Teen Pulse

Ever since Liam Neeson’s 2008 film “Taken,” the characters he has played have changed and since then, he has reentered the world of cinema as a tough guy.
This year, he returned to the screen in the role of retired CIA operative Bryan Mills, in “Taken’s” sequel, “Taken 2.” Despite the obviously predictable story line, the second film was a great box office success and made nearly 50 times more money on opening weekend than the previous film.
Although “Taken 2” was bound to be shallow and action-packed, it turned out to be far more ridiculous than expected. This time, the story is set in Istanbul, Turkey, where Mills and his family are on holiday.
During their vacation, Mills and his wife are abducted by the same organization that kidnapped his daughter in the first film. The kidnappers come for them, seeking to avenge their fallen fathers, brothers and sons. But, although the premise seems promising for a sequel, the film didn’t exhibit anything fresh. Rather than focus on trying to make the film different in some way, it ended up being the same as its prequel, only without any of the spark of originality.

In the 1990s, rap music dominated the music industry. While some rap songs got radio play, the more volatile form, known as “gangsta rap” was at its strongest with artists such as Snoop Dogg and The Notorious B.I.G.
After the murder of rapper Tupac Shakur (aka 2Pac) in 1996, and the collapse of West Coast Rap Giant “Death Row Records,” West Coast gangsta rap took a downturn. Newer West Coast artists, such as Game, have tried to breathe life back into the genre, but to no avail.
Released on Oct. 22, “Good Kid, M.A.A.D City” is new West Coast rapper Kendrick Lamar’s major label debut under Aftermath, Top Dawg and Interscope Records. With the debut of this album, under executive producer Dr. Dre (Andre Yong), hope is restored in the almost forgotten genre.
Born in Compton, Calif. in 1987, Lamar got his first taste of gangsta rap when he witnessed 2Pac and fellow rapper Dr. Dre filming for their single “California Love. In 2003, Lamar released his first mixtape, which gained enough attention for him to be signed to Top Dawg Entertainment.  Lamar caught Dr. Dre’s attention after the release of his fifth mix tape, “Overly Dedicated” in 2010.  

For members of the Los Alamos High School Cross Country team, autumn is all about running.  
Beginning the first week of August, team members start practicing and getting in shape everyday, running about three to four miles each session.  
Rob and Kathy Hipwood have been head coaches of the boys and girls teams since 1994. Eight other assistant coaches help to make sure the team is practicing well and helping the runners to progress throughout the season.  
“The team has been doing great, both boys and girls. We are very pleased with the race performances from varsity to C team. The teams have been racing very consistently. So we think it’s been a very successful season so far,” Rob said.  
Cross Country teams are usually fairly large at Los Alamos High School, but Kathy noted the LAHS Toppers’ team is made up of 97 runners this season.  
“This is the biggest team, not by a lot, because it’s been consistently in the 80s over the past 19 years,” she said.  
The runners are divided into varsity, junior varsity and C teams. The varsity and junior varsity runners practice a little more, including running at 6 a.m., before school begins.