the scoop

the scoop

want to study abroad?

Who says you have to wait until college to study abroad? People to People Student Ambassador Programs (studentambassadors.org/) offers qualified high school-and middle school-aged students opportunities to expand their education outside of national boundaries while experiencing different cultures first hand.

Founded in 1956 by President Dwight Eisenhower, People to People offers programs in Europe, the South Pacific and Asia. The organization’s Web site provides sample itineraries that include visits to important landmarks and historical sites such as Sydney’s Opera House (South Pacific program) and Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, Japan (Asia program). The itineraries also reveal some of the cultural events and outdoor activities participants take part in, including learning traditional Irish dances (United Kingdom and Ireland program) and bicycling along Amsterdam’s famous dykes (European program).

What’s it like to go on one of these trips? The front page of the site features links to former participants’ personal Web sites and You Tube pages that document their experiences. The site also details the application process, how academic credit is administered and other important information. Unfortunately, you can’t find out the costs of the various programs on the Web site; People to People only shares this information if you attend a local informational meeting (you can register for the meeting on the site).

the flash will be back

He’s so fast, he can even outrun death: Barry Allen, aka The Flash, is speeding back to life 23 years after being killed off. Allen was the second man — though not the last — to don the trademark red costume decorated with a lightning bolt as DC Comics’ “Fastest Man Alive.” His death in 1985 became legendary among comic book fans. He was vaporized preserving the universe. Now he joins the tradition of super-heroes like Captain America and Superman who have died only to be resurrected later on.

Yet, unlike his revived peers who were dead just a few issues, Allen was gone so long that his rebirth comes as a surprise. Grant Morrison, who along with Geoff Johns is responsible for resurrecting The Flash in the last panel of “DC Universe 0,” said comic book characters don’t have to stay dead. “We can do anything with them, and we can make them come back and make them defy death,” Morrison said.

Allen’s incarnation of The Flash was first introduced in 1956 and helped lead to a revitalization of super-heroes in comic books during a time when westerns and war themes dominated.

song of the week

We the Kings’ “Check Yes Juliet” (S-Curve) could very well be this summer’s catchy pop-rock anthem, with its infectious “way-ohs” and fun hand claps. It’s a lot like Boys Like Girls’ great “The Great Escape” — which makes sense, considering it was also co-written by the same production team as that hit, Sam Hollander and Dave Katz — but somehow even more upbeat and lyrically satisfying. That’s an addictive combination that will be hard to beat.

new video games

In stores this week: There’s one more hero who isn’t afraid to challenge the “Grand Theft Auto” juggernaut: “Iron Man,” in the movie tie-in from Sega (most systems). ... Otherwise, we’re about as far from Liberty City as you can get with Majesco’s “Wild Earth: Animal Safari” (Wii) and “Toy Shop” (DS), Eidos’ “Brain Voyage” (DS) and Natsume’s “River King: Mystic Valley” (DS).

comedy night at victory

Community Comedy Night with Bob Smiley will be at 7 p.m. Sunday at Victory Christian Center, U.S. Route 422, three miles east of Youngstown. Tickets are $8 in advance $9 at the door (children 10 and under free).