semester seniors! Woohoo! However, in terms of Voice, that means nothing. The first day of the famous contest, which has been the focus of our work all year, is tomorrow, and excitement is in the air. Even the group of unmentionable staff members who usually goof around sixth period, or invite their ditzy blonde friends to help them make noise in the computer lab–even they are hard at work. The tech staff is double-checking the site for glitches, Laura is making our "Contest Calendar" extra pretty by color-coding it, and those with overdue stories that have yet to be posted are getting metaphorically beaten in the back room. Fortunately, I have always enjoyed Voice, so the fact that I’m actually working as a "second semester senior" doesn’t bother me. Plus, I’m pretty sure that the myth that seniors don’t have to do anything is really just a myth. However, the absence of pressure that comes with our last semester in high school does in fact give me a feeling of relaxation, and it’s really fun to say, "I’m a second semester senior, I DO WHAT I WANT!" in any situation where my laziness is questioned. So, underclassmen, teachers, other random people . . . though we are still working hard, don’t forget that in the end, we do what we want.

–Taylor Whitfield

Read The Voice’s previous Blogs at:

http://voice.paly.net/view_story.php?id=2204

http://voice.paly.net/view_story.php?id=1955

http://voice.paly.net/view_story.php?id=1390

http://voice.paly.net/view_story.php?id=1515

http://voice.paly.net/view_story.php?id=1593

http://voice.paly.net/view_story.php?id=1787