neXt: The next generation, covered now

---

Out cold

Whether you're out of school or waiting for the day to end so you can get out, there will probably still be enough winter residue to have some fun on a Friday afternoon.

Gloves? Check.

Hat? Check.

And make sure someone brings a camera.

The hills have been there, but the materials to get down them might need to be found -- or made.

Things to make you say "WHEEEEEE!"

Single:

• A sled ($15 to $30 at any general big-box store)
• A garbage can lid
• Another person -- who's not afraid to get a little snow in their teeth.
• The lid to a Rubbermaid tub will work.
• Hop on an inner tube for that extra bounce.
• Flatten a cardboard box and hold on.

For the group:

• A kiddie pool
• An old car hood
• An inner tube for two, but hold on over the bumps.
• Break out the Slip N Slide from its hibernation.
• An old card table; you can use the legs as hang-on handles.

-- Chris Harris

---

Box office

"Untraceable": Starring Diane Lane, Colin Hanks, Billy Burke, Joseph Cross and Mary Beth Hurt. Rated R for some prolonged sequences of strong gruesome violence and language, running time 101 minutes. (Cape West Cine)

'Untraceable' a satisfying thriller

Movie-going experiences are most often enjoyable and exciting, but the movies labeled "thrillers" seem to leave me anything but thrilled. With their lack of substance, poor acting and tendency to flatline near the end, thrillers leave me feeling confused, anxious and completely disappointed.

"Untraceable," a so-called thriller that came out last weekend, kept me surprisingly satisfied.

Like other thrillers, "Untraceable" is an intense film with heart-stopping suspense and horrific scenes that can get a little graphic, but "Untraceable" also has a solid plot that makes this film perfect for moviegoers of all kinds.

The film portrays the sick, twisted thoughts of a cyber killer who uses a Web site to torture and kill his captive. The more people who view his site, the quicker the victims die. The film connects with the viewers by showing how they too could contribute to such maliciousness by the simple click of a button.

The film kept me on the edge of my seat and sent me on an emotional roller coaster from beginning to long after it ended. Suspenseful and clever, "Untraceable" is one of the best thrillers I have seen, and I would recommend it to anyone.

-- Ali Herzog, Central High School senior

---

neXt up

Friday

• New movies:

'Meet the Spartans' Rated PG-13, Run time 1hr 25 mins, Cape West Cine

'Over Her Dead Body' Rated PG-13, Run time 1 hr 35 mins, Cape West Cine

'The Eye' Rated PG-13, Run time 1 hr 37 mins, Town Plaza Cinema

• Extreme Trivia: Jackson Sports Grill, 8:30 p.m.

Saturday

• Tim Hefland with special guest: Jackson Sports Grill, 8:30 p.m.

Sunday

• Superbowl XLII kickoff, approx. 5:20

Next week

• Games

"Devil May Cry 4," PS3, X360

"Assassin's Creed: Altair's Chronicles," DS

CDs

Fold, "Slowburn"

Lenny Kravitz, "It's Time for a Love Revolution"

Sheryl Crow, "Detours"

DVDs

Across the Universe, PG-13

The Jane Austen Book Club, PG-13

Elizabeth: The Golden Age, PG-13

---

Who's neXt

SCHOLARSHIPS

Courtney Thiele

Nathaniel Meece

Derek Gaines

Ethan Worthington

• Jordan Jansen of Leopold, Mo.; Courtney Thiele of Leopold; Anthony Killian of Marble Hill, Mo.; and Nathaniel Meece of Jackson have been awarded a Regents' Scholarship and a Missouri Assessment Program Scholarship to attend Southeast Missouri State University next school year.
• Ethan Worthington of Cape Girardeau and Derek Gaines of Oran, Mo., have been awarded a Regents' Scholarship to attend Southeast Missouri State University next school year.

HONORS

• Emily Younghouse of Cape Girardeau made the dean's list for the fall 2007 semester at Stephens College in Columbia, Mo.
• Zachariah Dumey of Jackson High School and David Westrich of Notre Dame Regional High School have been named candidates in the 2008 Presidential Scholars Program, two of 2,600 candidates selected nationally for high SAT or ACT scores.
• Paige Foley and Chase Tobin, both of Cape Girardeau, made the dean's list for the fall 2007 semester at Baylor University in Waco, Texas.

SCHOOL NEWS

• Delta Area Blind is offering three Lola B. Garner scholarships to special needs students who plan on attending college or vocational school. For more information, call 573-379-5007.
• The Small Business Development Center of Southeast Missouri State University will conduct counseling sessions for people planning business ventures from 1 to 3 p.m. Feb. 14 at the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, 1267 N. Mount Auburn Road; from 9 to 11 a.m. Feb. 12 at the Sikeston Chamber of Commerce, 1 Industrial Drive in Sikeston, Mo.; from 9 to 11 a.m. Feb. 13 at 607 N. Douglas in Malden, Mo.; and from 10 a.m. to noon Feb. 14 at the Southeast Regional Planning Commission, 1 W. Saint Joseph St. in Perryville, Mo.
• Teachers' Insurance Plan is accepting nominations through April 30 for the Missouri Teacher of the Year, which comes with a $1,000 award and $500 grant for the school. Nominations are available at www.teachers.com/toty.
• Linn State Technical College in Linn, Mo., received seven engines from Caterpillar Inc. for the Heavy Equipment Technology/ CAT Dealer Service Technician option.

-- From staff reports

---