The Blake Beat <![CDATA[The Blake Beat]]> en-us Copyright 2008 - All Rights Reserved. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:38:26 GMT 15 <![CDATA[April acceptance anxiety no longer plaguing pupils]]> By Justin Pereira
By a show of hands, how many of you would rather not have to wait for an interminable period of time to hear back from the colleges you apply to? Keep it raised if you find the ceaseless waiting perio full story > ]]> Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:19:21 GMT <![CDATA[Girls sans pants: only tights is not alright]]> By Kelly Shih & Sacha Vega


Patrick Howe

If it was called Sisterhood of the Traveling Leggings, no one would have seen that movie. Pants are not only magical but functional for covering up your donk...and other things. Once upon a time, a f full story > ]]> Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:18:30 GMT <![CDATA[Real World comeback makes for millions of satisfied teen viewers]]> By Nick Foley
Never before have we had the chance to witness such beauty. A freshly-minted transsexual, a prickly gay guy, a closeted Mormon and a former lesbian have all united in Brooklyn to film the new season o full story > ]]> Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:17:09 GMT <![CDATA[Obama drama: harassing presidential preteens must end]]> By Kirsten Petersen


Brendan Lipton

Sasha and Malia Obama are quite possibly the most adorable first children ever. Pictures of them smiling, laughing, kissing (who are they kissing?) and even sleeping can be found all over the Internet full story > ]]> Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:15:37 GMT <![CDATA[Nonsensical glasses fashion trend mocks true wearers’ disabilities]]> By Christina deGraft-Johnson & Steven Sites
Are you mocking us? Seriously, are you? We have been wearing glasses since before we could spell the word “glasses.” Do you think this is a joke? Because it’s neither funny nor cute. We wear glasses full story > ]]> Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:14:37 GMT <![CDATA[Vlogging sensation sweeping nation: Nerdfighter movement on rise]]> By Erin Washburn
DFTBA. To the average citizen, this abbreviation looks like it could stand for a government organization or an obscene phrase. But to Nerdfighters, a growing minority, DFTBA means one thing: Don’t Fo full story > ]]> Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:11:31 GMT <![CDATA[Vlogging sensation sweeping nation: Nerdfighter movement on rise]]> By Erin Washburn
DFTBA. To the average citizen, this abbreviation looks like it could stand for a government organization or an obscene phrase. But to Nerdfighters, a growing minority, DFTBA means one thing: Don’t Fo full story > ]]> Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:10:19 GMT <![CDATA[Deluded UFO watchers out of this world]]> By Isaac Hirsch


Brendan Lipton

Bright orange, the meteor streaked across the sky and was visible from a few states. Many residents of the Southwest looked up and wondered what the heck it was. But some didn’t; they knew exactly wha full story > ]]> Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:08:34 GMT <![CDATA[Arguments aren't aces]]> By Luan Pham
Most advocates for pot legalization will be able to produce at least 420 reasons why weed should be legalized. The truth is that most justifications won’t generate a buzz in legislation, and for good full story > ]]> Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:07:38 GMT <![CDATA[Abuse awareness]]>


Christine Lien

WE STRONGLY BELIEVE that all teens in any sort of abusive relationship should summon the strength to take action. One in five teenagers reports being physically or sexually abused by a partner accordi full story > ]]> Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:05:06 GMT <![CDATA[Tim Hwang for SMOB]]> WE ENDORSE TIM Hwang for the 32nd Student Member of the Board of Education of Montgomery County. Hwang is currently a junior at Thomas S. Wootton High School and has a resume more impressive than mos full story > ]]> Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:04:26 GMT <![CDATA[Perfect attendance]]> ALL STUDENTS SHOULD attend the wonderful events that the school offers, including the arts, sports and cultural events. Dance, chorus and instrumental music concerts and plays present to students th full story > ]]> Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:02:46 GMT <![CDATA[Maryland mistaken in giving life to death penalty]]> By Alex Blocker
What a disappointment. Maryland state legislators really dropped the ball this month when it comes to repealing the death penalty—we still have it. Even with the whole country watching, the State Sen full story > ]]> Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:01:47 GMT <![CDATA[Letters to the Editor]]> STICKY MESS CAUSES DISTRESS Gum ruined my SAT experience. I was just breezing through my test when I decided to put my heels on the chair rack so that my knees hit the bottom of the table. Lo and be full story > ]]> Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:00:37 GMT <![CDATA[CAR CATASTROPHE]]> By Jonathan Yuen
March 9, 2009 was probably the worst way to start the week. My alarm clock did not ring, but after rushing to get ready I actually managed to get to school on time, or so I thought. It was 7:10am, a full story > ]]> Wed, 18 Mar 2009 11:59:04 GMT <![CDATA[No: redundancy television’s current plague]]> By Samantha Steinfeld
Any given night, I can turn on the TV, flip to the CW and watch a bunch of drunk girls fighting on America’s Next Top Model. Or, I can go to Oxygen and watch a bunch of drunk girls fighting on Bad Gir full story > ]]> Wed, 18 Mar 2009 11:57:10 GMT <![CDATA[Yes: reality shows make classier viewers]]> By Amelia Holgash
One time, I got the sudden urge to go dirt biking during a thunderstorm while wearing my Snuggie, but then I remembered that The Girls of Hedsor Hall, my favorite TV show, would be on soon. Reality TV full story > ]]> Wed, 18 Mar 2009 11:56:02 GMT <![CDATA[Hollywood loses originality with adaptations of classics]]> By Merissa Dyer
Hollywood’s newest trend is recycling, but not just for the environment. In LA, sex no longer sells—copying does. This year, as well as in years to come, expect to see a surge of “borrowed” material. full story > ]]> Wed, 18 Mar 2009 11:52:42 GMT <![CDATA[Increased cleanliness by students needed for messy, trashy hallways]]> By Morgan Cali


Patrick Howe

Dodging people throwing chips, jumping over half-eaten sandwiches and leaping over seas of spilled soda in the hallways has gone on too long. The school’s hallways during lunch have become an obstacle full story > ]]> Wed, 18 Mar 2009 11:50:58 GMT <![CDATA[Junior turned off by unnecessary administration cell phone craze]]> By Suzanne Walls
Attention, Blake students! Be very cautious when pulling out cell phones. Administrators have made it very clear that they will immediately take your cell phone from you (even if you are not using it) full story > ]]> Wed, 18 Mar 2009 11:49:58 GMT <![CDATA[Ivy League students give perfect advice for choosing dream schools]]> By Louisa Clarke & Sarah Levitt
Seniors, it’s time to start choosing your future, starting off by selecting the perfect college. Funny thing though...there is no perfect college. Welcome to the real world, “grown ups.” Even though full story > ]]> Wed, 18 Mar 2009 11:48:54 GMT <![CDATA[One day, in the hallway]]> By Isaac Hirsch



full story > ]]> Wed, 18 Mar 2009 11:43:49 GMT <![CDATA[Stop the Violence concert ironically turns into brutal street brawl]]> By Ryan Arrendell
Last week, a “Stop the Violence” free concert was held in Downtown Silver Spring in honor of a slain 14-year old Montgomery Blair student, Tai Lam. Nobody thought the day’s balmy temperatures would fo full story > ]]> Wed, 18 Mar 2009 11:42:36 GMT <![CDATA[Late Night low: fallacy that is Fallon fatal for television]]> By Molly Wallace
When I asked to write an article on Jimmy Fallon’s new late night show on a cold February day just three weeks ago, I had moderate expectations for the fledgling host. I thought I would calmly watch full story > ]]> Wed, 18 Mar 2009 11:40:27 GMT