Tag Archives: Jenny Tran

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close: Movie Review

by: Jenny Tran

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, the Oscar nominated contender for Best Picture by filmmaker Stephen Daldry, is based on the novel by Jonathan Safran Foer. The story, though rooted in the September 11 tragedy, does not focus on the event. Rather, the movie documents the story of a young 11-year-old boy Oskar Schell who suffers from the loss of his father at the World Trade Center. Oskar, played by Thomas Horn, is convinced his father, who died in the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, left a message for him hidden somewhere in the city. This is the story of his quest to keep his father’s memory alive by searching throughout the Big Apple, the nation’s largest city, for a lock to fit a key.
As Oskar is exploring through his father’s closet, he accidentally knocks over a blue vase and finds a key in an envelope that is simply labeled “Black.” He ponders the true meaning behind the key: Was it left for him or his mother? Did it even have an actual meaning at all? He quickly looks up the name “Black” in the phone book and finds that there are 417 people with the last name “Black” in New York City. Oskar vows to himself that he will meet every person until he finds the key’s lock. As he searches for the lock, Oskar meets many sympathetic yet helpful strangers; however, one stranger stood out from the rest who becomes Oskar’s confidant. Oskar is accompanied by “The Renter,” an old man played by Max von Sydow, who rents a room in Oskar’s grandmother’s apartment. As they both become close friends, Oskar learns many lessons from this stranger, such as facing his fears and knowing when to intervene.
As his adventure continues, Oskar’s hope begins to falter and wants to stop until he notices that the stranger he has been sharing his journey with is just like his father. Oskar finally concludes that the stranger is actually his grandfather. Oskar confronts him, but before Oskar can receive any real answers, his grandfather moves out of his apartment and tells Oskar not to search anymore. However, Oskar does not give up. He continues his search until he finds the truth behind the key.
Tom Horn, the actor who played Oskar, who was discovered on the game show Jeopardy, delivers an incredible performance of a young boy searching for answers after his father’s tragic death. While many critics call his character selfish and spoiled, I call him a crushed, grieving character who finds his rite of passage as he overcomes obstacles and faces his own fears.
Stephen Daldry’s film meanders a bit, but the stellar cast, starting with young Horn, as well as the weighty nuances such as Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock, make this a must-see film for the New Year. Daldry’s ability to remove the slight ambiguity of the original novel allowed the film to retain the precise symbolism for applying the message to all the hurting people in the world. Furthermore, the movie explores the importance of a three-word phrase that is continuously misused today, “I love you.” Suspend your disbelief on the unbelievable parts and stay to the end. I promise it will be worth it.

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Cynthia Venson: Changing lives one grade at a time

By: Jenny Tran
Staff Reporter

As the end of the first semester draws to a close, many faculty members and students are excited about holiday vacation plans. However, for Cynthia Venson, Oak Grove’s intervention specialist, the school year has just begun. Her role is to creatively develop ways to help students who are struggling academically.

Venson instructs seniors Bryson Rogers and Bria Burkett during advisors. / Photo by Raven Jones

Her nonstop efforts to improve the education and young minds of students are more than inspiring. “Every time I see Mrs. Venson, she is either in a meeting with a student to discuss his or her academics or working in her office,” said senior Bailey Jones, a tutor Venson recruited for U.S. History. When asked about her biggest goal for the school year, Venson said, “I wish to graduate 100% of the students.” To accomplish this goal, she is attempting to oversee those students who are at risk of failing their classes and making sure they have their academics together before the end of the semester. To accomplish her goal, Venson has gathered a small group of students to participate in a peer tutoring program during advisors. Students who need tutoring in any subject from geometry to ACT prep can go to Venson to discuss possible arrangements for tutoring sessions.  Prior to being a faculty member at Oak Grove, Venson was a sixth grade teacher and academic coach in the Hattiesburg Public School District. Venson’s primary goals at Oak Grove do not stop at helping at-risk students reach their full potential. Venson continuously attempts to reach out to any student who needs guidance and direction. “Everybody needs something different, and I’m always interested in knowing what your need is and how to help you,” said Venson. Her best accomplishment at Oak Grove thus far? Venson added, “I see accomplishments differently than most would view them. When I see students who are struggling show some sign of success, that is an accomplishment to me. It doesn’t matter whether he or she has an A or B in the class. If they can survive the class and successfully pass after having a failing average, that is an accomplishment to me.”

Many students see Mrs. Venson as a huge asset to Oak Grove. “Mrs. Venson is a wonderful mentor. She is always helping someone whether it is in the classroom or in the hallways. Her determination to see students succeed is admirable,” said senior Allison Slusher, another tutor Venson recruited for her peer tutoring program. Whether she is in her office working or in a classroom monitoring students, Venson seems to be a role model for all to recognize. Her love and dedication to her career and students reveals her true character: a hero.

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Election nears: Dupree/Bryant battle

By: Jenny Tran
Staff Reporter
The time has finally come to vote for a new Governor of Mississippi. With Governor Haley Barbour term-limited, both the Republicans and Democrats have contests for the eighth gubernatorial nomination. On the Republican side, Mississippi has Lieutenant Governor Phil Bryant. Bryant has gained experience, forged alliances, and made himself known by serving as State Senator, State Auditor, and Lieutenant Governor. For the Democratic side, Johnny Dupree, the three term mayor of Hattiesburg, reigns supreme. While this is his first statewide race, he has gained political experience from his previous service on the Hattiesburg School Board and ten years as Forrest County Supervisor.

Compared to Johnny Dupree, Phil Bryant seems to have a strong advantage in the Governor’s race: Haley Barbour. In 2007, Bryant won the open race for Lieutenant Governor. “Being Governor Barbour’s Lieutenant Governor, I tell people, is like being an assistant coach to Bear Bryant,” Bryant said at a recent press conference at Mississippi College. “You get to see the best.” From the time Bryant announced his bid for Governor, Haley Barbour has seemed to be on his side, coaching him through every step. However, DuPree seems unfazed by Barbour’s endorsement of Phil Bryant. During an event on the Gulf Coast, DuPree told the hometown crowd that he believes Democrats can win in Mississippi this fall. “They may have all the money. They may have all the media. They may have all the other stuff,” DuPree said of the Republicans, “but we have people with the right heart. We have people who want to do what’s right by all the people of Mississippi.” The state of Mississippi will have to wait and see what will be the outcome of this election on Tuesday, November 8th.

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Upgrade or Downgrade?

By: Jenny Tran

Opening of new businesses in Hattiesburg? UPGRADE
In the past years, many businesses, big and small, have flocked their ways to this wonderland to stake their claims to be part of the southern culture Hattiesburg, Mississippi provides. For example, Dick’s Sporting Goods has finally opened in the old Circuit City location. Dick’s Sporting Goods expects strong prospects of becoming a Hattiesburg staple. However, Academy Sports, Dick’s biggest rival, plans to open later in the fall. Other businesses that plan to open soon in Hattiesburg are Cheddar’s Cafe, Baker’s Burger (Near Turtle Creek Crossing), and Five Guys’ Burgers and Fries.

New Law and Order: Special Victims Unit cast? DOWNGRADE
After 12 seasons of crime investigation, Christopher Meloni has left the cast of Law and Order: SVU. Meloni’s departure welcomes new and returning faces to the fold such as Detective Amanda Rollins, portrayed by Kelli Giddish. However, her debut was poorly choreographed. Throughout the entire first episode, Giddish was always two steps (literally) behind Detective Olivia Benson and acted more as an extra than a recurring cast member. Also joining the cast is Detective Nick Amaro, played by Danny Pino. Pino seemed to warm up to the cast much quicker than Giddish did, but the dynamic of both these new detectives leaves the audience wanting the tag team of Eliot Stabler and Olivia Benson back.

New iPhone 4S? UPGRADE
Familiar and yet new, the iPhone 4S may not look different from the outside, but inside, it’s a very different beast. With its fifth generation smart phone, Apple has out done itself. The new iPhone 4S is wickedly fast, fiendishly well-equipped, and ruthlessly threatening to its mobile rivals. From the outside, the iPhone 4S looks identical to the iPhone 4, but from the inside, it is anything but. With the release of the new iPhone, Apple unveiled its newest version of iOS with new features for not only the iPhone 4S but also for the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPod touch, and iPads 1 and 2. These updates include iCloud, a wireless way to sync your Apple products, a new 8 mega pixel sensor camera, and a stronger battery life. Overall, the new iPhone 4S is a definite upgrade because of its innovation and technology.

Footloose remake? DOWNGRADE
No one can stop the youth of America from dancing, and no one can stop the American film industry from making movies about people who try to. Footloose is a remake of the 1984 musical about a city boy, portrayed by Kevin Bacon, who comes to a small southern town and literally shakes things up. This same premise holds for the remake, and it seems more pandering than ever. Once again, Ren MacCormack is the new kid in town who just wants kids to be able to have fun. Compared to the original Footloose movie, the remake’s dialogue is even more lame, and the action is extremely poor. This movie left a bad taste in my mouth and my dance moves.

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An apple a day keeps the debt away

Uncle Sam has met his match. According to the latest updates, Apple has become the new top dog.

By: Jenny Tran 

Watch out, President Obama! According to the June statement from the U.S. Treasury, compared to the U.S. government’s operating cash balance of $73.8 billion, Apple has a whopping $76.2 billion in cash and marketable securities. In other words, the world’s largest tech company now has more money than the world’s largest sovereign government. This symbolic feat – the world’s most highly valued tech company, surpassing the fiscal strength of the world’s most powerful nation – is just the latest pinnacle for Apple, which has been on an unprecedented roll.

This feat comes to no surprise seeing as Apple has been rolling out new electronics every few months. The federal government could probably learn a thing or two from Apple’s success. For the past few months, Congress has continued to remain embroiled in a debate over spending and whether the government, which currently owes trillions in debt, should be allowed to borrow even more. Not only that, international credit rating agencies have downgraded the national debt for the first time in the nation’s history if Washington doesn’t come up with a solution to lift the $14.3 trillion debt ceiling while implementing a concrete plan to get the nation’s financial house in order. In a recent address to the country, President Obama seemed to have the answer to such a crisis. Obama proposed the American Jobs Act to save the United States’ economy. “The purpose of the American Jobs Act is simple: to put more people back to work and more money in the pockets of those who are working,” President Obama said. Essentially, he plans to increase consumption within our economy through job growth. While I do agree that we must focus on job growth within the economy, how do we know this act will work when the 2009 stimulus package did not? In February of 2009, Obama proposed $787 billion in economic stimulus when unemployment was around $25 million. Now, more than two years later, unemployment is still around $25 million. Why, therefore, should Obama’s latest proposals to create jobs, consisting about half the size of the 2009 stimulus, expect to create jobs when the larger stimulus did not?

Compared to the government’s budget and spending money, Apple is valued more than $363 billion. With the rise in Apple’s spendable wealth, experts believe the company may use the money to secure more technology patents or make strategic acquisition of other businesses such as Hulu and Netflix. However, one thing is for sure: this news of Apple having more money than the U.S. government has not fazed the company at all. “We don’t let the cash burn a hole in the pocket or make stupid acquisitions. We’d like to continue to keep our powder dry because we think there are one or more strategic opportunities in the future,” former CEO of Apple Steve Jobs said. Offering Uncle Sam a short-term loan, however, is probably not one of them.

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